Chapter 18: Slumber Party and Confessions
The hospital was silent with only the distant sound of hurried footsteps and the murmur of doctors' conversations in the hallways. Finn was sitting in an observation room while the doctor finished checking the cuts and bruises on his stomach and ribs. Minerva stood beside him, her expression a mixture of concern and relief to hear that her son had not suffered serious injuries.
"You're lucky it's nothing serious" the doctor said as he took notes in his notebook "but I need you to rest for a few days, absolute rest without physical activities, your wounds need time to heal properly"
The teenager did not answer, he just nodded, although the idea of being inactive did not excite him in the least.
"Thank you for everything" Minerva thanked the doctor "I needed an extra confirmation that Finn's wounds weren't serious and I'm sorry to have to bother you at this time of night"
"You don't have to apologize, Minerva" the doctor said, leaving aside his formality, after all, they already knew each other, so it wasn't necessary "anyway, I had nothing better to do and you came just when I was about to finish attending to my last patient. But now, putting that aside, make sure Finn follows the instructions"
"Yes, I'll do my best. Again, thank you" after that, the short blond haired woman helped her son to his feet, they left the hospital with slow steps. Finn walked carefully due to the pain in his ribs, the walk to the car was silent, with Minerva casting furtive glances towards her son but not saying a word. When they arrived home, she parked the car near the small staircase that led to the front door. She quickly got out and rounded the vehicle to help Finn out "lean on me" she instructed, slipping an arm under his shoulders, Finn obeyed, letting his mother carry some of his weight as they slowly made their way up the stairs. At that, a low, anxious bark was heard from the small alley at the side of the house. Jake had sensed his friend's arrival and peeked out, wagging his tail energetically. Seeing the injured teenager, he let out a couple of louder barks, trying to get his attention. Finn turned his head slightly, meeting the dog's hopeful gaze. For a moment, he wanted to stop and approach him, but his mother's words stopped him "shoo! get out of here! we don't have any food to give you!" she exclaimed, waving a hand to shoo him away. Jake backed up a little, stopping his barking but his eyes were still fixed on Finn, like he was waiting a sign from him. Finn felt a knot in his stomach at his mother's words. He could not blame her; after all, she did not know that Jake was more than a stray dog to him. However, he could not help but feel hurt by the situation. He lowered his gaze and continued walking toward the house, leaving his faithful friend behind. Once inside the house, Minerva helped Finn to the couch and brought him a blanket to settle in "I know it's a bit late, but I'm going to fix something to eat. You just rest" she added before heading to the kitchen.
The boy nodded silently, his mind was still thinking about Jake. He knew he had to find a way to explain to his mother the truth about the dog but now was not the time. He closed his eyes and tried to relax, letting the tiredness overcome him little by little. His body was exhausted, but the persistent scratching sound at the door kept him alert.
Drag, drag, drag...
It was Jake, no doubt. Finn closed his eyes tightly, trying to ignore the sound.
"Please, Jake. Not now..." he thought, but the scratching did not stop. Every few seconds, the dog let out a small whimper, as if he knew Finn was hurt and wanted to come in and keep him company "please, Jake, stop it..." he muttered under his breath, though he knew the dog wouldn't hear him. The scratching intensified. Finn let out a heavy sigh and, with effort, sat up. He walked to the door limping slightly, making sure Minerva wasn't nearby, and opened it just enough for Jake to slip in "all right, come in... but don't make any noise, understand?" he whispered with a finger to his lips. Jake, as if he understood, wagged his tail excitedly and stepped inside the house. The blond boy closed the door carefully and returned to the couch, dropping down with a soft groan. Before he could settle in, Jake jumped onto the couch, climbing on top of him with obvious excitement "Jake, don't..." he tried to stop him, but the dog ignored him. Jake's weight on his wounds made Finn let out a whimper of pain mixed with a choked laugh as the dog started licking his face enthusiastically "stop, Jake, stop!" he said between nervous giggles, gently nudging the dog. Jake cocked his head to one side and sat there on his chest, watching him with those bright, loyal eyes. Finn, despite the pain, could not help but smile and stroke his head gently "you're a mess, you know?" he whispered as Jake wagged his tail happily.
The two stayed like that for a moment, the boy stroking the dog's fur and Jake snuggling next to him silently, as if he understood that Finn needed some comfort.
After a few minutes, they both fell asleep, Finn and Jake were comfortable on the couch, the yellow-orange furred dog resting on the couch at the boy's feet while the boy had one arm hanging outside and with his hand gently stroking his fur, unfortunately, the silence was broken as soon as they heard his mother's voice calling him from the kitchen.
"Finn, dinner is ready!" his mother called out to him.
Finn's heart skipped a beat.
"Jake, you have to go now" she whispered urgently to the dog. He looked up at his friend as if he didn't understand what he was trying to tell him "come on, buddy. I don't have time to explain" he added as he gestured towards the door.
Jake got up somewhat lazily and hurried out of the living room, but as he ran toward the door he hit one of the side tables with his tail, causing a ceramic ornament to wobble. Finn gritted his teeth and put a hand to his forehead, muttering «really?» as he watched the dog push the screen out of the way.
The sound of the screen hitting the frame echoed just as Minerva entered the living room.
"What was that noise?" the woman asked, stopping dead in her tracks and looking toward the front door with a frown.
Finn straightened up on the couch as best he could, trying to look unconcerned.
"Huh? Noise?" he asked scratching the back of his neck nervously "oh, it was nothing. I'm sure it was the wind moving the screen"
Minerva stared at him, her searching eyes making him feel as if she could read his mind.
"Are you sure?" she asked, tilting her head to one side with a hint of suspicion.
"Yes, of course, it was the wind" Finn insisted with a tense smile "you know how it is this time of the year, the air blows everything around."
The short blonde haired woman seemed to hesitate for a moment but finally shook her head and sighed.
"Well, stop worrying about the wind and come to dinner. You cannot skip a meal in your condition" she said, walking back toward the kitchen in her own footsteps.
"Yeah, sure. I'm coming" the teenager replied with a sigh of relief as he saw his mother disappear down the hallway. Finn glanced toward the screen door where Jake was waiting on the other side, sitting patiently. He shot him a warning look and whispered "you're a mess, buddy, but thanks for not making any more noise"
Jake wagged his tail once before disappearing into the darkness of the yard.
After two days at home recovering from the bruises, Finn went back to school with a sense of defeat both physically and emotionally, despite still feeling that defeated feeling in his chest he had decided that he was ready to come back. He was not fully recovered but it felt better to be surrounded by his friends, and to see Fern again, who had been his constant support. Minerva had checked his injuries, and after a routine checkup at the hospital, she had advised him to focus on recovering, but Finn felt capable enough to go back to class. He had already missed Monday by being in bed, and despite everything, what awaited him at school was not so easy.
As soon as he got to his classroom, the atmosphere was still the same. His bullies would not leave him alone. Amidst their murmurs and laughter, Finn tried to focus on what was left of the day, even though the pain in his body constantly reminded him that he was not yet fully recovered.
The morning progressed slowly, and when the lunch break came, he thought maybe he could relax for a while, until the bell rang. The first journey was over, and the next one was even scarier: that day was the Chemistry remedial exam. Finn had been studying with Fern's help, with whom he had been going over and over again, explaining the topics he did not understand. But even with all the effort, the test anxiety and the discomfort in his body were not easy to ignore.
The classroom was absolutely silent with all the students concentrating on their exams. Finn, despite being in pain, tried to remain cool, reading each question carefully and answering them to the best of his capacity; however, as he was about to finish his exam, he heard whispers next to him.
"Look who's back, the regular freak..." a mocking voice was heard. Finn tried to ignore that voice by clenching his fists on his desk. He did not want to let it get to him, he did not want to lose control, especially not now. But the voice continued, closer to his ear "how are you, Finn, did the beating hurt a lot? I'm sure your boyfriend Fern was not able to help you stop it. Pathetic, isn't it? that you're dating someone as unmanly as you are"
At that moment, Finn's mind exploded. A heat ran through his body and, for the first time in a long time, he couldn't shut up. His hand was shaking as he clenched the pen tightly. He didn't want to take any more of this.
He turned sharply to the boy who had been teasing him, looking into his eyes with a restrained fury that finally broke free.
"SHUT UP, SHUT UP NOW!" he yelled, his voice thundering through the exam room, causing all the other students to stop for a moment. The tension became palpable "YOU KNOW WHAT? ENOUGH! I don't know what you want from me, but I'm sick and tired of you continuing to bother me, of you continuing to make me feel less! I've got it all, you fucker, and I'm not going to keep quiet just so you can have fun at MY expense!" the room went dead silent. The boy stared at Finn, surprised by the sudden outburst. Finn was breathing heavily, his eyes filled with a mixture of anger and frustration; however, it was what he said next that really shook everyone "I'm in pain... did you get it? I'm in pain, not only physically, but from everything that's been done to me! and you go on with your jokes, as if I were a damn toy for you? ENOUGH! SO STOP PISSING ME OFF!"
For a moment, the boy did not know how to react. The classroom was so quiet that you could hear the rustling of papers and the distant noise of the city.
Finally, Finn's classmate, seeing his anger and the force in his words, took a step back.
"I... I'm sorry, I... I didn't... I didn't know" he apologized feeling embarrassed "I won't bother you again for the rest of the day, I promise"
Finn remained on his feet for a second, breathing heavily. He had spoken, finally. But the release was fleeting as his body reminded him of the agony of beatings and fatigue. He turned back to his desk, dropping the pen with a tired sigh.
"I'm going to hand in the exam..." he muttered with a broken voice getting up from his place, grabbed the exam paper and headed towards his professor's desk.
The classroom remained silent for the rest of the day, Finn handed in his exam with a sense of release and exhaustion. The boy who had bullied him (who was speechless) just watched as he walked away, and the tension in the air remained latent, but for the first time, he felt he had taken control of the situation.
On the other hand, in the industrial area of the city, inside an abandoned cellar that also served as a makeshift studio where Marceline and her band used to rehearse, the atmosphere was more relaxed than usual, the drums resounded at a steady pace while Marceline's bass was marking the opening chords. Fern was sitting on a stool tuning his electric guitar which was resting on his legs.
"Okay, guys" the long dark-haired woman announced after she finished playing, setting her bass aside "let's take a break"
"Finally?" Georgy, the drummer, asked with a relieved smile as he ran his hand through his sweaty hair.
Marceline ignored the question and plopped down on an old sofa at the back of the cellar.
"We need a moment to discuss something important" she announced, crossing her legs, "and no, it's not about who won the festival band contest because they haven't said anything on the official website yet"
"Then what's it about?" Fern asked who was tuning the strings of her guitar.
"The surprise slumber party at Finn's house, obviously" the young woman answered as if it were the most obvious thing.
"What slumber party?" the blonde haired boy with green-dyed tips asked, looking at his leader with a mixture of confusion and curiosity. The other band members looked at each other trying to hold back a laugh, Marceline arched an eyebrow.
"You don't know anything?"
Fern shook his head.
"No one told me anything."
Marceline turned to him with a smirk.
"Well, it turns out Finn is having a surprise slumber party, or rather we're having one for him. Phoebe took it upon herself to convince his mom to give him permission, but it's all a secret. The idea is to cheer him up a bit after... well, you know, everything that happened."
Fern frowned, clearly annoyed with himself for not being in the loop.
"And why wasn't I told before?"
"Because it's a surprise, genius" Booboo replied rolling his eyes.
"The idea" Marceline continued, ignoring her bandmate "is that you'll be there too, but now that I think about it, do you have pijamas?"
"What?" Fern blinked in confusion at the question.
The long dark-haired young woman smiled broadly.
"I was kidding, relax. But while we're at it, let's use this break to plan the details. What should we bring? Movies? Food? Games?"
The band members began tossing ideas into the air as Fern tried to process all the information. Although he wasn't entirely sold on the idea, Marceline's energy was infectious.
"Wait" Fern finally said, interrupting the voices of the others "when is this?"
"Friday night" Marceline replied as she got up to find a marker and a small slate on the corner of the table "write this date down in your mind, because I'm not going to repeat it to you"
Fern sighed and folded his arms.
"I don't know if I'm good at slumber parties" he muttered remembering the little slumber party he had with Finn a few days ago, just remembering what they did that night he felt the colors rush back to his face. Marceline turned her head towards him, raising her eyebrows.
"How hard can it be? It's basically sleeping on the floor and eating pizza until you get a stomachache."
Fern shrugged, feeling a little out of place. Despite everything, he could not help but feel grateful that Marceline and the others were so excited. The thought of doing something for Finn to lift his spirits was... comforting.
As the ideas continued to flow, Fern stopped worrying so much about the details.
I have to admit that the idea of spending an evening surrounded by my bandmates is starting to feel less intimidating and more like something I really need.
"All right" Marceline spoke bringing Fern back to reality, she held up the whiteboard and wrote "Slumber Party Plan" in messy letters "we need ideas that aren't boring or predictable. Something Finn can't imagine happening at a slumber party"
"Food before anything else" Georgy said, raising his hand as if they were in a classroom, "always start with that. Pizza, popcorn, chips, soda... you know? the essentials"
"What about candy?" Wendy asked, resting her chin in the palm of her hand "we could bring marshmallows, cosmic brownies, twinkies or something else sweet. Maybe Phoebe can take care of that."
Maceline nodded as she wrote everything down on the board.
"Okay, the food issue is taken care of, what else do you have?"
"Board games" the keyboardist exclaimed raising her hand "but not boring, competitive games. We could bring "Card Wars," Jenga, Twister or some other card game"
"How about karaoke?" Georgy asked with a mischievous grin, tapping the table, "you know, to have fun, embarrass each other and have a few laughs before bedtime?"
His bandmates did not agree with the idea and started to heckle him but Marceline interfered before they started an argument that was sure to end up in a fight, causing a chaotic mess in the cellar.
"That sounds like fun" the long dark-haired young woman commented writing it down on the list "although I think Finn would be embarrassed to sing"
From his place, Fern looked at how everyone was giving opinions and ideas, feeling somewhat disconnected from the conversation. Finally he decided to speak up:
"What about movies, wouldn't that be so much easier?"
"What kind of movies do you have in mind?" Marceline asked arching an eyebrow.
"Something not boring, I guess" the boy replied scratching the back of his neck "maybe something with action or horror?"
"Horror sounds perfect!" Georgy exclaimed, clearly excited "just imagine it: lights off, horror movies, and then trying to sleep without thinking about something that's going to try to pull you off your feet!"
"Or we could watch something quieter afterwards, so we don't traumatize anyone" Wendy added with a laugh. Marceline jotted down both options, then leaned the already closed marker against her chin thinking of some other idea.
"We could decorate Finn's house with lights and blankets, like a makeshift fort" she suggested with a mischievous grin "that way it will look cozier and look great in photos" "Photos?" Booboo asked confused "what photos? Who said anything about photos?"
"I said it" Marceline replied with an innocent smile "what kind of slumber party doesn't have photos to remind us how ridiculous we are? Besides... this could be a good publicity strategy for the band"
Fern let out a laugh when he heard that.
"So this is more like an emotional rescue mission for Finn?" he asked, still a bit puzzled.
"Exactly" Marceline replied, crossing her arms "let's make sure it's an unforgettable night, but in a good way."
"With karaoke" added Georgy, tapping the table softly.
"And plenty of food" Wendy added. Marceline stepped back to look at the list they had created. It was full of hastily written ideas, some crossed out, some underlined.
"I think we've a good plan" she finally said "now we just need to coordinate who will bring what"
Fern sighed, finally accepting the idea.
"I guess I can take care of some snacks and also the movies" he said, surrendering to the group's enthusiasm.
"Perfect" Marceline replied smiling broadly "so, guys, let's get back to the rehearsal!"
The group took up their instruments as Fern looked at the list one last time feeling that, for the first time in a long time, he was part of something special.
The classroom was almost empty when Finn walked up to the professor's desk to receive his test. The professor had taken the liberty of checking them during lunch break in the lounge while the students were having lunch so that they could be scored appropriately. The students still in the classroom murmured and exchanged words about their grades, some with joy, others with expressions of frustration and disappointment.
Finn held up his exam with both hands, almost afraid to know what his grade was. When he finally forced himself to do so, his eyes fell on the B written in bright red, a mixture of relief and satisfaction washed over him.
"I did it!" he muttered to himself with a smile spreading across his face. Phoebe, who was still present in the classroom, arched an eyebrow when she heard her friend mutter to himself.
"What did you do, Finn?" she asked curiously. He showed her the test almost as if it were an award.
"I got a B+. Can you believe it?"
The copper red-haired girl took the paper and examined it with a nod of approval.
"Not bad, eh?" she commented after looking at the test and handing it back to her friend "I guess your "secret tutor" is better than I thought"
Finn chuckled and retrieved his exam.
"Fern is a genius, I don't know how he got kicked out of school. I don't know how he was so patient with me either, but it worked."
"I told you to listen to him" Phoebe added with a light smile "although, I still can't believe that someone like him agreed to help you..."
"What do you mean by that?" the blond boy asked looking at his friend slightly confused.
"You know" Phoebe replied with a shrug as if it were the obvious thing to do "Fern isn't exactly known for being... approachable. He has a reputation for being a bit... chaotic, but it seems like he's different with you"
Finn was silent for a moment, processing what his friend had just said. Before he could respond, the final bell rang, announcing the end of the school journey. They both headed to their lockers to gather their things. Finn headed to his to put away what he used that day in his inseparable green backpack. Upon opening it, he found something unusual: some flowers that looked like they had been plucked from some garden or park, along with a folded piece of paper. Confused, he took the note, putting the flowers aside for a moment. Unfolding it, he read a sentence written in a hurried handwriting:
"I hope you get well soon."
The teenager frowned as he read the note, he felt both distressed and offended by the message.
"Get well from what?" he thought irritably, although he was aware that he was injured, he was not crippled or ill enough to receive such message. With a clearly disgusted gesture he crumpled up the note, took the flowers and threw both into a nearby trash bin. Phoebe (who was waiting for him) noticed her friend's actions and looked at him with concern.
"Is everything all right?" she asked, approaching him.
"Yes" the blond boy replied, although his tone of voice was not convincing "I was just throwing away something weird I found in my locker"
The copper red-haired girl looked at him curiously but decided not to insist. Instead, she opted to change the subject to try to distract him.
"Come on, let's talk about something else. Have you thought about the winter dance yet?"
"The winter dance?" Finn asked a little distracted.
"Yes, are you going? Do you know what you're going to wear yet?" Phoebe asked, smiling.
Finn shrugged as they walked the school exit.
"I don't know, I haven't thought about it yet, have you got anything planned?"
They continued their conversation as Finn decided he should go visit Fern to tell him about his exam and take his mind off the uncomfortable discovery in his locker.
As the band rehearsal was coming to an end, Marceline strummed the last notes on her bass and let out a satisfied sigh.
"That's all for today, guys" she said with a smile as the echoing strings still echoed in the cellar. One by one, the players began to pick up their instruments and other equipment leaving the small room almost empty. Marceline leaned against the wall, looking at them while adjusting her bass case on her back. Outside, the group lingered for a few minutes at the entrance to the cellar, engaged in animated conversation. Night was beginning to fall and the streetlights were slowly coming on "don't forget what to bring for the surprise slumber party" she reminded them, crossing her arms "I'll contact Phoebe to let me know where Finn lives".
"Are you sure you're going to be able to talk to her?" one of the boys asked laughing "she looks like the type who only answers messages when she feels like it"
"Believe me, I'll find a way" Marceline smiled confidently, though she rolled her eyes. Between laughter and jokes, they spent a few more minutes chatting. The long dark-haired young woman mentioned a few details about the decorations she planned to bring and made sure everyone remembered their tasks. The conversation flowed lightly until Fern looked at the time on his phone and frowned.
"Well, I've to go" he announced as he adjusted his guitar strap over his shoulder.
"So fast?" Marceline asked, arching an eyebrow "what do you have to do that's so important?"
"Nothing big deal" Fern replied with a shrug "I just have to meet someone... for something quick"
Marceline looked at him with a mixture of curiosity and distrust.
"Something quick? Fern, you've been acting very strange lately and there are days when you leave rehearsals long before we're done. What are you hiding from us?"
The blonde haired boy with the green-dyed tips gave the band leader a look of feigned indignation back, along with a short laugh.
"Hiding? No, it's not about that" he replied, raising his hands in exaggerated innocence "it's just, I'm busy, you know? I've got things to do"
"Aha, sure, 'important things'"the young woman watched him with narrowed eyes, although a mocking smile was drawn on her face "it better not be something that would make us look ridiculous at the slumber party"
"What? Of course not" Fern rolled his eyes as he adjusted his guitar strap once more "by the way, do you want me to bring anything else besides snacks?"
"Yes, don't just bring chips" Marceline reminded him, one of the girls in the band giggled as she waved her approval "bring some sweets, you know, to balance it out?"
Fern nodded, stifling a giggle.
"Done. I'm off now. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Don't forget the movie list!" Marceline added as the boy walked away, her voice echoing slightly in the stillness of the night.
Fern raised his hand in confirmation without even looking back, he certainly did not plan on telling his band mates that he was meeting a girl for a study session. He also did not want to explain why he had been so scattered lately, the band was intense enough without having to add more drama than necessary.
As he headed to the nearest store to buy snacks, his mind was torn between preparations for the sleepover and the study session he had agreed upon; however, he could not help but think that he was (somehow) handling too many things at once and fatigue was beginning to win out. The industrial area was starting to sink into the gloom of night as he walked away, the lights on the few lampposts flickered dimly and the echo of his footsteps resounded through the empty streets.
With each step, his thoughts grew heavier. He knew that his behavior was beginning to raise suspicions among the others, especially Marceline. She was too observant not to notice his lack of concentration in rehearsals and his hurried departures. The boy sighed pausing for a moment to observe the dark sky, barely a few stars managed to stand out among the city lights.
Balancing his life was no easy task. Between the studio sessions, the band rehearsals, and now the surprise slumber party, he felt like he did not have a second to breathe. But beyond the physical exhaustion, it was the secret he was keeping that weighed on him the most.
He did not like lying to his friends, especially Marceline. She had been one of the few people who had supported him unconditionally since she met him. However, the fear of being judged kept him trapped in his own silence.
What would they think if they knew he was secretly working as a tutor? Or that he still occasionally dealt with problems from his past?
He closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath.
"Maybe it's time to tell them the truth" he thought, not everything, of course. But at least enough to make them stop worrying or imagining things that were not even true.
The slumber party would be the ideal time to say everything, between laughter, food and movies, it would be easier to bring up the subject without it feeling heavy. Besides, if anyone could understand, it was them. After all, that band was the closest thing he had to a family now. With that decision in mind, Fern resumed his walk to the convenience store. He knew he would have to think hard about how to approach the subject, but at least he had already taken the first step in his head.
On the other hand, as she walked back to her home, Marceline pulled out her phone to try to contact Phoebe. The young woman hesitated for a few moments, staring at the screen.
"How do I tell her without it sounding weird?" she thought, in the end opting to write her a text message.
Marceline's message:
"Hey, it's Marceline. We're organizing the slumber party for Finn remember? And I need your help with something can we talk?"
A few minutes later, her phone vibrated with an unexpectedly quick reply:
Phoebe's message:
"Sure, boss J what do you need?"
Already feeling a little more relieved, Marceline started writing down the details of the surprise slumber party, what she had been talking about with the other band members and also asked the girl for the address of her friend's house. Phoebe answered some of the things the band leader sent her, and added a comment that Marceline could not pass up:
Phoebe's message:
"By the way, good luck with the sleepover. Finn is not someone easy to surprise."
Marceline smiled and put away her phone that contained the necessary information for the slumber party.
"This gonna be interesting" she thought as she walked into the night.
Fern was in a convenience store not far from the building where he lived, walking down the aisles with a basket almost overflowing with packets of different candies and snacks. He was concentrating on deciding between two flavors of chips, when his phone started ringing, he pulled it out of his pants pocket and when he saw "FINN" on the screen, he pressed a button to answer it.
"What's up, Finn?" he said as he placed the chips in the basket along with the other snacks.
"Are you at home? I just want to stop by later, I've a surprise for you."
"A surprise?" Fern arched an intrigued eyebrow "what kind of surprise?"
"You'll see. I'm not going to tell you, I'm not going to ruin it" the other boy answered with a playful tone "anyway, are you at home or not?"
"I'm buying some things now, but I'll be at the building later" Fern said "what time are you planning to come?"
"Maybe in an hour. I want it to be special, so be prepared to be surprised."
Fern let out a laugh as he opened a cooler to grab a bottle of Super Porp grape-flavored soda.
"Okay, I'll see you in a bit then."
After hanging up the call, Fern put his phone away again but as soon as he did, it vibrated indicating he had a message. He frowned when he saw that it was from a number he did not have saved in his contact list and was listed as unknown:
"Where have you been? You said we had a study session today. I'm waiting at the entrance of your building"
"Unamused face, indeed" Fern thought with a hint of sarcasm as he quickly replied.
"I'm just finishing up some shopping. I'll be there in 20 minutes, see you there."
He let out a sigh remembering that he had arranged to meet Ellie to help her with her homework after band rehearsal and do the shopping for the surprise slumber party, he put his phone away again and continued looking for things to put in the basket; however, as he made his way to the check-out to pay, an uncomfortable feeling came over him.
"Why does something tell me this is going to get complicated or out of control?" Fern thought to himself as he took out some money to pay for his purchases.
A while later, Finn was walking towards the apartment building where Fern lives with his heart pounding from the excitement of his surprise, in one hand he was holding a small bouquet of flowers wrapped in kraft paper and in the other the Chemistry exam in which he got a B. Even if it was not an A, for Finn it was a big success and he wanted to thank Fern for all his help.
He's going to like these flowers, it's something simple but meaningful.
Just a few meters away from the building, Finn stopped in his tracks when he recognized the other boy near the entrance. He was chatting with a girl he did not know, she had a couple of notebooks in her hands and seemed to be explaining something to him as Fern nodded attentively. Finn could not help but feel slightly uncomfortable when he saw how focused the boy was on the conversation.
From his position, Finn could not hear what they were saying but he saw them leaning over one of the notebooks. Fern pointed to something on the pages as the girl nodded, thanking him for his help with a smile. Finally the girl closed her notebook and they both said goodbye with a quick hug, that scene made the teenager pursed his lips feeling a sudden twinge in his chest.
"Why are they hugging each other? wasn't it just a study session?" he thought, although he tried to convince himself that it was nothing.
The girl started walking away in the opposite direction, Finn (deep in his own thoughts) did not react when she accidentally bumped into him.
"Oh, sorry" she muttered without even looking at him and continued walking as if nothing had happened.
Finn followed her with his eyes until she disappeared around the corner, then he turned towards the building and started walking with determined steps.
"I've to know what that was all about" he thought as he climbed the stairs to the third floor where Fern's apartment was. When he arrived, he knocked on the door harder than he had planned, Fern opened shortly after with a bottle of beer in his hand and his hair slightly disheveled.
"Finn? I thought you'd be later."
"Yeah, but..." the boy replied, crossing his arms in an attempt to keep his composure, but his face reflected a mixture of irritation and nervousness "who was that girl? what was she doing here?"
Fern blinked in surprise at the question and let out a long sigh.
"That was Ellie. A girl from your school, we met to go over some math exercises we saw today, why?"
"Because you seemed to be very interested in what she was telling you! and then... a hug? really, Fern?" the tone of voice with which Finn spoke had a mixture of jealousy and confusion, something that didn't go unnoticed by Fern.
"Wait, wait" Fern said raising a hand to try to calm him down "it was nothing like you think, I'm just helping her because she was lost with those exercises"
Finn looked at him incredulously and let out a sarcastic laugh.
"That's it? You expect me to believe that story?"
"Yes, because it's the truth" Fern held his gaze calmly though a slight smile appeared on his lips "Finn, there's nothing weird here"
The teenager turned his gaze away, his anger started to dissipate but the awkwardness was still there.
"I just thought it was weird. You know..."
"Weird? Or are you jealous?" Fern asked mischievously arching an eyebrow.
"I'm not jealous" Finn blurted out quickly, though his tone betrayed him.
Fern let out a laugh, taking a step towards him.
"Look, if it'll put your mind at ease, I can tell you exactly what we were talking about. Do you want me to?"
Finn shook his head, letting out a sigh as he ran a hand through his hair. Then, as if remembering why he was there, he pulled the bouquet of flowers and the exam out of his backpack.
"This is for you" he said, handing her the flowers with an embarrassed expression "and I also wanted to show you my grade on the exam."
Fern looked at the flowers with surprise, her eyes softening as she realized the gesture.
"Flowers? for helping a chemistry disaster? Thank you, Finn... It really wasn't necessary" he said as he took them carefully. His smile widened as he looked at the test "a B, huh? I told you, Finn. It wasn't impossible"
Finn shrugged, feeling his anger fade.
"I guess you were right. But it was hard."
Fern laughed, letting him into the apartment. Finn noticed the bags of snacks on the desk, but before he said anything, Fern spoke first.
"Don't even think about touching the snacks. I'm saving them for a party I'm going to this weekend" he said in a casual tone as he picked up the bags.
Finn raised an eyebrow, somewhat suspicious, but decided not to insist.
"It's okay. I wasn't going to eat anything anyway" he muttered, sitting down on the bed.
Fern smiled, taking the bags away.
"Well, make yourself at home, but if you keep questioning me, I'll have you doing chemistry exercises again."
Finn laughed between his teeth even though he still was not entirely convinced of what he had seen earlier. He sat on the bed for a while, looking at how Fern moved calmly around his apartment, curiosity invaded him for a moment wanting to dare to ask more about the girl he saw before, but he decided not to ruin the good mood they had managed to recover.
"So what are you going to do about that party?" Finn asked, wanting to sound casual.
Fern turned from his spot.
"Ah, uh... nothing special. It's more like a small reunion, I just want to hang out and relax a bit after all the recent drama" he replied with a shrug.
Finn nodded, sensing there was something more behind that sentence but decided not to insist. Instead, he changed the subject.
"About the flowers... don't you think it's weird to give flowers to a friend?" the blond boy asked. Fern smiled, walking back to the corner where his bed was positioned with a nonchalant gesture.
"No, I don't think it's weird. It's a nice gesture. Besides, it's the first time I've ever gotten flowers" he admitted sincerely, looking at the small bouquet on the table "maybe I should find a vase or fill a glass with water to make them last longer"
"Well... I'm glad you liked them" Finn said who could not help but bring a hand to the back of his neck blushing a little. There was a brief silence between them. The teenager lowered his gaze again to the floor before muttering "but... I don't know if 'friends' is the right word for whatever it is between us either, right? not after what happened a few days ago..."
Fern, who had sat next to him on the bed and was about to pick up his guitar, stood still for a moment. His green gaze met Finn's and they both blushed almost at the same time at the memory of that night. He cleared his throat, trying to break the tension.
"Well... I guess you're right. But that doesn't change that I appreciate what you do for me" he said, averting his gaze again to the flowers.
Finn nodded with a small smile. The tension gradually dissipated, and the conversation drifted to lighter topics, such as school and the upcoming activities they would be doing. Finally, Finn decided it was time to go home, but not before taking one last look at the bouquet of flowers. Fern walked him up the porch and waved him off with a quiet smile.
The day of the surprise slumber party had arrived, Fern spent the morning setting up the last details, had sent messages to the band's private group, mentally going over the list of things they would need. Meanwhile, Minerva (who had taken advantage of her day off) was at home preparing some food when she received a call from her son.
"Hi, Mom" Finn spoke on the other end of the line "I'm going to stay a little longer at school, we're going to have a talk about the dance and we've to stay after school" he added with some haste.
"Oh, all right. But don't stay too long, and don't forget that you promised to help me prepare dinner tonight" she reminded him before hanging up. She left the phone on the kitchen counter and got ready to continue with her tasks, when, around noon, someone knocked at the door, when she peeked out she found a group of young people carrying grocery bags, pillows, blankets and backpacks.
"Good afternoon, is this where Finn lives?" a young woman with long dark hair asked with a confident attitude, Minerva noticed the purple case with red details hanging on her shoulder.
"Yes, but he is not at home at the moment, what do you need?" the woman asked with some intrigue. Minerva stared at the young people carefully, trying to decipher the reason for their sudden arrival. Marceline, who seemed to be the leader of the group, exchanged glances with the others before answering.
"Oh, that's okay" she replied with a casual smile "in fact, we're here for a surprise slumber party. Finn invited us, maybe he forgot to mention it"
The short blonde-haired woman raised a puzzled eyebrow, the idea of her son organizing something like this without telling her seemed untypical of him. Besides, the group was clearly prepared, as if they had planned this in advance.
"A... surprise slumber party?" she repeated slowly "I had no idea about this, are you sure Finn invited them?"
"We planned it a few days ago, we've been worried about him after what happened at the festival... we thought this might cheer him up a bit..." Minerva crossed her arms, her eyes widening.
Minerva folded her arms, not letting her guard down. Remembering the incident made a knot of worry form in her chest again but Fern's sincere look, along with the nods of the others, managed to calm her down.
"Does Finn know anything about this?" the woman asked.
"No, it's a surprise" Marceline replied with a confident smile "we thought it would be nice to do something special for him"
Minerva remained silent for a moment, analyzing the situation. Although she didn't like the idea of receiving unannounced visits, she understood the gesture behind it all.
"All right, if that's so... I suppose you can come in" she finally said, opening the door "but I want everything clean when you leave, understood?" the group nodded enthusiastically and began to enter carrying bags, backpacks, blankets, pillows, etc. Minerva watched them settle into the living room as she let out a sigh "Finn didn't come back from school yet, he told me there would be a talk about the dance. I don't know how much longer he'll be back"
"Perfect" Marceline said as she spread out a blanket on the floor "that gives us plenty of time to set everything up" Fern started pulling out small decorative items from his box while Georgy and the other band members looked for a space to set up their music equipment. Marceline, on the other hand, pulled out a list and began to divide up the tasks among everyone "all right, guys. This place has to look amazing before Finn arrives" she added with a knowing smile "let's make sure it's going to be a night that he'll never forget"
Minerva, still intrigued but touched by the group's dedication, went back to the kitchen to continue with her tasks. Although she could not stop worrying about what had happened at the festival, the effort of those guys to cheer Finn up was something she really appreciated.
The entrance to the lecture hall was decorated with colorful signs and announcements of the homecoming dance. Finn, Phoebe and other students in their class were sitting in the chairs that were placed in rows in the center of the room listening intently as one of the coordinators explained the details of the event.
"The homecoming dance will be next month in the school gymnasium" they announced pointing to a slide show they had designed exclusively for the talk "the theme will be 'Starry Night', the student committee will be in charge of the decoration, we ask you to confirm your attendance in advance"
Phoebe, sitting next to Finn, took notes as quickly as she could in a notebook. Finn, on the other hand, was scribbling things on the paper uninterested in the details, as he still wasn't sure if he would attend the ball, besides he didn't know who he would go with and his mother hadn't told him if she wanted him to rent her a suit for the occasion either.
"Why didn't you write down what the coordinator said? Aren't you planning to go?" Phoebe whispered, arching an eyebrow as she saw that her friend was doing nothing but scribbling on his sheet of paper.
"I'm not sure if I'm going" Finn replied "I guess I'll go depending on who I get to invite"
"I don't have a date for the dance either, I was planning on asking Dee but he's not going to be in town next month, he told me he has to go visit a distant cousin of his or something like that. If you don't manage to find a date or ask someone to go to the dance with you, we can go together like old times remember" Finn could not help but cringe a little as he remembered the first school dance he went with Phoebe, long before their relationship went downhill, back then, she had asked him to go as friends "you were so confused and nervous, especially since you didn't know how the others would react to seeing us go together" she said.
Finn looked away from his scribbles and before he could answer her, the memory of that evening came flooding back.
*Flashback [school dance, year 2010]*
The school gymnasium was decorated with balloons, papers and colored lights. As the pop music of the moment blared from the speakers set up in every corner of the place, Finn, barely thirteen years old, stood by the entrance in an uncomfortable blue suit that seemed to have been handed down for generations, fiddling nervously with the light blue tie his mother had insisted him to wear. He looked from side to side for his friend.
"Finn!" a girl's voice brought him out of his thoughts, appearing in front of him. She wore a dress in varying shades of red and orange in an almost Indian style, simple but beautiful, with a gem in the center that matched the colors of the dress. Her smile radiated brighter than the lights in the gymnasium "I'm so glad you're here"
"Yeah, uh... thank you for inviting me" Finn replied, feeling the words catch in his throat. Phoebe let out a laugh and took his hand.
"Come on, don't just stand up here like a tree" she took him to the dance floor where many students were already moving awkwardly to the rhythm of the music, Finn tried to keep up with them although his movements were more stiff than graceful "relax" she said between laughs "it's just a school dance, no one is going to laugh at you for making a fool of yourself. Just follow the rhythm" although clumsy, the boy began to move with more confidence thanks to the contagious energy of his friend, when it was time for the slow dance, Phoebe took the initiative to place her hands on Finn's shoulders while he (red as an apple) rested his hands on her waist "see? it wasn't so hard" she whispered, amused "you're a good friend, Finn. I'm glad you came"
*Flashback end*
"Well..." Finn said, scratching his nape at the memory of his youthful awkwardness and tried to change the subject "I guess it was fun"
Phoebe smiled, noticing the embarrassed expression on her friend's face.
"Sometimes I miss those days" she muttered, looking down at her notebook.
The atmosphere between them softened, and a moment of pleasant silence fell over them before Phoebe pulled out her phone to check it. She saw that she had a message from Marceline:
"Where are you? How much longer till you leave? we're running a little late with the surprise slumber party. Please keep Finn busy for a few more minutes we need time! "
The copper red haired girl frowned trying to think of a solution fast.
"What's wrong?" Finn asked seeing the change in her expression.
"Ah, nothing wrong, just some problems with the band?" Phoebe answered hastily putting her phone away "hey, do you want to go for a walk before you go home?"
Finn looked at the time on his wristwatch and shook his head.
"I'd love to but I can't. I promised my mom I'd help with dinner tonight, I should go now."
Phoebe tried not to look desperate, but hurried to stand in front of him, blocking his way.
"Why don't you stay a little longer? I'm sure Minerva won't mind if you're a few minutes late."
"Why are you acting so strange, Phoebs?" Finn asked in bewilderment.
The girl opened her mouth to answer, but could not come up with a convincing excuse. In the end, she sighed in surrender.
"Okay, okay. It's nothing, I just thought we could chat a bit more."
Finn looked at her suspiciously, but decided not to insist.
Outside, the late afternoon sunset tinged the streets with a warm orange shade as Finn walked the path he did every day to go back home, except that now he was walking with Phoebe. Although the teenager seemed distracted thinking about the dinner he was going to prepare with his mother, Phoebe was fidgeting, checking her phone from time to time expecting some message from Marceline confirming that everything was ready and that they could come straight to the house.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Finn asked, noticing that Phoebe was quieter than usual, "you've been staring at your phone like you're waiting for it to explode"
"Huh? Y-yeah, yeah, I'm okay" Phoebe replied quickly, forcing a smile "I'm just waiting for a text from my dad"
"Well, that makes sense" he finally replied "although my mom doesn't text me every five minutes. She's just waiting for me to let her know if I'm running late"
Phoebe let out a nervous laugh, holding the phone in her hand as if it were a life preserver. As they approached Finn's home, she began to feel her nerves tighten in her stomach.
When they reached the front door of the house, Phoebe slowed abruptly, as if looking for an excuse to delay him.
"Hey, wait a second" she said, stopping him before he could open the door "why don't we take one more walk? maybe we can even stop by an ice cream shop and get some ice cream for dinner"
"What the hell is wrong with you today?" Finn asked confused "you've been acting weird since we left school"
Phoebe blinked looking for something to say.
"Weird? me?" she laughed nervously, fiddling with the hem of her cherry red sweater "I'm just trying to make the day a little more... fun, that's all. Besides, who doesn't like ice cream?"
Finn watched her for a moment, still puzzled.
"I don't know" he answered slowly "my mom is waiting for me to make dinner. If I'm late, she probably won't forgive me"
The copper-red haired girl opened her mouth to insist but just at that moment, the door of the house burst open making both of them freeze. Minerva appeared in the doorway with a warm smile and a tea towel slung over her shoulder.
"Oh, kids, I'm so glad you made it" the woman exclaimed, looking first at her son and then at Phoebe "just in time"
"In time for what?" Finn asked looking at his mother with a frown.
Before he could get an answer, a familiar voice echoed from inside the house.
"Come on, Finn, don't just stand there!" Marceline shouted from inside, followed by laughter and the familiar sound of an electric guitar being played softly.
Finn crossed the threshold, intrigued. Upon entering, his jaw dropped: the living room was filled with christmas lights, there were fake battery-operated candles, pillows, blankets and a table with snacks and drinks (including some beers that Fern and Georgy smuggled into the fridge). Marceline, Fern and the other band members were there, all smiling broadly as they held up a sign that read 'Surprise, Finn!'
The blond boy turned to Phoebe, now clearly more relaxed and smiling for real.
"Did you know anything about any of this?"
Phoebe merely nodded.
"Maybe" she replied with a shrug "what can I say? I couldn't let you ruin your own surprise"
Marceline reached over to give him a friendly punch on the arm.
"Come on, Finn, this is a night to relax and have fun! you deserve it after everything that's happened"
The dark-haired young woman turned on her steps and walked back to the living room, Finn stood in the main entrance of his home for a few seconds, until Phoebe made him react by giving him a slight push as a signal to follow Marceline. They both walked into the living room and in one corner they could see a borrowed karaoke machine. Fern was adjusting the microphones while Marceline checked the song list, all under Finn's curious gaze.
"Karaoke? Really?" Finn asked with a chuckle as he leaned his green backpack next to the couch.
"Not just any karaoke" Marceline replied holding the microphone as if she was going to give a concert at that very moment "it's our exclusive show! Now take your seat and get ready to be dazzled" as everyone gathered to start the karaoke, Marceline connected her phone to the machine they had brought along "it's time to fire this up with something epic!" she exclaimed with a mischievous smile, searching her playlist for a song to start the show.
Fern, settling into the couch, arched an eyebrow.
"Oh please! Don't sing something depressing, the last time you played something of yours you almost made us all cry."
"Trust me" Marceline replied as she selected the song. The screen showed the title: "Te Atreviste y Me Morí" (You Dared and I Died).
"I can't believe it!" Phoebe exclaimed with a chuckle "are you really going to start with that song? just that song?"
"What's wrong with this song? It's perfect" Marceline answered taking the microphone "now shut up and enjoy it"
As soon as the opening melody began to play, Marceline sang the first few lines with exaggerated drama, moving as if she were on the stage of a big concert.
Siempre despertó mi curiosidad de saber porque
Puede ser un día hermoso y en un cambio brusco echarse a perder.
Nunca me he detenido a analizarlo, nunca le presté atención.
A veces me quedo solo en la pregunta y no le busco solución...
[It has always piqued my curiosity to know why
It can be a beautiful day and in a sudden change be thrown away.
I've never stopped to analyze it, I've never paid attention to it.
Sometimes I'm left alone in the question and I don't look for a solution...]
Finn, a little reluctant at first, could not help but laugh as Fern drummed his hands on the coffee table to the rhythm of the music. Phoebe on her part was on the verge of tears from laughing so hard, and Marceline managed to pass the microphone to Fern right in the chorus, forcing him to sing. Fern first refused to sing along with the young woman because he did not want to be embarrassed, but Marceline insisted so much that in the end he agreed, and soon everyone began to join in (except Finn), filling the atmosphere with voices cracking with laughter, jokes and lots of energy.
La caravana que me trajo hasta ti,
Se espantara cuando te fijes en mí,
Y cuando el viento revoleaba tu pelo,
Te atreviste y me morí...
[The caravan that brought me to you,
Will be frightened when you notice me,
And when the wind blew your hair,
You dared and I died...]
"When I propose that we advance two more boxes, it is a parallel between love and game and I always want to win [Cuando te propongo que avancemos dos casilleros más, es su paralelo el amor y el juego, y yo siempre quiero ganar]" sang one of the girls who was part of the chorus, who began to dance around the sofa with exaggerated and comical movements that caused some generalized laughter "but I don't take advantage of the opportunity, sometimes I get disoriented among people and lose speed [Pero no aprovecho que tenga servida la oportunidad, a veces me desoriento entre la gente y pierdo la velocidad]"
"And I'm tired of hearing so many lies that you'll never live up to" Fern and Marceline sang in unison.
La caravana que me trajo hasta ti,
Se espantara cuando te fijes en mí,
Y cuando el viento revoleaba tu pelo,
Te atreviste y me morí.
No había pensado que podía llegar
A enamorarme en cuanto empieces a hablar
Con todo lo que practiqué este momento
Y ahora estoy quedando mal…
[The caravan that brought me to you,
Will be frightened when you notice me,
And when the wind ruffled your hair,
You dared and I died
I never thought that I could fall in love
To fall in love as soon as you start to speak
With all that I practiced this moment
And now I'm looking bad...]
After the song ended, everyone cheered and laughed with Finn holding his stomach.
"That was... Incredibly ridiculous" the teenager commented as he calmed his laughter.
"Ridiculous, but necessary" Marceline replied bowing in a mock curtsy "now that we're all relaxed, who's next?"
Fern from a corner of the living room looked at everyone with a mixture of amusement and amazement, plus he was intrigued to see who would be the next brave one to dare to sing a song on the karaoke machine. Finally, Phoebe walked over to the couch where Finn was sitting and handed him her microphone.
"Your turn" the girl said without taking her arm away from the microphone "come on, surprise us"
Finn did not react, but just looked around while he thought about which song to choose. Finally, with a slightly nervous smile, he took the microphone and spoke:
"All right, I'll do it. But if I'm going to sing, everyone has to promise not to laugh."
The activity continued with more songs, each one livelier than the last, until someone suggested changing the rhythm.
"Why don't we do something else?" Wendy proposed, giving everyone a knowing look "how about a classic 'Truth or Dare' game?"
The others agreed to the proposal without thinking too much about it, and soon the game "Truth or Dare" began with a light mood and laughter that denoted nervousness and discomfort among the group of friends. At first, each turn brought questions with unexpected revelations and challenges that ranged from the ordinary to bordering on the ludicrous, which generated laughter among the young people. After several turns in the game, between trivial confessions and meaningless challenges, as expected, Marceline had taken the baton as unofficial moderator of the game, enjoying every opportunity to put some of her friends and bandmates in awkward situations.
Phoebe's turn came and she chose "Truth".
"Have you ever been attracted to anyone in the band?" the long dark haired young woman asked, giving her a mischievous smile.
The girl blushed instantly, causing everyone to laugh and tease her, but she tried to keep her composure.
"Maybe... but that doesn't mean I'm going to say their name."
"Hey, that's cheating" Booboo protested with laughter, although he preferred to overlook the answer so as not to ruin the dynamics of the game.
Then it was Fern's turn to "Dare", this time it was Finn who took the initiative, still laughing at the previous situation.
"I dare you to sing a verse of the most embarrassing song you know."
The blond boy with green-dyed tips arched an eyebrow like saying "really?" but accepted without question and with a crooked smile. After pondering for a few seconds, he began to sing a part of the song "Move Your Feet" but with a more exaggerated rhythm, which brought laughter among the group.
"That's priceless!" Marceline cried, clapping her hands as she looked her bandmate return to his place in the circle still with a slight smile on his face.
The game continued with challenges that included ridiculous selfies, improvised dances and confessions that brought to light little secrets. Gradually, the atmosphere became more relaxed, but also more intimate, as if each turn brought down one more layer of each other's reserves.
Finally, Finn's turn came. Marceline looked at him with a mischievous smile.
"Very good, Finn. Truth or dare?"
Finn took a moment to think a bit before answering, enjoying the tension in his friends' eyes.
"Dare" he said with a confidence he did not quite feel.
Marceline narrowed her eyes, clearly planning something that might take him out of his comfort zone.
"All right. You've to kiss the person you think is the most attractive in this group."
The silence that followed was immediate, cut only by a few "whooos" and Phoebe's muffled giggles. Fern watched him curiously, though there was a slight tension in his shoulders.
I could feel the heat rise in my face as I looked at those I considered my friends. First I turned my gaze to Marceline, who returned my gaze with a mixture of amusement and defiance, I could tell a mile away that she enjoyed making a fool of everyone except for herself. Then to Phoebe, she smiled nervously at me, perhaps waiting for me to pick her to play a joke on everyone and get rid of the social pressure. Finally my eyes landed on Fern.
There was something about the way Fern looked at him, calm but expectant, making Finn make a decision. He stood up and advanced to the other side of the circle, wordlessly leaned over to Fern and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. The moment was brief but loaded with meaning, when Finn broke away, he returned to his place without maintaining eye contact with anyone as the rest of the group processed what they had just seen.
"Wow, I didn't see that coming" Marceline commented, giving a fake cough.
Phoebe, on the other hand, froze for a few seconds before standing up abruptly.
"Excuse me, I've to go to the bathroom" she said with a forced smile and left the living room.
The group fell uncomfortably silent at Phoebe's sudden departure. Marceline was the first to speak.
"Well, that was definitely more entertaining than singing "Move Your Feet" she commented in a light tone, though there was a glint of concern in her gaze as she glanced in the direction where Phoebe had left.
Finn shrunk slightly in place knowing that there was something he needed to figure out. He glanced sideways at Fern, who maintained an unperturbed expression although there was a slight blush on her cheeks.
"I think I'll go see if Phoebe's all right" Finn said, standing up.
"Good idea" Georgy replied, giving him a small pat on the back as he walked past him "but don't take too long. There's still a long way to go before the evening is over.
Finn nodded and went off in search of his friend, leaving Marceline, Fern and the rest of the band behind. The atmosphere in the living room was strangely balanced between the relief of laughter and the tension of what had just happened.
After a couple of minutes of looking around, Finn went upstairs to the bathroom, inside he found Phoebe leaning against the sink looking at her own reflection with slightly red eyes.
"Phoebe... are you all okay?" Finn asked approaching to her cautiously. She did not answer at first, but then she let out a sigh and looked at him sideways.
"No, Finn, I'm not okay. I'm upset, hurt, and I also feel betrayed" she finally said, feeling her voice crack slightly "why didn't you tell me you were dating Fern?"
Finn frowned, surprised by his friend's question.
"We're not dating" he replied keeping his voice calm "I don't even know exactly what's going on between us"
Phoebe let out a bitter laugh and shook her head.
"Well, it seems pretty clear from here, Finn. I feel like a fool for not noticing it sooner."
"Phoebs, listen..." Finn reached over, putting a hand on her shoulder "I don't want you to feel that way. This is all new to me, too. I'm still not clear on what I feel or what's going to happen between Fern and me, but I'm hoping I can figure it out tonight. If I don't do it now, there will be another time to define it"
The copper-red haired girl, with her hair slightly damp from the water she used to wash her face, looked at him with eyes full of mixed emotions: anger, sadness but also some understanding.
"I just want you to be honest with me, Finn. We've always been friends and I don't want to lose that" she said with a softer tone of voice this time. Finn nodded with a small smile.
"I don't want to lose you as a friend, Phoebe. I promise I won't let that happen."
Phoebe sighed and smiled back, though still a little dull.
"Okay. But go back in there and figure this out, Finn. I'm serious."
Finn nodded gratefully, and walked out of the bathroom while the girl took a moment to collect herself. The night was still young and Finn knew that what would happen next would be crucial, not only for him and Fern, but for his friendship with Phoebe as well.
As he walked back into the living room he saw that the rest of the group had already chosen a movie and were settling in among the blankets and pillows that covered the floor. Marceline was reclining on her back with a bag of popcorn while Wendy was leaning against the sofa with a blanket covering her shoulders and a bottle of beer rested in her lap.
Fern, meanwhile, was sitting on the floor next to Wendy, seemingly quiet, but Finn noticed his green eyes drifting from time to time towards the living room entrance, as if waiting for something. Phoebe came out a few seconds later, her expression more relaxed. She glanced around the room before turning to the group with a light smile.
"Have you already started without me?" the girl joked, taking a seat next to Finn and Fern on the floor.
Finn gave her a warm look.
"We were waiting for you to arrive."
The girl grabbed a pillow and hugged it while Marceline, with her typical light-hearted humor, gestured at the screen.
"It's about time! Finn told us that you had locked yourself in the bathroom to practice crying for a soap opera" Phoebe offended threw the pillow she was holding at her, although she could not help but giggle a little.
"Oh, shut up. I'm ready, I feel better now, so just play it."
The movie started and soon the living room was filled with laughter and occasional whispers while everyone get immersed on the plot. Finn settled in between Fern and Phoebe, there was something comforting about that moment: the warmth of the blankets, the sound of his friends laughing and the feeling that, at least for a little while, things were going to be fine.