Joseph speechless?

"You know how to decorate hair?" Aria asked, as Jacob led Helen to her bedside and Aria scooted over to make some room for her.

"Of course. I've been taught since I was a kid." Helen replied, sounding a bit surprised at Aria's question, and lightly touching the flowers to see which ones were there.

"Oh . . . . " was Aria's only reply before she turned to Jacob and asked, "And how do you plan to kill the time?" Jacob shrugged. "I could go to the library to get some studying done. But I guess it'll be better here. You guys can help me with anything I don't understand. I'll just quickly go and grab my books." he said, getting up.

"There's no need." Joseph said. Two pairs to questioning eyes turned to him, Helen had gotten herself busy with Aria's hair. "Just tell me where they are, I'll fly them here. It'll be good training for me." he replied.

"Oh . . . okay." Jacob said.

One hour later . . . .

"There! All done!!" Helen exclaimed and all the other three looked up. Aria and Jacob had been busy with some tasks, Aria religiously writing away and Jacob scratching his head staring at a spot on his notebook. Joseph almost jumped from his seat, he had been reading a book, one of the many novels Aria had on the bedside table.

Aria looked at her braid as Helen put it over her shoulder and gasped. Her hair really did look heavenly. Helen had arranged the flowers in such a way as to really compliment her hair. The yellow roses were surrounded by other colors so that they did not get lost among Aria's hair.

"That looks . . . . . heavenly. How did you do it!?!" Aria exclaimed, throwing both her arms around Helen, who shrugged with a smile. "I did tell you that I was taught since I was a kid." she said, and then turning to the boys, added, "What do you guys think?"

"She looks . . . . . . great." Jacob said. "You look really beautiful Aria." he added, turning to Aria, who let out a bright smile.

They all then turned their heads towards Joseph, but he seemed a bit . . . . out of it. Joseph didn't really look like he was with them. He was definitely looking at Aria, but he clearly wasn't in any position to form sentences. "Umm . . . . . Scott? You all right man?" The words and a light slap on the back by Jacob seemed to bring him back to reality.

Joseph blinked and looked around, as if waking up from a dream. "I . . . . uh . . . . . . " he stuttered. Helen chuckled and said, "Joseph speechless? I think that's compliment enough to you Aria."

Jacob laughed on hearing this and Joseph went very red in the cheeks and the ears. Even Aria seemed to be embarrassed as she began to inspect her braid. "What's the time? Don't you guys have classes?" she said, changing the topic.

Jacob smiled and gave her a knowing look, but he still got up and collected his books. "You're right. Come on Helen, I'll drop you to your class." he said, helping Helen down from the bed. The two then said goodbye to Aria and were about to leave when Joseph shouted, "WAIT!!!"

"I'll-I'll come with you." he said getting up. And after a hasty goodbye, he walked with such speed that he was out of the recovery ward before either Jacob or Helen.