Carry that weight (Fruk)

21

Francis and I walked back to the table, food in hand. Dylan continued to give us this nervous and sweaty look, and I just knew it was a matter of time before he finally broke. Although I hoped he would keep his mouth shut during the dinner, I think I underestimated the situation.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I mean it! It is okay if you like men. I mean...it explains so much but with Francis? Seriously?" Dylan asked, almost disgusted.

"HEY! What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"YEAH! WHAT THE HELL IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?!" Francis nearly pushed me out of the way. He was going to kill my brother. Then kill Alistair, then me...I just knew it. Conner would be the only one left to carry the family name on for generations. He will tell our stories around the campfire like some crazy folktale. Well...at least I won't have to be the one around that BRAT Peter!

No! I have to stay focused.

"Oh, nothing...It is just surprising...I didn't think the two of you liked each other...especially not like that. It is a surprise..."

"DYLAN! FOCUS! You can not tell Alistair what you saw!" I demanded. He was getting sidetracked, and I needed to bring him back to the main conversation. "I will..." He started. Francis and I both got excited, but then he continued. "If you tell me why? Why are you doing this to our brother? AND YOU! You are married to him!" He added. There it was ...the lecturing.

"Listen...we do not have time to tell you everything right now...please, keep quiet...if you don't...I will tell everyone about what I caught you doing in your high school room!" I threatened. Francis looked at us curiously, then at him. "You wouldn't," Dylan spoke.

"I would! every detail!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After I somehow convinced him to keep his mouth shut, and I was now limited on time.

"Arthur, are you okay?" Alistair asked. Everyone, once again, turned to me. "Peachy! Why do you ask?" I spoke. My brother looked at me nervously, suddenly standing up. "Let's talk in the kitchen," He spoke. It did not make anyone feel any better and probably worsened the tensions.

"Okay," I squeaked.

After sitting for a minute, I was forced to stand right back up.

It felt like a death march as I followed Alistair into the kitchen. However, I needed to be prepared. "Are you okay? Francis isn't getting suspicious, right?" He asked, worried. This idiot! That should be his last worry right now. His first should be me hitting him across the face, again. "Not that I know...but how about you leave me out of it. Francis is my friend...and frankly... I am tired of all this secret keeping. It makes me anxious..."

"OH! Of course! I promise! I won't ask you for anything else, and I am in your debt..."

"Yes...repay it by leaving me out of everything...and ending things with Francis!"

"What? Where is this coming from?"

Honestly...where isn't this coming from? He is CHEATING! Honestly, I want to punch him! "I am saying...instead of waiting for him to leave you...just break it off with him. Ask for a divorce...before this gets messier..." I spoke. I said it seriously like a brother...and not someone who was here to judge. He seemed to pick up on my aura and change his as well. He had made this worried and sad expression.

"I can see you are serious about this...I thought you wouldn't care about what I was doing..."

"Yeah...well...I am tired of seeing Francis getting the short end of the stick...tell him..."

He studied me a bit. He thought about how odd it was for me to care suddenly. However, I could tell that the concern left him, within seconds. If I was going to be honest, I was worried he thought I might be up to something. "Fine...I will...start considering that route... instead of waiting for him to break it off himself."

I nodded at him, and he reached his hand to me, to pat my shoulder. "Well, let's go; best not keep them waiting," He spoke. I nodded in response, but the ordeal made me sick again. I hoped the stress would not make me vomit again like the other day.

Once we both sat down, Conner tried to get the conversation to continue. "Well, how has everyone been? It's been a while since we have all been together like this again, since easter?" he asked. Everyone just nodded in this awkward silence, making me groan a little. "It has been a while, but everyone seems to be doing so well; how is everything, Francis?" Lucile asked.

Dylan suddenly stood up, giving me this death glare. "Apologies, I need to talk to Arthur about something....one minute, please," he laughed. Francis and I stared at him, horrified. Then, I turned to Antonio, who had the biggest grin. He was eating his food, happily, enjoying the show, and not helping me escape this situation.

We walked into the kitchen, and I stared at him, angry. "Do not give me that look! You are the reason I am freaking out. So, You better tell me everything now...or...or I WILL TELL!"

"HUH?! You wouldn't."

"I would! Not tell me!"

God, we really were so similar. I wouldn't say I liked it.

"Fine..." I started. He looked at me please, crossing his arms. "To be short...during easter, I caught Alistair and Lucile having an affair...it was why I left suddenly. Then...Alistair showed up at my home, asking me not to tell anyone about this...and well...I made a stupid decision and helped him...I spent some time with Francis and eventually told him about the affair, but he knew the entire time and was trying to get the courage to tell Alistair that he knew so that they could work things out."

I did my best to explain everything shortly and quickly, but he still looked horrified.

"Oh god, I wish I didn't ask...this sounds like complete..."

"Rubbish?"

"Indeed! It is driving my head insane..."

"Dylan...I do not know what to do..."

He stopped momentarily to think as if he had thought of something to ask. "But why cheat with Francis?" he spoke, looking up at me.

"Well, I did not mean for it to happen. If I am going, to be honest...I think I am in love with him...always have been. It was why I never dated often...it was hard for me to get over my feelings. Well, like you, the secret of our brother's affair was eating me alive, and out of pressure, I confessed to Francis. At the time, he didn't know I knew about our brother, and well... Alistair...he wanted Francis to cheat. He hoped for him to cheat! He thought it would be better than asking for a divorce, which is also rubbish."

"God, what a twat..."

"I know..."

He looked as if he was still trying to process everything, which was understandable.

"Okay...do not worry...big brother has this. Everything will be fine, and once this dinner is over, this will be over with...yes! Over with...do I make myself clear?"

"Yes!"

"GOOD!"