The fact that the last couple of chapters happened in the span of a day is astounding.

Year Two: Happy Wife, Happy Life

Edison Residence - 14:12 PM

Daniel never went to get the vacuum yet because he didn't care at the moment. He stayed in bed, thinking about getting high with Merida. It was so much fun when they were being complete idiots in this room, eating lemons and having a fashion show with James's sweater vest (which he still hasn't taken off). Then it got to the weird emotional stuff he expected but didn't think would be that bad.

When he chose to call Emily, he regretted it since he didn't want to talk about it. A part of him was hoping she wouldn't pick up but, to his luck, she did. She isn't knowing about the pot, that's for sure.

"Can we talk?" Daniel asks to steer this conversation. He hates his words when he notices Emily's silence instead of a usually chipper greeting.

Emily: That's never a good starter … are you okay?

"Yeah, yeah," he sits up in his bed, "just … I don't know. I was thinking last night and it got to the point of wondering if we would be engaged or even together if that, you know, never happened."

Emily: Ah … I'm up to speed - bad choice of words but I see. So what you were thinking about was our dynamic if we waited?

"I guess."

Emily: So tell me what happens.

"Why do I have to go first?"

Emily: Because you've had a whole night to think about it and I barely have a minute.

"But my answer will influence yours."

Emily: And how do I know you're not going to change yours on the spot after mine because I know you, Dr. Banner. You'll take the chance that I'll just keep talking, like now, to craft the perfect answer based on the predicted answer you'll get from me. I'll have you know that I'm blaming Angela and James's breakup for your thoughts.

Daniel nods, agreeing with that because he won't bring up getting high.

Emily: And the verdict is…?

"I'd like to say we are together," Daniel admits, "in one way or another. Engaged or not, dating or not, pining or not."

Emily: I'd say the same.

Daniel grins a little. "Now how do I know you're not making up your answer based on mine."

Emily: You don't. But, Daniel, know this. If we were never together and you asked me to marry you out of the blue, I would've still said yes.

Daniel is speechless. He isn't sure how much of that is fluff but, still, it was nice to hear that in any outcome, he would still marry her. They would still be husband and wife. Would she, though? He'd like to think so.

Suddenly, Keith bursts into the dorm, knocking Daniel out of his trance and his phone out of his hands. Daniel stares at Keith in shock as he looks around the dorm, wondering what tornado hit them and why Daniel was dressed like James.

Emily: What was that?

"Sorry for interrupting your phone call with your girlfriend or fiancée, whatever," Keith says. "Look, Xavier is about to kill James or has killed James."

Daniel groans as he picks up his phone. "I'm not jumping Xavier."

Emily: Yes, you are.

Daniel puts his call on speaker as he puts on his shoes because he knows he'll end up doing it anyways. Keith won't pick up that Emily Stark is on the phone. "James can handle himself."

Emily: You and I both know he can't. Who else is there? Is that Xavier?

"Just Keith, a neighbour on my floor."

Emily: Hi, Keith!

Keith feels shivers down his spine at the sound of those two words together. He can never hear them together the same again. Forget high school flashbacks, he now has Academy flashbacks to worry about.

"She's a female James," Keith states.

"Why would you say that?" Daniel asks, cringing.

Emily: Because he's an absolute sweetheart.

Keith smiles a little before getting back to his point. "Anyways, Xavier found out about James inviting all his exes to town -"

"What?" Daniel asks.

Emily: He did what?

Keith can't believe they didn't know. He thought that at least Daniel would've known about it. To save some time, Keith gives them the same summary of James's plan and they both had the same reaction as Xavier. Keith can't believe that they have been through so much stupid shit that Exes Anonymous is just another Friday night.

"So, James?" Keith asks.

"Right…" Daniel mutters. "But I have all this broken glass to clean."

Emily: Why do you have broken glass? I thought you were in your dorm, not a lab.

"Merida and I broke all of James's cologne bottles."

"And put on his clothes?" Keith asks. He remembers walking past Merida outside and she was wearing it while sleeping on their couch. No wonder Exes Anonymous wasn't a big deal to them, they were doing other weird things simultaneously.

Emily: … Dr. Banner, you'd better send me a picture of yourself in that sweater vest and go help James this instance or I swear to Thor -

"Fine!" Daniel exclaims despite going to handle it eventually.

"I'll take care of the mess," Keith says. "I'm not swimming with sharks again."

Emily: You're such a great guy, Keith. James is lucky to have you.

"What? Ew."

"Anyways," Daniel says, putting the call back to normal and holding it to his ear. "I'll call you after I find Xavier. Yeah, I love you too. Bye." When Daniel hangs up the call, he sees Keith holding back a laugh. "What?"

"You're so whipped," Keith says.

Daniel shrugs. That's his life now. "Happy wife, happy life, I guess."

"That's called being whipped."

"Shut up … but thanks for the cleaning."

"Good luck with James."

Daniel groans as he makes his way out. God, this is his life, isn't it? And it would've been his life at any outcome, the more he thinks about it.

-o-

Sci-Tech Faculty Wing - 14:14 PM

James has been running through campus. Xavier could've easily caught up to him the moment he spotted him but maybe he was giving him a chance to sweat or to build up his fear. James tries to get Xavier disgraced by nearly missing people but James is literally running from a former star football player and present star Operations student. The boy is used to running perfectly … and they curse more at James than Xavier. No fucking fair.

James looks ahead and finds the perfect building: the Sci-Tech faculty wing.

This is the perfect destination. No professor will ever allow Xavier to kill him … maybe a few but he won't go towards their offices.

James slows down to a walking pace when he enters, blending it with the other students who are going or coming from office hours. He smiles at some of his profs who pass him and stand to the side as assistants and TAs walk through. James turns around and sees Xavier just arriving. Shit. He's spotted him. Xavier starts walking faster towards James and catches up.

"Why are we friends again?" Xavier asks. His voice is in a low whisper that sounds like it will suffocate James.

"Circumstance," James responds before speed walking.

Before Xavier could pounce on him, James waves over a professor who was just entering the corridor.

"Professor Yang!" James exclaims, walking over to him. "I've been meaning to email you but I've been on the run all day and thought this conversation would be better done in person." He glances back at Xavier who's now glaring at him. "I was hoping you're still available despite your office hours ending soon."

"Discuss what?" Prof Yang asks.

"My dissertation."

The man instantly lights up. "Right this way, Cadet Pym."

James cheers to himself as he follows his professor. He knows he can wing something about his Ph.D.-in-progress like just talk about his progress, or lack thereof.

"You know, with your outstanding academics, remarkable athletics, control over your powers, and communication skills, you still only have a fraction of your dissertation," Prof Yang tells him.

James shrugs that off. "Better to under-promise than over-deliver."

James turns around and silently laughs to spite Xavier before disappearing down another hallway. Xavier glares. Damn James and lack of a Ph.D. He could handle him later but he'll probably stop caring by then. As he heads on out, he takes out his phone and sees a message from Emily.

Emily: Daniel will try and jump you in a sweater vest. Play along.

As if Xavier's day couldn't get any stranger. Before he could respond, he looks up and sees Daniel walking over to him. Was that supposed to be an attempt at jumping? And why is Daniel dressed like James? Daniel looks relieved that Xavier isn't moving. Xavier's day has consisted of his driving back from Brooklyn, chasing James, having Emily ask him to get jumped by Daniel, and Daniel about to jump him in one of James's sweater vests. He has never been more done with a day.

"Thank god," Daniel sighs out of relief. Wasn't he high the last time Xavier saw him? "You probably heard about James and his exes."

"I have," Xavier responds. "It's crazy."

"I find it crazier that some exes actually showed up." Daniel sighs. "How's Angela doing?"

"She'll be back soon, actually. How was experiencing college?" He grins a little.

Daniel waves his hand. "Merida and I made a pact not to talk about it."

"Really?"

"No, but we did some weird things." He points to the sweater vest. "As you can tell."

"Please tell me you have a picture of Merida wearing one."

"I'll show you later."

Xavier takes out his phone to take a photo of Daniel wearing it. "I'm not forgetting this."

Daniel tries his best to ignore Xavier's laughing. "Send that to Emily when you have the time."