As soon as he was done playing his game, he closed the app and lay on his bed to rest. He was tired mentally. The fact that he couldn't rest his whole body still bothered him from time to time, but at least there were no side effects.
However, he was two minutes into his rest when his phone beeped, indicating a new message. He sighed lightly and reached for his phone again. If it was work, he would need to suspend it till midnight.
But it was from Charles.
"Dude, what's up? Is there any chance you can come to my house? We're having a mini party, don't worry, it's parents' approved. It's fine if you don't come".
He read the message and couldn't help but smile. He had known that he would contact him. While the last-minute party wasn't in his plan, he can adjust his schedule to create space.
This wasn't something he would do to anyone, ever. The fact that he would make such a change for Charles showed how special he was to him. Apart from the Harts, Charles was the only person that saw who he was behind his skin.
"That wasn't what I planned for, but I'll be there. What's the time of the party?". He typed the message and sent it. Seconds later, he replied. "10:30 am. It's only gonna be two hours, I promise", he said.
He's already fine with the time, as it didn't affect his plans at all. He was supposed to go to the electronic store at nine, but he could do that while coming back from his house.
With that in mind, he went to the bathroom and cleaned himself to prepare for the day.
- - - - - - - - - -
James arrived at Charles' place at around 10:15 am, fifteen minutes earlier than the assigned time. The outside garden was already decorated with lights and balloons, adding a festive atmosphere.
He knocked once and waited. Seconds later, the door opened, and Charles' figure appeared at the entrance. When he saw James, he grinned widely and ushered him in.
As soon as he was done playing his game, he closed the app and lay on his bed to rest. He was tired mentally. The fact that he couldn't rest his whole body still bothered him from time to time, but at least there were no side effects.
However, he was two minutes into his rest when his phone beeped, indicating a new message. He sighed lightly and reached for his phone again. If it was work, he would need to suspend it till midnight.
But it was from Charles.
"Dude, what's up? Is there any chance you can come to my house? We're having a mini party, don't worry, it's parents' approved. It's fine if you don't".
He read the message and couldn't help but smile. He had known that he would contact him. While the last-minute party wasn't in his plan, he can adjust his schedule to create space.
This wasn't something he would do to anyone, ever. The fact that he would make such a change for Charles showed how special he was to him. Apart from the Harts, Charles was the only person that saw who he was behind his skin.
"That wasn't what I planned for, but I'll be there. What's the time of the party?". He typed the message and sent it. Seconds later, he replied. "10:30 am. It's only gonna be two hours, I promise", he said.
He's already fine with the time, as it didn't affect his today's plans at all. He was supposed to go to the electronic store at nine, but he could do that while coming back from his house.
With that in mind, he went to the bathroom and cleaned himself to prepare for the day.
- - - - - - - - - -
James arrived at Charles' place at around 10:15 am, fifteen minutes earlier than the assigned time. The outside garden was already decorated with lights and balloons, adding a festive atmosphere.
He knocked once and waited. Seconds later, the door opened, and Charles' figure appeared at the entrance. When he saw James, he grinned widely and ushered him in.
"It's great that you came early, I need an extra hand in here", he said and handed a stack of plates to him. "Feels like a decade ago the last time I came here", James said.
Charles chuckled lightly. "And when I told you it's been long, you thought I was joking with you", he said. "How are they?" He was referring to the Harts. "They're doing great in fact. Maribel was making pie for us when I left, so I'm in for a treat", James licked his lips to emphasize his statement.
"Send a quarter to me, would you?" Charles said with a grin. Then, his face became sober. "How about Josh?"
"He's handling the grounding well, at least. This morning, he came to my room and wanted to pick a fight with me, but apart from that, he's doing great", James explained.
He felt no empathy for Josh at all. If he knew the pain he had to go through the time he succeeded in planting that vile photos on his computer, he would be grateful that at least, his parents still talk to him.
James was given another chance to avoid that mistake, and he didn't waste it.
Charles nodded lightly. James dropped the plates on the dining table before they headed outside to the garden to set up the tables. Turning to James, Charles said.
"You know, Josh has been contacting me for the past two weeks now. While the conversation was mostly about school resumption and game updates, something told me he wanted me to spread rumours about his grounding.
"I made the mistake to ask him what happened, and before I knew it, he began sending mass messages about how you took his position from his family, how you made his mother hate him and the likes".
This time, Charles wasn't smiling. "I had to put my cellphone in silent because it was just ringing ceaselessly", he paused for a while to allow James to digest the information.
"I should expect that from someone like him", James said wryly. "Of course, I didn't believe him. The day I saw him bully you the last time you were here was the time I was opportune to see the dark side of him.
"But I still want three of us to be friends. I've known Josh since third grade, so I don't want to sever my friendship with him, at least not yet".
James looked at Charles and couldn't help but sincerely admire him. His personality was so cool and refreshing. Despite seeing the terrible side of Josh, he still wanted to maintain his relationship with him.
Why couldn't people be more like him?
"Don't worry, I'm not mad at him, not at all. Living under the same roof, I have to contend with his constant bickering and tongue lashing, but still, I'm cool with him", James assured.
Charles grinned again and handed him a tray. "Alright, so about your skin, what's the level…". They chatted about their game stats for a while before people gradually began populating the garden.
- - - - - - - - - -
Thanks to the unfavourable weather, the plane had to land at the airport nearest to it. Varvara almost screamed with frustration. She has endured a whole three hours next to a crying baby and a snoring old man.
As soon as the plane was grounded, the passengers poured out to relieve themselves. Varvara walked out of the plane as pissed as she could be. What was worse, the internet was very bad, also a huge thanks to the weather.
She found a place to sit in the waiting area before taking out her laptop and connecting it with her portable MiFi.
It was still four hours to Massachusetts. If Varvara added the time for the weather to become plane-suitable, she estimated six hours or more before she arrived there.
She was already exhausted, both physically and mentally. She closed her laptop and headed to the vending machine to buy a snack for herself. She had no idea how her mom was faring in the hands of that stranger, but she hoped for the best.
She was so deep in her thoughts that she went on autopilot. As a result, she was oblivious to the card the put into the vending machine. She selected a bar of Kit-Kat chocolate and took out her card.
Heading back to her seat, she continued in her search for a suitable hotel to lodge. There were many choices, but the ones closest to her target were where she placed more attention.
As soon as she found the one that fancied her, she booked a week's worth of hotel, before deciding to rest her eyes.
It didn't take up to three minutes before she began hearing commotions coming from the airport's lobby. Two airport security came out of there and approached a man in his twenties.
She perked her ears to listen to the conversation while keeping her eyes closed at the same time.
"Hello, mister. Do you by any chance bought a bar of Kit-Kat chocolate on the vending machine over there?" The busty security woman asked, pointing at the vending machine, the same vending machine Varvara went to buy her chocolate delicacy.
Varvara opened her eyes in an instant and checked the card she used.
It was a cloned card!