A First for Everything

3. Dramatic Irony

James, pictured above.
James POV

"What's up with you, bro?"

I couldn't help but keep thinking about what happened Wednesday,

"The way that you sat up in your chair when he called your name. The butterflies in your stomach when you shook hands and he walked away."

When I got a notification on my phone, I picked it up with dread. I already knew who it was when I tapped the notification and began reading the message:

What time are you coming over tomorrow?
10:45 pm

My last class is at 5
10:57 pm

It wasn't long before he replied,

Cool.
10:58 pm

His texts were starting to make me sick. I tried to ignore it, but I couldn't stop obsessing. I wasn't use to this feeling. It was like you felt nauseous because you were nervous, but this feeling of happiness sometimes made you feel better.

I was leaning over some notes from Classic Lit when Jason walked in.

"Hey, James."

Jason POV

James didn't reply to me at first, so I thought he didn't hear me.

"Hello, James," I said a little louder.

I tried announcing myself a little more that time, but he didn't move. It was unlike him, really. But he soon calmly -and quite somberly- said, "Hey,".

"What's up?" I asked. I wanted to know why he seemed distracted, like something was consuming his thoughts.

"Nothing much," he tried to answer in a more upbeat tone.

I nodded and walked towards my bed, where I was even more critical of his mood. James had way less energy at this time than usual. Sure it was late and there was a big test tomorrow, but James always greeted me a bit louder than necessary. Most of the time he wore a huge smile, arms wide open, and if he didn't, it wasn't long before we would start grilling each other to loosen our tension. If he didn't high-five me and make the dorm next door chagrin with his boisterousness, he was thinking about something for college, or figuring out how to get his father off his back. But this, I sensed, was much deeper, more personal. This time, I just had a feeling he was confused.

I watched James holding his head by scrunching the roots of his blonde hair in his fingers, staring blankly into his notebook. I was getting ready for a shower after a late-night practice and I was almost ready to get in, but I decided to check in on him anyway,

"Hey, man. What's up?"

At first he didn't reply, as if unsure as to how he should answer. Just as I was about to ask him again, he quickly said,

"Nothin' much."

Something still wasn't right because James was being super dry.

"You sure?"

"Yeah, I- I'm fine."

I pursed my lips, unconvinced. "James, talk to me."