California Memories -

You grew up with two best friends - James Maslow and Patricia Fade. When James moved to LA to pursue his career, there's nothing more you miss than him. But when James comes back home to visit for the summer who knows what's in store.

Chapter One:

"I heard there's a sale on Beach Bench. 50% of everything in the store," Patricia said, skipping next to me.

I sighed as I tied my hair up in a high pony tail, feeling coolness on my bare neck. "Are they closing or what?" I asked as I walked up the driveway of my house.

Patricia shrugged. "Who cares? It's times like this where you don't question it."

"I'm home," I shouted as I walked up the front steps to my house. I opened the front door and wiped sweat off my brow. The sun was shining bright today and it was only the 15th of July. Patricia followed in behind me before I closed the door and flung myself on the couch.

My mom appears at the doorway of our kitchen and smiles at me. She wipes her hands on her apron before leaning on the side. "Charlie, I'm glad you're home. Ah, Patricia, you're here too. This is great."

"Pat's always with me, Mom," I wrinkled my nose. "What's - "

"There's someone here for the summer who wants to see you two," my mom says, the grin not leaving her face.

I looked over to Patricia and bit my lip nervously. "We didn't do anything wrong the past year or so, did we?" I asked quietly under my breath.

"I don't think so," she whispered back. Her eyes sudden widen and I turned around to see a tall, fit brunette stand next to my mom. "Dibs," Patricia whispered to me. I was too in awe to shoot her a glare.

He had hazel eyes, his brown hair was softly tousled as he stood there, smiling and showing us his perfect pearls. He wore a tight tank top, just tight enough for me to see the top of his abs.

"Uh, hi," I said lamely. There was no way I knew him or he knew me. No absolutely fucking way. He looked like a frigging Goddess!

"He's staying here for the summer and I suggested for him to stay at our house since we're kind of like family." Family? No no no. I didn't want him to be family. I wanted him to be my boyf -

"Hey CJ," he smiles again then shifts his glance over to Patricia. "Hey Pat."

CJ. It stood for Charlotte Johnson - my full name. But … only one person called me that and that one person moved to LA and became a singer in a band but - I stopped short looked back at the brunette with wide eyes. "James?" I whispered.

"Did you forget me or something? What, did you find another guy in your life?" He laughs walking over to us and giving me a big hug. I immediately felt insecure because here he was, one of my childhood friends looking finer than ever and I was sweating like a kid at the beach. Darn California and the hot sun. I probably smelt like a dead horse on August whereas he smelt like … heaven.

"Woah, woah, woah." Patricia held up a hand. "James? The James who could scarf down five pies in five minutes?"

"The one and only," James replied, nodding. "In the flesh."

"Boy, what happened to you?" Patricia asked, eyebrow raised as he gave her a hug. James laughs again before looking at both of us.

"You guys don't look too bad yourself."

"Why don't the three of you head out to the porch while I make some lemonade?" My mom speaks, reminding me we weren't alone.

"More than happy to," James said, his eyes gleaming as he wrapped his arms around the two of us. "C'mon, let's go talk about our memories together."

James opened the door and I walked out, the sun beaming on me once again. I sighed as I sat down on the porch steps. James sat down next to me where as Patricia sat on the step below.

I grew up on California with James and Patricia by my side. I had met Patricia first with her mother and my mother meeting at the shopping mart. I still remember the way how I watched from behind my mother as she stood in the shopping cart, carefree and loud. Patricia, being the bold one, came over one day when I was out on the porch playing with my dolls.

"Nice Barbie," she had said.

"Thanks," I mumbled.

She sat down, dusted off imaginary lint off her pink polka dotted dress and pulled out her own doll instead. "But my Daisy Barbie is much better." So yeah, Patricia was kind of prissy and sassy ever since we were young.

James, however is a different story.

I was swinging on the swing in the park when James sat down on the swing next to me. He smiled at me before he pumped his legs, the swing and wind bringing him higher. He was ten around that time and I could help but stare at him with interest until he noticed. He stopped his swing, his sandals scraping the sand until he came to a complete stop.

Unlike most people who would have gave me a weird look and went off somewhere else, James looked at me with great kindness and smiled. "Hi."

"Hi."

"I'm James."

"I'm Charlotte."

He looked at me with his big brown eyes then extended his hand. "Nice to meet cha'."

"You look familiar," I pointed out.

"I'm in the San Diego Opera's production of La bohème," he replied, beaming.

Then Patricia pushed herself off the slide, walked over to me and shoved me off the swing. Meeting James was almost something I liked to call a miracle. To grow up alongside someone so confidant, so sure he was going to become famous.

I still remember how in ninth grade and we were starting high school, James called me up with good news. "I got a agent!" James had exclaimed.

"For what?" I asked.

"So I can go into an acting career. Isn't that just great?"

"I guess," I replied.

Next thing I knew, he had told me he wasn't attending grade 10. I was in my room, flicking through the TV as James told me over the phone his news.

"Why not?" I asked, frowning. "We were supposed to graduate together. You know, throw our hats up in the air and everything. Together."

"I'm going to become an actor, CJ. Just watch me," he exclaimed.

James had big dreams and he believed that if you tried hard enough, you could do anything.

Then was the day he decided to go to LA. We stood outside my house, his car on the road, all packed up and ready to go. He had drove by to say one last goodbye. We stood on the sidewalk, my heart pounding.

"One day, you'll see me on TV, CJ," James said, his grin wide. "I can promise you that."

"I'll miss you," I whispered.

"Me too," he said before he leaned down and kissed me on my cheek. He got in the car and left me there to recover from my broken heart all alone. I always was afraid he'd one day get bored with me and leave. And when he finally did, watching him leave was the most painful thing.

"So," James says, slapping his knee. "What have you two been up to since I was gone? Catch me up." He smiled.

"Um, well - " I started.

"I learned how to surf," Patricia interrupted.

James raises an eyebrow. "Really? That's impressive. You were such a klutz growing up." He looks over to me. "Do you remember when she cut off her crush's hair in seventh grade?"

I laugh, the memories flooding back. "What was his name? Matt … Mark … "

"Matthew!" James exclaims, making us dissolve in laughter.

"Okay, that is so the past." Patricia waves us off. "Anyways, last time I remember, you weren't always a surf God."

James nods, as his laughter dies off. He clears his throat. "Well, I'll have you know some girls I met when I was coming here asked for surfing lessons."

"You already went surfing?" I asked, frowning. He could have at least waited.

"Actually, not. The girls just assumed I did." He shrugged. "They assume everyone in Cali surfs. Do you?" He asks me.

"Um, well, actually - "

"No, she doesn't. She watched me when I learnt too. She's kind of a priss." Patricia rolls her eyes.

"Um, hello. I'm right here," I say, raising my eyebrow. The thing with Pat is that she acts all high-class when someone she likes or is good looking. I sometimes why I'm friends with her.

"So what were you planning to do over the summer?" James asked.

"Work?" I suggested, proud that I had at least one word into the conversation.

"Work?" James frowned. "Over the summer?"

"I need the money. Not everyone has money like you. I have school you know. University? Ever heard of a textbook? Those things cost tons." I raised an eyebrow.

"Alright, touché." James held his hands up in the air.

Patricia waved me off. "She's such a pain in the ass with her studies."

"Hey, don't say that about CJ. She's cute," James defends, hugging me close. Cute. Babies with snot and ice cream all over them were cute. Animals were cute. I didn't want to be cute. I wanted to be beautiful. I watched Pat's eyes flicker then shrugged. She got up and walked down my driveway.

"I've got things to do," she says as she walks off. "I'll leave you two love birds alone."

James didn't exactly hurry after her but instead he watched her leave. I watch as she climbed onto her blue bike and pedaled off home. I snuck a glance at James to see his reaction and he shrugged. "Being friends with Patricia, I learned something."

"And that is?"

"She has a short anger fuse and it's best to let her calm down on her own. I don't get why she got so upset though," James said, making me roll my eyes. Guys really were idiots. "Well, forget her."

"So, tell me about your adventure so far," I said, interested on what was about to come out of his mouth.