Vines From an Old Friend

“Come on, James.” Eliss grabbed me by the hand and lead me deeper into the trees. “I told you I knew I secret spot where no one could find us.”

“This seems a little dangerous,” I

whispered. Eliss came to a full stop and spun around on his heel as quick a

ballerina. “Impressive sp—“

“James,” Eliss said seriously. I hadn’t known

before then how serious the sunny, blond boy could get. “Do you trust me?”

“Of course,” I replied in a heartbeat.

“Do you trust me more than you fear these

woods?”

“Yes!”

“Do you trust me more, than you fear...

you parents?”

This question made me pause longer than I care

to admit. It was barely a debate to begin with, but the falter in his eyes

snapped me back to reality. “...Yes.”

The answer was acceptable. Eliss laced his

thin fingers through mine and continued to lead me down the rocky path. I can

still remember how bright the sun was, past the dark evergreen trees. It

smelled like—

“MASTER JAMES!”

I jolt up from my laid down position. My

eyes are still blurry from sleep and I can barely make out the figure of my

butler. 

“Master James, I’m sorry to have used that

tone with you. You were sleeping so deeply one of the maids was certain you had

passed.” Gregory stopped speaking and escorted a young, frazzled-looking

brunette out of the room. I wish I knew his name; I feel so ashamed to not even

be able recognize my own employees. “Again, so sorry to wake you. You haven’t

slept that well since Eli—since... well, it’s been... a while.” He’s right. I

haven’t slept more than a few hours a night since the last time I saw... him. 

“Well, let’s not start the day in a glum

mood, hmm,” I ask. I desperately need to lighten the mood. Gregory has always

been worried about my lack of sleep. Sometimes I just wish I could get a good

night's rest so there wouldn’t be so many creases in his brow; or white hairs

on his head.

“I would love to, but—“

“Oh come now, don’t let the past weigh you

down. Look to the future with your head held high and—“

“Sir, it’s 3 p.m.”

“—and brave the da—what?!?!”

“You need to get up. Your meeting with the

Head of the Umuove Family is in one hour.”

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner!?!” 

“I tried to before you interrupted me, but

that’s none of my business.” Gregory pauses to take a sip from a cup of Lipton

tea I did not previously realize he was holding. Regardless, I rocket out of

bed and head straight for the shower. At the door, I pause and glance back at

Gregory. “Get my tux please. And can you leave me a snack?”

“How about FR E SH A VOCA DO?”

“...Gregory… what?”

“Nevermind, sir. Hmm, thirty years old and

your favorite snack is still peanut butter crackers. Of course I can, sir.” I

press my hands together in thanks before rushing off into the bathroom. Today

is going to be rough.

...

The car ride over here was stuffy at best.

I should be happy that the drive wasn’t any longer, though. I’m honestly

surprised that another prominent family estate would be located so close to

mine. That could lead to many issues.

“Master is ready to see you now,” said a

bluenette as he bowed slightly. I assume he’s the butler of whoever I’m meeting

today. It’s so stupid. Just because my family is rich, now I have to meet all

these old, salty codgers. “Please follow me to the office. Oh, and nice hair

cut by the way. I like ya cut g.”

“Thank you very much,” I say with a firm

nod. As we start to walk down the massive hallways, I feel a hand shamelessly

slap the back of my head. I lurch forward in shock and grab my stingy scalp. I

turn around with tears in my eyes to see the bold bluenette has already left

the scene of the crime. Gregory is struggling to stifle a laugh.

“Mother trucker dude,” Gregory says

through fits of laughter. “That must’ve hurt like a butt cheek on a stick.”

“Gregory, are you feeling okay? You’ve

been acting weird all day.”

I turn back around to focus on the

beautifully decorated walls instead of my recent humiliation. There are so many

paintings; I assume they’re of all the previous heirs. The one closest to the

office is of a young, blond man. He looks strikingly similar to…

“Oh my god, the guy… found my berries!”

“What?!?” This man must not be right in

the head. Still, he reminds me of...

“James Lorde. A pleasure to meet you, I am

the heir to the Umuove estate.”

“ When we get older, can you still be my

friend?”

“We will be friends until my hair is no

longer blond, until yours is no longer dark. We will be friends until we’re

older enough to get married, and until we have our own children. We will be

friends until we’re old enough to spend our afternoons playing chess in the

sun.”

“What if we never see each other again?”

“We will. Our friendship will do whatever

is necessary to bring us together again. If it doesn’t, you can come find me

and… take all of my peanut butter crackers.”

“I told you, didn’t I? I get to keep my

crackers now,” a low chuckle escapes from his lips. In disbelief, I turn my

head towards the same shiny, blond hair I spent chasing through the woods in

the summer of my youth. “Well, don’t cry now. We’re grown men.”

“Grown men cry too—” I pause, trying to

collect myself. “It’s not fair. You’re the smaller one between us and yet I’m

the one always in tears.”  A vein throbbed in his forehead.

“I’ve gotten taller you know,” he says

through clenched teeth. I laugh at his childishness.

“Look at you, fooling us all into thinking

you’ve grown up.”

“Well, you didn’t get me,” Gregory walks

towards Eliss and places a firm hand on his shoulder. “A fine young man you’ve

become, but still so emotional.”

“Mr. Gregory,” Eliss’ eyes water as he

wraps an arm around a startled Gregory. His hands let his  glasses drop to

the during his moment of shock.

“Sir, there is absolutely no need for the

formality. Illegitimate or not you are now the head of the Umuove family.

There’s also certainly no need to hug me hard enough to make me drop my

glasses.”

“They’re all giving me the hardest time

about it now. Since I was born of a mistress and out of wedlock, I shouldn’t

really be legitimate. Now that my mom’s married the old, coot and his first

wife’s still childless, I’m suddenly some pompous spoiled brat.” Excuse me, as

a child of two nobles, I am another ‘spoiled brat.’

“We are high members of society. You need

to show a least a little decorum.”

“Woah, James. Don’t pull out the nine.”

“What? No—what does that even mean?”

“It means calm down, and have some tea. We

have a lot to talk about.” I dust off my shirt at his change in tone.

“What do we need to cover? I guess we do

have paperwork to fill out.”

“James… so, have you gotten a girlfriend

yet?”

“...dumb, just dumb. Oh my mama you’re an

idiot.” Eliss’ lips curl into a devious smile.

“Well, it’s not an outrageous question.

Surely, you got someone in mind.”

“Eliss… we are grown businessmen. Gregory,

please find out what actual work needs to be done.”

“What a quick denial. You do have someone

in your heart. When can I meet her?” This idiot. I forgot how much of a pain he

was; still, I’m so glad we could meet again.

“What’s her favorite color? Favorite food?

Favorite snack…” 

Haha, I wouldn’t give Eliss up for the

world.