Sorry it's been so long since I've updated. (I need to try and update regularly, if people like this story that is.) But thank you (OxyBtrSwag & GlambertLovesBTR) for reviewing! Seriously didn't expect anyone to read this truthfully.
Once group ended Kendall observed everyone either going off into small groups or exiting the building all together. He noticed out of the corner of his eye Brooke heading for the door, without saying much to anyone as she passed. He waited a few moments till he got up, making sure not to make it obvious that he was following the mysterious girl. But he stopped in his tracks once he heard a voice, "Hey new kid." This nickname is going to get old fast, he thought to himself. "You going to a meeting tonight?" James said once he caught up with him.
"I might?" Kendall shrugged. Even though he had no intention of going. That meant he'd have to look up one to go to and then go through the agonizing trouble of actually going, frankly he was too lazy to do it. And had little motivation.
"You should come. There's this one in particular we all go to. The meeting is usually pretty full, so it's easy to slip in without being stopped by 10 people trying to introducing themselves." There goes the lazy excuse, Kendall chuckled inwardly. "Might as well go right? Get it out of the way. The sooner I get out of here the better." Kendall replied, knowing he couldn't avoid it forever. The reality of everything was finally hitting him, there was no way of getting out of this. He had to suck it up and just do it.
"It's really not as bad as you think. Just don't piss off the counselors and it doesn't hurt to throw a few smiles and some charm their way." James said with a wink.
While James' tactics might work for him, it wouldn't benefit Kendall in the least. He feared his "charm" would come off as fake or arrogant. It wouldn't be that far from the truth if it came off as fake. His current motto was "fake it till you make it." Taking James' advice would set him back further and he couldn't risk that.
"I'll keep that in mind," Kendall lied. "Here's the address. Need the directions?" James asked handing Kendall a piece of paper after he had scribbled the address on it. "Nah, I think I can handle it." Kendall spoke trying to hurry up and end the conversation.
James walked alongside Kendall as they headed towards the elevators. He was becoming a real pain in ass. But Kendall did appreciate that he wanted to help him out. In all honesty, James didn't seem that awful. Just someone Kendall wouldn't usually associate with if he had the choice, but given his current situation he didn't have much of a choice. The rest of the people in group showed no interest in getting to know him, so Kendall didn't see the point of trying to get to know them. James seemed to be a somewhat caring guy with an exterior that didn't match. Although he walked around with all the confidence in the world, deep down he was just as insecure as the rest of them. He overcompensated for his insecurities instead of letting it get to him. It's easier that way, avoiding reality and evading the truth seemed less painful than facing it head on.
Still attempting to catch up with Brooke he quickened his pace. Unfortunately he arrived at the elevator right as the doors were closing. "Shit," he cursed under his breath. Pounding his fist on the doors after they had closed. Keeping both hands flat on the doors Kendall dropped his head letting out a sigh. With a sly smile James looked at the side of Kendall's face, who's eyes were glued to the large steel silver doors, "Don't even try."
Lifting his head towards James, Kendall furrowed his eyebrows "Try what?" suddenly going on the defense. Looking in front of him, James put his hands in his pockets as an even bigger smile spread across his face. "Her." pointing his chin towards the doors while shaking his head slightly, "Not going to happen." Kendall removed his hands from the door, letting them fall to his sides and straighten up. "Why is that?"
"I've been here almost the entire time she has. Minus a few months. And nothing's happened between her and I. Not due to lack of trying, trust me." Apparently James seemed to be completely disregarding the whole 'no relationships while in recovery' rule. James wouldn't have considered it a relationship, he wasn't really interested in that. Let's just say he wasn't a one woman type of guy. He figured he's young so why not live it up while he could!
Raising an eyebrow Kendall signaled for him to continue. "Listen man," now facing Kendall, "If I can't make it happen," exhaling and placing his hand on his own chest, "it's highly unlikely it will happen for anyone else."
He was trying to let Kendall down easy but it wouldn't dissuade him. It was becoming more obvious now how James worked. He got whatever he wanted when he wanted it. With the exception of Brooke. Which at first, made the boy rather irritated. But it was short lived when his next conquest appeared. At school James was defiantly a "ladies man" you could say. Never backing down even if a girl didn't seem interested. His charm and good looks allowed him to always seal the deal and get away with a lot. His game put men twice his age to shame. But it didn't matter what James had said, as far as Kendall was concerned he was going to give it a shot. Nothing James said would change that.
Without saying much more, the elevator doors opened. Kendall anxiously walked in biting his nails. "So how'd you end up here?" Kendall questioned, changing the focus on James rather than himself. Also trying to make the elevator ride somewhat pleasant.
"I got charged with intent to sell. It's bullshit. I know everyone says they have a reason why they had their stash on them. Mine is the most cliche of them all. It wasn't mine." James even laughed as he spoke knowing how ridiculous it sounded.
James had been pulled over for speeding. Which wasn't surprising considering the luxury car his parents bought him for his 16th birthday. James' parents were well off, never having to worry about money and allowing their son to indulge in whatever he wanted. Being the privileged son that he was, his parents buying him a car on his 16th birthday wasn't even a question.
That being said, for some reason or other the police searched the car, finding a scale, a hefty sum of money and illegal drugs. So they slapped him with with intent to sell. The money had come from his parents, of course, and the scale really wasn't his. The drugs on the other hand had been his. But luckily for James his father was a pretty damn good and successful lawyer. In turn he was able to make sure James' punishment was lessened, on account of the way the police went about searching the car.
James' father was able to obtain the video tape from the cop car from that night. The taped showed James being pulled over but what the officer had said is what allowed him to avoid jail time. On the tape the officer had said something about wanting to "catch James. But making sure he won't out of it." James' father was well known around town and had dealt with this officer in a past case. When the verdict didn't come out the way the officer wanted he developed a personal vendetta against James' father. So due to the bias the officer had and what he had said, the search was performed without probable cause, in turn it was done illegal. But that didn't change the fact that James had drugs in his car. So he was put on house arrest for a few months, which was thankfully over. Then he was forced to go to rehab.
"That sucks man," is all Kendall managed to say before they reached the first floor. They exited the elevator and made their way to the parking lot. As they made their way to their cars Kendall spotted Brooke as she leaned against the brick building.
"I'll meet up with you there." Kendall said to James his eyes locked on Brooke. She was standing off smoking a cigarette next to the building. "Good luck," was all James said before hopping in his car and driving off. Whether James was talking about getting to the meeting or talking to Brooke he wasn't quite sure.
Even though Kendall's preferred choice of things to smoke wasn't cigarettes he still decided to go over to her. Assuming he'd have a cigarette along with her. Plus he didn't have any cigarettes on him so it seemed like the perfect icebreaker. "Hey," he said quietly trying not to startle her because her back was to him. She turned around to discover a nervous Kendall standing there. "Hey," she replied quietly. She had become lost in her own thoughts as she stared off at the night sky.
"Mind if i bum one from you? Seems I forgot mine." he said patting his pockets making it seem more believable and while emphasizing his point. "Sure. Need a light?" she said after handing him the Tabasco filled brown and white stick."Yeah, thanks." He said watching her pull the green lighter from her bra.
"For safe keeping?" He joked.
"These guys usually steal my lighters. They seem to lose theirs very easily. Kinda like you misplacing your pack." she said handing Kendall the lighter. "Yeah." Kendall sighed feeling slightly embarrassed. At that moment he had wished he was James, just to be able to reply with a better comment.
Lighting the cigarette the harsh taste of method filled his lungs. Being an avid smoker of weed, there were occasions where he'd smoke a cigarette, but he never got use to the taste. He handed her back the lighter which she placed securely back in its former spot. She chuckled at the disgusted expression on his face, which he was trying to desperately hide. Her laugh made Kendall smile, it was so melodic and genuine.
This was a completely different girl from group just ten minutes ago. Which Kendall didn't mind, in fact he rather enjoyed it. She seemed to have loosened up a bit. During the group discussion she hadn't said anything at all. Brooke tended to be a bit more reserved. But when she began talking to Kendall, he put her at ease. Allowing a playful side to come out. The last time she'd let that side show had been so long ago the feeling felt foreign, awkward almost. Deciding not to fight it, she just decided to just go with it.
Kendall's first thought was to ask about James, probably because he had spent most of group talking with him and no one else. "What's James' story?" he finally spoke up, as smoke escaped past his lips. "James is a little pigheaded. If you couldn't tell." She replied taking a drag of her cigarette.
Laughing Kendall looked down at his feet, "I sensed that." He felt dumb asking about him when he knew everything he wanted to know. He wanted to know about her. "Don't worry. He's not that bad. Unless you reject him, that's a different story. He's pretty persistent." She finished saying.
"Oh yeah? How so?" Taking another puff exhaling out of the corner of his mouth, cocking his head slightly so he didn't blow smoke in her direction. Finally getting use to the taste. He was curious to hear about James' attempts at trying to win her over. Making sure he didn't follow in his footsteps.
"Took him about 3 week to realize I wasn't interested." she responded. "Well maybe you gave off the wrong signals?" Kendall shrugged. Brooke rarely opened up, much rather talked to many people too much, not even her sponsor knew her whole story. It surprised her that she was allowing herself to a conversation with Kendall especially after just meeting him. Usually she'd make sure to end a conversation before it had even begun.
"Doubtful. If you call ignoring his calls, going to different meetings than him on purpose, and telling him straight out 'I'm not interested,' giving the wrong signals. I'd agree with you," amused at the boys naive attitude towards James. She took another drag from her cigarette. "Point taken." Putting his hands up in surrender.
"I wouldn't have taken you as a smoker." he said watching her petite mouth wrap around the end of the cigarette. She inhaled and as she exhaled Kendall couldn't help but look at her lips. They were perfectly shaped with the bottom being slightly plumper than the top. Kendall didn't let his mind wonder too far as he took in her features. The other normal instincts a young male had quickly disappeared at the sound of her voice.
"Well, I swapped one addiction for another," holding up the cigarette between her index and middle finger. "They say people like us usually have an addictive personality." It just comes with the territory, hence why she was in rehab. It had effected all aspects of her life.
"People like us?" Kendall questioned. "Well addicts in general." Acknowledging the fact that she had a problem. "I'm not an addict though." he said confidently. "Well if you're in the program long enough you'll come around." She chuckled. "Pretty sure that's not going to happen." he concluded. Reassuring himself as well as her that he wasn't an addict nor did he want to be labeled as one. The stigma attached to it left a sour taste in his mouth. How society viewed an "addict" was usually with pity and he never wanted people to feel sorry for him.
Both of them enjoyed the silence as they exhaled the smoke from their lungs. Staring at the night sky. Upon entering the building, before group, the sky had been different shades of yellow, orange and red as the sun was beginning its descent in west. Now that group had ended the sky had been taken over by black with a few shimmers of light cascading throughout it from the stars. I was quite beautiful.
After what he'd expected to be an awkward silence he spoke again, "Are you going to the meeting tonight?"
With a crooked smile she replied "Not sure. We'll see." Brooke dropped her cigarette on the ground and stepped on it with her black converse, putting it out. Looking up at Kendall she cocked her head to the left, "So why are you here?" Making sure to emphasizing the word 'you' as she spoke. Brooke had no idea what had come over her. She had just kept the conversation going even though she had the perfect opportunity to escape.
"It's not very exciting." wrinkling his nose shrugging of the question. "Well everyone here's for one reason or anything," she inquired. "Well, what's your reason?" Kendall said while arching one of his thick eyebrows playfully mocking her. Grinning she simply replied, "It's not very exciting." Throwing back what he just said in his face. "Well hopefully you'll fill me in soon." Kendall suggested. "I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. And from the looks of it either are you," he joked.
"We'll see." restating her earlier statement. "I can't make you any promises."
"Why is that," he questioned looking at the last of his cigarette realizing he had smoked it to the filter. He dropped it and stepped on it. "I don't make promises unless I know I can keep them." she explained."That's commendable." he said.
"Well, 'Expectation is the root of all heartache'. Getting your hopes up for something only to be let down in the end is something I try to avoid. I'd advice you to do the same." she hinted. She suddenly became frightened that she was letting her guard down. She was attempting to retreat and fast. Angry with herself for not backing out of the conversation when she had the chance. She just hoped what she said had gotten through to Kendall.
"Did you just quote Shakespeare?" he said in disbelief. Even though Kendall smoked and didn't try very hard in school, he was bright and only put effort into what he enjoyed. And one thing he always loved was writing. Writing and reading went hand in hand. Reading and deciphering different authors writing styles always fascinated him.
"I'm impressed you picked up on that. Its a common misconception that he said it." she admitted. There was much more than met the eye she thought looking at him. Taking in his piercing greens eyes. Silence fell between them.
Kendall sighed, "I better get going. Don't want to be late for the meeting." Rolling his eyes as he said it. Turning around as he walked to his car he thanked her, "Thanks for the smoke." She nodded her head and headed to her car.
As they departing he couldn't shake the feeling that she was different. No girl has ever made him question what came out of his mouth. He went through their conversation over and over, mentally kicking himself for not asking or saying certain things. He turned up the radio trying to drown out his racing thoughts as he drove away.
These chapters keep getting longer :)
Just to fill you in the background for James is actually based off of someone I knew. Writing this has been kind of therapeutic in a way. Should I update weekly maybe?