Chapter One
Eleven years later...
James walks down the hallway of his school with excitement filling his chest. It was only a week away from his high school career being over, and then he will be off to New York City for NYU in the fall. "Hey, James!" Some one yells from behind. James turns around with a big cheeky grin.
"Hey!" James yells back with laughter as his friend walks up to him. "This is it, Griff!" James exclaims overwhelmed with joy.
"It is..." Griffin says while he looks off in the distance. James looks towards what he's starring at.
"What are you starring at?" James asks confused.
"Memories, my friend. Memories." James looks at his friend concerned for his mental health. "Don't look at me like I'm crazy." Griffin says while they walk out of the school, and into the parking lot. Seniors got out two hours earlier than everyone else. James walks up to his truck while he listens to his friend go on and on about the past events. James nods his head while he opens his door to his truck to throw his back pack in the back seat.
"You really think that we will be remembered when we leave?" James asks knowing how much his friend focuses on his name and legacy. Griffin scoffs while walking to the passengers side of the F-150. They get into the truck before Griffin says anything else.
"You will be remembered. You are freaking genius." Griffin answers while James turns on the truck. James smirks with pride of the truth. "Not only are you the valedictorian of our graduating class, but you are also a Merit scholar! You got a perfect score on the ACT, first time ever taking it. I still believe you cheated... And! You have a full ride to NYU in the fall because of said scholarships, ACT score, and don't forget soccer. You don't even try half the time..."
"I try..." James says failing to really put emotion behind it. Griffin lets out a irritated sigh. James lets out an amused laugh, "Look, some people are just gifted. You are an amazing soccer player! Not only that, but also a great football player, and baseball player. You got into University of Iowa just fine with your ACT score, and because of your amazing athletic abilities." Griffin smiles knowing he's right.
"Alright, where we going for lunch?" Griffin asks while they drive down the road passing some fast food places.
"Pizza?" He asks while turning onto the main road. Griffin sits back into his seat while he plugs the AUX cord into his phone.
"Yeah, that's fine." Griffin says before turning on some country music that was not James's favorite. James groans when he hears that twangy music blare through his speakers.
"Come on, Griff! Can we listen to something different?" He asks sick of hearing this everything afternoon.
"We are not listening to your rap music that is "poetic". Like I get that you like what the guy has to say about his life, but dude it's depressing." Griffin rebuttals quickly. James smiles broadly at him before defending his taste in music.
"I write that kind of stuff, man!" He exclaims pretending to be offended.
"I know, like I said depressing." Griffin emphasizing on the word depressing. James lets out a snort before giving another option.
"Alright, turn on some classic rock." Griffin eyes light up at the suggestion.
"Yes!" He turns on Bryan Adams 'Summer of '69'. They sing all the way to the pizza place.
James and Griffin walk into the pizza place starving. "Hey, boys!" Jenny, the main waitress, calls out to them. They walk to their normal booth before Jenny walks over to them. "The usual?" She asks while placing two cokes infront of them.
"How do you know what my usual is?" Griffin asks while giving her a wink. Jenny lets out a amused laugh before walking away. James looks at Griffin with a shake of his head.
"You are terrible at jokes." James says while taking sip of his coke.
"You're a joke!" Griffin exclaims before slumping down into his chair. James smirks at his failed attempted come back. "Hey, ladies." Griffin flirts while two girls walk by them.
"Do you flirt with all the girls, Griffin?" The blonde asks stopping infront of their table. Griffin leans on the table trying to be smooth.
"I only flirt with the cute girls." Griffin answers modestly. The girls look at him not impressed.
"What about you James?" The blonde asks while batting her eyes. James looks up at her with a smirk.
"What do you think?" He asks with a wink. The girls let out soft giggles.
"Well, James, you really are something." The blonde flirts back before they walk away. James watches not one bit fazed by their flirtation.
"How?" Griffin mouths amazed. "You always have Claire basically drinking from the palm of your hand."
"Yeah. She's really not my type. I don't know what it is. But she is fun to flirt with." James adds still looking over in the girls direction.
"That's all you do. You're a tease, or at least that's what my sister called you." Griffin says looking off in the distance as if remembering that conversation.
"Your sister was two years older than me, and I was fifteen back then. I mean she flirted with me, I flirted back naturally. She was attractive, and I am not sorry for my actions. It's not like I kissed her, or anything." James defends.
"You know the only person you never flirted with was Cecile." Griffin says with a crooked grin.
"Cecile was my best friend until she moved sophomore year to New York City." James says knowing what Griffin was trying to say.
"I find that ironic. She goes to NYU as well. She's a political science major, or so i saw on social media. And you are going to NYU to go pursue science stuff as well." James shakes his head no at what Griffin just said.
"No, Griff, that's does not add up at all. You do realize that political science is not like chemistry or biology, right?" James asks kind of concerned.
"Pfft, of course I do." Griffin says quickly realizing his mistake. Jenny walks up to them with their pizza topped with vegetables, meats, and tons of cheese.
After James brought Griffin home he went straight home. He was exhausted, and ready to crash on his bed. James pulls up into the drive way to see no other than his adoptive father working on an old 1940's truck. Once James is out of his truck he walks towards Clint. "You got it up and running?" James hollers over to Clint while walking towards him.
"Almost." Clint responds while he looks up from the engine. "Can you grab me that over there?" Clint asks pointing to the red cloth covered with grease, and oil. James hands him the cloth. "How was school?" Clint asks noticing his son's tired eyes.
"It could've been better. It's getting boring since you know Senior's end earlier than everyone else. I don't have to go back to school after tomorrow because I'm exempt from all my classes." James says while leaning on the truck.
"So nothing really new." Clint says with a smirk. James smiles wide at his comment.
"Yeah, nothing new." James agrees with a shrug.
"So isn't there something you need to do before next week?" Clint asks. James thinks trying to think of something, but nothing comes to mind. "Something like write an important speech."
"Oh! I'm going to do it." James says quickly.
"Says the king of procrastination." Clint quips with a chuckle.
"Right... I'm going to do the right now." James says while walking towards the house.
"You mean write it while you sleep?" Clint asks picking on him even more.
"Exactly!" James exclaims with his arms up in the air. "I'm so glad that you understand my God given ability." James laughs before heading inside of his house. He quickly runs up the stairs avoiding another long conversation with Bobbie. He was exhausted. He changes his clothes into some sweat pants, and an old tee before climbing into his queen size bed, and falling asleep hard.
Author Notes: The first chapter of The Sequel is up! I hope you all enjoyed it! :)
-C.R.