Chapter 45

After I had introduced him to everyone, they got along perfectly fine, if you didn't know you'd think one of them was his grandparents. He was laughing and singing one of songs from their men camp, he learnt it really fast.

"He is really handsome, sure I can't steal him?" Clara, one of the elderlies whispered as I watched him from far.

I smiled really wide.

"Everyone can see that huh? He is so beautiful it's almost a crime."

She laughed.

"You like him a lot don't you?"

I stared at him.. for a while, remembering his fun to eat ice cream, his laughter, his love for gardening.

"I think I love him.." I whisper to her.

My chest almost closed in on itself after I said that. I knew I did, but saying it out loud... That was different.

"He likes you too.." she said looking at him.

I blinked,

"I don't think so Clara.. you see.." I started to explain everything to her.

She laughed when I told her I jumped windows.

"I never knew you had it in you Carolyn. Well, you live you learn. Anyway, boys are different from girls.. sometimes boys are scared of their own feelings, because they are not in control of the situation and they love being in control of their situation. So the next best thing is to ignore their feelings because that's safer, that's the territory they know.. so they cling to it. But that's just foolishness on their part since they end up coming back to girl anyway." She explained.

"You sound so wise Clara.. thanks."

"Of course I'm wise.." she said laughing.

I laughed along with her. I really missed here.

"By the way.. old man Tom was diagnosed... He is in his last stage.." she whispered.

My eyes widened and strayed to him. He was sitting at the far end of the room in his wheel chair. He was the most anti social here. But we talked. And I wasn't here for the crucial part of his life. I walked to him. He didn't raise his head but I know he knew it was me, or he'd have wheeled himself away..

"Hey Tom, you don't remember the men camp songs anymore?" I asked him jokingly.

"Never liked them, no tune and very predictable." He murmured.

I smiled, this was him. Hating everything that wasn't him.

"You bringing boys here now Carolyn? I didn't know you liked boys, I'd prefer you liked girls, boys are disgusting." He said seriously. But I laughed.

"I see you haven't changed since I was last here."

"I worried I wasn't going to see you again... So I held on tight... Now that I have seen you're perfectly healthy and have someone you love... I can finally be at peace." He said softly.

I gave him a hug.

"I'll miss you."

"Then come with me." Was his simple response.

He laughed a small laugh when I didn't respond.

"It's time for my meds Carolyn, I still have to live another day."

I released him slowly. He wheeled away, out of sight and into the doctor's office.

"Your time is up." A boy of about my age said.

I turned to him.

"I'm covering for someone today." He explained.

I nodded.

"It's time to go." I told Joseph.

He looked like he didn't want to.

"I'll come next time okay?" He promised them.

We walked side by side as we went out of the building. Clara's words played in my head. Was it true?

"You seemed really happy there " I commented.

"Yeah, I see why you like it. It makes you forget everything. They are like children without worries, only they have worries. It gives you an insight to another aspect of life." He said as we walked.

I agreed with him, staying with the elderlies gave me a sense of fufilment.

"What instruments do you like?" I asked randomly.

"Keyboard.. piano.."

"Classics..." I noted.

"And you?"

"The cello. I want to talk lessons for it, but I don't even have any spare time."

He didn't comment. That's not what I wanted. I wanted to have a conversation with him.

He walked to his house without saying anything to me. I almost called him back, but I saw someone staring at me through a window from his house. It gave me the creeps, so I just turned away to mine.

Wait, was that his mom?

I didn't go out to check though, I sat in the front steps to my house and put my head between my legs. I started the day in prospects of getting a boyfriend. I got serious boy problems instead.

I go inside the house. Nobody was at home yet so I just head straight to my room.

"Hello." Andrina picked up on the first ring.

"I don't know what to do.. I need your advice." I say before narrating the recent change of events to her.

"This is the biggest plot twist ever."

"The only thing I can say for now .. wait till tomorrow, he can't avoid you tomorrow too. He should have come to terms with his feelings by tomorrow."

That didn't happen, instead when I woke up this morning, he had used a wooden board to permanently shut the window I used to crawl into his house.

That got me really pissed. My mood was foul, even hot chocolate could not help me.

When I got to school he avoided all contacts with me like I had a plague.

"I hate crushes, and feelings, if I become president I'll ban them forever." I tell my friends.

They looked at me in pity.

"What could have gone so wrong? He doesn't even want to appear before me so I could ask him."

"Did you ask Lucy?" Sophie asked me.

"Yeah, she said I should ask her brother, but the way she said it suggested she knew more than she was letting on." I tell them.

Was this happening because of their Mom?? Was that why he asked if he was a good person??

"He can't avoid you forever."

"That's what you said yesterday and look where we ended up. Anyway, if only something can force us together." I say thinking.

Suddenly I shot up, Lucy's duty roaster!!!

"Guys, let's go. I have just the thing that'll force us together." I say running to the Jew journalism club.

"Hey! No running in the halls remember?" Sophie said.

At that point I had forgotten that I was an enforcer of the law.

I stopped in front of the notice board.

The first names on the duty roaster was... JOSEPH WILSON & CAROLYN ANDERSON.

I smirked, try to avoid me now pretty boy.