Current mood:	anxious
Current music:	Jimmy Wayne- Paper Angels
Entry tags:	jamesxevan, learning to remember, orginal fic, yaoi

Learning to Remember Ch.1
Learning to Remember
Warmings: YAOI, original characters as this is an original fic.
Rating:K (for now, higher later)

James hefted the last box out of the back seat and kicked the door shut. "Finally! The last one!"he thought as he trudged back to apartment building. His new room mate would be there the next day and the classes started a week later. It was strange to be away but still he was glad to be away from the farm. There were to many memories, especially this time of year. James shook his head, forcing his darkening thoughts away for the moment. He pressed his palm to the palm plate mounted to the left of the door and when he heard it beep, opened the door.

He trudged up the two flights of stairs to the third floor. He he had just opened the door when his next door neighbor stepped out. The man was a couple inches shorted than himself with sun-kissed blond hair that flopped over deep, clear, blue eyes. He smiled at James as he closed the door.

"I heard we were getting a new neighbor," he said softly. "My Name is Evan. Evan Lyonhardt."

"Here let me put this down real quick," said James and he set the box on the floor just inside the door. "It's nice to meet you Evan. The name is James Arden." He extended his hand and Evan took it in his own. Evans' grip was firm and his gaze steady. James allowed a smile to spread over his weary face and in response a smile graced the others lips.

"It's a pleasure to meet you too," said Evan. "I was just heading out to get something to eat, would you like to join me? It would be nice to get to know you a little better, what with our being next door neighbors and all."

"Sure," shrugged James. "I don't have any plans other than a date with a package of instant ramen." He finished with a nudge to the box at his feet. "If you don't mind waiting a moment I can put this with the others and I'll be ready to go."

"Sure," said Evan with a shrug.

James picked up the box of food and stepped into his new apartment. He set it in the middle of the living room along with the rest of his belongings. He would have to move them into his room after he got back and he grimaced at the thought. He patted his pockets, making sure he had his keys and his wallet and strode out of the apartment.

"Where are we going?" asked James as he secured the lock.

"There's a great little mom and pop diner a couple miles away," said Evan. "They have the best onion rings I've ever eaten. I think we'll take my car."

"That sounds good," said James.

They made their way down the stairs and Evan led the way to his car. It was a nice little silver Chevy two door. Evan had beeped the little car open so when then reached it they climbed in. Evan started the car and pulled out of the small parking lot. Traffic was light and the rode mostly in silence. Evan was right it was only a couple miles away. They pulled into the well lit parking lot and James got a good look at the building. A red and blue neon sign proclaimed "Merrick's Best Burgers in Town!" and the large windows showed tables packed with people around his age, laughing and having a great time with friends.

"Looks like a good place," said James as Evan pulled into a parking slot.

"It is," said Evan as they exited the car."I'm so glad Sidda, you'll meet her tonight most likely, told me about it."

"Does Sidda live in the same building as us?" asked James and Evan nodded.

"Yeah, she lives with her room mate on the second floor," responded Evan and nodded his thanks as James held the door open for him. "They both work here."

They found a booth near the back and Evan pulled two menus from behind the metal salt and pepper rack. James opened his and he was surprised at the variety they had. The menu held every thing from Hot Beef sandwiches to Hamburgers and Chicken strips and every thing in between. He jumped when a plastic glass of water was set in front of him. Evan sniggered and the offender, a girl with black hair with purple tips and twinkling, gray eyes laughed.

"Sidda, James Arden. James Sidda-Li Jones affectionately known as Li," Evan chuckled and he fended off a swat from the now named Sidda. "Lay off!"

"Nice to meet you James and the name is Sidda," said Sidda with a warning glare towards Evan. "No matter what this idiot tells you."

James held up his hands in mock surrender."You have my word Ma'am" he said solemnly and she nodded in satisfaction.

"James is the one who moved in next door to me and Connor," explained Evan.

"Oh! Your the last one moving in this semester huh?" asked Sidda. "Well It's nice to meet you, James. Any way are you two ready to order? My boss is giving me the evil eye." She gestured with a nod to a balding man who was indeed glaring in her direction.

"Yeah I think we are. I want a double bacon cheese burger, a order of onion rings, and a Coke. How about you James?" asked Evan. "My treat."

"I'll have the same please," he folded his menu and decided not to argue with Evans generosity.

"Alright, I'll get those drinks out in a minute." said Sidda as she scribbled their order on her pad and scurried away.

"She's a fire cracker, let me tell you," said Evan with a laugh. "Never a dull moment when she's around."

"I can just imagine if her room mate is anything like her," said James and he winced as he heard an "AH HEM!" sound behind him. Evan on the other hand burst out laughing as James finished his sentence.

"Are you insinuating I am like that prissy pink princess?" demanded Sidda as she set their drinks in front of them and handed them straws. "Well you are sadly mistaken mister!"

"Calm yourself Li," smirked Evan and he had to duck to avoid her slap. "I haven't told him about Valarie yet."

"Well in that case...:" she trailed off. "Just make sure it doesn't happen again! Hell you might even want to pass that on to Miss Priss. I bet she'd have a heart attack."

"Jeeze Sid, be nice to your roomie."

"Nice shmice that idiot got her chance," huffed Sidda. "Any way your food should be out in a couple minutes and I get off in ten. Miss Priss will be in to relieve me."

Sidda turned and stalked toward the kitchen area and Evan shook his head.

"Val and Sidda had a huge blow up about a week after they moved in together," explained Evan. "It seemed Val didn't like that Sidda is Bi."

"Why would that matter?" asked James a little puzzled.

"Val thought that Sidda had her eye on her Ex-boyfriend but it was really the ex's girlfriend she was more interested in," said Evan. "They got in this huge screaming match outside the building where Val accused Sidda of swooping into steal him so soon after their break up. Sidda told her it was the girl she was interested in an Val almost fainted. It seems she's a tad homophobic."

"That doesn't account for her being an idiot though," James pointed out.

"Well the next day while Sidda was getting her hair dyed with some help from a friend and Val called in a panic saying she was locked out of their apartment," continued Evan. "So Sidda had to walk the block and a half to the apartment building with hair dye still in her hair to open the door for her. She got there and got the door unlocked and just as she opened the door, Val found her keys in her purse."

"Too right she does!" groused Sidda and she laid plates of hot burgers and onion rings in front of both of them. "I got there, got the door unlocked and the idiot had the key right in her purse."

"Not only that," cut in Evan, "because she had to get the door unlocked, the dye stayed in her hair to long."

"Yeah," growled Sidda and she patted her black and purple hair. "I was going for red but it ended up neon orange."

James scrutinized the girl in front of him and burst out laughing at the thought of her with orange hair. Sidda scowled at him good natured-ly.

"Oh you!" This time it was James Dodging a swat.

"Come on Sid, I think after two months you can forgive her," laughed Evan, his blue eyes twinkling.

"I don't think you understand the humiliation I had to suffer walking around with orange hair for three days," said Sidda grumpily. "Anyway you guys enjoy you meal." And with that she walked off.

"Neon orange huh?" Asked James once the girl was out of site.

"Yeah. It clashed horribly with her complexion." said Evan and he took a bite of his burger and James followed suit.

"Mm, this is good," said James after he swallowed his bite of hamburger.

Evan nodded in agreement as he smushed an onion ring into a pile of Ketchup.

"So how long have you lived here? The apartment building I mean" amended James and he himself grabbed the bottle of Ketchup and poured a healthy amount on to his own plate.

"I moved in shortly after I graduated so about 3 months ago now," said Evan thoughtfully. "I needed to get you know?"

"Yeah," sighed James. "I know exactly what you mean."

Evan held his gaze for a long moment before looking away.