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]

Hurley had decided it was definitely time to call Hoshi. Yes, he hadn't called Ino back yet, he'd get to that. But he needed to at least keep Hoshi in the loop. Especially to explain why he'd not tried to visit her lately.

So, he rang up Hoshi's number and hoped she'd answer.

[shyest-eyes.livejournal.com]

Telephoning Hoshi was a combination of things, really, Hinata thought as she picked up the phone and dialed. Anxiety over the coming weekend, her interest in what Hoshi had been doing, and her wishing to keep in touch.

Ring, ring.

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

Hoshi put her PADD aside and answered on the second ring after glancing at the caller ID. "Hurley! I am so glad you called. You will not believe the classes that I'm taking!" she squealed.

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

Hoshi was about ready to give up on her translation, so when the phone rang, it seemed like perfect timing. "Hello Hinata," she said, grinning. "How is life in Fandom?"

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

Hurley, for the moment, would totally do the good boyfriend thing and let Hoshi tell him all about the exciting things he actually thought were really not important right now.

"You're taking great classes?" he said, doing his best to feign interest in his voice.

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"They let me test out of all the freshman classes!" said Hoshi. "I'm actually taking classes with students who are a full year or two into the program. It means I'll graduate a whole lot sooner than I thought."

It also meant that Hoshi was feeling like a little fish in a very big pond, but she wasn't going to come right out and say it.

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

"You... whoa," Hurley said. And then something dawned on him. "That means things are going awesome for you, right? Nothing bad happening?"

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"No, everything's totally scary good," said Hoshi. "I miss Fandom a lot, but it hasn't been so bad so far."

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

"Oh man," Hurley said. "My avoiding you is working. That's a good thing."

Way to phrase it the wrong way, Hurley.

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"You're avoiding me?" asked Hoshi, startled. "Why?"

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

"Crap," Hurley said.

There was a definite pause, as Hurley looked around to make sure his mom wasn't around.

"I'm cursed, Hoshi. I used these numbers to win the lottery, and it's making bad stuff happen to everyone I know."

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"Wouldn't winning the lottery be a good thing, though?" asked Hoshi, still very confused.

[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."

[shyest-eyes.livejournal.com]

Hinata had to laugh a little.

"D-Did you want the honest answer, or the one I am... trying to convince myself of?"

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

Hoshi chuckled. "I'll tell you what. If you're honest with me, I'll be honest with you," she said.

[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."

[shyest-eyes.livejournal.com]

"Worried," she admitted, flushing at saying so. "My father is coming tomorrow for Parent's Weekend and I fear I have not--best pleased him in the last while."

[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."

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"Sounds familiar," said Hoshi. "I went to see my mother right before moving into the apartment, and we ended up fighting all over again over what I wanted to do versus what she thought I should be studying. At least my dad is more understanding, but it wasn't easy when he showed up for graduation."

[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."

[shyest-eyes.livejournal.com]

"Parents," she said, with a sigh. "Never seem to be easy. How are you doing, Hoshi?"

[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."

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"Things have been good, but just a little bit scary at the same time," said Hoshi. "The university allowed me to place out of all the freshman classes, but I feel out of place with all these older students."

[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.