The way I can't wait to be out of school for a bit.

Year Four: City People

Four Years Ago - Somewhere in the Hamptons - 00:21 AM

James didn't want to go to this private school party, let alone bring his new girlfriend to it, but Angela heard about it through the grapevine and wanted to come. She mostly wanted to see the Hamptons and James didn't have the heart to tell her it was nothing new (at least for him).

There's something weird about his private school life and personal life with his friends blending. At first, James detested the idea of not being allowed to go to public school with his friends. He hated the stuck-up uniform and hanging out with pricks all day, especially since he was only at that school cause his parents are friends with people on the board (as most of the parents at his school are).

"Why does someone have a vacation home two hours away?" Angela asks as she and James approach the house. To her, it looks like something she'd only see on television but it's an everyday sight for him.

James shrugs. "City people. It's their fifth vacation home too. Okay, so I just have to warn you about something-"

"Look who's here, the breaker of bro code!"

The music screeches to a stop like a cut scene in the movie. All eyes, drunk, high, and sober, turn to him and Angela.

"That," James whispers to her.

All the hypocritical stares and glares. Based on a stupid technicality, James is breaking Bro Code by dating his friend's sister, who is also his friend. It's not like Xavier cared because … why would he? He has more important things to think about on a daily (oddly enough. He doubts Xavier has thoughts from time to time, but sometimes he spews something intelligent and thought-provoking … no wonder Xavier hates him). Xavier liked him enough and was breaking Bro Code on his own by dating Britney. Because, unlike James' classmates, Xavier notices his hypocrisy. (There's his one brain cell at work.) Cousins are a grey area, but same shit. But alas, his school got a kick from his dating Angela Rogers for many reasons.

One, bro code. Two, it's Angela Freaking Rogers. He still doesn't believe he scored her.

James laughs. "Sorry, babe, everyone's drunk already. Let me introduce you to the bunch."

He grabs her by the arm and walks her through the party.

"Those girls over there snickering at me? Their sugar daddies are each other's daddies."James points at a guy leaning against a pillar on the patio. "Vince over there is hooking up with my organic chemistry teacher and my politics teacher. Cassie next to him slept with the entire dance troupe. Props to them, though."

James leads Angela through the party, crowds parting to make a way for them.

"Lise's parents filed for bankruptcy because of a lawsuit against Joanne's parents," James says pointing at each other who glare in return. He waves. "So, anyone else want to meet my girlfriend?"

He takes the glares and stares as a no. Angela smiles and waves as the music starts again. She turns around and follows James who started walking to the side. He grabs two bottled drinks and blasts off the caps, handing one to her. He takes a seat by a fountain and groans as he sips.

"City people, am I right?" Angela asks, trying to lighten the mood.

James doesn't react. He takes another swig of his drink and Angela sits next to him. She crosses her legs and turns around, cringing at the sight of the fountain which is a naked woman holding a dolphin spitting water.

"Not my City People…" She mutters, patting James on the back. "Hey, are you okay?"

"I didn't think you'd see that," James says. "Actually, I did."

"The bro code stuff?" Angela asks. "Please, I've been dealing with it since Xavier and Britney started looking at each other with heart-eyes."

"No, I meant me going off on them and exposing their crap. I had way more, by the way. I thought I'd scare you with that side of me. Private School James. What a douche."

"City Boy James." Her lips purse into a smile.

James grins. "But hey, at least you saw it early."

Angela slides closer to him, water sprinkling on them.

"I'm sorry for all that," James says.

"Why?" She asks. "You stood up for yourself. It was hot." She kisses his cheek when he doesn't respond right away. "This party is fun. Can I get the rest of the gossip?"

-o-

Present Day - Atlantic Residence - 21:24 PM

Angela immediately breaks apart from James when the fire alarm goes off. She hits her head on the top bunk as she falls back to the foot of her bed. James groans for a moment as the alarms blare but when they lock eyes, they can't help but laugh.

It wouldn't be the first time the alarms went off while they were having sex.

"You know, there are so many fire alarms that go off because someone's stupidly vaping," James grumbles. "We don't have to head out … also I need a minute. You don't think the building will actually burn down, do you?"

Angela sighs as she sits back against the wall and considers. She's nearly a SHIELD agent. If the building was actually burning, she could get out with flames at her door and James can fly. They'd be fine.

But her RA starts banging on all the doors, yelling for everyone to evacuate. It's like she knows they're there.

"Rogers! I know you're still in there!"

Angela rolls her eyes as she picks up a sweater from the floor. "It's like she knew we were having sex and pulled the alarm."

James laughs as she throws his clothes at him and puts them on. "I won't miss that once we graduate."

After Angela hops into bicycle shorts, James opens her door and he puts on a hoodie as they head down the stairs (which was really Angela jumping down flights and James flying down).

"That might be the last time we ever get interrupted by the fire alarm," Angela says as they walk outside, joining the crowds of fellow residents a good distance from the building.

"You saying you're not going to sleep with me for the rest of the year?"

"Agent Moore cleared me for the field after graduation," Angela says. "And I won't be moving back in with my parents."

"That doesn't answer the question."

Angela narrows her eyes at him and he winks, prompting an eye roll. "Anyways, remember Tiffany from my cheerleading squad?"

"No."

"At the game against Cherryhill, she missed the landing on the double backhand spring and fractured her collarbone."

James winces as the moment replays in his mind. All he remembers were bones cracking and girls screaming. "Oh, yeah I recall that. Horrific."

"So our cheerleader group chat is still active and has been since we graduated. Tiffany's moving in with her girlfriend and she asked us if any of us wanted her place. I grabbed it. It's in the city with decent enough rent with my first salary. I got a view of Stark Towers. I think where Merida's gonna live is about a 20-minute run if I jog."

"You're not going to live with Merida?"

Angela shakes her head. "We've roomed together for four years. I love her but I need to live on my own for a bit. Also, she's getting a studio. She didn't say she wanted to live on her own directly but I took the studio as a sign. That's also what I would've said if you asked me to move in with you."

James sighs out of relief. "Thank god. I think I need to be on my own for a bit too. Besides, I'm staying here after grad until I'm cleared for the field and I know you don't want to be here any longer than you have to be."

"And Daniel's tired of you."

"I don't know why. I'm a great roommate. I'm not even there most of the time."

Angela laughs and James takes her hand to kiss her palm.

"I'm proud of you and I love you," James tells her.

"I love you more,"

"God, we're gonna be doing long-distance. Kind of, at least."

Angela waves that off. "That's months away."

She kisses him and holds his face as he pulls her back in. They smile and then turn their heads when they see Orchid and Brody walk by in similar outfits to them. Angela and James glance at each other grinning.

"Who do you think fell off the bed?" Angela whispers.

"Definitely Brody," James responds.

"My money was on both."