A slow fall

Chapter 10 - Caleb

"So, you started a fire?" Lucas said to me over the phone the next day. Apparently, my brothers found it highly amusing and shared the news.

"Well, I didn't. I was just there."

"Sure Caleb. Whatever you say."

"I put it out." I whined in protest, receiving a laugh in response.

"A Church and everything. Are you trying to tell us something?"

"Yes actually, I've joined a cult, satanic worship and all that."

"I see it. You all emo, black clothes, and lamb sacrifices."

"I'm sure my parents would love that."

"What did they say after everything?"

"I have to help at the Autumn festival. I need to prove I can be a 'responsible young man' and it's my apology to the Church. My parents have apparently already spoke to Mary and I'll be running one of the game stall. Yay." 

Lucas laughed at my lack of enthusiasm. His laugh was melodic, a soothing sound that brought a smile to my face.

I wasn't sure how we had suddenly become the 'call and texting each other random things' type of friends but I was thankful for it. After I spent the night at his place a week ago now, we had been talking frequently.

I enjoyed hearing random titbits about his day, reading his random morning thoughts, and sharing my own. He was always so attentive, listening as if I was revealing the secrets of the universe when I was simply detailing the assignment I was working on or the drama that happened in school.

"Are you up to anything today?"

"Not that I know of?"

"Okay, well now you are. You and I are gonna have some fun. "

"That sounds so suggestive." I couldn't help myself.

"I mean, we'll see where the day goes..."

The smile on my face grew, his retorts amusing. Talking with him was easy, as if we'd had this relationship all along and at times, I wish we had. With my brothers away there was a space in both our lives where they once resided, I guess that enabled us to close the distance we unknowingly created.

"So, what's the plan?"

"That I have not decided. I'll think on my way over. Be ready in, let's say an hour?"

"An hour I can do."

"Great, bye Cae."

"Bye Lucas."

I moseyed around the house after hanging up, a smile on my face and a giddy feeling in my stomach. It was weird feeling, more often than not I felt hollow. Like I was an empty vessel with nothing inside. Emotions evaded me, only coming infrequently and fleeting in their appearance.

Sometimes things would be worse. The hollowness would not fade, instead it spread, gnawing at the rest of my body and trying to destroy that as well. 

Sometimes I debate letting it win. 

Then my brothers will call, or my friends will reach out, and even if I don't feel like picking up the phone or leaving my bed, it's comforting to know they care. 

Now is the best I have felt in a while. 

It helped that my parents weren't home. 

Mass was cancelled this morning, for unknown reasons... some members of the congregation were meeting in the local recrecation centre for reasons I didn't care to pay attention to. All I cared to hear was that I didn't have to go. It was an unexpected, but pleasant surprise.