Chapter 3

James grunted, heaving the large box into the room. He wheezed out a breath, exhausted.

"That's the last of it," he groaned. Peter Oates, a close friend of his, gave a sound of agreement from the newly-placed couch. Kelly chuckles, walking in with a tray of snacks from the newly-furnished kitchen. "You did good, guys," she says, setting the tray on the coffee table in the living room. Nicholas Wade, also part of their circle of (best) friends, walks out one of the doors of the new apartment. "Your heater and shower's all set up," he says, wiping his hands with a rag. "Thanks, man," James says, a genuine smile on his face.

He hasn't seen his two other friends in so long. Mainly because he avoided them since he and Liam broke up. They were Liam's friends before they were his own, of course. He thought they'd take his ex's side more than his.

"That son of a--,"

"Nick, please," Peter intervened, comfortingly rubbing James' back as he nuzzled into his friend's chest, perks of being the smallest among his male friends. As much as Nick was angry, James' needed their comfort more than Liam needs a beating and a rough talking to. They quietly sat in a booth Kelly had moved them into, all three of them sat next to each other, to keep things away from the public eye.

Nicholas and Peter had called Kelly, roughly two weeks before James would move into his new apartment. They wondered where the couple had gone, as they had seemingly gone MIA from their group chat and public gaming servers for nearly more than 5 months now, their names no longer on the list of members.

Liam had left the group chat two nights after he left James. And James felt like he didn't belong amongst Liam's friends, feeling shameful and afraid of what they would say to him.

Nick and Peter grew more concerned than most of their friends and decided to reach out. Kelly arranged for them to come in to the diner once James comes by to visit her. And so here they are, face-to-face, finally getting an explanation.

"I'm sorry I left you guys without saying anything," came the strained voice from the smaller male. Nicholas could only sigh. "It's not your fault. You shouldn't even be the one apologizing, man," he said, moving closer patting James' shoulder.

After a few more beats of silence, Peter spoke up. "So, what now?"

James shrugged. Sure, he's packed all his stuff, and Liam's things are already in a box. "I don't know," he sniffed. "I honestly don't know what to do now, but I have made a step, I guess," he wipes the tears in his eyes. The two men listen, hoping they could find a way to help. "I'm planning on moving in a week or two. Kelly and I went scouting for a new place that's big enough for me to live in but small enough for only one person."

"Well, if you need help moving, you can call us," Nicholas suggests. James nods, happily accepting the help. Lord knows he won't be able to do this on his own.

Two weeks later and here they are, helping James refurbish his new space. The boys helped him load everything into the moving van, while he dragged Liam's Box of Things out the apartment. He told the landlord, a 56-year-old, a few days prior that he'd be leaving his ex's old things with the old man, in case Liam came to get them. The landlord didn't ask questions, and just said yes, wishing James luck on his next adventures in life, whatever that meant.

They've painted over the chipped blue walls with neutral grays. The landlord let them throw away the old owner's old, broken, and torn furniture, replacing them all with newer ones. He even asked Nicholas to install in a heater, since the old one was out of date and didn't seem to work anymore.

"We did a pretty decent job, don't you think?"

Kelly chirped, looking around the apartment. "We did," Pete gave a tired sigh, worn out from unloading the boxes from the moving van.

The apartment was just two blocks away from the school, where James worked as a part-time teacher, and four blocks away from Kelly's diner. It had a parking lot, in case James wanted to get a car for himself. There was a park nearby with a pond, where he could go walking every day.

The apartment was spacious. It had two bedrooms, one of which will be James' studio for his art projects. He bought a new foam for his bed, and a few new sheets. He didn't dare take his old ones with him. They were Liam's now, if he wanted them. There was only one bathroom, with a bathtub and a shower, a toilet and a sink. The living room was big enough to fit in two parts of a sectional sofa, a coffee table and a TV shelf. It connected to the dining room. The dining room had a wooden, square dining table with four wooden chairs, and was separated from the kitchen via an island counter.

The four of them continued fixing up the space, leaving the plastic covers on furniture a while longer until the paint on the walls and ceiling dried. They took out the new furniture from their boxes, arranging them in the places they were to go in. The next thing they knew, it was already 3 in the afternoon.

"Why don't you go unpack, Jay? We'll fix up everything out here," Kelly suggests, taking off the coffee table's plastic covers, after double-checking the paints, making sure it's all dried in every square inch of the apartment. James nods, dragging his box of clothes into his room. He sighs, taking in the space.

It felt good to have his place. To not dread the memories that lurked in every corner of the place. To just fill this place with newer, better memories that he can cherish.

With that thought in mind, he opens the box and takes out the clothes and hangers, setting them into their proper places. He fixed up his bedside table and unwrapped his lamp from its plastic covers.

"James, we're done here! Come take a look!"

James turns to the door before casting a proud look on his new room. He steps out the room with a skip in his step.

This is it. His new life begins now.