Joan's POV
My train of thought….or more accurately, my train of worry was broken by the dogs running to bark at whoever was at the door.
"It's open!" I called from my spot on the couch, glancing up only briefly from my phone.
As if he'd been waiting for me to come to the door anyway, enough moments passed that I sat back up to repeat myself...or rather, start to, before Jason cracked the door open, gradually letting himself in.
"You know, it probably shouldn't be." He pointed out, making his way across to me.
"Geeee...thanks, Captain Obvious." I sighed. "Next, I suppose you're gonna tell me my dad really likes strays." I rolled my eyes. "Anyway, I wasn't even certain it was open. I just didn't hear the lock click when my dad left this morning."
"...And it never occurred to you to get up and check?"
"CHRIST, Jason! My girlfriend is MISSING and my dad is very likely losing his mind, FORGIVE me if my head is in other places right now!" I retorted.
"...Sorry….." He answered quietly. "You still haven't heard from her?"
"Well, I didn't throw that first part in for funsies." I scoffed. "What are you doing here, anyway?"
"I wanted to come check in on you..see how you were doin…" He glanced around the general area, briefly. "...I also think I might've left my jacket here when we- well, when we were all three watching movies over here."
"You mean when you chickened out of the movie that you voted for?" I let a little smirk slip.
He rolled his eyes. "Right that….yeah…..I actually realized it the next day, buuut when you mentioned you hadn't heard from Jocelyn yet, I kinda assumed it was poor timing."
I nodded. "...Smart boy…." I reached down to pick it up off the floor, right in front of the couch. "This it?"
"That would be the one…..thanks.." He chuckled nervously as he took it from me. "...Well, I'll get out of your hair now, I don't wanna bother you anymore than I had to."
"...Wait…" I interrupted as he was halfway to the front door, stopping him in his tracks as he turned to look at me.
"Would you actually mind sticking around for a while?"
He shrugged as he started back toward the couch. "Sure…...I can stay as long as you want."
"Thanks…." I sighed as I kicked my feet up on the coffee table as I allowed him to sit next to me.
"It's getting late." I noted, looking to Jason who was glancing down at his phone. "...Please tell me you're not thinking of walking home."
Whatever remark he wanted to make about how many times he's walked home at this hour from my house, he apparently thought better of. Instead, he just shook his head sympathetically and went with, "Nahh, my dad said he'll come get me."
I nodded. "That's good."
He just smiled and nodded along.
I tried to shake off some of the paranoia. "I'm sorry, it's just...well, the last person I knew walked home…"
"I understand." Jason interjected. "Really, it's fine.'
"Well, thank you."
"Yeah, don't mention- " He was cut off by the sound of the back door opening and the dogs all rushing towards it to greet my dad.
"Strange…" I muttered. "He usually comes in the front…...I mean, it's not that odd...but, still."
"Hey, Mr. Graham." He greeted dad when he made his way in here.
"Oh" He chuckled nervously, obviously a bit startled by Jason's presence. "Hi, Jason...I didn't know you were coming."
"Well, I just meant to stop in, check in on Joan for a bit." He explained.
"That's nice of you.." Dad complimented. "D-do you have a ride back, or…?"
"Yeah, my dad'll be over soon to come get me."
Dad nodded. "Alright, well, I'm gonna go ahead and let the dogs out. You let me know if you need anything before you go."
"Thanks, but I think we're good…" Jason answered.
Dad nodded again and made his way to let the dogs, who were now following him, out the front door.
"He always corrects me when I say that." Jason whispered when he was sure that Dad wasn't paying attention
"When you say- "
"I called him by his last name this time. Normally, it's just as much out of habit for me to say it as it is for him to tell me it's too formal, and I can just call him Will." Jason explained.
"..Right, so you see what I mean." I agreed.
"Yeah, Yeah...he's definitely off….like…."
"...like what?" I asked.
"Like, you know….more so than usual.
"How is he usually?" I asked this when Dad was bringing the dogs in and heading upstairs with them.
"You know." Jason shrugged. "A little different, but not like concerningly different."
"...Right…"
Jason's dad rang the doorbell when he arrived, sending the dogs through the damn roof.
"That will be my dad." Jason chuckled as he got up off the couch.
"Either him or a very polite burglar." I snickered, checking my watch as I walked him to the door.
"Very funny.." Jason remarked, pulling his coat on. "...You gonna be okay tonight?" He asked in a more sympathetic tone.
I shrugged. "Define okay…"
"...You want me to stay the night?" He offered.
"...Nahh, go on home." I answered. "Your dad's already here."
"Are you sure? Cause I can ask him to leave. It's really not that big of a deal."
"No, no. I'm sure." I insisted. "Really, I'll survive…..really, I will….please."
"If you're sure…." He shrugged, still not entirely convinced, if at all. "...let me know when you hear from her then, alright."
I nodded. "I will."
I watched as he walked with his dad, back to the car, before shutting the door behind them and looking down at Sammy, who seemed to be just as concerned.
I reached down to scratch his ears. "Don't give me that look. Come on, let's get to bed."
He whined in somewhat of a protest, but followed me up the stairs anyway.