Just Tonight

  "Long time no see Emmy." James laughed, hugging me back.

  "Damn right. 24 hours without your presence just drives me insane." I joked, dragging him over to my dad. I held back my chuckles as James practically bowed at my fathers feet, a look of admiration so deep in his eyes. He really looked up to my father. 

  "You two look weirdly alike." I commented, tipping my head to the side. Looking over at my dad I noticed the color in his face drain as he took in the younger man in front of him. 

  "You okay, Dad?" Danny asked, concern etching his features.

  "Yeah, yeah I'm fine. Just a little tired. It was nice to meet you." Dad said, nodding at James before walking down the hall to his room. James' face fell as he watched my dads retreating back and I couldn't help but feel bad. 

  "Hey, wanna go out for pizza? Our fridge isn't really stocked." I said softly, grabbing James' elbow. He brightened immediately, pizza being his favorite food. 

  "Wanna come Danny?" James asked, glancing over at my brother.

  "Nah, you two can go without me. I'm just gonna chill and watch Guy Code." With that James and I walked out, playing fighting all the way down the stairs.

  "What have you been up to all day?" I asked James, swinging my hands back and forth as we walked down the street.

  "A whole lot of nothing. What about you?" James asked, making weird motions with his hands. I chose to ignore it. 

  "Work, my darling. Lots of work."

  "That's why I smell coffee beans." At that I scoffed, shoving James into a light pole. We continued walking, side by side but miles apart on the inside. I couldn't even begin to imagine what James was thinking about; my own problems washing over every cell in my brain, pouring out every pore in my body. 

  What was going on with Danny? He was acting so suspicious and withdrawn. It wasn't like him. The feeling of dread, an immense mountain of it, washed over me, almost causing me to stumble. Was Danny lying to me? After everything we've been through, everything we've conquered? He couldn't be. He wouldn't. Danny knew how much the truth meant to me. 

   I shook my head. No, Danny wasn't lying. He must just have a lot on his mind. Then again, so did I. Was this person me? The Ember I knew couldn't be walking down the street next to a nice, adorable, funny guy who was quickly turning into her best friend and confidant. No, this wasn't me. I loathed social interaction, despised the way teenagers acted. This certainly wasn't me. 

  But then the question came. If this wasn't me, then who was it? Maybe all this time I'd just been waiting for someone to bring out the carefree side of me; James certainly did that. I smiled. I could be my uptight self with everyone else, and this carefree ninny with James. I glanced over at James to see a look of horror enter his gaze. My eyes widened as I looked in the direction he was gazing, only to see a middle aged man, stumbling drunkenly down the sidewalk.

  "What's wrong, James?" I asked, touching his arm lightly. He flinched before shooting me an apologetic glance and grabbing my hand, tugging me into an alley. 

  Before he could however, the man grabbed my arm roughly and yanked me to his side. He shot a disgusted look in my direction before sloppily shoving me into a wall and stepping up to James. I watched on in horror and confusion.

  "Did you think you could just leave, Jimmy Boy?" The man slurred, grabbing James by the collar and shaking him.

  "Uncle Sam, we're in the middle of the street," James whispered, attempting to pry the man off him.

  "I don't care! Answer my question boy, or so help me God I'll give you a lickin." The man growled, shoving James into the building wall. I wanted to help, I really did, but the only thing I was seeing was my father doing that to many other men; my brother protecting me from rival gang members when I was twelve. 

  "Yes, Uncle Sam. I thought I could just leave. You're drunk all the time I wasn't really expecting you to notice an empty room," James spoke, his voice growing hard as he drew in confidence.