6. James
James
I f I were a character in Glee , I’d probably wake up singing with a smile on my face as I jump and skip around while getting ready. I’m not in Glee . But I do wake up with a huge ass smile on my face. And I also don’t sing. Which is a good thing because I can’t carry a tune to save my life.
I have no words for last night. When school started, I didn’t think I’d end up with a sort of girlfriend less than a week into school. My feelings for Emily aren’t forced. It’s like my being friends with Liam. It’s natural. Of course, I don’t have any romantic feelings for Liam. Liam is more like my brother and I don’t have sibling-like feelings towards Emily.
Okay. Back to my feelings about Emily. She’s not like any of the other girls that I grew up with. I know it’s a cliche reason, but it’s true. Emily is different. She’s a good kind of quiet. Almost too quiet.
But in the short amount of time that we’ve spent around each other, I’m learning that when she opens up she’s a rambler, a chatterbox, and a library of never-ending information. I noticed she carries her violin around almost everywhere and always has a book with her. They’re kind of like her safety blanket. I’ve tracked that her knee bounces when she’s nervous and excited.
This is what I’ve observed and what I’ve come to like about her.
“Hi, honey,” my mom greets, breaking me from my Emily internal thoughts. The sound of my mom’s coffee cup being placed on the table is a sign she’s giving me her full attention.
“Morning, Mom.” I reply, kissing her on the top of her head.
Three. Two. One.
“So Emily,” she says by way of starting a conversation. “She seems like a sweetheart.”
I look over to my dad who hides a smile behind his coffee mug. So much for the bro code.
“Uh yeah. She’s pretty cool.” What else do I say? That I’m kind of, sort of, possibly obsessed with her? It’s gotta be puppy love. It’ll fade soon.
I sit down at the table with my breakfast which is way too quiet for a Saturday morning. Both of my parents are looking at each other and then me with little smiles on their faces.
“What?” I ask.
“Are you hanging out with Emily today?”
“Maybe. Why?” They’re acting weird. “You know what, I am going to hang out with Emily. You’re both creeping me out.”
My parents high-five each other from across the table.
“I’m finishing my food in my room. You can plan the wedding when I’m out of earshot.” I joke.
But the look on my mom’s face confirms that she’s not joking.
“Mom!”
“What?! I won’t plan anything until you’re six months into your relationship. But I will tell you now, James Michael, that I do not want to be a grandmother so soon,” she gives me that mother look that makes my brothers and I cower before she softens her gaze. “Although, I’m positive that you and Emily will have beautiful babies.”
My face flames and I cover my ears with my hands. “Mom! Dad stop her!”
“You know how your Mom gets James. Best let her get it out of her system,” the rustling of the newspaper being reopened is a good sign. “But I was wondering. Do you want a big or small wedding?”
I rush out of the kitchen with flaming cheeks all the while my parents are cackling at the table.
Parents.
My phone buzzes when I walk into my room with a text.
I set my food on my dresser and plop down on my bed, seeing it’s from Emily.
E: Good morning.
Me: Morning. How’s your morning so far?
E: Considering I just woke up not too long ago, I’d say it’s off to a slow start.
Me: What?! Whatever had you sleeping in so late?
E: Some guy.
Me: Tell me his name. And I’ll kick his butt.
E: What if I said you knew him?
She’s adorable.
Me: I’ll still do it.
E: Fine. It’s you. You kept me up.
Me: *pats self on back*
E: *rolls eyes*
Me: What are your plans for today?
E: I’m gonna get some homework done. And then practice for a recital that’s coming up.
Me: Do you want some company?
E: Sure. Give me an hour?
Me: Of course. See you in a bit, Em.
E: XO
To pass the time until I’m with Emily, I scarf down my breakfast, clean up my room, and take my dirty clothes to the laundry room. Fingers crossed my little brother will add his clothes to the pile and start a load. It’s what little brothers are for. It’s time he learns how to do his—meaning our—laundry.
I finally change the sheets on my bed, but not because my mom has been bugging me to do it. Okay. Yes. I change my sheets because she’s been pestering me for weeks.
I put all of the accumulated water bottles from my room in the recycle bin. Rumor has it, we teenagers like to “collect” water bottles in our room. It’s a known fact. My older brother had a whole bunch in his room too. This reminds me that I haven’t bothered him in a while so I need to call him.
Walking back into my room I check the time on my phone, I see that it’s about time to head over to Emily’s house. I hop in the shower to clean off the sleep along with the smell of cleaning products. Once I’m dressed and smell presentable, I gather my books and book bag.
“I’m going to Emily’s,” I tell my parents when I’m back downstairs and head towards the front door.
“Have fun. Be safe!” My mom jokingly yells.
My feet come to a stop and I look at my parents with pleading eyes before I leave the embarrassment behind for a little while. A light and giddy feeling swims through my body and leads me to Emily’s house. I bound up the steps with a hop and ring the doorbell.
Emily answers the door after a few seconds. Her hair is thrown in a messy bun and she’s wearing a Columbia sweatshirt that swallows her petite frame. The black leggings she wears mold to her legs and the thick white socks she wears has me believing she’s preparing for a cold front to blow through.
“Hi.” She says with a shy smile.
So. Adorable. “Hi.”
“Come in.” Emily says as she opens the door wider for me.
It’s the first time I’ve ever seen the inside of her house. Even with the people that lived here before her family, my family never ventured over here. It’s grand. But also warm.
The entryway is painted a muted blue with oakwood floors and a mosaic runner leading to what I’m assuming is the living room. A sitting room is right off to the left with stiff-looking furniture, an unused fireplace, and a coffee table that looks like it was freshly waxed.
Emily closes the door behind me. “Do you want something to drink?”
“Sure.”
She walks toward the kitchen with me following.
The warmth of the house doesn’t hit until we reach the living room that opens to the kitchen. An expensive, but worn, black leather couch takes up the majority of the living room. Seasonal pillows are spaced haphazardly on the seats with throw blankets in baskets and one crumpled on the couch. Pictures decorate the walls. Some of Emily and portrait shots of the city I’m assuming she’s from, along with some beach stills.
“Is water okay?”
“Yeah. That’s great. Thank you.” My attention moves to the spacious kitchen that overlooks the family room. It’s quiet. Way too quiet for a Saturday. “Is it always like this here?” My house is the complete opposite if my brothers aren’t still asleep.
Emily turns to answer me with a tinge of pink on her cheeks. “No. Not all of the time. My parents are usually home. But like I said last night, they had to fly to New York at the last minute. And our housekeeper only works for a few hours on the weekends.”
“So you’re home alone a lot?”
Her shoulders lift up in a shrug. “Yeah. But it’s really not a big deal.”
I can tell by the tightness in her response that it is a big deal, but I choose to let it go. For now. “Well, I am now claiming myself as your weekend buddy.”
“A weekend buddy?” Emily asks with a quirk of her eyebrow as she places my water in front of me.
“Yeah. Every weekend we hang out. Do homework, study, practice, read, watch movies, and eat food. A weekend buddy.”
“That sounds like a normal relationship.” Emily can’t hide the smile even if she wanted to.
I fake think about that for a second. “Woah! I like that better.”
“You’re silly. Come on. Let’s get to our homework.”
I follow Emily up the stairs to her room. Which is double the size of mine.
“Wow! Your room is huge.”
“I guess. When we went back to New York for the summer, my parents had my room remodeled. They wanted me to have a study room/ practice room. So this part of my room is completely soundproof.”
“Really? That was thoughtful of them,” I tell her.
“Yeah. It was.”
Emily rifles through her backpack for her books and sets them on her desk. I’m sure she can feel the hole I’m burning in her face as I wait for her to meet my eye.
“You can set up on the couch and use the coffee table if you want.”
Her mood has shifted fast and I wonder if it has to do with her parents. I don’t want to pry but I want the playful girl from last night, the one who asked me to dance as the movie credits rolled. I look at the girl before me, burying herself in her work. Is it a mask? Is she hiding her pain? Does she wish her parents were more involved? I want to know her.
“Emily?” I have to tread lightly.
“Yeah?” She responds without looking at me. Her pencil moves as she writes down notes that probably won’t make sense.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I just want to study.” She quickly dismisses me.
“Sure. Fine.” I’ll table it for now. But I keep that part to myself.
I’ve never had friends whose parents were gone a lot and I’m not sure how to manage. But I think I’ll approach her the way I would a skittish animal. And hopefully, she won’t be so afraid to open up to me.