Gilbert comes back from school, grabs a bite and changes into more comfortable clothes quickly. In less then half an hour he is off, walking down the road to meet Feliks.
He does not brush his teeth before because some silly ideas are swarming in his head. No, it's a very hygienic habit.
The blond still lives with his grandma. Always the granny's boy, the albino smirks.
The same, stinking, staircase greets him when he ascends to flat 14 on the 3rd floor of the complex.
Gilbert stands in front of the doors to the other's flat, waiting impatiently for them to open.
He rings the doorbell again and starts to fumble through his pockets for a mobile to call his friend.
That is why he doesn't anticipate the first 'hit'.
The entrance opens quickly, and before Gilbert (who is still holding his hand awkwardly in the back pocket of his cargo pants) has the time to say hello, to step back or to smile, he is pulled into a bone crushing hug of Feliks' grandmother, Ursula.
A woman of small stature and strength that would put to shame a number of men.
"Gibert, you've grown so much" she chirps.
Ursula's hair is neatly cut at a chin's length and eyes shine with a strange glint. An older version of Feliks if he was a girl.
"How are you nowadays, ma'boy" she says tousling his hair (lucky nobody else sees this patronizing act) while slowly scrutinising his appearance. The air in his lungs is now full of her sweet, heavy perfume. "You seem tinnier then the last time I saw you." Strangely, for the last ten years or so, whenever visiting he seems thinner then the last time.
Gilbert cracks a smile. Keeping his self conciousness at a level of a teenage boy visiting for the first time the house of his girlfriend. Ursula always makes him shy, with that all knowing look."Is Feliks in?"
"Are you hungry?" comes instant reply.
"No, actually I just ate."
"So what do you want on you sandwich" Gilbert smiles as he is now used to the highly selective hearing of Feliks and his grandmother.
The allocated time for a reply runs out and Ursula helpfully answers for him.
"The usual, ham, cheese, mayonnaise and a slice of tomato sandwich, sounds good?"
Gilbert just nods.
He always goes along with her suggestions.
He has a lot of respect for Ursula Lukasiewicz. She is nearly as awesome as Mrs. Weillschmidt.
Ursula worked her whole life as a herbalist and clairvoyant. But Gilbert knows that just the tip of an ice berg. He saw a the pentagram on the floor in the living room. White magic books that Feliks borrowed and read in search of help, whenever he had a problem. For example, that one time he was going to fluke History or the time he had to act on stage in a class performance. Voodoo manuals tucked in between cook books in the kitchen. He is not superstitious, being the man of reason and law of physics, but that is one scary shit
Gilbert snaps out of his thought when Ursula turns to him, her eyes full of worry and her tone serious "Tell me ma'boy, and don't lie" she points her finger with bright red nail at his chest. Gilbert swallows audibly, no way he would ever lie to her (she's probably a mind reader, if not she will use her sixth sense, take a peak at his aura and he'll be busted anyway.). "Is he fitting in at school?"
Gilbert suppresses the need to roll his eyes, they're not teens anymore.
Feliks might have never grown out of his anxiety about meeting new people.
Ursula never grew out of worrying for he little boy at school, making Gilbert her private informer from their first meeting.
"No, he's doing well."
"The children aren't giving him a hard time, are they? I hope he has made friends by now." Her brows furrow with worry.
Gilbert skips the explanation that being a teacher is mostly about children giving you hard time. They get paid for that. And the actual teaching, of course.
(Only the manliest and awesomest men survive being a teacher. It explains the proportion of men and women in the staff.)
"You know he is such a sensitive, fragile boy. He gets hurt so easily, just like his mother." Ursula sends Gilbert the most helpless look her deep green eyes can contain and pleads "Please Gilbert, watch out for him."
"Yes ma'am. I'll take good care of him" He musters the most reassuring smile, it has been developed in front of a mirror for countless parent teacher talks.
"Thank you" Ursula chirps as she goes to the kitchen "He's in his room, I'll bring the snacks soon."
Have you ever thought about what your teacher does at home?
Apart from marking the tests, preparing for lessons, making notes and all the boring stuff.
Feliks was spending this particular afternoon slung over the edge of his bed, watching WWW while eating cookies. Lounging in the comfortable cat-paws-print pyjama at 5pm. (Gilbert notes absent-mindedly the dishevelled look he's sporting while lying on the bed.)
Great picture.
Feliks unconsciously moves and jumped in sync with the fighter he's cheering on while maintaining half horizontal position.
"Hey princess, awesome is here."
"Hey" Feliks manages to shoot him a quick glare for the nickname before being distracted by another sparring session on the television.
Gilbert seats down next to him, on the floor. He knows this rooms so well. The cluttered bookcases, a coffee-table that serves as a desk when needed (Feliks being the stubborn mule he is, never bought the actual desk) and overflowing wardrobe.
It always amazes him, how someone can not be distracted by watching anything on that TV. Covered with stickers, glitter, stuck sea shells and plastic flowers.
In high school Feliks painted it baby blue with acrylics, now the paint was peeling.
The good, old, 12 inch screen TV. Oh, how many glorious nights were spent by the awesome him and Feliks watching various 'shows'. In high school, mostly late night porn on adult channels, accompanied by a few cans of beer and Gilbert stealing guilty glances of Feliks' flushed face.
Gilbert catches himself at glancing over the tasteless decorations with sentiment. Maybe, as his students eagerly explained yesterday, he is getting old.
The grandma drops by with food, still pointing out Gilbert's weight. Halfway through his second sandwich, Feliks speaks without lifting his gaze away from the screen, where the fighter as till moving.
"Gil, I need to go on a heart break trip."
"What?" comes out a weird, confused answer.
Now Feliks turns his very big, very deep green eyes to the other "You know."
No i don't Gilbert thinks instantly.
"when a person gets his heart broken and then he goes on this trip, which like, helps him repair his heart and then he becomes totally happy and confident." Feliks recites as if it was some sort of formula.
Gilbert tries to logically connect state A (the heartbreak) and state B (the end of the trip) and fails.
Shit. Did Feliks get his hands on some girly mag and has taken seriously advice in love section.
Gilbert hopes not.
"But your single."
The blond sights with exasperation and gives the other a look which usually means he is missing the point "but, I feel heartbroken. You know, from last time."
"Uh, Feliks" Gilbert pinches his nose trying to sound tried of that never ending sob story. Anything but talking about that.
ok, there is probably alot of grammar mistakes up there, in the text but I will go mad if I have to reread it for the n'th time (n being an integer, n5). If you point something out, I'll be sure to correct it.