35A/N: all right, hi :) first I wanted this story to be a Kenlos one, but then I got an idea that would go better with that pairing while this story would be perfect for Jarlos :) so here we are. I'm starting this today and I plan to begin the mentioned Kenlos one too but there's a long way to go yet..
anyways.. if you like it please feel free to let me know anytime :)
and read my other fics too!
and forgive me for possible mistakes you may find :)
xx
Chapter 1
Most people would agree that there are very few more important things than family. You'd give your life for some of them, would do anything to save them from all the bad things, would do anything to make them happy.
But sometimes what is happiness for one, is agony for another one.
I knew this feeling so well, too well.
I loved my mother more than anything. I was a good kid ever since, always had been doing well at school, had plans for the future, and respected my mom. Truth be told I even admired her, because even after my father's death she was strong, full of life and worked harder than ever to give me anything I had needed.
She'd basically been raising me on all her own, because my father had died not so long after my birth. I didn't even know him. Sometimes it would upset me, but looking at mom who had been living a decent life ever since, could cheer me up. She'd believed in a good future for the two of us, so that's what I had to do too.
Everything could have been perfect. Her and me, and soon maybe a kind man who'd cherish mom as she deserved would join our little family.
But it didn't go that way.
Mom had been going out with a man and it wouldn't bug me at all if she hadn't wanted him to move in with us. They had known each other for six months, that was what mom had told me, and she believed it was enough time for them to build a relationship strong enough.
There was nothing wrong with my mother dating. I was happy about her enjoying life, and even this man was really a kind guy, apparently he was good to my mother, and that was all that mattered. But if he moved to our house that would bring his annoying son, too. There the problems started.
Ever since I had known him, I hated James Diamond. He was a selfish and rude jerk, at least I thought he was, and therefore I never in my life wanted this boy to be a part of my family.
So as the day of the official announcement came and the Diamonds were invited for dinner to us, I was in the mood to hide in the darkest corner of the house just so then I weren't to meet James the douche bag Diamond.
"Carlos, please." My mom begged outside my door. "Come out and meet them. I promise you they won't do any harm to you or me."
I took a deep breath and walked to the door. I had to do this. She wanted me to. It was important for her, but she didn't have an idea about just how much of a bully James had been. I never and I mean it I had never hated on anyone, but that dude didn't deserve better. He'd been hurting me since the first day I walked in to that school but I had never complained. I assumed he had had his own issues. One's hurtful thoughts and actions only come from their own insecurities. I was used to being others punch bag, so one more douche really didn't mean a thing.
But to have him live in my own house. No way.
But what could I have done?
I never talked to this James kid. I had been just me in my own little world and there he was on occasion disturbing me and throwing things at me and calling me names.
I had taken it all.
I wasn't more just one of the quiet nerds of the school, wanted to become a computer specialist.
And of course someone like James couldn't stand one of those kinds of kids.
I wasn't the only one he had been playing games with. If he had been in the mood he would say something to any sort of person that came across his way.
I was just one out of the many.
I would always be.
"I'm coming but you know that I don't approve of this whole thing."
"I know honey, but try it at least." She pleaded. And I couldn't resist my mom's beg. I had to give in. Again.
We walked downstairs and I was seated in the dining room while mom went through everything. The meal was perfect, so was the house. All ready. Me included.
What was awaiting for me?
Another opportunity given to James to hurt me?
Sure he wouldn't do that in front of our parents so I might be safe. But what if they go aside to be busy with their things. Uh. I didn't want to think about my mother making out with some dude. Neither I wanted to think about being left alone with James.
As time passed by and I was waiting for their arrival, I watched my mom. She was gorgeous and apparently happy. I had no doubts in myself, I had to do it for her. I had to take whatever was coming to me, because of her. She'd been only caring about me during all these years and it wouldn't be right for me to not care about her this once. She needed this. So I was giving this to her.
Just as I took a deep breath and tried to think about subjects that may come up during dinner, the doorbell went off. Oh shit. I straightened my shirt and pants and went to the nearest mirror to see if I had a decent face. Well, I had it, somewhat. But still I very much looked like someone about to go to a funeral. So I forced a smile to my lips and after drawing in another long breath into my lungs, I headed for the front door.
Stepping out of the dining room I spotted them. James Diamond in my house. Oh fuck. Slowly I started to approach them. Mom was telling them to quickly come in and as they did Christopher handed her a bottle of red wine and James gave her a bucket of flowers. He had this idiot smile all over his face, like he was happy about the situation.
Hell. I knew he wasn't. What was his reason to fake such happiness I didn't know, but this was more than suspicious. However, I pushed my bad thoughts back in my mind and watched his smile freezing when he glanced at me for the first time.
"Ah, there he is." Mom waved me closer and I dragged my legs into moving. "Sweetie, you've already met Christopher." She nodded toward the tall man who was just the same as his son, only a good twenty or more years older. I threw my hand out and he squeezed it. I thought he might squeeze the life out of it. But I didn't say a word and took it. I had to, for mom.
"Mr Diamond." I choked out. I was certain my head turned into some shade of purple. But his hand firmly held mine like everything was normal. Do you not notice that I'm nearly fainting? I wanted to scream but instead I just tried to smile.
"Young man. Good to see you again." He said looking me up and down and then finally letting go of my hand.
Then I caught sight of my mom smiling broadly at James who was standing on her right. "And this is James. Christopher's son." I didn't know a thing about his family. Ever since mom had told me that she had been seeing Christopher I'd been wondering what had happened to James' mother. But I'd never asked mom about it.
And now, we're becoming one family. My mom was going to be his mom. And his father was about to be my father. Excuse while I go puking! I wanted to run off and never come back as James poked his hand toward me.
I hesitatingly shook it. For my biggest surprise he didn't squeeze me to breathless condition. His touch was soft, and I noticed myself enjoying it too much. What the hell was that? As something warm ran through my entire body I pulled my hand away. It couldn't be from this douche's touch.
Staring at the floor and counting the wrinkles on the wood I waited quietly while mom and Christopher chatted about something casual. I couldn't bring myself to look at James, even though I felt his eyes burning holes into my body as he stared at me.
We got through dinner very quickly. Mom was asking all kinds of questions about James and she finally figured that we were going to the same school. "Carlitos!" She gave me a dirty look. "Why did you never tell me that you've known James all this time?"
"I don't know him, mom." I snapped. It was true. I did not know a thing about James Diamond, but I didn't even want to. For all I cared he could have been anybody's son, but of course he had to be the man's only son who was dating my mother. "We're going to the same school, yes. But I don't know anything about him. You've never told me Christopher's last name anyways. I couldn't have made the connection."
"That's fair enough, Sylvia." Christopher placed a hand of his on top of mom's. "James never spoke about Carlos either."
"Well, it's just the way Carlos said. We don't know each other." James said as in response to what his father said, but never even glanced at me. Fine for me.
"Now you will get to know each other." Mom showed off her million dollars worth smile and was proud of herself for getting me a brother of one kind.
"Whatever." I murmured digging in my chocolate cake already afraid of what was going to happen after this dinner is over. Will they sleep here? Will I have to share a room with James to bond or something? No, mom can't force me do that.
Mom got onto her feet to gather the empty plates. There, dinner was gone and Christopher rose too. "I'll help you Sylvia." Mom shot a smile as thanks to him and they exited the room.
That left me with James.
For a while I was only staring at the table in front of me but then I glanced up and caught him looking at me. "What are you looking at?" I asked coldly.
"Uhm.. nothing. Sorry." He mumbled turning away.
I wasn't about to let it go like that. "Nah, really. What is it?" He'd been staring at me all night and thought I hadn't noticed. I wanted to know what it was about.
"Your mom is a great woman." James said. Does he really want me to take that as an answer?
"Okay, uhm thanks." I didn't feel like asking again. I doubt that he'd been staring me because mom was great. "You can tell that to her. She'll be happy that you like her. If you only knew how worried she was that you wouldn't approve of her relationship with your dad."
"I had my doubts." He told me. He's seriously telling me the truth? Woah. "But I have to admit, dad is happy. And they look good together. It gets the green light from me. What about you?"
"It always had the green light from me." I kept the eye contact between us. "Your dad has always been nice to me and made mom happy so I've not seen a reason of why not to give them what they want."
"You're just as kind as your mom." James sighed. And I could sense something in his voice. Is he feeling guilty? Why? "I wish I was like you." Oh God! What?! He was feeling guilty for real!
"What?" I couldn't help asking. "I mean, how come you feel that way?"
"Long story. No time." He snapped and pushed himself up turning with his back to me.
He was acting strangely. I really didn't understand him, but hell if I cared about his feelings. He had never cared about mine, so why should I?
Because I'm not like him.
And he knows that.
He said I was kind.
Oh fuck it.
I jumped up from my seat and ran after him. He was in the front room when I caught up with him. "Hey, wait, James."
He spun round and eyed me curiously. "What?" Oh there is that jerk again.
"I just wanted to tell you ... uhm, you know .. since our parents are together and ... we are kinda brothers now ... if you want to talk ... I'm here. We'll find time and you can tell me why you said what you did."
And then James was looking at me even weirder. I thought he was going to rip my head off for offering him a talk about feelings and all, but then his mouth opened and I surprised recognized his soft voice. "You really are too nice for your own good, Carlos Garcia."
I didn't know what to do, or say, so I just smiled.
Tonight was indeed interesting. James Diamond had never talked to me like he did today. It confused me a lot, but I hoped the confusion would soon go away when I get to know him better.
Maybe he wasn't even the kind of person that he had always seemed to be.
"Tell your mom please that dinner was delicious ... and .. thank you. I'll see you tomorrow." Without giving me a chance to respond, James stormed out.
"What did you tell him?" I heard my mom coming behind me. "Why'd he leave so suddenly?" Her facial expression nearly made me cry. For God's sake my mom wanted to please everyone and got upset too easily if something didn't go for her liking.
"Nothing, mom. He left because ... he wanted to." I calmed her. I didn't know why James left. Did I make him uncomfortable? "He says thanks for dinner."
"Oh, you sure?" I nodded. "Okay. I'll ask Christopher if it's okay that he has just ran off."
"Do that." I said. "I'm going to sleep now. Good night." I stepped forward and kissed her cheek. Then I ran upstairs and fell into my bed wondering if this James Diamond that had talked to me so kindly after dinner, was the same kid I'd known from school.
Sure it didn't seem so.
But apparently I was about to give him a chance.
I laughed out loud. It was indeed ridiculous. If someone today morning had said to me that I was ready to welcome this asshole in my family, I'd have told them off with my best knowledge.
And now, there I was hoping I'd see this James again.
Oh was I stupid.