Dreamer

Chapter 9: I Wish You Could be there Too

Jamie hurried down the stairs and entered the kitchen. "Morning mom" Jamie greeted to which his mum turned around from the sink to face him. "Morning" she smiled at him. Jamie loved seeing his mum so much happier. He can't remember the last time she had been so happy around him.

Things had improved immensely since Jamie's dad left home a few weeks back. It wasn't a surprise, the whole reason why the house was always so tense was because of him. But now that he was gone and not heard from since, things had settled down. Sometimes Jamie thought that he might one day walk back in through the front door. However, Jamie knew better. He knew he'd never change. That man would never start caring about them.

"What do you want for dinner? Pizza?" She asked Jamie as he sat down with his cereal. "You know I'm always down for Pizza" Jamie grinned. She laughed as she sat down across from Jamie with a cup of coffee. "Before you go, I need to ask about your birthday" Jamie's mum went on.

"Yeah what is it?" Jamie replied. "Have you decided what you want to do for it? It's two weeks away so if you want anything special planned we will have to get it arranged soon" she told him and Jamie nodded. "Yeah, I'll think about it and let you know" Jamie smiled.

"I can't believe we will be moving up to our final year of school in a month" Tom pointed out as he and Jamie sat down on a bench outside during their lunch break. "Yeah, it feels ages away though leaving school" Jamie agreed. "True, and it's your birthday in a couple of weeks. Got anything planned?" Tom asked.

Jamie shook his head as they watched different students walking about in different directions across the yard. Tom's face lit up with an idea. "Hey, I know what you could do!" Tom exclaimed, tapping Jamie on the arm. "What about a birthday party?! Food and music, all that crap" Tom suggested as Jamie raised an eyebrow.

"It's a good idea but I feel like something else up your ass" Jamie stated curiously. "I might have... Something in mind" Tom smirked which made Jamie roll his eyes. "Go on then mastermind, what are you brainstorming?" Jamie asked. "Well my good friend, talk to your mum about this party and get it set up. Good food and music, maybe get a cool location too if you can. Invite your best bud, me of course and some others. But most importantly, invite a certain someone" Tom explained, leaning close with a proud smile plastered on his face.

Now it was becoming clear to Jamie. "Oh" Jamie uttered nervously. "Come on, it's it's perfect opportunity to finally talk to her" Tom pointed out. Jamie sighed as he thought for a few moments. "Okay I'll ask my mum" Jamie agreed. Tom cheered triumphantly.

Jamie found it difficult to focus the rest of the day. All he could think about was lunchtime and what Tom had suggested to him. Tom made it his mission to make sure Jamie didn't back out from asking his mum. Before he knew it, Jamie was walking into his house.

"Mum?" Jamie called out. "Hey Jamie" she called back from upstairs. Jamie walked into the living room and flopped down onto the sofa. Jamie's mum walked down the stairs and entered the room, sighing from tiredness. "I've not long got in, I had to do overtime. How was school?" She asked him. "It was okay" Jamie answered truthfully.

She was about to leave the room but Jamie stopped her. "So I talked to Tom and he's come up with a suggestion" Jamie revealed. "Oh? What is it?" She asked with a smile. "So I was wondering if for my birthday we could have a party? Not a big one but one where I can invite some friends and stuff?" Jamie explained to her. "I think that's a great idea" she smiled. "Awesome!" Jamie exclaimed happily.

That night, Jamie struggled to fall asleep. The excitement was weighing on his mind. He had told Tom through messages and of course he sent him a bunch of jokes and points about having to talk to Lucy for the first time. He didn't know how he would ask Lucy. Or even how to approach her. Either way, it didn't matter in that moment. There was no time for being a chicken anymore. This was his chance. If Jamie bottles it, he would never hear the end of it from Tom and he knew it.

Jamie's eyes shot open and found himself in the familiar place he knew so well. Where he knew a certain someone would be waiting and sure enough, he was. Jamie grinned and hurried over to Chris. "Hey stranger!" Chris smiled widely. "Hey" Jamie laughed, sitting down next to Chris and bumping his shoulder with his own.

"So what's new?" Chris asked. "Well for a start it's my birthday in a few weeks" Jamie began but saw the slight confusion on Chris' face. "Birthday?" Chris repeated softly. " Oh right, yeah, so a birthday is like the day you were born. It's like a thing you celebrate with friends or family" Jamie explained.

"Oh okay" Chris nodded. "So Tom had this great idea of having a party. Basically it's where me, mom and some friends like hang out. We eat with some music playing in the background and play games and stuff" Jamie went on. Chris just smiled and listened intently. "Tom had the idea to invite Lucy too. I'm really nervous because now I have to talk to her but it's whatever, I'm just so excited" Jamie said breathlessly.

"Sounds like a lot of fun" Chris laughed which made Jamie chuckle. "Yeah it will be" Jamie grinned. After a few moments, Jamie's expression saddened and he sat back on the bench. "You okay Jamie?" Chris asked softly. Jamie glanced at Chris and sighed softly and shrugged his shoulder a bit.

Chris joined Jamie by leaning back on the bench. "It's just well... I wish you could be there too. I... don't really have many friends other than you and Tom and anyone else I invite will be Tom's friends" Jamie admitted sadly. "But you'll have Tom and then there's Lucy. You wouldn't have noticed me after a bit" Chris said softly.

"That's not true and also it's not the same" Jamie replied, slouching a bit more on the bench. "There's something else too" Chris pointed out, reading Jamie like a book. Jamie nodded before glancing up at Chris. "You won't be able to experience a party and you really deserve too. It's just not fair" Jamie revealed, making Chris smile softly.

"I'm glad you want me there and you want me to experience something I haven't before, it makes me happy" Chris said softly. "Of course, you mean a lot to me" Jamie replied with a small smile, staring into his eyes. They stared for a few moments before Jamie bolted up. "I've got it!" Jamie exclaimed.

"What have you got?" Chris asked curiously. "I can think of anything in my dreams, it's my dreams. I basically have control who's here and where we are" Jamie began. "I mean, I suppose?" Chris answered thoughtfully. "Well how about on my birthday after my party when I go to sleep, we have a party! Just me and you!" Jamie suggested excitedly.

Chris' eyes widened a little. "You want to do that with me? Two parties, one just me and you?" Chris asked. "Of course! You deserve to experience one and I want you to have a party with me" Jamie answered and Chris smiled big at the idea. "Okay let's do it!" Chris cheered and they both laughed...