28. she wondered

The late night fiasco of off tune band which Rae was very thankful for made them all sleepy rather instantly. Rae was the first one to get up, having gotten some 6 hours sleep and waking up much before the other sleepyheads.

She looked at the room, the boys were clattered around the living room, while she fell asleep on the sofa, Corpse was asleep on the floor, his legs sprawled upon the sofa. Sykkuno was sleeping on the dining table and Toast was asleep on the bean bag.

The first thing she did after stretching her arms was be thankful for having these misfits with her. If not, she would have cried and cried last night and probably wouldn't have felt this better.

It was 6 in the morning, and Rae realized that they had to leave in a couple of hours, so she let the boys sleep a little more and walked towards her room. Mika wasn't in her bed, and tying her messy long hair in a bun she quickly freshened up and headed towards Sykkuno's room.

'Mika?' Rae said, not loudly though. 'Bubba. Baby where are you?' She entered Sykkuno's room but neither Bimbus or Mika was there and surprisingly not even James.

'Where are the two mischievous duo gone?' She asked to herself and she heard the front door being opened and Mika and Bimbus came in, wagging their tails and with them came James.

Rae sat down immediately when Mika ran towards her and she ruffled his fur and he liked her face. Bimbus ran towards her too and she picked the little thing in her arms, 'Hie cutie.' She said and the tiny dog wuffed, and Mika nuzzled towards them both.

It was a surprise to her that both the dogs were now good friends, when they were literally at each other's throats by last evening.

While Mika settled in Rae's arms, Bimbus ran towards Sykkuno who was still asleep. Bimbus ran around his leg and then settled down at his legs, closing his eyes. Rae smiled, eyeing the cute little thing and then picked the big Mika in her arms, moving towards James who shut the door and placed the keys back in the keyholder.

'How did you do that?' She asked, holding Mika who kept still.

James looked at her, 'I did what?' He asked, looking down at her, his hands now casually placed in the pocket of his tracks pants.

'Bimbus and Mika?' She said, thrilled, 'They're together and none of them is dead.' She shrugged, letting Mika down who ran towards Bimbus and settled down next to the small thing.

They both watched them cuddle and Rae smiled again, her head tilted and eyeing the two dogs and James looking at her.

'Seems like they just needed to have a face-to-face conversation.' He shrugged, looking at her and then at the dogs. He smiled, a little genuine and Rae found it a little difficult to accept that the small genuine smile made him a little more attractive.

'I guess.' Rae said, and she then whistled, Mika holding her tone quickly. 'Let's go Mika. Come.'

Mika took a second to jump back in her arms, and Rae thanked James for the morning walk and sorting both the dog's turmoil while she walked to her room, nuzzling Mika on the way.

'Face-to-face conversation.' James said, to himself as he rubbed his neck. 'Bimbus?'

The little dog opened his eyes and moved towards James, and James knelt down. 'You sneaky little thing.' He said, holding the dog and Bimbus wuffed, licking James's nose.

'Yea yea. I gotta do this.' James took a deep breath. 'Have to.'

_

'Sykkuno?' Toast called out, from somewhere, 'Did you take the camera bag?'

'Yes. I did.' Sykkuno's voice answered back from somewhere again. 'It's with Corpse.'

'Packed it in the car, already.' Corpse's deep voice piped in.

Everyone were hustling and moving about to finally hurdle to the venue and get started with the main thing they were here for. However, Rae was all ready and done as she sat outside, sipping coffee while the boys kept moving and readying themselves.

They would soon move to the hotel and then pretty soon start with the exciting gameplays, and Rae was more than excited. With the past all dusted and cried upon and a beautiful friendship to look forward to and of course, her growing career, things were just going steady.

'Hey?' James said, his soft voice breaking Rae's trance and she looked at the tall standing figure and she stood up. 'Um, uh, you have... a minute?'

When Rae was about to answer they heard a voice, 'Sykkuno! What did you do to my blue t-shirt! It's mixed with your red ones and now looks like a disaster.'

'I think that... I don't think it was me, Toast.'

James and Rae saw a cautious Corpse all ready in his black hoodie and jeans move out. 'Don't wanna die because that was totally me.' Corpse smirked and Rae laughed, as he moved out quickly while Toast screamed at Sykkuno.

'I think I have two.' Rae said, smiling as James nodded and they moved towards the living room balcony and Rae held the coffee mug, admiring the morning view.

James cleared his throat, and Rae looked at him. He looked visibly nervous and Rae hadn't seen him this struggling before. Like all the confidence he always carried was lost somewhere and Rae raised her brow, facing the tall James.

'All okay?'

James nodded, gulping. 'Yea. Yeah.' He looked down at her, moving a step back so she wouldn't have to strain her neck looking at him. They stood there silently, quite for some time as Rae was lost in her own thoughts, clearly unkown to James's inner turmoil.

'I just, just, wanted to tell you something.'

'Yea?' But Mika interrupted barking and with him came a readied Toast and Sykkuno, and with Sykkuno came Bimbus. The boys were ready, Toast looked pissed that his t-shirt now looked a flaming blue for some reason, Sykkuno smiled embarrassingly.

'Let's go?' Sykkuno asked, looking at Rae and James.

'Yes. Before I murder one of them.' Toast said with a straight face, clearly annoyed.

'Move ahead, I'll come in a minute.' Rae chuckled, and the boys left. Mika and Binbus running out with them.

James took a deep breath as Rae tied her long hair in a low end ponytail. 'Thank you.' She said, happily.

'For?'

'For Mika and Bimbus.' She shrugged, as James admired how her eyes brightened whenever she laughed. 'And of course for having us here.'

'Um, yea. That's... that's nothing.' He smiled back, and Rae cursed herself internally for actually liking that smile on his charming face.

'So?' Rae asked, tilting her head and raising her brow.

'So?' James answered back, confused.

'You wanted to tell me something?' She asked, wondering what was on James's mind.

'Um,' James gulped, rubbing his neck. 'Um, nothing. Just wanted to wish you the best for the game thing.' He said and Rae controlled her urge to roll her eyes when he said 'game thing' and nodded back.

'Thanks.'

And with that Rae left, as James shut his eyes and sighed.

_

A/N

So close?

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