Finding an old Friend

"Hey. psst, Micyah. Wake up. It's time to wake up." I woke up to a shadow figure standing beside my bed. I rubbed my eyes seeing if it wasn't just the blurriness you get when you wake up but it was still standing there. I started to freak out. I back towards the wall and picked my pillow up for protection. "Wow thanks. Nice to know that I'm that scary." The figure moved its hand and turned the lights on.

It was just James trying to wake me up. I put the pillow back down.. His usual curly brown hair was wet and he had already gotten his cargo shorts on and wearing some shirt that had something funny written on it. He hadn't shaven since we moved up here and had a bit of a beard but you couldn't tell since it was all mostly blonde. "Dude, you had me thinking I was about to be in some cliche game or something."

"You only wish, now come on and get up. You can't sleep all day."

"That's what you think." I whispered to myself, as I covered myself back up. I looked back up at him, "The only reason I came was because we talked about it back in 10th grade. Also I wanted to see what it was like and I have. There's still too many people here, I don't call myself a true introvert for no reason." I put my head down on the pillow to go back to bed.

"Come on this isn't how we planned our time here. Just get up and come on grab something to eat as we leave I'll be waiting in the car. I want to go somewhere and I promise I won't leave you and make you look like an idiot this time." With that said he got up and left the apartment. I sat up and looked around. It's been about two weeks since James and I moved to Greenland. We've been looking for jobs and whatever it was that was calling James here. Sometimes I feel like we both ended up here for a reason. I hate to say it but we both have this feeling like we're missing something important. This trip is mostly to find that but after finally graduating High School I think we both needed to get away. Either way until we feel like going back or we figure out what's missing we both are living here and helping each other out. I got up and shook my head. It hurts thinking like that while still sitting in bed. I grabbed my pants and struggled putting my pants on. I fell over and knocked something off of my stand.

I picked up the picture frame that was now laying face down on the floor. I flipped it over to look at it. It was of all of my friends, the last one we took after the graduation ceremony. I covered up half of the picture that was to hard for me to look at. James, Zeke, Wythe, Cameron, Sequoia, Ryan, and Cody. Ellie was in it too, but barely showing from trying to photobomb us. Me and James had the biggest grins on our face with everyone jumping on top of each other, it was one of the reasons I loved my group of friends. No matter how much we argued or said we didn't like each other we never stopped being friends and we made out High School years count. It was also how I came to know that when it's all over it makes walking away and going on our different paths harder. However, It was a somewhat happy day; well until me and James told everyone we were leaving and coming here. We had started waving our plane tickets in the air like the idiots we are. Everyone had looked at us and told us good luck. Some were happier than others but we had expected it. Some said that they would visit us within a month or so we told them that we would be happy to show them around when ever they showed up. We still keep in touch through some app that we use a group chat on. They said they'd text us before just showing up. I moved my hand and looked at the whole picture I let one tear roll down my cheek before wiping it and taking the picture and putting it inside my phone case.

"Crap, it's to early for this.." I finally got my pants on and threw the sweatshirt that I had bought a long time ago. I put on my shoes and grabbed the armband that I kept my throwing knives in. Thankfully I shipped them here before we left so that I'd have them when we got here. I turned the lights off and walked into the kitchen area and grabbed an apple off the counter. I walked over to the door only turning back to check everything one last time. I walked down the three flights of stairs and outside. I looked up and down the street. There were so many people out even though it was only six in the morning. I started to get an eerie feeling but before I could figure out why James pulled up in front of me and I got in.

"So you ready to go, Micyah?" I looked at the apartment one last time not fully understanding the feeling that had just came over me but it was soon gone.

"Yeah, let's go. The faster we get done the sooner I can get in bed." James pulled off and started turning block after block. "So what exactly are we doing?"

"Well, you know how I left you in the park alone yesterday." James said smiling.

"Yeah. and I remember telling you when you came back to the apartment if you ever did that again you'd be dead."

"Sorry not sorry. So I met this chick that day..."

"Of course you did and let me guess you and her went somewhere." Interrupting James in the middle of his sentence

"Well sort of. Her dad is selling his bar and everything in it. The recipes of the food and the special beer they brew there. So I was thinking…."

"I already know what you are going to say. You want me to help you. If that's what you are going to say then let me try the food and see how the place is and where it is exactly. If everything seems reasonable then I guess we can do it."

James smiled as he drove the car. He took two more turns, "Here we are. Right now the name of the place is just Rick's bar, but once you say we're good to go then we can officially change the name."

The building was made out of brick and looked as if it was smashed in between the two other places next to it. The sign outside that said Rick's bar wasn't on, it might just be because of how early it is. The windows were tinted black so that you'd have to go inside in order to see what was going on inside. There was however an open sign outfront so that you would know that it was at least open.

"Come on we should check the inside out." James guided me to the stairs that led into the bar. Once we got to the door he opened it and led me through. The inside was better than what I had anticipated. There were four TVs at the bar area and another one at the far end which looked like it might have been connected to a gaming system or something. There was a table and sofa in front of the TV, with booths lining the left wall. James moved towards the right side where there was a corner for me to sit in. We sat there and James didn't say a word as I looked around. The place looked nice the walls had wooden panels that went about one fourth the way up the wall and the rest being the same type of bricks from the outside. There were pictures from many different years and from what it looked like, pictures of this places' history. Which means messing with them would feel like you were destroying the memories that were made here. If James wanted to change anything he'd have to make sure that the pictures stayed on the walls somewhere so that the history of this place would live on.

"So what do you think of it so far?" James was looking at a menu at the burger section. I picked up a menu and looked through it most of the stuff in it looked like nothing special.

"Well, you aren't wrong about some things. This place does seem to have some worth to it. Let's taste the food and even though weren't not legally allowed let's try and taste the special brew they make here."

"Ok, the owner's daughter said that she'd be here in the morning. Just hold on it's not like you have anything better to do. Once we're done here you'll probably just go back to your room and go to sleep." I rolled my eyes as I continued to read the menu and looked for something to try. Something, however was bugging me.

"James did you ever get her name or did the both of you walk around while you just drooled over the thought of hanging out with a girl?" James put his menu down and looked at me. I looked at him out of the corner of my eye.

"Look whatever you're thinking, no. All we did was talk and she mentioned her dad selling this place. She brought me her and I loved it. I thought you might like it too. Also, yes I got her name it's….."

"Aby, I guess you're James' friend that he said he needed to talk about this place to before he made his decision." I looked up and it was a girl. She looked about our age. A little shorter than me and had dirty blonde hair. Her eyes were greenish blue. She was the type of person that you wouldn't forget her face and seemed really peppy. The type of people I don't really get along with. They always try and drag people into doing whatever they think is fun. Honestly the only person I can stand who's like that, I don't see anymore so I don't really have to deal with it. She looked a little shorter than me.

"Yeah I guess I am. I'm Micyah."

"Nice to meet you. Well this is my dad's place. He's retiring soon so he wanted someone else to continue it but he doesn't want me to own it by myself, He's afraid I might run the place into the ground. So you'll be buying half the rights while I have the other half. We'll make the decisions together and hopefully everything will be smooth sailing."

"So all we really have to do is help you keep this place running." I asked while looking around.

"Yeah, It would be a huge help if you two would also start working here if you decide to buy in a part." She said looking at both James and I. I looked over at James.

"We need a job and we should be able to use the money we still have left over to buy it. I know it's not the most ideal situation for you, but it'll be nice to finally have something to do instead of sleeping all day."

"Yeah we could use the job but if we blow our money on this, then that means we won't be able to go back home until we are sure this place would be fine on it's own." I looked over at Aby and then around the room.

"James, you are going to be the death of me. Yeah why the hell not. Only on one condition though." I looked up at Aby.

"And what would that be?" She asked curiously.

"We need to give the place a new name since your dad won't be running it anymore. I think that James and I should be the ones to choose the name." I looked at James his eyes lit up with happiness. "We actually talked about owning a bar or something during High school and had a name picked out for it. We'd like to have it as the places new name."

"And what name would that be?"

Before Aby or me could say anything, James goes and says in a lisp "The Lisping Serpent!"

Aby's confusion turned into a smile which shortly after she started to laugh. "This is going to be fun if you're always like this." She gets three shot glasses out and puts there special brew in the three glasses. "Let's take a shot to our new bar and new friendship." Something about her just made me freeze. Even though she seemed really peppy and seemed outgoing, the total opposite from me, I feel like this was going to be the start of something new something that I could actually be happy to be apart of. I guess it's like she said, "Yeah, I think it'll actually be fun." I smiled and drank the shot. It burned the back of my throat as it went down. It was actually pretty good. It had a bit of a banana flavor but it actually tasted pretty good.

James drank his and looked at me, "So does this mean you'll come outside more."

"Maybe, but I'll probably only come here." I laughed to myself, "If you don't mind me asking you. What is your last name?" Aby turned and looked at me. She went and got ready to enter the kitchen area but stopped at the door.

"Well, it's Moore. My first and last name is Aby Moore. I was hoping you'd remember me. It's good to see you made really good friends." She turned towards the doors and went through. It was just James and I again. I thought there was something familiar about her. I wish I would've remembered. She was the first girl that I could recall ever actually having a crush on, but I ended up moving away before we could date or anything. I had already asked her out back then but she said it would be best to wait till the next year so that we knew that the other would still be going to school. I thought that I wasn't going to move, I thought that the following year I was going to be able to date her. In the middle of spring break however, I moved away and never got to tell her bye.

"I'm an asshole. Well, lets head back home."

"If you remember her or not, you should go talk to her. It'd be good for the both of you since we will be owning this place together and you both can reconnect. It's perfect." James said thinking that he was helping.

"No I think we both were a little shocked. We, well I, need some time to think. I definitely want to buy the place but I don't have a clue what I should tell her. Either way I think it's about time we headed back."

"Are you positive you don't want to go back and talk to her. The sooner the better you know." James asked while grabbing my shoulder to stop me from walking any further towards the door. I turned around and looked at him. James took his hand off of my shoulder.

"It's been a long morning and I'm tired. It would be best if I went home anyways." I smiled at James and walked towards the door. It was already hard enough getting up this early but her being here too makes being here harder, especially since I've never fully gotten over her and she'd been in the back of my mind since I left. I guess we'll have to sit down and talk about all of this before we go any further. I mean when we finally start working here and stuff we'll be around each other more often so I guess we should get whatever we have to say off of our chest.

I opened the door and walked towards the car not even to look back and see if James was following me. I got to the car door and the doors unlocked. James had the keys in one hand and opened the door with the other. We both climbed in and buckled up.

I took one last look before James drove off. I put my head against the window and wound up lost in thought. I still have some people I have to talk to when we get back to the apartment, well talk to while we play a game online. We had planned on playing so we could have fun and get caught up with each other. I probably won't say much though. I have too much to think about to really talk to them. James pulled up to the apartment and stopped. He locked the doors so I couldn't get out.

"I have to go do a few things before I go back to the apartment. If you want to you can come?" James never really asked me to go anywhere with him but I guess things are different since we're about to buy the bar.

"Na, I'm going to go ahead and chat with the guys while playing some game that Cody wants to put on his channel. It'll help take some things off of my mind anyways. See ya in a bit." I tried to open the door to get out but James still had the doors locked. I know I could unlock the door and get out myself but obviously James wanted to talk to me about something. I didn't look back at him though. "What is it you want."

"Don't ignore what happened. You really should think about what you're going to tell her and stuff. This is something that you need to talk about. This might be one of the few times you are given a second chance." With that said he unlocked the doors and let me out.

"I know I'll think about it and talk to her. Just stay out of it, it's our problem no one else's."

"Understood captain. Tell everyone I said hey."

"Ok see ya." Before he could say anything else I got out and went upstairs to our apartment. I opened the door and went into the kitchen area. I opened the door and pulled out some of the other nights leftovers. I walked over to the microwave and heated the food up. While the food was heating up I pulled out my phone. "I haven't checked this thing all morning I wonder if I got any new messages." Like I'd guessed I had a couple texts from several people.

How's it going up in Greenland? It's been a while since we last heard from you. You should really let us know how you're doing.

-Mom

Are we still on for tomorrow morning playing that new game? It's going to be me, Sequoia, Wyeth, and you. Plus we'd like to know what you and James have been up to.

-Cody

(666) new memes for you to look at.

-Meme counter

I texted cody back saying I was getting on in a minute and I'll text mom after the game that way I can tell her everything she wants to know. The microwave beeped and I took out the food and went to my room. I set at my computer desk which had an eighteen inch screen and a regular monitor. It wasn't a fancy setup but it was enough to run most of the new games.

I logged into my account that I had made a few nights ago and had sent a friend request to Cody and everyone else. I had a message from Cody asking to join a game. It had been sent nearly five minutes ago. I clicked join and it threw me into the game. It was just a survival game that automatically spawns you in the middle of nowhere with your friends and you had to see how long you could survive. The game started to load up and as it did I grabbed my headphones and put them on. I took a bit of my food, as I did I joined the games and all I could hear was.

"HEY MICYAH. YOU'RE FINALLY ON." Yelled everyone into their headphones.

"Hey guys." I said with my mouth still full with food.

"It's about time that you got on. We've been waiting." Said Sequoia. He was right. In the game it was already night time and they had a fire going in the middle of the woods. I walked my character over and sat down in a wooden chair that I assume they built.

"None of us have done our intros yet, so once we get that down we'll be good to go." Said Cody. Everyone who planned on uploading this as a video went ahead and did there intros and then we finally started to play.

"So what's going on in the great Americas?" I asked trying to avoid them from asking me questions.

"Nothing much, more news on school shootings, police brutality, and racism crap. Nothing really exciting other than our channels and the huge amount of new games getting ready to come out. This wont go in the video because we want to surprise all the viewers but we plan on scheduling a meet and greet of sorts. If you and James wanted to come that would be nice." Cody said. Cody is probably the only one of us that are really into games and their channels. He pretty much just likes to do whatever makes him happy.

"Sorry but James and I are going to be busy for a while so we won't be able to."

"Why are you two going to be busy?" Wyeth asked. I had started to build a shelter away from everyone else in the game and start my own little land.

"James decided to go and buy a bar, so at the moment we're co-owners of it. Along with one other person."

"That does sound like James." I could tell Sequoia was shaking his head in real life.

"More importantly who is the other person that also owns the place? I'd like to know who you both also own it with." Cody asked.

I sighed and then said, "It ended up being one of my old friends. We both have to sort some things out before we all officially begin to work together but it should be good for us. James and I will finally be earning enough money to actually began having a lot of fun. Well, James can have fun I can lay in here and sleep more."

"Ok but what's their name?" They all said at the same time. We all laughed together. I pretty much at this point stopped playing the game.

"It's Aby."

"OOOOOoooooooo. Micyah has a lady friend." Cody said.

"Look our relationship is complicated and I don't want to think about it can we please just play the game." I sighed. I stood my character up and walked over to a tree to cut down with an axe.

"Yeah, I guess we could change the conversation. Anyways everything from now on is going in the video so keep it in mind." Everyone said ok and we started playing the game. We joked around and died and had fun while we played the game. It reminded me of the old days. I wish we could still have fun like we did in High school.

"Hey guys ,I'm getting off. I need to go do something. Talk to all of you later." I didn't wait for a reply I just left the game. I took my plate back to the kitchen and sat it in the sink. I put my shoes back on and walked out the door and down the stairs. The car wasn't out front so I guessed James was still out. I walked down the block and took the same path that James had driven this morning.

Finally I ended up in front of the bar. The one that James and I bought. The one that has an old friend and crush in it. I walked through the doors and she was standing behind the bar.

"Hey Micyah. What are you doing back so soon?" Aby asked as I walked in.

"I was hoping you and me could talk. I wanted to talk about a few things." I asked. I don't know how I should feel or anything. I don't even know if I want her to say ok. I just want to get this weight off of my chest.

"Sure, what about?"

"I was hoping that we could talk over there," I pointed towards the couch, "I have a lot to say." She nodded and walked back into the kitchen area. I went and sat down on the couch. I interlock my fingers together and put my chin on my hands. When she finally came out, I looked over at her. She was wearing shorts with hoodie. I guess she threw it on after she went to the kitchen. She probably had it back there so it didn't get dirty while she worked.

She sat down next to me. We sat there for a moment without saying a word to each other. I guess we both needed to get our thoughts straight before we finally got to talking.

She was the first to say something, "So what did you want to talk about?"

"I'm sorry," I said.