Francis And The Saga Of Boys From Hazelville

Chapter Twenty Two

I tell Bunny that afternoon what happened, and she's very disappointed in me. She offered to give me lessons on how to be more like her. I declined, though she's probably right, I need them. I get ready for going to his house. I'm really regretting saying yes. This now only makes things harder for me. But for some reason, I wasn't able to say no. Maybe I felt bad. After all, the tapes were so amazing. Maybe he'll be more himself at his house.

When I come downstairs, Mom marvels at me and thinks this must be serious if I'm meeting his family. What have I done? Now it'll be like I'm letting down a family and not just a silent man. The invisible man was so much better. I still haven't heard from Dubby. Things are so different lately. They shifted so quickly and beyond my control.

I arrive at his house and knock on the door. His Mom lets me in. We greet each other. I don't know what to say or where to go, or how to place myself. I'm uncomfortable. I go into the kitchen and sit down with Carter, who basically just nods me hello. His dad is awkward like him, who sits at the end of the table. And his sister, who's about twelve, stares at me the whole time. I take deep breaths. I can't get through this. I'm definitely breaking up with him. I can't handle this.

His Mom brings out some meatloaf, and we all munch away in silence. Gosh, I wonder where he gets it from?

"So, Francis," his Mom continues. "How are you getting on with Carter?"

I gulp so hard.

Carter interrupts. What? "Oh, just great. We're having a great time."

"Yeah, a great time," I repeat back.

"Marvelous. You'll have to come over every week," his Mom smiles at me like I'm the best thing since sliced bread.

"So, son," his dad speaks. "How is hockey?"

"Great. Couldn't be better," Carter says quickly and deeply.

That's odd. I thought he was in the school play as a non-speaking part.

"You like watching him play, Francis? Is he good?"

I look at Carter, who begs me with his eyes to agree. I don't even know anything about this guy, after all, so who cares.

"Yep, love that stuff."

"You got a good 'en here, son."

I smile and keep eating. But I'm feeling sick. And then continues the weirdest day of my life.

That evening, I go over to Dubby's house, but he won't see me. I knock on his window. I text him, I call him. But nothing. He's disappeared off the face of the earth. I ask his Mom, who tells me he's sick. Is he really sick? His Mom loves me, but she loves him more, obviously. She looks sad for me when she said it.

I decided to go to the supermarket to drown my sorrows in my body weight of snacks. That's always helped, right? Yep, until I actually am sick. I look for cookies, upon more cookies, upon more cookies. As I go to grab another packet, I look over to see none other than Jules Park standing beside me. Wow!

"Oh, hey, Francis," he smiles.

"Hey. Do you also like cookies?"

"Love them."

"Me too. I'm bingeing tonight."

"Yeah, me too."

Wow, we are like twins. We buy our cookies and then, walking out of the store, he offers me a ride in his car. I get in, obviously. His car totally matches him, it's cool and sleek and Jules. We sit and snack. It's fun, the most fun ever. Like Carter could say nothing at all and it feels like eternity. But with Jules, he could say nothing at all, and it's more like heaven on earth. But he's better than that, because he actually has stuff to say and ask. We chat, and I tell him about my awful day. He offers me a sympathetic ear and a shoulder to cry on. And great shoulders they are.

"It's just that I don't feel anything for Carter," I explain to him.

"Then break it off. It's like a plaster, right? The quicker you rip it off, the better. Don't prolong the pain. For you or him. Especially you." I smile at him. He's so warm. "Just go over to his place and say you don't feel this is working and you wish him the best, but you should go your separate ways. If he can't respect that, who cares."

"Yeah, you're right. I shouldn't beat around the bush," I reply. There just is something about hearing advice from another person with another perspective that really impacts. And right then we reach for the same cookie and our hands touch. It's magical. I'd even let him share my cookies. But he offers it to me and I take it.

Jules drops me off home and Dubby's light is still on. I wonder what he's thinking. I go into the kitchen and Mom and Bunny think I'm glowing.

"You're totally in love with him now, aren't you? Did he drug you?" Bunny says.

"No." They don't know about Jules, and I don't want to tell them just now. I like thinking about it myself.

"Oh no," I say, walking out. "I'm breaking up with him ASAP." And I leave them to their speculations of I told you so.

I go into my room and I don't even feel bad about what's going to happen or what happened with Carter. I'm fueled with the feel good chemicals in my brain from Jules Park. I need to spend more time with him.