(16) Unwelcome Surprises

Ray stared alluringly at Jack and tossed his hair back with a coy smile.

'I ask you again, WHO ARE YOU!' Jack almost screamed. 'I'm not in the mood for your shit right now, Ray.'

'Okay, Jack, just calm down,' John was saying, trying to tug the teen away from the door. 'Come on back to our table with some real people, and you'll be all right.'

'I'm not going anywhere until I get some answers from Ray!' Jack snapped. 'You two go on without me. I'll come along in a minute.'

Heeding his angry words, John and Fred left their friend alone with "Ray", whoever he was.

'That was a wise move, Jack. Now everyone will think you're crazy . . . except Ralph, that is,' Ray said. 'He really cares about you, Jack.'

Jack sighed and sat himself down on the nearest chair.

'I know.'

'And you really care about him?' Ray asked, but it wasn't exactly a question.

'Yes, I do.'

'Then I wish you both luck.'

'What?'

'You're about to fall under some hard times with Ralph, Jack,' Ray warned. 'You may have decided that the bet was over, but there are others in the school who will refuse to let it go until it's original deadline—like your friend, Lee, for example.'

'What's Lee got to do with anything?'

'He has everything to do with it.'

'What do you mean?'

'You'll see . . . You're going to have to make some tough decisions, mate. Just try to remember what's most important to you.'

It was then that Jack realized that Ray had called him "mate" for the first time during their whole conversation.

'You're not really an Aussie, are you?'

Ray grinned.

'No. Did you only realize that now? I've been slipping back into my British tongue—i.e.: without the word "mate"—since a few chapters ago.'

'A few chapters? What?'

'Never mind. I have to go now, Jack. My best wishes for your well-being.' He made to leave through the cafeteria door, but Jack's voice stopped him.

'What's your name?'

'What?' Ray inquired.

'What's your name?' Jack repeated impatiently.

'Why, it's Ray!'

'Bullshit.'

Ray sighed and stared at Jack under hooded eyes.

'Are you sure you want to know?'

'Yes.'

'You really do?'

'Yes.'

Then, right before his eyes, Ray began to change his form. One moment, he was the dashing "Aussie" who (sometimes) spoke like a Valley girl. The next moment, he was . . .

'Simon?'

Simon looked up at Jack and smiled. His features were now rather average-looking, with light brown hair and a slightly freckled nose. However, his eyes proclaimed otherwise. They were as blue as the ocean and twice as deep. The two orbs stood out like rare gems in a desert of sand.

'Simon!' Jack exclaimed again in disbelief. 'What the hell are you doing here! You died six years ago!' Not surprisingly, Jack was unable to add, "We killed you!"

'Yes,' Simon responded rather impatiently, 'but now I have returned.'

'Why?'

'I would have thought that was obvious.'

'Yeah, to get Ralph and I together . . . but why?'

Simon reclined against a nearby wall.

'You have always intrigued me, Merridew. And I don't even know why! Before that whole "island" fiasco, you and Ralph were on rather friendly terms.'

'Friendly terms? I didn't even know the guy!'

'Still, you two could have been really close friends. You were both into the same music, liked to do the same things . . .'

'How do you know that?'

'Hello! Yearbook!' Simon said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. 'You know, the sections entitled "Favourite Music" and "What I Like To Do".' He sighed. 'Anyway, I decided that I should do something about it. Now, don't blame the whole Ralph-is-at-my-school-now thing on me. I had absolutely nothing to do with that. It was purely fate . . . or something. Anyway, I wanted to bring you two together.'

'And this is how you do it? I'm on a trial basis for fuck's sake.'

'Hey, I'm not all-powerful, Jack! Give me some credit for what I did do right,' Simon said sullenly. 'I'm only sixteen-years-old.'

'Now you are. You were only ten when you died.'

'Okay, now you're just getting off topic. We were talking about you and Ralph, remember?'

'Yeah . . . Did you even tell Ralph that it was you?'

'No.'

'Why not?'

'I didn't want to scare him away.'

'And you don't think you did that to me? You almost gave me a heart attack!'

'Yeah, but I wouldn't have minded as much,' Simon joked. 'Really though, Jack, if I had told Ralph, he would have wanted to spend more time with me. The point was to get you together with him, not for him to spend time with his dead friend.' He casually consulted his wristwatch. 'Okay, I really do have to go now, Jack. I'm scheduled for tea with the Princess Di. Remember what I told you. Don't ignore it just because it was me who said it, okay? My intentions are for both of you to be happy.'

'All right . . . But just tell me one thing, Simon.'

'Eh?'

'Will everything turn out all right in the end?'

'Like I said before, I'm not all-powerful. I wouldn't know these things.' He opened the door and was halfway out the door when he called back, 'It's up to you how things turn out, Merridew.' Then he was gone.

"Man, he's changed a lot!" Jack thought. "The Simon I used to know would have at least prayed for me or something. Geez."

-

'Lee, I think that we should call this whole bet off,' John said the moment he and Fred returned to their table.

'What? Why?'

'It's getting to Jack's head,' Fred explained. 'You should see the guy, Lee. He's losing his mind! He was talking to himself when we left him. Arguing with himself even! We have to call the whole thing off, man. Jack is out friend!'

'Yeah, and he'll be okay for a few more days,' Lee said calmly. 'Two days can't kill him. This bet is important to me, guys. I have to do this; I refuse to call if off.'

'Then you're an asshole,' John snapped. 'This is seriously rattling up Jack's brain. I don't know—maybe he cracked when he saw Ralph that first time.'

'John, take a few seconds to breathe!' Lee said. 'Believe me, Jack will be okay for two more days. If he isn't, then I will personally see to it that things are put right.'

'Promise?'

'Lee's honour,' Lee said, putting his hand over his heart.

"But you don't have any," was John's immediate thought, but he decided it would be rude to say so.

'Er, I guess it'll be okay then. Fred?' he finally said.

'Yeah, I'm good,' Fred said, shrugging.

'Good,' Lee responded. 'Good.'

-

When Ralph returned home from school that day, a not too pleasant surprise awaited him there. A week ago, it would have been a great escape from his all-boy school life to see such an attractive girl sitting on his living room couch—not anymore, however.

'Who are you?' he asked the brunette curiously.

'My name is Lynn,' she replied. 'And you must be Ralph.'

'Y-yeah, I am,' Ralph stuttered.

'Oh, it's nice to see that you're home, dear,' his mother suddenly said, emerging from the kitchen. 'I was just fixing Lynn here a little snack.'

'That's nice.' He nervously cleared his throat. 'If you have no need for me, I think I'll just go up to my room and study, mum.'

'Ralph,' Mrs. Macpherson said with a clear warning in her tone.

Taking her hint, he flopped onto the sofa beside the other teen and started to make small talk with her.

'So, how old are you?'

'Seventeen.'

'Really? So am I.'

There was a rather awkward silence, in which Mrs. Macpherson placed a tray of cookies onto the coffee table in front of them.

'Lynn is the daughter of my friend, Kathy, Ralph. Do you remember her?'

'I can recall you mentioning her a few times,' Ralph said smoothly.

'Well, since you haven't really had the chance to meet a lot of girls around here, I thought I'd just bring her over to our house. Maybe you two can spend a little quality time together.'

Lynn flushed scarlet and shyly batted her thick eyelashes.

'Y-you mean l-like a d-d-date!' Ralph exclaimed.

'Well . . . yes,' his mother replied. 'Just go out for a bit, dear. You spend too much time on your schoolwork and I think it would be nice if you go out for a bit. You know, to get your mind off things for a while.'

'But I just went out last Friday with some friends!' Ralph reminded her.

'I just wanted to do you a little favour, dear,' she said innocently. 'After all, we don't really know how long we'll be staying here, so you may as well take advantage of the situation while you can.'

'Really, mum, I appreciate the gesture, but I don't need a blind date.'

'It's not really a blind date anymore.' She calmly checked her watch. 'You two have known each other for over five minutes now!'

Ralph rolled his eyes.

'Mother! This is humiliating.'

'Don't worry. I have to go through the same thing that you do,' Lynn said. 'My mother is constantly setting me up with guys. Apparently, she doesn't approve of the ones I bring home.'

'This situation is slightly different,' Ralph responded.

'I concur,' Mrs. Macpherson said. 'I greatly approve of the girls Ralph brings home . . . My irritation arises from the fact that he doesn't bring any home anymore!'

'We've hardly even been here for a week, mum,' the teen said exasperatedly. 'I can find my own dates.'

'I know, because you're such a gentleman,' she said affectionately. 'But do me this little favour and go out with Lynn for a few hours. Go catch a movie or something! Even if you don't end up "going steady", you may at least be friends.' (It was obvious, however, that she would hardly approve of the latter suggestion.)

'Yeah . . .' Ralph said slowly; he turned to Lynn. 'Just give me a sec, okay? I just want to change and stuff.'

'No problem,' Lynn replied. 'I'll go freshen up as well.'

'I'm so glad that you two are already getting along so well!' Mrs. Macpherson said, catching them both in one-armed hugs.

'Mum, you're embarrassing yourself,' Ralph said, his words slightly muffled against her shoulder.

'Ah, well, you know how emotional I get sometimes,' she said. 'Go run on upstairs now.'

'Yes, ma'am.'

-

'Your mum is quite a character,' Lynn said a while later as she and Ralph made their way to a nearby café.

'I guess that's one way of putting it,' the latter shrugged. 'She gets a kick out of anything even remotely romantic.'

'Oh, and are we romantic, Ralph?' she asked. Lynn looped her arm through Ralph's and rested her head comfortably on his shoulder.

Ralph tensed, not really knowing what to reply without insulting his companion.

'W-we could be,' he stuttered, unnerved that she could be so forward. After all, they'd only just met! 'You know, after I get to know you and you get to know me . . . Yeah, I guess we could be.'

Lynn sighed and gently steered him into the café, which was called "Café Olé"—a Spanish play on words of the French phrase "café au lait". The place was decorated in the typical café fashion with neutral shades and a classical setting. It was all in all a rather serene atmosphere, save for a couple of guys who were arguing very loudly in one corner.

"Wait a minute, that's Jack!" Ralph realized, his gaze sweeping over the familiar form.

The teenager in question was impeccably dressed in a black turtleneck and dark blue jeans. The obscure shades of his clothes complimented his fair features, which were currently contorted with anger.

"I wonder what they're arguing about."

His answer came almost immediately.

'I can sing circles around you,' Jack said.

'Well, we'll just see about that at the finals,' retorted a teen who Ralph didn't know. 'We'll find out tomorrow who the best singer is . . . Just don't cry your little eyes out when you see me step up to the podium.'

'Like that will even happen!' Jack scoffed. 'Your voice is shit, Smith. How you ever became the leader of the choir is beyond me.'

'Everything is beyond you. I admit, you have some talent when it comes to the art of vocals. It's just too bad your mind can't catch up.'

'Says the guy with a C+ average,' Jack muttered.

'Oh yeah?'

'Yeah!'

'Then if you're so confident in your abilities, why don't we put a little wager on this.'

'I'm listening, Smith,' Jack said.

'Say, one hundred bucks.'

'Ooh, that's a rather hefty amount. Are you sure your wallet won't fly away once I relieve you of it?'

'Ha ha,' the other teen laughed sarcastically. 'Speak for yourself. At least I don't live in the city ghettos.'

'The city g-ghettos!' Jack stuttered through a storm of giggles. 'That is s-so funny!' Suddenly, he swung his fist straight into Smith's face, knocking the latter clean off his feet. 'Not.'

Releasing a breath that he had heedlessly been holding, Ralph murmured a quick apology to Lynn and made his way over.

'Bastard,' Smith sputtered, coughing out blood. 'I'm gonna carve my initials into your fucking head . . . with a spoon!'

'You hit him?' Ralph inquired softly.

Jack grimaced.

'Apparently not hard enough—his mouth still works.' With the same odd grin still on his face, Jack half-heartedly kicked at Smith's foot. 'Get the fuck out of here, Smith. This battle will end tomorrow.'

Glaring angrily at Jack, the other teen scrambled to his feet and fled.

'What are you doing here?' Jack asked.

'I . . . I'm on a date,' Ralph said, quite uncomfortable.

'I see . . . Well, can I meet your . . . date?'

'I guess,' he shrugged. 'Hey, Lynn, come here for a minute,' he called, waving her over.'

Lynn hurried over and flashed Jack a dazzling smile.

'Hi!' she greeted him kindly.

'Lynn, this is Jack. Jack, Lynn,' Ralph said shortly.

'It's wonderful to meet you,' she said, casually tossing her long, dark hair over her shoulder.

'Likewise,' Jack responded. 'Ralph is a really lucky guy to be dating such a beauty.'

Lynn blushed and averted her icy blue eyes in embarrassment.

'Well, would you mind if I steal your date for a moment, Lynn?' Jack inquired. 'I just need to speak with him.'

'Sure.' Lynn leaned forwards to press a chaste kiss on Ralph's cheek. 'I'll go get us a table, hun.'

'What's up?' Ralph asked the moment his date was gone.

'I—'

And that was as far as Jack got before a stern-looking man rudely stepped in front of him.

'Excuse me, sir,' the latter said, his hands resting firmly on his hips. 'I am sorry, but we do not tolerate fighting in this café. I am afraid I am going to have to ask you to leave.'

'Okay, yeah, just let me speak with my friend for a minute, okay?'

'No can do, sir. It's restaurant policy. Those who break the rules must leave immediately!'

Sighing irritably, Jack shrugged his jacket on and left the café, waving goodbye to Ralph over his shoulder.

'See you at school,' he muttered.

'Bye!' Ralph called in reply. Somewhat disappointed, he returned to Lynn with a hasty apology spilling out of his lips.

'Hey, don't worry about it,' Lynn said. 'I'm not going to be totally heartbroken just because you left me for two minutes!'

Ralph let out a choked laugh.

'Are you all right?' she asked, placing her hand gently atop his.

'Yeah, I'm fine,' he murmured. 'It's just been a while since I've been on a date. You know, since we move around so much.'

'I know what you mean,' Lynn responded, though it was obvious she didn't. She had probably never left that city since the day she was born! 'You don't believe me, do you?' she inquired with a smile.

'Not really,' Ralph admitted sheepishly.

'Well, I've moved around quite a bit, too,' she said. 'My parents got divorced a few years back and I had to go live with my aunt for a few months while things settled down. Then I moved in with my mum, then my dad, and now I live with my mum again. I'm supposed to go back to my dad in a few months. That's how my life is—I live with one parent for half a year, then the other. It's hell on my school career . . . er, okay, so these aren't exactly the same circumstances you've had to go through, but they're similar.'

'I guess,' Ralph agreed, shrugging. 'However, I have to move every few months, and sometimes even every few weeks.'

'At least your parents are still together.'

'Yeah. It must be hard on you.'

'It used to be, but I've almost gotten used to it by now.'

Ralph smiled comfortably, relieved to discover how friendly and easy-going Lynn was.

'Hey, we should probably get something to eat,' he suggested. 'Let's go.'

-

When Ralph returned home a few hours later, it was with genuine happiness lighting up his face. Despite their different family lives, he and Lynn realized that they had a lot in common. They listened to the same music, were into the same hobbies, liked the same sports . . . They could have been a great couple.

"I have my eyes set on only one person," Ralph thought as he slipped off his shoes. "Someone who likes the same music I do, likes to do the same things . . . and Lynn isn't the one."

'Hello, dear, how was your date?' his mother asked as she emerged stealthily from the living room.

'Egads, mum, can you at least wait until I get my coat off!' Ralph exclaimed.

Mrs. Macpherson smiled.

'So you had a good time then?' she inquired, completely ignoring his comment.

'I had a great time!' he replied. 'Lynn is a cool chick.'

'But?' The smile was rapidly replaced with a frown.

'What do you mean "but"? I didn't say anything else.'

'Don't give me that foolishness, Ralph Macpherson. I've known you long enough to know if you're telling the entire truth.'

Ralph sighed, knowing it was useless to argue with her. It was like discussing politics with a brick wall.

'But I don't think things will work out between us. The best we can be are good friends.'

'Aw, sweetie, so Lynn wasn't the one. There will be other girls.'

A hard lump formed at the back of Ralph's throat when he heard the word "girls". He didn't want girls anymore, and he didn't want guys either. He just wanted Jack.

'I'm sure there will, Ralph. You're loyal and intelligent and so gosh darn cute—the perfect son!' Mrs. Macpherson enveloped him in an affectionate hug; yet, he couldn't help but notice a certain . . . tenseness to her embrace.

Ralph struggled out of his mother's arms and, after muttering hasty, 'Got homework to do', he practically leapt up the staircase to his bedroom. Then, when he was finally in the privacy of his own domain, he let the tears fall.

'Oh, mum,' he whispered brokenly, 'if you only knew, I doubt you would be so approving of me.'