Francis And The Saga Of Boys From Hazelville

Chapter Thirteen

We go inside by pushing the cracked wood panel that covered the door. In the lobby, it's so cute and retro. With love themed sofa seats and a front desk that has an inch of dust on it. And behind there are cute little cubbyholes for the room keys. I don't understand how this place ever closed down. Dubby says that the owner died and left it to her son who lives overseas somewhere, and he just forgot about it. I bet that breaks her heart.

"Trixie Mattel needs to get in here and bring some life back to this town," I say. Dubby laughs. We watched her pink motel renovation show. He was hesitant at first, but it grew on him to love it. Someday we were going to go stay there, but here is all the cooler. "What now?"

And then I remember. The candles with the letters, there was a number seven, but I totally ignored it. I go over to the cubbyholes and get the number seven key.

"What?" Dubby asks.

"It's the room I'm meant to go in," I continue. "We really have to be careful, literally anything could be a clue at this point. I'm going to go look. You can stay here."

"You think I'm just going to stay here whilst you go get murdered?"

"What are you talking about, no one's here," I reply.

"If someone was here, that's what they'd want you to think."

"I'm fine, if I need help, I'll scream." And he lets it go for now.

I go down the carpeted hallway, it's a red carpet. I feel like that should be too strong and tacky, but maybe the tackiness of the place is what makes it so cool. It's not ultra modern, I hate that style, it has no real character.

I come to room seven and look up at the tilted number on the door. I put the key in and turn it slowly, but it gets stuck, and I jam it in. It kinda ruined my slow, emotive entrance, but hey, that's fine. I get the door open with a jolt and go in. When I do, my jaw drops, it's the single-handed most beautiful place I've never seen in my whole life. If marriages aren't sealed and made in a place like this, then no where can. It's like another land.

The carpet lines the floor. There's a big love heart shaped bed with satin sheets. Cute little fixtures on the walls. I love you teddy bear stuffies. It's incredible and breathtaking. And then I see the heart shaped bathtub, which is also pink. And glass mirrors on the wall and ceiling, which personally I feel it takes too much view time. But who am I to judge?

I look around the room in awe. Even though this room is so over-the-top, it still doesn't feel like a novelty, it feels fun, but it's got sentiment. I see on the bed there's a box wrapped in cute heart paper again. I go over excited and sit on the bed to open it. Another tape and a card that says, take the bear. I look over at the big I love you stuffie and grin. He's gonna look so cute on my bed.

I want to live here, I wish I could. I look at the bathtub and I want my Instagram moment. I want him to know I was here, even if he never sees it. So I go over and get in the tub, it's dusty, so I quickly swipe away the dust. I get in and take a picture looking up at the glass. I go to get out of the bath when I trip and fall on some uneven flooring. I let out a small scream.

Dubby comes rushing into the room. "Let go of her!" He screams before seeing me. "What happened?" He comes over and helps me up.

"I think I twisted my ankle," I say. He helps me over to sit down. He's only now noticing the room, the bath, the bed.

"This place is a lot."

"It's cute though."

"What were you doing in the bath?"

"Getting my Instagram moment, obvs."

"Obvs," he replies in mockery and then sees the new tape. "Have you listened to it yet?"

I shake my head. "I'll be okay, I'll just meet you back at the car."

He nods. "Yeah, sure. Text me if you want me back." He leaves, and I wait a moment till he's fully gone.

Then putting on the Walkman with the new tape. 'Hey Francis, you found the next clue. I'm so glad that you are into this, well at least I hope you are. I thought I was going to reveal something about me, even just a little, but I'm scared. So how about this, there's a party, a blue party it's called. Kinda dumb, but kinda fun, where everyone wears blue. How about we make a grand statement and both wear red, even just a piece, so we can find each other. I hope to see you there, Francis, I'll be waiting.'

It slips off my ears and onto the bed. Wow! This is big. I thought I'd know something first, even just a tiny little bit. Am I ready to do this? I need to be excited, not scared. And besides, Dubby will come with me, and it's safe in public space. It's scary though to see your world shifting, once I know him things will never be the same again. He can't simply remain a mystery invisible man. He becomes real, and you can own your imagination, you can't own a real person, which makes it become weird. Makes me uneasy because how can you find your footing in a territory you don't live in, that's someone else's?