Keep me save

old friend

London, England
march 1994

"JAMES COME ON, WE'RE LATE." frank yelled. James was in his room looking in the mirror and fixing his shirt. Tonight James his parents were celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary and they were having a small Get together.

" You've been in there for 20 minutes." Frank said as he banged his fist on the door. James rolled his eyes and opened the door. Frank crossed his arms and wolf whistled.

"Wow, who are you trying to impress tonight?"

"No one."

"Pfff yeah right, and you didn't shave, you look homeless with the beard."

"For the last time Frank, it's sexy and manly at the same time."

"Whatever, let's go before your parents think we got lost or something." Frank said while grabbing the keys to James his impala and tossed them to James. The walked out of the apartment and into the parking lot. 

"BTW, when you said date I thought you meant Lucy." Frank said while he got into the car.

"Yea well Lucy had to work so I picked ye to be my 'date', and when people ask don't say yer my date." James said while he started the car.

"Gotcha."frank said and they drove away."

                                                               ★★★★
"James sweetheart you made it." James his mom said when she saw him walk into the living room. She hugged him and he gave her a kiss on her forehead.

"Mum, ye remember frank right?"

"Aye, how could I forget, its nice to see you Frank." She said and gave frank a hug. "Ye two go and say hi to everyone." She said and went into the kitchen.

"Well well well if it isn't my little brother James Grant." He heard a female's voice say  and he turned around and smiled.

"Well if it isn't my big sister Catherine Grant." He said and hugged her. "It's good to see Cathy."

"You too." They pulled apart and Cathy looked at frank. "Aren't ye gone introduce me?" She asked.

"O um this is frank, Frank my older sister Catherine." He said and frank shook her hand. "I'm his date." Frank said and James rolled his eyes.

"Hey why don't ye go and get us a drink." James said to frank. "Alright, it was nice to meet you Catherine."

"Ye too." She said and frank walked away.

"Soooo  yer date huh."

"Don't start he's my work partner." James said and pointed a finger at her and she threw her hands in the air. "Come on I'll show ye were dad is." She said. They walked through the crowed of people and James greeted some of them.

"Uncle James." Heard a two little voice s call him. He saw his niece audrey and nephew David running to him and they hugged him.

"Hello my little monkeys."

"I'm not a monkey uncle James, I'm a princess." His niece said and she pointed to her tiara. "We'll yer royal highness." He bowed down. "David, Audrey." The kids heard there grandmother call them and they ran into the kitchen.

"Ah James, her here, glad to see." He saw his father walking to him with frank. "I met your friend over here." He pointed to frank. Before James could say anything they heard a voice call his fathers name. "George."

"Excuse me boys." He said and walked past them.

"Hey this a great party and your uncle Richard he's a crazy guy." Frank said and took a sip of his drink.

"James I brought an old friend for ye." His sister said and she pointed to a girl with short blonde hair. She had on a short baby blue dress "Come and say hi."
He and his sister walked outside.

"Janet ye remember James right." His sister said to the woman. "And James you remember Janet from next door right." He could believe it, the girl that use to sneak into his bedroom, just to eat snakes and have late night talks was all grown. The girl who made his heart swoon and seeing her again after many years his heart was raced again.

"How could I forget her."

"O my god little James, look at you all grown up." She said as she gave him a hug. When they broke apart , she looked at frank.

"This is frank." He said and frank shook her hand.

" I'm his date." Frank said and he winked.

"Uuhh why don't we leave these two alone for a minute, aye frank." Cathy said a dragged frank inside.

"So your date huh." Janet said.

"Oh no we are not dating or anything like that, he's my work partner."

"Aaaah I see." Janet said and took a drink from her whisky.

"So how have ye been?" James asked.

"Great, I got a job in Australia and I'm engaged." Janet said and showed James the ring. He his heart sunk , the girl he once had a crush on was getting married. When he was younger he always thought about marrying her now someone els beat him to it.

"Wow that's amazing, I'm happy for ye."

"Thanks he's a great guy and loves to party, he brings out my wild side." She said and James smiled.

"So what about you, I heard you became a policeman."

"Aye, I'm working hard and as ye can see no ring." He said showing his left hand.

"Wow I always thought you were going to find someone before me." Janet said. James shook his head.

"Yea well right now I'm into work ye know."

"Well one day you will get lucky and you will get the chance to brag about her all night long." Janet said and patted this back.

"Alright everybody gather around." They heard Cathy say. " I'm going inside you coming." Janet asked James and he nodded and walked inside with her.

"I'd like to make a toast, to me mum and dad and their marriage,may they live in happiness cheers." Cathy said and raised her drink.

"CHEERS." Everyone raised their glasses. "Uh James would ye like to make a say something." Cathy asked her younger brother and he smiled.

"Um i would like to say mum, dad, ye are amazin' and to see ye two like after thirty years makes me happy, so cheers to ye mum and dad." He raised his glass and everybody els did the same. James looked at his parents and thought for a moment. Seeing them like this made him wonder if he would find love one day. He was snapped out of his thoughts by frank.

" great toast man." Frank said and stuffed a piece of cake in his mouth.

"Yea well I tried , now atop talking yer getting cake all over my shirt."

"Quit being an arse," frank said with a mouth full of cake.