I see the world around me changing WHO Josh Foley OT Flynn Rosewood WHAT Flynn has an invitation for his golden guest WHERE Rosewood Manor WHEN August 8, 2016; early afternoon WARNINGS TBD, but prolly none
To say that the last year had been a whirlwind of changes for Josh would be a gross understatement. While he’d at least managed to graduate high school and find a place of his own to share with Rayne, his adult life had barely begun before it all came crashing down. He could still remember what it felt like, lying helpless beneath the tree that had fallen on him during the crazy storm a year before. His consciousness had been in and out, largely tethered to the world of the living by Lucas, but the coma he’d succumbed to once he’d been rescued had filled him with enough dreams and nightmares to last a lifetime.
His recovery hadn’t been much better. Woken from his coma, he had been told that the only way he would survive was if he healed himself. In as much pain as he was, Josh had for a long moment contemplated not doing, thinking that it would be better for everyone if he just died right then and there. But then there was Emily’s face, Emily’s hands on his, begging him to stay with her. How could he leave her like that? He tried to at least push her out of the room, he didn’t want her to see what it was going to look like or to hear how loudly he was going to scream. Even pumped full of morphine, it was excruciating, but she had stayed to keep watch over him through it all.
He didn’t remember exactly what had happened over the next day. The doctor had been shocked at his sudden recovery, having expected the need for an uncomfortable phone call with his young patient’s family. Even more shocking, however, was when the doctor led him gingerly to the mirror over the small sink in his hospital room. Josh couldn’t believe his eyes. The doctor couldn’t explain it; he’d seen skin discolorations, but never anything as transformative as Josh’s now golden exterior.
It was a lucky development, he supposed, as it had kept him in the hospital an extra day or two for observation, which meant he was there to help heal the little girl down the hall, Kira. He recognized her mother from Loaf Around, and as much as it broke his heart to see a parent who actually cared for her child, he did everything he could to bring Kira back. Deep down, he hoped that it might reverse what had happened to him, turn him back to normal, but he couldn’t be disappointed when Kira had opened her eyes and he had stayed gold.
The year that followed had been hard on him, although he was finally beginning to realize that it was selfish to think he was the only one affected. Rayne had tried her best to keep his spirits up, joking that he could work as a street performer or C-3PO impersonator. Emily had been a saint, as always, although he felt guilty for staying with her. He couldn’t go outside without attracting stares, and other than his apartment, the only other place he felt remotely comfortable at was Crescent Hill Academy. They had tried everything there to help him, to no avail.
The invitation he’d received from Flynn Rosewood seemed to come out of the blue. They’d met in Kira’s hospital room, and had been in contact a handful of times since then. But Josh had never expected the town’s wealthiest man to invite him over to his manor. Not a house, Josh reminded himself. A manor. Emily had helped him pick out an outfit that was nice enough for the level of company he was meeting, without being too stodgy or formal. Navy slacks and a freshly ironed white button down. No tie, no jacket.
He was grateful that Flynn had been generous enough to send a car to pick him up, since he’d had a brief moment of anxiety in trying to figure out how he was going to get across town without being noticed. Emily had given him a quick kiss on the cheek and shoved him lovingly out of the apartment and into the waiting car. The drive was short, although despite the air conditioning, Josh felt like he’d already sweated through his shirt. He couldn’t quite figure on why he was so nervous; it wasn’t like Flynn had a reputation for being mean, or that Josh had anything of any value to be lost to him. But it was the first time he’d really left his apartment to go someplace that wasn’t Crescent Hill Academy, or the hospital. Even with the deep tint on the windows, he’d sunk down into the plush leather seat to avoid being seen if someone happened to glance inside.
The driver pulled up to a stop in front of the manor, swiftly opening the door and ushering Josh toward the front door. He had just raised a golden hand to knock, when it swung open and a pretty maid beckoned him inside with a sweet smile and a graceful sweep of her arm.
“You must be Mister Foley,” she said as he stepped into the foyer. “Mister Rosewood will be with you momentarily.”
“Uh, thanks,” Josh murmured, looking around. He knew that Rosewood Manor was supposed to be nice, and that it was opened periodically for tours due to its historical significance. But he was pretty sure that it was the nicest house - or manor or anything - he’d ever seen.
Not quite sure what to do, as the maid had vanished down a hallway, he stood in the middle of the foyer, his hands jammed into his pockets as he waited for his host to arrive.