If there's a fire

6.

////How would you guys feel if I wrote a Lams fic? I've got an idea, I just need to know how it would be received. And should it be first or third person?////

Making up with Thomas was harder than James thought it would be.

James figured he would apologize and Thomas would realize his ways- well, one can't apologize when the person they're trying to talk to pretends that they don't exist.

"Thomas- can we talk?- I'm s-sor-"

Thomas continued to walk across the room and towards the kitchen as if nothing had been said.

"I'm so sorry that I lied-"

Thomas visibly turned the music on his phone up, ignoring James, the lower class.

James was expecting a notice telling him that he'd been given a new room, as the only reason Thomas hadn't had his daddy change who he was rooming with was because, for a second, he liked James.

Finally the two were alone.

The first week had just ended, and Thomas had nothing to do as James practiced his newest Viola piece. He'd tried out and been given first chair Viola in orchestra, and was quite happy about that.

Margarita got last- but that's beside the point.

"Can you be quieter? I have a headache." Thomas said weakly. James quickly stopped.

"I'm sorry- I'll stop for now." James said. He had been playing an awful lot lately.

"No- it's okay- I like hearing you play. It's just really intense... do you know anything softer?" Thomas asked, looking over at James. Thomas had prominent bags under his eyes and he looked very pale. James almost felt bad for him.

He instantly began playing. It was a soft song, something that James played when he was upset. It wasn't a difficult piece- it was just beautiful.

"That's really pretty." Thomas said.

"Thank you." James responded, not looking at Thomas even though he could feel Thomas staring at him.

"You look cute when you play." Thomas smiled. James had his tongue poking from the corner of his mouth, and sometimes when he got really into it he would close his eyes. Thomas was amazed by how James could play all of these songs just from memory. No wonder he got that scholarship.

He deserved it.

Thomas had thought a lot- and he knew he was wrong. James was just trying to protect himself and be friends with Thomas. That's all Thomas wanted, anyways- friends.

James blushed, focusing on not messing up or letting the compliment jumble his mind. He'd never been told he looked cute while he played.

"You must really love music, to be this good. And to get a full scholarship? I could never do that. The only thing I have is my dads money." Thomas said, chuckling dryly. He began to feel bad.

He had no talent. He was no one. Just another rich kid.

"I wish I were you." Thomas said. That finally made James stop, with a sickening screech of the bow on the metal strings.

"Why? Why would you ever wish you were me?" James asked, almost offended. His life sucked. James didn't often let himself say that, as he tried to be positive and take what he had, but it was the truth. His life sucked.

"Well... like, you have it all. And you're super talented." Thomas said. James rolled his eyes.

"No? I may be able to play an instrument or two but that's all I can do- I'm not an academic person in any way. And I have nothing. No, scratch that- I have a viola and a scholarship to Kings academy. That is it." James said. Thomas sat up.

"I'm only in because of my dad. I'm useless, otherwise."

"That's on you- make something of yourself! It took a lot of work to get where I am, and it's not like where I am will get me very far in life. But never wish to be someone else- especially not me. Your life would have to be literal hell for you to wish to be me." James explained.

Thomas felt tense. He didn't know what to do or say- he'd just said what he was thinking.

"Sorry." Thomas said.

"Sorry." James also said.

They sat in silence for a second.

"Will you teach me how to play the cello?" Thomas asked randomly, resting his head on his palms.

"Yeah- of course. We can get one from the orchestra room tomorrow- I'll help you." James said. The two then sat for a while more, before James returned to playing something soft, and Thomas returned to staring at the wall and thinking.

'I've made progress.' They both thought. 'Not long and I'll have him back.'

***

The next couple days had passed slowly. The pair obtained a Cello, and currently James was teaching Thomas how to read sheet music. If he wanted to get started, he had to know the basics first.

Thomas was a quick learner, that James praised him for. Every time James told him even so much as a simple, 'good job,' Thomas lit up.

"Today we're gonna actually play," James said. Thomas was excited. "But I'll teach you something simple. Like picking." He said, and Thomas nodded. The two had been warming back up to each other, and both were quite happy about that.

Orchestra sucked for James- he was always stuck around the others in first chair, and they were snooty. They hated that a scholarship kid was better than they were, but James couldn't help that he was good.

He and Peggy usually talked, as she was a few seats away. They just had to talk quite loudly. Peggy was nice, so he was glad to have a friend.

Thomas sat at the back and watched as the cellos played- he wanted to be there one day. He also saw James, always the quickest to figure out a new piece, and he wasn't sure if he was happy to have a crush on such an adorable, talented person, or if he was jealous of James. Either way, he didn't want to lose James.

With that thought, Thomas turned back to his phone as James looked his way, and Thomas pretended he hadn't been staring the entire time.

////Ur boi loves abrupt endings, doesn't he? Anyways. Hope u enjoyed.////