Between The Two of Us

Chapter Eight

James couldn't believe what he was feeling. He couldn't believe he shouted after Danny and ran downstairs only to see Danny drive off into the distance. He couldn't believe he felt this strongly opposed over a boy he just met.

Brandon put his hand over James's shoulder and glared at him.

"Why are you doing this?" Brandon had now absolute concern spread across his face.

"Because I think I've fallen for him." James finally said it out loud.

It felt liberating knowing what his feelings were all about. He actually had feelings for Danny. Feelings he couldn't understand. There was a spark between the two of them when they danced in Sainted. When they talked it felt like talking to an old friend. James quickly told him about his love for writing. It felt like all those three years with Alice were being destroyed by this one boy but what was replacing it was beautiful and amazing and passionate. James wanted what Danny had to offer.

"I think I really like him." James said. "It's more intense than I thought."

"Even stronger than your feelings for Alice?" Brandon asked him.

"It seems so." James looked in the distance hoping that whatever Danny was feeling wasn't pure hatred.

"So then you have to break it off with Alice." Brandon was now serious.

"Oh, shit."

"Oh, shit yeah. Let's hope you survive the fall out."

"I was really hoping it wasn't true."

"I know you, James. You've had feelings for a lot of girls and this is different."

"What do you mean?"

"Remember Zoey?"

James remembered his first girlfriend who was named Zoey. What they had had seemed amazing at the time but then he broke up with her because the feelings had disappeared. It was fleeting. James didn't see the point Brandon was making at all.

"Are you saying that this'll end up like Zoey if I pick Danny?"

"No, this is different. With Zoey it was fleeting and you were daydreaming, never actually thinking. You were loyal at the very least. With that guy you just threw away a three year relationship away. Alice is going to know when you break up with her because you're gonna tell her right?"

"I don't know..."

"What do you mean you don't know?!"

Brandon looked upset beyond recognition.

"I don't know!"

"It's apparent you like this guy! You chased after him! Most cheaters would just let them leave but I saw in your face that you actually yearned for him! Dude, you freaking like this boy more than you ever liked Alice."

James was surprised at his friend's support for this. James knew he would always love Alice but he had to admit that during sex he couldn't help but imagine Danny. They have a beautiful thing, him and Alice, or had at least. Things change and he knew it.

His feelings belonged to someone else. Someone who stole his heart with a smile. Someone who he fell for in a week. Someone who made him happy even in the most complex of situations.

"I like him..." James said.

"Of course, you do." Brandon said. "Now your just gonna have to break up with Alice..."

________

After the party, James drove Alice home. She was so happy and he didn't have the heart to break up with her right there. So James ended up kissing her goodnight and went home. He stayed up all night thinking about what he was about to do. Anxiety and excitement ruled in a paradoxical battle.

James looked at his bookshelf and there it was. The orange book that Danny picked out for him and Kat bought. He looked at it and opened it. The first words were pretty odd to him because he didn't know the feeling that the character was experiencing, James assumed this character was Ben. That's what James did the rest of the night.

He read.