Chapter 13: Meeting the band.
Friday went by flying by between school, homework and having to go out to do errands with his mom, Finn did not have time to rest, but now that weekend arrived he was home alone because Minerva was out on emergency to cover one of her colleagues at the hospital and he had no idea what to do. That day the blond boy was in his bedroom with half of his body lying on his bed and his shoulders resting on Jake's warm yellow-orange fur, taking advantage of his mother not being home that day, Finn brought the dog inside to keep him some company while he thought about what to do in those extra two days of rest.
Although he did not deny that he had been looking forward to that moment because he knew he would not need to complete school assignments or join Minerva in one of her boring activities, and that he could also do whatever he wanted, Finn had to admit that that took the fun out of it. What is more, Phoebe's family had gone to visit a paternal aunt who lived out of town for that weekend and the girl had gone with them, so he would not see her until Monday when they were back in classes.
As Finn fumbled with Jake's ears, his mind wandered back to the last few days. He could not stop thinking about Fern and how that little study session had been...different. There was something about him that intrigued him, though he was not sure what it was.
Just as he was considering whether to take a little nap or go for a little run with Jake around the neighborhood where he lived, his phone on the night table began to ring startling him out of his thoughts. He quickly unlocked the device and brought it to his ear.
"Hello?" he answered somewhat confused, as he did not know who would be calling him at that hour.
"Finn" the teenager could hear Fern's voice through the earbud, animated though with a touch of anxiety "what are you doing today?"
"Uh... nothing, I guess."
"Great!" Fern exclaimed, Finn sensed that the boy was waiting for that answer "listen, I know I said I wouldn't see you until Tuesday but... I don't know why I'm really looking forward to see you and, I was wondering... well, would you like to come to the rehearsal?"
Finn sat up when he heard this so that he was sitting on his bed, Jake raised half of his body and turned his head to look at his friend while he wagged his tail up and down making light thumps against the mattress.
"W-what? R-rehearsal, you said?"
"Yeah, the rehearsal" Fern repeated in a tone that tried to sound casual, though Finn could sense a hint of nervousness "it's a little relaxed, no big deal. I talked to Marceline and she said it was okay for you to come."
"Marceline?" Finn asked, vaguely recognizing the name.
"Yes, she's the leader of the band. I want you to be there and meet the guys."
Finn hesitated turning his head to Jake, who kept wagging his tail as if telling him to accept.
"I don't know, Fern. I'm not very good with... you know, new people."
Fern let out a light laugh, looking a little relieved.
"It's okay" he reassured him "they might be a little intense, but you'll like them. I promise it'll be fun."
Finn sighed, though he couldn't help but smile at Fern's insistence.
"Okay, where is it?" Fern passed him the coordinates as Finn got up from his bed with Jake following behind him and prepared to leave "okay, see you in a bit" Finn hung up, looked at Jake and patted him on the head before they both headed for the door "I don't know how he managed to convince me but... here I go" he left the house, but not before turning his gaze back to the dog "you coming, Jake?"
Jake wagged his tail enthusiastically, clearly ready to join his friend. The boy let out a soft laugh as he put a rope around the dog's neck and closed the door behind him.
The trip to the cellar was quiet, the morning sun reflected on the streets, lighting up the buildings, trees and some of the houses, tinting them in pleasantly bright hues. Finn found himself reflecting on Fern's sudden phone call.
I don't know how he managed to convince me to leave my home and go to his band rehearsal. Maybe it's because there was something about the way he invited me to go, moreover, I could detect nervousness in him, something very unusual knowing how he normally behaves.
"He must be excited about the rehearsal" he thought to himself, though doubt prevailed in his mind. Jake snapped him out of his thoughts by tugging lightly on the rope, pointing to a nearby park with his characteristic enthusiasm "later, buddy. I promise I'll take you for a run as soon as we're done"
Jake let out a small bark in response, as if he understood perfectly.
When Finn arrived at the location Fern had sent him to, the first thing he noticed was the peculiar atmosphere of the place. The cellar was located in an industrial area, right near the edge of a small creek that was surrounded by a wire fence. It had a scruffy yet cozy vibe, there was graffiti on the outside brick walls and old, faded posters plastered next to the entrance. Jake took to sniffing around as Finn carefully pushed open the double door, his heart began to beat a little faster than normal.
The interior of the cellar was lit with warm lights and spotlight bulbs, the sound of an electric guitar being tuned filled the air.
Fern looked up from his instrument and smiled as he saw the boy step inside.
"Hey, Finn" he greeted him, setting the guitar aside to approach him "I'm glad you came.
"Yeah, well..." Finn smiled back, albeit a little nervously "I didn't have much else to do."
"And who is this big guy? is he your pet?" Fern asked curiously, approaching Jake and petting the dog behind the ears "will he be joining the rehearsal too?"
Finn laughed lightly, relaxing a little.
"He's Jake. I couldn't leave him home alone" Finn replied as he watched the yellow-orange dog wag his tail enthusiastically "but don't worry, I promise he won't bother us"
"That's okay" Fern smiled as he stood up and pointed inside "come on, I'll introduce you to the others" as Finn followed the other boy towards the group, he noticed how the place seemed to have been transformed.
There was sound equipment piled up, wires crisscrossing the floor, and a makeshift table with water bottles and papers scattered about. Marceline was adjusting her bass near the microphone, talking to another band member, while a girl with short, vibrantly dyed hair played a keyboard "hey, guys! Finn's here!" he announced, his voice sounding more confident than Finn had expected.
Marceline looked up quickly appraising the newcomer. A sly smile spread across her face.
"And who is this?" she asked, pointing her thumb at Finn.
"That's Finn, a friend of mine" Fern answered quickly "I told you I'd bring him"
"The famous Finn?" the young woman said with a mixture of mockery and curiosity "the same Finn who showed up at the party with you and unannounced?
"Famous?" Finn blinked, confused. Fern cleared his throat, avoiding looking directly at him.
"Don't listen to her. I just mentioned you were coming. Nothing more."
Marceline let out a short laugh before extending her hand.
"Marceline Abadeer. Welcome to 'Marceline & The Scream Queens'" she introduced herself as Finn shook her hand with a slight smile on his face "come with me, I'll introduce you to the rest of the group"
Finn followed her to the other members of the band who introduced themselves one by one. Jake, as always, gained everyone's immediate attention, especially from Wendy, the keyboardist, who started petting him while asking him about his breed and age.
"Well, shall we get started" Marceline said, taking up a position in front of the microphone "Finn, make yourself at home."
Finn sat in the corner watching the band rehearse along with Jake.
There is something fascinating about the energy of the group, especially Fern, he seems to transform when he plays his guitar.
However, it did not take him long to notice that Fern was a bit distracted, losing his rhythm a couple of times.
At the end of one song, Marceline looked at him with a mixture of curiosity and exasperation.
"Fern, are you all right? You're more out of rhythm than ever."
Fern scratched the back of his neck, avoiding the stares.
"Yeah, yeah... I'm fine" the boy replied, putting a hand on his nape a little embarrassed "I just need to... focus a bit more"
Finn watched the scene in silence, noticing something in Fern's expression that the others did not seem to pick up on. Marceline sighed, crossing her arms as she blew out a lock of her dark hair that fell over her face.
"Okay, guys" Marceline said, testing the microphone with a light tap "let's practice 'Enemy' Fern, you go first"
Finn watched as Fern put on his guitar and began to play. The sound filled the cellar, powerful and melodic, but there was something in his expression that did not fit: a mixture of concentration and something deeper, as if he was using the music to escape.
I wake up to the sounds of the silence that allows
For my mind to run around, with my ear up to the ground
I'm searchin' to behold the stories that are told
When my back is to the world that was smilin' when I turned
Tell you you're the greatest
But once you turn, they hate us
The song began to take more shape, Fern's voice filling the space with power, accompanied by Wendy and the other girls joining in on the chorus.
Oh, the misery
Everybody wants to be my enemy
Spare the sympathy
Everybody wants to be my enemy-y-y-y-y
Finn felt a knot in his stomach as he listened to the lyrics, there was something about the words and the way Fern played that seemed to speak directly to him.
(Look out for yourself)
My enemy-y-y-y-y (Look, look, look, look)
(Look out for yourself)
But I'm ready
As the rest of the band focused on the music, Finn saw Fern close his eyes for a moment, losing himself in the chords. However, at a crucial part, he stumbled over the beat. Marceline stopped the song immediately.
"Fern!" she exclaimed, frustrated but not angry "what the heckk is wrong with you? you've been like this for days, and the festival is next Saturday!"
Fern avoided looking at her, adjusting the strings of his guitar.
"Sorry" he apologized "I was... distracted"
Marceline sighed, putting the microphone aside.
"Enough. Let's take a short break" she said in her relaxed but firm tone "Fern" the boy looked up at her "recharge your batteries or do what you have to do, because we need you to be at one hundred percent of your capacity for this song to go well"
"Got it, boss" Fern agreed. Marceline grabbed her water bottle and walked away, exchanging a few words with Wendy and Booboo.
Finn glanced at Fern, noticing how the blond boy with the green-dyed tips walked to a corner of the cellar, dropped his guitar more carefully than his body language showed. At that moment, the teenager decided that it was the right time to approach to him. Jake followed him wagging his tail like he wanted to comfort his friend.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Finn asked gently as he sat down next to him.
Fern let out a sigh, rubbing his temples with his fingers.
"Yeah... I'm just having a bad day."
Finn arched an eyebrow, not too convinced with the boy's response.
"A bad day?
Because from here it looks more than that."
Fern was silent for a moment, staring at the ground. Finally, he spoke, though his voice sounded lower.
"I just... feel like I'm not doing my best lately. And when I fail, I feel like I let other people down."
Finn tilted his head, watching him carefully.
"Fern, no one expects you to be perfect. I saw how you played before you got distracted. You're amazing with the guitar" Fern let out a short bitter laugh.
"You're just saying that because you didn't see how I started. There were days when I couldn't even do a simple chord without stumbling. And now..." he paused, briefly holding his hands to his face "now I feel like I'm going back to those days"
Finn let the silence settle for a moment before speaking.
"You know? Sometimes we put more pressure on ourselves than we should. I do too, especially when my mom expects me to be... something that maybe I'm not."
"Really?" Fern looked up, surprised by the confession.
Finn nodded.
"Yeah. But I think the only way to overcome that is to be kind to ourselves. No one else will be if we don't start with ourselves"
Fern looked at him, his lips curving into a small smile.
"That's... deeper than I expected to hear from you."
Finn shrugged, smiling.
"I've my moments" Fern let out a soft laugh, allowing himself the chance to relax a little.
"Thank you, Finn. Really. I don't usually talk about these things with anyone-Jake rested his head on Fern's legs, as if to comfort him as well. Fern laughed lightly, scratching him behind the ears-and thanks to you too, buddy" he said, speaking directly to the dog.
The moment was broken when Marceline called from the other side of the cellar.
"Fern! It's time to go on! And Finn, if you're going to stay longer, you'd better help with something."
Finn stood up, extending a hand to help Fern to get on his feet.
"Come on. I'm sure you'll do fine this time"
Fern nodded, holding his guitar with renewed confidence as they walked back to the group. Finn took the chance to approach to Marceline who was rearranging the microphone.
"Hey, Marcy" Finn called out to her, she turned her head to look at him for a second "what kind of 'something useful' do you have in mind?" he asked crossing his arms over his chest.
The long dark-haired young woman smiled sideways, clearly relishing the opportunity to put him to the test.
"First, we need to adjust the sound panel. Fern usually does it, but lately he's been more clumsy than usual" she joked, earning an offended look from the other boy "do you know anything about wires and knobs?"
Finn blinked, looking at the sound panel with a mixture of curiosity and confusion.
"Uh... maybe?"
"Perfect" Marceline motioned him over to the panel "I'll guide you. Just don't touch the red button" Finn let out a nervous laugh as he leaned toward the panel. Jake, ever loyal, sat down next to him, as if ready to help too "all right" she continued pointing to a line of knobs "let's start with the microphone levels. Turn this one... no, not so much... okay, now try this channel"
As Finn adjusted the knobs under Marceline's directions, the other band members moved closer, watching with keen interest. Even Fern seemed more relaxed as he watched Finn try to master the sound panel.
"That's not too bad for a rookie" Wendy commented, leaning over to Finn "hey, how about helping us with something else?"
Finn looked up, still struggling with a wire that seemed to have a life of its own.
"What's that?"
"Our poster for the local festival. Marceline wants something eye-catching, but we haven't agreed on the design, do you have a good eye for art?
Finn hesitated for a moment, thinking of the times he'd scribbled in his notebooks during class.
"I'm no expert, but I can try."
Wendy smiled broadly, passing him a sketch book and pencil.
"Great. Look, the name of the band is already decided, surely Marcy told you, we're "Marceline & The Scream Queens" we just need something that says "we're cool, come to see us!"
Finn looked at the block, then at the others, who were waiting with anticipation. Marceline approached Finn with a mischievous grin.
"Well... how about something in a sort of vintage style?" the teenager proposed, feeling a bit intimidated by the other members of the band so close to him.
"That sounds amazing" Marceline said with a genuine smile "go ahead, genius. I want to see your unique... style. Besides, what matters is that you do it fast, we have to put it everywhere before the festival" she paused, then added with a smile 'and don't worry, if you do it right, I promise I'll invite you to more gigs"
Finn nodded, now more enthusiastic about the challenge, though his mind was still trying to figure out what he could do with such an eccentric item. He picked up the pencil and began to sketch a figure on the paper as the idea of what Marceline wanted began to take shape in his mind. As he drew he remembered the style of old posters he had seen in music stores, some with bright colors and strange shapes. That was his inspiration.
Marceline stared silently, applauding Finn's effort in her mind, though she also noticed the slight shaking in his hands. It was clear that he felt a bit out of his comfort zone, but the young woman could also see that he was committed to the challenge.
In the midst of his work, Finn began to unleash his style, mixing the absurd with the amusing, just as Marceline had requested. His design began to come to life, and the odd shapes in the drawing seemed to tell a story of their own, as did the energy of the band. The central figure became a snake with a gigantic tongue, surrounded by broken ice creams and a puddle of vivid colors. A chaotic style, but at the same time captivating.
After a while, Finn looked up, a little exhausted, but satisfied.
"How's it going?" he asked as he handed the drawing to Marceline. She looked at the poster, and a genuine smile appeared on her face.
"That's perfect" she exclaimed, pointing to the drawing "it's pretty bizarre, exactly what I needed! You're more creative than I thought you were!"
Finn let out a relieved laugh, looking at his work with a mixture of satisfaction and amusement. At that moment, he realized that unexpected challenges could sometimes lead him to discover things about himself that he had never imagined.
At least, that day, he had left a mark on the band with his unique style.
The rehearsal continued but Fern was unable to focus, his mind was too busy staring at Finn, who was still on the sidelines, fumbling with the drumsticks. There was something about him, something Fern could not take his eyes off. It was as if Finn was made of an energy that filled every space around him, even when he was not saying anything.
"Fern!" Marceline's voice boomed like a drum in his mind. Fern gasped, looking at her friend with a guilty expression.
"What?"
"You missed the entrance again, what's going on with you today?" the young woman asked, this time with a hint of irritation. Her eyes were fixed on him as if trying to decipher what was wrong.
Fern gritted his teeth and shook his head.
"I'm fine. Let's just... start over."
But as Marceline sighed and counted the beat again, Fern felt another glare on him. He turned slightly and saw Finn watching him, it wasn't a critical or annoyed look. It was a curious, maybe even concerned look.
"Hey, are you okay?" the boy asked quietly as Marceline began to tune her bass, giving Fern a few seconds to breathe.
Fern wanted to answer something simple, something that would end the conversation quickly, but the words stuck in her throat. There was something about the way Finn was looking at him, as if he really cared about the answer that completely disarmed him.
"I'm fine" he finally replied though his tone was curter than he intended. Finn blinked, a little surprised, but nodded.
"Okay. Just... if you need anything, let me know."
That little gesture of concern should have calmed him down, but it only made him more uncomfortable.
Damn it! Why Finn, why do you have to be so... you?
"Let's get back to rehearsal" Fern said, looking away to look back at his bandmates.
The rest of the rehearsal went with ups and downs. Fern kept making mistakes, causing Marceline to purse her lips and tap her foot impatiently. Finn, meanwhile, seemed to be absorbing everything he saw, as if each interaction was a lesson in itself.
When they finally finished, Marceline set her bass aside and stretched.
"Okay, I think that's enough for today. Fern, you need to rest. You're out of rhythm."
"I'm not out of rhythm!" Fern cried almost shouting and in a more defensive tone of voice than she intended.
Marceline looked at him in disbelief, but Finn intervened before things escalated.
"Maybe you just need to sober up a bit" the teenager suggested with a coy smile.
Fern looked at him, and for a moment, wanted to say something hurtful, something to push him away. But Finn's smile was so genuine, so disarming that all that came out of his mouth was a sigh.
"Maybe" he agreed.
When they left the cellar, Marceline quickly said goodbye, leaving them alone. Finn walked beside him and Jake, keeping a silence that Fern found almost unbearable.
"What did you think?" Finn finally asked, breaking the tension.
"What did I think of what?"
"The rehearsal. Marceline said you were out of rhythm, but I thought you did well"
Fern looked sideways at him, surprised by the comment. There was something about Finn's sincerity that disarmed him again and again.
"Why do you care so much?" Fern asked more in an attempt to understand than to sound hostile.
"I don't know" Finn said who shrugged and shoved his hands in his shirt pockets "I guess because... I think I like you"
"Those words, so simple and direct..." those words hit Fern like a punch. He felt he did not deserve them, that Finn did not understand how complicated it was, how broken he was. But there was also something warm about hearing that, something that made him want to believe him "oh, if that's it, then I like you too" Fern finally admitted, though his tone of voice was so low that it almost not heard. Finn smiled, and for a moment, the knot in Fern's chest seemed to loosen. But then, the boy said something that made him tense up again.
"Hey, now that I've been thinking of it, you should spend more time with Marceline. She's cool. I think she likes you a lot, even if she doesn't say so."
That sentence, though harmless on the surface, landed like a bucket of cold water on Fern. Marceline. Always Marceline. Finn talked about her as if she were the center of everything, and Fern could not help but feel like he was being pushed to the sidelines, as if he could never be more than a spectator in the boy's life.
"Maybe" Fern replied, looking down again as he shoved his hands into his jacket pockets.
They walked the rest of the path in silence. Finn seemed satisfied, as if he did not notice the storm of emotions he had left in Fern. And Fern, on the other hand, could only think how someone as simple as Finn could make him feel such complicated things.
The sun was starting to set leaving a violet and orange tinged sky as the cold breeze announced the arrival of night. Before heading home, Finn had promised Jake to stop by the park after rehearsal, and true to his word, he and Fern walked there together. When Jake arrived, happy to be in the open, he ran with seemingly endless energy, circling around the trees and chasing the leaves that the wind kicked up.
Fern sat on a nearby bench, watching Jake as Finn whistled to keep him close. There was something hypnotic about the way Finn interacted with his dog: the ease with which he smiled and his soft words seemed to convey a warmth that the boy was not used to seeing in anyone else, if you counted Marceline, certainly but... he did not want to think about her at that moment.
Finn came over to sit next to him, his smile never leaving his face as he tossed a stick that Jake chased enthusiastically.
"It's amazing how much energy he has" Fern commented with a half-smile.
"Jake is special. I adopted him a few years ago, when he was just a puppy" Finn leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he looked at the dog "I found him in an abandoned lot near my home. He was inside a garbage bag, badly injured, mistreated and showing signs of poor feeding. He wouldn't stop crying, as if he was desperate for someone to find him and put him out of his misery, I guess that's what caught my attention."
"Why do you say that?" Fern asked arching an intrigued eyebrow.
"Dunno" Finn shrugged, his smile slowly fading "I guess, like him, sometimes I feel like I have to try too hard to be noticed" he paused, as if he would said more than he intended but then let out a light laugh "but Jake...he doesn't have to try hard. He's pure energy, he's always there making things less complicated"
Fern looked at him silently, catching a glimmer of vulnerability in Finn. After a few seconds, he decided to ask:
"What about your family, have you always had someone to support you?"
Finn straightened up, rubbing his hands together as if trying to dissipate the cold.
"My mom, more than anything" he paused as if choosing his words carefully "she's always been there for me. It's amazing, but sometimes I feel like she worries too much"
"What about your dad?" Fern asked cautiously, noticing how Finn's posture tensed.
For a moment, the blue-eyed teenager did not respond. His gaze was fixed on Jake, who was running back to them with the stick between his teeth.
"My dad died when I was only a three-year-old. I barely remember him" his voice lowered a little, almost as if he were talking to himself 'the only thing I know about him is from what my mom told me" Fern waited silently, not wanting to press, but Finn continued after a long pause "one night, thieves broke into our house... Mom said he tried to protect us" Finn pursed his lips with his gaze fixed on the floor "the last thing he did was make sure Mom and I were safe"
Fern felt a knot in her stomach. There was something in Finn's voice, a mixture of pride and sadness, that hit him harder than expected.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable" the blond boy with the green-dyed tips apologized. Finn just shook his head, forcing a smile.
"It's okay. I guess it's never easy to talk about him, but... sometimes I think I wish I'd had the chance to get to know him better" silence settled between them again, though this time it wasn't awkward. It was a silence that shared the weight of the unspoken, a bridge that connected them in ways neither of them was ready to admit. Jake returned again with the stick, breaking the moment. Finn stroked it absently before tossing it again "and you, what about your family?" he asked, trying to change the subject. Fern hesitated, but finally answered:
"It's complicated. I don't have many happy memories with them" he looked away, his voice low and yet slightly muffled "sometimes I'd rather not think about it"
Finn did not insist but gave him a look that said more than words could express.
"Destiny is in motion" she murmured to herself, her voice low and almost musical "how interesting it will be to see how they deal with what they feel" she turned away from the tree just as both boys disappeared down the path that led out of the park, her figure camouflaged by the shadows of the place. But she did not leave without casting one last glance back at the path they had taken, her lips quirked into an enigmatic smile "they have no idea what awaits them"
The walk home was filled with small but not uncomfortable silences. There was something about Fern's presence that Finn found comforting, though he couldn't quite explain it. Jake trotted happily along with them, sometimes running ahead as if he were the guide of their little group.
When they reached the comfortable but small house where Finn lived, the porch lights were on and the car parked in the driveway confirmed what Finn had already assumed: his mother, Minerva, had returned from covering for her colleague at the hospital.
"Looks like my mom's already arrived" Finn pointed to the car while looking at Fern "I guess this is the end of the tour"
The other boy nodded, shoving his hands into the pockets of his sweatshirt.
"Thanks for the ride. It was... interesting."
Finn smiled but there was something about the way Fern was looking at him that made him hesitate.
"Hey, why don't you hang out for a while," he suggested "my mom's cool. I'm sure she won't mind you being here"
Fern shook his head quickly.
"I don't want to disturb them. I'm sure she's had a long day, it would be best if she rest."
"It won't be a bother" Finn insisted but Fern was adamant.
"Really, I'm fine. Besides, it's already late."
Finn sighed, dropping his shoulders, still he did not insist any further.
"Well, if you change your mind, now you know where I live."
As he said this, Jake, who had been exploring the house's backyard suddenly appeared behind Finn, getting right in his way. The teenager did not noticed him and, as he turned to say goodbye to Fern, he tripped over Fern, losing his balance. Fern reacted quickly trying to hold him up, but the movement was clumsy and unbalanced. In a matter of seconds, Finn ended up falling forward, crashing into Fern, their faces inches apart before their lips met.
The kiss was brief, almost a brush but just enough for both of them to feel an unexpected warmth coursing through their bodies. When they pulled away from each other, Finn's eyes were as wide as Fern's and the silence that enveloped them was so thick that even Jake, normally anxious, seemed to stop for a moment.
"I..." Finn began but his voice cracked. He cleared his throat, averting his gaze as his face flared a deep red "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to"
Fern held up a hand, trying to appear calm, though the flush on his face betrayed him.
"It was an accident. It's all right."
They both stood there, too nervous to say anything else, until Jake decided to intervene, barking as if to remind them of his presence.
"Well... I'd better go in" Finn laughed faintly, scratching the back of his neck "my mom's probably waiting for me and she gets worried if I'm out here too long"
"Of course" Fern took a step back, trying to regain his composure "good night, Finn. Don't forget to come on Tuesday for the next study session"
"Good night, Fern" Finn gave him one last nervous but warm smile before walking into the house with Jake at his heels.
Fern stood for a few more seconds in front of the entrance, watching the door close. His mind kept replaying the moment of the kiss, his chest tightening with a mixture of emotions he could not decipher. Finally, he turned around and began to walk away, but he could not help touching his lips with his fingertips as if seeking to confirm that what had happened had been real. A sigh escaped his lips, and with his mind full of questions, he resumed his walk into the night that had already fallen completely.
Inside the house, Finn closed the door behind him, leaning against it for a moment. His face was burning, and his mind kept replaying the brief (but unexpected) kiss.
"What just happened?" he thought, holding a hand to his face as if to hide the blush he felt. Jake, oblivious to his master's whirlwind of emotions, watched everything from the house window as he wagged his tail happily.
He tried to calm himself, but he did not have much time to reflect. His mother's voice brought him out of his thoughts.
"Finn," Minerva called from the living room "is that you?"
"Yes, Mom!" he answered quickly, straightening up and trying to look natural.
Minerva appeared in the hallway, looking tired but with a smile of relief at the sight of her son. She went over to give him a brief hug.
"How was your day" she asked, taking off his trademark bear hat and stroking his hair automatically "I'm so sorry for leaving you alone again. It's been a hard day at the hospital."
Finn smiled back, albeit a little nervously.
"Don't worry, I was fine. I just... spent some time outside, walking around and..." he paused, looking sideways at Jake, who was watching him outside the house curiously, as if he understood he was about to lie "I went to the park"
"The park?" Minerva repeated with interest "that's nice. I'm glad you're getting out a little, Finn. It's not good to stay locked up all the time."
"Yes, it was... relaxing" Finn said, looking away.
The woman nodded, though her attention was already on her bag, which she set on a nearby table.
"I'm going to heat up something for dinner. If you want, we can watch something on TV together later."
"Sure, Mom. Sounds good" Minerva smiled at him before heading into the kitchen, as Finn let out a sigh of relief, opened the front door to step out onto his front porch again. Jake, seemingly satisfied with the explanation, lay down next to him, resting his head on his paws "I guess it's our secret for now, huh?" he murmured, scratching behind his ears. But deep inside, his mind kept going back to the moment with Fern, to the instant their lips touched.
He went up to his bedroom shortly after dinner and watching a movie in the living room with his mother, hoping that some alone time would help him sort out his thoughts, though part of him already knew it would not be that easy.