Hoshi and Joan's apartment, Thursday evening

[itsjustlanguage]

Hoshi wasn't entirely sure where the month had gone. The first few weeks of university had been exciting, but also full of surprises. She had scored high enough on placement tests that they had put her in classes with second and third-year students. Hoshi was flattered, but she felt rather intimidated when she was around all the older students.

At least she was able to do some of her coursework online, which was really convenient. At the moment, she was sitting on the couch with a data PADD. Half of her attention was on a translation for her Latin class, and the rest was trying to figure out this Twitter thing that everyone seemed to be talking about.

[So very open for calls, emails, texts and tweets!]

Comments

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

"You remember, though, right?" Hurley said. "When you came out, it was right after Grandpa Tito died? And the priest at the funeral got hit by lightning?"

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"That's not bad luck," insisted Hoshi. "People get struck by lightning all the time if they get caught outdoors during a storm, and maybe it was just your grandfather's time to go."

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

"And the factory my accountant bought with my money that burned down? And my brother's wife running off with a waitress?" Hurley said. "It's not luck, this is a curse. Leonard even said it."

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"It seems more like a series of coincidences to me," said Hoshi, frowning. "Look, if you were really cursed, I would expect much worse."

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

"The house I bought my mom was on fire when I took her to see it, she twisted her ankle, and the police arrested me thinking I was a drug dealer all in five minutes," Hurley said.

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

This was all starting to sound really crazy, and it made Hoshi wonder...

"Will you answer something honestly for me? Are you seeing someone else and this is just an excuse to break up with me?" she asked.

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

Hurley didn't say anything for a moment.

Because he'd started crying.

"I'm not crazy," he said. "I'm not making this up. Leonard said it was the numbers. They're bad, and I never should have used them."

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to imply that you were crazy," said Hoshi, stunned by his reaction. "I just... I was scared that maybe you were looking for an easy way out."

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

"My mom keeps telling me there's no such thing as curses. But I've been to Fandom. I know that magic and stuff exists. And I gotta figure out these numbers, and I just want to keep you safe," Hurley said. "I just need you to believe me, okay?"

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

It was tough to argue with that logic since Hoshi had been the one who insisted that Fandom weirdness could follow them outside of Fandom.

"I believe you," she said. "And I promise I'll stay safe, even if it means I have to keep my distance. But I have to tell you that I won't like it at all."

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

"I'm gonna get this fixed soon," Hurley said. "And then everything'll be okay. I promise."

He wasn't sure of that all, but the sentiment was genuine.

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"And in the meantime, I'll stock up on horseshoes and lucky rabbits feet," said Hoshi with a smirk. "But maybe I'll be okay with all the cross-dimensional travel I've been doing. Bad luck can't find me."

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

"We can hope," Hurley said. "Thanks... thank for understanding, Hoshi."

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"Just promise that you'll keep me informed if your luck doesn't turn around," Hoshi requested.