On the Fritz

Chapter 5 - Part 2

Much like how Christian had once said "Everyone likes you a lot more when you're quiet, Fritz", Calum saying "I'm so sick of you always being so bipolar when we hang out" stuck in Fritz's brain for months.

All Summer, the words played on loop, read out in Calum's sardonic tone. Fritz kicked himself for it – it was mean, but Calum was right. H knew he'd been acting bipolar, and even if that was the wrong diagnosis, he still felt guilty. He didn't mention what Calum said to Anne, either, because despite how much it bothered him, he didn't want to her to think less of his only friend.

Perhaps before that day spent with Calum out by the marina, Fritz still had some motivation to keep pushing Rafael to date him. He'd believed that Rafael would love being a couple, that he would get a kick out of taking everything a step further, but after his explosion with Calum, Fritz decided it was best to go quiet for a while. Did that stop Fritz from seeing him?

No.

Fritz had abstained from him for a week, but he'd quickly realised that he wasn't going to be seeing Calum again for a while, and playing The Sims 3 with Mila every day was growing tedious. So, Rafael and Fritz developed yet another unspoken agreement, and they silently decided that what Fritz said about wanting to date had never left his mouth. Rafael was completely fine with this, and acted the exact same as he had before.

The nonchalance confused Fritz even more. He didn't understand why Rafael didn't react at all, why he still wanted Fritz to come over and watch movies and make out and hook up. He was never apprehensive, it was like it was impossible for him to overthink anything that had happened. Rafael, who had been so quick to anger in the past, was now always fine. Just fine.

Of course, by the time long days barely started cooling off and school rolled back around, Fritz had given up trying. The school year begun with Calum's slightly too late apology that was actually really convincing; Calum's warm brown eyes didn't leave his the whole time they were standing there.

Even though Fritz had to explain through gritted teeth what it was Calum had said, his expression was nothing but regret the second the word "bipolar" left Fritz's mouth. It was nice of him to say sorry, but it was not a pleasant experience for Fritz. He couldn't remember the last time anyone had such a meaningful conversation with him, and he'd cried in the bathroom 20 minutes after.

The year seemed to continue on the same tepid note on which it began. On a good day, he'd sit with Josie, Vinny, and their small group of friends in the school gym. It was an okay way to spend an hour, mostly because Vinny and Josie talked so fast, he never had to try get a word in edgeways.

On a bad day, he'd sit in a music practice room until Will eventually found him, and they'd sit there and play classic rock bass lines until the bell. On a worse day still, Fritz would go back into the same room, but he'd click the lock shut and ignore Will banging on the door.

It was sad, he had no real friends, whatever, he was over it. Whenever his parents would ask him what he did at lunch, he'd tell them the truth, and they'd all sit around their lounge, nodding at each other in awkward silence. After the ninth time the silence had ensued, Ingrid had set down the TV remote, and she'd said, "I know it sounds depressing, but is it really that bad if he likes it?".

This was surprisingly philosophical from Ingrid, who usually didn't have anything to offer besides saying "Shut up" to either one of her siblings. Perhaps this denoted a turning point in Ingrid and Fritz's relationship, because the next day, she'd actually sat with him in the music block.

Of course, this had been a surprise for Will, who had come to find Fritz as he so often did on the Wednesdays that Calum was busy with debating. Will had thrown open the door, yelled "Fritz!", before locking eyes with Ingrid. His mouth opened, then it closed, and he shut the door again with a slam.

From her place on the floor, Ingrid had turned her head, stared at her brother's side profile, and she'd asked, "Why did Will just say your name?

Fritz stared back at her, and ignoring her confused squint, he told her they played bass together sometimes. To be fair, Will didn't talk much about his sexuality, but his eccentric fashion choices gave him away. Telling Ingrid the truth about them being friends was a level of honesty on par with coming out.

Ingrid began frowning, but the crease in her forehead slowly eased off.

"Cool," she'd said finally.

She changed the subject after this, but Fritz didn't care, it still felt like he had one less secret.

Not to mention, as they were walking into chemistry not even an hour later, Ingrid had stopped in front of Will's desk. He'd looked up to meet Ingrid's blank face, glanced down at her cleavage that was directly at eye level, before looking up again. Fritz watched on, now giving Ingrid the same confused look that she'd given him earlier in the afternoon.

"Hi Will," Ingrid said. "What toner do you use in your hair? I want mine that light but it would be so ugly if it got brassy."

"I have no idea," Will said, staring at Ingrid like he was looking at Jesus. "I don't know, it's, um, it comes out purple."

"That is the point of a toner," Ingrid said coolly. "Let me know."

Will said nothing else until Ingrid had crossed the class to sit in her own chair, which is when Will finally got out, "Was that your way of saying you like my hair?"

Ingrid nodded, gave him a surprisingly cheerful smile, and resumed pulling books from her bag.

Will swivelled on his seat to face Fritz, his expression bordering on awestruck. "She's so beautiful," he said under his breath. "I think I've noticed why everyone wants to date her."

"What were you going to say?" Fritz asked, taking the seat next to Will. "Before you saw Ingrid."

"Oh," Will said suddenly, before glancing over. "Yeah, sorry! I learned that Pink Floyd song you like. It's super easy, you'll pick it up."

"Is this like the time you said that Green Day song was easy?" Fritz asked. "Can't deal with your lies anymore, Will."

"It was only that one part you got stuck on," Will said, absently tapping his pen against the table. "You'll get it. You do have a great teacher."

"Who are you teaching?" Calum asked, pulling out the stool beside Will, apparently having materialised out of thin air. Fritz couldn't help but notice Will's tapping coming to an abrupt stop.

"Nothing," Will said breezily.

Fritz leaned forward on the desk, his forearms pressing into his textbook. "He's teaching me Pink Floyd songs on his bass."

Calum looked up, his eyes boring into Fritz's skull like a laser. Despite the glare, Calum just asked, "Since when?"

"Not that long," Will said casually, which flicked a switch in Fritz's brain, and he started talking without thinking.

"We started before exams last year," Fritz said. "Pretty much every time you're at debating." Calum seemed to think on this for a moment, before breathing in and looking to the whiteboard.

"You learn something new every day," Calum finally said, that frustratingly sarcastic tone creeping back in.

"But I told you," Will said suddenly.

"What?"

"When you asked me what I do when you're at debating," Will said. "I said, sometimes I hang out with Gigi, or I paint, or I play bass with Fritz in the music block."

"Don't remember that last one," Calum said back, and judging by the way Will didn't look up from his empty desk, Fritz was inclined to believe him.

But the entire situation was so unprecedented, the gears in Fritz's brain started turning. He'd gone home that day feeling like he was picking at the edge of a sticker, but he wasn't sure what ripping it off would reveal. It wasn't like the scenario had been malicious at all, it had taken only a matter of seconds before Will had made some weirdly delivered dick joke about something Ms. Sydow had written on the board, but Fritz didn't care. He couldn't help but think something was up.

Maybe Fritz is onto something. Maybe you'll just have to wait a few parts to find out what exactly it is he's thinking up. Vote and comment if you're enjoying the story, and don't forget to follow me as well for my very insightful (lol, kidding) updates!