Do you love me, James?

James's POV

Hey, my name is James Taylor and I am a genius. I had an intellect way past my age group capable of doing college graduate-level studies before I even entered middle school. I spent most of my time working on inventions such as artificial intelligence. Over the summer I had spent many sleepless nights trying to get the darn thing to work. Even down to the last night of the break, I stayed up still trying to fix flaws I had found from the previous night which led me to try sleeping in. Of course, that wasn't likely to happen as my mother wouldn't allow it

"James!!" My mom yelled from downstairs. Too tired to even answer I just looked in my closet and slowly reached for the clothes I had prepared the previous night

"Hurry up!! You're going to be late" my mom yelled but I just continued to slowly put on my clothes letting out many exhausted yawns

"Finally. I was just about to come up there and drag you out myself" Mom said as I lazily drew out the kitchen chair

"Sorry, mom. I was up late trying to get my invention to work. I barely got any sleep" I yawned as I took a seat, and started eating my breakfast

"I told you to stop working on your inventions so late into the night." she nagged

"I know but I was so close to finishing it. I swear I almost got it working. So I told myself what's another five minutes. But then five minutes turned to thirty minutes, and that became five hours and by that point, it was already too late to go to sleep" I tried explaining but she only sighed

"I don't know what I'm going to do with you. Just hurry up and eat your breakfast"

"Okay" I smiled

"Oh by the way James, your father and I won't be here when you get home today okay," Mom said

"Why not? Where is Dad?" I asked only just noticing he wasn't at the table

"Your dad's gonna be out of town for a management meeting and I'm working late at the shop," she said

"Another management meeting? Again? Isn't the company doing this a bit too frequently? I feel like I barely get to see Dad these days"

"James it's not your father's fault. He's up for another promotion so he's really busy. We just have to bear with it" she said as if she were trying to convince herself

"I know Mom, I'm just making an observation. By the way, what am I supposed to eat for dinner? Surely you aren't expecting me to cook?" I asked

"God no, I still want a kitchen to return to" she laughed

"There should be pie leftover from last night's dinner and if you don't want that just order something," she said picking up her bag

"Okay Mom," I said before she checked the time

"Oh no look at the time I have to open the store," Mom said heading for the door

"Bye Mom," I said

"Bye James love you," she said

"Love you too," I said as she walked out.

Shortly after she left I heard my name being called so I looked out the window and saw my two best friends. Carlton Augustus Stewart but we just call him Carl, an red hair overweight guy with freckles, and Carlos Antonio Estevez, a Mexican boy who is a total and complete comic fanboy going as far as creating his own fanfics. The three of us have been friends since I came to town all those years ago

"Sup guys," I said

"Yo James you ready," they asked

"Yeah just let me finish eating," I said eating the last piece of pancake and drinking the orange juice in one gulp before putting away the plate

"Come on Jay, we're going to be late," Carlos said impatiently as I came out of the house and locked the door

"Sorry" I smiled opening my car door and getting in

"Shotgun" Carlos said

"No fair Carlos you always ride shotgun," Carl said

"Because you're too slow" he teased jumping into the car

"Come on guys we're late," I said

"Fine" Carl pouted sitting in the back before we drove off