I'm Just Curious Too: Reconciliation

Chapter 16.2

Mandy sat alone in the café she fancied of late. Their meals were top tier to her so she made no fuss in inviting Fabien over to try. She had a small note book open in front of her and scrolled her phone while jotting down some notes off screen. The scrape of a chair in front of her shifted her focus to her company.

"Heya," Bibi called gleefully, waving at her once she looked up.

"Bibi.... No," Mandy stood up and neared him, running her fingers through his angled cut.

The front was long and it climbed till under his ear with a layered back that stopped halfway down his neck. Kiel and Fabien settled on dying it an ombre dark brown to golden blond tips, which really stuck out against Fabien's pale skin. It would take some getting used to but Fabien liked it. He reached for Mandy's hand and pulled it away before hugging her.

"Mandy yes haha! Don't ruffle it, I'm still learning to style," he confessed, giving her a squeeze before releasing her.

"Bibi, we're going to the wedding. Couldn't you do it after?" She suggested, watching him take a seat.

"Uh, what does it matter whether I do it before or after?" Fabien asked, slightly losing the amusement for her reaction.

Mandy sighed and stepped back to plop on to her seat.

"Did Kiel talk you in to this?"

"No. I asked him to do it. Do I look that bad?"

Mandy took a minute to look him over. He wore a tight long sleeved t-shirt for once and baggy navy blue denims. His wrist had an array of black bands on it and that was all to his look. Fabien didn't look bad, but his body had an hour glass shape and he leaned more to the slender side of the build spectrum. It was possible to mistake him for a woman.

"No, but we are going to meet your family after so long. This could come across as.... Well, I mean after meeting Jacques all those years ago, don't you think it's going to be hard to deny your orientation if you look the part?"

Fabien folded his arms and leaned back, annoyed at the topic of conversation. "Firstly, that was rude. There is no look to being gay. Secondly, Jacques already told on me."

Mandy's heart sank and she placed her hand on her chest as if a hole had appeared. "When? Did your mom call?"

"No. I travelled home recently. He let the cat out of the bag while I was there," Fabien shifted forward and picked up a menu that was on the table, looking at it to distract his memory of that week. "Hugo and mom know. She never said anything to me since then."

"Bibi," Mandy whispered, her hand shooting from her chest to clasp his that was holding the menu.

Fabien spared her a glance before looking out the window.

"Bibi, why didn't you call me? Are you ok?" Mandy rubbed his hand with the back of her thumb. "What happened?"

"Nothing after that," Fabien retracted his hand, dropping the menu to wring his hands on his lap under the table. "Mandy, let's just get this over with."

"Yeah sure," she withdrew her hand and placed it on the notebook in front of her but she shook her head. "Fabien, are you sure you want to go? I mean ... if they know won't this mean that showing up may be a ticking time bomb?"

Fabien took a deep breath and looked at Mandy, meeting her gaze head on. The more she spoke the less confident he became about going through with it. It took him days to convince himself to this point but it is taking Mandy minutes to chip away at him. She was right. Going back now may have given Jacques and mom ample time to give their response but was he ready to receive any sort of response from them? His family weren't the type to roll over and ignore something that they thought would shift the dynamic. Also Hugo had been accommodating after the blow out, so Fabien felt that he owed him the presence. Hugo seemed great enough to keep interacting despite the reaction of the woman he would call wife very soon. Would this cause a rift between them because they don't agree on this? Will Fabien become a thorn in their new life? There were so many thoughts and Fabien thought that this time was good enough to show up and not run, but here he sat, suddenly feeling dysphoria.

"I don't know," his voice shook, gaining a cough before he cleared his throat. "I knew I couldn't hide it forever. Time has a funny thing of running out when you aren't prepared so help me get through this as best as I can."

Mandy paused and nodded, standing up to give Fabien a hug, which he accepted without resistance. She held his head to her stomach and his arms circled her, the embrace brief but tight before Mandy offered a pitying smile. "Let me call a waiter so we can order. I'll tell you about the flights we've booked and where we plan to stay. You're gonna stay with us."

Fabien replicated the smile and nodded, turning his attention back to the menu. "Sure. Just in a separate space please."

*****

Sometimes I am unsure of who exactly are friends and not. Mandy comes across as helpful sometimes or instigator. I really wonder where she stands. Well! Keep hydrated, keep reading and let's gooooo!