When Josh was born, he did not cry, but everyone else in the room did. When he was five, he was brought to a theme park, and employee morale was raised by fifty percent that day. When he was fifteen, his first girlfriend broke his heart, and riots broke out across the high school, requiring a week to fully repair the damages.
Josh finally realized that all of these events were related when he was nineteen, while he was in his philosophy class.
The guy sitting in front of Josh was incredibly attractive, and Josh was quite turned on by him. He had been eyeing him up for a few weeks. It started with just thinking about talking to him, but today it escalated. He could feel himself getting hard, thinking about this guy, thinking about him sucking him under the desk. Josh noticed sweat accumulating on the back of the other guy's neck, he was starting to flush. Josh leaned slightly to the right and saw a massive erection, poorly covered by a sweater.
Josh was confused at first, but then he got curious. He started thinking about this guy, pressed up against the wall with a necklace of Josh's hand and Josh's tongue down his throat. The man stood up and ran out of class, but not before Josh saw the wet stain on his crotch. Josh thought about what had happened for the rest of the day. Had he made him cum? Just with his thoughts? There was no way. But now he had to find out for sure.
He returned to his room after class finding his roommate Ezra sitting on the couch.
"Hey Josh, how was class?" Ezra asked. Josh sat down next to him.
"It was fine, yours?" Josh asked.
"Didn't go, didn't feel like it," Ezra answered, somewhat despondent.
Josh realized that now was his opportunity. He stared at Ezra and thought of times he'd felt motivated and studious. Where he'd found answers to questions he had never even considered and felt enlightened by the knowledge he had gained. Suddenly, Ezra stood up.
"You know what? I will go to the professor's office hours and catch up. I can't keep ditching my classes." Ezra smiled and ran off.
It was him. Every strange event that had happened around him came into focus. It was like one of those optical illusion photos. He saw the events turn into a clear but absurd picture. He could control others' emotions. This incident with Ezra made him realize that there was so much good he could do with this power so he decided to get straight to work practicing.
He arrived at the cafeteria, determined to find people to use this power on. He saw a girl looking like she hadn't slept in a week, so he imagined sending memories of all the times he felt refreshed and energized her way. She started to stand taller and looked more alert, after a minute or two she was bouncing foot to foot, fully energized. Josh was amazed. He had made someone's life better, just by thinking. He wanted more. He needed more.
In class the next day, Josh saw one of his classmates who seemed upset about something. His fingers hit his phone screen hard and fast. His mouth was carved into a deep frown. He could see he was in a bad fight over text with his girlfriend. Mark sent thoughts of happiness and calm to him, his thumbs slowed on the keyboard. He texted two words "I'm sorry." He watched and a text came in from the other person in the chat, "I'm sorry too. Date night tonight?" He saw his classmate respond, "sounds great." And then put his phone down.
Josh smiled and began considering all the things he could do with this newly discovered skill. While he didn't learn much in that class, he did have lots of ideas. He was just leaving class to go try a few more things, when the hot guy from yesterday pulled him aside.
"Hey, Josh!" Josh turned around.
"My name is Jamie, I... uh... I was wondering... if you wanted to grab a drink?" He scratched the back of his head anxiously.
"I'm not usually... um into... uh guys like that. Like you know... romantically... but..."
"I'd love to go for a drink Jamie, where and when?" Josh answered with a laugh at the awkward Jamie.
"Student pub. Eight?" Jamie offered.
"I'll be there." Josh smiled. He then grabbed Jamie's hand and wrote his number on it.
"I'll see you tonight." Josh called as he walked off to go get ready.
He checked the time when he got back to the apartment, and saw that he still had three hours before he had to be at the pub. So he decided that he'd work with Ezra a little more. He walked in to find Ezra at the table with a textbook open.
"Are you studying?" Josh asked skeptically.
"Yeah dude, I gotta catch up, I have been slacking majorly." Ezra said, not looking up from his book.
"Oh, well I'm glad to see you so into your work." Josh grinned.
He was so glad he could help his roommate this way. He sent Ezra feelings of joy and studiousness together. He then made two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and gave one to Ezra. He quickly sent feelings of extreme gratitude, with a little bit of love, towards Ezra. His roommate looked up at him, eyes full of warmth.
"Thank you so much Josh. How did you know I was hungry?" Ezra asked eagerly.
"Just had a feeling buddy. Enjoy." He went off to grab a towel and pick out his clothes.
He chose his nicest pair of boxers, black and satiny. Over those, a designer tee and black slacks. He would wear this with a pair of black leather dress sneakers. He also grabbed his nicest bomber jacket.
He showered slowly and thoroughly. Then began the process of getting ready. He gelled and combed his center part mullet, so it was neat and professional looking. He put on his deodorant and only two sprays of an evergreen cologne. He didn't like smelling overly perfumed, but he did like to smell fresh. He dressed himself, added his gold chain, and checked one last time in the mirror.
He didn't realize Ezra had come up behind him.
"Looking great Josh. Going somewhere?" Ezra leaned in the bathroom door.
"Yeah, I have a date." Josh grinned.
"Good luck Josh." Ezra said somewhat quickly and then went to his room.
"That was weird, whatever though, he probably wants to get back to studying." Josh thought to himself as he grabbed his keys and wallet.
"Don't study too late!" He called out, and Ezra gave a muffled response.
Josh started the quick walk to the pub, taking it nice and slow, just enjoying the evening air. It was nice to have these quiet moments once in a while. He watched the breeze pass through the amber leaves causing some to twirl gracefully toward the cobblestone path. Fall was always his favorite season, there was something about the crisp, light air that had always appealed to him.
He arrived at the bar ten minutes early. Josh didn't like to be too early but being late was obscene to him and he was painfully curious where tonight was going.
When he walked in he saw his date nervously sitting at a table in the corner next to the window. Josh sent a slow soft wave of excitement and a little lust his way. He walked up to the table confidently, trying to show Jamie that there was nothing to worry about.
Jamie's face broke into a sweet but nervous smile.
"Hey." He said softly.
"Hi Jamie, what can I get you to drink?" Josh asked gently.
"Rum and Coke please, single." Jamie answered quickly.
"Sounds good, I'll be right back." Josh assured the nervous man.
Jamie was a cute redhead with a light stubble, which accentuated a firm jawline. He was a couple inches shorter than Josh. Maybe 5'7", to Josh's 6' 2". He wore a simple dark blue plaid shirt, work boots, and jeans.
While Josh got their drinks he sent warm happy feelings Jamie's way. By the time he returned to the table, Jamie's body language had opened up and he smiled wider and more confidently. He had a gorgeous smile, made even better by the dusting of freckles along his nose. He had shorter hair that was clearly not carefully styled.
Josh passed him his drink.
"Thank you. What did you get?" Jamie asked.
"Gin and tonic. Much like you, I like the classics." Josh joked.
"You read me like a book." Jamie laughed.
"I also take my coffee black, I'm a bit of a purist." Josh joked pretentiously.
"I have to have three drops of coffee in my cream and sugar." Jamie pretended to be ashamed.
"I might be able to forgive you for that." Josh teased.
Jamie laughed louder this time. Josh sent a little wave of passion. Jamie's eyes lit up with it, so Josh sent another right after.
"I'm really glad I asked you out tonight." Jamie blurted out, clearly regretting it after.
"I'm glad you did too." Josh spoke in a reassuring tone.
