He didn't know the time when he woke up to the constant buzzing of his phone. He inhaled slightly as he shifted to his side and reached towards his nightstand to grab his phone. It kept buzzing and he groaned in annoyance as he pushed it against his ear and weakly hit the accept button.

He could only hear breathing and it made his head feel fuzzy as he tried to focus on anything remotely important. He tried to speak but all that came out was a weak breath as he pushed his face more into his pillow while he waited for a voice.

"James?" the air felt thick, he could feel himself tensing as he sat up almost in a panic motion. He felt wide awake as he looked at the clock beside his bed, the bold red numbers made his head wanna explode.

4:38 AM

"why... why are you calling me?" he let out a heavy breath as he quickly walked towards his doorway and pulled it open. He wiped at his face as he walked towards his kitchen counter. The air was freezing as he grabbed his car keys quickly and made his way towards the trailer doorway.

"I need a bit of help, my car broke down. I didn't know who else to call". He sighed deeply as he grabbed his shoes and quickly made his way outside "could've called a tow for all I care, what on earth are you even doing out this late".

He rubbed his eyes as he let out a frustrated breath and unlocked his car "I don't know, couldn't sleep so I went for a drive. You're the only person I know in this god forsaken town, can you help or not?".

James groaned "where are you? I can't be long, Andrew's sleeping thankfully but that kid will notice I'm gone. I swear he has powers or some shit". He started his car quickly "it's somewhere near the school, hold on I'll find a sign".

5:00 AM

James parked his car on the side of the road as he quickly got out of it. He ignored how tired he was as he walked forward in search of the girl. He could see the hood of the car was pulled upwards and smoke was loosely lingering along the air.

He saw the dent in the bumper making him tense as he quickly rushed towards the passenger seat. The window was broken and shards of glass dug into the bottom of his shoes as he pushed his head through the window. "Shit" the driver's seat was empty aside from shards of glass and a few specks of blood.

"James!" he turned and let out a breath of relief "are you alright! What the hell happened?" his gaze lingered on her face as he walked towards her. "Something ran in front of the car.... I didn't wanna tell you, I knew you'd freak out".

He let out a light breath as he grasped her face and looked at the cut on her forehead. "You're hurt, why didn't you just stay home. You gotta stop leaving and being reckless, are you high?".

The girl grumbled in annoyance "no! I haven't taken anything in weeks. You're the only person I could think to call. mom's gonna kill me". James sighed "you're so damn childish, it's no wonder dad took you away when we were like ten. Come on, get in the car I'm dropping you off at the hospital and I'm going back home so I can sleep".

"Oh come on don't do that James. We haven't seen each other in years and this is how you treat me!". James rolled his eyes "you're a junkie that's why Jamie, I cut you out of my life the second you sided with our shitty parents. You're lucky I even came here to help you, just get in the car Jamie".

Jamie huffed as she got into the passenger seat "thanks for the very kind words, you sound just like mom when you talk like that". James sighed deeply as he got into the car "At least I don't take after the bitch like you did. I bet you're higher than a kite right now, you were always good at hiding it".

"I'm trying, rehab is annoying and you're not exactly any help either. I have no support!". James drove as he scratched at his head "I practically drove you to rehab myself like five times. You always give up, I was supportive the entire time, I can't keep doing this Jamie, you're an adult you can take care of yourself. I'm still in highschool taking care of a kid, and now I gotta worry about you not dying on me".

"I'll do better, I'll get help" James parked the car as he turned and looked at his sister "you always say that, I won't actually believe it until I see it. Look just go inside and get checked out, I'll call a tow and have them bring your car here once it's fixed".

"Why can't you just pick me up and drop me off at my house, I mean you can at least do that for me".

"I have school, I would if I could but I literally can't. Look I'll call in a few hours, just try to get your shit together so you can meet Andrew".

"You're gonna end up just like me, that's the curse of being a part of this family. We end up just like mom and dad, Whether it's a bottle or a needle, you're gonna end up just like them".

She got out of the car and James sighed deeply because deep down he knew it was true. He was already falling into bad habits and it was addictive and he was terrified of becoming his parents.

—

"Do you think I'm a shitty person?" James leaned back into the passenger seat as he looked at Maeve. The girl looked almost surprised by his words as he grabbed his backpack from beside his feet,

"Where's that coming from all of a sudden?" he sighed as he climbed out of the car "my sister paid a visit last night, the usual late call where I gotta help her. She practically told me I'm gonna end up like my parents, and... I don't know what to do? Would that make me a shitty person? Because I'm just like them".

He felt sick just thinking about it as he walked beside Maeve "you're not your parents, you're also not a shitty person, I mean if you were you'd have fallen into bad habits ages ago. You were in bad shape all summer but you got out of it for Andrew's sake".

James groaned dramatically as he threw his head back "I just wish my life wasn't a shit show, I need to seriously get shagged or something. Maybe it magically helps me get over Ruby". Maeve chuckled as they approached Aimee "they're really a thing now? Apparently half the schools talking about it".

Aimee's words made James sighed in annoyance at the sight of Ruby and Otis walking beside one another. "As if my life couldn't get any more fucking depressing, I'm gonna stab myself with a pencil".

Maeve patted the boy's shoulder as they walked inside the school. He grumbled as he smacked his face into a locker, he didn't care about the wet paint as he heard the brief noise of laughter at his actions.

"James, it'll get better" he groaned as he looked at Maeve. "Sure it will, my ex best friend is totally shagging my ex-girlfriend who I'm still madly in love with. He's not even wearing the colors for today, it's not even proper brown or beige. That was Anwar's jacket! And now I have paint all over me!".

He smacked his face into the locker again "I'm having a mid life crisis, I hate it here and everywhere!". Maeve grabbed hold of his shoulder and dragged him back "alright, you can't just break down. I'm gonna clean this paint off your face and you're gonna pretend Ruby doesn't even exist. You don't need her, you're perfectly fine on your own".

He nodded weakly "you're right! I don't need her, if anything she needs me! I'm way hotter than Otis, he'll never give her what I could've".

After many minutes of hot water splashing his face and thin paper towels digging into his skin most of the paint was gone. He walked into the hallway nearing Maeve and Aimee, the girls stood beside Maeve's locker as he gave them a weak thumbs up.

"Paints all gone for the most part, that new head teacher practically locked down the napkin dispenser in there so I had to claw them out". Maeve leaned back into her locker "you just missed her. She mentioned you, said you're gonna have to repaint that locker you smacked into twice".

James rolled his eyes "of course she did" his gaze looked down the hallway where he could see numerous students gathering around. "What's that about then? Did the new head teacher make another drastic change? Because I told you she's evil".

"New student I think" James looked at Maeve "who would be psycho enough to come here of all places? Especially with that new head teacher making the place look like a cemetery".

"I'm pretty sure the new students, Mrs. Haddon's daughter or something. She transferred over from whatever fancy school she went to before". James couldn't see through the crowds of people as he pushed his bag over his shoulders "oh I know that look, you're totally gonna do something drastic".

He smirked slightly "you know me so well Maeve, besides I'm just gonna talk with her... that's all".

—

James walked outside of the school and Maeve practically ran towards him "so did you behave and not do anything reckless?". He turned slightly "the fact that you don't trust me, all me and Daisy did was talk, she thinks her mom is a bitch too".

Maeve sighed "you seriously better not mess anything up, that girl's trouble waiting to happen. Especially since her mothers the new head teacher who already has her eyes on you for messing up a locker".

"Relax, I'm not a complete idiot, besides we're just talking. There's no trouble with words being exchanged, she's like way out of league anyways, a girl that beautiful and smart would never go for me".

"Just be careful, also gotta postpone the ice cream today, I gotta meet Issac for a few hours. I'm sure Andrew will understand anyways". James chuckled slightly "he'll still make me take him for ice cream, I'm sure he'll see you later on tonight anyways or tomorrow morning. Just call if you need anything. I think I'm gonna walk home today, it's warm out for once".

Maeve smiled at him "just be careful" the boy waved at her before he walked off towards the sidewalk. "James!" he turned at the sight of the new girl practically sprinting towards him. "I totally forgot to give you my number, so we can talk".

James reached into his pocket for his phone "already on a number basis are we then? You've known me barely even a single day Daisy. Have some standards for yourself or maybe self respect".

He looked down at her as she grabbed his phone. "Maybe I like asking for guys' numbers who I barely know. My mother is pretty strict, so if she even heard word of this she'd freak. So let's not let her find out".

James chuckled slightly "you're a troublemaker then, what would your mother think of that little miss Daisy. especially since you're little miss perfect, you have perfect grades and attendance. Always the first one done with a quiz or test. Someone like me would break those habits of yours, best you stay far away from me if you want to be perfect".

She pushed his phone back into his hand "I get the feeling I don't care what happens. You're cute by the way, I don't think you're out of my league". She walked off and he looked at her, his train of thought faded away when a loud honk slammed into the air.

He turned almost on demand, his gaze meeting Ruby's who was standing inside her car. Her high heel was pushing against the horn as she waited for Otis. James knew she was looking right at him, she had that look in her eyes only he knew. Guilt? Shame? Maybe even a tad bit of jealousy, but he didn't care.

She broke his heart, now it was time he broke hers.

—
authors notes:
James is in his reckless idc era. Writing for this book was actually kinda fun, I didn't realize how long it's been since I've actually written anything for it. I think I'm dreading ending it so I'm updating it slow on purpose. Might update another chapter tonight but I'm not sure yet, it's a big maybe if I still have inspiration for writing James. Also instead of doing the whole James/Maeve storyline I've decided to make Daisy. We'll get more details on her next chapter. I don't think James would ever pull an Otis and go for his best friend's girl, that's not his style at all.