Mismatched socks

Mathieu - Chapter 6: Spider-Man

I finish designing the exterior of a house as my phone rings. 'Matt! There's a spider!' James screams on the other side of the phone. 'James, I'm at work,' I say and save my design. 'Please?' he begs. I look at the clock. 'I'll be there in half an hour,' I say. 'That long?' he asks disappointed. 'Jim, I will stop working now but it's a thirty-minute drive to the university,' I say. 'Okay, thanks, love you,' he says with a sad tone. 'Love you too.' He hangs up.

I tell my boss that I'm not feeling well and am leaving. He simply doesn't bother and lets me go. I step in my car and start driving. The spider isn't probably that big, he just wants my attention. Or he could've called Colin. But I don't mind, I miss him when he's at the university.

We're dating for two years now, all of that was long distance. So, him being only thirty minutes away is an improvement. The reason I decided to move here, not because my mother made me.

I park the car, close it, and start walking to the Houston building where James his room is. I walk up the three flights of stairs and knock on its door. 'It's open!' he shouts. I open the door and see him sitting in the corner of his bed. 'Over there,' he says and point to the spider in the middle of the room. It's bigger than I expected.

I take a glass and paper and catch it. 'Why are you catching it? You should kill it!' James says in a panic. I walk to the window and open it. I throw the spider out of the window. 'That's worse than killing it!' James says in surprise. 'If it shoots a web, it can swing from window to window. Like Spider-Man,' I say and put down the glass and paper.

James stands up and hugs me. 'Thank you for throwing out the spider and coming here,' he says while I hug him back. 'You're welcome,' I say and kiss his cheek. We hold each other for a few minutes.

'Do you want to help me with designing the interior of a house?' he asks silently. 'I'm not an interior designer,' I say. 'I know, but you've worked with them, so you know how they think,' James says. 'You're the one studying for it,' I say. James laughs. 'Just say so if you don't want to help!' he says and releases me from the hug. 'I want to help, I just don't know if I will be any help,' I say.

Jim clicks a few times on his laptop and a house with white walls is waiting to be designed. His eyes are begging me to stay and help, so that's what I do. I go sit in the chair and James sits in my lap. I wrap my arms around his waist and lean on his shoulder with my chin.

It's mostly James who knows what's best for the house and how people will like it. I just watch how focused he is, it's adorable. 'Stop staring, it makes me nervous,' he says without looking at me. 'I thought we were past the nervous stage,' I say and look away. 'Not when you're staring at me for thirty minutes,' he laughs. 'Sorry,' I say and look at the wall.

My phone rings and it's my mother. I sign James that he has to be quiet and pick up the phone. 'Mama,' I say. 'Are you coming home for dinner?' she asks. I look at James who shakes his head. 'No, I will be working late today,' I lie. 'Too bad, I invited a colleague and her daughter,' she says. 'You don't have to set me up with people,' I say. 'Then you're going to be alone forever,' she sighs. If she'd only know.

'I won't. Goodbye,' I say and hang up the phone. 'Was she trying to set you up again?' James asks. 'Yes,' I sigh. 'We could tell her?' Jim suggests. 'I don't want you to die yet,' I say. James laughs. 'Matt, she likes me, she won't react as bad as you think.' 'She only likes you because you're her best friend's son,' I say coldly. 'Just think about it,' he says and closes his laptop.

'Then you think about telling your parents,' I say. 'I think they kind off know?' 'What do you mean?' I ask confused. 'I think they caught us kissing in the pool this summer,' he says and looks at me from the corner of his eyes. 'Do you think or are you sure?' I ask, my grammar getting weird. 'I'm pretty sure,' he says. I swallow and look at our locked hands. 'It's only a matter of time before my mom tells yours.'

I'm quiet for a long time and James just comforts me. 'Okay, we can tell her.' I unlock my phone and call my father. 'Mathieu,' he says happily. 'Can you set it on speaker so mom can hear it too?' I ask. 'Oké,' my dad says confused – probably because I'm speaking English. 'Yes, Mathieu?' my mom asks.

I look at James, he takes my hand and nods. 'I'm gay,' I say. There's a long painful silence and a tear streams down my cheek. James gently wipes away the tear. 'Tu es sûr?' my mother asks. 'Yes, James and I have been dating for two years,' I say. James wipes away another tear. There's another silence and a door that slams shut. 'Mathieu, jongen, dank je om het ons te zeggen. Mama is een beetje... geschrokken. Weet dat ik van je houd en dat ik hoop dat jij en James heel gelukkig worden,' my father says. 'Dankjewel, papa,' I say and start crying.

James takes the phone from my hand and hangs up. He wraps his arms around me and hugs me tight. He doesn't need to ask what my father said. He knows from my reaction – and because he learned Dutch three years ago so he could ask me out.

'You're allowed to yell at me if you're angry,' he says. I look him in the eye. 'I don't want to yell at you,' I say and lean my forehead against his. 'I'm actually relieve I said it,' I say. 'I'm proud of you,' he says and plants a kiss on my lips. I kiss him back and wrap my arms around him to keep him close.

'I love you,' I whisper betweenthe kisses. 'I love you,' Jim says and holds me. One day, I want to marry thisman and no one – not my mother, not society – will stop me from doing that.

The translations in order:

'Are you sure?'

'Mathieu, son, thank you for telling us. Mama is a little... surprised. Know that I love you and that I hope you and James will be very happy together.'

'Thank you, papa.'

Wordcount: 1126