Kingdome Come

Painful Party

Thursday night came faster than James thought it would. These two days he had made himself busy doing pre-school work, like reading his school books and making summaries. Javier had called him out for being a loser and an idiot even though James really didn't give a fuck he somehow did, because there was this small sparkle of fear when he thought that Javier would tell everybody and then James wouldn't even be friends with Mitch. James shakes his head as he thinks back.

He only saw them in the dining hall. He was always on time to see the giant doors open at 6am in the morning. He sat alone at a table in the corner and when he was nearly done some of the guys would walk through and claim the table in the middle. They saw James, James could see it, but they didn't say anything. They ignored him when he walked by and when he looked back this morning at the table Mitch was looking at his ticking two of his fingers on his wrist implying that the time is ticking.

Now it's past 10pm and he is walking to Javier's car with the stolen car keys. He heard Javier talking on the phone this afternoon about when he was going to the party. Javier is out with some friends drinking and it gives James just enough time to unlock Javier's car, bring the keys back and climb into the car. When he opens the door of the red Audi someone grabs his wrist. He turns back and looks Mitch straight in the eye.

"This isn't your car." Mitch says bringing James closer. James looks Mitch straight in the eyes, bringing himself to not fall for his lies again.

"I am aware, thanks." James says wanting to step back, but Mitch keeps him close.

"What are you doing tonight?" Mitch asks as if he really wants to be with James tonight.

"I'm getting your fucking game plan." James sneers. Mitch is playing with his head like before and he is getting tired of his own thoughts.

"Can I help?" Mitch asks cocking his head to the side. James scrunches his eyebrows and looks at Mitch like he has grown two heads.

"What? You want to help?" James asks one of his eyebrows higher than the other.

"You're going to the party right?" Mitch asks, James nods. "I don't think you are planning on staying the night?" James shakes his head. "I was planning on walking back." It's now Mitch's turn to shake his head.

"I'll bring you and I'll take you back." Mitch says grabbing James's wrist with one hand and closing the door of the car with the other. He grabs the car keys and let them fall in front of the door. James lets himself be pulled to a black car with tinted windows. It's less of a sport car, but more of a big event car for like a grand entrance. James gets placed in the passenger seat. He looks around the dashboard, it is clean and seems rich. When Mitch sits next to him and starts the car James winces.

"What?" Mitch asks driving out of the parking spot. James looks at Mitch who keeps glancing between him and the road.

"Uh.. Everything seems so clean and I just realised the bottom of my shoes are anything but clean." James says he twitches his right foot so Mitch can see the dirt on them. Mitch sighs and shakes his head. James feels terrible.

"I can like, clean it if you want?" He asks Mitch who stops on the side of the road.

"Throw your shoes out of the window and fold the cloth beneath your feet and pass it onto the backseat. I'll let my servant bring it to the dry cleaner tomorrow. If your socks are dirty throw them out of the window too." Mitch says not looking at James. James looks at his shoes and he desperately wants to say no, because it has been his only pair for years now.

"But these are the only shoes I have." James says quietly, almost whispering. Mitch looks at him with utter disbelief, until realisation crosses his face and James has to look the other way.