Story bits

James stared at the casket, his small hands clinging to his father’s suit jacket.  The one year old didn’t realize that his mother was gone. She was the person in the black box with the red flowers.

They saw a little James run up to him, waving a sheet, tiny backpack on his shoulders. He showed his father the paper, which had a shiny gold star on it. His father smiled and ruffled his hair, helping him into the chair next to him. He moved, and when he came back into view, he handed James a banana. They sat at the table, smiling a lot.

In the next flash, James is sitting in front of a school, reading with the light from the doors. The sun is barely rising. A janitor sticks their head out the door, and calls out to him. He waves, and they motion for him to come inside.

They see a slightly taller James get one of those paper crowns on his head, the ones the teachers give kids on their birthdays.

When the day is over, he rushes home, jumping out of the bus and up to the door. He crashes into his father’s legs, hugging them tightly. His father looks down at him with a sad smile, ruffling his hair. He hands him a rectangle wrapped in golden paper. James rips it open, revealing a book about space.

He opens it and turns the pages gently, eyes wide with awe as he looks at the pictures. He spends hours doing that, flipping through the book.

He memorizes it quickly, drinking in the information. James comes to love the stars, and wishes their neighborhood had clearer skies. He’d like to be able to see the stars in real life, not just in pictures.

In the next, James is taller, walking into a different school. The morning passes quickly, and a black haired boy sits next to him.

It’s Keith.

James greets him, sticking a hand out. Keith says something, and he brings his hand back. They make small talk, and both smile at each other.

Then the teacher comes in, and she separates them. During recess, they find each other again, and run around with other kids.

In the next, Keith’s head is down, and James says something to him. Keith glares at him and says something else, and James’s face falls. Keith says something else, stepping forward and getting in his face. He nods and walks away,  head down, and eyes glistening with unshed tears.

James sits alone from then on, along with Keith. 

They see some of his classmates, a group of boys, shove him in the halls and steal his stuff.

He never says anything, just gets up and walks away. Even when they knock him into the gravel and it cuts his palms, sending small trails of blood down them, he just walks away.

Keith sees them do it one time, and barks something at them. They look at him with wide eyes and run off. James looks to where he was to thank him, but he’s gone.

Later Keith bumps into him in the hall.

“You can’t let them do that Jamie.” Keith says. “It’s not a big deal.” “Yes it is.” Keith insists. “You gotta be able to stand up for yourself. I’m not helping you again.” He nods, eyes downcast as Keith leaves him again.

He gets home, and his father gives him a wave, not looking up from his papers.

He barely talks anymore. Either of them.

Another flash, and James is sitting in the front of the class. He looks down at his paper, a ‘95’ written on it. He shrugs and puts it in his bag. When he gets home, he shows his father the paper. He frowns and says something to James, who shrugs. His eyes narrow and he hands him his bag, saying something else. James nods and heads to his room, where he pulls out his notes and stares at them.

Another, and he’s in the hall, reading a book as he walks. He bumps into someone and looks up, apologizing. He sees Keith, and his eyes widen. “Keith! I’m sorry. I didn’t see you.” Keith glances at him. “Got your nose buried in a book again? You’re such a nerd Jamie.” “Hey! At least I can read! My hair doesn’t cover my eyes.” Keith rolls his eyes and sighs. “Again with the hair? You’re just as bad as Jordan.” “Am not! I don’t think you're weird or an emo. That’s just him.” Keith’s face darkens. “What?” James rubs the back of his neck. “I heard him say it earlier. I thought you knew.” Keith marches past him, and he grabs his wrist. “Keith, please don’t start something.” He pleads. Keith narrows his eyes and shoves him away, and he falls. “Leave me alone nerd. Go back to your books. The only people who wanna be around you are fake.” James’s eyes widen with shock and he watches the other storm away.

The next flash shows them a man they all know. 

Shiro.

He stands in front of the class, talking.

He takes them outside, where they all do the simulator.

James gets to level four, then crashes. Shiro smiles at him, clapping him on the shoulder. James offers him a small smile in return. It’s the first time someone has congratulated him in a long time. His dad barely talks, and the teachers just expect the best from him by now. He’s the smartest in the school, and the teacher even tells Shiro that.

When she calls Keith a discipline case, he stiffens. Next thing he knows, he’s seeing Keith drive away in Shiro’s car.

“He’s not bad.” He tells Shiro. “The teachers just don’t like him because he doesn't follow directions or like doing group work.” Shiro smiles at him. “I’ll remember that.”

Keith comes back the next day, with a note for the teacher. She stares at it in shock before handing him a packet. She gives James and a few others one too. 

It’s an application for the Galaxy Garrison.

James rushes home, actually happy to be there for once. He shows his father the papers, and he actually smiles, hugging James.

It’s the first time he’s done that in years.

That night, they fill it out together, his father telling him the information and reading him the questions.

When he gets accepted, his father hugs him again, and they even get pizza and watch a movie. James hasn’t been this happy in…. Years. 

The next day, he asks Keith if he got in. The other actually smiles at him, and hugs him when he tells him he got in too. They become somewhat friends again, James offering to be his partner on assignments, and Keith making him laugh with offhanded comments or jokes,

At the Garrison, they’re in most of the same classes, and are still friendly. James’s father reminds him when he drops him off to study a lot, and keep getting ‘100’s. 

It’s harder than it sounds. When his father calls next, he lectures him about the importance of studying, saying it’s more important than making friends. Only the best, only the perfect ones get to be pilots or astronauts.

He gets little sleep, as his classes keep getting harder, and he ends up pulling several all-nighters. The other kids in his class don’t like him much, and Keith becomes distant. James goes back to eating lunch again,, the hollow feeling of loneliness familiar to him once again. He wishes Keith would eat with him again, like he did those last few months at their old school, but he’s nowhere to be seen.

He knows the other kids say bad things about him, make fun of him, calling him a ‘teachers pet’ and ‘suck up’, some going so far as to suggest he’s cheating.

But he ignores them. He’s used to it.

Keith becomes Shiro’s favorite, and gets a bit of a big head from it. Talking back, skipping class, not trying in anything but the sims.

One day, when James is running on two hours of sleep he got a week ago, Keith starts screwing up in the sims. “Fall in line cadet!” The teacher orders.

“Yeah Keith, you’re gonna get us in trouble.” He said. Keith screwed around again, and the teacher ordered them out of the sims.

“You can all thank Kogane here, because he decided to play tricks today, you’re all gonna spend the next three weekends in the simulator!” He barked.

James side eyed Keith. “Thanks a lot.” “My pleasure.” “We all know the only reason you’re here, is because of Shiro.” He says. Keith narrows his eyes. “I can outfly anyone in this building.” He raised an eyebrow. “Oh yeah? I sthat what Mommy and Daddy told you-” The fist connects with his cheek and he falls, surprised by the strength behind the blow. Keith gets on top of him and tries to punch him again when a teacher pulls him off. James wipes his mouth with his sleeve, already tasting the blood.

Another teacher hauls him up and leads him to the office, where he sits next to Keith. There’s a bruise forming on his cheek, but he doesn’t remember hitting him. “Why’d you have to say that?” Keith asked. “Why’d you have to act like an entitled brat and treat everyone else like shit?” He asks, glaring at him. Keith looks down, not answering. Shiro comes out of the office. “Cadet Griffin, Iverson will see you now.”

The last thing he sees before going into the room is Shiro talking to Keith in soft tones.

“Cadet, you are aware Kogane is an orphan, correct?” the man asks him. “I- no. I didn’t know.” James admits, hanging his head. “I would assume, as someone else who has lost a parent, you would be more sensitive about it. I expect better from you. You have the highest grades in your class, and no record.” “Yes sir.” He mumbled. The man sighed. “You’re lucky you’re a good student. This won’t go on your record, but it will on his.” James picked his head up. “Don’t do that. Keith wouldn’t have done anything if I hadn’t provoked him.” Iverson raises an eyebrow. “Are you taking responsibility for this cadet?” James gulped and nodded. “He wouldn’t have done anything if I hadn’t provoked him.” He repeats. “Keith- he’s not a bad person.” Iverson looks at him quizzically before sighing. “Fine. This stays off the record. But I expect better from you from now on.”

He nods and steps out of the office. Hes about to leave the front entirely when Shiro steps in front of him. “Okay Griffin, spill. What’s wrong?” “What do you mean?” James asks. “I thought you and Ke-Kogane were friends.” James looks down, unable to meet the man’s disapproving stare any longer. “So did I.” “What happened?” James shrugged. “I dunno. He gets mad sometimes, and he says things. It’s hard to tell whether or not he means it unless he’s looking you in the eyes.” Shiro nodded. “Oky, good to know. You can go.”

James is sitting alone again at lunch, his cheek throbbing dully, when he sees a tray slip in front of his. He looks up with wide eyes. “Keith?” He asks softly. The other hands him a cookie. “Sorry for punching you.” He says. James takes the cookie, staring at it. “Why didn’t you tell me?” He asks. “Thought you would treat me differently. Plus, when I saw you the day after I kinda snapped.” James’s eyes widened. “When you yelled at me the first time?” Keith nods, poking his food. “Yeah. Sorry about that too. It’s just- everyone says they understand. What it;s like. But they have no idea.” “I have a little bit.” James mumbles. Keith raises an eyebrow. “My mom died when I was little. I don’t even know her name, or what she looked like.” He mutters. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Keith asks, smirk on his face. James chuckles and opens the cookie, offering him half of it. “No more secrets?” He asks. Keith smiles, taking the bigger half. “No more secrets.”

Another flash. The bruise is gone, and Keith has grabbed James’s hand, tugging him down the dark hallways. “Keith! You’re gonna get us in trouble!” He hisses when they reach a corner. “Just shut up and trust me!” Keith snaps. James sighs as they run down another hall, coming to a stop before a door. “It’s locked.” James points out. Keith grins, and pulls out a key, slipping it in and turning it. “Not anymore.” He says as the door opens with a satisfying click. Keith climbs up a ladder as James stares at him. “Come on!” Keith says with a smile. James shakes his head and climbs after him, climbing out after Keith. “Okay, so what is- whoa.” James says when he opens his eyes.

They’re on the roof, and the night sky is clear. He can see the stars sparkle, and make out a few constellations. “You like the stars and always talk about seeing them in person. So, I made it happen.” Keith says with a grin.” James stands, stepping in a circle. “Keith, this is…” He trails off, eyes wide with amazement. He looks at his friend, smile wide on his lips. “Thank you.” He says. Keith nods. “No problem.” And heads back for the door. “Where are you going?” James asks. “Um, back?” “Can you stay?” James asks. “I don’t like being alone.” He mumbles. Keith shrugs. “Sure.” They sit near the edge together, staring at the sky.

“Why don’t you like being alone?” Keith asks. “I just don’t like it. I’d rather be with someone. And I was alone a lot during grade school, so…” He trails off. Keith nudges his shoulder with his own. “Well, you won’t be alone from now on.” “Is that a promise?” James asks. Keith nods. “I promise you’re not gonna be alone anymore.

James kisses Keith, lips pressing against his softly as he cups the other’s face. He pulls away, and drops his head when he sees Keith’s shocked face. “I’m sorry.” He mumbles. Keith glares at him, shoving his shoulder before he stands, walking away without a word. James curls himself into a ball, tears streaming down his cheeks.