And now for the sender of the postcard from Lisbon.
Intersession: From Jersey to Lisbon (to London)
SHIELD Academy, New Jersey - 17:59 PM
"Mom, what are you doing here?"
Nearing the end of the semester, James wasn't sure when he was leaving campus. The reasonable answer was the period of time between one's final exam and before the Academy's established final day when the flood of students head home at the same time.
James still has another two days till the mass exodus. Daniel left the day after his final exam since he went home first before heading to Italy to meet Stark. Merida went with her abroad program (without saying goodbye to him which James found offensive, although she didn't bid farewell to anyone except maybe Angela but only because they're roommates and she left first). Angela and Xavier finished a few days ago and were already in England. (He wasn't sure when he was supposed to be there since he booked his ticket while drunk at a party and he got her help us text - oops, he means invite).
"I came to pick you up," Janet says happily, sitting on the edge of Daniel's now-empty desk. She looks around at the mostly empty room minus James' few bags sitting at the doorway.
"I thought you didn't want to go anywhere near Jersey."
James remembers his mom dropping him off in freshman year and then her complaining on the way there on why the Academy couldn't have been in a nicer city. I don't get why it had to be Jersey. Why not D.C. or even Seattle? Oh! I love Seattle this time of year. We should go! And then his Dad, who has had a vendetta against SHIELD for as long as James could remember, just drove on autopilot. It was up to James to get himself home for holidays and then back to school, but he mostly carpooled with his friends. Maybe that's why he's still on campus.
His parents don't have a lot in common, but at least they share a distaste for the Academy.
"The things we do for people we love," Janet beams. "Oh, I don't know if your father left it to me to mention this since I was on my way here, but you could go to England if you want."
James smiles, unsure if he asked his mom for permission. Did he even have to? He's 20. At most, his mom saw the ticket purchase on his credit card or James drunk-texted his father after booking the flight asking where his passport was. Apparently, he had it on him.
"It's amazing how much money Dad will throw at the problem that is me," James says.
Janet frowns. "Don't say that. It's my money being thrown. Oh, and I noticed that you booked a flight with a 36-hour layover."
James nods. "Yeah, about that…"
"Were you drunk?"
"Well, yeah, but I still meant for that?"
His mother raises a brow and James sucks in a breath.
-o-
Group Chat: Exes Anonymous
Members: James, Five "Anonymous Exes"
Melissa: I'm offended you're only going to be with us for a day. And only because you have a layover.
Dawn: And he only has a layover because he's visiting his girlfriend.
Yvette: A girlfriend WE helped him get back.
James: By making fun of me.
Yvette: You deserved it.
Dawn: It still worked.
Alix: It's not like my godfather's place had a room for him. He's sleeping on a couch.
Janice: Please. We know the couch costs more than all our student debt combined.
Melissa: Besides, it's only a night. He just wants to sleep with Angela anyways.
James: For fuck's sake.
Janice: That's exactly why YOU'RE flying over.
Yvette: Okay but we can't exactly blame him for that.
Yvette: It's Angela Rogers.
-o-
Present Day - Lisbon, Portugal - 9:03 AM
Sometimes, James regrets making that group chat with five of his "exes." He thought it would've died out after their roasting session a little over a year ago since they barely knew each other outside school (barely interacted during school) and didn't even know Alix until meeting in Jersey, but the girls kept messaging each other there. They'd send each other videos, selfies, ask about outfits and dates, and even rant about anything they need to. Angela knew the group chat was still active and even chimed in from his end.
James credits himself for creating that new friend group. They went from strangers who had nothing much in common except dating him to now taking a vacation together and inviting him just to be nice.
Alix's godfather asked if she was available to housesit his place in Lisbon which is how James wounded up at the airport, heading towards a sign crafted just for him.
The exes cheer when they see him. Dawn waves their glittering sign that says "EX ANONYMOUS" in shiny pink letters. He expected that given he picked them up with a similar sign and it was so worth the weird looks from everyone else in the airport.
"Okay, before anything," James starts, "I need a postcard."
The exes stare at him as James heads out. He didn't have to worry about his bags since he left them on the plane for the layover.
Lisbon is beautiful. The buildings almost look the same with the red roofs but the exteriors vary in colour from white to pastel blues, pinks, and yellows all at varying heights leading up to what looks like the cloudless blue sky and the shimmering water surrounding them.
"For what?" Dawn asks, holding the sign as the exes follow him through the streets.
James stops at a street kiosk and smiles at the owner before spinning a small rack of postcards. When he's about to take one with a picture of the beach, the exes shove him out of the way and take over.
"At least send a nice one," Alix says, handing him a postcard with the city's landscape.
"I picked a nice one of the beach."
The exes stare at him and James takes a pen that Melissa holds out for him. James writes on the kiosk counter, noticing all the exes peering over his shoulders.
"I thought that'd be for your mom," Yvette laughs.
James narrows his eyes at her as the other exes join her in a laughing chorus. He glances back at the message he wrote for Angela. A simple message just to pass the time. This weekend, right above his signed name at the bottom.
"You're really sending her a postcard?" Yvette asks. "You're seeing her soon. You'll probably get there before the card."
"Express mail," James responds as if it's a given.
"I think it's sweet," Melissa says, signing her name under his on the postcard.
"Thank you."
"It's also Angela Rogers."
"True," Yvette says. "I wanna sign."
James couldn't even object before the exes take their turns writing their names. He doesn't even get the postcard back before Melissa hands it off to the cashier for it to be mailed.
"Why are you even going to England?" Janice asks James as they walk through Lisbon. They follow Alix and the others as they walk ahead, heading to their residence for their vacation. "Or better yet, why is Angela there?"
"She's visiting her pretty traditional family and I was invited," James responds.
"Oh god," the exes all say together (which creeps James out).
"Is this your first time meeting them?" Alix asks.
James nods. "Her family rarely sees them anyways. Angela invited me because everyone will talk to me instead of her and Xavier to get to know me, the precious Angela's boyfriend. I get a vacation with my girlfriend and to talk about myself. Win-win."
Yvette stops walking and puts a hand on James's shoulder. "How do you feel being used as a tool?"
"Pretty good, actually."
"Of course, she's only inviting you for your mouth," Janice mutters.
Janice breaks into a grin as the other girls holler. James high-fives Janice as the other exes nudge both of them excitedly. Surrounding tourists and locals look at them as they're just another group of stupid teenagers making a ruckus in the streets.
"Janice Lee!" Melissa yells like a scolding mother but she has a smirk teasing her lips. "Weren't you raised by nuns?"
Janice scoffs. "Please, those nuns raised Britney Braun as well."
The exes nod and James bites down on his lips. He didn't think of Britney - or Apollo - in … he isn't sure how long. It's crazy to think he's had them in his life for so long and then they basically disappeared without a trace. He isn't sure how to feel, especially since he and Stark don't think they're coming back (or at least any time soon). And he hasn't had that kind of conversation with anyone else, not even his parents.
James forces himself to smile. "Ah, another reason I'm invited. Gotta save Xavier from being asked about her."
-o-
36 Hours Later - London, England
James would've missed his layover leaving if it wasn't for the exes blasting weird techno music and then kicked him out for overstaying his welcome. A part of him was happy to leave since it meant he could see Angela sooner. He wondered why he couldn't have just flown himself to Britain from Lisbon but forgot all about it when he was walking through the airport and saw her waiting at the curb outside in front of her car.
Her face lights up against the gloomy London skies. Her smile pulls him in as she waves excitedly, nearly bouncing on her toes.
James runs to her and throws his bag into the backseat before holding her by the waist to pull her in. Angela nearly falls into his arms as she wraps her arms around his neck and kisses him. James leans forwards and Angela arches back before her kiss breaks into a small laugh.
"I got your postcard," Angela whispers.
"I figured since you're wearing the lip gloss I like on you," James responds, quickly sneaking another kiss. "Here, let me drive. I know you hate it. You know, they drive on the left here."
"Really?" Angela questions. "I drove on the right side here."
James pauses, seeing the certitude on her face as she looks at the ongoing traffic on the road. " … please tell me you mean the correct side and not the right of the road."
"The right. Like back home."
James isn't sure what to say until Angela grins, poking his side.
"Blimey," Angela says in the worst British accent he's ever heard, "I'm joking."
"Fuck…" James mutters, holding her hand, "that's hot."
"Shut up," her voice back to normal. "Okay, so about my family-"
"I thought of the perfect plan to distract your family."
"What?"
James takes a breath, still holding her hand as he gets down on one knee right on the curb of the road. "Angela Samantha Rogers, you're the love of my life."
Angela doesn't falter, not even to look at him surprised. "Well, duh."
James hesitates. This isn't how he pictured this scenario. He expected her to be sobbing, wondering if this was real but she knows it's not. Even people around them are gawking, more excited than her.
" … that's all I prepared," James says.
"Poorly executed proposal," Angela criticizes. "Stupid plan. You don't even have a ring."
James pauses. " … are you serious?"
"Yeah. You're rich."
"Is that all I am to you? Money?"
"I like your body too."
Again, he didn't expect that answer although it's very true. "I love you so much."
Angela smiles, pulling him up and kissing him. "That's paraphrasing you're the love of my life. Come on, Pym."
"If you're not needed back right away, I have a hotel room."
Angela tosses him the car keys. "Now you're speaking my love language."
"Now speak to me in that hot accent."
Angela circles around to the passenger's door. She faces James again. "Lead the way."