Defenceless

40. Stutter Sean

They said the Titanic looked long enough for somebody to walk to America, and Fabrizio's steps weren't far from it. He was eager to arrive to the stateroom and never go out. He could live in the school forever, right? Because he wasn't planning on stepping a foot on the cruise again "Che cazzo... AAH WHAT YOU DOING HERE?!"

"Uh... it's my cabin?" Jack watched diverted how his best friend dramatically entered the room and wondered what the gossip was.

"I thought you were with Rose" He apologized

"She had work to do with Molly and Tommy and I had to ice my wrist... do not change the subject! What happened?"

"My... my stutter is back"

"Really?"

"Yes. I was in the buffet the... the... the Rooftop Specialities where-"

"Yeah, I know. We go almost every day to play Roblox because of the WiFi"

"Yes, well, I wasn't playing this time, I was reading. But then this... this waiter comes to me, and..."

"Yes?"

"I forget how to speak English! I got nervous. He asked me if my food was good and then if I tried cheese tea"

"And why are you so nervous?" He raised an eyebrow, Fabrizio was hiding something.

"BECAUSE I have social anxiety Jack!"

"Right. And then?"

"He asked me if I had a boyfriend"

"And what did you say?"

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHAT DID I SAY?! HOW DARE HE! How ... how ... RUDE OF HIM TO ASK THAT. You know what? I'm never going there again, that's it. We're never returning, there's way more interesting food around the cruise and the school cafeteria is as good as any other buffet on board. We don't have to go elsewhere"

Jack put the ice aside and sat on the edge of his bed. He was well aware that if he laughed it would be very bad for him, he couldn't help it, the situation was hilarious and his roommate was being quite dramatic. "We go there, because there's good WiFi..."

"They changed the password. They change it every 5 hours actually, since passengers started to use it without consuming"

"How do you know that?"

"Sean told me"

"Oh, the stutter has a name"

Fabrizio couldn't stand anymore, he jumped into his bed and hugged a pillow for comfort. Just when everything starts to settle, here comes this guy to confuse him...

"He pronounces it different... he says shun, very quickly, very... staccato: shun. And his voice is like... calming but you don't want him to stop talking, it's like healing" Jack was happy because his best friend was starting over, he had been through some very rough times, and he always had been there for him. Now it's his turn to find someone and be happy in that relationship. "And he's such a gentleman! Very... polite and... how do you say... perfect"

"Why don't you ask him out?"

"What? No. I mean... We could hang out right?"

"You don't wanna ask him out on a date?"

"No! What part of I don't like guys do you not understand!"

"You want him as a friend?"

"Yes"

"You like him as a friend"

"Yes!"

"I'm your friend, how can I never hear you talking that way about me... or! How can I never make you nervous?"