[video]

[foreverbouncing]

[Charlie is sitting on the floor in a bedroom that is not her own, but Josh's. She's leaning her back against the edge of his bed, and she looks...dissheveled, like she has been crying but has managed to wipe away most of the traces of it. She's holding something in her hand, another network phone, turning it over and over as she talks.]

Uhm. ...Has

Comments

[wrong_sometimes]

Wait... he's not with you?

[foreverbouncing]

[She just shakes her head and rubs at her eyes again.]

permavoice;

[wrong_sometimes]

[Cassie abruptly turns the video off. She doesn't want Charlie to see her face right now.]

When was the last time you saw him?

[foreverbouncing]

L-last night. I saw him for like, an hour...

[wrong_sometimes]

I thought he just- never mind. Is anyone looking for him?

[foreverbouncing]

I did! All day...

Cass is looking now. I'm just sort of...here. In case maybe he comes home...

[wrong_sometimes]

[There's a long pause on the line, and if her ears are good, she might hear the scratching of a pen on paper. It's almost long enough to make someone think that Cassie had dropped the line, but eventually a muttered curse is heard, followed by footsteps.

Cassie doesn't knock, she just barges in the room, holding her notebook and looking... wrecked. Holding out the book, like anything in it would make sense to Charlie, she just... talks, forgetting that her comm is still on.]

I don't... I can't find him.

[foreverbouncing]

[Charlie just blinks when Cassie storms in, staring at her and the book. She's got one of Josh's sweatshirts on, and she's still holding his phone in her lap even while hers sits on her knee. She stares at the book the other girl is holding out, not sure if she's supposed to take it or not.]

W-where were you looking?

[wrong_sometimes]

My head. My visions.

[Cassie sinks down on the bed, finally turning her comm off.]

He's not... he's not in them anymore. In the future. Just... he's gone. Like- [Like Nick had suddenly been gone.] Gone.

[foreverbouncing]

...Gone?

[It's the little truth Charlie has been mentally avoiding all day. The fact that she hadn't been able to just bounce right to Josh this morning had meant something was obviously wrong. But still...]

He can't be gone...

[wrong_sometimes]

He is. Gone.

[This is Cassie in full on defensive mode. Curt, business-like, no nonsense. Crossing her arms across her chest, Cassie leans against his headboard, looking at the things in the room, wondering if any of it would be worth selling. She's getting the idea that it's time to move on again.]

People do it all the time.

[foreverbouncing]

Shut up!

[Charlie turned to face the bed, still holding Josh's phone.]

He isn't...he wouldn't just go! He wouldn't!

[wrong_sometimes]

Since when do we have any control over it, huh?!

[The mask slips a little and Cassie can feel the sting of tears. A sting she ignores completely.]

The 'porter gives and the 'porter takes away - that's how it goes. You're crazy if you think you have any control over it.

[foreverbouncing]

Just...just shut up, Cassie. He's not gone.

[God could come down from on high and tell her Josh was gone and Charlie wouldn't believe it right now. She sinks back into her previous position, fiddling with her boyfriend's phone.]

[wrong_sometimes]

Whatever.

[With a sudden movement, Cassie crosses to Josh's desk and boots up his computer.]

[foreverbouncing]

[She frowns and pushes to her feet.]

What are you doing?