The ringing of a bell echoed throughout the whole school, ringing throughout the fields, schoolgrounds, bathrooms, corridors, and classrooms. Awakening James from his slumber.
It takes a couple of seconds for James to register himself, remember where he was and why he was there.
Finally, after collecting himself, he remembered he was in the old Gramps's classroom, sitting for detention, for two hours, because of that guy, who's name he still does not know.
Turning his head towards the left, he finds the seat where the boy he'd talked to awhile ago now empty.
"Must have left early I guess" James mumbled to himself, as he grabbed his school bag, stood up, and made his way towards the door, he took a quick glance at the only desk in front of the classroom, and as expected, he found the old Gramps still sitted there sorting out books.
"Umm... Sir, I'm gonna head out now. " Yeah, yeah, just make sure to close the door on your way out" the teacher said with the wave of his right hand without batting an eye towards the boy he was conversing with, too occupied at the moment with what he was doing.
"So... I guess I'll see you tomorrow?", "The day after that. I see you three times a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday.", "Got it sir. See ya on Weds". "Hmn".
The teacher only nods and gives a simple reply, focusing back on his current work.
James made his way to the door, out the classroom, exits out of the school building and made his towards the parking spot where he'd parked his car.
James's POV
I sigh loudly when I entered my car, sinking into my car seat to relax my exhausted body and mind from today, before starting it and making my off the school grounds and straight for the mall.
"I'm telling you man, I had it worse today than you".
"At least when you were locked in, someone came and let you out in time before register even started. Whereas I was late on my first day".
"Big deal. How does being late on your first day possibly worse than being locked in the washroom for thirty minutes".
"Trust me man, that's barely the bad thing that happened to me today".
"Please do enlighten me".
"I was already late when I got here, but still had to spend at least ten minutes trying to find a spot to park, since the entire school was already fucking packed".
"That's why I always told you to be early at school or else you wouldn't find a parking. Remember as a last resort you had to park next to Mrs Green's old rundown Buckie?"
"Bro why you remindin me of that, it was so embarrassing. That's one thing I won't miss back there".
"Is that it? Your day doesn't really sound all that depressing compared to mine".
"Depressing? You want depressing? Fine. Then I'll give you depressing".
I went on and on to Connor about my hellish day at school. How I was late, called a faggot, got in a fight and so on.
"Then I got in my car, headed to mall and decided to give you a call".
"..."
After finishing explaining my story, I hear nothing. Absolutely nothing on Connor's side of the line. I check my phone if the call was still on and it was. So now I'm even more confused.
"Hey Con, are you sti-" I trailed off, but came to an abroad stop as I heard it.The sound of muffled laughing... Ain't no way this mother fucker of a friend, no Best Friend is laughing at me right now.
"Connor? I swear to God. I am only warning you once. If you so much as to dare lau-"
I didn't get to finish before I was interrupted, again, when he started laughing, wait no, scratch that. He started kackling like a frickin hyena that heard something funny.
"Hahahaha! Oh. My. Goodness. Lord Jay! Depressing? You call this depressing?"
"That's why I was trying to tel-"
"This is fucking hilarious! Hahaha Comedy~Gold~!
"Wow thanks man. You always knew the right words to say to cheer up people, mostly me for some reason".
I mumbled my words as I rolled my eyes at him, thinking he's here physically with me, instead he's 2700 miles away from where I'm at.
After Connor calmed down from his hyena mode and back to my dumb, stupid, cocky, caring and loyal best friend.
Whom I miss, alot, I can gladly admit that, even aloud, but wish he were here with me, is something I'd never admit, or catch me saying, even to myself, no matter the circumstances. And is something we all know to be wishful thinking it even a miracle.
"Ma bad, ma bad, I shouldn't have laughed, it was a bitchy move".
"You got that right, asshole".
"Whoa, whoa, I said I was sorry, there's no need getting all bitchy about it with me".
"K! Fine! There's no need bite my ass about it too."
"Imma pretend that I didn't just hear that. But cheer up it's not all that bad".
"Yes it is Connor. What am I gonna tell my parents about my injury?"
Mom's totally gonna flip and want to come to school to see the parents of the child who had had a fight with me and'demand-an-apoligy-for-my-poor-baby. And dad? He's not gonna react at all, instead he's gonna laugh that I got into a fight in my first day. And probably try to 'train-me-into-shape' in case I get into 'another-fight'
"... What injury are you talking about?"
"Gee, I don't know, my busted up nose?"
"Hahaha..."
"Really dude?" I can't believe this guy right now.
"Sorry, ma bad. At least the good part is that now everyone knows not to mess with you, the bad part is.."
"Well what?"
"You might not be able to make any friends, since no one will want to approach you, but don't be bummed out though, you'll still get the ladies. Girl love a lil violent bad boy".
Connor chuckle with that hyena laugh of he's as if he talked logic, but he's just acting like he's typical brainless self.
"Making friends and girls are the least of my worries right now. That's a problem for next time. What am I gonna tell my parents when I get home?"
"Tell your parents what?"
Did I forget to mention that the size of his memory span is the size of a peanut?
"About my busted up nose, Con! Try to stay with me man".
"Hahahaha, I'm sorry for laughing, it's just that,... Pfft, hahaha"
"I don't have all day man" I reply feeling ticked off as I lose my patience.
"Sorry mate. But I'm sure it's not all that bad, I mean, your parents will just have to understand that it wasn't ENTIRELY your fault."
"My fault? How is my fault? He's the reason this whole thing started and the one who tried to punch me first, but luckily, I dodged him in time".
"Technically..."
"Technically what?"
"You WERE the one who physically HIT him FIRST. I admit he did try to hit you but missed-"
"Technically I was the one who actually dodged him, for your in-"
"Whatever Jay".
I suddenly got this feeling that he's rolling his eyes at me for some reason.
"As I said, he was the one who tried to hit you first, but YOU managed to dodge it, luckily".
"Thank you, was that so hard?"
"... You remind me of my little sister".
"Which one?"
"Chelsea, the youngest one".
"Oh, my little angel whom I left behind"
"Yeah man, I swear, both of you guys give me this kind of kind of unique headache that nobody else manages to give, which for your information, is NEVER needed, nor wanted".
"First of, fuck you and that pathetic headache if yours, second, Chelsea is a sweetheart, and I miss so much. Way more than any of you guys back there at Florida, that goes for you too Con, sorry. But don't worry, you're still second".
I smile at the end of my statement, finally feeling pleased throughout my whole conversation with Connor.
"Wow, am I supposed to feel honored or offended?"
"Mm.. Both".
"Whatever man, oh, and I'm not in Florida at the moment".
" Oh really? Why's that?"
"Oh, I left to go see my cousin, Diego in Texas".
"Right when school was about to start? Ok, what gives?"
"Diego was in a car crash and he wanted me to quickly pay him a visit".
"You only?"
"Yep"
"What about your sisters and parents? How come they didn't come with too?"
Diego and I were really close as kids, but was never really close with my family, and our parents were never close, instead kept their distance, hence, I was the only one who came".
"What about school"?
"My parents wrote to the school I wouldn't be there for the first week".
"When will you be back"?
"On Sunday night."
"Where will you be staying at?"
"At a hotel nea-, wait, why are you asking me so many questions, are you interrogating me or something?"
"Sorry, my bad. I was just curious, thats all".
"It's fine fam. Oh, by the wa-..."
"Hmn? Connor you still there?"
"..." That's weird, why is he on hold? He's never on hold.
"James, man, yeah I gotta go".
"Go where? What about my parents? What will I tell th-" Connor cuts me off before I could finish my sent-
"I'm sure you'll come up with something like you always do buddy, sorry man, but I really have to go, talk to you later?"
"Sure man, I-" He dropped the call before I could finish. "...Understand".
That was weird. Connor never hangs up the call on me like that, unless he gave me a valid reason for si.
I brush it thinking they're some complications or errors happening wherever he's at and needed to look into it.
I continue to drive my way towards the mall to buy a new clock, while occupying my mind with all sorts of different things.