{A/N: I’m sorry it took 500 years to update. Here, have a cookie.}
P.S.- Dedicated to @psyducktive (Carcar =D) bc she is awesome. Go read her story ‘Right Beside Serendipity’ ! It’s reaaally nice *cough cough* @BigEars431 =)) PS: I’ll find your house soon. :D
CHAPTER NINE- Bonding
“Aw!” May gushed “You two look so cute tangled up like that!” I rolled my eyes at the word ‘cute’ and struggled to try to let my hand breath. Stupid game of twister destroying my body parts.
“You call this cute?!” James cried “If this is what staying with you guys meant then I do kind of regret staying here”
“Then why’d you volunteer to be the martyr dumb ass?” I retorted. May span the tiny arrow which landed on color green. She spun it again and it landed on the picture of James’ left arm.
“I don’t know,” he shrugged “I guess I wanted to see what is it like to be hanging out with you guys, since Em is so comfortable around you”
Cue the overheating cheeks.
He was curious? Aw how sweet. Not.
“Argh” We both grumbled. We were both stuck in levels we didn’t imagine were possible. His right leg was nowhere to be found and my hands were buried deep in the mat “You lost this game on purpose May!” I yelled as she snapped some more pictures on her phone and giggled like a little girl on Christmas. This was not entertaining. This is complete and utter torture. Everyone knows that twister is the most impossible game to play if you mix an arrogant bastard and a hot-headed weirdo.
“Cupcake,” James called out. This time his voice was strained, like he was scared of something. “Yeah?”
“I think my legs can’t handle it any longer” He rasped
“Think my arms wouldn’t feel the same?” I said, starting to feel weak and feel the blood unable to circulate in my body. It’s freaking purple already for heaven’s sake. This game was going to be the death of me. I swear when I have children I vow to never let them experience this as ‘family fun’.
“You two are such drama queens” May says. She’s stopped taking pictures on her phone and turned to spin the arrow of our hell of a game called twister. The arrow had stopped on a foot. James’ foot I think. May spins another arrow and this time it lands on the color red which is right in front of me
Motherfricking fantastic, I think to myself Why am I friends with May again?
James lets out a few incoherent words and proceeded to ‘put his foot in front of me without losing’. Unfortunately, the world and all its creatures despise of my presence and decided to make a little joke on me and make James land on me. Did I mention that he weighs like an elephant mixed with a hippo giving birth?
“Fuck” We say, the same time May says “Aw!” and takes her phone out again and snap another picture. I look over at James and to say that we were both in a bad situation would be an understatement. His hair was sticking out in all places; there were undone buttons on his shirt. Okay well maybe I looked like a mess and he definitely looked like one of those hot male models –
Okaay, Em. We’re going way too far now.
“Is the hour over?” May asks like she hasn’t done anything wrong that might cause years of damage to both of us. James pulls out his phone and stares at the time “We still have about forty minutes” He announces and I groan, pushing him off of me and slumping on the chair.
“You know that hurt, right?” James teases and I stick my tongue out to him. He just chuckles and lies down on the floor while May continues to ramble on about some stuff.
+++
Oh Damn, I really need pizza right now. Like really really need pizza.
This is the longest forty minutes of my life and it’s starting to bore the shuck out of me. James is getting pretty annoyed by the moment as for every three minutes she constantly asks him what time is it and how many minutes more till they leave this --- as I quote it : ‘Hellhole’ and get the work done with.
“Mio” May calls out. James’ head snaps into her direction with a glare as she sinks in her seat “I have a question,” She says “Will you answer it?”
“Depends on what you got, Collins” He answers bluntly.
“How come you still wanted to be Em’s friend though she started shutting people out?” She asks and I choke on my own saliva. May and James just stared at me with puzzled faces as I continued to choke organs out. “Why?” I direct the question towards her and she shrugs “If you don’t wanna listen well then put these earphones on and pick a song of choice on t-he highest volume” She throws me her (expensive) phone and earphones and I plug them in and drown myself to the world of radio songs.
The soothing first lyrics came into my head, and soon, I had blocked May and James out and started tapping my pencil to the beat. May was actually right because she did have good music taste. At the last chorus my—I mean May’s earphones were ripped out of my ears.
“Detention’s done, cupcake. Now let’s go clean up the playground”
Oh hurray me.
+++
May had went to the park for cleaning service and I was stuck with James. Oh the ever so lovely (insert sarcasm) James Parker who had been whistling non-stop to the tune of All of Me for the past three minutes.
“Taking your car, Jamey-James?” I teased as we reached the parking lot. He smirked devilishly at me and nodded, getting into the driver’s seat of his expensive car.
Damn, he was rich.
“So… children’s playground, huh?” I said as we sped down. I knew this childrens park because this is where I played when I was a little kid. It has that big oak tree in the middle where older children get to carve their names on and play around with the swing. But since technology had taken its course, only a few children go to the park and mess around.
“Yup,” He replied “Figured we could also play after were done with the work” He winked
“In your dreams Parker”
“If you mean yourself then yes cupcake you’re in my dreams” my cheeks had turned red and I looked a smirking figure “Jerk” I swatted his arm and he just chuckled slightly. He was joking Emily I reminded myself. Yeah. He’s just messing with my little brain
As if it wasn’t already screwed up as it is already.
“Wanna do something fun?” he suggested. My eyebrows flicked up as I saw his devilish brown eyes flicker to mine for a millisecond. “Depends on your definition of fun,” I reply “If you are a fun guy”
Then the car immediately went to a complete stop as James had looked at me with playful mocking anger. “What did you say cupcake?”
My smile grew wider “I was questioning your level of fun Jamey-James”
And that ladies and gentlemen, is how you end up fifteen minutes later in a pen war with James Parker in his extremely expensive car.
“Damn it James!” I yelled as I jerked my hand away from the forthcoming pen. He laughed like a little boy and aimed for my other arm causing me to grunt in annoyance. “Kind of unfair that you have written all over me and I haven’t even scored” I complained
“Life is unfair” He said bluntly
“Are we there yet?” I asked
“No”
“Are we there yet?”
“Shut up, Em”
This time, I really wanted revenge whenever I looked at my arms. Full of different patterns and lines I cant even distinguish. So the next time he had looked at me, I launched myself onto him (ungracefully, may I add) and started scribbling random stuff onto him. He had a hard time pushing me off him because he was holding my waist and struggling to make my hands go away from his face
“This is unfair,” He cried “I wasn’t ready!”
“Life is unfair James” I said smirking and quoting his previous statement. He rolled his eyes and said nothing as he continued to be silent and let me draw all sorts of patterns on his neck until I realized that It looked like I was straddling him. I quickly retreated back to my seat and stared at him feeling the blush creep up my neck.
“We’re here” He announced awkwardly as I read the sign ‘Children’s playground’ in rusty metal.
I smiled a bit. I haven’t seen this place in a long, long time
+++
“James!” was all I heard when I entered the park. James, Jamey-James (ah, these children) and Mister brown eyes were the names I heard. I looked at James and saw that he was carrying different children I didn’t know that he knew and swinging them back and forth. Wow, he could be great with kids.
“JAMES” the little blond girl with the loudest voice made her way onto James’ leg. James chuckled loudly and swung his leg making the girl scream “Get off me Emily” he said and I was puzzled. Get off him? For what? Was I even clinging onto him like a magnet?
“Emily Rogers.” Was all James said.
“Huh?”
“You have the same name as this little girl here” he smiled and swung Emily again. She giggled so loudly I swear she reminded me of a mini-May. She was so cute! And I had the same name as hers! Oh life.
“Who’s the pretty girl?” a small guy asked which emerged a blush onto my cheeks. Man, these guys were so little yet they know how to make a girl blush. How is that even…?
“This is Emily Montez” he emphasized my last name so others could understand “and she’s helping me clean up this place you little rascals dirtied up”
“Wasn’t me” was all he yelled before disappearing to the sand box.
“You come here often?” was all I could ask James. Heck, I could ask this guy a million questions. But what had concerned me was that James freaking Parker, the hot guy from my school, hangs out with these little children at the playground?
Well they do say ‘Do not judge a book by it’s cover’… eh, screw that I needed answers
“I come here once a week,” He replies casually “These children are so pesky that they always make a mess out of this place. I was assigned here alone at first but then I started to like these guys so I hung out more.”
“But… How?”
“Because I’m very friendly” he replied nonchalantly, boosting his ego up by a few hundred percent. I rolled my eyes. Nevermind then.
“So… Were gonna clean with Em here today, kids” He said and all the children stared at me
Holy shit eyeballs on me.
“Is she your girlfriend?” One of them asked. James had looked taken aback and he quickly recomposed himself while sliding an arm around my shoulder “Nah. Were just good friends” He replied giving me a breath taking cheeky smile and patting my head.
“Now no more questions. First one to help me clean up the station gets a dollar for jellybeans” He smirked and all the kids ran to their ‘station’. I saw James pick up a rake (out of nowhere?) and hand one to me. All the questions were burning in me. I don’t know wether to keep them or ask them.
That all burned away when I saw James sitting on the swing set and playing on his phone.
I walked out to him and he just stared, and went back to his phone. “You’re using these children and bribing them?” I couldn’t help the ice in my voice that made him stare at me “I’m not using them,” He defended “I’m just taking a break”
“Bullshit” was all I said and I walked away. I went first to the seesaw since the kids there were surely having a hard time wiping it clean. Ugh, the nerve of that guy! A second or two I actually believed he was nice!
“Hey Emily” I greeted my name twin and she turned to look at me with a happy expression. “Hey there Emily” she replied and giggled. Aw, this is so cute!
“Does James make you do this every week?” I ask in the sweetest voice I could muster with the least venom in my voice. Seriously?! These children are too cute to be child labored. Emily looked up at me and said “Yes he does”
And I was so ready to pounce on that guy!
“But wait!” Emily had yelled once I was walking away to James “Please don’t make him disappear! He says his jellybeans come from Narnia! We cant have Narnia candy without James!” she pleaded and I rolled my eyes. James is such a jerk.
I looked at Emily and genuinely smiled “Emily, I’m sure I can get you some” I offered “if you allow me to make James disappear” she was hesitant at first but she saw the ‘light’ in my eyes and nodded. “Oh yeah Emily,” she turned around “Tell the other kids to go clean up and wait in the waiting area and play there. I’ll clean up”
“But—“ she tried to protest but I clamped her mouth shut
“Because I will treat you all some ice cream afterwards” I smirked as I saw her priceless reaction. Grinning toothlessly, she yelled at her loudest voice for them to wash up and play. Man, I swear this kid is like a mini-May sometimes.
Which brings me back to the point…
I grabbed two rakes and went over to the swing set where James was still mindlessly playing on his phone. I shoved the rake towards him as he was about to yell in victory
“Ah Hell yea—Hey ouch! Watch it—Em?”
I glared at him “Yes it’s Em, James” I sneered at him “the ever so loving clean up partner who asked the children to go inside and play around instead of cleaning up some job that wasn’t even supposed to be theirs” wow, I say a ton of stuff when I’m pissed.
James’ expression turned from annoyance to confusion “Why’d you send them inside?”
Seriously?! He had to actually ask this?
“Yes I did. Now grab the fucking rake and start sweeping before I report you to authorities for child laboring”
Instead of complying, he did something that pissed me off even more.
He just stared at me then continued his phone business.
That’s it.
I grabbed his phone and ran away, leaving him there. I ran to the shed where the kids were playing and hid among the slides.
“EMILY” I could hear James’ voice raging with pure annoyance entered the shed. I spotted Emily and motioned her to come and hide me. She ran to me and pretended to fix her pigtails so James couldn’t see me.
“Hey Emily,” James called. I froze in my spot. Holy shit I’m in deep shit. How do I explain this situation without dying of hysteric laughter? Should I run away? No, I couldn’t. He was blocking the exit. Well then I had to choose plan B. stay frozen in my spot and pray that Emily won’t reveal me.
“Yes James?” she had replied sweetly. Come on, Emily, you can do this.
“Have you seen your twin?” He asked in a mocking sweet manner
Emily pretended not to know who her ‘twin’ was. “Twin? What twin?”
“The pretty girl who has you name” Shit he called me pretty? He’s just distracting you, remember
Oh yeah.
“Oh you mean Emily Montez? Nope I haven’t seen her” she replied quickly which made James quirk his eyebrow
“So you don’t mind if I slide a bit here?” he gestured to the slide I was currently hiding in. James made his way onto the ladder but Emily shielded him “Okay, okay!” she yelled
Oh man.
“Emily went out and promised us that she would buy ice cream because she said we were working too much so she went there now!”
Remind me to love Emily at all times.
James raised an eyebrow and said nothing else. He stood up, ruffled Emily’s hair and mumbled a ‘Wait there’ to everyone. Once he disappeared from the door, I stood up a little and saw Emily’s go signal so I stood completely. Once having stretched out my muscles, something warm had wrapped around my waist.
“Gotcha” It was James.
And I shrieked in surprise. Holy fudge! How did he get there? How did her reenter? Did he know this whole time? What’s gonna happen to me? Am I going to die? Oh dear merciful Lord don’t let me die. There are about a billion things I still need to do.
“So, cupcake. Thought you could hide from me?” Apparently yes my mind silently replied. His arms were still wrapped around me and my heart was accelerating as if I was just running a marathon. Suddenly, thunder came and soon rain.
What scared me the most was James’ wicked expression.
“Kids,” all the attention was to him “Go play in the slide here and no fighting. I’ll just go outside and have a little talk with Emily” then suddenly Emily two appeared and started clinging on his leg.
“Please don’t banish Emily!” she yelled “She told me to hide her so you wouldn’t see her! Please don’t!”
This kid is honestly amazing.
“Sorry kid. Have to talk with Em Em here for a while. Take care of this would ya?” I checked my pockets to see if I was dreaming. He had actually grabbed his phone? How? When? What?
And I was swept up into the air and into the rain.
“James! Put me down!” I shrieked. James just laughed, oblivious to his clothes that were already soaking and the same for me. “This, cupcake, is punishment for taking my phone” then he dropped my into the mud puddle.
Great, so much for cleaning up.
My clothes were covered from top to bottom with mud, my hair was filled with mud, and James is just standing there looking so pleased. So as every other person could get back at one another, I had pulled James down into the mud puddle with me.
“Aw, fuck!” he cried and I laughed, finally seeing pain from him. He gave me a glare and nothing else and started splatting mud onto my face like a person putting face paint. His hands were still a tad bit warm and it actually felt good to feel his warm hand on my face. I actually found myself suddenly closing my eyes to his touch and I remembered. It was mud.
“Ew James!” I yelled and splatted some onto him. Since he also smudged my face with mud, I decided to smudge some too. So I grabbed some mud, put it all around his cheeks and forehead, then started to slowly get up from my position until he dragged me down onto him.
Dear humans, how do you breathe?
He got closer and closer and whispered in my ear “Maybe you should get detention more”
Maybe I did.
+++
Once we were all cleaned up (more like, dried up with mud) , James and I had said goodbye to the kids and we went into James’ car. He didn’t—I mean we didn’t actually clean since everytime it rained, someone else professional would do the job since rust would get us infected. The radio was quietly playing some songs and we just both sat there with the heater turned up. It was still raining and we couldn’t see the village clearly.
“So.. “ here we are back to the awkward car ride “Emily really liked you” he said rubbing his neck
“Oh really?” I said in fake enthusiasm, the anger that faded a while ago had come back. I made sure to have an icy glare at him for extra points.
“I could tell” he shrugged.
I stayed silent.
“Em?”
Stay quiet, Emily.
“Cupcake?”
Shut up do not speak Emily.
“Okay I give up,” he sighed and I looked at him, puzzled “I’m sorry if I was acting like a jerk to the kids and making them clean up the playground”
And that’s now my cue to widen my eyes.
He was apologizing.
Wow.
“And I’m sorry for being such a douche and making us both covered in mud”
Wow.
“Let me replace those clothes” he said, and I started to feel self-conscious.
“No no no no,” I waved my hands to him “You don’t need to. It’s fine.”
“No really I insist, I—“ I cut him off
“James. Stop. It doesn’t matter. I had fun today” I shocked myself with my own words. Had I really enjoyed today? Hell yes I did. I discovered bone-breaking games, met new kids and played with James. His eyes skimmed over at me as If I was joking. “You’re kidding me right? I put mud on you. How is that fun?”
“Told you we both have different definitions of fun” I smirked at him.
“Different indeed” He smiled
------------------------END OF CHAPTER 9------------------------------------------
A/N: holy shiz I haven’t updated in a month (I think). I’m so sorry guys. I’m so sorry. *stabs self*
Certain reasons on why I haven’t updated:
>writer’s block
>no inspiration (you DON’T wanna know this prolly)
>books (the fandoms.)
>I need to study
>My laptop is literally slower than a snail
Well, I hope this ‘romance’ stuff has calmed your tits somehow.
Congratulations too for @thebluewaves for your 1k reads! So happy for you :*
Well, see you in the next 500 years 8D
~juleh <4