Chapter 31: Droning On
"Fang! Carver's here!" my mom yelled from the kitchen.
"Okay, okay I'm heading out now! Don't need to yell!" I yelled back as I hurriedly packed up my things. Swinging my bedroom door open, I stomped my way to the front door, the bootlaces whipping about haphazardly.
"Hey, hey, hey! What's with the `tude?" she asked stopping me right as I reached for the knob.
"Nothing," I said annoyed.
She didn't believe me. Her arms rubbed against each other into a cross with a scowl.
"I-I'm just stressed out about this stupid science fair Lulu has me participating in, okay? There's the truth, you happy?" I asked rolling my eyes.
Her eyes squinted, brows furrowed, arms wrapping tightly across her chest. We stared each other down for what felt like forever until she finally gave up letting out a sharp exhale.
"I just worry about you, you know that right? I have this sinking feeling like you're not telling me everything that's on your mind. You've been this way since last week. Talk to me," she said with her hand on my shoulder, gently shaking me.
"I-I told you, it's nothing. Just regular teenage stuff. Nothing to worry about," I said crossing my own arms, averting her gaze.
"You sure? I know Carver's a nice boy but if he's--."
"It's not Carver!" I hissed. "Why do you keep thinking it's about Carver?"
"I-I don't. It's just--."
"It's just what?"
"His life has gotten more complicated with his father around and I just don't want to see you get any involved in that. Hell I don't want you to get hurt Fang!"
"I won't. You know me. I'm a horrible liar. If his dad was around, you'd know. Everyone would know. Now can I go? Lulu's gonna kill me if I'm the reason why we're late."
She sighed again. This time a lot more defeated.
"Okay but be home before seven alright?"
"I can't. Remember I have that triple date later?" I said opening the door.
"Right, right, must have slipped my mind. Who's all going again? What are you guys doing?"
"Me, Carver, Lulu, Kiko, Dante, and that guy he's been seeing on and off and again, um Henry? I think that's his name. And we're going to that new mini golf place that just opened up by the mall. They do glow in the dark mini golf. After that, who knows. Maybe we'll eat or something? I've never done a group date before so you're guess is as good as mine, if not better."
"Wait a second. You've met him and you don't remember his name?" she asked deadpan.
"What? I'm good with faces, not names."
"Okay well just be safe out there okay? Make me worry less."
"Heh, I'll try," I said forcing a smile.
"Oh honey, not like that," she laughed.
"I got you to laugh though. So I'm off the hook. Bye!" I said running out the door.
"Hold on a second!" she yelled, yanking me back inside.
"Oh come on," I whined.
"I'm serious. Shouldn't you go change into something more Look at me I'm cute' and less Hi I'm Fang and I just woke up with morning breath'?"
"It's not like I have anyone to impress. I already have the guy and he likes the `I just got out of bed' look. I haven't heard any complaints."
"You could go out there in a full diaper and he'd still want you."
"Thanks for that unnecessary graphic image. What's your point?"
"Nothing, I just think you should look your best for a date."
I shot her a cold stare as my boots squealed against the laminate flooring as I wiggled towards the door.
"Don't you Prue me with your eyes."
"Do what now?"
"Prue. From Charmed. Is any of this ringing a bell?"
"No, well kinda? A show about witch sisters? I think I saw the first episode but I don't remember a Prue. Since when do you watch kid shows?"
"Kid show? It's not a kid show," she said. "Oh great you're thinking of the reboot. Remind me to have you watch the original tonight."
"What? No! If I'm being required to watch it. News flash, it's not fun anymore. Requirements suck the fun everything," I said with half my body out the door.
"Fine, fine, go! Check the mail on your way out please."
"Yeah, yeah, bye!"
Never in my life did I think that I'd get away with lying to her. She's like a bloodhound with lies. I don't want to lie to her anymore but it's better for everyone if I just keep wearing these rose colored glasses. My mom's right. Things aren't great. Not between me and Carver but just Carver. He's going through so much shit right now and I feel like I'm losing him. I'm hoping if I somehow keep a grip on our reality that everything will be fine. That reality will adjust itself and we can go back to normal.
"Hey! There he is! The man of the hour!" Carver said smiling atop the hood of the car, dangling the keys in my face. "You ready to hit the road?"
"Shut up," I said playfully pushing him away and grabbing the keys.
I walked towards our janky, old mailbox. The metal red handle has been propped up for the past few days. We've been a little lax on checking the mail lately. Pushing down the handle, I opened the metal flap and of course, all of our mail from the past few days was tightly packed in there. Besides all the paper fliers, junk mail, and bills, there was one lone brown envelope tucked right in the center of the vortex of mail. I gulped pulling out all the mail in one attempt. The letter slipped out and of course just like every other letter this week, addressed to me in crimson red ink with no return address.
"Everything okay?" Carver asked walking up to me. "Did you get another mystery letter from your secret admirer?"
"Yeah, I got another one," I said shaking my head. I ran back up the stairs, quietly opening the door, and tossing the bundle of junk papers inside, keeping the letter to myself. I haven't told my mom. So she is right. I am hiding something from her. But you have to understand, with all the crap that's been going on, this would trigger her somehow. I just know it. So for her sake and my sanity, I'm keeping to me, myself, and I...and Carver and Lulu.
"Does it say anything this time?" he asked hopping into the passenger seat.
"I don't know, you tell me," I said tossing it to him like a paper plane.
"OH! We have Gambit in the house!" he said playing hot potato with it, laughing.
"I knew introducing you to the X-Men was a bad idea," I sighed pulling out of the driveway and driving towards the direction of Lulu's.
"What? I'm just messing around," he said tearing open the letter with his forefinger.
I'm surprised how well he's handling everything. Just last week he was practically going into a full blown meltdown. Still don't know if who I saw was real or in my mind, but I don't see any logical reason as to why I would imagine him. It killed me seeing Carver like that. If I did imagine it, it's all my fault. I never want to see him like that ever again.
"Huh," he said.
"What? Does it say something this time?" I asked keeping my eyes of the road. My mom's words of staying safe echoes in my head.
"Nothing. It's just...anti-climactic. Whoever your secret admirer is, he could at least be little more clever than a blank sheet of paper."
"Why do you keep thinking it's a secret admirer? It's clearly a stupid prank. And a waste of paper. Do me a favor and chuck into my bag."
"Sure thing,," he said opening my bag and his jaw dropped. "Holy...how many of these letters are in here?"
"I don't know. I haven't counted," I lied with a twisted expression. "I just need place to stash them so my mom doesn't freak out."
"Liar. You have counted. I can see it on your face."
"Okay fine! Twenty something," I mumbled turning into Lulu's neighborhood.
"Come again? You're going to have speak just a little bit louder."
"Twenty some some," I mumbled again.
"Babe."
I sighed pulling into their driveway and parked with Carver's face slowly appearing in my view. With my palm to his face, I pushed him away and yanked my bag away from him.
"Fang!"
"It's like twenty or something, maybe twenty-seven letters! Twenty-seven wastes of paper," I cried out resting my head at the top of the wheel.
"Twenty-seven?" he said dumbstruck.
"Give or take. I really should have just threw them all away or something. What's my mom gonna do? Question me for why I have a stack of paper lying around?"
"Why did you keep them?"
"I don't know? Maybe as a record just in case it all makes sense later down the road? I don't know. I-I just really stuffed them into my bag and forgetting about them until the next letter appeared. I'll dump them later tonight, after the group date, I promise."
"You don't have to. I mean they're blank. There's nothing written on them. Although you could toss the envelopes. Your mom would freak on that."
"If you two are done telepathically swapping spit, we've got some science to do," Lulu yelled from somewhere outside.
Carver and I looked at each other and chuckled. I wonder how long we've been in the car just talking about silly shit. We both walked out the car and just stood around looking for her.
"You heard her right?" I asked confused.
"Definitely."
We continued to look around for a few minutes but nothing. We both gave up and leaned against the Station Wagon. As we stood around, I could hear some commotion coming from inside Lulu's house. I looked over at Carver and he just rolled his eyes.
"Lu! Where are you?!" Carver yelled.
"One second guys! I'll be down in a sec!" She hollered back.
We both looked up and noticed her window was wide open and the curtains blowing in the gentle, cool winter breeze.
"So should we just knock or do we continue to wait?"
"Well we're using a drone so we might as well wait out here. She's the one who summoned us anyway. We can just chill. No pun intended."
"No complaints here," he said winking.
Why the wink? Why does him winking just make my heart flutter? No complaints? Mom was right.
"A fucking diaper," I mumbled laughing to myself.
"What's so funny?"
"I-It's nothing. Inside joke with my mom."
"And you can't tell me?"
"I can. It's just a little embarrassing."
"For her or for you?"
"Me obviously."
"Sooooooo," he trailed off.
"It's dumb. She wanted me to dress better for tonight and we went back and forth about it. And then randomly she said that I could come one in a full diaper and you'd still be unphased."
"Unphased? Bullshit!" he snorted into a witch's cackle. "Babe, if you came out in a full diaper, I would lose my mind. Would I still love you? Yes, but we'd have a long discussion on what not to do in social situations. Maybe check you into rehab...or a nuthouse."
"Gee, thanks," I said dryly.
"I said I'd still love you."
"You said you'd put me into an insane asylum."
"Out of love," he smiled. "Besides, I didn't say insane asylum. I said nut house."
"Same thing."
"Not the way I'm thinking," he winked again.
Ew it took me a second to get it.
"Ew, perv!" I said playfully pushing him.
"You like it," he said wrapping his arm around my waist.
"Yeah well, it's not the worst thing in the world."
"Uh huh," he said kissing me on the temple.
As we waited outside for Lulu, we heard a loud bang or maybe the right word would be something similar to a clash of metallics.
"Hey Lu! You o—?"
"I'm okay!" she cried. "Why didn't I move that earlier? Ow."
"Lulu, I'm freezing my butt out here. Can we move it along?" I teased.
"I just fell Fang! One. Second. God!" she screeched.
My eyes widened and my cheeks reddened.
"What was that all about?" he asked.
"I was just teasing."
"Sooooooooo is your butt really, well you know?"
"Not really. Don't get any ideas, perv."
"Too late."
Carver and I continued to play around waiting for Lulu. Minutes passed and still nothing. Just whatever Lulu was doing up there in her room. I lied earlier. It was actually getting pretty cold and me without my gloves, I ended up reheating in the car while Carver started throwing pebbles at the top of Lulu's open window to pass the time. He ended up missing a couple that ended up inside her room which caused her to shut her window and flip us off. We waited and waited some more. I want to say we waited maybe twenty minutes until we saw what looked like smoke trail out from backyard and out stepped Lulu in a mad scientist's outfit. You know the one I'm talking about right? Long white coat with thick, black rubber gloves, translucent safety goggles, over what seemed like her rainbow bunny pajamas. Her hair was slicked back and glossy, tied into two plump puffs. Tucked under her arm was the drone.
"Lu, you sure know how to make an entrance."
"It's science, Carv. I live for this! Oh and before I forget," she said as she gently placed the drone on the ground. She reached into one of her lab coat pockets and hurled two pebbles at him. "Throw rocks again and I will cut you!"
"Alright, alright, I'm sorry," he laughed. "Rock throwing is in the past."
"Good! Fang, get your butt out of the car! We've got work to do!"
"Do I have to? I'm cold," I whined cranking the window handle down. "I'm not even gonna do anything but watch."
"I said now! This is a group hang and we're going to have fun!"
"Okay, okay, don't have to yell," I whined stepping out and closing the door behind me.
"What's with the smoke? Burning something?" Carver asked.
"For your information, it's a fog machine. Act like I'm going to burn the house down," she said rolling her eyes.
"She totally would," I whispered to him.
"I heard that!" she yelled throwing a rock at me.
"Ow! Hey! He only got two rocks in your window. Where'd you get the other one?"
"Carver's not the only one who throws rocks to get my attention."
My brows furrowed as the gears refused to turn in my head.
"I think she means her girlfriend who we never see around," Carver added. "We are seeing her tonight right? It's not just a sausage fest?"
"Yes, she'll be there," she said slightly annoyed.
"Just checking. It's not like we see her a whole lot."
"Neither do I. We're both really busy all the time so it's hard. But somehow by whatever miracle we're still together so I'm not complaining. Are we done discussing my love life now?"
Carver held up his hands in surrender. His face matched the exact same expression I had earlier when Lulu yelled at me. Except he mouthed the words, "touchy, touchy". Lulu turned her back away from us and started fiddling with the drone.
"Sooooooo what's this new discovery?" I asked breaking the newly formed ice.
"Well Carv and I worked on the drone over the weekend and—."
"Wait you two hung out together, without me?"
"Fang I don't want your man. Relax."
"I know you don't. The amount of vomit sounds you make makes it crystal clear."
"And Kiko hello!"
"Oh yeah that too, sure. What I'm more annoyed about is that you guys hung out without me. Where was my invite? And hello you said you were going to read those comics I gave you?"
"Well I did and then I wasn't. I'm almost done with them. Sort of mixing business with pleasure. And to be fair, I was going to come pick you up but you said you were busy with work and—."
"Wait that's why you missed out on work? Mama Rose said you were sick. Like really sick."
"I was sick...for those five grueling minutes when I had to fake it with Grams. I also got Dante to back me up. I have to do his disgusting laundry for a month but it was worth it. We finally have a solid plan to win this science fair. Bare with me. Carv, care to demonstrate? Did you bring the gloves and the headset?"
"Got it right here," he said flashing his backpack.
Placing his bag on the hood of the car, he unzipped his bag and pulled out something that looked like a VR headset with these weird black leather-looking gloves that had wires that were connected to these small clear cubes at the joints and with a larger encasing that housed the very same wires across the top of the palms. Very high tech looking, way over my head.
"Here," he said handing me the tech.
"Whoa, what are you doing?" I said stepping back.
"You wanted to be involved, well, here. Take it."
"I wanted an invite over the weekend. I'm not touching that. I don't even know what it does!"
"It controls the drone. You are the drone. Just put it Fang," Lulu said motioning Carver to me.
Against my will, Carver set the headset over my head and slipped the gloves onto my hands.
"If I die, I'm haunting the both of you. You guys know that right?"
"You'll be fine. I've playtested it already. Scout's honor."
"You know you can't say that when you weren't a boy scout."
"Sue me."
I stood there awkwardly and slightly uncomfortable, anxious even, as he continued to adjust the rig on me. I heard something click and the visor lit up. The screen flickered on and I blinked a couple of time as my eyes adjusted to the view.
"Oh okay, I see legs...your legs?" I asked confused, too scared to move much. "Lulu, when's the last time you shaved?"
"Lay off. I've been busy!"
"Great, the camera's working," he said. "Can you look around? I want to make sure the camera can go three sixty."
"Don't be alarmed but I'm going to pilot the drone for now okay?" Lulu said.
"I thought you said I was the drone?"
"You are, just like the actions. The fun part. We couldn't figure out how to set the VR to pilot. But it's fine. It's a partnership. A symbiotic relationship."
"Cool cause I don't trust myself to man the drone let alone do whatever it is you guys want me to do that's so cool," I said still kinda nervous. While still standing still, I started looking around as I could see myself, or well the drone fly up. All of a sudden, I could feel a slight knot in my stomach. "Is it possible to get seasick? Cause I think I am."
"You're not near any bodies of water so no. It's all in your head. It's the nerves, you're fine." Lulu said slightly annoyed, dismissing my claims. "Heh, maybe you're pregnant."
"Ha ha, real funny Lulu. I'm serious! I don't feel too good guys," I said leaning over covering my stomach.
"It could be motion sickness," Carver said as he started rubbing my back. His hand was so warm and soothing. Strangely I could feel my sickness feeling less intense. It was still there but not as pronounced. "We just need to test one more thing, and I'll take over alright? Can you take a little more? We just need like five minutes, right Lu?"
"Yeah, yeah, five minutes is fine. Now I remember how much of a baby Fang is when it comes to this stuff."
"Knock it off, Lu."
"I'm sorry. I'm being such a buzzkill."
"No it's fine. Don't worry about it. I'll help you okay? Just let me guide you," he said. I could feel him behind me helping me straighten up. "Just focus on taking deep breaths. It's almost over."
While I focused on my breathing, counting in my head the seconds that coincided with my breaths, Carver turned me around a few paces. He had me facing the car for whatever reason. His arm then slithered against my right arm and his fingers clasped between mine.
"You ready?" he asked.
"I guess? I don't even know what's happening. You guys haven't said a word."
"About to show you. Hold your hand out, palm facing the car okay?"
"What?"
"Fang just do the hand blast thingy from your animes," Lulu chimed in, still annoyed.
"Um okay?" I said as I stretched my fingers outward as if I had some kind of energy force pumping out of me. Just like the sadist in my favorite game except I'm hoping it's not yellow and purple. "Is something happening?"
"Crap! It's not working!" Lulu cried. "Well back to the drawing board."
"Wait, maybe there's a delay or some kind of interference," Carver said letting go of my hand.
My eyes followed him and then I heard annoying loud squeal followed by a rush of water shooting in his direction. I could feel the nausea coming back again but this time I could feel something coming up in full force. I ripped off the visor throwing it away from me and rushed over to trash can sitting in front of Dante's truck. Thank god for trash day.
"Oh my God! It worked!" I heard Lulu scream out in joy as I was blowing chunks into their can. "Oh shoot. That uh, well that looks nasty. Fang I-I, uh I'll get you a towel...and maybe a water too. Do you need something Carv? Maybe a towel too? You look pretty drenched. Uh I'll check with Dante if he has shirt or something. Be right back."
I've never experienced motion sickness before but I sure as hell don't want to experience this again. I hurled out maybe two or three bouts of vomit. I think it probably would have just been one if it weren't for the god awful rank stench coming from their can. Who knew inhaling last night's dinner mid vomit would be so sickening? Wiping the trace vomit around the corner of my mouth with the back of my hand, I stood back up. Turning around I found Carver crouched over behind the car, his shirt soaked, picking up pieces of the visor up from the driveway.
"Oh fuck," I said to myself. I ran up to Carver who looked down in the dumps for the lack of a better word. "I-I'm sorry. I-I didn't mean to. I-I-Is there anything I can do?"
"I don't know. It's pretty much destroyed at this point. I'll have to take a look at it later. Maybe I can fix it. I don't know though," he said scooping up the broken parts into his bag. He slung his bag against his back sighing and shaking his head.
"I'm really sorry Carver, I-I just couldn't hold it in. I probably should have set it down gently somewhere but I wasn't thinking. I'm really, really sorry."
"Hey, stop. I told you, it's not your fault," he said turning to me. "I should should have took over as soon as you said you didn't feel good. It's my fault."
"What? No way! You couldn't have known this was going to happen. I didn't even know I would blow chunks. I haven't thrown up in years. I can't even remember the last time I did. Let's just agree it's no one's fault. How's that sound?"
"Sure, I guess that's fine. Changing topics, how are you? Do you still feel nauseous?"
"No, I think I got it out of my system."
"Good. Maybe we should cancel tonight's plans, just to be safe."
"I don't think that's necessary. I'm fine now. Besides I don't think Lulu is gonna let that fly."
"Let what fly?" Lulu asked running back to us with her hands full. "I've got a towel and some water for you and one of Dante's old shirts for Carv."
"Thanks. I was just thinking maybe we should cancel our group date tonight seeing as Fang isn't feeling well."
"What? NO! No damn way am I letting you guys bail on me. I need this."
"The triple date will just be a double date with Dante. It's not that big of a deal."
"Not a big deal? Yeah right, like going on a double date with your cousin isn't cringey enough. I need my two best friends with me tonight."
"But Fang—."
"I'm fine. Really Carver. We can still go," I said wiping myself down. Somehow managed to get vomit in my hair. So gross. "I'll just need to shower beforehand. I don't feel clean right now."
"See! He's totally fine!"
"You sure? This isn't peer pressure talking?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I swear."
"Great! So I'll still see you two tonight then? Remember it's at five o'clock sharp," she said turning back walking to her house.
"Hold it, Lu," he said grabbing her shoulder.
"What? Is there something else you want to get off your chest?"
"Really?"
"Really what?"
"How about an apology?"
"For?"
"Seriously Lu? You've been giving Fang an attitude the whole time we've been here. He's your best friend. What's up?"
She let out a loud sigh and pinched the very top of the bridge of her nose.
"You're right. I'm sorry Fang. It's not you, it's me. Kiko and I got into a fight the other day and I've been on edge lately," she said sighing again. "I didn't mean to snap at you. I knew it was wrong when I did it. I just have a feeling she's going to break up with me. That's why I need you guys with me tonight as a buffer. Dante's family and he's cool but he won't have my back the way you two do. If things go south, I might need you guys to keep me from crying or whatever."
"Thank, but why would you think she'd want to break up with you?" I asked.
"I don't know. Maybe cause we never spend any time together. We mainly just text or talk on the phone for a minute before we're both pulled into something. Or when I ghost her for days because I don't know how to act when it's just us two. Relationships are hard. I don't know how you guys do it."
"Neither do I but I'm doing something good, I think," I said.
"You are, dum dum," Carver said nudging me. "We both are. It's a fifty-fifty effort. You can't just want it, you have to work at it. That's what I understand anyway. It's probably a lot more complicated than what I just said."
"Cool. Good talk," Lulu said. "So date night. We still good?"
"Yeah we'll be there. I'll let you know last minute if we cancel," he joked.
"Ooo so funny!" she said walking back to her house.
"Wait Lulu, your towel!"
"Keep it! I'm not touching your vomit!"
Carver looked down at the old shirt Lulu gave him and frowned.
"Really? A crop top?"
"Maybe he's in a crop top phase."
"Yeah, I'm going to need to go home to change in something more...me," he said ripping off his wet shirt and putting on the crop top that came up mid nipples. He looked down, rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "I hate this."
"I don't know," I said as my eyes trailed off staring at his chest and his washboard abs. "I think it's nice."
"Who's the perv now?"
"Shut up," I said walking past him not before twisting one of his nipples.
"Hey! Get back here! If you get to touch them, I get to twist yours too!"