21. Little Smile

James takes a walk through the people—who at the same age but he doesn't know why it makes him feels so old. He only feels the joy of youth in high school. James curious to explore more about the place. Something inside him wanted to taste it.

He got into the library, it's empty and no one there. He sat there and opened the laptop, trying to write his feelings right now. The place and ambiance are different from before, and he wanted to take a shot.

James closes his eyes, he tries to reach the deepest site of his heart. 'What do you feel James? At least right now, it must be something right? This new atmosphere, the girl that you met today, what do you feel about it?'

His fingers started moving, he doesn't look into the keyboard or the screen. It's moving by itself, he builds the world that he wants, the world that he can't have. Times pass by, he still sat there writing his new story. Wrote thousands of words and he just went on, he didn't know it'll come into a crap or some other masterpiece. Some people have comes and go, they always stare at James. They never saw this guy before and he sitting all day long.

"What are you doing here?"

James was shocked by voices in his ears. He turned around and it was Alice, she took him by surprise.

James almost screamed the hell out, "Sshh—you startled me. Don't ever do it again!"

"Hahaha, sorry I was joking. You looked so serious and I can't stand it." She laughed out loud, "You told me that you're not the students here, so why you sitting here?"

"It's empty, and I never to the library lately. I think it nice to write here," James answered and his eye back to the laptop tried to continue.

Alice smirked, "Eh, I think you such a nerdy guy and I never thought that you dare to break into someone's place."

"I'm not that nerd, it just I like the vibe over here," James smiled faintly, with his eyes still glued to the laptop. He tried to concentrate while Alice stood beside him, watched so seriously.

Alice looked at him, his faintly smiles. She can tell that he doesn't have enough friends. 'Poor him, your pretty face is wasted by your sadness.' She got closer and closed his laptop, James was shocked and fumed.

"What the hell are you doing!!?"

"Shut up! Let's take a break for a moment, c'mon follow me," Alice slapped his shoulder.

James snapped, he couldn't understand her anymore. "What!? Why I've listened to you?"

"Just shut up and follow me, or I'll call the security that you trespassing here."

She made him very mad, James's annoyed by her manner. He couldn't understand her anymore, she suddenly closed her laptop and now she asked him to go out. 'What a psycho!' James swears slowly.

James couldn't say no, it'll be trouble for him if the security comes down. He could only be silent and listened to everything that Alice wants. James packed her thing and goes with Alice, leaving his unfinished work.

Day's getting darker, the skies turn orange when they walk out. It's a quiet day, the streets in the college not crowded like this morning. Alice took him to the convenience store, brought some beer, instant noodles, and meat. James wondered why she brought all of these in a lot amount.

"What do you want to do?" James asked when Alice picks some vegetables.

"You asked a lot yeah? I think you quieter than this. We'll go to my place, I make a party in my rooftop apartment."

He shocked a little, narrowed his eye questioned. "Is it okay to go with you? I mean, it's your party and I don't know anybody there,"

Alice stopped and stared at James, "Yup, that's fine? What's the matter with you?"

"I'm not the type of guy that comes into a stranger party, I can't blend with others in an event like that. It feels… I don't know… weird maybe?"

"That's fine, even if you're not talking with anybody there. I just want to make you know the life that you never had," Alice smiled while her hand continued to pick another ingredient.

That line that makes James fascinated with her, 'How does she know? She annoyed me, but… she has the amazing side inside her thought.' Alice cares about someone's feelings and she's a mood brighter at the college. She just likes a sun, who always shares the shine and makes other people feel comfortable. Sun, who always gives but never reclaim anything in return. Genuinely from her heart.

Warmth is an unusual thing for James. Alice came and tries to make him warm, put a light in his heart. That's why James wants to listen to her, deep down inside he knows that she has an attractive side that makes you want to get closer, and closer.

#

They got to the Alice apartment, it's on the rooftop. Skies already turn purple, suns get real low. James helps Alice to prepare the party, cook meat, and make a fire because they want to make a barbeque party.

It's just a minute till the fire ready and a lot of people already came, they come with different styles and personalities. James starts fading, he just grabbed a beer and sits on the corner. He doesn't know anybody over there, he watched Alice talking with a lot of people there.

'Damn! Alice's famous, I never thought she had these peoples. Shit, I didn't know anybody here. I don't know how to talk with them. Huft, I shouldn't come here.'

While James drowns in his daydream and regretting why he comes here, people come near them and one of them sits next to him.

"Yo! Alice, so this is the guy you're talking about?" Someone pointed at James.

"Yeah, don't strike him right away. He little bit shy," Alice smirked. She likes to make fun of him.

"My name's Arthur. Nice to meet you," He smiled and shake James's hand.

"James, nice to meet you too."

He took his hand. James looked at him a little surprised. He never thought somebody will go around him and greet him. James smiled and nodded at everything he said. He wanted to be natural as he can, he doesn't want to look overreacted about this.

"Hahaha, you're not that bad. Alice's laid it on thick about you." He laughed, "Here's Jenny and Sam."

"Hello," They smiled and shake James's hand.

Arthur introduces the people next to him, he's a social person. He's the opposite of James, he can blend in every situation. He goes right away to James, he can't leave people who sit alone and don't have friends to talk to.

"So where are you come from? The other college?" Sam asked him.

"He doesn't go to college," Alice came and answered the question, bring the hot dogs and can of beer.

"Yeah, I don't go to college," James answered while sipped his beer in his hand. He became more relaxed than before.

"So how you guys meet?" Jenny wondered about Alice and James.

"That's a long story,"

Arthur embraced him, put his arm around James, "We've all nights long. Tell us!"

James hesitates for a second, he feels uncomfortable with the situation. He starts the story, slowly. Alice listened with smiles appeared on her face. She stood next to them and watching James's faces. She doesn't listen to what he said. She doesn't care, all that matters is he's insanely charming. She loved when he answered the question and reacted to her annoying thing.

After a while, he dares to be more expressive. A little smile comes from his face. Alice smirked relief, 'Finally, I want you to know this kind of situation, James. That's little smiles, it proves that you deserve to have this beautiful life.'