Long way from home || James Yammouni Fanfiction

The Party

The party was in some high-rise hotel in the middle of downtown LA. I kept myself busy at the balcony outside with a mojito in my right hand. The view was breathtaking. Only in LA would it be 70 degrees on a January night. The balcony was small and in the corner of the hotel so I was surprised when I heard someone's presence.

"Have you got a lighter?"

"Yeah." I pulled out one out of my clutch before handing it to him. He had black slicked up hair and a beautiful smile.

"Thanks." He pulled a cigarette to his mouth and lit it before giving the lighter back.

He pointed the cigarette in my direction. "Care for a spliff?" He asked in between coughs, I noticed his Australian accent.

I wasn't much of a marijuana person but I didn't mind it in situations like this. My life was pretty stressful anyways. I nodded and grabbed joint from his hand. Puffing a few time before coughing.

"What's your name? I don't think I've seen you around." He asked.

"I'm not surprised I barely know anyone here. I'm honestly only here because my friend invited me. My name's Alyssa though. Yourself?" I passed the joint back.

"Nice to meet you, I'm James. I'm only here because my boss wants me to meet new people, make connections and all that. I personally find it quite stupid. I feel like I'm just trying to sell myself to people, I hate it."

I smiled to myself "Isn't that what life's about? Selling yourself? If you think about it you have to sell yourself to people in order to make friends. You have to sell yourself to job interviewers in order to get a job. You have to sell yourself to your parents to convince them that your life isn't a total failure." I leaned over the balcony and watched as the minuscule people made their way across the streets. "I do agree that it's fucked up though." I assured

"You from around here?" He questioned

"Yeah, sadly."

"Sadly? What do you mean, this place is beautiful"

"Well up here it is! Not down there. It's always smoggy and hot and the traffic is always a bitch and this city is way overpopulated."

"I guess that's true."

"I'm from the Northwest, up in Seattle, so all of those things drive me crazy because it's completely opposite there"

"What's keeping you here?"
"School. I go to UCLA, it would not be my smartest move to just leave." I finished my mojito but the ice was still melting into water, I continued sipping on it because the joint was burning my throat. "What about yourself, you seem a long way from home."

"Yeah, I'm from Australia, I prefer it here though. I like traveling and all that."

I glanced at him as he was talking, God he was so attractive. He brought the joint to his mouth before cursing as the roach burned his fingers.

"Well I'm gonna go to the bar now, care to join me?"

I nodded, I was just happy that I made a friend considering I couldn't find the friend I came with.

It wasn't long until we were at the bar taking shots. After about five I was hammered and couldn't function normally. It's sounds bad but I was having a fun time, laughing and making new friends. James began to introduce me to a whole bunch of people but I wouldn't remember them come morning time.

After a few hours he took me downstairs and we got inside a black van along with a few other people. We were being driven somewhere but I didn't have the power in me to care about what where we were going, one of the pros and cons of being drunk. I began to feel tired so I rested my head on James's chest.