Francine & Earl

Jersey

Jonathon was jealous.

He knew that he was, and had no way to deny it. His eyes never strayed from the tiny boy that seemed to have gotten Francine's affection so easily. The two were chatting away while they walked to their destination, and he was too annoyed to care where that destination was. His jaw was clenched tight, a muscle ticking in time with the erratic beating of his heart. 

Francine was his best friend, basically his other half, and he couldn't help but feel as though he was going to be replaced. Earl already had a lot in common with her and could understand her in a way Jonathon wished he could. Jonathon was lost, and he had no way to find a solution. Just seeing her laugh so openly with Earl made him bitter. It took years for her to even consider him a friend, much less laugh at what he said.

They both grew up together, being forced together as children by their parents. Both families had high standing in the town, with Francine's father being the wealthiest individual in Dempsey who owned most of the major businesses and Jonathon's mother being apart of the town council. It was expected that they should get along, and they did to all appearances.

But, Francine was introverted. Quiet. Hated to speak and disliked anyone who made her.

Jonathon was one of the people who tried.

From the age of three to eight, he was nothing short of an annoyance to her, and she wasn't afraid to let him know. And, to be honest, he already knew. He had realized early on that the only way she would talk to him would be if he got her angry enough to grasp her attention. He would live for the regularly scheduled play dates in which he would steal her books and tug on her hair, two habits he hadn't stopped yet. But, it all changed one fall during a last minute meet up.

Francine was outside in the rain, tossing around a football in a white dress and beat up sneakers. A perfect contradiction. His perfect contradiction.

She had a smile on her face, the first real smile he ever saw curl her lips. She looked genuinely happy, and he wanted to be a part of that happiness. In his eight year old mind, he thought that the next best step was to tackle her to the ground. He knocked her to her back and into a mud puddle, some of the substance splattering onto his face.

She looked completely and utterly shocked, and he knew then that he messed up.

But then, she started laughing. It was the most adorable thing he ever heard, and he soon joined in. He had always hated his laugh, feeling self-conscious about the fact he snorted when he did, but at that moment he didn't care. Francine was laughing, her bright eyes focused on his as he was slumped over her.

Jonathon felt as though he earned that laugh. It took five years of hair loss, book thievery, and being a pest, but he earned it. He was proud of the fact that he was one of the few people that could draw it from her lips, and it stayed that way for years.

Until Earl.

Everything changed with Earl.

* * *

"Earl, can you go ask the saleswoman if they have this dress in orange?" 

"Sure. I'll be right back."

Glaring down at his phone, Jonathon angrily mocked them in his head. For hours it was Earl, my knight in shining armor, please fetch me this and Of course, my love, I shall do whatever you ask of me to prove my unwavering loyalty.

Well, it wasn't that bad, but to Jonathon, it might as well have been.

Seething in silence, he didn't notice that Francine had grabbed his hand until he was being dragged into a changing room. Jonathon finally snapped out of it, glancing down at his unimpressed best friend.