It has been days since James was abandoned by his uncle. He searched everywhere around the neighborhood from the bars to the last place he could be. Nothing.
People noticed the absence of his uncle yet he denied it. He always told them that he had gone out of country to take care of something in fear that he would be taken away because he was an orphan now. Mark and Maurie only knows the truth but didn't dared to spill it to everyone too. James was in total mess. He doesn't know what to do. Why now? He was still just a kid for god's sake and all he left was just a piece of letter.
"I'm abandoning you. I can't keep taking care of you.
It's time to man out and take care of yourself.
Don't ever come find me
It's no use. I've gone to another country."
That's it. No more information. Not even a goodbye or to tell where he had gone to. He is one of a coward man leaving everything he had broken behind to start over.
"Have you find any news about your uncle?"
Mark asked while they sat on the porch of James' front door as the sun shone on them. "No... Nothing really. It's like he never existed from the start." James said with a groan. "What am I going to do now...?" He asked to himself with helplessness in his voice. Mark heard it, couldn't help but to feel concerned.
"Don't say that to yourself." He said while reaching the other's tan arm full of scars and tracing them. "You've handle everything perfectly before. And besides, it's not like his disappearance makes any huge difference at all..." James stared at the boy while he talked before letting out a sigh, "It's not that easy, Mark... If they found out, what will I do...?" Mark continues to trace his arm as James pulls a cigarette out from his pocket before putting it between his lips. "Aren't you under age for that?" Mark couldn't help but ask, "No one cares... Besides, I'm already fourteen now." He lits it up with a lighter before puffing a cloud of smoke.
"This always helps me to calm down... Especially in times like this." He said quietly. "..." Mark was quiet as he stared at James with a little frown, "You shouldn't let it live in you..." He finally says as he was looking away. James slides his arm on the other's shoulder before pulling him closer, "Don't tell me what to do. It's my birthday, remember? Let's have fun, at least..."
James ruffled Mark's golden hair as he frowned more, "Alright...! Just stop that...!" He got up and walked a meter away from James which makes him almost laugh. Mark was annoyed by that but didn't dared to say anything about it in embarrassment. Instead, he pulled out a small gift. "What's this?" James asked as he took the gift as Mark looks away. "A present...? What else it would be?"
"You shouldn't have bothered, man." Still, he opened it up and found a set of silver earrings that matches his style. It was small yet quite noticeable as they shine. James pulled out one and admired it, "Earrings, huh? Thanks." He said with a smile. Mark always gave him a gift that he always likes. He doesn't know why but everything he gave just makes him happy.
"Does it not hurts? I mean, getting your ears pierced..." Mark asked once again, James looks like he was thinking deeply but is not and just shrugged. "It's just like an ant bite to me. Why? Want to get one?"
"No." Mark answered almost immediately, "Don't say it's just an ant bite when you got a lot of holes on your ears..." James chuckled again, "It's not that bad, to be honest." Mark looked at the little holes on James' ear. It was kinda weird when there's no earrings on them to be honest, like it was empty. "I want to get one too, to be honest... So that we can match and stuff..." He said quietly like he was quite unsure by his words. "Won't your grandmother will get angry if she saw one? It's probably for the best if you don't get your ears pierced."
"I don't care of what she says..." He says defensively, "Then you don't care if you got punished too?" Mark thunk about it for a moment before slouching down, "Of course not... She always punish us in the hard way..."
"Like my uncle." James replied back as he puts out the cigarette and throws it away. "Come on, let's have fun today. Aren't you supposed to treat me?" He stood up and stretched before he looks as Mark. "Yeah, yeah... I will buy you everything you want, your majesty." He says with a smirk as they walked together. "You better do that, brat." James replied back jokingly too.
****
They stayed at the grassy field while drinking sodas. Mark lay on the ground, watching the clouds as he zones out while James read the new comic book they bought together. "Are you not done reading yet?" Mark asked in boredom, "Just read with me and you won't be bored too, y'know?"
Still, Mark paid no mind on the comic and just stared at the sky again. He was always odd than everyone. Mark looked at a van that passed by, noticing how it was different from the others. "Hey, looks like somebody was moving in our neighborhood." Mark told James. "Why would they want to stay at a small town like this? They have a shitty taste in place." Mark snickered at that, "Come on, aren't you curious to who they are?"
"Nah. You're just coaxing me to go with you and abandon my reading."
"Come on! Don't be like that!" Mark said as he slides an arm to James' shoulder, "I'm sure you're curious too, aren't you? It's not everyday to see a new face!" Reluctantly, James nodded as he groans. "Fine... Let's go check who they are then."
They ran towards the track where they saw the moving van was headed to and finally saw that it was just besides James' house. "Seriously...?" He muttered under his breath, "Just shut up and just watch...!"
Finally, after a long time waiting, a girl at their age comes out of the car holding a box. This girl have a pitch black hair that is neatly tied into a cute pig–tail and she wears glasses that makes her eyes slightly big. She spotted the both of them but ignored them and continued to walk inside her new home. "Rude..." James said again. He have a feeling that he will not get along with this new person.
Just then, a woman walked up to them and puts on a smile, "You must be our new neighbours!" She says with glee, "I'm Mrs. Schmidt, and that girl was out daughter! Ume Schmidt." She introduced the both of them, "I see you guys looks like you're about the same age as her. Are you guys middle schoolers?"
James and Mark nodded in sync which makes the woman more glad, "I see! My daughter is the same too! Would you mind helping her to fit in? It would really be a great help!" Again, both have no choice but just to nod again. "Mom, don't go talking to random people again!" The girl says as she glares at the two. "Come on now, let your mother! We just moved in this neighborhood!" Her father snuck in which makes her frowned more.
"I'm not used to playing with such immature teens." She said before entering their new home which makes the boys frown. "What an attitude..." Mark whispers to James.
"I'm sorry about her..." Mrs. Schmidt apologies to the both of them sincerely, "Maybe she was just a little bit shook at the sudden event. I mean, we did moved out without informing her..." She said softly as her husband nodded with a sigh, "Please don't mind her, I'm sure she'll stick around..." She said but still uncertain. "I'm Mark Louise, ma'am. The grandson of the Rosewoods. And him, he's James Evans. Nice to meet you both." He greeted them with a practiced mannered, "Please, be comfortable in our neighborhood. Everyone is friendly here."
"My, what a gentleman! Charming too." She chuckled. "Come on, Wanda! These boxes won't move magically!" Her husband called out while carrying boxes. "Oh my. well, we better hurry now! Please befriend our daughter, young boys."
The both of them just stood there as they watch the new neighbors. "Well, at least that house isn't abandoned now." James said sarcastically to Mark. "Race ya." He immediately said as he ran fast, trying to brighten up the atmosphere, "Hey–! Wait! I'm not ready yet!"
****
That evening, while the two was in Mark's room, they heard faint voices coming down stairs along with his grandmother laughing. "Don't mind 'em. I'm sure those are just her friends talking about old stuffs." Mark says with nonchalant tinted.
"Kids! Get your butts down here!" She called out.
Mark let out a groan and stood up lazily, "Don't mind 'em, he says." James replied behind his back as he also stood up from the bed. Downstairs, Maurie with Colleen was already there. Their grandmother introducing them about how they were her 'smart, hardworking ladies' which is not true for Mark. He saw them as the annoying sisters who would make fun of you.
Their grandmother glanced at the stairs and saw the two of them, "Ah, finally. These two peas in a pod finally showed their faces for everyone to see." She said. Mark and James immediately recognised who she was talking to. It was the Schmidt family.
"Oh! We have met earlier!" Mrs. Schmidt says with surprise in her voice. Besides her and her husband, Ume was hiding on the corner, not wanting to introduce herself, "How about you guys introduce yourself with each other while we talk?" She nudges her daughter inside while the four of them exchanged awkward glances with each other.
At the living room, all of them sat on the couch quietly with only the tick of the grandfather clock only heard.
"So... Um... I'm sure we all know each other?" Mark asked and they all nodded. "This is ridiculous... I'm supposed to be studying right now..." Ume said to herself just loud enough for the four of them to hear. "Smartass." James commented.
"Why are you even here anyway? You're literally the odd one out." She replied back, "You're not even a family here."
"You're the odd one out. We barely just met and you're here." He retorted, "That's because I'm a visitor." Both of their heads are turning red when Colleen finally stops them, "So! What's your family like, Ume?"
"Hm? My dad is an architect... My mom is a kindergarten teacher. We moved here because of my dad's new job but I don't like it in here."
"I understand that..." Maurie said, "We were brought here too when we were just young because our dad is busy with work to take care of us anymore." Mark nodded in agreement. Ume raised her eyebrow and could not help but to be curious, "What about your mother?" She immediately asked.
"..."
They all became silent and exchanged awkward glances with each other before Ume finally realises what they were hinting,"Oh." She spoke, "I uh... I'm sorry... I didn't know..." Gosh that was embarrassing, Ume could feel her cheeks becoming slightly pink as she looks away. "No, it's alright! We get that a lot!"
"Still..." Ume turned to James and asked him the same question to brighten up the topic, "What about you? What's your family like?"
"Dead." James answered.
"I mean... My parents are but I don't know about my other relatives." He said so casually like they were talking about the weather. Mark and his sisters let out a forced laugh, "Please, don't mind him..." Mark embarrassingly told Ume who was still frozen in shock by James' answer.