Charlus was back at the Raider Manor.
Except this time, he was standing right outside the Rolling Balcony and like last time, he wasn't alone.
James was wearing the same clothes the last time Charlus had seen him. The same rimless specs and red converse. He was standing all alone, looking down at the enchanting hill as if no time had passed.
Charlus wanted to tackle him into a bear hug, mess up his hair and leave fingerprints all over his clean glasses. He wanted to tease him relentlessly over his childish love for Delia and hear one of his God awful songs.
But he was afraid because the last time he'd tried to step forward, Charlus ended up waking up from his trance. He could stand there all year long just to look at James, alive and still from a dream.
"Charlie Blue," said James, "come on, I've been waiting for you."
Charlus's heart caught up in his mouth, of course he wanted to go but he was afraid to wake up.
"Don't be afraid," he said, "come on."
Even dead, he trusted James more than himself or anyone around him. His hand traveled to his chest, his heart was beating too loud for his own good.
He squeezed his eyes shut and took the step forward.
He stayed still for what seemed to be hours, if there was anything he was afraid more than stepping forward, it was opening his eyes.
"Charlie," there was a hint of whimsy in his voice, "you're still here."
He opened his eyes, Charlus was still at the Rolling Balcony and a step closer to him. His breath elevated manifold times, tears were running down his eyes so intensely that once came a moment where he couldn't even see James's face clearly.
Chalrus ran towards James.
A hearty laugh escaped from James's lips as he stumbled backwards from Charlus's engulf. He wrapped his arms tightly around his brothers shoulders, grasping at his black shirt as if he still couldn't believe the moment was real.
Charlus had imagined the moment a thousand times in the past twenty years. To have one last conversation with James, to mess up his hair for one last time and leave fingerprints all over his clean glasses.
James still smelled like an old song from a forgotten old movie or tape he used to live so much. He could swear the moment reminded him of a day back when James was still alive and Charlus was still young.
"That was a long hug," James laughed as he parted away, "my God, you missed me this much?"
Charlus playfully punched his shoulder, "Shut up, Jamsie."
James smiled as he looked forwards towards the roaring ocean of grass and rocks. A sad yet sweet smile was spread on his face. "It's been more than forty years..." he sighed, "This place still hasn't lost its charm."
Charlus nodded, it was true that the place hadn't lost its charm, it looked exactly like it had twenty years ago. He was with James the only thing missing was the Marijuana they grew behind Mrs. Raiders garden and the cigars they nicked from Mr. Raiders stash.
"How is everyone?" Asked James eagerly, "your mother, father... ah, Joanne! And maybe..." he sneezed the word Diane.
Charlus laughed, "Really? You wanna know how my mother and father are doing and not your son?"
"Oh! Yeah, my son," he said sarcastically, "how's Christopher?"
"Who's Christopher?"
"Um... My son?" James scoffed, "get a load of this guy!"
He started to pat his back in a crazy manner, Charlus slipped from underneath his grip. "His name is Ash."
"Ash?" James looked surprised, "Diane named him
Ash? So all it took for her to give him my favoured name was my death?!"
"Ironic, right?"
James broke in a laugh. "I could never understand hee mind, so twisted and..." he broke into a grin, "how is he?"
"Who?"
"Ash," James leaned against the railing, "come on, fill me in."
Charlus didn't have enough talks with Ash to tell his friend how he turned out. But he had never once missed any of his match. Of course, he didn't mean it when he told Ash he wasn't as good of a trainer his father was. The truth was, Ash was just as good. Maybe even better. The bond he shared with his Pokemon was something Red and Blue could've never achieved.
From his battles, he felt that he knew him enough.
"An amazing master," said Blue.
"He's a Pokemon Master?" James marvelled.
Blue nodded, "You son did what we could never do, he's... just amazing James. So..." a sigh broke his lips.
His friend couldn't help but gush over his description of his spawn. "And what about Dex? Is Spandex with him too?"
The broken smile on Charlus's face said it all.
James looked down, "How?"
"Something called a broken heart syndrome," he leaned against the balcony, "I'm sorry buddy."
The raven haired nodded, "There was nothing you could've done."
Charlus bit his lip, of course there was something he could've done. He could've adopted Dex, after all, he was the only one who knew the pain of losing his family, perhaps even the last one.
"Is something wrong?"
Charlus shook his head, "I'm with you, Jamsie, everything is okay."
"Just okay?"
Charlus didn't answer.
"Aah! You're missing someone. Let's see who it is..." he playfully tapped his finger on his chin, "Grace? No... your son? Who am I kidding, of course not!" James laughed but stopped suddenly, "...you better not be sleeping with my Diane, Charlie! I mean I am obliged to say I want your happiness but... She's my Diane!"
Charlus hit his arm. "I would never do that to you, fuckface." A chuckle escaped his lips, "It's... Grace... she lied to me about her daughter's age, she's older than what she told."
The smile on James's face quickly disappeared. A look of pure horror took over his face as he said with concern, "Charlus... I know you had a thing for Grace but her daughter? That's... I know you had a thing for younger girls but—"
This time, Charlus hit James until he fell back on back.
"Stop it!" He laughed, "one might think you'd have some respect for the dead!"
"Don't fool around," his grip around the railing tightened, "it's not like that... Serena is... I don't know something just feels..."
James nodded in understatement, as if he knew exactly what Charlus wanted to say.
"You know when we were ten and we decided to grow weed in the backyard?"
Charlus nodded.
"When we decided to cut it, you said something was different because it looked funny and smelled funky?"
"And then you cursed me a million times and accused me of being Mrs Charlene Goody-two shoes?"
"Yeah," he started laughing.
"Said that I should start braiding my hair?"
"Okay now—"
"And that my wallet was too small for my feminine hygiene products?"
"All right I get—"
"And then you ended up smoking them anyway and they turned out to be poisonous and you were horribly injured and in the brick of death?"
"Yeah," he laughed again, "my point is... even then you had a great judgement about things."
"So?"
James put his arm behind Charlus's shoulder and gave it a squeeze. "Whatever you're doubting, you're correct."
Charlus sighed and returned his side hug, "If only it were that simple Jamsie... if only."
The moment they were sharing was so lovely that for a moment Charlus had forgotten it wasn't real. Any moment he was going to wake up and James wasn't going to be there anymore.
The thought brought tears to his eyes.
"What's wrong?" Asked James.
Charlus tried putting on a brave face. "Nothing," he shook his head.
"Come on," he wailed like a baby, "tell me."
Charlus stated into James's auburn brown eyes and broke down into ugly tears. Even though he wasn't there anymore, just a memory was enough for him to roll down in tears. And now, James himself stood in front of him. He was shocked that he hadn't died from the sight alone.
"I've been so lonely without you," he cried.
James messed up Charlus's lush brown hair, "What are you, a rabbit? Come on Charlie, be strong."
"I... I don't want to," he cried, "I... I don't want to anymore."
"I'm here now, look at how far you've come along! You're so old and white! I'll admit it's a shame you got old but—"
"It's a shame you didn't."
James stopped in midair, a sigh escaped his lips as he turned towards the roaring ocean. "It's a shame, aye," said he, "but I loved my boy and my wife, Charlie, I would've sacrificed myself earlier if it guaranteed their safety."
Before he could answer, Charlus felt the similar tug he had back the first time he came. Tears escalated down his eyes as he felt pulled away from the existence.
"I don't want to go," he said.
"I'm dead, Charlie."
"Then I am too!"
"You're not," he messed up his hair, "you're more alive than I could ever be."
"But—"
James took off his glasses before he could complete the sentence. "Here," he offered them to his estranged friend, "go on, mess it up."
Charlus felt hesitant.
"I'll be here, always." Said James, a placid smile etched on his face. "I'll be waiting for you when you're ready."
Charlus looked at the entrance and then at James, tears streaming down his face. "About the... I... I didn't... I never wished death on you."
James smiled as Charlus was sucked out of the pleasant dream. "I know you didn't, Charlie Blue."
"But your son—"
"If he's anything like me," said Red, "he knows."
Charlus let go, in a matter of seconds, he was sucked out from his pleasant dream once again.