Comfy Jeans

"Okay." Jared would kind of prefer it just be him and Grace at the beach, but he wouldn't begrudge his mother going along - she deserved to get out too, especially being cooped up in the house all the time, and half of that to take care of him. He would go whether it was all three of them or not. 

At the mention of food, he shakes his head slowly. "I'm... really not hungry." In reality, his stomach did want food, but he just didn't feel like eating. His mother was a great cook, but nothing seemed to taste good. It was as if his tastebuds had taken a vacation right along with his confidence and happiness. Not even ice cream sounded good.

"Thanks though." His hand slides over to rest against Grace's. Even if he couldn't smile, he did appreciate her efforts. Maybe tomorrow the sunshine really would do him good...

...When the next day did roll around, Jared wasn't sure what time Grace was going to come, but he makes the biggest effort he could in the morning to get himself cleaned up and showered. He found a faded pair of blue jeans - they were the most worn ones in his wardrobe - a pair that he'd wanted to get rid of before, but now were deemed the most comfortable, along with an old but clean and hole-less t-shirt. 

Sitting in his wheelchair, he could just see the mirror at the bathroom sink and he sighs. Showered and dressed in clean clothes, he still didn't look very good. Why did Grace even keep trying? Maybe he'd never figure out that one. 

Even if he wasn't worth his own efforts though, she was, and for the first time in weeks, he wanted to at least look halfway presentable. Retrieving his shaving cream and razor, he sets to work at ridding his face of what had become quite a thick layer of scruff. Once that was done, he runs a comb through his hair but ends up leaving it just a little messy. He used to be quite picky about his hairstyle... not anymore though. He loathed where his vanity had gotten him.

Returning to his room, he wheels himself to the window. It didn't take very much time of watching though, before he'd leaned his head to the wall and had dozed off. 

Seeing Katie ready to go but not having finished the pizza, Carson automatically gets her a small box. He wasn't going to let her pay for anything either - it was the first time in almost two months that he'd had a friend show up here and it was worth any expense. 

Her question brings his elbows to lean on the counter as he sighs. "I don't know, Katie... My life's been messed up since I was a kid. I've just had a few reprieves in between." 

He picks at a chip in his thumbnail. "As far as tomorrow goes..." He knew she was right. It was going to feel strange for her. Not just trying to get back into the swing of work, but having her ex-boyfriend right there. And not only that, but him dating one of her good friends. who was also right there. 

Looking at her, he offers the best smile he can. "...Well... I guess I don't have much to say about that. But one thing I do know is that you'll rise above it all, just like you always do. You have more strength than most people I know, and I haven't got an ounce of doubt that you'll be able to conquer whatever you want."