In Deep (rewriting?? )

46

"Do you think aliens exist"?" I asked, biting into my chocolate ice cream.

"What a strange question," James' chuckles.

"I'm just saying," my mouth full. "Is there really no one else out there? The universe is such a large place and people try to tell me we are it for life. No way man."

"I mean I don't think about it too much. I guess you are right, there is no way," he then licks his vanilla chocolate swirl.

We are seated under the shade of a tree on the outskirts of the market. Watching the people as they continue about their own lives. Being at the market with James has been refreshing. Three hours have passed but I feel as though we just got here.

"What about siblings? Do you have any siblings?' I attempt to dig again. I want to know more about him, more about who he is as a person.

"Oh, well I had a sister," he replies quietly.

"I'm sorry," was all I could think of as a reply. "I have another friend whose younger sister had also passed." Referring to a conversation I had with Ethan a while ago. "It must be so hard."

"It's fine," a small smile is forced into his mouth, although the grief shines through his eyes. "What about you?"

"No not me, completely an only child" I hear a chime from his pocket and watch as he pulls out two phones. One new iPhone 12 plus, and an old iPhone 6. He looks at both before determining it was the old iPhone that received a message and slides the newer gold phone back into his pocket.

"Why do you have two phones?"

"Oh well, my parents want me to always have the newest tech because we can afford it. They like to show off. I don't really like that lifestyle though. I mean this one works fine, and why would I need a new one. A lot of the guys I hang out with can't afford new shit so, I don't really want to always have the newest phone on me. It's bad enough I have 3 of my own cars and own the warehouse. They don't know that tho.."

"You own the warehouse?"

"Ya. Those dumbassess really think that we have been hiding out there, trespassing every day. There would be no possible way we could still be there after so long with no owner checking up on the place. Even if it was abandoned, there has to be some form of surveillance. We have couches, TVs, and running water. They never question it though. When we found it it was abandoned. A real piece of shit. After about 3 months of constantly visiting, finding couches and other pieces of furniture on the sides of roads, and turning it into our spot, I searched for a listing. It was owned by some newspaper company that went under a few years ago, just sitting there on the market. So I got an advance on my allowance from my Dad and bought the place in cash."

"You should tell them"

"No, I couldn't. I don't want them to feel like they owe me anything. If anything I own them more than some shitty warehouse on the east side."

"You sound like an amazing friend" I compliment him. His cheeks blossom, redness creeping to his ears and neck. Scratching the back of his head he mutters a small thank you. I feel like he doesn't get many compliments.

"Don't you get confused with two phones?"

"No, not really. I'm so used to it now. I mean I have everyone organized in contacts as soon as possible. Usually, I have first and last names if I have them, but it doesn't really matter because most of the time someone only has one of my numbers. I almost always have both on me so it's not a problem. Only my two best friends, Grason and Will have both numbers. They know about my, I guess you could say, double life situation. They are friends from school that also hang out at the warehouse. So they know if I'm with my parents they need to text my other phone number."

"I mean that sounds pretty confusing." His life seems like a different world, I couldn't imagine having two lives almost separate from each other.

"Can I have both your numbers then? So I can be a cool kid." he laughs with a shrug of his shoulders.

"I mean I guess you know about my double life already" He extends out a hand

I place my phone in his waiting palm with the contacts app open.

He types in his number waits and types it in again. I watch his face go through confusion, into shock, and back into confusion.

'What, what is it?'

"Wait for a second, he says, holding up his finger. He seems to have switched apps and is scrolling through something.

"Give me my phone. I did not say you could leave the contacts app" I reached to grab it from him. Surprisingly he lets me.

He stares at me before taking out his gold iPhone. Keeping eye contact with me he types something. My phone dings and I read the notification. Eyes darting between the phone and him. It was a simple text from Ethan. Hi, it reads. Another vibration singles my eyes back to the screen.

E: I guess we already know each other.

My head feels a little light, my heart hammering in my chest. I drag my eyes back up to look at James.

'Hi.' was all he said.

It do be Monday ;) Happy Reading! Hopefully, I caught all my big mistakes, unlike last update :/

Also... I'm doing some major editing and would like to know:

Do you want to see a new updated version of In Deep as a new story or just continue and change this one randomly? I will finish the story here but post a whole new updated book. What do you think?