No Such Thing | ✓

Ch.16 | Bingo

N O

S U C H    T H I N G

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| James' POV |

Monday morning is here, so I make sure to get up earlier than usual to get to school before anyone else. I quickly shower and throw some jeans and a T-shirt on before slipping into my sneakers and running down the stairs.

"IAN!" I shout, and he immediately jumps up in surprise as he also falls to the floor below.

"What? Did something happen? Who died?" He rambles, while I laugh.

"Get up and get ready for school, we gotta go."

Ian grabs his phone and looks at the time. "Dude, are you cracked?" He asks. "Do you see what time it is? Why the hell are you awake? More importantly... why the hell am I awake?" He whines.

"Because... we have to get to school before everyone else." I sigh. "So get moving!"

Ian mumbles a line of curse words as he makes his way up the stairs and into the guest bathroom. As he's getting ready for school, I go into the kitchen to get a bowl of cereal.

As I'm pouring Milk over my dry frosted flakes, because one always puts the cereal in the bowl first before pouring the milk, I feel something push up against my leg.

I look down and see Rufus wagging his curly tail at me.

"Hey boy, hungry too?" I ask and his tail wags faster as he lets out a bark.

I smirk and walk over to his food bowl, pouring some Pedigree into it before grabbing his water bowl to refill it. Once Rufus has food and water, I finally sit down to eat my now semi-soggy frosted flakes.

After a short while, a smiling Ian comes strolling into the kitchen.

"Good morning Jamesy!" He says while going to grab a bowl for himself.

"Weren't you just cursing me out fifteen minutes ago?" I smirk.

He only shrugs while pouring himself a bowl of cereal. "That was before my shower."

"Right." I say before bringing my empty bowl over to the sink to rinse it.

"Morning boys." My mom suddenly appears, patting Ian on the head before walking over to kiss my cheek.

"Morning mom." We both say in unison as Ian sits down with his cereal.

"Dad already at work?" I ask, though I know the answer.

"He sure is, but he sends his love and says he will try to make it home for dinner tonight." She replies, as if she already had the answer in her head.

I snort at the part where she said my dad sends his love. If that isn't the most hilarious joke I've ever heard, I don't know what is.

I can't even remember the last time my dad had breakfast with us, let alone came home in time for dinner. He's always at work, or out on a business trip. Nevermind remembering my birthday or his and mom's anniversary every year. The man doesn't even know that we exist, unless it's somehow convenient for him.

My beautiful, smart, loving mother is just wasting her life away by sticking with a man who doesn't appreciate her. I've brought up divorce before, but she wouldn't have it. Despite my dad's many flaws, she loves him and she made it a point not to give up on the people you love, no matter what.