Fools

Part 51

cate's pov;

We had just pulled into the parking lot and I had texted Joe again letting him know we were here, I smiled once again when we hopped out.

"Look, she literally cannot stop smiling." Caspar said as he playfully bumped me, I smiled again and looked towards Lilah, she smiled faintly but kept looking forward, she was quiet the whole ride here.
"Caspar shut up, let's just go inside." I bumped him back.

We entered the building, some people were playing games or on computers, reading. We walked through the whole front part where it just looked like the lounge area, followed by the cafeteria on the side. We reached Joe's room finally and knocked on the door. He opened it up a few seconds later with a smile on his face.

"Hey guys! Welcome, welcome." He said as he opened the door wide enough. "I was just finishing tidying-up. Here sit." He spread his arm to show us the loveseat & recliner he had in his room. His room was pretty nice and spacious, he had the seating area, he had a desk with a couple of books and notebooks he was writing in on it, with a dresser, he had a full bed and then his own bathroom.
"Wow Joe, it's really nice in here." Caspar told him, he nodded with a smile.
"It is," He laughed. "I couldn't keep my own room this nice back at the house." Caspar laughed with him.
"So how is everything? How have you been?" I asked. Caspar and I sat together on the loveseat while Lilah sat in the recliner, she was still being sort've quiet and I could see she was fiddling with her fingers.
"It's been real good yeah. It took a while to get adjusted, they have a really strict schedule between the times we have chores, meetings and free-time. Plus visitation."
"Were we the first to visit?" I asked him, he shook his head with a smile.
"No, Zoe and Alfie got you guys beat with that one." We laughed. "But yeah, I've been good also. This place gives you loads of time to think and really reflect. The meetings have been helping a lot too, they're mandatory obviously but the motivation to make sure I keep going in general is good, I don't feel bad about going anymore."
"Embraced it kind of?" Caspar asked, he nodded.
"Yeah," Caspar smiled. "I honestly don't think I really want to leave to be honest." He told us.
"Why's that?" I asked.
"It just works for me. I've never felt better and I'm just a little afraid that if I leave, I won't continue with the help."
"Aw, well we gotcha buddy. We're all here to help you." Caspar said, we all nodded.
"Thanks guys, it's good to know I have a good support system."
"Of course, we're all really proud of you too." I added in, he smiled.
"You're pretty quiet today Ly, you alright?" Joe asked, I turned to look at her.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. I'm glad you're doing good Joe, I know from when we've texted, you've definitely have had some growth and I'm proud of you." She said, he nodded and smiled.
"Thank you. How have you been? How are things with you and Ashton?" He asked her. So he knows about him too? Geez, I didn't know they still talked as much as they did.
"I've been good yeah, my birthday is on Monday," My heart kind of dropped, I forgot her birthday was coming up, I frowned to myself. "Then after that just looking forward to getting on holiday, I'm going to try and go and see my sister." She didn't tell me any of this. "But we're good yeah, taking it slow but we're good." She smiled, he smiled back.
"Great! I'm glad you guys and yourself are good. Are you excited for your birthday?" He asked.
"Eh, I don't really have any plans yet so nothing really to be excited for."
"Ah okay, well maybe we could change that." She smiled. "But going to see your sister huh? That's a big step."
"Yeah. I've just been thinking about her a lot recently and I just think it's time. I need a break from the UK."
"For sure, yeah. Venture out, see what's out there. You might fall in love with the idea of living elsewhere than the UK." He told her.
"That's kind of the plan but not really the plan, I'll take you up on it though." They smiled at each other. It kind of irritated me being in the room like this with them, they're close and I'm working on not being selfish, but it just bothers me. One, just I didn't know any of this stuff with Lilah, and two, just when did they become such best friends in the first place?
"So, Joe. I was wondering if we could chat? You know, privately?" I asked, butting into the conversation. Lilah sat back in her chair and started playing with her fingers again. 
"Of course, we can always chat. I just don't want to be rude, I mean Casp and Lilah are here also to see me." He said.
"Nah, it's alright mate. Lilah, wanna go check out the rest of the building?" Caspar asked Lilah, she smiled and nodded. They both got up and exited the room, leaving Joe and I alone. I got up from the loveseat and sat next to him on his bed.