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Chapter Thirty Six

Frank

Frank stirred and rolled over before letting out a bone rattling yawn.

Marcus was already awake and reading something on his phone.

"Morning," Frank said, letting out another yawn.

"Morning," Marcus repeated flatly without looking up from his phone.

Frank sighed inwardly, sensing that Marcus was still not over the argument they'd had before bedtime. He propped himself up on the pillows and wondered what to make for breakfast. His stomach let out a rumble, answering his question.

He stretched again before climbing out of bed.

"I'm off to find something to eat," Frank explained.

"Here or at your place?" Marcus asked, briefly glancing up.

"I was thinking my place."

"Ugh, I don't want to get up," Marcus yawned. "I think I slept for like three hours. You'd better make sure the delinquent isn't stealing anything."

Frank was about to say it's your house, you'd better check, but he decided to keep his muzzle shut.

Instead, he pulled his bathrobe on and made his way down the hallway to investigate.

The door to the guest bedroom was shut. Frank cocked an ear towards it before gently knocking.

"Hey, Gareth. Are you awake?"

There was the faint sound of sheets rustling and someone yawning.

"Yeah!" a voice called groggily.

"Are you decent?"

"Huh?" Gareth replied.

"Is it okay for me to come in?" Frank asked, rephrasing his question.

"Yes."

Frank eased the door open and was greeted with the sight of Gareth sitting on the bed naked and texting on his phone.

"Gareth!" Frank sighed, closing the door slightly. "I asked if you were clothed or not."

"You asked if I was decent," the husky complained.

"It means the same thing!" Frank growled.

"Okay! Okay, I'm putting some clothes on."

Frank waited until Gareth announced he was ready before opening the door again.

The husky was perched on the end of the bed wearing a Captain America t-shirt and denim shorts.

"What's for breakfast?" Gareth asked with a cheeky grin.

"Well, there's not much here," Frank sighed. "I might look elsewhere."

"We could go to Benny's," Gareth grinned.

"Where?"

"It's a small stand near the motorway junction that sells bacon sandwiches," the husky explained.

"Yeah, I know the place," Frank replied. "What makes you think of a roadside van of all places?"

"Oliver and me used to drive there when we were in sixth form in his mum's car," Gareth explained. "I'll pay!"

"Okay," Frank said with an amused grin. "I'll see if I can persuade Marcus."

He closed the door and made his way down the hallway. Marcus had fallen back asleep, his phone was vibrating across the sheets as new text messages flooded in. Frank watched as the phone vibrated along until it fell onto the carpet with a dull thump.

Frank rolled his eyes before closing the door.

His clothes were still downstairs next to the inflatable bed and he hurried down to dress himself.

He was just pulling a t-shirt on as Gareth made his way down the stairs.

"Ready?" Frank asked. Gareth nodded and Frank led them outside. "We're going to have to take my truck, which is back at my place."

"Are we walking there?" Gareth asked in a tone of disbelief.

"Yes," Frank laughed. "We walk around the village enough as it is, so a short trip to my house won't kill you."

"Oh, yeah, I just miss being able to cycle," Gareth laughed nervously as they walked along.

"Well, I think I'm too big to ride on the handlebars sadly."

As Frank had assured him, the walk didn't take long and Frank unlocked his truck. They climbed in and drove off with Gareth giving directions.

"You have to turn left when we reach that weird tree," the husky said.

"Weird tree?"

"The one that looks like a giant cock."

Frank raised an eyebrow.

"Yup, I can tell you're still a teenager," he said, trying to suppress a laugh. Gareth splayed his ears. "And don't worry, I used to make the same joke about that tree when I was younger."

They reached the turning with the aforementioned tree and Frank noticed a pair of ... putting up a yellow sign. Frank made out the words Little Hartbrook Village Festival as they drove by.

"Do you think it's a yellow sign to reference the cheese?" Gareth asked.

"Oh don't mention that to me again," Frank sighed.

"Sorry."

"It's okay, it's just not my cup of tea," Frank explained in the most reassuring tone he could muster.

Gareth nodded and remained silent.

They kept driving until they reached the layby where the Benny's van sat. Frank moved to open the door but Gareth gestured for him to stop.

"I can get it," the husky offered.

Frank felt surprised.

"Do you have any money?" he asked.

"Of course," Gareth said as he climbed out.

Frank watched with mild amusement as Gareth walked up to the van and was served by a plump looking bear.

The husky hurried back to the truck with two wrapped bacon sandwiches. He opened the passenger door and handed one to Frank.

"Thank you," Frank said as he took it.

He unwrapped the paper and took a bite. The sandwich wasn't too bad; the bacon was crispy without tasting burnt and the bread itself didn't taste cheap.

Gareth wasn't attacking his as if he had gone feral and soon the young husky was licking crumbs from his paws.

"Delicious," he grinned before letting out a belch.

"That's attractive," Frank said, taking another bite of his. "That's not the sort of thing you should do on a first date."

"That sounds like something my mum would say to me."

"It would be wise advice if she did," Frank replied as he finished his sandwich. "Are you and her close?"

"Kind of," Gareth sighed. "Not-dad has mostly stolen her away. We used to be closer when it was just us living together."

"Hmm, yeah that is sad," Frank reasoned. "I remember when my step-dad first moved in I wasn't happy, although we got on well enough afterwards."

"I'm not sure I'll ever get on with not-dad," Gareth said, pulling a face. "He's a weirdo and a creep."

"In the last few days I've been finding myself on the same page as you," Frank nodded. "Now, shall we head back to the village?"

Gareth nodded and Frank started the engine.

He wondered what their plan for the day should be as they drove off.

Have Gareth spy on Anthony would be a good plan, but that would mean convincing a nervous husky to go back into the danger zone.

Gareth seemed to sense Frank's thoughts.

"Do you want me to go back to Arse, I mean Anthony's house?"

"Only if you are willing," Frank replied.

"You won't spank me if I don't?"

Frank responded with a sly grin which turned into a sympathetic laugh as Gareth shivered nervously.

"No, you got us breakfast, so there's no threat of that now," he chuckled. "But you're best placed to see what Anthony is up to."

"He won't murder me will he?"

Frank was about to say no, but he paused, given that Anthony had implied (at least via Gareth anyway) that he had thought of burning down the Mansfield house.

"No," Frank eventually said. "As I say, I think that was only a figure of speech expressed in frustration."

"Okay," Gareth breathed. "I dunno, maybe I will go back if I feel safe."

"Good idea, and remember your mum is there too, even if Anthony holds influence over her, she's still your mum, and when all this is over, you can go to university and have fun."

Gareth nodded as Frank spoke.

"I'm still sad Ralph has gone," he sighed.

"Maybe you'll meet someone nice at university?" Frank said, putting on the most encouraging tone he could. "I'm sure you'll have the time of your life there."

"Maybe," Gareth sighed.

"I mean I went to an agricultural college in the middle of nowhere and still had a great time," Frank reasoned.

"I'm off to a big city," Gareth said.

"Well, in that case it'll be a culture shock and an adventure coming from a smaller community," Frank replied. "But like a lot of things in life, you have to grab it by the horns."

"Hmm, perhaps I will see it as an adventure," Gareth said, mustering what sounded like an attempt at an enthusiastic tone.

"That's the spirit!"

Frank drove them back to Honeysuckle Lodge and parked outside.

"Can I stay here for a bit, before I go back to Arse, I mean Anthony's?" Gareth asked.

"Sure, if Marcus is okay with it," Frank replied, feeling somewhat amused.

They climbed out of the truck and Frank led Gareth to the front door.

Frank let them in and noticed Marcus had dragged himself out of bed and was sitting at the kitchen table wearing a pair of pyjama shorts.

"You're alive!" Frank joked. Marcus responded with a grunt and a shrug. "I'm just making a joke," Frank continued. "What's up?"

"Just tired," Marcus sighed. "I think I slept for what, like an hour last night."

Frank noticed that Gareth was hiding behind him, and he had an inkling Marcus was not_tired,_ more not happy with Gareth being in the house.

"I'm sorry," Frank shrugged, before an idea hit his mind. "I need to go and look at supplies for the kitchen anyway, Gareth would you like to come along?"

"Um, sure," Gareth replied, looking surprised.

"For the kitchen?" Marcus asked.

"Yes, the counter tops I told you about," Frank explained. "To replace the Formica crap."

"Oh, right."

"Come along Gareth," Frank said, gesturing for the husky to follow.

They made their way down the hall and out of the front door.

"What's his problem?" Gareth asked as they reached the truck.

Frank resisted the temptation to say I don't think he's comfortable with someone who stole his things being in the house.

_ _ "Just tired," he said instead. "So, how much do you know about counter tops?"

"Nothing whatsoever."

"Well then young man, this will be a good education for you," Frank grinned as they climbed into his truck.

"You sound like my geography teacher," Gareth sighed. "He says the same thing."

"Mr Gough?"

"Yeah, how did you know?" Gareth asked in a confused tone.

"Because I had him at school too," Frank explained. "Gosh, I'd have thought he'd be retired by now, or dead."

"Nope, he's still going," Gareth sighed. "Or was when I left. I forgot you would have gone to the same school."

"Everyone around here does," Frank said as he started the engine.

They drove through the village and out towards the motorway. Gareth gazed out of the window in silence. Frank decided to turn the radio on to the local station.

A nineties girl band song he vaguely recognised filled the truck and he tapped his paws against the steering wheel as they drove along.

"Do you like this music?" Gareth asked.

"Not really," Frank grinned as he turned the radio back off. "What do you like to listen to?"

"Um, lots of stuff, it depends on my mood," Gareth said nervously. "Can I ask a question?"

"Of course."

"Were you hitting on me by asking that?"

Frank felt confused for a moment, but then he burst out laughing and almost swerved the truck off the road.

"Oh, my god, I'm sorry," Frank wheezed and panted.

"Oh," Gareth mumbled as he splayed his ears.

"I don't mean to mock you," Frank said as he tried to catch his breath. "Why did you ask that?"

"Isn't that the sort of question people ask on dates?" Gareth asked defensively.

"In the movies, yes," Frank replied, still spluttering with laughter. "I need to keep you around, you're very entertaining."

"Uh, thanks," Gareth grumbled. "I suppose being mocked is better than being spanked."

"Which I haven't ruled out," Frank teased.

"I hope that's a joke."

"You'll have to wait and see," Frank said with wink. "Perhaps if you help me choose a decent counter top I'll let you off, and before you ask that was a joke."

"Oh, heh, I hope I can," Gareth said, relaxing slightly.

The counter supply place was a half an hour drive from Little Hartbrook and located in a light industrial unit between a place that sold electronics and a cake factory.

Frank pulled the truck up to the entrance and glanced at the door.

"Damn," he sighed.

"What is it?"

"They're closed," Frank huffed. "They're usually open today, what gives?"

"We could go to the cake place instead?" Gareth asked in a hopeful tone.

"They're closed too."

"Fuck."

"Yup, fuck indeed," Frank muttered. "Anyway, we could head back to Little Hartbrook. Mr Peterson wanted me to look at his living room which he wants remodelled, and then..." Frank trailed off with a dramatic flourish.

"And then what?"

"And then I think some snooping should be in order."

"Snooping?"

"Yes, on your not-dad."

Gareth responded with an audible gulp.