EVIE'S POV:
I finished up my shift and made my way over to Josh, him looking up from his phone as I reached him…
"Ready?" he questioned
"Yeah, if you are?" I inquired
"I am." he informed me "Let's go."
Smiling at him warmly, I followed him out of the coffee shop and to the exit of the university, walking the ten minutes into the city centre…
"Where's good around here?" Josh asked as we continued to walk
"Crisp is probably the best," I replied "I love it in there. Their burgers are to die for!"
"Lead the way!" he proclaimed
Beginning to walk again, I led him to the Telstra food court, getting into the queue…
"Evie…" he spoke as we stood in a comfortable silence as we waited in line
"Yeah?" I questioned
"Thanks for this." he replied, smiling at me warmly
"For what?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him
"This, being a friend when I really need one." he admitted "I really appreciate it."
"You're welcome," I replied "anytime."
Smiling at me warmly once again, we continued to move forward, both of us ordering our food, making our way to a table…
"What do you think Maddy will do?" I asked as our food was set down in front of us
He shrugged his shoulders in reply… "Usually I know exactly what she's thinking, but now, I have no idea. I want her to make a go of this and make something of herself because she's so clever, but she hasn't got the willpower."
"What will you do if she does decide to quit?" I questioned
"What do you mean?" he inquired
"Will you go with her?" I asked
"No, and she knows I won't." he informed me "This is important to me and I'm enjoying myself, and besides, my parents have sacrificed a lot for me to be here. I'm not gonna let them down."
I smiled warmly as he spoke… "Well I for one am glad you have no plans to leave."
"You'd miss me, wouldn't you?" he inquired
"Yeah," I admitted "Who am I gonna sit through boring communications lectures with if you go?"
"Don't!" he begged "I'm dreading the two hours we've got tomorrow."
"Please don't remind me!" I proclaimed, sighing heavily "But you want to know the good thing?"
"Yes." he replied
"Music." I informed him "Just plug your headphones in and you're away. What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"You've got sauce on your chin," he informed me, chuckling softly "here, I'll get it."
Watching him, he leant forward and wiped the sauce from my chin, wiping his fingers clean on the serviette by the side of his plate. Smiling at him warmly, we continued to eat, a comfortable silence falling over us…
JOSH'S POV:
"Put that away!" I proclaimed as Evie and I made our way to the counter to pay
"What?" she questioned
"Your purse, put it away." I informed her
"I need to…" she began
"This is my treat. It's the least I can do given you've listened to my problems for the last hour-and-a-half." I replied
"You really don't have to." she admitted
"I know I don't, but I want to, so put it away." I stated
Smiling at me warmly, she put her purse back into her handbag and zipped it up, both of us moving to the counter so I could pay the bill…
EVIE'S POV:
"Ah, there you are." Maddy proclaimed as Josh and I walked back into our dorm room "I've cooked."
"We've eaten already." Josh informed her
"You have?" she questioned, raising an eyebrow at us both
"Yeah, we went into the city after I finished work." I informed her
"Oh, okay. It'll keep till tomorrow." she replied
"Y'know, the walk back has actually made me hungry again," I admitted "can you plate me some up please?"
"You don't have to eat if you're not really hungry." she informed me
"Maddy's right, Evie…" Josh spoke as he stood behind me
"No, I want some." I assured her, smiling at her warmly
JOSH'S POV:
I watched as Evie left the room and made her way down the hallway to dump her bag and moved into the kitchen, pressing my lips against Maddy's cheek…
"About earlier…" I began
"Don't," she begged "I've made my choice."
"You have?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow at her
"Yeah, I'm staying put." she replied "I'm gonna make you proud."
"I am proud." I admitted, smiling at her warmly "You won't regret this by the time graduation comes around and you're holding your diploma."
Reciprocating my smile, she moved closer to me and wrapped her arms around my neck, mine sliding around her waist… "Are you gonna stay tonight?"
I shook my head, signalling no… "I need to be getting back to start an assignment. I'll see you in the morning and I'll walk you to your first lecture."
"Okay." she replied, pressing her lips against mine softly
EVIE'S POV:
"See you tomorrow, Evie." Josh shouted from the hallway as I got changed into my pyjamas
"I thought you'd be staying?" I asked, quickly pulling my t-shirt over my head
"No, better get started on that assignment with no distractions." he informed me "I know, how about we compare notes tomorrow morning when I've walked Maddy to her lecture?"
"Sounds good to me." I replied
"Okay, I'll meet you in the coffee shop at 9:30am?" he suggested
"See you there." I informed him
Making my way out of my bedroom as Maddy shut the door behind Josh as he left; I followed her down the hallway and into the kitchen…
"It's so nice that you and Josh get along so well," she sighed contentedly as she handed me the bowl of stir fry she'd made, both of us taking seats on the sofa
"He's a great guy. You're very lucky to have him." I informed her
"I know." she replied, smiling at me warmly "He makes me want to be a better person. Before I met him I wasn't in a very good place…"
"You're in a better place now, and that's what matters." I admitted
"Yeah, thanks to Josh." she sighed "I don't know what I'd do without him."
What are you thinking so far?