Date: Thu, 01 Jan 2004 19:19:48 -0600 From: Karla Schulz Subject: Carrots and Celery Part Three Chapter 14 Yes, it's a new chapter for the new year! I'm sure you'll all find this to be the best thing 2004 has had to offer yet. --- last week on a very special clone high - We're right in the middle, uproariously exclaiming, "It's a DAMN cold night!" when we walk into the living room and my eyes land on something that instantly robs me of my ability to speak or move. Though I can barely believe it, there he sits. Arms crossed and eyes grey. Blonde hair all tufty and mussed, as beautiful as I've ever seen him, despite the developing scowl. "Hey baby." ................ "Who the hell are you?" Colin demands, looking mildly frightened but glaring at Celery suspiciously with narrowing eyes. "Who am I?" Celery scoffs with completely un-contained malice. I continue to stand there, stunned. "Are you okay?" Colin asks me, turning me around by my shoulders and peering at my face. Celery makes a sound not unlike a growl and jumps up. I still can't quite believe anything about this scene, but it's clear to me that I better speak up soon, cause if I don't, there's likely to be some kind of a rumble. "It's okay Celery," I like croak, "He's my friend. Colin, this is Celery, Celery, Colin," They do a half-circle around each other, facing off like angry wolves both defending what they believe is their territory. That would be ME for all of you slow ones out there. I know there are a lot of you. "What are you doing here?" Colin gruffly inquires. Celery simply snorts and doesn't bother to answer. Instead he walks over to me and runs his fingers along my neck up to my cheek. My body practically screams MORE at the teasing contact, but I am still managing some small degree of brain function. And that remaining bit of my brain would very much like to know the answer to Colin's question. So I take a step away from him. "Celery?" I plead for some kind of explanation. He smiles sadly. "I told you I was coming." "What? No you didn't!" He's wearing a patient expression, but it doesn't relax me any. "Yes I did. Months ago. And then a million times after that, practically every time we've talked. `I can't wait to see you during Spring Break'. I don't know how many times I must have said it. Did you actually forget?" Is that his heart I hear breaking? And yet, I find myself staring at him in total shock and bewilderment. "Spring Break," I shake my head. "Celery, Spring Break was over a week ago. I'm not the one who forgot," I don't try to hide the pain in my voice. Celery is in total disbelief. "That's why you haven't been calling? Cause you thought I'd somehow ditched you?" Pain and regret are evident in his voice. I nod miserably. Celery rushes to take me in his arms. "Baby no, that's not what happened at all! I just... I can't believe how stupid I am! My Spring Break just started today -- I never thought to check if yours was the same week -- I just assumed! God baby you have to believe me -- I could never forget about you," everything about his voice and his eyes begs me to believe him. And I do. I'm weak, but I let myself be held. With Celery's strong arms around me, I start to feel my world falling back into place, and I cling to him tighter. The minutes fly by as I soak up everything about this moment. Celery seems to be drawing strength and peace from it as well. I'm vaguely aware of Colin trying to sneak away while fading into the background, and feel myself starting to be drawn back into reality. I mean, I have to at least say goodbye. "Hey man, sorry I like forgot about you there," He shrugs. "Don't even worry about it. I'm going to head out though -- you kids have fun," "We will," I have to pause to gently elbow Celery away to stop him kissing my neck, "We definitely will." He grins, silently laughing at my flushed face and um, tightening pants. "Rock on, rock on," he starts our customary good-bye. "Peace Out. Avril," I finish with a laugh, forgoing the free-style complicated handshake. He nods and leaves the room to let himself out. I'm disappointed when Celery doesn't go back to kissing me and discover what he's doing instead is giving me an extremely odd look. "What?" He raises his eyebrows. "Rock on, rock on, peace out, Avril?" I smile and do the eye roll thing. "Don't worry about it. It's not important," I give a come hither smile my best shot. Celery has to laugh. "Okay," He reaches for my hand, and leads me gently towards the stairs. Laugh if you want, but I'm literally shaking with anticipation. --- Celery and I sleep late. Lucky it's a Saturday. I'm still not fully awake when Kyle bursts in, probably to yell at me to get my ass out of bed, but he never gets that far. "Sweet mother of God!" He gasps in total shock. Celery laughs while I scramble to make sure as much of our naked bodies as possible gets covered. "What the hell are you doing here?" Kyle demands, recovering from some of his shock. "That's what everyone seems to want to know." "Never mind," I say quickly. "Never mind? Everything that happened the past two weeks, and now suddenly he's lying naked in your bed and it's never mind?" I nod. "Yeah." Kyle shrugs, grinning. "Okay then -- never mind it is. I can work with that." He says easily. We share a moment all grinning stupidly at each other before he commands, "Bros, get dressed so you can come downstairs." His grin gets even more gleeful. "This is so sweet," He laughs, happiness over flow. "And hurry, everyone else is up already. If mom finds your shoes Cel, she's going to freak out. She'll probably run up here and ignore shut doors and no doubt even half naked people in the hug fest that will ensue," Knowing he's right, we shoo Kyle out and haphazardly throw on clothes. The clothes thing doesn't work too great, because we keep getting distracted by the others increasingly less naked body and our desire to kiss each other anywhere and everywhere. We manage eventually. Fully clothed at last, we head downstairs. When we enter the fully packed kitchen, everybody goes nuts. Totally. It's hilarious. The twins simultaneously drop their spoons, dad spits out his coffee, mom gasps, and Kara starts to cry. Happy crying all the way. Next mom is engulfing Celery in a hug, the twins are grinning and Kara bursting to get in on the hug action herself. I watch it all happily from the sidelines. Kyle is off by the phone, laughing, and trying to convince Jonas he's not lying and that Celery really is here. "The one time I leave you do make the flight arrangements yourself," My mom says, shaking her head, but smiling in a loving, motherly sort of way. Celery plays his part as sheepish, bashful son. "I know. I'm still getting over the stupidity. And to think both of us thought the other one had forgotten, did Carrots totally freak?" "I was less than pleasant to be around," I summarize quickly before mom can give a more detailed answer. He smiles at me, so warmly I feel like I can just sit there and bask in it all day. "How'd you get here?" Jon asks. "I took a cab," Celery says offhandedly. It hits me finally how awful that must have been for him. Getting to the airport and seeing no one waiting for him. Having to call a cab and manage everything all on his own. My eyes start to sting, but he quickly puts his arms around me, whispering into my ear, "It wasn't that bad baby. And even if that's sort of a lie, I don't care. It was just a misunderstanding. I'd go through it again and worse no problem, so long as I got to end up here with you today," I cling to him tighter. "I'm still really sorry, I shouldn't have not called you all week like that. I was so hurt, and my idiot pride sorta decided you were supposed to be the one. But why didn't you ever call, I mean, you didn't think I'd forgotten about Spring Break already back then," "Well, it's just, I mean, I did call you. I left that message, and I called again that Sunday night or whatever, but you weren't home, no one was. And you never called me back, so I don't know, I guess just thought you were busy. Like, you've been busy a lot lately," stab of guilt time. "Yeah, I know, I'm sorry for that too," He shakes his head. "Don't be. It's what I said I wanted, what we need. It's just taking some getting used to," I understand what he means. I called him once, and he didn't answer, later when we finally hooked up he explained he'd been out with Saul, and though completely irrationally, I felt kind of weird and bad when that happened. "Picking up right where you left off I see," Kyle says suddenly from somewhere behind me. I release Celery, spinning around to look him in the eye. "Huh?" He shrugs. "Just marveling at your continued ability to completely forget about everyone else in the same room with you but each other," We blush a little, sort of finally realizing everyone's still there, that they've watched the whole display, and that they're all smirking at us. "Not a word from anyone of you," I say darkly, fighting off the blush, and taking an especially long pause to glare at the twins. Celery chuckles. "What?" "Nothing. I'd just sort of forgotten the way only your right ear gets red when you blush," "It does not!" I protest while automatically reaching to cover my ear. Celery laughs more, and the rest of that lousy bunch known as my excuse for a family joins in. "Holy shit he wasn't lying," This broken moment brought to you by Jonas Wheaten. "Record time Jonas," Kyle says approvingly, "Now I know what to say when I want to get you over here fast," "When have you ever had trouble getting me to come quickly?" Jonas scoffs, shaking his head. There's a pause while that statement hangs in the air and it's like everything turns into slow motion. There's the widening eyes of shock as Jonas realizes what he's said, the look of supreme and absolutely hilarious horror that immediately follows that. I'm right there with the twins, gaping at Jonas, Celery is trying not to laugh, Kyle IS laughing, and my parents are like, pretending they don't understand what we all find so funny and horrifying. "Oh god, oh god," Jonas is mouthing, "I SO didn't mean it like that!" He rushes in a faint voice, all the colour drained from his face. "I'm sorry mom," he says guiltily. "Sorry? What could you be sorry for? I have no idea what you mean," She says, twiddling her thumbs and rolling her eyes skyward. Jonas looks immensely relieved. He then focuses his attention on Kyle, shooting him the glare of death when another laugh escapes. But this causes the twins to finally release THEIR laughter, it sort of sets off a chain reaction as one by one the rest of us join in. When this happens there's really nothing Jonas can do but sit down mopily onto a chair beside Kara (the only one who still doesn't understand what's going on) and begin a conversation with her like the rest of us aren't even there. Such good times. When breakfast's over and Jonas has finally stopped pouting, we talk about what we want to do. It's agreed that much cramming of fun must go down over the weekend, since I still have to go back to school on Monday. That's Jonas and Kyle too of course. "I don't mind going to school with you guys," Celery says to me and Jonas. "I think it would be kind of fun actually. I'll just like sit in on your classes and everything," I roll my eyes. "I'd have better luck trying to get something out of the lessons if I stayed home," "Are you saying you don't want me to come?" He asks tauntingly, knowing full well that's not even slightly what I meant. "No," I say rather unnecessarily. He enjoys a good look of smugness about it, but quickly steers the conversation back on track. "Today, right guys? Today we...?" "Today we rest, tomorrow we marry?" Jonas says uncertainly, not sure if he's got the quote right. "Today we feast, tomorrow we marry," I correct. "Oh." Jonas says with a shrug. "Not that I don't love a good pointless detour as much as the next guy, but could we possibly get back to what we're REALLY going to do today?" This is Kyle, trying to be the big boss. "We could go to the mall and mock people," I suggest, thinking it's always fun when me and Colin do it. "Malls are lame," Celery states. "Well yeah, but making fun of people who don't think so is lots of fun," He shrugs. "Whatever you want," "Guys?" "I have bad associations," Jonas says, looking uncomfortable. "Oh right, sorry," I say, meaning it, remembering the last time we all went to a mall together. You remember. That was when Erica came up to us while we were waiting in line for Two Towers? Don't you listen? Wait. Don't answer that. "So mall's a no. What about old faithful?" Kyle throws out his idea. "Movie marathon?" Jonas wants to know. "Good friends, good movies, good snuggling? I'm down with that," Is Celery's vote. "I didn't hear the first two, but anything with good snuggling in it sounds good to me," Mine. "As long as we get something these the super vegetables don't have memorized and won't be quoting one line ahead of the dialogue the entire time," Jonas casts the final vote for the affirmative. "Do we walk or do we rock?" "Uh, does rocking involve taking the Le Baron?" I require Kyle's clarification. "Yeah," He nods. "It's a nice day, I say we walk," "I say we skate," "There's still snow!" I exclaim. "Not on the sidewalks," He says, looking at me like it's the most obvious thing in the world. The crazy fool. Crazy fool who I love and smile at humoringly. "Okay, we'll skate, will you guys get annoyed at us?" I ask the non-skaters. "I don't care," "Me neither," Jonas says with his old faithful easy going shrug. The Zen Master returns. "Alright then let's plough," "Let's skate," I roll my eyes. "Silly boy," We're getting our stuff, about to leave, when I suddenly stop. "I should call Colin," "Who?" Celery asks. "Colin, you remember. The guy from last night," Recognition crosses his face, quickly followed by a different kind of confusion. "Why do you need to call him?" That's an interesting question. I mean, it's not like I have something to tell him or we made plans or anything. It just sort of hit me, that impulse to call, and it never occurred to me to give much thought as to why. I shrug. "I just want to say hey, you know, plus the way I sorta kicked him out last night. I should probably apologize for that, even though I'm sure he's not pissed. Anyway, I think I'm going to invite him over, I want you to meet him," "How come?" "He's a really good friend of mine." "You've never mentioned him," He sounds like he's working hard at keeping his tone off hand. "Well, like, Colin's someone who's kind of, I don't know," I shrug, smiling. "Let's just say he's better experienced than explained," Celery smiles faintly, nodding. "Okay. Whatever. If he's your friend, then of course I want to meet him. After all, I have to make sure he's cool enough to be hanging out with you." For a second a strange emotion comes up, and I almost consider saying, `it's my decision who is and isn't cool enough to hang out with me' but then it goes away and all I'm left feeling is puzzled by where such a response could have come from. I just smile. "Yeah. Sure." So I go to the phone and dial up, but tragically, there's no answer. I leave a message, telling him to call me back, and we leave. On the way, I explain to Celery about how is Video Update is now The Movie Gallery, and try to get him to laugh at the way the sign makes it looks like the Movie part is "Mo greater than sign ie", but for some reason I don't think he found it very funny. Anyway, we rent some movies, and it's weird, cause for like the first time ever, I've seen stuff he hasn't, and he's seen stuff I haven't, and even though it's like, a pretty trivial thing, it bothers me that we're out of sync like that. It's other stuff too. I keep noticing him giving me all these bewildered side ways glances all over the place. Like when we were in line `A Moment Like This' started playing, and it immediately summoned Colin's terrible impression into my head, especially the way he always clutches both his fists up by his heart every time he she sings `some'. I tried to explain it to Celery, but it just made him get more weirded, so I like gave up. And now, as we're like, watching the movies, the strangeness hasn't gone away. We're not even sitting together like we normally do. I mean, we sort of started out that way, him on the edge of the couch, me half lying on him, but I couldn't get comfortable. It felt really weird. So I sat up. I gave just leaning against him a shot, but even that didn't feel right. When I realized it was because I was so used to sitting alone, or with Colin or someone like that, I almost started to cry. I wanted things to be the same, but they aren't. I had expected everything to just fall back into place, but it hasn't. And I don't know why. I'm pretty sure Celery's noticed the same thing, and it must be bothering him as much as it is me. Maybe that's what all the weird looks have been about. We take a break between Jesus' Son and Vanilla Sky, and I want to try and start talking to Celery about it, but then the phone rings. "It's for you bro," Kyle says, handing me the phone. Celery shoots me an unreadable look, but I go to the phone, shrugging to myself and wondering what his problem is now. "Hey," "Hey Asparagus," I roll my eyes. "What do you want?" Amused but trying to hide it. "Um, excuse me? I believe YOU called ME." Oh that's right. I did. I laugh. "Yeah, sort of forgot about that. Sorry," He sighs. The world-weary put on. "So why'd you call?" I laugh, again at my own stupidity. "To invite you over later. Like, tomorrow maybe? I want you guys to meet," "I thought we already did," "Properly I mean," "Anything for you. When do you want me to show up?" "Any time after noon," "Sounds cool." "So you'll come?" "Yeah. I just said I would." He laughs. "Why, are you nervous?" I frown, sneaking a look over my shoulder at Celery. "Um, no," "Well, you're lying, but that's okay. Don't worry about it, it'll be, uh, it'll be fine. I promise not to do anything to make him instantly hate me like Jonas and Kyle," "They don't hate you," I protest lamely. "Carrots, your entire family hates me with a firey passion. But that's okay. I'm not really all that broken up about it. And like I said, I'll behave myself. I mean, I'm sure he's a really great guy. It'll be fun," "Of course it will. You'll be there," He chuckles. "That's right. But now, how about some details. It's status report time. How's everything with Wonder Boy?" "Who?" I say, laughing. "Wonder Boy. Big, blonde, white teeth, muscles... you know who I'm talking about," I glance nervously again over at Celery, who's still standing behind me, leaning against a counter, his arms folded across his chest. His face is neutral, but his eyes show flecks of grey. "Everything's fine," I try to sound cheerful and genuine, all the while confused about why I feel like I'm lying about that. "Great." "Well good. I know how much you've been missing him, and I'm really glad the whole Spring break thing was just a big misunderstanding," "Yeah me too," My relief is heavy. "Okay. Go keep having fun or whatever. I'll see you tomorrow," "Rock on, rock on," "Peace out. Avril," He hangs up, and a second later, so do I. "So he's coming?" Celery asks. I nod. "Yep, tomorrow afternoon," "That should be um, interesting," He says, trying to smile. "It'll be good. He's a really great guy, and he's helped me a lot the past couple months," Again Celery's clouded expression confuses me, but he puts his arm around me, and smiles slightly. "Then I can't wait to meet him," We go back into the living room, sit down on the couch, and Kyle hits play. I look over at Kyle and Jonas, and hold in a sigh. They're crunched together on one of the arm chairs, Jonas in Kyle's lap, only half aware of us, whispering to each other occasionally, sharing secret smiles and touches. My eyes fall back to Celery, sitting a half-foot away from me on the couch, eyes only pretending to be watching the screen. I don't even really understand why, but it makes me so sad I feel like crying. Like they have something I didn't know I had lost. He smiles at me, but there's something missing from it. "Hey Carrots," he says quietly. "Hey Celery," I say just as softly. He raises his arm up, making a space for me. Another rush of emotion hits, both joy and sadness this time. I inhale, closing my eyes, trying to fight it off. He's here. I don't understand why I feel so close to falling completely apart. "I love you Carrots," He whispers. I nod, still trying to shake off whatever is causing the tightness in my throat and the burning of my eyes. I move closer, and find some peace when he places his arm around my shoulders, but the feeling never totally goes away. That evening the whole family plays a few games of Beyond Balderdash (it's still a favourite). It's a lot of fun, but there's still this crazy vibe thing going back forth between me and Celery. I don't know what it is, but I know I really don't like it. By 11:30 Kara's asleep with her head on the table, the twins are yawning every five seconds, and even dad looks ready to nod off. We finish up the last game, and everyone starts saying good night and slowly making their way up to their respective quarters. Jonas, Kyle, Celery and I are last to stand from the table, but Jonas is sagging against Kyle, and though not exactly ready to sleep tired, I'm feeling pretty burnt myself, so we decide against any further hanging out. "Night guys," Jonas mumbles as Kyle begins guiding him up the stairs. "Ya, night," I call after them. "Wanna go watch the Dark Corner?" I ask, only half kidding. "I think Vampire High school comes on in a few minutes," He shakes his head. "No, I think I'm just going to go to bed. You can though," "What're you -- crazy? You think I'm going to sit down here alone while you're lying half naked in my bed?" I scoff. "Don't make me laugh," He grins at me for the first time in hours. I look into his eyes, and they meet mine, shinning and free from the grey I've been wishing wasn't there all throughout the day. Relief floods my body. "Come on baby," I take his outstretched hand, and we follow the footsteps of Jonas and Kyle up the stairs. With every ascending step, I feel my heart start to lighten. While of course, other parts of me are doing other things. You know. Things of the, not lightening variety. We reach the door to my room, shutting it behind us. Celery reaches out to me again, eyes blazing with a new and welcomed light. And it's then, as we're moving towards the bed, his hands are on me, and his tongue slowly slipping through my lips, that I finally start to feel as if once again I'm back where I belong.