11

Sorry for posting this late. I have had terrible network connection all day. Anyway I hope you enjoy this.

Luke's POV

" I...I can't take...anymore... Did to me...wicked..." I say crying with most of the words lost to my sobbing.

I've been doing this for the last thirty minutes. While my friends have had this frozen in time look on their faces for the last twenty minutes since I cried explaining to them what I'd been going through at the Gail's for the last two weeks.

I could swear I was talking to statues.

I was hoping that the torture those girls seemed determined to put me through would have ended on that first day but no I thought wrong it only got worse each day. I have been throwing out the food given to me by Esperanza. Today I decided to bring the one she'd given to me after the usual round of tortures. It sat on the coffee table in Russ's kitchen which we'd surrounded sitting in chairs as I'd explained.

I breathe in and it seems like the air is too hot to go down my lungs. There's a ringing sound in my ear which makes it hard for me to hear. I feel my eyes going blind with the exception of a few dark spots in my vision. I can hear someone's voice calling out to me but I don't know who. It's then I realize I'm having a panic attack.

I struggle for air and after sometime everything goes back to normal except this time, Russ and Dave are rolling on the floor with laughter while Jack just looks at me with an eyebrow curved and practically screaming ' you are so unbelievable '.

" You guys think I'm joking? Fine, I dare you to have some of this linguini. "

The other two look unsure while Jack gets up and strides to the counter holding cutleries. He picks a fork and a plate bringing it to the table.

He removes the cover of the dish and rolls some spaghetti onto his fork and places it on the plate. He does this a couple more times until the plate is half filled. He finally rolls some onto the fork and takes it close to his mouth slowly. He puts it in his mouth and chews slowly after removing the fork. He closes his eyes in appreciation and his eyes open widely as if he realized something.

Next time he won't doubt me.

" It tastes amazing."

My jaw slacks down in shock and I feel like I'm about to choke on air.

I realize that Russ and Dave had been holding their breath as they breathe in and also get up to get their own forks to dig in.

" I can't believe you would have thrown this heavenly goodness away. God I haven't had this linguini since I was little." he says without pausing and continues to stuff himself.

Dave and Russ also seem to be enjoying the meal with no issues. I decide to sit back hoping something happens which convinces them that those girls are no sweet angels.

I notice that Jack is no longer eating and I'm like finally. But it's then I notice the faraway look in his eyes.

" Jack, earth to Jack " I say snapping my fingers before his eyes.

Dave looks at Jack, then drops the fork and looks at the linguini in a funny way.

But Russ just continues eating like it's no big deal.

" do you think the food got to him? " Dave asks sounding scared.

Russ spits out the linguini nearly choking on it. It's like he starts to consider it as well.

We all lean a bit closer to Jack and Dave starts stretching a finger to poke him.

Tears roll down Jack's cheeks, then he notices the finger coming towards him and grabs it bending it backward.

" ah...ah...ah...ah...ah!" Dave yells.

" what the hell man? We thought you were affected by the food or something." Russ says angrily.

" no the food is good just feels as though I've tasted it before. " Jack says letting go of Dave's finger.

" really? " Dave starts eating again. " doesn't taste like anything from any restaurant we've been to. "

Jack breathes in deeply. " not we've been to but my parents and I've been to. Before they died there was this little restaurant that used to stand close to the town square at sleety doom. We went there every weekend to have dinner. They had the best linguini and meat balls. They were so good that the taste just exploded in your mouth. You could never accuse their food of being below quality. Even them hating you was not enough to spoil the masterpiece they prepared. "

This look came on Jack, he looked happy, content, I just can't describe it. It was like he finally found a way to get rid of his demons , demons I never really noticed. I guess the death of his parents hit him harder than he let on.

" There was this time some guy tried to ruin business for them . After disgracing the guy, an old lady with a little girl on her hips said to the guy in front of the entire restaurant and I quote ' this place is family and family is who or where love is, and you do not give love the least that you have, you give it the best. That said do not ever accuse me of serving the least in this restaurant. It is my family. ' Some guy came and tossed him out afterwards. He did continue eating there after apologizing. For some reason I never really forgot her words. "

" so are they still there cause this tastes great and I want more." Dave says with his mouth full.

" no apparently something happened and they had to close down. I think that was the winter..." he doesn't continue instead he looks at Dave who looks like someone dumped cold water all over him.

Russ and Jack understand what it is that's going on but I don't and so end up feeling uncomfortable. I could swear the heater went up a couple degrees in here . I decide to change the discussion.

" Either way I'm not kidding, those girls are mean."

I notice that my plan works as Dave and Russ are back to eating although not as cheerful as before, the tension in the air is gone. while Jack looks to be rolling his eyes.

" Seriously man you got to stop being afraid of two girls. I mean they are girls. " Jack says using air quotations at the last part.

" fine then prove that they're not. "

" No you prove that they're. Tomorrow we'll go with you to work."

At that moment, Russ chokes on his food while Dave yells " what the!... " at the top of his lungs. They both start to protest giving countless excuses as to why they can't come.

Jack leans back against his chair and looks to be examining his nails. He quietly says " yellow tailed dogs"

" yeah we're going " both Russ and Dave say at the same time.

He really knows where to hit the nail.

" cool " he says like it's no big deal .

~ ~ ~

That night I called Mr Gail, telling that I'm ill and that some friends of mine would be coming over to help with the work but he suggests that I take leave and I being the hardworking Gardner that I am, I refuse to leave my work unattended to.

Note the sarcasm

He finally agrees and all is set in place for tomorrow.

The next day, I and the guys head over there after school. As soon as we arrive I take it as an obligation to warn them of certain reoccurrences which have taken place since the torture began.

" remember stay away from the bathroom and the kitchen and the window sides and... "

" yeah, yeah, we know don't underestimate them." Jack says rolling his eyes as he gets out of the car. He arranges his brown leather jacket and goes to the trunk of the Honda.

The other two morons I happen to call my friends seem to be hesitating to get down from the car.

But all Jack has to sing song is " yellow tailed dogs " and before you know it they're both strutting out the car like they mean business.

Looking at all of us you'd find it hard to realize that we're having money issues.

Jack in jeans, leather jacket and I bet some expensive shirt hidden underneath it, hiding his perfectly combed dark hair under the car trunk.

Don't know what the hell he's doing with that jacket it's freaking hot out here.

Russ with his shoulder length blonde hair, wearing black jeans and a Tommy Hilfiger shirt.

And of course Dave with his perfectly styled brown hair, wearing a red body fitting shirt putting his perfectly toned muscles on display. As well as tight ripped blue jeans.

As for me I'm sporting the latest Gucci top and black jeans.

Yeah, snap, snap, take a picture while you can, I know we're so cool and so broke.

We head into the house and it seems like Mr Gail's not around. But of course the witches of torture ville are here to receive us.

As soon as Esperanza let's us in, I notice that Linda's eyes open wide as she sees the other guys but she's back to smiling and I could almost swear the smile had always been there but I know better.

" uhm, hi guys. I see you came to drop Luke off. That's really nice of you, at least he has such encouraging friends. " she said with a perfect tone and wonderful smile pasted on her face.

Get any better at acting and you'll be too good for Broadway.

" Actually, they're here to help me out. " I said with a smile on my face.

" did you ask my dad? Cause..."

" yeah I did and he was okay with it. Isn't your dad just wonderful? "

She might have just turned paler than snow.

Though I don't really think that gold-like skin of hers would really allow that.

" yes he is. You should go get ready now." she said with a kind of estranged laughter.

I lead the guys toward the basement. As we're heading down, I hear the girls talking.

" so are we still going to play scare the cat?" Esperanza asks.

"of course we are" Linda replied.

So they're still going through with their plan. Well they are going to be quite surprised.

Author's note

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