Jamie was generally a positive fellow, but there were a few things he didn't like. He didn't like speaking negatively about people he liked when there was a way to spin things positively, he didn't like perpetuating negative conversations for the sake of being negative, and he didn't like missing meals. All three of those things were apparent as the friends' conversation wore on. Luckily, his attempt to distract Julia seemed like it was going to lead to his getting a bite to eat, and then maybe they'd all feel better. He had no reason to believe this. All of his attempts to distract her from her misery had failed so far. In fact, he was half convinced that he himself had been the accidental cause of her agitation in the first place, though he was having trouble imagining what he could have said to bring it on.  Soon there would be food, though, so... well, that was nice. While Julia sat and began putting her shoes back on, Jamie vacated the bench to go and reclaim his guitar.

”Jamie?”

“Hmm?” he asked, looking up, pausing before he could sling his instrument over his shoulder. Her voice sounded suspiciously needy and it gave him pause, making him wonder if he might have to pop a squat once again and brace himself to be hit with a deluge of an emotional confession. The expression on her face didn't give him any more hope. He'd stay if she needed him to, but she had to know that, if they missed supper, he'd be dragging her down to the kitchens at their earliest convenience. The friendship thing was supposed to go both ways.

”I think I need a hug today.”

“Alright, bird. I suppose I'll allow it,” he answered with a miniscule quirk of his lip, setting his guitar back down and closing the gap between them. He tossed one leg over the piano bench, straddling it like he had been earlier, and then drew her roughly toward him, embracing her with some force. It was a bear hug in every sense, tight and immersive, like a strong, all-over handshake. “Please don't go becoming a tramp,” he begged, speaking into her ear as he rested his chin on her shoulder. “It would ruin everything.” 


a simple rule that every good man knows by heart: its smarter to be lucky than its lucky to be smart