I have been waiting to get to this chapter from the moment I planned it. Now, I'm excited. It's honestly the best chapter to mark 2 million archived words.

Year Two: Exes Anonymous

Heirloom Serenade - 21:37 PM

After they left the airport, James and Keith put their bags in James's car and the girls divided themselves. They drove to a nearby bar/restaurant to grab a bite to eat. The girls were on flights for the afternoon and James wanted to give them a chance to relax. (And Keith was starting to get hungry.) They'll get some food, some drinks, and catch up. They started with stories on what they were up to since Prep, which Keith learned was their nickname for their rich private school whose actual name he couldn't be bothered to remember. All the girls had new gossip about their other classmates which Keith was on board to listen to.

It's been a bit over an hour and it's felt like longer in the best way possible.

Keith does admit that he now understands James's view on exes. It was weird to think that James was once in love with them. They haven't spoken to each other in years, but he's now reconnecting with them as if nothing more than a weekend has passed. He thought they would be more jealousy, more competition, but they couldn't care less that they all dated James. If Keith saw this group at the restaurant, he wouldn't think it was a rich asshole with his five exes. He honestly wouldn't care.

"As much as I would love to stay, I should be heading back to campus," Keith says. He still has that report to do and it's due in less than 30 minutes but all this was so worth getting late marks.

"Wait, you're leaving?" Janice questions.

Keith pauses, noticing all the exes staring at him, waiting for him to say something. He freezes, not used to being the centre of attention within five beautiful women. He isn't even sure when they all started taking turns hugging him but that happened. Best night ever. He's surprised that James didn't date any bitches but it could be that the bitches weren't invited. These bitchy-looking girls treated him like a human being.

When the girls sit back down, Keith starts heading out but James scurries behind him.

"Take the car you drove back," James says, tossing him the keys. "Just leave it in my spot."

"Nice," Keith says. It was a sweet ride.

"And, Keith, thank you for coming."

"No, thank you for letting me witness these girls call you out. It was refreshing and saved me the work."

James laughs a little. "You're welcome."

James knows it will only get worse from here.

-o-

The Borgatta Inn - 22:53 PM

James booked the girls their own rooms at one of the best hotels in Jersey that was near the restaurant and whatever sights the girls might want to visit. After their dinner and drinks, they went to the hotel. They checked in and James waited for them in the lobby, sitting in the lounge. He's going to give them some time to freshen up, relax, maybe unpack.

A while after, they each came back down and joined them. Once they were all here, James led them to a conference room, closing the door behind them once they were all inside. At the centre of the room, there was a circle of six chairs with a poster presentation in the front. To the side of the room, there were two bottles of champagne sitting in ice buckets and some profiteroles to eat. Once the ladies helped themselves, they each claimed a seat as James stands at the front.

James prepared this room and now it was time for him to regret ever being born. Not an exaggeration.

"So, ladies, we can skip the introductions since we all know each other by now," James starts. "You've all read the texts before flying here so you know what's up. We're going to discuss what I did wrong and how I can fix it. First, let me draw your attention to this chart."

James pulls out the sign he had at the airport. On the back of Exes Anonymous, there was a graph. James puts it on an easel and pulls out a pointer from his pocket and extends it. He turns around and faces the girls, seeing their blank and uninterested faces.

"Ugh, really?" Melissa complains, reaching back to refill her glass. "I'm on break week. I didn't come here for school lessons."

"You study marine biology," Janice tells her. "You look at graphs all the time."

"James, this chart is a business concept," Dawn says. "You don't study business."

Alix scoffs. "Neither do you, anthropology."

"Or you, fashion merchandizing," Dawn mocks.

James clears his throat. "I didn't even explain this yet and there's already a debate." This conference will kill him. He slaps his pointer against his graph, putting the focus on the line. "This is The Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility. The main idea is that the more you do something you like, the less you like it because of boredom. As you can see, this chart has a negative slope. This is what happened with each of you when we went out."

Their boredom turns into did he really just say that? He did. James didn't think that was a good start but he was always good at getting people's attention, especially ladies.

"Wow," Melissa states.

"Ouch," Dawn follows.

"Rude," Alix adds.

"Seriously?" Janice questions.

"Ass," Yvette finishes.

James expected that. "We had fun and it was a good high but the longer it went, the lower the slope went. The difference is that with Angela, there was an uphill slope with each kiss, smile, laugh, etc., and it kept on going up. Any questions so far?"

James slides the pointer back down.

Yvette puts up her hand. "I felt the negative slope with you as well but steeper."

He should've seen that coming. " … thanks."

"Plummeted even further with that cologne."

"Glad we got a discussion going."

Melissa traces the rim of her glass with her finger. "I don't know what your deal with his cologne is since your perfume isn't that attractive either."

The room goes silent as Melissa sips her champagne and Yvette glares at her. James, Alix, Janice, and Dawn keep to themselves but damn. Now the exes are picking fights … James should get his business done first so they can bicker amongst themselves later (when he's off of the hotel's property and far, far away).

" … I will choke you the same way turtles choke on plastic straws," Yvette threatens.

James almost spits out his drink. He can't afford to prevent a murder. "Okay, let's focus back on me."

Alix scoffs a laugh. "Your favourite words."

"Facts!" Dawn exclaims.

James narrows his eyes. They know him too well. "I hate this but really, let's circle back here and talk about our relationships, my recent breakup, and find a trend."

Janice downs her champagne. "Got it!"

"Wow," James says. He already feels tired. "I should've just called you. So, Janice, tell me, what is it?"

"You do know that out of all the relationships in the room, the others, and your relationship with Angela, you're the common denominator."

James stares at her, unsure how to take that blow. The other girls cheer as Janice pops open the second champagne bottle. She drinks the foam spurting out before filling her glass and the others. When she points the neck at James suggestively, he shakes his head.

" … okay, good start, Janice. Anyone else?" James asks.

"If this is an Exes Anonymous, then shouldn't Angela technically be here?"

James grabs the champagne and refills his glass. He feels a migraine growing. " … shut up."

The girls nod, easing back. They keep quiet, putting their focus on James. It's his night and they'll let him steer the way. Besides, it's James. There's always something to make fun of.

"I just want to point out that I haven't gotten a rebound ever since I dumped Angela," James states proudly.

The girls look at him as if they don't know him anymore. Even James takes a moment to reevaluate his statement. He hasn't even thought about getting a rebound ever since he broke up with Angela. He did tell Keith that Angela isn't the type of girl you get a rebound after because, well, who could replace her? He didn't even look at other girls in that way. Even when he first arrived at the Academy and was faced with so many beautiful girls he's never seen before, he didn't care. It didn't even cross his mind because he had Angela Rogers.

"But you flirted a lot," Melissa says.

Alix nods, showing a concerned look on her face for him. "With every girl you could find even when one was beside you and holding your hand."

"We can't completely blame him for that…" Dawn mutters. "I set him up with someone sophomore year after he dumped Janice."

"I was practising," James argues.

"From what I'm gathering, you have a method to your madness."

"Do not."

"Do too!" They all yell at him.

James slides in his seat. " … proceed."

"You win a girl over and date them for a while. Then, when she's ready to move on in a different direction than you, you leave."

James is about to argue back but he has nothing to say. The more he thinks about that, the truer it is. It's why he broke up with Janice and Angela and it's partially why most of his dates have ended (except with Yvette but a difference of opinion on his cologne could count). He doesn't want to argue or be responsible, so he ends it.

"Is that a defence mechanism?" Yvette asks. "I'm a psych major so this is my shit."

"Are you insecure because she's more successful than you?" Alix asks.

"No," James responds to both of them. They can attack him at any trait but nobody goes after his ego. Nobody.

Yvette laughs as she plays with the ends of her hair. "You totally are."

"I don't want to be responsible for holding people back. I simply set them free."

The girls either scoff, laugh, roll their eyes or a mix of those reactions. James isn't amused.

"You're no Michelangelo," Dawn says.

"Obviously," James responds. "I can't paint."

"Not the painter, moron." Yvette lets go of her ponytail. "She's talking about The Michelangelo Phenomenon. Committed partners or lovers would promote a partner's growth, helping them become the people they want to be by supporting their development of desired new skills, and endorsing their acceptance of promising new roles and responsibilities. In a way, that shapes you too."

Out of everything these girls have said, that is what feels like a stab to the heart. That concept or phenomenon makes him feel like a piece of shit.

"Oh, we got him," Alix whispers, clinking glasses with the other girls.

"Dumped me for the same reason," Janice adds.

James looks at her. "You got another boyfriend senior year and dumped him before leaving for California."

"We were going in different directions for school. You and Angela go to the same school!"

"What were we talking about again?" Melissa asks.

"James being no Michelangelo," Yvette responds.

"He ran away from his Michel-Angela," Dawn says, smiling brightly at her own joke.

The other girls laugh and raise their glasses. James watches them. He admits that was a clever comeback but he doesn't have time for that. He has a lot more thinking and regretting to handle.

"Anyways, back to your Michel-Angela," Janice says with a smile.

James smiles bitterly. "Thank you." His smile fades and he sighs. "I think you're all right. The problem is that I dumped her. I dumped her because I'm a failure compared to her. I'm Angela Rogers's ex-boyfriend who's full of potential but only has a tenth of a dissertation."

"You're full of potential and shit," Dawn says.

"Exactly."

"You needed us in person to tell you that?"

"That's what it looks like."

I love this chapter.

Also, the only reason why I know The Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility is because it's been in two of my classes (economics and family studies). I might as well use that knowledge here which, honestly, is probably the only reason I remember it. Same reason for The Michelangelo Phenomenon.