SECRETS - A CALEB MCLAUGHLIN AU STORY

CHAPTER 2 - JULY 4, 2023 PART 2

CHAPTER 2

JULY 4, 2023 - PART 2

Caleb and Jacob have been driving in Caleb's car, a nice blue Convertible, for the past 15 minutes. They're riding right next to the ocean, with various houses all around. Jacob hasn't spoken a word. Finally, Caleb turns to him,

"You haven't said a word, bro."

Jacob is almost pulled out of a trance, as he was just staring out at the water. He turns to looks at him,

"Huh?"

"I said, you haven't spoken a single word since we got in the car."

Jacob sighs, "I was just... thinking, I guess."

"Thinking," Caleb curiously nods, "About what?"

Jacob looks down, "That I don't know how to do this."

"Do what?" Caleb asks.

"Be friends with people. I've never done it before."

"Wait a minute," Caleb questions, "You said you're 22, right?"

"Yeah," Jacob answers,

"So, you mean to me, you've got through your entire life, all 22 years of it, without having a SINGLE friend?" Caleb asks with genuine shock in his voice.

Jacob takes a sad breath, "Yeah. I mean, I guess I would play with kids in preschool and kindergarten, but I never really had a friend. All six years of elementary school, three years of middle school, and then the four years of high school, I sat by myself in the back of the cafeteria, at the edge of the table. Nobody ever said a word to me. Sometimes, I almost wonder... Do I even exist? I mean, people yell about reality being fake all the time, but I wonder... what if for me, it's the other way around. What if everything is real, BUT I'M fake? Maybe I'M the hologram."

Caleb shakes his head, looking back and forth on the road and Jacob,

"Nah, man... That's all bullshit. Reality is VERY real, and so is everyone in it... including you. God made us all in his own image."

Jacob rolls his eyes at that last sentence, which Caleb notices.

"What, you an atheist?"

"...Would you hate me all of a sudden if I was?"

"No... but I am wondering."

Jacob sighs, "I... don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know?"

"I mean, I don't know, Caleb. I wouldn't say I'm an atheist, but, I wouldn't say I'm religious. I really just don't know."

Caleb nods, "Well... I believe in God. And God made you for a reason."

"Yeah, and did he make all the bad people out there for a reason too?"

Caleb sighs, "I don't have an answer for that, Jacob... But look, I believe in God, and I believe he made you for a reason, just as much as he made me," Caleb explains.

Jacob explains, "Whatever, man... Maybe you're right. Like I said, I don't know."

Jacob looks down at his feet and takes a deep, sad breath, but then, Caleb's eyes light up and he smiles.

"We're here!"

Jacob looks up, and they've made their way downtown.

The entire place is alive with people running around, some of them in various USA outfits, waving around sparklers, etc. There's a ferris wheel setup and people are surfing in the ocean. Caleb looks VERY excited and happy. Jacob looks very neutral.