Flower Boy

Chapter Twenty Four

"I'm home!" I called to James.

"Welcome back, Rosa." I hear faintly. I closed the door behind me, suddenly on alert. It was eerily quiet. By now, I'm sure James would be working and I would hear the click clack of his keys as he typed. If he wasn't doing that, he would have been preparing dinner, but only if it was very elaborate. No sounds came from the kitchen either. The only sound I could hear was my own breathing. I crept into the kitchen cautiously, and my fears were confirmed. Beer cans littered the kitchen, a few on the table, a few more on the counter, and I saw another few on the couch where James sat in front of the TV. The TV was on, but there was no sound coming from it.

I walked over to him, and waved my hand in front of his drooping eyes.

"... James?" I said hesitantly. His eyes focused on me.

"What...." He asked, drawing out the word.

"Th-There's a memorial for Donavan tonight at 7:00, and I need the car to go." I said shakily. He stared at me for what felt like forever, then sighed.

"I... I was planning to go out... Tonight... Can you ask... A friend...?" He asked slowly, some of the words blurring together. I gaped a little.

"James, you're in no condition to go out..." I said slowly, hoping he would understand. He glared at me.

"I'm fine." He said, rolling his eyes. I sighed. I knew he wasn't actually going to go anywhere.

"James, this is Donavan's memorial, don't you want to go?" I asked, trying to reason. He stared at me, and I saw his eyes glistening.

"Do you really think I can go in this state?" He whispered. "I wouldn't go to my son's memorial like this. I couldn't. It would be too insulting." He whispered, a tear slipping out of his eyes. I blinked. All of a sudden, James was sobbing in front of me.

"Donavan... You're gone... Why'd you leave? Donavan, why can't you come back...?" He cried, tears staining his pants as he leaned forward. I sat down next to him, putting a hand on his back as his head snapped off.

"Don't touch me..." He mumbled, shrinking away from me. My hand hovered in the air for a second, then I lowered it. I got up.

"Fine. I'll text a friend. I have homework to do. Excuse me." I said, and I left him there, in the corner of the couch, and went upstairs, picking up my backpack with me. I sat in the guest room, pulling out my phone. I thumbed a new text to Serena.

Are you going to the memorial? A few seconds later she replied.

Yeah. Need a lift? A small smile wormed its way onto my face. I could always count on Serena.

You're the best I replied.

Ami will be there too. In the car, I mean. She replied. Great. Maybe they could help my mood.

Works for me I replied, as if we were just talking about going to the movies.

Ok. I'll be there at 6:30. She said, and I put my phone away. I sighed, opening my backpack and finding my late social studies homework and beginning to work on it.

A few hours and one cold meal alone later, Serena texted me that she had arrived. I grabbed the car keys just in case James actually thought he could drive tonight, and shoved them in my purse along with my phone.

"James, I'm leaving now." I said, looking at him slumped in front of the TV.

"Bye, Rosa." He said quietly, taking another sip from a beer can. I sighed, thinking about how I was going to get rid of all the beer in this house. I went out the door and locked it, seeing Serena's white car in the driveway. I gave a small wave and got in, hoping this wouldn't be too bad.