1 HOUR LATER

With his stamina having run low, and with as much fun as he has been having hanging out with Rory tonight, Joshua is beyond ready to go home and climb into bed.

"Thanks for helping me out tonight." Rory smiles at Joshua as they make their way back to his car, having just left Best Buy with a new beast of a computer. "I bet you had more fun shopping with me compared to being on that date with what’s-his-face. Am I right or am I right?"

"I refuse to provide an answer to that question because I don't want to further inflate your already massive ego," Joshua sassily replies, making Rory laugh. "Anyway, now that you have a new computer, when do you think you'll get back to posting on YouTube? I bet your subscribers have been missing you like crazy."

"And what about you?" Rory asks, making Joshua blush. “Back at my party, I remember you told me that you watch my videos. You even said you’re subscribed to me as well, right?" Rory finishes placing the computer in the trunk while Joshua nervously stands aside fiddling with the end of his shirt, eventually whispering a soft Yes in response to Rory’s question. "So…are you part of the fanbase that misses my uploads? Yay or nay?"

"I plead the fifth," Joshua mutters, staring down at the ground with a slight smile.

"Cute." Rory whispers in Korean before closing the trunk and chuckling. “Fine, you win. I’ll stop teasing but only because you look like you've had a long night and could use some sleep." Rory reaches out and playfully ruffles Joshua's hair before making a move to get inside the car. "Come on, Lois. Time to get you home."

"I never should have referred to you as Superman..." Joshua smirks as he slides into the passenger seat, this time fastening his own seatbelt. "I live at 253 Fairview Drive, the apartment complex. It's actually not that far from here. I can give you directions if you need it."

"Nah. I'm familiar with the area," Rory says. "Just lay back and get some rest."

Joshua happily does as he's told and rests his head against the window, a partial smile on his face as he shuts his eyes and allows the soft tunes from the radio to lull him to sleep. 

*

20 MINUTES LATER

"Wake up, sleepyhead."

Rory gently shakes Joshua awake, his tired brown eyes opening slowly. He looks around at his new surroundings and frowns after realizing he's home.

"That'll be $50 for gas." Rory holds out his hand in front of Joshua, and his expression is deadly serious for all of ten seconds. "Relax! I'm just fucking with you." Rory laughs, dropping his hand. Joshua sighs before rolling his eyes and smiling. "And there it is."

"Hmm?" Joshua asks while unbuckling his seatbelt.

"That smile that I like so much," Rory confesses, speaking before thinking. An awkward silence quickly falls upon them, and as Rory begins to process what he just said, for the first time tonight he finds himself blushing up a storm. "Anyway, it's late. You should head inside."

"R-Right. Thanks for the ride." Joshua reluctantly exits the car, his cheeks the same shade of red as Rory's face.

Rory’s words continue to ring loudly in Joshua's head as he stumbles to his front door. It's locked, of course. Joshua checks his pockets for the key but finds nothing. He doesn't have a spare key, and after calling Tamia for help only to be sent directly to her voicemail, Joshua growls in frustration while resting his head against the door.

"Is there a problem?" Rory yells from his car. He didn’t feel comfortable pulling off until he actually saw Joshua go inside his apartment. It's a good thing Rory had stuck around, given that Joshua is apparently locked out for the night. "What happened?" Rory asks after Joshua makes his way back to the car. "Forget to take your house keys with you tonight?"

"Yes. Now I'm locked out," Joshua replies, growing embarrassed all over again. "I don't have a spare on me, and my roommate isn't here to let me in."

"Oh. You have a roommate?" Rory asks, unable to not dig for more information. “Is it the guy that you work with at the supermarket? The chatty redhead?”

"No, it’s not him." Joshua laughs. "I live with my other best friend, Tamia. She's like a sister to me. She was one of the few people that cared enough to check up on me after my mother died a few years back. I don't know where I'd be right now had she not been there to help me through all of that…" Joshua pauses, his eyes growing wide. “And I don’t know why I just told you all this because you totally didn’t ask and holy shit I’m really drunk right now, aren’t I?”

Rory laughs. “It’s okay. I can actually relate.”

“Yeah?” Joshua questions.

“My grandparents were like another set of parents for me,” Rory says. “They passed away shortly after my high school graduation. I was a wreck for a long time. They were my everything, spoiled me rotten. One day they were here, and then the next day…” Rory snaps his fingers. “They were gone. It fucking sucks losing people that you love.”

“I wouldn’t wish that kind of pain on my worst enemy,” Joshua replies, later sighing. "I honestly can’t believe the night I’m having. And I'm sorry for being such a burden, but if you could drop me off at Lucas's place, I’d greatly appreciate it."

"It's almost midnight. He’s probably asleep right now, don’t you think?" Rory starts the car and drives out of the parking lot while Joshua stares at him, confused. "I have several guest rooms that you can pick from, so…if you want, you can stay the night at my place."

Surprised by the offer, Joshua trips over his words again. "R-really? You won't mind?"

"Not at all." Rory smiles.

"Wow, I...” Joshua whispers, feeling shy. “I don't know how I'm going to pay you back for everything that you've done for me tonight but thank you."

Rory winks at him. "Don't mention it, Lois."