Polymath

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

It was Wednesday, so I didn't have to be at the station until three. I treated myself by waking up at nine. Normally, it would have been six or seven, but wow, extra hours of sleep do feel great.

I was sitting in the Jefferson's kitchen, watching Jules make pancakes. Hancock was upstairs taking a shower. The water running through the pipes in the wall made a swishy noise and I imagined myself swimming in them.

"Do you want chocolate chip, blueberry, or regular?" Jules asked, holding a container blueberries and a bag of chips in his hands. "Or something else?"

I walked over to the bowl beside the refrigerator and grabbed a banana. "Do you know how to make banana pancakes?"

Jules set the toppings back beside the stove and took the banana from me. "I can't say I do."

"Oh, shoot, Jules, it's so easy," I told him. "You cut the banana into thin-ish slices and put them in the batter while it's in the pan."

"Oh, I can do that."

I smiled at him and sat back down at the table. I watched him from my place, making sure he did what I told him. His etiquette was fantastic when he presented me with three perfect pancakes. He made blueberry for himself and chocolate chip for Han. "Nice job, Jules."

"Thanks," he said through a large bite of purple. "So, how are you and Hancock?"

"I don't know," I replied, stabbing a squished banana with my fork. "I haven't really been talking to him much."

"I overheard you and Hancock talking the other day about that boy you work with. Is he getting in the way?"

I hid behind my hair and swallowed my bite. "Well he kissed my cheek last night when he walked me to my car. But, I moved away."

"Okay, good."

"Why, 'good'?"

"Hancock loves you. He told me." Jules was so flat out with that statement it made my skin crawl.

I moved to get up, shoving large bites of pancake in my mouth as I deposited my plate into the sink. "Is he done with the shower?"

Jules listened for a minute and nodded. As soon as he finished the motion, I bolted up the stairs. The bathroom light was off, so I headed towards Han's room. The door was open and I started to walk in, but stopped myself and stepped away, my back against the wall.

Han didn't have his shirt on yet, and wow, has he grown up. I had seen him without a shirt a lot when we were younger, but this was entirely different. Hancock had been working out or something, because his stomach was a masterpiece God had painted himself. I took a deep breath and tried again, knocking on the wall.

"Hey, Han," I said slowly, inviting myself in. Oh, thank goodness he had a shirt on this time or I would have had heart palpitations. Never mind, I was having palpitations.

He turned dramatically slow and faced me. Actually, he turned normally, but my mind was registering everything in slow motion. "Hey, Ford, what's up? You look flustered."

"Oh, um, I'm fine."

He was walking towards me, or maybe I was walking towards him. I don't know. "Ford, are you sure? Your face is really red."

I felt my face flush and my head was light. "Can I sit?"

Hancock was a blur as he led me to his bed. My fists were in my eye sockets, kneading. I had definitely run too fast and seen Han in a way I wish I hadn't but glad I did. I felt his hand on my knee. "Ford?"