Hard to Explain

“It’s probably both. You’re shy and private and they don’t know how to work around it. I feel kind of bad for having you in my house for five years and not talking to you more than once or twice.”

“It’s not like I’ve made an effort either. I just... can’t make myself want to.”

“Why’s that?”

“What do you mean?”

“Is it that you don’t like people, or that they scare you, or that you like them but find it difficult to be around them for extended periods of time, or…?”

Aiden was quiet at he thought it over. “They make me incredibly nervous, but not scared.”

“Is it easier for you when you’re with fewer people?”

“Usually, yeah.”

“So, like, one-on-one like this is easiest?”

He nodded. “Clearly. I’ve not panicked yet.”

Josh was smiling again. “And do you really think that’s a thing that’s unique to Dodge and me, or do you think that if you were around other people one-on-one in a situation like this, it would make you nervous?”

“I don’t know.”

“I bet you’d probably be okay, if you were with the right people,” Josh decided. “You seem a bit easily spooked, but surprisingly funny, and it’s hard to at least not be slightly endeared. Or maybe that’s just me. I get attached easily.”

“Funny?” he said skeptically. “I’m anything but funny.”

“Well, when you’re actually making jokes and poking fun instead of making scowly faces like that, you are,” Josh said. “Or maybe the scowly faces are funny, too. I haven’t made my mind up yet.”

"That's fantastic. You find my misery funny. Rude stranger, you are."

“Wow, miserable? So much for my ability to get along in social situations. 20 minutes in a room with me and you’re miserable.”

Aiden cracked a small smile. "I'm not actually miserable."

Josh grinned. “I know that, goofy. I’m not humor-deficient. Or oblivious. Or whatever word is the right one to use there.”

"Always a good thing that."

“When you’re friends with the GSA people, you need to have a good sense of humor intact, or you’ll get eaten alive.”

“That sounds vaguely unpleasant. I’d rather not get eaten by any person, GSA or otherwise.”

Josh laughed. “Depends on what kind of eaten you’re talking about, for me.”

Aiden stared at him for a moment, trying to figure out what that meant. “Um...”

Josh just stared at him. “Okay, not getting the innuendo. Right.”