Work Text:
Joshua Rosfield sat in the hospital's waiting room, hoping for good news. It was chilly in the waiting room. Even though he sat away from the door, he was not permitted in the room with Jill. Only one person who wasn't 'family' was allowed, and obviously, that would be Clive. Despite his usual natural warmth, he was freezing. His mind raced with thoughts about Jill's health, and he hoped she'd be okay. He was so preoccupied with his thoughts that he didn't register that a warm styrofoam cup was being pressed into his hands.
"Here, you look like you could use this," someone said to him with a comforting tone. His hands instinctively wrapped around the cup, and he immediately felt better. When he glanced up to see, he was met with a warm smile, and then his life flashed before his eyes, where that same smile echoed throughout his lifetime.
Joshua heard a knock at the door while doing his homework. He was almost home alone, though; Clive was upstairs studying with his friend, Jill, so he wasn't alone. Because of that, Joshua figured answering the door would be okay and could call out for them if there was any trouble. Upon opening the door, he saw his neighbor, Cyril, standing there, a tiny girl at his side.
"Hello, young Rosfield. Is your father here?" His voice was patient, and his eyes looked tired. Joshua noticed how weary the older man looked.
"No, but Clive is home. Should I get him?" Joshua was somewhat nervous by Cyril's presence but couldn't figure out why.
"Sure, we'll wait here," he said. Joshua shook his head. Even though Cyril was eccentric, he was sure his father would scold him for making his neighbor wait outside in the cold.
"No, come in and make yourselves at home," he gestured to their sitting room. Cyril and the girl carefully stepped inside, wiping off their feet and setting their shoes aside. Cyril led her to sit on the couch, and then he sat beside her while Joshua climbed the stairs to retrieve Clive. Looking worried, Jill saw him step into Clive's room.
"Hey, Joshua, what is it?" she asked, then ruffled his hair. Clive and Jill had been friends for so long that she was treated like family now.
"There's someone here to see Clive," he smiled up at Jill as she turned to let him into the room, where Clive was lying on his stomach, chewing on the end of his pencil. Papers were scattered out in front of him as he read. "Clive?"
Breaking out of his focus, Clive pressed his arms to the bed to lift himself off. "Who is it?"
"It's Cyril from next door. He was looking for father, but," he paused, and Clive nodded, heading for the door.
"Wait here," but he knew Jill and Joshua would eventually follow him. Clive jogged down the stairs to find an exhausted Cyril sitting on the couch, and Clive greeted him. "Long time no see, Cyril. What can I do for you?"
Jill and Joshua crept slowly down the hallway and waited as Clive instructed, but curiosity got the better of Joshua, and his steps carried him downstairs as well. Jill followed, feeling protective of Joshua. All three of them were now in the Rosfield's family room, chatting with Cyril as he explained about the tiny girl with him. Slowly, the girl found her way over to Jill, feeling a warmth from her she was unable to describe, and Jill let her sit on her lap as they murmured.
"This is Jote. She is now under my custody as her parents are no longer... with us," he paused, looking pained, and Clive nodded along. "Due to my work schedule, I was hoping it would be okay if she stays here occasionally while I'm," he swallowed. "While I'm making accommodations to my work schedule to be with her more."
"I don't see why my father would disagree, but I'll still confirm the details with him."
Clive had never seen Cyril so out of sorts before, having a decent relationship with him since he moved next door, yet he still didn't know what he did for work.
"Well, she is closest in age to Joshua, so maybe they could get along," Clive laughed nervously and looked towards his brother, whose face suddenly reddened when attention was on him.
That is how Joshua's acquaintances with Jote started. He noticed that she cried a lot, probably grieving still from when her parents died, and he did his best to cheer her up. He often helped her with her homework after school, but she usually helped him more often. She was a very bright girl. She also became close with Jill, but who couldn't have seen that coming? Jill was good with everyone, even his overbearing mother.
One day, Jote arrived at the house earlier than usual, and Joshua answered the door. He was surprised when she hugged him.
"I'm going to miss you!" she said, and he was confused. She was now 11, and he was 15, and over the years, they had become somewhat close.
"What are you talking about?" he asked incredulously.
She reached up to wipe her tears out of her eyes and explained that Cyril had been promoted, and thus, they were moving across town.
Joshua was at a loss for words and muttered the first thing that came to mind.
"Who will help me with my studies?"
His comment made Jote laugh, and she mumbled that she was sure Jill or Clive could help him.
"I hope I can see you again someday," she murmured.
"Why couldn't you see me? We will still live in the same town. It's not like you're moving cross country."
"Ha... Joshua, you are such a good friend. We might grow apart, and you would forget me," she said sadly, giving him one last hug and a warm smile. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a piece of paper where her new phone number and email address were written down.
"I also gave Jill this information, so please contact me soon."
The next day, they were gone, and Joshua hadn't told her a proper goodbye because he thought he had more time. She was right, though. As the days passed, he gradually forgot about her as he focused on his studies. He felt terrible sometimes but figured it was better this way. He continually reminded himself to reach out to her, but it slipped his mind as he got busier and busier with schoolwork.
"Alright, here we go, on the first day of senior year. I got this," Joshua tried pumping himself up in the mirror, not having Clive around much to give him pep talks. Clive was off at college, along with Jill, and Joshua was somewhat jealous that Clive had someone with him for that long, but he couldn't remain that way for long because Jill was like the older sister he never had.
They would still visit occasionally to give him a break from his mother, who always reminded him to keep up with his studies and left him room for nothing else. He didn't have friends of his own and felt so lonely when they went off to college. He vowed that this year would be different if his illnesses were kept at bay.
This would be the first time he was allowed back on campus, as his illness kept him at home over the years, and he was excited to be with people again. After all, his father argued that if he were going to be a doctor, he would need to learn how to empathize with others.
He entered the classroom, finding he was the first one there, and chose a seat moderately close to the front but far away enough not to be too eager. As the time got closer and closer to the bell, people filtered in, and someone sat next to him. He glanced up briefly and was met with a warm, familiar smile. However, not wanting to stare, he dropped his head and immediately scolded himself, reminding himself why he was returning to campus anyway. When he lifted his eyes to greet the person he was sitting by, her body had already turned away, and she was conversing deeply with another girl behind her.
He didn't mean to eavesdrop but caught that she was probably the youngest in the class and was taking all advanced placement courses besides some required things like PE.
Finally, the lecture started, and Joshua was already highly intrigued by the neighbor sitting next to him. During a short break, he opened his mouth to talk to her but was only greeted with a violent coughing fit. The girl beside him immediately took him by the shoulder and asked if he was okay before he was excused to go to the nurse's office. She offered to accompany him, which he didn't have a choice but to accept. His sight was blurry as he semi-staggered to the office, the girl beside him steadying him. For someone so tiny, she was so strong, and he was impressed.
When they finally got to the office, she sat him down in a chair and went to look for the nurse.
"Founder..." he wondered. "On my first day, too."
Shortly afterward, the girl came back and sat next to him.
"Joshua," she looked towards him, waiting for him to raise his eyes, and he just hid his face in his hands.
"I'm so embarrassed, I have an-" he was cut off by the girl.
"An illness. I know."
He was surprised as he hadn't disclosed that information to anyone, which finally caused him to look up to see Jote.
He needed clarification. How?
"I assume you're wracking your brain wondering how I'm here, but this was the only school within a decent radius of my house with good academics, so I wound up here. However, I didn't expect to see you again."
She sounded angry as she continued.
"I guess it was just too much of a bother to keep in touch with me after everything," she sighed and sat beside him on the cot. "I forgive you, though, since I know your mother."
"Jote," his hand slowly drifted towards hers, but he hesitated to make the connection. "I'm sorry about that. She was so in my business to make sure I was constantly studying because of her contempt for Clive. But, it's my fault too."
"I'm willing to try to be friends again, Joshua. I'm not the same girl you knew before the move anyway," she said, then turned her body towards him, noticing how close his hand was. With a move of boldness, she curled his fingers around his. "What do you say?"
His response was a brilliant smile that reached into his scintillating eyes when his fingers wrapped around hers.
Unfortunately, the friendship was short-lived when Joshua became so ill his mother pulled him out of school, and he was bedridden most of his adult life. Barely having the strength to do anything but study, read, and sleep, he again fell out of contact with Jote. When she attempted to visit him when he was ill, she was turned away by his mother, and she was unable to see him. She wrote him some long, heartfelt letters but never received any reply. She felt her heart break once again.
"Are you okay? You've been staring at me for 5 minutes."
Joshua almost spilled the hot drink all over himself as she said that.
"I-I know you.."
She nodded.
"You're... Jote."
She nodded again.
"I barely recognized you. You've grown out your hair. What are you doing here?"
"I work here. Well, I volunteer here as part of a co-op. What a weird coincidence to meet you here, of all places, though. It makes sense with your illness." She huffed and rolled her eyes. Joshua's illness. His excuse for not contacting her, but she wondered why he was in the waiting room instead of in a bed. "Are you here to see someone? Shouldn't you be resting?"
He sighed, supposing he deserved that. "I'm here for my sister-in-law. Do you remember Jill? She just went into labor, and I'm waiting for news."
"I see. Well, I have work to do. I would say it was nice seeing you again, Joshua, but I would be lying to myself," she began to walk away when he stood to catch her wrist, his cup all but forgotten on one of the side tables littered with hobby magazines. "Wait, I can explain."
"My break is almost over. I have to go." She gave him a pained look as her heart fluttered against her chest.
"May I see you again?" a blush rose to his features, and he struggled to hold her gaze.
"I don't know, Joshua. When we were in school, you, um, kind of broke my heart. I don't know if I can go through something like that again," she said quietly. With that, she pulled her wrist away and disappeared behind the double doors where he couldn't follow her.
The next time Joshua saw Jote was again at the hospital, where he was admitted because of his illness. She was assigned to assist the doctor, and he felt grateful, but she looked almost contemptuous when he tried to reach past the boundaries of professionalism for her. He messed everything up, didn't he?
One day, when she brought his medicine, he happened to be awake and was elated to see her.
"Jote, can you spare a few minutes before you go?" he reached for her. His voice was quiet.
"I guess I could spare some for an old friend," she eventually conceded and pulled up a chair to his bedside but kept her distance, which somewhat disappointed him, but he knew he deserved it.
"I thought about you damn near every day when my mother barred me from returning to the campus. I thought maybe you had moved on. Maybe find someone closer to you in age. You were popular," his eyes fell to his lap, trying to hold back his emotions. "I hadn't received your letters until finding them stashed in the deepest reaches of my mother's closet after she left."
Jote blinked back some tears at hearing his confession.
"Are you serious?" her voice shook. "I... had poured my heart out to you in those letters for you to have never received them. You... suddenly stopped coming to school, and I couldn't get to you. Your mother threatened to call authorities on me if I showed up at your house again."
His head turned to her quickly.
"What?"
She nodded, blinking back her tears, "I tried, for a while, to see you, but after her threat, I stopped coming and resorted to the letters. I guess she had intercepted them before they could reach you."
"I'm deeply sorry for everything. I'm so stupid, Jote. I should have tried harder to reach you, but I thought you had moved on by the time I saw everything. It will be different this time if you allow me. My mother is no longer around to be a nuisance, and my father asks about you occasionally. Clive and Jill, too. Especially Jill."
Joshua tried again to take her hand but entered a coughing fit when he strained too hard. When Jote stood up, he raised his hand, wiping the blood off his mouth. She hesitated to aid him, but he regained his composure and reached for her hand, her fingers instinctively curling around his.
"My father divorced my mom when he caught her cheating with the head of the Lesage family. Besides the occasional illness, nothing left to bar me from being with you, but you have always been so understanding about it."
She smirked slightly, "Is that what this is? Do you need your own personal nurse?"
His mouth flew open, stunned, "No, not at all!"
Seeing him flustered warmed her heart and brought her back to all the old times she was with him, and she laughed out loud.
"I wouldn't mind caring for you," she smiled warmly. "I have always cared for you, Joshua."
Hearing her affirm that, in turn, made him smile before he became bold.
"Well, then, may I at least take you on a proper date now that everything has been cleared up?" he looked at her hopefully before she leaned forward to press a feather-light kiss to his forehead and pulled back, giving him that same warm smile he had seen over the years.
"Yes."