Numb

Numb Ch. 4

"You're an asshole, Jed Summers. I can't believe I agreed to go out with you." Sasha gave him a look of disgust before grabbing her sister's hand and pulling her from the galleria, despite Natasha's protests.

Zeb cleared his throat at James. "If you'll just sign here..."

"Yeah, yeah, I know the drill." James was used to being invited out to dinner by his brother then having to pay the price of the gourmet meal because Jed was too inebriated to even think properly. Which was why he always managed to snag his father's black card before he left the house.

Zeb appeared back with the card and as James went to reach for it, their hands touched. Electricity shot up his arm and his heart started beating irregularly. James jumped out of his seat, but his legs were like jelly and he wobbled on them. Zeb stared at him in surprise. James shook his head.

"Night," he said in a gruff voice. He cleared his throat.

"Good night, James." He looked up at the use of his name. "Sweet dreams. Don't let the bed bugs bite." Zeb picked up the check and walked back to the kitchen, leaving James in a daze. Then he snapped himself out of it and tucked the card into his wallet.

He walked outside to his brother ranting and raving and only put in enough effort to drag his brother to the parking lot, then he let the valets deal with the rest.

Walking leisurely down the sidewalk to where his car was parked, James stuffed his hands into his pockets. His breath came out in white puffs and when they cleared he recognized the pretty blonde twins shivering in the cold night air.

"Need a ride?" he grunted when he reached them. Startled, Sasha's head whipped fast around, but she relaxed into a smile when she saw James' face.

"You don't have to..." He knew it meant yes, but she was too modest to ask for one. James went out of his way to make sure Sasha sat in the front and Natasha didn't. If he could, he would've made her sit in the trunk.

He cranked up the warm air and sighed when his face started to defrost. The ride was quiet and James was entirely grateful for that. He never was one for mindless chatting. Sasha directed him to her house and when he dropped her off she gave him a big hug and smile and said thanks. Then Natasha rubbed her lips on his and he almost punched her. Alas, however, he didn't. So he drove to the place he called supposedly called home and crashed onto his five-person bed.

No one tucked him in.

No one kissed his head.

No one said good night... But Zeb did and he kept replaying his sweet words over and over in his head, until he fell asleep with his arm behind his head and smile on his face.

~*~

When James was underwater, he could be himself. There were no lies, no secrets. He could be James, the confused, scared boy who loved everything his father hated. He could smile underwater and nobody would be there to gasp. He felt happy, like he wanted to giggle, a feeling he hadn't felt in a long time. Some people would think it weird, but James actually liked the ache of his lungs. It made him remember he was alive, because nothing else did. And it didn't necessarily hurt him to hold his breath for so long. It let him know he wasn't alone, that he had something to help him live. It was a large thought process for something as invisible as oxygen, but James didn't care.

However, he did need to refill his lungs, so he resurfaced and inhaled deeply, floating on his back and letting his skin soak up whatever sun peeked through the sun roof of the school's indoor pool.

"Oh, James-y! Honey-boo!" called a mocking voice. James' head snapped up as his feet sank down. Heaving a sigh, he swam over to the edge of the pool as Zeb knelt next to his head.