All We Are

One

*****

"We'll find other pieces to the puzzle, slipping out under the locks. Could show you how many moves to checkmate, right now. We could take apart this life for building and lock it up inside a box. All that really matters is we're doing it, right now. Right now."  - Au Revoir, by OneRepublic

*****

James

"James!"

I looked up to see my best friend Carter running up to me.

"What is it Carter?" I asked. "I'm a bit preoccupied right now." I said with a smirk. I, James Knightley, was in the middle of one of my city-known pool parties, and I was about to get a girl. Not just any girl. The girl. Rebecca Cook, she was a model visiting for the summer. She was a traveling senior and I was a rich, handsome, popular junior.

My life is great.

"Not it's not." Carter interrupted my thoughts.

Crap, I said that out loud.

"Yeah you did, but seriously dude, you have a problem." Carter said.

"Fine," I snapped. "What's the problem?"

Carter opened his mouth, but I cut him off.

"If it's Ashley, then don't let her in-" I began.

"It's not Ashley-"

"If it's Lilly, I don't want to see-" I was cut off again.

"It's not her-"

"Carter, I'm running out of names. If it's Maria-"

"It's not Maria!" Carter snapped.

"Then who the heck is it?" I said. I mean not many of my "girlfriends" were in town since it was the last week of summer.

"It's your-" Carter started.

"JAMES XAVIER KNIGHTLEY!" I knew that voice.

"Mom." I said. "You're not supposed to be here."

"I figured." She said rolling her eyes.

My mother, Delilah Knightley, was strolling up to me with anger burning in her eyes. She was a stubborn, born socialite of a woman. She was a self-made business woman, who was driven by confidence and fierceness. She was a little under my height, but when she had her temper running high, she seemed a lot taller.

"I thought you were coming home tomorrow." I continued.

"Well, I came today. Now, get rid of these people." She said with a scowl.

"Mom, can't this wait." I protested.

"No, it can't." She said. "I have been out of town for weeks. You had plenty of opportunities to throw parties, and now that I'm back I expect you to care."

"Mom-" I began to complain.

"NO. Meet me in the study once everyone's gone." She said sharply, turning on her heel.

"Ugh." I groaned in annoyance. "Carter!"

"Yeah, what's up?" He said coming up to me.

"Get everyone out of here." I said reluctantly.

"What?" He said stunned.

"You heard me. My sweet mother who has been gone for almost half of my life expects my attention now, so just send them all away." I said.