(14) Jacques leRange

"There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." —William Shakespeare

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When Jack entered the school with his friends the next morning, it was to see the coloured posters on practically every wall, and they all said the same thing:

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MASQUERADE BALL!

Help to raise money for the new STUDENT LOUNGE

Time: Friday, 7 p.m.Midnight

Place: School Gymnasium

Prices: $8 per person or $14 per couple

Tickets will be available at the door.

(Remember to bring your student I.D.)

Don't forget to dress up!

Wear a costume! Wear a mask! Reveal yourself at midnight

But most importantly, have fun!

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'The poster is pretty queer, but this looks kind of neat,' Terry said, reading the ad over.

'Yeah, maybe I can ask Wendy if she'd like to come,' Fred said.

'Greg said that they were inviting some girls over,' Lee pointed out. 'Are you sure that you'd want to invite someone when there are so many others to chill with?'

'I don't care for such . . . ventures.'

'Are you even allowed to bring someone from another school?' John asked.

'Yeah, I'm pretty certain that we're allowed to invite whomever we want to,' the former reasoned. 'The other girls that Lee was talking about are just there for people who enjoy the single life.'

'Translation: the people who don't have dates,' John added.

'But that isn't really a bad thing,' Jack said. 'Some people just don't like going with dates. It gives them more freedom overall, right?'

'Yeah, I guess that you're right,' Fred said.

'And I'm sure that Lee is happy being a free man,' Terry said.

'Well, why give yourself unnecessary burdens?' said teen asked.

'So . . . I guess that means we're going then?' John asked.

'Hell yeah!' was the unified reply.

'Why not?' Lee asked. 'It sounds like fun!'

'Yeah, and it'll be good to raise money for the lounge,' Fred added.

'What about dates?' John asked.

'I don't think that I want a date for the dance,' Jack said. 'I just want to chillax without someone stuck to my arm all night.'

'Amen to that, dude,' Lee said. 'So how about you guys?'

'Don't care,' Terry said, indifferent.

'I'll probably ask Wendy,' Fred said with a blush.

'I can't get a date regardless of how much I try,' John said pathetically.

'I'm sure that's not true, John,' Jack responded. 'There must be a lot of girls who would go out with you.'

'And if not, you can just hang out with us, bro,' Terry said, and he gave his friend a noogie.

'No worries, John,' Lee said. 'Things will be aight.'

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'RALPH!'

Said teen turned around when he heard his name being called.

'RALPH! GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE!'

Finally realizing that it had been the twins who were calling him, Ralph made his way over to them.

The two teens were sitting on the front steps of the school. However, when their friend approached, they stood up to greet him.

'Hey!' Samneric said.

'What's up?' he asked tiredly, for it was still rather early in the morning—more specifically, before first period started.

'We're worried about you,' they said in unison.

'Why?'

'You're still acting so depressed all the time,' Sam said frankly.

'Have you at least tried to get over the . . . you know . . . break up?' Eric asked in a hushed tone.

'That is really none of your business,' was Ralph's stiff reply.

'It is our business if it concerns you, Ralph,' the first twin said.

'Yeah,' agreed the second. 'We're your friends. We just want what's best for you.'

Ralph sighed.

'Sorry,' he mumbled. 'It's just . . . I still don't like to talk about it.'

'We understand,' Samneric said.

'And we're sorry for prying,' Eric apologized. 'We know that we shouldn't really be poking our noses into places where we're not wanted.'

'We're just concerned, that's all,' Sam added.

'Thanks, guys,' Ralph said to his friends. 'I appreciate the support, but I think that this is something that I should handle on my own.'

'Oh . . .' The twins trailed off.

'What's with the "oh"?' Ralph questioned. 'You guys didn't plan anything, did you?'

'Er . . . Well . . .' Sam said hesitantly.

"I don't like the sound of that," Ralph thought.

'Well, you've always been rather mellow and serious,' Eric explained, 'but this recent personality of yours is a bit . . . excessively emotional don't you think?'

'I've had some problems lately!' Ralph said hotly.

'And that's okay!' they said quickly.

'It's just . . . we've never seen you like this before, Ralph,' Sam said.

'You've always been able to keep a level head before,' Eric added.

'Maybe I've changed,' Ralph said.

'Or maybe your relationship with Jack has affected you than you're letting on,' Samneric said. 'We know that you loved him, so you must be in so much pain right now. Please, will you let us help you?'

'Huh? What?' Ralph inquired, clearly confused. 'What can you guys do? Um . . . I'm flattered . . . But I just can't! You see . . . I like you guys as friends and all, but I don't think that I'd want to go out with either or both of you! Er . . . No offence,' he added belatedly.

The twins laughed.

'None taken, because you seem to be making false assumptions,' they said between guffaws.

'However, we do have a friend that we'd like to introduce you to,' Eric said.

'Yeah. A real catch,' Sam said.

'Oh yeah? Who?' Ralph asked.

'His name is Jacques leRange from one of our neighbouring schools,' the first twin explained. 'He's a friend of the gang—a really good guy.'

'Yeah, he's the captain of the fencing team at their school and receives the topmost grades in his classes,' the second added.

'Then why isn't this guy taken?' Ralph asked, biting down the fact that "Jacques" and "Jack" were the same name in different languages.

'Well, he's a big hit with the ladies, but everyone knows that Jacques only fancies blokes. He thinks that females can get too emotional sometimes,' Eric said, shrugging.

'Anyway, he had a falling out with his boyfriend of almost two years and—even though he was the one who ended it, the silly git—he is in a slight state of depression,' Sam said.

'And I am, too, so that's why you thought to introduce me to this guy!' Ralph accused angrily.

'Not at all,' was Eric's calm reply.

'Yeah,' Sam agreed. 'We thought of you because you are such a great guy.'

'You're intelligent,' Eric said.

'And funny,' Sam added.

'And kind.'

'And deep.'

'And sensitive to other people's feelings.'

'And a wonderful friend.'

'And bloody gorgeous!' Eric exclaimed with a slight giggle.

'Yeah, if we weren't straight, we'd fall for you in a heartbeat,' Sam said.

'Stop it, guys,' Ralph muttered, his cheeks flaming red.

'Okay, but the point that we're trying to make here—'

'Is that maybe it would be best for you to move on—'

'—and to do Jack and—especially—yourself a favour by letting go.'

'I've tried to,' Ralph replied. 'But it's so . . . difficult! I've never known pain like this, guys, and my pain from losing Jack is made all the more worse when you're basically telling me that I wasted my time with him, that I'm not good enough for him . . .'

'Is that what you think that we think?' Samneric exclaimed hotly.

'Yes! And what I want to know is why you don't think that I'm not good enough for him!' Ralph retorted.

'That's not it, Ralph. That was never it,' Sam said.

'You are good enough for him. In fact, you're better!' Eric said.

'He's the one who's not good enough for you.'

'What?' Ralph asked.

'Do you remember when we were back on the island?' Samneric questioned.

'How could I forget?' Ralph asked darkly.

The twins smiled in spite of themselves.

Then Eric said, 'Do you remember how everyone looked up to you? When we first started out, you were the leader of our pack.'

'What's your point?'

'Our point is that you saw the long-term results of our actions,' Sam said.

'You knew that we had to work together in order to be rescued,' Eric added.

'So what?' Ralph asked.

'So, Jack wasn't like that,' Samneric said.

'He only saw things as they were,' Sam said.

'He only saw the short-term results,' the other twin said.

'When we hunted the pigs, he took pleasure in the hunt.'

'Once it was over, he took pleasure in the cooking.

'He took pleasure in the eating of the animals.'

'Then he took pleasure in gloating about how many pigs he had killed.'

'But pleasure only lasts so long,' Sam murmured.

'Jack only lived for the present, for those brief moments of pleasure.'

'Which is why he isn't good enough for you!'

'You're special, Ralph,' Eric said. 'You're a really special guy.'

'And anyone who would let you go just like that can't be good enough for you!' Sam exclaimed.

'Right. Someone like that would never be able to appreciate you as much as you deserve to be appreciated.'

Ralph, who had unwilling tears in his eyes by now, responded with, 'But I'd never have known unless I gave that person a chance. It's true, Jack does live in the moment, but that's one of the things that I love about him. I know that it would make things a helluva lot easier if you could, but you just can't make me fall out of love with someone, regardless of how wonderful this "Jacques" guy is.'

'So, you're not interested, Ralph?' Samneric asked, crestfallen.

'No, guys,' Ralph said, obviously having already thought it over. 'It's just too soon.'

'We don't mean to push it, but how about if you just meet the guy?' Sam suggested.

'Yeah, that would be a good—yet innocent—way for you to get to know him,' Eric said with a wink.

'Please do!'

'I guess there's no harm in meeting the guy,' Ralph responded, giving in to their pleas.

'Great!' Sam exclaimed.

'Okay, we'll call Jacques up so that he can come and meet the gang for lunch.'

'Today?' Ralph inquired.

'Yeah, why not?'

'. . .' The former rolled his eyes. 'Fine. Whatever.'

'By the way, I don't believe we've mentioned,' Samneric said, 'that Jacques leRange. . . is our cousin.'

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Eventually, his lunch period arrived and Ralph stuffed his belongings into his locker before unwillingly dragging his feet to the front of the school, where he was supposed to meet Jackson, the twins, and the rest of the gang . . . along with a fellow named Jacques leRange.

When he was near enough to see them, he felt a wave of relief to see that there were no unfamiliar faces in the crowd. No Jacques leRange.

"Good," he thought, jogging up to meet his friends. "I know that I agreed to see the guy, but it doesn't mean that I actually want to. Maybe I'll luck out and he just won't show up."

''Sup, Ralph?' Samneric greeted him.

'Hi,' the girls said giddily.

'Hey.' The others smiled and nodded their heads in acknowledgement to his presence.

'So, are you excited to see Jacques?' Kyra asked suddenly.

Ralph had to try hard not to let his disappointment show.

'He's still coming?' he asked in return.

'Well, yeah,' Terence said. 'Why wouldn't he?'

'Ooh, I'm so happy!' Kiki exclaimed. 'I haven't seen Jacques in so long!'

'Yeah, I was pretty psyched, too, when the twins said that they invited Jacques over to have lunch with us today,' Jackson said.

Terence and Diego nodded in agreement.

It was quite obvious to Ralph that the gang held Jacques leRange in high regard, at least friendship-wise. It was equally clear that none of them was gearing towards a more intimate relationship with him. Then again, everyone in the group was straight, so they wouldn't regardless of how wonderful Jacques was; the girls simply left him alone because he was gay.

'Oh, look! Here he comes now,' Kyra announced, staring somewhere behind Ralph.

Ralph groaned inwardly.

"Here we go . . ."

The teen hesitantly turned around and saw someone running towards them.

"That must be Jacques," he thought. "Well, he's not bad looking."

As the other teen approached, Ralph was able to see his features more clearly. Curly brown locks . . . a slim, yet strong, physique . . . a straight, aristocratic nose . . . bow-shaped lips . . . a slight moustache and a goatee . . . tanned skin . . . a dreamy smile . . .

It was perhaps the smile that caught Ralph's attention, for it seemed honest and true, as if he would never hide anything from you. He appeared to be outspoken, yet quiet, fragile, yet strong . . . Jacques' appearance contradicted itself in so many ways.

'You said that he's your cousin, right?' Ralph asked Samneric.

'Yeah, why?'

'I'm just confused . . . He's French, no doubt, but aren't you guys Italian?'

The twins chuckled.

'You always pay attention to the details, eh, Ralph?' Sam asked.

Ralph shrugged sheepishly.

'He's only half-French. His mum is our mum's sister and she married the leRange guy,' Eric explained.

'End of story,' Sam said.

'Oh, I see,' Ralph muttered, slightly embarrassed for not having realized that himself. He had assumed that Jacques was French because of his name, but he had overlooked the fact that his surname was that of his father; his mother, therefore, could be of any background.

'Bonjour, my friends!' Jacques beamed.

'Heh, you always do that!' Jackson said, laughing. 'If you're going to greet us, at least keep the language consistent.'

'But I do it because I know that it irritates you so, mon ami,' Jacques said, the sudden changes in language not having the least bit of effect on his accent; he spoke both English and French impeccably.

The others—including Ralph—laughed.

"This guy can be pretty funny," Ralph thought.

'And you must be Ralph, n'est-ce pas?' Jacques exclaimed, suddenly seeing him.

The other teen grew tense.

'Mes cousins, Samneric, have told me a bit about you, but I would like to learn more about you on my own, if that is all right.'

'Ah! Stop doing that!' Jackson exclaimed, covering his ear jokingly.

Jacques patted his friend on the back.

'I know that you are jealous of moi, Jackson. I, with my practically natural ability to communicate in deuxlanguages, while you are stuck with only un.' He sighed dramatically. 'Ah, the tragedy of it all!'

The gang laughed.

'You figured it out! You realized my jealousy! Oh no!' Jackson said playfully.

'Well, I noticed it long ago, mon ami. Out of kindness, I chose to ignore it.'

'Right. To protect my pride.'

'Non, to protect my pride,' Jacques joked. 'Do you know how embarrassing it is to have you idolizing moi!'

Everyone laughed again.

Just then, Ralph saw a familiar someone off in the distance.

'Excuse me for a moment,' he said. 'I'll be right back.'

'Okay, as long as you come back, monsieur,' Jacques said with a wink. 'I still wish to know more about you.'

'Don't worry—I'll return,' Ralph said, trying to hide his blush. Then he took off down the road and turned the corner, where someone was waiting for him.