put on a happy face

James Brady: coffee lover, and all around happy guy.

[bradycommajames]

[bradycommajames]

Part of him wanted to seal up the box and run far far away before his heart beat out of his chest and jumped right out of his metaphorical ‘box,’ but another part of him just really wanted to kiss her until the stupid box was forgotten and the stupid break up was over.

[get-ready-for-the-samarama-blog]

‘Yes,” Sam wanted to say. But she was afraid that it wasn’t what James wanted. She was so conflicted with what to say to him, and she felt like she was about to have a panic attack. “Do you?” she asked, unsure of what else to say.

[bradycommajames]

“If you do.” At this point, he just had to take a chance that his gut feeling was correct. So he leaned over the table, awkwardly trying not to spill any coffee, and kissed her.

[get-ready-for-the-samarama-blog]

Sam was taken aback by the kiss, but almost instantly kissed back. She pulled away after a second, though, completely bewildered. She was confused, amazed at how fast that had escalated, but then she started chuckling. She was chuckling at how cute James was when he was awkward. She was chuckling at the fact that he finally got the hint. And she was chuckling at her own giddiness in that very moment. “I guess that’s a yes from you,” she joked. “And uh, I guess that’s a yes from me too.” She probably looked like an idiot with the wide grin she had.

[bradycommajames]

"Well, I'm glad it's a yes from you, I did kinda just kiss you and risk burning myself with hot coffee or something! And you know, since I love you or whatever." James scrunched up his nose and stuck out his tongue jokingly.

[bradycommajames]

[bradycommajames]

Part of him wanted to seal up the box and run far far away before his heart beat out of his chest and jumped right out of his metaphorical ‘box,’ but another part of him just really wanted to kiss her until the stupid box was forgotten and the stupid break up was over.

[get-ready-for-the-samarama-blog]

‘Yes,” Sam wanted to say. But she was afraid that it wasn’t what James wanted. She was so conflicted with what to say to him, and she felt like she was about to have a panic attack. “Do you?” she asked, unsure of what else to say.

[bradycommajames]

"If you do." At this point, he just had to take a chance that his gut feeling was correct. So he leaned over the table, awkwardly trying not to spill any coffee, and kissed her.

[bradycommajames]

[bradycommajames]

“it’s fine, I did too.” He wasn’t sure if he wanted to jump back into that box he had shut his heart up in. But he did still love her. And maybe love had to be enough. Maybe love woulf get him taking pictures again. Maybe his happiness would be as grand as it was before.

“What do…what do you want with the box?”

[get-ready-for-the-samarama-blog]

“Well I definitely don’t want to close it,” Samara said, looking hopefully at James. She was hoping that he was getting the hint without flat-out saying it. She wanted so badly to just say ‘Screw it, I love you, let’s get back together,’ but obviously things weren’t that simple. She didn’t know for sure if that’s what James wanted, and she was way too stubborn to ask him herself.

[bradycommajames]

"But do you want to open it up again?" Part of him wanted to seal up the box and run far far away before his heart beat out of his chest and jumped right out of his metaphorical 'box,' but another part of him just really wanted to kiss her until the stupid box was forgotten and the stupid break up was over.

[bradycommajames]

[bradycommajames]

“Well, I thought you didn’t really want closure considering last time I tried to talk to you, you yelled at me and then said ‘no.’ Not that I didn’t deserve it… But it gets to the point where it either has to be opened back up again or sealed shut permanently. And we were at neither. We were sitting there, closed, but not sealed. But not open. I don’t know, but there’s still feelings from me in that box.”

[get-ready-for-the-samarama-blog]

“Yeah, I think I’ve been sort of bi-polar since the uh.. since the break up.” She absolutely hated that word. It was so final, and Sam hated finality. “But I think that’s something I need to be actually diagnosed for,” she said, chuckling. Anyway, I’m really sorry if I acted sort of crazy, I just- I didn’t know how to cope with the situation. I didn’t want it to be sealed shut.”

[bradycommajames]

"it's fine, I did too." He wasn't sure if he wanted to jump back into that box he had shut his heart up in. But he did still love her. And maybe love had to be enough. Maybe love woulf get him taking pictures again. Maybe his happiness would be as grand as it was before.

"What do...what do you want with the box?"

[bradycommajames]

[bradycommajames]

“Yeah, I…didn’t know how to talk to you. Don’t, actually. And then Cleo, I don’t even know where she is now. I didn’t want to bother you guys, either. So I didn’t actually come out and say it.” Life had been so much similar then, back when they had first sat at that table and bonded, back when Cleo was obviously matchmaking and coffee had brought them all together.

“Good that you remembered, too…”

[get-ready-for-the-samarama-blog]

“Yeah, I get what you mean. I didn’t know how to confront you either. I’ve wanted to talk to you for months already and get some kind of closure.” She thought back on the advice she had been given by the one and only Taylor Swift and how she swore she’d talk to him. “I guess I was just being a coward,” she added, feeling silly about venting her feelings to her ex. She waited a few seconds before quietly adding, “I guess I just don’t want closure.” It was pretty true, she thought to herself as she said it. Who would want closure with someone they’re still in love with?

[bradycommajames]

"Well, I thought you didn't really want closure considering last time I tried to talk to you, you yelled at me and then said 'no.' Not that I didn't deserve it... But it gets to the point where it either has to be opened back up again or sealed shut permanently. And we were at neither. We were sitting there, closed, but not sealed. But not open. I don't know, but there's still feelings from me in that box."

[bradycommajames]

[bradycommajames]

“I tried to play it off as ‘Oh, it’s an American holiday, ha ha’ but yeah…formation of the Coffee Club, 3 teenagers meet in a coffee shop, all new to school, they become friends, two fall in love. It’s the makings of a cheesy teen movie. Like, oh, something out of a modern-day fairytale. You can’t just forget that.

[get-ready-for-the-samarama-blog]

Samara chuckled, loving the fact that James was able to be so corny and so cute at the same time. It was probably one of the main reasons she fell for him in the first place. It really made her miss him even more. Stop getting emotional, she thought to herself. “Well I’m glad you remembered, I guess.” She said, taking another few sips of the coffee.  She wanted so badly to say, ‘I just wish we were able to celebrate it together, rather than just remember it.’ That would have been much better than drowning herself in tears, mint chocolate chip, and Nicholas Sparks all day.

[bradycommajames]

"Yeah, I...didn't know how to talk to you. Don't, actually. And then Cleo, I don't even know where she is now. I didn't want to bother you guys, either. So I didn't actually come out and say it." Life had been so much similar then, back when they had first sat at that table and bonded, back when Cleo was obviously matchmaking and coffee had brought them all together.

"Good that you remembered, too..."

[bradycommajames]

[bradycommajames]

“Well, I did get you coffee on a daily basis,” James managed to crack a smile.

“I’m glad you’ve been well. Happy you’re happy, you know? And good that you’re focusing on your schoolwork. You’ve always been kinda brilliant…This week?” 

He wondered if she’d remembered too.

“The…anniversary?”

[get-ready-for-the-samarama-blog]

Sam’s heart fluttered at the fact that James had obviously remembered too. “Guilty,” she said, trying to hide her smile. It was sort of a sad smile, but a smile nonetheless. She was happy that he had even remembered something so petty. It wasn’t even their real anniversary, but knowing someone like James for an entire year still meant a lot to her. “So I take it you remembered too?” she asked. 

[bradycommajames]

"I tried to play it off as 'Oh, it's an American holiday, ha ha' but yeah...formation of the Coffee Club, 3 teenagers meet in a coffee shop, all new to school, they become friends, two fall in love. It's the makings of a cheesy teen movie. Like, oh, something out of a modern-day fairytale. You can't just forget that.

[bradycommajames]

[bradycommajames]

“Good.” He blurted out his usual answer without thinking. “Actually, I’m not gonna lie. I’ve been better. All I do anymore is hole myself up in my room. And then go to school on occasion. I don’t even care about photography anymore, and that was my passion…How have you been?”

[get-ready-for-the-samarama-blog]

“That’s a shame,” she said, regarding the photography. “And uh same pretty much.” Sam looked over at the guy that was currently on stage. “I mean it’s not like I’ve been going out partying or anything. I’ve been alright I guess.” It was true. She’d hadn’t been so amazing lately, but she wasn’t miserable anymore either. “I’ve had a lot of time to focus on studies lately. Except for uh this week,” she added, looking down, thinking about how upset she’d been about their would-be anniversary. She took a sip from the to-go cup and smiled. “You remembered my coffee order?”

[bradycommajames]

"Well, I did get you coffee on a daily basis," James managed to crack a smile.

"I'm glad you've been well. Happy you're happy, you know? And good that you're focusing on your schoolwork. You've always been kinda brilliant...This week?" 

He wondered if she'd remembered too.

"The...anniversary?"

[bradycommajames]

[bradycommajames]

Recognizing her voice, James looked up.

“Well, you if you want to. If not, I understand.”

The other coffee shop patrons had been looking at them, but stopped as a new person took the stage. James glanced over as the person started singing, but looked back over at Samara after a few seconds.

“I mean…I was a jerk. But I don’t even remember what we’re fighting for. You could just take the coffee and leave, too. If that’s what you want. But, I don’t know, Sam…I’m just looking for closure, and I thought singing that song in public would help, but then you showed up. But, yeah, I guess no one’s really sitting there…”

[get-ready-for-the-samarama-blog]

“Okay, well I’m not gonna resist free coffee and a seat,” Sam chuckled. “I uh.. I don’t really remember what happened between us either, to be honest. It was probably something stupid and blown out of proportion,” she said, hesitantly. She sat down at the table and slowly reached for the coffee sitting in front of her. “So uh… how have you been?”

[bradycommajames]

"Good." He blurted out his usual answer without thinking. "Actually, I'm not gonna lie. I've been better. All I do anymore is hole myself up in my room. And then go to school on occasion. I don't even care about photography anymore, and that was my passion...How have you been?"

[bradycommajames]

[bradycommajames]

“All of the while, it was you.”

James finished the song and found that he was breathing heavy and still staring at Samara.

People were cheering, which he vaguely registered, smiling and thanking the crowd before running off stage. He ran to the counter and ordered the pre-breakup usual, and grabbing both cups, went to the table that has hosted the first Coffee Club meeting, and many after that. As if by a spur of good luck, the table was empty. He set one of the cups down on the table and took a sip of his own, sitting down.

[get-ready-for-the-samarama-blog]

Sam watched, confused as James sat down at their old table. She felt a little hurt, assuming that that the second cup of coffee was meant for someone else and that her spot in the Coffee Club was replaced. Then she thought that maybe it was a signal for her to go over there. She realized that she was still standing by the door and was blocking people’s way of getting in and out of the shop, so she began walking towards the table James was at. “Is someone.. uh.. sitting here?” She asked, afraid that he’d say yes and she’d feel rejected. 

[bradycommajames]

Recognizing her voice, James looked up.

"Well, you if you want to. If not, I understand."

The other coffee shop patrons had been looking at them, but stopped as a new person took the stage. James glanced over as the person started singing, but looked back over at Samara after a few seconds.

"I mean...I was a jerk. But I don't even remember what we're fighting for. You could just take the coffee and leave, too. If that's what you want. But, I don't know, Sam...I'm just looking for closure, and I thought singing that song in public would help, but then you showed up. But, yeah, I guess no one's really sitting there..."

[bradycommajames]

[bradycommajames]

James didn’t notice Samara coming in at first. He had his eyes closed as he threw his emotions into the song, a song about a coffee shop and love. The song didn’t have an unfortunate end, though. He wanted that. He wanted his coffee shop love. Really, he had already had it. But he had screwed up, and he wasn’t getting that back.

James opened his eyes when he got to the middle of the song, getting more confident in his guitar playing and feeling more emotionally vulnerable than he remembered ever feeling.

When he opened his eyes, he darted them around, and saw a girl standing by the door. Sam. Of course.

He bit his lip, looked straight at her, and kept singing.

[get-ready-for-the-samarama-blog]

Sam watched as James sang and felt her heart fluttered. She wondered if he was singing this song because it related to the feelings that they once shared, or if she was getting too ahead of herself. She was so desperate to know if he wanted her back just as much as she did. At this point, she didn’t even remember why they had broken up. She just wanted everything back to how they used to be. She missed what they had. She missed him. She continued watching him sing, and each and every line of the song just tore her up more and more. She wanted the love described in the song. She had quite literally fallen in love with James in a coffee shop, but what good was it if it was a love that didn’t last?

[bradycommajames]

"All of the while, it was you."

James finished the song and found that he was breathing heavy and still staring at Samara.

People were cheering, which he vaguely registered, smiling and thanking the crowd before running off stage. He ran to the counter and ordered the pre-breakup usual, and grabbing both cups, went to the table that has hosted the first Coffee Club meeting, and many after that. As if by a spur of good luck, the table was empty. He set one of the cups down on the table and took a sip of his own, sitting down.

[bradycommajames]

James looked at the crumpled poster in his hand.

“Open Mic Night at the Liver Bean!” it advertised in big brightly-coloured letters.

He wasn’t much of a singer or poet, having always focused his energy on his photography, but he did need to get some emotions out, and maybe the Liver Bean was…

[get-ready-for-the-samarama-blog]

Samara was sitting in her room, studying for finals, which was pretty difficult, because she could barely keep her eyes open. She hadn’t gotten much sleep in the past week, because she was so torn up about James’s and her anniversary of the day they met. It was tearing her apart, because they should have been back together by now, but she was so afraid of confronting him again. She also figured that if Taylor Swift never ever got back together with that singer guy, then she shouldn’t have had to either. So as her eyes kept involuntarily closing, she decided to head over to the Liver Bean to get some coffee to keep her awake. She threw on some jeans and a t-shirt and walked over to the coffee shop that brought her and James (and Cleo) together. As she approached the shop, she groaned in annoyance, because of course she had to go looking like crap on Open-Mic Night when there were like 50 people. She walked through the doors and almost instantly stopped in her tracks when she saw James standing on the stage. 

[bradycommajames]

James didn't notice Samara coming in at first. He had his eyes closed as he threw his emotions into the song, a song about a coffee shop and love. The song didn't have an unfortunate end, though. He wanted that. He wanted his coffee shop love. Really, he had already had it. But he had screwed up, and he wasn't getting that back.

James opened his eyes when he got to the middle of the song, getting more confident in his guitar playing and feeling more emotionally vulnerable than he remembered ever feeling.

When he opened his eyes, he darted them around, and saw a girl standing by the door. Sam. Of course.

He bit his lip, looked straight at her, and kept singing.

[bradycommajames]

This day feels like it should be something?

It’s an American holiday, that’s probably it.

Have a fun time to all you Americans! We have a good amount at this school.

[hanna-sullivan]

Americans have holidays?

[bradycommajames]

Yeah, sometimes.

[bradycommajames]

Open Mic Night | James

James looked at the crumpled poster in his hand.

"Open Mic Night at the Liver Bean!" it advertised in big brightly-coloured letters. 

He wasn't much of a singer or poet, having always focused his energy on his photography, but he did need to get some emotions out, and maybe the Liver Bean was just the place to do it. 

It had been his and Samara's anniversary a few days before, and it had left him feeling shook up. What had happened to him? He was still dependant on his feelings for a girl he had broken up with months and months ago, and he barely left his room outside of going to school, let alone had any friends. It was driving his roommate crazy, it was driving his caretaker crazy, and he was driving himself crazy with the pent-up anger. Now was his chance to get it out,

James put on some proper clothes, left his house amidst confused looks from his housemates, and walked to the Liver Bean. It was crowded inside, but the list for the Open Mic order seemed fairly sparse when he went over to it. He signed his name, and within a half-hour of listening to some good acts-and some not so good ones-,James was allowed on the makeshift stage.

"Hey, um, I'm James Brady. I don't normally do this type of thing, but...this one goes out to my ex-girlfriend. I met her here. I think it explains a lot."

Taking a breath, James picked up the guitar that  was there and started playing to the best of his ability.

Then, he started to sing.

[bradycommajames]

This day feels like it should be something?

It's an American holiday, that's probably it.

Have a fun time to all you Americans! We have a good amount at this school.

[bradycommajames]

[bradycommajames]

“Look, we need to talk to each other, obviously, so let’s just get it over with now.” James took a deep breath, bracing for more screaming. “We need closure. We broke up months ago, and we can’t even look at one another.” They wouldn’t even go to the breakfast table, or glance at each other in the halls. It was extremely awkward. 

[get-ready-for-the-samarama-blog]

Samara leaned her head back and groaned in frustration. This was one conversation she had been dreading and avoiding for months. She didn’t know how she would approach this. She could walk away and continue ignoring him, but that would probably make things worse. She could agree to have closure and get over what ever kind of messed up thing they had going on. Then, after pondering her thoughts for a few moments, she just looked at him, smiled and simply said, “No.”

[bradycommajames]

"Fine." James crossed his arms over his chest. He guessed that his life would just continue to be awkward, and he would have to deal with it if he ever wanted ot leave the house or eat at a normal time. "I shouldn't have listened to LAuryn. It was stupid, I knw it wouldn't help." he turned and walked out of the house, slamming the door behind him.

[courtney-brookman-deactivated20]

Whoop

[thezekeissharpe-blog]

And I’m 17! That’s illegal!

I am not going to jail everyone already thinks I’m a pedo cause of the candy thing gosh Court if you wanna hook up that badly we can hook up.

[courtney-brookman-deactivated20]

I DONT WANT TO HOOK UP. I WANT YOU TO BE A GOOD PERSON. I WANT TO CUDDLE AND WATCH MOVIES AND KISS A LITTLE AND UGH. JUST LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE.

[bradycommajames]

Don't we normally just cuddle and watch movies and kiss a little? Or is that what I did with Mussie...It doesn't work, Court. Simple love, being a good guy doesn;t work for me!