Going to see Carl

John and his mother settle in for a meal together, with the absence of his father they were free to talk about themselves in the context of having to pretend to be each other, John and Sally having a real respect for the other for pulling off being each other without major issues. Finally Sally breaks the good news, "So I was speaking to Hannah today and we're kinda dating now", John smiled knowingly "Hannah kept up her end of the deal" John thought, "that's great news!" John replied the weirdness of congratulating someone else for getting him a girlfriend not being lost on him. All while this was going on the text that Carl sent him still hung over his head like a sword of Damocles, John couldn't put his finger on why but he was getting really bad vibes from the text despite it not having any overt things to be concerned about.

They finish up their food, and John tells his mother he has an errand to run "Ok honey, don't be out too late" his mother said still doting on him even now he was in her position. "Don't worry mum, I shouldn't be long. I'll be home before dad is" and with that John gathered his things and drove to Sam's house, He knew that Sam had football practice on Tuesdays so it would just be Carl and Linda so this really would be a meeting of parents. "He probably just wants to talk about something minor, they're friendly with my parents so it's just gonna be boring parent stuff" John thinks as he drives through the suburbs towards his friends house.

As John pulls up at Sam's house he notices Carl's car is gone, "hmm weird is he not in? Maybe Linda took the car somewhere because no way Carl would ask me to talk face to face and then just leave" John walks up the path and knocks on the door, his nerves were going haywire. There is some brief shuffling before Carl answers the door, "Ah Sally come in thank you for coming" he says stepping aside to let John in, "Of course" John says as he walks in to the house sitting on the couch in the living room "is Linda home?" Carl follows John in "No she's out... It's for the best really this is something I think should just be between us" he states matter of factly, John's blood freezes in his veins immediately he thinks the worst he'd had a feeling of dread all day and now he was feeling vindicated, "relax John, this is just us panicking let's find out what this is first before we jump to conclusions" John thinks reassuring himself. "Oh what is it you wish to talk about?" John says trying desperately to sound calm and collected but he cannot hide the undertone of fear in his voice. Carl pulls out his phone "This" he states turning his phone to face John.