If there's a fire

3.

James Madison spent the next two months wallowing in self pity.

He worked, he cleaned, he took care of his father, who had somehow fallen ill, and he tried to take care of himself.

He didn't do that last one too well.

He forgot to eat quite a lot- sick men need more food than healthy teens do. He worked three jobs, just as his father did, and spent his free time arranging orchestra pieces and texting his new roommate.

The day came too quickly- James hadn't even had the chance to arrange a caretaker for his father- when he had to leave. He arrived at Kings academy on the 11th, the day he was supposed to arrive.

Everyone else was already their, except for a few others who just hadn't shown up yet. Thomas was, of course, still there.

James had noticed a significant two month change. Thomas wore his hair tied back, and he had bags under his eyes. He wore a big baggy sweater, which James saw no significant logo on, and his socks were just plain white as opposed to something Nike or printed, something that James could only afford in his dreams.

"Hey..." James smiled as he walked in. Thomas looked up from his laptop. He nodded.

"Hi." He said. His voice was a little croaky- like he hadn't talked in a while.

"What's... wrong? You seem different." James asked as he set his suitcase down. He only had one, unlike the others who he'd seen walking in with five or six.

"Nothing. Just have been so bored. I'm glad you're here." Thomas said. James was a little shocked.

"Oh. I'm glad I'm here too. It has been forever." He said. Thomas nodded. "Um- I saw John on the way in- he invited us to his and Alex's place for Pizza." James said. He smiled a little bit and Thomas smiled back.

"Yeah? Did he actually invite me?" Tj asked. He seemed kind of excited at the thought.

James nodded, not having the heart to tell him that John had told him to only bring him if he had to. James didn't understand why he would "have" to had bring Thomas, because he wanted to anyways.

The pair made their way to John and Alex's, standing close as they walked from their room to the other. James grabbed ahold of Thomas's hand- James wasn't really sure why he did it. When Thomas didn't let go, James smiled to himself, and they both proceeded to pretend that it hadn't happened and didn't acknowledge it.

"James! Thomas... good to see you both." Alex said, his voice sharp on both. John scoffed at Alex and pulled him out of the doorway.

"Hi guys! I snuck some Sam Adams in, as well as pizza. Come on in." He said, much nicer than Alex. James still smiled at the both of them.

The four watched Tv and drank until James had a headache and Thomas was drunk. Holy hell, Thomas was weird when he was drunk. James watched as Thomas rolled around the couch, groaning. He rolled towards James, landing beside him before he crashed into James's side.

"Woah- hi there, Sonic."

Thomas laughed until he hiccuped, cutting off his laughter. James smiled, feeling accomplished that he actually made Thomas laugh.

"Man- you're so cool. And I can't figure out why. Like- you don't talk. You're plain. But you're like... mystical... are you a wizard? If you're a wizard I won't tell anyone..."

Thomas and James paused. Thomas let out a yell.

"JOHN. JAMES IS A WIZARD OH MY GOD-" Thomas yelled. He left the room to find John, leaving Alex and James together.

"So much for not telling anyone I'm a wizard." James scoffed. Alex chuckled.

"Tj... is hard." Alex said. "How do you put up with him?" He asked. James shrugged.

"He's fun. He's nice to me, and quirky. I've not gotten to know him that much. The first day was awkward- he didn't know he was getting a roommate and then he got me. Of course- he wasn't exactly ecstatic. But he seems to like me now." James shrugged. That was the most He'd ever said to anyone here other than Thomas.

"Oh? You actually like him?" Alex asked, shocked.

"What's not to like?" James asked. Alex laughed.

"W-wait... you're being serious. Oh. I mean- he's pretentious-" James nodded, agreeing- "he's an asshole to John-" He nodded, agreeing- "he's obnoxious," He shrugged, half agreeing- "and he's a spoiled brat." Alex finished.

"See- it's probably because I don't know him, but I think he's just... confused, or hiding his real self." James said. Alex thought for a moment.

"I never thought of it like that." He said, and before James could respond, John dragged Thomas back into the room.

"Please use your wizardry to make him about fifty pounds lighter, dear lord-" John said. He threw a giggling Thomas onto the couch beside James, and he chuckled.

"I think it's time we go. And I need to get you back to our dorm before you spill any of my other classified secrets, mister."

"No- no, James, I swear I didn't tell anyone- John, don't tell James I told you-" Thomas shouted at John, who was now sitting with Alex. James laughed, standing and helping Thomas up.

He felt... happy. For a second, James had forgotten about everything. As he carefully dragged Thomas down the hall, He felt the worries of the rest of the world falling off of his heavy shoulders. It was like his sick father never existed- and he almost didn't worry about him- and his mother wasn't even someone he thought about every day. It was just him, James Madison.

Well. James and Thomas.

James and Thomas, against the world.