Flat-Out Love
Page 13
Julie Seagle
I’m sorry, but that IS funny!
Finn is God
That’s my mother for you. I think she still has it. And is probably still under the wrong impression.
Julie Seagle
Oh, my. Sort of sweet in a tragic way.
Finn is God
What about your parents? Love ‘em or want to mail them back to Walmart?
Julie Seagle
Costco, actually. Mom is OK. A little… lacking depth, maybe? But nice. Dad is not around much.
Finn is God
Where is he?
Julie Seagle
They divorced when I was five, and I only get to see him a few times a year since then. He works all over the country, and it’s hard to coordinate times to see him.
Finn is God
Sorry to hear that. You deserve better.
Julie Seagle
Not a big deal. I’m used to it. And it’s great when I do see him.
Finn is God
When do you go back to Boston?
Julie Seagle
Sunday morning. Really early flight. Home by noon, I think.
Finn is God
You’re calling it “home” now?
Julie Seagle
Uh… Apparently.
Julie Seagle
How long are you in the South Pacific? Sounds so exotic.
Finn is God
Probably three weeks. Just got here last Sunday. Exotic experience started early while on the looooong flight. Ate a distinct meal of fermented cheese on canvas-y crackers.
Julie Seagle
Mmmm…. Yummy!
Finn is God
Dessert was an even more exotic congealed glob of rice pudding. Can still taste it!
Julie Seagle
Now you’ll just keep booking flights all over the world.
Finn is God
I live for airline food. Nothing gets me off more than small portions of gunk on a tray. And sporks, of course.
Finn is God
Love sporks!
Julie Seagle
Am making a note of your fetishes.
Finn is God
It’s gonna be a long list.
Julie Seagle
Understood. Tell me the best thing you’ve done on this trip so far.
Finn is God
Bungee jumped. So awesome.
Julie Seagle
Ugh. I would NEVER. How was it?
Finn is God
Complete rush. Phenomenal. You’re not a daredevil?
Julie Seagle
No way. Total wuss. I nearly faint on escalators. What other crazy things have you done?
Julie Seagle
Oh, let me guess! Are those your skydiving shirts I saw?
Finn is God
Yup. Want to go sometime?
Julie Seagle
Uh, let me think… NO!
Finn is God
Come on! You’ll love it. Maybe. It’s nothing like an escalator.
Julie Seagle
Again, NO!
Finn is God
But don’t tell my parents. They don’t know about my risky activities.
Julie Seagle
Seriously?
Finn is God:
They’d freak.
Julie Seagle
Understood. Lips are sealed.
Finn is God
I want to go bungee jumping in South America next. Right by waterfalls. Supposed to be gorgeous.
Julie Seagle
So many bungee jumps to make. Sounds like I won’t get to meet the renowned Finn anytime soon.
Finn is God
Probably not. Pretty committed for a while. We’ll see. Hard to pass up these opportunities. Be good to meet you, though. But at least we can chat for now!
Julie Seagle
True. And I kind of feel like I know you already. Weird.
Finn is God
I know what you mean.
Julie Seagle
Think it’s because I’m staying in your room and absorbing Finn vibes?
Finn is God
The vibes from the stinky monster poop in the closet? Yes, that’s it.
Julie Seagle
So that’s the funky smell. I’ve been wondering.
Finn is God
Apologies. Boys are gross.
Julie Seagle
Not all boys.
Finn is God
If I’d known you’d be staying in my room, I would have tried harder to make a better impression.
Finn is God
Will work on bolstering my image!
Julie Seagle
Not necessary. You’re very charming.
Finn is God
You don’t need pictures of me in a tuxedo, cleaned up, trying to look suave and presentable?
Julie Seagle
I don’t need tuxedos to be impressed.
Finn is God
Hm…
Finn is God
What do you need?
Julie Seagle
Still trying to figure that one out.
And so it went for the next two hours. Finn IM’d her more pictures, gave her more details on his many trips, and asked lots of questions about her classes, her family, her friends. She didn’t mention Seth because… Look, Finn didn’t specifically ask. And she didn’t know exactly where she stood with Seth, so there wasn’t much to say right now anyway. Was he a real boyfriend? Or were they just dating casually?
And, yes, she kept flirting. Because it was harmless and fun, and truthfully, she just couldn’t help herself. There was something extraordinarily intoxicating about this Finn.
Finn is God
OK, so Thanksgiving didn’t work out so well for you. Winter break? Will it be a step up?
Julie Seagle
Of course. But I’ll be in California with my Dad for three weeks, so I’ll miss Mom’s stockings and trees and lights.
Julie Seagle
Illuminated reindeer statues on the lawn, drunk Santa at the mall, pop stars releasing carol collections, etc. What more could a girl want?
Finn is God
Hold on. Are you anti-Christmas?
Julie Seagle
Nah. Just kidding! I love Christmas. Mom covers the entire living room in white twinkle lights and puts real candles on the tree.
Julie Seagle
On Christmas Eve, I slide under the tree and look up through the branches at the lights. Hokey, but my tradition.
Finn is God
Do you lie there and make a wish for the New Year?
Julie Seagle
Exactly. Silly, I guess.
Finn is God
What do you wish for?
Julie Seagle
Depends on the year. Could be to marry some dopey teen idol.
Julie Seagle
Or to get stranded on a deserted island with Prince Charming and an endless supply of sunscreen.
Finn is God
So your Christmas tradition is centered on cute boys, huh?
Julie Seagle
I never said they were lofty fantasies.
Finn is God
Oh, now they’re FANTASIES are they? So you need to be alone for this tradition, I guess… *cough, cough*
Julie Seagle
Very funny. I’ll go with “dreams” then. Not just about cute boys (although I guess that has been a theme), but more about being… I don’t know… generally satisfied. Content. Complete. I don’t know… It sounds lame when I say it. (Or type it.)
Julie Seagle
Dreaming about the future. Wondering what’s ahead for me. Coming-of-age nonsense. Corny.
Finn is God
It’s not nonsense. I think that’s very cool.
Julie Seagle
Very cool until hot wax falls from the branches and burns my eyeballs. That actually happened. Candles on the tree=dangerous fire hazard. But what’s a holiday without a little danger?
Julie Seagle
Oh look! There’s the risk-t
aking behavior you were looking for!
Finn is God
That’s pushing it, kid.
Finn is God
Maybe you’re not cut out for real danger. That’s OK. Not all my interests run the risk of crashing thousands of feet. Done the Boston Polar Plunge a few times. That doesn’t involve heights.
Julie Seagle
What’s that?
Finn is God
Boston crazies put on swimsuits and plunge into the Atlantic Ocean on New Year’s Day. Rather quick swim due to frigidly cold/awful water.
Finn is God
News crews love this story.
Julie Seagle
*groan* Yeah, this sounds really fun. Unfortunately I won’t be in Boston for this event otherwise I’d totally do it.
Finn is God
Liar! You would not! But it’s awesome. Sucks going in, but great on the way out. A shock to the system in a good way.
Finn is God
Would go this year but will be in sunny Puerto Rico. Leading a white water rafting tour. (And bungee jumping, of course.)
Julie Seagle
Boo hoo. That sounds miserable. Poor you.
Finn is God
I know. Rough.
Julie Seagle
Pit stop in Boston before you go? Celeste is dying to see you.
Finn is God
I could work on a pit stop.
Julie Seagle
Oh, and could we talk about Celeste for a minute?
Julie waited. And waited. It looked like he was going to be as difficult about his sister as Matt was.
Julie Seagle
So, Celeste… Tell me why she made Flat Finn.
Finn is God
Don’t know. She needs Flat Finn’s good looks to counteract Matt’s lack of?
Julie Seagle
Nice try.
Again Julie waited. She stared at the clock on her computer, watching as six endless minutes ticked by.
Finn is God
I can’t tell you.
Julie Seagle
Why? She needs help, Finn.
Finn is God
You’re the best thing for her.
Julie Seagle
How do you know that? I don’t know what I’m doing.
Finn is God
You’re doing great. She’s happy.
Julie Seagle
She’s not happy. She can’t be. She needs you.
Finn is God
This is more complicated than I can explain.
Finn is God
You’ll have to trust me on this. I can’t say anything else. I need you to drop this. OK?
What the hell? Julie stared at the chat window. Things suddenly felt weird with Finn, and that was the last thing she wanted.
Finn is God
Please don’t be mad. I just can’t. I’m sorry.
Julie Seagle
OK.
Finn is God
So… is Celeste the only one who wants to see me?
Julie Seagle
Your whole family does.
Finn is God
Only my whole family?
Julie Seagle
Girlfriend back home who is missing you like crazy?
Finn is God
Maybe.
Julie paused. She hadn’t really thought about this possibility before, but for some reason she didn’t really like the idea that Finn might have a girlfriend. Not that it was any of her business. I mean, it wasn’t like she had any right to be jealous.
Except that she was.
There was nothing more unpleasant than the overwhelming effect caused by jealousy, and she couldn’t deny that typing out the word girlfriend had made her stomach knot up, her breathing change, and her brain swirl. This was not the reaction she would have expected. She didn’t even know Finn.
Well, she couldn’t suddenly go chat silent now. It would look weird. She held her hands over the keyboard, desperately trying to figure out something normal to say. How nice for you. I’m sure she’s lovely. No, that would sound obnoxious. Crap. Who was this girlfriend? Neither Matt nor Celeste had ever mentioned anything about her. She’s a curvy Victoria’s Secret model with the intellect of a geneticist and the strength of spirit to go cliff-diving, I assume? No. That was both obnoxious and passive aggressive.
Finn is God
But no girlfriend. So just my crazy family that wants me to come visit, I guess. I’ll confess disappointment.
Julie couldn’t help smiling.
Julie Seagle
Would not complain if you came to visit. Must meet the world-traveling, thrill-seeking, adventure-loving idol.
Finn is God
In that case, I’ll do my best to make it happen. Don’t tell anyone yet, though, until I’m sure.
Julie Seagle
OK. Fair enough.
Finn is God
I should go… Dinner soon.
Julie Seagle
And I should get to bed.
Finn is God
Nice! What are you wearing?
Finn is God
Sorry. Forgot I already tried that one…
Julie Seagle
Impressed with your persistence.
Finn is God
Ta da! I impressed you. Success! You’ve totally made my night.
Julie Seagle
And you’ve made mine.
Finn is God
Enjoy the rest of break. Really. You’re lucky to have your mom.
Julie Seagle
Will consider it.
**********