Achieve Chapter 3 Outing (2)
-Erina-
Erina waited patiently on the sofa, drinking her tea. She flipped the pages of the magazine reading the articles.
"Erina I hope you didn't wait long." Jonathan walked into the living room, hair still damp. He was wearing the t-shirt Erina gifted him last Christmas.
"Don't worry Jojo I was just reading some magazines here. But I do want to go now, Please be a dear and get the utensils and drinks. Also please dry your hair more or you'll catch a cold." Erina said closing the magazine and placing it on the table. She stood up to bring the tea set to the kitchen.
"No, no let me get that for you, You can just wait outside Erina!" Jonathan chirped out. He took the tea set and head straight for the kitchen.
She went out of the house and waited in her car. She checked the basket containing their food. Erina took a deep breath preparing herself for the questions later.
'We should eat first and then I'll talk to him about his problems. I'll ask if it's about his brothers or if he's just lonely.' She pulled out her phone to look at the time. 'Maybe we can even go out for Ice Cream later'
Jonathan knocked on the window of the car "Erina, I brought everything so please open up the trunk. I'm so excited to go to the park now." He said excitedly. She opened up the trunk and Jonathan hurriedly placed the things into it. " Jojo, hurry up and get in the car. We'll arrive there earlier than noon so we can choose a table under a nice shade." Erina reminded. "Oh right! Well, I'll be taking the front seat then." Jonathan sat down at the front seat beside Erina.
The blonde shifted the gear and pressed her foot on the pedal, moving the wheel to the direction of the local park.
A pregnant silence filled the car. Erina tapped her finger on the wheel.
"Jojo, I told you to dry your hair didn't I?" She reprimanded. Jonathan looked sheepishly at her "I'm sorry I forgot again.." She chuckled softly "Oh Jonathan, I was kidding! But I'm serious about the 'catching a cold' thing, it's nearing autumn and you might get sick because of your damp hair. I bet you haven't even brushed it, hmm?" Jonathan blushed and murmured something under his breath.
"Hmm? I can't hear you" Jonathan looked away and whispered, "I haven't…brushed my hair…"
Erina stared at him for a second and then started laughing loudly. Jonathan turned redder and started spluttering "Erina, please just focus on the road! We might crash!"
"Okay, okay. Don't worry though, I brought my hairbrush and products. Your hair is always so tousled up, you know?" Erina said. "I know. But that doesn't mean you get to tease me about it!" Jonathan replied feeling embarrassed.
They continued to bicker at each other until they reached the park.
"Aah~ I can finally stretch my arms~!" Erina stretched her arms up into the air. She picked up the basket from the ground and started walking to the tables. She stopped and looked at him. "Jojo don't rush and bring them all at once. You might drop them." Erina reminded him. "Don't worry about me, Erina. I won't drop them. Now let's go before we miss the perfect spot!" Jojo walked next to her excitedly.
Jojo ran to multiple tables situated under a big tree with plenty of shade. "How about these tables Erina?" He pointed to a table right under the tree and ran to it.
Erina walked to the table and set the basket down. "Okay, let me prepare the food, Jojo. You carried most of the things here." He nodded bringing out the blanket, the plates, and the utensils. "Here you go. I haven't forgotten anything this time as promised!"
After fixing up the table Erina and Jonathan sat down and started eating. Jonathan peered down on the food on his plate. "Did you make these Banana Bread by yourself Erina?" Jonathan questioned. "I wanted to but I had to buy them, I didn't have time to bake yesterday," Erina answered.
They ate in silence after that, the blonde-haired woman sometimes staring at Jonathan eating happily (err…messily too.)
"Jojo you might choke, eat slower," Erina said amused. "Whap did you phay?" Jonathan said while chewing food. "Jojo please don't eat with your mouth open and please don't talk with your mouth full." The blonde said slightly less amused. Jojo gulped down the food in his mouth and replied with a sorry.
'You're table manners haven't changed, huh Jojo?' Erina mused to herself. "Erinha?" Jojo said his face stuffed with bread. He kept trying to get his friend's attention until he started choking on the bread. Erina heard a noise and saw Jonathan choking.
"Jojo!"
"This is why I told you to not talk while your mouth is full!" Erina reprimanded while handing him a cup of water. Jonathan was still coughing and beating his chest with his fist. "I'm sorry Erina I just couldn't help it the bread was so good!" Jonathan said before taking the cup and drinking from it. "Hmph, for the oldest brother you sure are irresponsible sometimes Jonathan." She said.
'Oh..' She thought and quickly added "Sorry Jonathan I—"
"No, it's fine. You don't have to walk on eggshells about that to me." He smiled at her understandingly.
"…"
"Hey, Erina let's clean up and head to the hill so you can brush my hair. You mentioned you wanted to, right?" He suggested, breaking the silence. "Okay, let's go Jojo.."
Jonathan ran up to the tree at the top of the hill, this place is still isolated from the rest of the park so it's a bit untouched. The birds were flying up on the blue sky, clouds slowly moving. She could remember playing with Jonathan here when they were kids, with Danny of course.
Erina walked up to Jonathan laying on the picnic blanket they used awhile ago and sat down next to him. "Here Jojo, I brought them." Jonathan just hummed a yes, looking dazed. He was peering up to the sky dreamily.
"Turn around so I can brush your hair now." He obeyed still looking at the sky. "Jojo, I can't brush your hair with your head up like that." He then laid down on the blanket, right next to Erina. She threaded her fingers through his hair feeling the knots. "You normally brush your hair every day to keep it soft.." she took a small amount of baby oil and spread it on the mess. The blonde wiped her hand on a napkin and started brushing his hair. The small knots on the end were easy to brush away but the big ones deeper were harder. She can hear his soft breaths, the sunlight caressing his head like a halo. Erina frowned, looking closer though he had wrinkles on his face and eye bags on his eyes. Whatever the problem is, it must be bad enough he would be this troubled by it.
'This is the moment of truth…'
"…Jonathan?"
"Yes?"
"You know us, your friends, are here for you, right?"
"Yes.."
"You can always rely on us for a change…"
"What do you mean by that?..."
"I mean that I know something is bothering you, Jonathan."
"What?" He rolled onto his back and looked straight at Erina.
"Something has been bothering you right? You can always tell me."
"Nothing has been bothering me," Jonathan said trying to convince her.
"Jonathan, You know I'm not a fool. I know something's up."
"I…really, nothing has been bothering me, Erina."
'Liar' She thought. He wasn't looking into her eyes. He can't lie to save his life most Joestars are great at bluffing except for him. He's that honest.
"You liar, you're averting your eyes again. When you lie you do that a lot."
"I…" Jonathan hesitated before getting up halfway "Have I been pushing my problems to you too? Or is it just that obvious?..."
"It's obvious Jojo. You've been acting weirdly ever since your brothers moved out."
"…"
"Is that the reason you've been acting that way?..."
He faced Erina and brought his knees to his chin, hiding his face. "…Yes"
Erina petted his hair affectionately. "Oh, Jonathan…"
"I know I must've troubled you, Erina, I'm sorry." He apologized.
"Jonathan. Look at me." Jonathan felt his face being lifted by soft hands. "You didn't and never will trouble me. Everyone needs someone to talk to and someone to support them. Me and our other friends are here for you. Jonathan, you're my precious friend. You continued to support me even after my family died. So please don't say that." His eyes started stinging with tears.
"We've always leaned on you, so lean on us when you need it. There's no shame in admitting you're lonely because I know your life was all about taking care of your brothers.
They have their own lives now separate from yours, but that doesn't mean you don't have anyone else in your life.
You have us. Me, Speedwagon and would be happy to spend time with you. I bet if you called your brothers right now they would immediately be concerned.
You're the most caring and kindest person I know. So trust me when I say that all of us love you Jonathan and that you aren't giving anyone trouble." She said sincerely while looking Jonathan straight in the eyes.
Jonathan hugged her and started sobbing loudly, staining her shirt with tears. "Erin..a I'm..sorry.."
Erina wrapped her hands around him and soothingly rubbed his back.
"Shh…Jonathan, it's okay.." Erina whispered.
They stayed like that until Jonathan finished sobbing. Erina handed him a tissue "Here, for your nose." He accepted it graciously with a thank you.
"Sorry about your shirt Erina." Jonathan looked at her stained shirt. "Don't worry about it. It's no problem."
Erina stood up before saying "Let's go get ice cream and we can crash at your house to watch some history documentaries, what do you think of that plan?"
"That sounds like a good plan! WOO! I haven't had anyone over for a long time." Jonathan yelled out. Erina stifled a laugh while her friend looked at her weirdly.
"What?" He asked cluelessly. 'How cute~! He has no idea that what he said was a bit inappropriate." Erina shooked her head and said "Oh nothing."
They walked in silence towards the car. When they got in Jonathan whispered something.
"Erina?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
"You're welcome, Jojo."
This took me a day to write because this is the longest thing I wrote for this story. I had a hard time with this even though I normally am good at thinking of fluffy things. It's because I had a hard time writing the 'Moment of truth' where Erina confronted Jonathan about his worries. Honestly, though I kinda projected into Erina when she comforted him, I want that soft boi to be happy. He doesn't deserve this : (
This is 1,854 words. Jfc. Also, that banana bread thing is from me having that today, yay!