Modern Holes Ch 01 1

"Guess what Roach" Said the looming personification of dumb jock energy. "We get to do the senior chem project together."

"It's Roché" Francis mumbled, enunciating the two syllables Roh and Shay, before speaking up at a more normal tone of voice. "Oh, what fun, Chad."

"Yeah man!" Chad slammed down into the chair beside Francis. "Glad to have you. Gonna pass through this no problem now that you're here."

The slap on Francis' back was heartfelt and bone shaking. Chad really should consider that, not everyone was a high school football linebacker. In fact, Chad should have realized that Francis was possibly the furthest thing from a linebacker that someone could be.

"Can't hang around too much after class to help though." Chad continued. "Coach says we can't miss practice. This year we're going to state he says. So I'm counting on you to make sure we don't fail class, and I can keep travelling with the team."

"Sure thing Chad." Francis groaned from the bruise that was surely spreading under his shirt. "I'll make sure you pass. Get you those participation points and everything."

"My man!" Chad was already dragging his chem book out of his bag and onto the table. The book in question still having it's protective shrink wrap on showed how much it had been used and how much work Francis should expect from Chad for the chem project.

Class was starting soon, and Francis could see that Chad was already checked out mentally. Still had that look of concentration on his face though. Probably a reflexive safety measure to prevent the teacher from calling on him often. At least he looked like he was paying attention.

As the teacher walked in, Francis gingerly rubbed his shoulder. He was eighteen. There were only nine more months of high school left. Just had to get through all of this. Get into University. Get out of this town. And his life could truly begin. Long term goals and all that.

But before that could start. Chemistry demanded Francis' attention. At least one of them would have to know what's going on for the project to succeed.

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Lunch was the standard weekly affair of rubberized hamburgers, fries that weren't truly soggy but just close enough to being so, and on the recommendation of Francis' mother, milk, because it helped build strong bones, according to her. Just enough food to keep an 18 year old teenager from starving, but not so much as to make them full. The exact government subsidized amount that $4.50 would buy.

With the soft thud of a full lunch bag, Francis was joined at the table. "I don't see how you can stomach that every day?"

"It's cheap, mostly filling, and I don't have to cook it myself, Maddie." Francis shoved his butt over a smidge to make room for Maddie on the bench seat of the cafeteria table. "I see that you've brought your own, again, today. What ya got?"

Standing over the table, Maddie opened her bag with a flourish. "Well today my favourite friend. We have quite the magical selection." Ah, this whole shtick once again. Maddie did fancy herself quite the witch.

"First off. Contained within these loaves is the flesh of a most fearsome beast, the head of a mandrake, fruits taken from my secret garden, the unborn offspring of a dinosaur, and of course eye of newt." A BLT sandwich with mustard and mayo.

"These next being's were first stripped of their flesh then kept in boiling oil for a thousand years before finally being trapped in this mystic cage." Bag of potato chips, original flavour.

"And finally, while it's secret has been lost to time, this witches brew has been known to provide everlasting life!" Can of coke.

The sandwich was, large, to put a not so fine point on it. Francis could see how Maddie had become the 'growing girl' she currently was. The kind of girl that plump was a perfect description for. However it paired well with her frizzy red hair, green eyes, and pale Irish skin.

"Aha, quite the haul." Francis eyed the potato chips. "Spare some fried beings for a poor impoverished child?"

"Since you ask so nicely, sure." Maddie plopped down onto the bench and ripped open the chips. "How're thing going?"

"Oh they're going." Francis plucked a chip from the bag. "Just got informed that I'm paired up with Chad for the senior chem project."

Maddie winced as she was picking up her sandwich. "Chadwick Larue? Football enthusiast?"

"The one and the same." Francis gave a light chuckle and ate the chip. "So I'm thinking that I'll have to do the whole thing myself. I might get lucky and he'll help if he gets injured during practice or something. Or maybe that's just a different kind of bad luck."

Maddie was tearing into her sandwich with gusto. "Wouldn't worry about it too much. At least people will know you did all the work." Maddie was chewing thoughtfully for a minute. "Guess who I got paired with"

"Sally." The immediate first guess, Maddie's friend. Nice enough girl, bit mouse like and wearing thick glasses most of the time. A potato chip suddenly appeared in Francis' hand.

"I wish." Maddie took a sip from her red 'witches brew' coke can. "But apparently the teacher had been watching who we were working with usually, and paired us up to, and I quote 'Get you used to working with people you usually don't, like the real world will.'"

"So if not Sally, who then?" Francis could imagine that his own assignment with Chad had been done in a similar way. The two of them had barely talked before then. Another chip acquired.

"Eveline Veradera, if you can believe it." Maddie made this comment with a casual nonchalance that belied the enormity of it.

"Eve?!" Francis was gobsmacked. "The Eve that is currently leading the preppiest clique you could imagine at school? The Eve that is dating quarterback Bill? The Eve that is apparently, as you say, 'too pretty for her own good'. That Eve?"

There were a few angry chewing motions as Maddie finished her current mouthful of food. A scowl had crossed her face. "Yes, that Eve, and how do you know so much about her?"

"You!" Francis was amused at the accusation. "I think half of those facts were told to me, by you. The other half by good ol powers of observation." Francis gestured across the cafeteria towards where Eve was seemingly holding court. Surrounded by a gaggle of hanger ons and sycophants vying for her attention.

"Yeah well, she's my partner for chem." Maddie returned to her sandwich. "So I think I'm going to be in the same boat as you on this. She's 'too busy' to contribute much apparently. Got some 'things' going on. I'm just not going to get any of the 'credit' like you will, as Ms. Super Student there will probably swoop in at the last moment, sign her name, and the teacher will believe anything she says."

"So you thinking what I'm thinking then?" Francis snuck another potato chip, his own food long since finished. "We work on it together because our assigned partners can't be bothered?"

"Yeah that was what I was hoping you'd suggest when I sat down." Maddie ate the final few bites of the BLT. "My place after school?"

"And here I was thinking it was our life long friendship that brought you here to me." Francis took a final pinch of chips as he stood up. "My payment, in advance."

"Yeah yeah, see you there for five." Maddie reached for the potato chips only to find that there were hardly any left at all. "Hey!" But Francis was already out of arms reach and cackling.

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It was five p.m. and Francis was making the walk to Maddies house. He was lugging along the bulging backpack filled with books that they'd need to do the chem work. This gruelling walk provided ample time for Francis to really consider his life choices regarding Maddie and why he was willing to do as much as he does for her.

They'd been friends since forever it seemed. A playground romance of "We're married now." declaration from Maddie at the age of four had been met with "OK, I'll be Batman." from Francis. From then on they were inseparable, or at least unable to get away from each other, as their parents constantly made them meet up for play dates.

He'd been there for all of the phases. Punk rebellion, Goth drama, pink princess, and the darkest of times, when Maddie thought she would be a Broadway star. The echoes of her attempts at hitting the high notes still ringing in his ears to this day.

And she had been there for all of his as well. Comic book nerd, wrestling manic, clean cut straight edge, and even his current attempts at growing out his hair. He was too busy applying to schools to have much of a personality shift beyond 'yes I would be good at studying, this scholarship would be very helpful please.'

Finally arriving at the door and ringing the bell, Francis was greeted by Maddies Mother. "Hello Mrs. Callahan."

"Well hey there Francis. Come on in." With a bright smile on her face, Mrs. Callahan ushered Francis inside their home. "Madeline is down in her room right now. She said you'd be dropping by for..." She gave the single most exaggerated wink that he'd ever seen up to that point. "Chemistry homework."

Not one to rise to the bait, Francis was a bit more even with his tone than usual. "Yes, Chemistry, and nothing else."

Smile not slipping an inch, Mrs. Callahan made her way to the kitchen. "Dinner's going to be ready in an hour, but bring down these snacks as you go. Gotta keep that energy up for studying." She gestured at a tray filled with chips, soda, and a cut up apple. A peace offering. Somewhat ruined by the strange emphasis on 'studying'. A valiant effort at least.

Francis kicked off his shoes, scooped up the tray, and descended into 'the witches lair' as Maddie was calling her room these days. "Hey Maddie, I'm here." he called out while stepping down the stairs.

The basement had been made much more livable as Maddie had outgrown her original room. Her parents had wanted a room for an office. Maddie wanted more space. A win win situation all around.

Maddie was currently rocking a bunch of Spirit Halloween stock on the walls of her basement abode. Many symbols of the occult (plastic), ancient tomes of knowledge (D&D books), and devious devices of magic (dozens of collectible toys) adorned the walls and shelves. The space that she had gained from the move a few years back was slowly being lost to the multitudes of stuff she was acquiring from each phase of her life.

"That you Francis?" Maddie called out from below. Francis made the final few steps down to find her laying on her bed reading a book. "Ah yes, I see. And you come bearing gifts as befitting your betters."

Francis chuckled and put the snack tray on her desk, pushing some pens and a cup to the side while doing so. "Yes oh mistress of the night. Sustenance for our mighty efforts. Also your Mom said dinner's in an hour."

Maddie laid down her book and rolled off the bed to join Francis at her desk. "Thanks for coming by, this'll be so much easier with us working together."

"Oh I know." Francis offloaded his backpack and drew out the assignment paper and chemistry book. "Twice as many hands, half as much work."

The two of them bent their heads to the work. Discussions were had. Pencils were scraped. Snacks were consumed. All too soon the hour had passed and they were jolted out of their studious reverie by the call of "Madeline, Francis, dinner time!" coming from Mrs. Callahan up the stairs.

The two of them stretched. The kinks in their backs and neck from sitting in one place for so long being worked out with a couple of grateful groans. Books were closed, stowed, and they both made their way upstairs to dinner.

The house had acquired it's final member as the two teens made their way to the dining room. "Hello Mr. Callahan." Francis called out to match Maddies "Hey Dad."

Mr. Callahan gave a friendly "Hey kids." back to them. "So you're working on Chemistry together huh?" Eyebrows were waggled, which considering he had some extremely bushy red eyebrows, was a lot of waggle.

"Oh don't antagonize them." Mrs. Callahan tutted her husband as she brought in the first dish. "Besides, I made that same joke when Francis first walked in."

"Oh I knew, it's a good joke." Mr. Callahan started serving the food. "That's why I also had to make it."

Maddie had rolled her eyes as hard as she possibly could at her parents antics. Francis knew that if he gave them an inch, they would take a mile, mostly at his expense. So the best possible strategy was to divert their attention elsewhere.

"How was work Mr. Callahan?" Francis accepted a plate of food and started cutting into it. The safe familiar dinner topics would provide ample distraction.

As the boilerplate answers and conversation came up around them, a calm descended upon the family. This was standard, regular, normal. It was comforting.

The food disappeared quickly enough. Tasty, filling, and served in portions that left you full to bursting. This was not a household where leftovers lasted long. Francis was always happy to help put a dent in such a meal, even when that dent never put a pound onto his frame.

As Mr. and Mrs. Callahan finished their plates, Francis and Maddie did their chores and started cleaning up. Mostly moving now empty and dirty dishes from the dining table to the dishwasher.

Mrs. Callahan looked her husband straight in the eyes. "Darling, how about we go see a movie?"

Mr. Callahan looked mildly befuddled. "But there's nothing I... Ow." His shin had been kicked under the table. "Of course dear."

Francis looked over at Maddie to ask as they were loading the dish washing machine. "So is there much more we can do on the project right now? I could catch a ride home when they leave."

Maddie took a plate from Francis. "Yeah there's one or two more things we need to finish up with."

Francis raised an eyebrow. "But we filled out... Ow." Maddie had kicked his shin in a very familiar fashion. "Ah right, yeah now I remember."

Mrs. Callahan got up from the table. "Well now. I'll go get myself ready. You two stay here and finish your project. We'll be back after the movie."

A few minutes later Mr. Callahan gave a huff and got up from the table. "Shouldn't be more than a couple of hours." He walked to the door and pulled on a jacket. "Stay safe, work hard, don't do anything I wouldn't do."

Joining her husband, Mrs. Callahan slipped on her shoes. "Have fun kids." She practically dragged Mr. Callahan through the door and out to their car.

With the dishwasher finally loaded. Maddie pressed the start button as Francis stared out at the retreating backs of the Callahan's. He could see them clinging to each other, heads pressed together as they walked.

"They're... less than subtle, aren't they?" Francis spoke over the loud noise of dishes being washed as he leaned back against the counter top.

Maddie just raised her hands and let them drop in exasperation. She walked towards the basement door and down into her room. Francis took the hint and followed.

As they descended, Francis asked. "So what were you planning on doing? I'm certain we've done what we can on the project for now."

"Ah, you see my favourite minion." Maddie started rooting around her room for various doodads.

"Oh I'm a minion now?" Francis took a seat on the chair he had been using before.

"Always were. Always will be." Maddie had gathered a collection of candles and chalk. "Now be a good minion and move that carpet so we can get underneath it.

Francis rolled his eyes while also rolling up the area rug Maddie had indicated. Underneath was bare concrete still cool to the touch.

"I take it we're doing another witch ritual?" Francis moved the rolled up rug off to the side. "What's this one going to be about?"

Maddie had gotten on her hands and knees, chalk in hand, to start sketching symbols on the ground. "All will be revealed in good time." she said while concentrating on drawing.

The symbols were complex looking. Mostly straight edged runes that were beginning to form a curve that would eventually become a circle if Francis had to guess.

Not even a quarter of the way around the circle, Maddie rested for a minute but had a look of concentration on her face. "So what do you think about your project partner?"

"Chad?" Francis scratched at his chin. "Nice enough guy. Bit 'focused' on what he does. Very physical with how he talks to people." Francis could still feel the sting of that back slap earlier today. "But basically a lapdog kind of person."

"Think he'll be much trouble with the project?" Maddie kept her gaze on the runes she was in the middle of drawing. Pointing with her hand and tracing in the air what was supposed to come next.

"Oh no trouble at all." Francis leaned back in his chair. "Get his signature in class, teach him how to read a slide or two for the presentation. Easy peasy."

There was a pause in the air for a minute. Maddie finished thinking about what to draw next and got back to making marks on the basement concrete. Francis watched her somewhat intense concentration.

"How about your partner?" Francis broke the silence with a question that caused Maddie to twitch and scratch a chalk mark too long.

Cursing under her breath as she rubbed out the offending mark. "Eve... yeah." Maddie started chalking once again. "She's going to be a handful if I don't get it just right. At least she'll be open to doing some work together."

Maddie chalked for a bit longer before standing up and moving to her bed. She reached for that book she had been reading when Francis first walked in earlier that day. As she picked it up, she turned to Francis. "I don't know really though. Eve's all... above us ya know? Like she's royalty or something."

Francis snorted. "No ones royalty out here. I bet Eve has just watched too many movies about how high school is supposed to be and forgets how it actually is."

"Yeah well, that's not exactly what I'm worried about." Maddie leafed through her book and became engrossed in one of the pages.

With a certain amount of concern, Francis leaned forward in his chair. "One, what are you worried about? And two, what book is that?"

Deliberately ignoring the first question. "This is my latest and greatest grimoire!" Madde held up the black bound book. It was covered in occult symbols and sported a locking clasp.

Francis eyed the book a bit closer. "Is that a 'Pretty Pink Princess Pratty' diary you painted black?"

Maddie gained a bit of red colour to her face and averted her eyes. "They're still good notebooks. My parents just bought me a few too many at the time."

"Right, but you're still avoiding the more important question. What's got you so worried?" Francis had a bit more concern etched on his face. He felt it was somewhat unusual for Maddie to avoid things like this.

Maddie fidgeted in place. The grimoire/diary had it's pages ruffled. "I just... Do you think Eve's pretty?" she stared directly into Francis' face.

Francis froze. This was a trap, a minefield.

"I... think..." Francis gauged his words carefully. "That Eve is a... person who prides herself... on her makeup skills." Safe neutrality.

Maddie cocked her head to the side. "So you like how her face looks?"

A deep pit of despair opened up within Francis. "I think the average person would call her pretty." He had attempted the same even tone he used with her mother.

"What about the rest of her?" Maddie asked almost innocently.

Francis crossed his arms. "There are many fine things I could say about her." Things he would never say out loud, and especially not to Maddie.

"Oh so she's 'fine' now is she?" Maddie sprung the trap.

"Yes Dammit." Francis thought internally. "She's probably the single greatest night time dream of every guy in the school. A veritable cheerleader bombshell sexpot."

But what he actually said, through gritted teeth, was. "No comment."