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Chapter 3 – Truth
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"Joan, will you hand me the salad?"
"Sure mom."
"Did you get all of the details worked out with Mr. Rove on the trip?"
"Yes. There's a permission slip and some other entry paperwork that we need to get from him before we leave, but otherwise it's all set. I take it you have decided to go along?"
"Yeah. Adam asked me to and it seems to be really important to him that I do. How could I say no?"
"Did you really want to say no?"
"Not really, I'm kinda looking forward to spending some time with Adam that isn't directly school related. Since he's asked for my help this seems to be the perfect opportunity. What does dad think about us both going?"
"He thinks that it will be great to have the house to just the men around here for a day or two. Male bonding and all that. Sounds like they will be glad to be rid of us."
"Are you sure the house will still be here when we return?"
"It'll be okay I'm sure, I just wish Luke was recovering a little quicker than he is from the flu. But your father will be here so I won't worry as much."
"Are we staying on campus or in a local hotel?"
"When I called Mr. Williams to let him know that Adam had agreed to participate he gave me the information to make reservations at a local hotel. It sounds as if the two rooms that I reserved were the last available in the hotel. Apparently there is a basketball tournament in town and accommodations are at a premium."
"So you're driving and Adam is driving his truck?"
"Yes, that way we can come on home on Saturday evening when Mr. Rove arrives. Were you planning on riding over with me or did you want to ride with Adam?"
"No offense mom, but I think I'll ask Adam if I can ride with him, our taste in music is a little closer than yours and mine."
"Are you saying you don't want three hours of classical music?"
"Something like that. How long til dinner?"
"About 20 minutes. Why?"
"I thought I'd go and start packing. Grace and Adam are coming over tonight to study chemistry and I don't want to leave packing until the last minute on Thursday night."
"Sounds good, honey."
----------
"So you're telling me that the two of you are deserting me here in Arcadia while you go off to a college campus over break," Grace complained.
"Grace, you make it sound as if we'll be gone for the whole week, it's only three days, yo," Adam responded.
"Grace if you want to go along, I'm sure you can room with my mom and I," Joan offered
"Cha Grace, I could always use more support from my friends," commented Adam.
"Wanting to go and being able to are two different things. I have to go to some stupid family thing with my dad on Saturday so I'm stuck in Arcadia. But you both better get your butts back here by Monday."
"Alright it's a deal. Now let's get through this chemistry. The exam is tomorrow and we need to finish reviewing Chapter 12."
--------------
Thursday at Arcadia High went by quickly, between the chemistry exam and every other teacher trying to squeeze in one last day of learning, (since after all, no one ever did anything at all on a Friday before a week off from school).
Adam's focus was on considering which pieces that he would take to the art exhibit. Packing the rest of his stuff to take along was secondary, though Mrs. G had said something about a dinner Sunday evening that the exhibitors and their guests could attend.
Grace was still kinda sullen and withdrawn, one minute mad that she couldn't go with Rove and Giradi, and the next announcing to the world that she would be bored to death if she had to hang out inside an exhibit hall all day long.
Joan was experiencing a similar rollercoaster of emotions, where one minute she was anxious for the weekend to begin and the next fearing that she was going to do something stupid that would intrude on whatever it was that seemed to be developing between she and Adam.
The three had agreed that they would conference call on Thursday about 10 PM rather than get together that evening. Knowing that, Adam was somewhat surprised when he heard someone approaching his shed. He'd told Jane he didn't need any help this evening and that they'd talk later. His surprise faded though when, at the knock on the door, he looked up and noticed Iris standing there.
"Iris."
"Hey there A"
"Are you busy selecting pieces for the show?"
"Yeah, it's kinda hard to do. I wish I had a little more time to balance the selection I'm taking. Based on the space allowed, I think three, maybe four of the larger pieces will work and then some smaller ones.
"Everybody was sure surprised when Mrs. Giradi announced today in class that you would be in the show."
"Yeah, I kinda wish she hadn't said anything, I was sort of embarrassed."
"It's cool though, you should think of it like that."
"I guess. Why did ya stop by Iris?"
"Well, you know, I guess I wanted to talk."
"Talk about what?"
"Why."
"Why, what?"
"Why you want Joan to be with you at the exhibit more than you want me to be there with you."
"I guess you heard me say that, huh?"
"Yeah."
"Iris, maybe we shouldn't talk about this now."
"If not now, when Adam? I really think that we need to talk before this weekend. So.........are ya gonna answer my question?"
"It's hard for me to explain to anyone, I mean I have trouble understanding it myself."
"I guessed you would, so let me help you out Adam, you've got a thing for Joan. It was there before we started going out and it's there now."
"Iris...."
"Ya know, I should've known better. I just didn't want to admit that what I saw between the two of you was anything at all. There had always been little things and then of course there was Grace who has never been subtle about what she thinks about you and I together. But ever since that thing with Angela, there has been something more between you and Joan, I'm not sure exactly what but I'm sure it's there."
"Iris, I never wanted to hurt you."
"I know that Adam. I just think that you didn't understand completely what you wanted, and now that you've finally figured it out, I'm the one that has to step aside"
"It's just that Jane and I, we..."
"Please Adam, don't explain. Let's just leave it where it is."
"Iris, can we still at least be friends? I mean we have to see each other in art class and around school."
"Sure Adam. We can be friends. I suppose I can even be civil to Joan. Like I said, I knew there was always something between the two of you......anyway, it was fun while it lasted."
"Yeah it was."
"Well, I have to get going. If I don't remember to tell you tomorrow at school, good luck at the exhibit."
"Thanks Iris, for that and for understanding the other too."
After a moment Iris turned and left the shed leaving Adam to his thoughts and his task of packing. As the conversation of the last few minutes ran through his brain again, one question came through clearly to him....How was he going to tell Jane that Iris was no longer in the picture?
--------------------------------------------
The conference call on the phone that evening consisted primarily of Grace providing the other two instructions on what to do and what not to do when they were visiting the university.....
"Now there's this cool place for music just two blocks off campus. Even you Giradi should be able to fit in there."
"Grace, what makes you think we're going to have any time to go clubbing? Remember the exhibit ends on Sunday evening. Besides, I really can't see either my mom or Adam's dad showing any interest in the same style of music as Adam and I."
"Well, you could always hold out hope."
"Right now I'm just hoping to come up with a good argument to get my mom to allow me to stay with Adam and his dad through Monday. She's suggested that I come home with her on Saturday evening but I'd really rather stay the other days as well and help Adam load back up Monday morning."
"Really Jane, you want to stay?"
"Sure Adam. After all, I wouldn't be doing my job as a roadie if I didn't."
"Fine," offered Grace. "Just remember, I expect regular calls to sustain me from the boredom around here while you two are gone."
Chapter 3 – Truth
-----------------------------------------------------
"Joan, will you hand me the salad?"
"Sure mom."
"Did you get all of the details worked out with Mr. Rove on the trip?"
"Yes. There's a permission slip and some other entry paperwork that we need to get from him before we leave, but otherwise it's all set. I take it you have decided to go along?"
"Yeah. Adam asked me to and it seems to be really important to him that I do. How could I say no?"
"Did you really want to say no?"
"Not really, I'm kinda looking forward to spending some time with Adam that isn't directly school related. Since he's asked for my help this seems to be the perfect opportunity. What does dad think about us both going?"
"He thinks that it will be great to have the house to just the men around here for a day or two. Male bonding and all that. Sounds like they will be glad to be rid of us."
"Are you sure the house will still be here when we return?"
"It'll be okay I'm sure, I just wish Luke was recovering a little quicker than he is from the flu. But your father will be here so I won't worry as much."
"Are we staying on campus or in a local hotel?"
"When I called Mr. Williams to let him know that Adam had agreed to participate he gave me the information to make reservations at a local hotel. It sounds as if the two rooms that I reserved were the last available in the hotel. Apparently there is a basketball tournament in town and accommodations are at a premium."
"So you're driving and Adam is driving his truck?"
"Yes, that way we can come on home on Saturday evening when Mr. Rove arrives. Were you planning on riding over with me or did you want to ride with Adam?"
"No offense mom, but I think I'll ask Adam if I can ride with him, our taste in music is a little closer than yours and mine."
"Are you saying you don't want three hours of classical music?"
"Something like that. How long til dinner?"
"About 20 minutes. Why?"
"I thought I'd go and start packing. Grace and Adam are coming over tonight to study chemistry and I don't want to leave packing until the last minute on Thursday night."
"Sounds good, honey."
----------
"So you're telling me that the two of you are deserting me here in Arcadia while you go off to a college campus over break," Grace complained.
"Grace, you make it sound as if we'll be gone for the whole week, it's only three days, yo," Adam responded.
"Grace if you want to go along, I'm sure you can room with my mom and I," Joan offered
"Cha Grace, I could always use more support from my friends," commented Adam.
"Wanting to go and being able to are two different things. I have to go to some stupid family thing with my dad on Saturday so I'm stuck in Arcadia. But you both better get your butts back here by Monday."
"Alright it's a deal. Now let's get through this chemistry. The exam is tomorrow and we need to finish reviewing Chapter 12."
--------------
Thursday at Arcadia High went by quickly, between the chemistry exam and every other teacher trying to squeeze in one last day of learning, (since after all, no one ever did anything at all on a Friday before a week off from school).
Adam's focus was on considering which pieces that he would take to the art exhibit. Packing the rest of his stuff to take along was secondary, though Mrs. G had said something about a dinner Sunday evening that the exhibitors and their guests could attend.
Grace was still kinda sullen and withdrawn, one minute mad that she couldn't go with Rove and Giradi, and the next announcing to the world that she would be bored to death if she had to hang out inside an exhibit hall all day long.
Joan was experiencing a similar rollercoaster of emotions, where one minute she was anxious for the weekend to begin and the next fearing that she was going to do something stupid that would intrude on whatever it was that seemed to be developing between she and Adam.
The three had agreed that they would conference call on Thursday about 10 PM rather than get together that evening. Knowing that, Adam was somewhat surprised when he heard someone approaching his shed. He'd told Jane he didn't need any help this evening and that they'd talk later. His surprise faded though when, at the knock on the door, he looked up and noticed Iris standing there.
"Iris."
"Hey there A"
"Are you busy selecting pieces for the show?"
"Yeah, it's kinda hard to do. I wish I had a little more time to balance the selection I'm taking. Based on the space allowed, I think three, maybe four of the larger pieces will work and then some smaller ones.
"Everybody was sure surprised when Mrs. Giradi announced today in class that you would be in the show."
"Yeah, I kinda wish she hadn't said anything, I was sort of embarrassed."
"It's cool though, you should think of it like that."
"I guess. Why did ya stop by Iris?"
"Well, you know, I guess I wanted to talk."
"Talk about what?"
"Why."
"Why, what?"
"Why you want Joan to be with you at the exhibit more than you want me to be there with you."
"I guess you heard me say that, huh?"
"Yeah."
"Iris, maybe we shouldn't talk about this now."
"If not now, when Adam? I really think that we need to talk before this weekend. So.........are ya gonna answer my question?"
"It's hard for me to explain to anyone, I mean I have trouble understanding it myself."
"I guessed you would, so let me help you out Adam, you've got a thing for Joan. It was there before we started going out and it's there now."
"Iris...."
"Ya know, I should've known better. I just didn't want to admit that what I saw between the two of you was anything at all. There had always been little things and then of course there was Grace who has never been subtle about what she thinks about you and I together. But ever since that thing with Angela, there has been something more between you and Joan, I'm not sure exactly what but I'm sure it's there."
"Iris, I never wanted to hurt you."
"I know that Adam. I just think that you didn't understand completely what you wanted, and now that you've finally figured it out, I'm the one that has to step aside"
"It's just that Jane and I, we..."
"Please Adam, don't explain. Let's just leave it where it is."
"Iris, can we still at least be friends? I mean we have to see each other in art class and around school."
"Sure Adam. We can be friends. I suppose I can even be civil to Joan. Like I said, I knew there was always something between the two of you......anyway, it was fun while it lasted."
"Yeah it was."
"Well, I have to get going. If I don't remember to tell you tomorrow at school, good luck at the exhibit."
"Thanks Iris, for that and for understanding the other too."
After a moment Iris turned and left the shed leaving Adam to his thoughts and his task of packing. As the conversation of the last few minutes ran through his brain again, one question came through clearly to him....How was he going to tell Jane that Iris was no longer in the picture?
--------------------------------------------
The conference call on the phone that evening consisted primarily of Grace providing the other two instructions on what to do and what not to do when they were visiting the university.....
"Now there's this cool place for music just two blocks off campus. Even you Giradi should be able to fit in there."
"Grace, what makes you think we're going to have any time to go clubbing? Remember the exhibit ends on Sunday evening. Besides, I really can't see either my mom or Adam's dad showing any interest in the same style of music as Adam and I."
"Well, you could always hold out hope."
"Right now I'm just hoping to come up with a good argument to get my mom to allow me to stay with Adam and his dad through Monday. She's suggested that I come home with her on Saturday evening but I'd really rather stay the other days as well and help Adam load back up Monday morning."
"Really Jane, you want to stay?"
"Sure Adam. After all, I wouldn't be doing my job as a roadie if I didn't."
"Fine," offered Grace. "Just remember, I expect regular calls to sustain me from the boredom around here while you two are gone."
