I phoned Mike, asking him to reconsider me coming to the trip or if they’re already in the trip or does it wing out in the hallway when I slammed the door in their faces.
“What might you think?”
He asked me a very evident question, which in turn I have not been considering.
“I’m a jackass, all right? Now, I need you to tell me if you plan to ditch me on this? Or would you mind reconsidering your offer?
The line quiets down. I can hear murmurs and whispers in the background, probably squabbling if they’re letting me in or not.
Then, Mike speaks.
“You know, James. You can be a bit humbler about this. We already desire you coming with us to fulfill a fucking wish. But this time, it's not us needing you. You need us.”
“Yeah, I need this. Great, thanks Mike, I never thought about that until now.”
I can feel stubbornness growing inside me. I’m not going to beg for this, man.
“You know who gets to decide, right?”
If it isn’t for you, Scar. I mumbled, causing a downside to my hesitation.
“Fine. Tell me what I was supposed to say to make me convince all of you?”
“No. Please don't say.” He disagrees. “Do.”
“Fine. Tell me what I'm supposed to do to make me convince all of you?”
“You eat shit.” I am really about to slam a phone call on his fucking ear. I won’t embarrass myself anymore.
What? I love slamming things.
He continued. “Nah, I’m just kidding. Come to us first. Then, you’ll find out.”
“Where?”
“That’s for you to find out.”
The phone ended.
This is my predicament. This is my torture. This is my punishment. Two tales are banging on me into one. So, why am I preoccupied on getting hot to that trip in sudden? You wouldn’t believe this but I have read Scar’s first entry.
9th of December 1994
It was cold. Winter, that is. I stumbled upon Georgetown when I was six. My dad wanted me to play hockey on the ice ring near the waterfront. I refused, since I’m timid enough to be tough like my dad would’ve wanted me to be. But I was brought, otherwise.
That’s when I first saw you, Gregory James Russel. Your boy league is at their win. You were all howling wildly and vigorously. Too overwhelming, actually. I held onto my teddy, felt that weak to be scared in a huge uproar. If there’s anything you can call wild for me right now, it’s my own thoughts. They’re screaming at me to get out of there badly, which I clearly should have.
My dad called a boy named Mike far beyond the crowd. I can notice you were forced to tag along because your hand waved in denial but then, your friend Mike scouted himself towards me and Dad while pulling your arms into his. I scoot myself behind dad. I was afraid at the moment. I was never good at any greetings, ever since.
Mike were all cheers and warm welcomes. I was fascinated by his huge smile, hoping we can get along. But then, I can’t help myself looking at you. You wouldn’t dare to look at me. You were bored enough to mess your hair and play with your eyebrows along with your hockey stick scraping the ice, which I found it very mean.
Mike requested dad for me to come in the play. You glared in surprise. Instead of sulking, I have done the first move at the very first in my life. I walked towards you and I said.
“Hi.”
I offered my Teddy and I smiled, which was very real. It was odd at first but I suddenly realized I smile that way because I finally get to talk to you. You were looking at Teddy and shifted your eyes towards me. I saw you getting red and looked the other way in heat, and mumbled.
“I don’t want it, idiot.” I giggled in haste.
That was the finals. I remembered now. Mike forced me to say hi to a girl, which I clearly didn’t think I could get along with. I formed Little Busters for the tough ones, and looking at Scar, I guess, was like looking at a wimp and I hated wimps. I was selfish back then.
But that wimpy girl offered me a Teddy with all smiles, which I found both very cute and very annoying. So I decided to be mean at her. Only at her.
Isn’t it bizarre, honey? I get to like you the day I first met you.
I rummage the box, searching for a return address.
It was surreal. It was dreamy.
It says: 3714 O St NW, Washington, DC 20000, United States. This is her uncle’s address that winter. Way long, long way home.
It was so sweet I finally get the man I’m all eyes and ears from.
Mike left a notice on a trip they talk about. West Potomac Park. It’s a little way off but it’s near. I can handle getting there.
Until you made me hate you.
West Potomac Park is our sanctuary. It’s our haven. The haven of the Little Busters. It’s far away to walk but my Dad had a little old fishing cabin near the river, in the Little Island actually. We had loved to make adventures and mischief in the summers and decreed the place as our hideout, where all smooth and frivolous plans are being executed. I had never taken Scar in there, not even once.
During that one winter, I said Scar’s too wimpy and would be a lot trouble if she would be taken in our hideout. The river looks like a swamp, when you get more close to it. It’s too risky for Scar, and I have that delusion when I was a kid, I would never let Scar leave the town with any scratch. That would agonize her pearl skin. I didn’t realize I did leave her a scratch.
Just not physical.
“You did find us. What has gotten inside your bum head marching right toward us?”
Mike, in cross arms, waited for me upon the entry of what he would call his lord house. I can see he had faith I would sway into one of his games, in a grin. What a sneaky bastard.
I just shook my head in response. He shouted in an instant, regardless.
“Welcome to my lord house, you son of a bitch. Guys, captain gloomy is here!”
He led me on the way to the living room. Three grown-ups in different views are settle down on the couch. They all seem packed up.
Mike began the introduction.
“You still happen to remember my name the other day, right?”
“Yeah. Mike.”
A woman, in formal clothes walks toward me and gave a kiss on my cheek.
“Hi, handsome! Took you four days to come, huh?”
Then, she offered me her hand for a shake.
“Stella Lleyn Mar. I mean Stel. Mike said you have amnesia.”
I shrugged, but accepted her handshake.
"Never figured who would really change after all these years.”
She glared at Mike, teasing. Mike chuckles.
“Baby, you never know when yours truly shows up!”
Yeah. He was pertaining to me. We have two girls in our team. Stel and Erin, the white girl, who is currently not in the mood for any greetings.
Figures.
“Guys, we’re literally having a first conversation with Captain James in our reunion here! Please do speak up!”
Mike tries to add some zing into the air. Erin tried to smile at me.
Unwillingly.
“So, assholes do need us, huh? Great. This trip will be fun.”
Erin said this in almost whisper.
“Oh, come on! You big weenie! You like this, don’t you?” Stel barges in.
“Don’t start with me, Stel. Not being funny.”
“Where’s Scarlet, James?”
A man in a dark jacket eyed me, daunting me. “Greg, rather?”
This man. He’s Dave, for sure. The same Dave who gave me a fight. Until now, I guess. We’re not that cool. I just glared at him, walks towards him. If Mike haven’t come in between us, I might start a goddamn fight in here.
“Now. Now. James. We’re all cool, right?”
Mike gave a nervous laugh. This Dave smirked. He thinks he’s earning the victory. I relaxed my shoulder and controled my fist. This will be soon. I kept thinking.
I lifted the strap of my backpack and aimed myself toward the door as soon as the girls decided to take their leave. Mike followed me, then Dave, heading to the van. Two girls are in the backseat. Mike’s the driver. Dave headed towards the front seat. I scooch myself in the back of the girls besides the window.
Mike, with all smiles, looks towards us. He said something, which I couldn’t hear coz’ I have already geared my headphones at its maximum ready for sleep during the ride.
“Ready to set sail, captain?”
I raised my eyebrow. They all seem looking at me, raising eyebrows, too.
I remove the headphones. “Come again?”
“You’re not taking this seriously, are you, captain gloomy?”
The girls giggled.
“Is this supposed to be a sleepy ride?” I second.
Mike frowns. All of them frown. “No, captain. This is supposed to be a fun trip. A trip accommodating Little Busters game.”
Then, he pauses before saying…
“And…fulfilling your Scar’s wish.”
ns 18.68.41.146da2
