Carry that weight (Fruk)

22

Once we were back with everyone, Dylan looked better. However, Conner looked concerned. I would be too. Everyone had this weird tension, and he was pretty much the only one who knew nothing about anything. Oh, to be him right now.

"Well, brother, how have you been?" Lucile continued. I looked toward Francis, who made me have a heart attack. He kept staring at me with these lovestruck eyes. Honestly, I can't tell if he hates me sometimes, or actually loves me. "Huh? Oh! I'm great....thank you," he spoke. He began to mess around with his food, which was unusual for him. Surely...she could tell.

Couldn't they all tell?

Or were we all stupid blokes?

Suddenly, Alistair stood up, looking at Dylan. It caused him to sink into his chair, but it didn't do much to keep that aura away. "Sorry, Dylan, can we talk for a moment?" He suddenly asked. Dylan looked at me, terrified. However, I could not say anything against it. I urged him to go with our brother, leaving us alone. This time, I was present to be in the awkward silence.

"Ah, I need to talk to Arthur anyway," Conner spoke.

Once again, I spoke too soon.

God fucking damn it!

I nodded in defeat, standing up to follow Conner. He looked concerned, so I knew it shouldn't be too bad. He was the sensible one at times, which helped. He didn't take sides. However, I wouldn't tell him anything. That way, he doesn't get the chance to consider it.

"Do I need to ask what's wrong? Everyone is being weird! And they keep pulling you to the side. Are you okay? You know you can talk to me. I'm your, big brother."

"Yes...I know..."

"And I know we don't get along very much...mostly because of you...but we are family. I'll listen..."

"Yes, I know, but that isn't my current concern."

"Then what is it? Everyone is freaking me out!" We had stood to the side, whispering. We were near the staircase, still able to see the dining room. "Listen...I can't tell you everything...but Alistair and Francis are having problems...and I somehow got roped into it... try and act normal, please. I want this to be over as much as everyone," I explained.

"If that's the case, they should have cancelled the dinner, instead of making things awkward for everyone."

"Right! Ah...if only you could have said that to them," I laughed. He nodded in agreement, and we both began to return to the dining room. "As long as you say everything is fine, I think I'll get past the awkwardness," Conner laughed. Thank goodness.

We returned to the table, just in time for everyone to sit down again. I could see Francis looking a bit worried, but I was really trying to avoid it.

There was a sudden clinking noise, followed by a gasp. "Oh! My fork! Arthur, will you be a dear? I think it fell on your side," Francis spoke, dramatically. How?!

Why?

How did I manage to love someone like him? He was always so dramatic.

"Gotcha," I smiled. I began to lift the tablecloth, bending my head over to look, but I couldn't find the damn fork. "Ugh, one moment," I spoke. I began getting out of my chair to look under the table. The tablecloth fell over me, coving my backside, as I tried to look around, but nothing.

"I can't find it; where the hell did you drop the bloody thing?"

"Ugh! Blind! I'll do it!" He snapped. Before I could move to get up, he kicked me really hard. As if telling me to stay put. God fucking damn it!

"Are you so blind that you can't find a shiny fork?" He whispered. He had gotten under the table with me, and I was annoyed. "What are you trying to do? You will make things worse," I whispered.

"Yeah, how much worse could it get, thanks to you? Dylan looks terrified; what are we to do?" Francis looked me straight in the eye, and it somehow calmed me down a bit. I could feel his hand reaching toward mine, and I kept still.

"I'm not sure...I'm worried too... I think that maybe you should tell my brother. Nothing of us if you don't want, but you need to confront him," I whispered. He held my hand more, coming closer.

"Arthur, you make me so frustrated... I mean, look at me... look at what I'm doing to be alone with you for five seconds. I don't care about this stupid fork, this stupid dinner, or your brother's affair... I just want to care about you. I want this situation to end so I can care about you. But...I need your help...I can't do it alone...I'm scared..." he whispered.

He was serious. He genuinely didn't want anything to do with anything right now. And we looked silly right now, trying to escape under the table. Who knows how much time has passed?

I couldn't help but smile at him, as he continued to hold my hand. "When this is over, we will figure it out...if that's okay..."

"Oh, yes...I'd be more than happy to figure it out with you...Arthur..."

Francis reached his hand to my cheek, leaning in. Once more, I couldn't help but think of how much time had passed since we had come under this table.

Francis kissed me on the lips, quickly and softly. He let go of my hand slowly and gave me a sad expression. "Even if it needs to be a secret for a while...I don't mind... oddly enough...I've never felt so happy in a long time. It had felt fake with your brother, but it feels so real now that I can tell the difference..."

His words may seem confusing, but I understood what he meant, clearly. "Ditto..." I whispered. Francis handed me the fork that went missing and smiled at me—gesturing for me to go up.

"Sorry about that! It had gotten far away!" Francis started. He ended up leaving from under first, and I followed behind.

Once I was above the table, everyone looked at me, concerned. I know we were whispering, but it felt as if everyone had heard our conversation.

I quickly placed the fork on the table, turning toward Antonio. "Amigo, your face is red..." he whispered. I felt my heart drop, and I looked toward Francis, horrified. His face wasn't red, but he looked so damn pleased with himself. "Thank you, for pointing that out," I whispered back.

"Yeah! Actually! I need to talk to Arthur in private!" Antonio smiled. It caused everyone to groan. However, Antonio happily stood up, pulling me along.