In 15 Seconds

here he comes

My whole being is screaming at me in agony as an equally wide-eyed James turned to look at me. The slightly surprised expression on his face soon changed into a slightly apologetic smirk, as he said, "Well, let's come on down then." I answered with gulping down nothing in an effort to swallow the overwhelming anxiety threatening to burst.

No, I do not need another breakdown, especially now..! I thought, while very obviously lagging in my steps to try to deny what is inevitable. James looked back at me worriedly, but I could still see that he doesn't regret doing this. Even so, he spoke. "Hey, you'll be fine. Just try not to trip in front of him or anything." He teased.

"Bastard, you jinxed it!" I whisper-screamed at him. He gave me an exasperated sigh. After a few moments of slowly making it down the stairs, I saw a messy mop of black hair in the corner of my eye. Naturally, I immediately hid behind James. Suddenly I'm reminded of our preschool days wherein James would hide behind me, instead of the other way around.

I tried to ease my quickening heartbeats as the sound of Mason's laugh echoed through my ears. I assumed he was laughing at something James' mom had said. Crap, what if it was something embarrassing about me? No, Auntie wouldn't do that to me, wait, does she even know? She probably does! I anxiously thought to myself. James looked over his shoulder at me and gave me a look that said, 'You haven't even talked to him, yet you're acting like this?' I hunched my shoulders and pouted as my blush deepened. He's right, you know. What if he turns out to be mean? It'll make it easier to get over him. A voice inside me reasoned. I didn't even realize Auntie was talking to me until James helpfully nudged my shoulder with his. "Ah! I'm sorry, Auntie, what was that again?" I tried to smile at her apologetically but all I could focus on was the person standing next to her. Said person gave a small laugh of amusement and something that  sounded very much like fondness.

I could feel my heart hammering against my chest. Calm down!! I tried to tell myself. Just when James' mom was going to repeat what she said, Mason cut in. "Um, Mrs. Parkinson was just introducing me to you, but we kind of already know each other," A look of surprise appeared on James' mom's face. "Oh! I see." She looked at me for confirmation, and I nodded faintly. He remembers me! I thought. "Well, now that that's settled, I'm pretty sure food's next?" James asked expectedly. His mom laughed sarcastically. "You declined my invitation to snacks. No hard feelings, Alice, but gluttons like you will have to wait." She said, which earned a groan from James and crippling regret from me. "But she's the bigger glutton!" He accused, pointing a finger at me.

I sighed. "He's not wrong.." I admitted. Both Auntie and Mason looked between me and James amusedly. "Dinner won't be ready for at least an hour. Go do your schoolwork or whatever teens choose to do these days." Auntie ordered, to which James practically shouted, "I'll go ready the telescope! Mason and Alice can wait in my room!" At that, he immediately ran up the stairs. Mason looked at me with a crooked smile. "I guess he's excited to see the stars?" He joked. I tried to let out the most normal laugh I could give in this situation, and surprisingly succeeded.

"You two run along now, and don't think about leaving before dinner." Auntie said. I was about to say I could just eat at home, but her tone suggested there were no room for arguments. I started to walk towards the stairs, sensing Mason following behind me. I already assumed he knew the way to James' room, but following behind him might just make my anxiety worse.

An awkward walk to James' room later, gave way to even more awkwardness, once we arrived in James' room. I rummaged through my bag in an attempt to look like I was doing something, as Mason retrieved a notebook from his. I zipped my bag close as I drew in a deep breath, pushing down my anxiety as I forcefully tried to make conversation. "So, uh, do you have any assignments due?" I asked, surprisingly without stuttering. I mentally gave myself a pat on the back.

"Oh! Yeah, I do, in math. I was actually hoping if I could ask for your help? I'm not very good at it, and our recent topic just confuses me more." He replied, somehow sheepishly. I faced him, anxiety disappearing, excitement replacing it. Even if I don't really like math that well, I still manage to score good grades, and, surprisingly, I like helping others with studying. Even though I do it mostly to procrastinate with my own studying, but that part's not important right now. "Of course! What topic do you need help with?" I asked. He smiled so bright the sun would be put to shame. I could be blinded if I looked at him for too long, so I averted my gaze to the notebook he's holding, feeling my cheeks burn.

"Thank you so much! You see, I'm having trouble with a certain problem, here." He said, pointing at something on his notebook after skimming through a few pages. I willed myself to sit next to where he sat comfortably on James' bed, to look at the problem. Any small trace of anxiety erased when I recognized the numbers under his fingers. I went on autopilot as I taught him the solutions, easing myself into this comfortable and familiar circumstance.

At one point, I stole a glance at him to check if he was listening, to find that he was staring back. I startled a bit at how close our faces were, and I noticed that his black eyes had the smallest trace of blue. We held our gazes and I couldn't help but think, this again? Looking at him, I understood he was thinking the same thing.

A moment passed when I snapped out of my daze and looked back at his notebook, muttering an apology as a flustered red ran through my cheeks. In the corner of my eye I noticed he held a similar shade of red, yet he was smiling softly when he replied, "It's fine."

____
a/n:
mrs. parkinson is james' mom if that was confusing

i'm changing my updating sched to once or twice a month, 'cause i was right when i thought i couldn't follow a normal sched, sorry.

i'm just repeating events in different settings so like
this chapter sucks,, i'm sorry about that too.

i tried to post this in time for valentines, but failed
better late than never amirite??