I'm actually swamped with school right now, but I stayed up til 3:30 am yesterday writing this.
...And not studying whoops. I'm pretty sure I just failed my Chinese test. Ha. The things I don't do for school sigh~.
But my Boo Sum1cooler's reviews are always so motivating so I couldn't wait any longer!
"So, are you doing anything this afternoon?" Kendall asked as he stuffed the last of his school material into his backpack.
"Nah, it's second semester," James replied, swinging his backpack onto his shoulder. "Why?"
"Just hoping someone could show me around town, or I don't know, do homework with," Kendall shrugged.
"It's second semester," he repeated. "What homework?"
Kendall laughed and pushed James, forcing the taller brunette to crack a smile.
"I'm just kidding," James chuckled quietly. "But, um, if we could not go to my house. I'm not really in the best relationship with either of my parents right now, considering we just got into a huge fight two nights ago that ended up with me stomping out of the house. Then yesterday, I—um, just anyway. We don't get along well, and I just don't want to be in that house right now, regardless of whether they're home or not."
Interesting. A bad family relationship. Kendall nods understandingly. Although James stopped himself before delving deeper into the topic, this proved that he wasn't at home during the murder of Dak.
"That's alright. Know any good ice cream place or something?"
James nodded.
"There's a local ice cream shop that's really good. They sell over thirty flavors of ice cream, and they're all ridiculously good."
Kendall smiled and chirped, "Yeah, okay, that sounds good! Do you want to drive, since you know where it is?"
At this, James visibly stiffened and his facial expression almost looked panicked. Kendall furrowed his eyebrows and gently reached to lay a hand on his shoulder, startling a lost-in-thought James.
"Oh, um, I didn't drive my car to school today."
"That's fine, I'll let you drive mine as long as you have your license with you," Kendall suggested.
"No," he almost immediately refuted. "Uh, I'll just give you directions."
"Well, okay, I guess. I'll drive then."
James' shoulders dropped and he exhaled a breath, his body now much more relaxed than it was seconds ago. Kendall points to the door, silently proposing that they leave now, and James follows him out of the school and into the parking lot to search for the blonde's car. They find the black truck that the precinct had lent Kendall and they climb into it, hitting the road soon after.
"Turn right," James directed to which Kendall obliged to. "So where are you from anyway?"
"I'm from Nebraska," Kendall answered, which wasn't entirely false. He was born in Wichita.
"Cool, what's it like there?"
"Definitely not as fun as Minnesota."
James threw his hands up in the air lamely, a sarcastic gesture.
"Whoo, yeah, Minnesota sure is a party," he deadpanned.
Kendall giggled at the brunette's tone.
"Left."
Kendall turned left and he immediately saw the cutest ice cream shop on his right. It had a retro feel, kind of like a '50s ice cream shop, and just outside the door was a large moving ice cream with eyes mascot erected. He parked curbside and they got out of the pickup, entering the small shop by the name of Murphy's Ice Cream Bar. Even the name was cute.
"Whoa," Kendall breathed as soon as the noticed the jukebox sitting in the far corner. There was also a counter with a bunch of round stools beside it, and multiple booths against the wall with leather seats and fun, light teal tables. How had he not known this place after living in Minnesota for practically all his life?
"Pretty sweet, huh?" James commented, pulling Kendall out of his enthrallment with the décor.
"Really sweet," Kendall gasped.
James led Kendall to a small booth, and a waiter dressed in a white dress shirt with a pink bowtie brought them their menus.
"So, James, tell me about yourself."
James took this time to think for a moment. He wasn't exactly used to anyone asking him about his interests.
"Well, I was born here in Duluth," he began to list. "I enjoy singing and playing the piano—music's actually my passion."
"Really? I actually sing and play the guitar too."
"Speaking of which, we're having a project in music class soon. Want to be partners?" James asked.
"Definitely."
The waiter came back to take their orders. Kendall ordered cookies and cream ice cream, and James ordered their special house sundae. The waiter tapped the paper with his pen, signaling that he was done, and promptly left.
"What about you?" James inquired. "Tell me about yourself."
"I'm from Wichita, like I mentioned earlier. I love cats and alpacas, but not when they're together."
James let out a small laugh.
"Cats and alpacas?"
Kendall nods and joins in on the laughter.
"Yes, don't judge me. You wanted to know more about me!"
"I meant the normal stuff, Kendall, not the weird shit," James joked.
"This is as normal as I get, James. You sure you can handle all of this?"
He made a motion down his entire body, quirking an eyebrow at the amused boy across from him.
"Oh, I'm not so sure anymore. I thought I could do this; maybe I was wrong."
Kendall and James were shaking with quiet laughter when the waiter returned with two ice creams on his black circular tray. After a quick exchange of 'thank you' and 'you're welcome,' the two were left alone again with their big bowls of ice cream.
"This is really good," Kendall marveled with his mouth full after stuffing a massive spoonful of his ice cream.
"I know, right? I used to hang here all the time with D—"
James abruptly stopped midsentence, a glassy look in his eyes as he fought to find something else to say.
"Who?" Kendall pried, watching him expectantly.
"M-my dad," James finally said, dropping his eyes down to the ice cream and taking a bite out of it.
The blonde only nodded and moved onto another topic. Before they knew it, it was almost five thirty, and it was best for them to return to their respective homes. They fought for the paycheck, but James reached the bill a nanosecond faster than Kendall, and paid for both of them. Kendall wouldn't stop insisting that it was unnecessary and he was going to pay next time for sure. James just told him to shut up.
"For the love of all that is holy, please shut the hell up," James sighed.
The car rolled to a stop in front of a large driveway complete with a towering gate and a security camera.
"I'm not going to shut up, James. I could've paid for myself."
"I know that, but you're new and you drove me around. It's the least I could do."
James opened the car door and stepped out.
"Alright, fine, but don't think I'm letting this go."
As the door of the truck swung shut, the window rolled down.
"Do you hear me, Diamond?"
James flashed a thumbs-up.
"Got it, Knight. See you tomorrow," James smiled, leaning on the side of the truck.
"Bye, James. Thanks for showing me around. It was a lot of fun."
James nodded, suddenly a little distant, as if reminiscing about the afternoon with the corner of his lips curled upward.
"Yeah… I guess it was."
He blinked a couple of times before he looked back up at Kendall.
"Well, I'll see you."
James entered a pin in the security system, momentarily disarming the alarms and unlocking the heavy gate. He pushed the gate open and slipped through. He heard the sound of Kendall's car engine revving and wheels squealing as the automobile rolled out into the streets. Taking one last glance behind him, he bit his lip as he attempted to fight a smile that was beginning to play on his lips. He continued trudging up the long driveway to his currently empty house, replaying the highlights of his miniature ice cream hangout with Kendall.
The way the blonde laughed was so infectious and adorable, automatically turning anything unfunny into the funniest thing the world has ever heard. His captivating green eyes could pierce through anyone's soul, and his eyebrows—man, they were like tiny caterpillars that would look completely ridiculous on everyone else, yet for some reason, it worked for Kendall.
When he reached his room, he flung himself on the bed and grabbed his pillow, muffling it over his face as he squealed like a fan girl. How could anyone make him feel this way after literally just a day? It was crazy, the kind of effect Kendall had over the brunette.
It wasn't until James laid there thinking hard that he was cognizant of the fact he had only thought of Dak once during the entire span of the afternoon. And the insane part was that the one time he did, he threw the depressing thoughts out just as quickly. All because of Kendall.
He sighed stared at the ceiling. Now that he was alone again, he could feel the intense emotions overwhelming him, the ones that were tossed aside and forgotten for a majority of the afternoon.
"I'm a bad person," he moaned to himself, closing his eyes in frustration.
It has been two days since Dak's death, and he was just out on the town enjoying a cute boy's company. James didn't deserve all of that; he didn't deserve to be happy at all. He deserved to drown in his guilt and sorrows.
His hazel eyes stung as tears began to well up at the brim, and he wiped them away.
I'm such a horrible, terrible person. How could I do this to Dak?
How could I do this to my boyfriend?
Lol is anyone even surprised that Dak was James' boyfriend? No? Okay.
So now he's faced with two majors factors that are contributing to his guilt. :D
What did you guys think?