Kashmir [BxB]

Chapter 26 - Gardener extraordinaire

Sneaking away to steal a kiss had quickly become a habit of ours as time passed from November into December, Esme's show nearing til it was only a few days away. Time was slipping through my fingers with how over the moon I found myself every time Kade was near. The best part of my day was whenever he was with me, and the worst part was seeing him away each evening.

But not today, no!

Apparently Kade and James were having a sleepover and, as a thank you, Kade had offered to do their family shopping. A bit excessive, sure, but this was Kade - chairman of Gentlemen United. I didn't want to join the sleepover, it'd feel strange to be sleeping next to my kind-of boyfriend with our mutual friend in the same room.

I would, however, help Kade shop as James had something scheduled before tonight. I can't keep the smile off my lips as I grab my jacket from my locker, bouncing on the soles of my feet at the thought of Kade waiting for me. I close the metal door and turn, almost jumping back as James' closeness startles me.

"Woah!"

"Sorry!"

James drags a hand through his too-long hair, trying to keep it out of his face but failing repeatedly. He'd had long hair since I got to know him two years ago, and it fit him well, but it was getting a bit too out of hand.

"Well, catch you later!", I chirp, walking around him to catch up to my man. Yea, he was my man. Surely, he was my man. Right?

"Kash!"

James' hand grabs my wrist, turning me around towards him with a frown. What's going on with him today?

"I just wanted to apologize. I knew it was months ago but I shouldn't have said you weren't Asian enough."

Oh, that. James' parents had found some second-generation immigrant community-thingy for people of Asian descent, and when he told me about him attending I'd asked to come, to which he exclaimed that I wasn't qualified. He'd fumbled about some excuse when I pointed out that India was geographically literally Asia, but hey, who's keeping track?

Great, right?

"That was months ago, and you apologized already. It's cool man, you don't have to do it again."

"No, I do. See, I talked to Kade about it and... listen, it's not about you.", he tries, stumbling over his words, "There's this girl I really like there, and you're always the one who gets the girl. It was stupid and selfish and I'm so sorry I went after your... you know. It was a shitty thing to say."

I stare at him in silence, burrowing my hands into my pockets.

"Yeah. A real shitty thing."

James nods, swallowing hard as he diverts his eyes. With a smile pulling at the corners of my lips I walk up to him and hug him, feeling him stiffen before hugging me back.

"Thank you, and forgiven. You already apologized, you didn't have to do it again."

"No, no I did.", he mumbles before breaking our hug, "I talked to Kade about it and it just made me feel weird that I explained it to him and not to you."

"Well, you did now, so... thank you.", I mumble, feeling bashful all of a sudden, "What about that girl though?"

It's James' turn to flush and look down.

"Her name's Sachiko. She's... everything. She's shy without being a pushover, she's really smart and creative, and I think she might like me too.", he smiles, unfocused eyes as he imagines her, "Kade hyped me up, and we made a deal I'd ask her out if he did the same with his crush. They went on a date Sunday, so I gotta do it now."