Chapter Two
James walks down the stairs smelling something good being cooked. He walks into the kitchen to find Bobbie cooking what looked like spaghetti. "Smells good." James comments while sitting down on the stool infront of the counter. Bobbie walks up to the other side of the counter with a sweet smile.
"It's one of your favorites." She adds. James smiles at the truth. "How was school?" She asks now heading back to the stove. James shrugs while he takes a grape from the bowl on the counter.
"It was school." He answers vague. Bobbie hands him some salad stuff to make the salad with. James starts making the salad without complaining. Clint walks into the kitchen freshly showered. They go to the table to eat their food, conversation was slow while they ate. James was content with life, and more than anything excited for what laid ahead for him. After James was done eating he put his plate up, and went back up stairs.
He laid down on his bed with a long sigh before pulling out his phone. He clicks on the green icon with the phone symbol, he wanted to talk to his bother who he hasn't seen in almost a year. The phone rings while he waits patiently for him to pick up.
"Hey, Buddy!" A deep voice says on the other line excitedly.
"Hey, Francis." James says with a big smile.
"Hold on for a moment, it's loud in here." Francis says while walking out of the party and outside. "What's up?" Francis asks now able to talk to James.
"Just getting ready for graduation." James answers honestly.
"Are you excited to be graduating?" Francis asking missing his brother.
"Oh, yeah." James answers unenthuastially.
"What's wrong?" Francis asks catching onto the sadness in his voice. James turns in his bed trying to figure out why he was so scared for the future, but yet so excited for it.
"I don't know. I feel scared. I'm moving almost across the country to go to school, and to play on their soccer team." James answers thinking on the future. Francis sighs knowing how he's feeling.
"The future is scary, but it's going to be great. This is going to be the best years of your life." Francis encourages knowing he has so much ahead of him.
"You sure?" James asks knowing every time he talks to his brother he feels better. Francis smiles broadly at the question.
"Of course, I'm sure! You're the smartest person I know. You also have good head on your shoulders." Francis encourages. "I have to get back to this party, but I'll talk to you later."
"Alright, talk to you later." James says happily before hanging up. James lays on his bed with thoughts swarming his mind. Life was about to change, and he didn't know how it would, but he would pray that it would be for the best.
Early June wind sweeps across Iowa while James runs down the dirt road ahead of him. He didn't have to go to school today because he was exempt from all of his classes. Running always calmed his mind, and released unwanted tension in his muscles. James was introverted, but he had a well rounded group of friends which was good for him, but it became overwhelming at times. Escaping into the forest, or going onto roads no one knows about was usually his escape from reality, or where he went to draw. When his parents had died he became quite and reserved unlike before he was outgoing. He shallowed his pain, and moved on with life. He became strong, and a wise young man even at a young age.
James stops running breathing heavy through his nose while he scans the meadow he's been to multiple times. He sits down on the cool morning grass with memories involuntarily entering his mind. He shuts his eyes trying to throw them away, but it was impossible. A sore aching filled his chest when thoughts on his mom enter into his mind. He opens his eyes revealing the tears pooling in his eyes. His thoughts were more frequently on his birth parents as graduation draws nearer. He pinches the bridge of his nose filling his depression over take his mind, and imprison him once again. He runs his fingers through his dark blond hair trying to forget everything that happened that year, but it was to no avail. His mind would eventually draw him back in time.
James watches as they lower Natasha's grave into the ground. James never got a chance to look into the coffin because they said the body was mutilated. James was numb towards his mother's death. He didn't know how to feel it was overwhelming for him. His eyes could no longer weep because they are dry. He stares at the tomb stone next to his mother's grave. He reads the writing on his father's tomb making him turn away from the scene. He sneaks away without anyone noticing. He sits down infront of the car while he pulls out a journal. He writes down some words releasing his feelings. He was nine, but he knew times called for him to mature. He decided that he would move on from their deaths. Even though he was angry he decided to move passed it, and try to find the joy in gaining a new family.
James looks up into the blue sky with a heavy hearted sigh. "You just had to leave, huh, Ma?" James asks out in the air remembering when she left. "I guess you would be proud of me now. I hope you see me up there." He stands up shaking off his anger. He starts to head back to town. He walks down the street distracted with thoughts while cars pass him. A truck comes to a strop when seeing him.
"Hey, James!" He hears catching his attention. He looks up to see Griffin, and some of his other friends in the truck. James smiles when he sees them. "You're brooding time is up! Come on we are going down to the creek!" Griffin yells out to him. James jogs over to the truck before getting in with his thoughts finally shifting.
They get to the creek with excitement buzzing through the atmosphere. His friends jump into the creek while James and Griffin walk steadily down the the hill leading to the water. "I knew you would be brooding today." Griffin comments knowing about what happen to his parents.
"How?" James asks with a laugh. Griffin shrugs before answering.
"It's a Wednesday." He answers plainly. James raises an eyebrow at the statement.
"Do I always brood on a Wednesday?" James asks genuially wondering. Griffin nods his head yes slowly.
"Yup. I think it's because that was the day of the week you found out that your mom had died. Cecile and I knew when you weren't home on a Wednesday you were somewhere else thinking on them." Griffin answers truthfully. James stares ahead taken back at his friend's observations.
"You're a good friend." James says feeling grateful for Griffin. Griffin looks over to James with a big smile.
"Don't get mussy on me." Griffin says quickly.
"Alright." James responds with a chuckle. Their friends take a few beers out of the cooler they brought with them.
"A certain young lady has been asking about you." Griffin asks while taking a can from their friend Ryan. James sighs knowing who he's talking about.
"Claire's always asking about me." James laughs not surprised. Griffin shakes his no while swallowing.
"Mno. It's actually, actually someone you haven't seen in a while." Griffin says with smirk. James looks at him confused.
"Who?" James asks curious.
"She's got brown curly hair, has caramel skin that looks like gold of a goddess, emerald eyes that take any man's breath away, and a smile that is contagious like the flu." Griffin describes dramatically. James laughs at his description. "And she has a french name." Griffin adds quickly. James heart starts to pound in his chest at the thought of Cecile. He ignores the feeling.
"Cecile?" James asks cooly.
"Bing-go!" Griffin exclaims pointing at James. James smiles amused.
"Why is, hum, she asking about me?" James asks trying to hide his feelings. Griffin smirks noticing the blush redding on James's cheeks.
"Well she called, and I told her about your accomplishments. Then she got curious, and asked where you're going to school, told her NYU. Then she got really excited, you know how she gets. That bubbly spirit comes out of her, and just makes everyone feel better bout themselves." Griffin explains before taking another sip of his drink. James tries to mask the smile creeping onto his lips. "Why don't you two talk again?" The smile fades at the question remembering their fall out.
James bites his lip before answering not really liking how they parted ways, "She came home the summer before junior year. I had got a girlfriend, and things got really complicated." James voice trails off shuddering at the memory.
"Oh, yeah..." Griffin drawls remembering now, "It got complicated because little Cecile was no longer little. Well she's still short, but she gotten pretty, beautiful I believe what you had said."
"Look I cannot deny beauty when I see it. Probably shouldn't have said that in front of my girlfriend at the time." James says with a sigh. Griffin laughs remembering that awful day.
"Admit it, you like her! Always have ever since we were kids." Griffin teases making James squirm embarrassed.
James rolls his eyes denying the feelings that were there, "I haven't seen her in two years. There's no way that I like her like that. She's my friend, and that's all." Griffin nods his head knowing he's lying.
"So when you go to New York, and see her. Will you stumble on your words?" Griffin quips making James redden even more.
"That was one time! And she took me off guard, okay?" James defends feeling the heat worsen on his face. Griffin laughs brightly seeing the blush red his whole face.
"You're screwed when you see her! You may actually avoid her, knowing you. You can't face her after you guys fall out." Griffin adds highly amused. James smiles now laughing at himself.
"I don't know what I'll do when I see her." James says truthfully with his heart skipping a beat at the thought of seeing her again. "But knowing her, I won't escape." He smiles downwardly remembering how cheerful and funny she is. "I might call her one day before I leave for New York." James says quietly. Griffin smiles knowing he won't, but glad that he's thinking about it.
Author's notes: Hey guys! I hope you like this chapter, and thank you for the review and follows. They mean so much to me! Keep being swaggy!
-C.R.