This fic is definitely the result of watching way too much Dawson's Creek. Now you're probably wondering, before I start this, why One Pear Tree got the boot. You see, at that time, I was having way too much Degrassi inspiration. After I finished my fic for that, I couldn't remember what I had planned for OPT, so I deleted it. But I sincerely tell you that I will try my hardest to keep this fic up. My track record isn't very good, I know. But still review and favourite and alert. I love it so much.
Betaed by the amazing Miss Fenway.
Chapter One: Logan
It was something we never expected. Something so serious and hard that brought four friends back together, even for a short time.
I got the call that James was in the hospital at about 3 o'clock in the morning. I immediately dropped everything and got a plane, all the way back to L.A. I didn't know why I cared so much. None of us had talked in at least 5 years. But still, I found myself broken inside.
When I got to the hospital I saw Kendall and Carlos in the waiting room. Both eyed me curiously. It was like I was a specimen they had never seen. I was something new.
I cleared my throat and spoke, "Um…how is he?"
Carlos looked down at his lap. I could see that his eyes were red a puffy from crying. He folded his hands tight in his lap, trying to avoid my gaze. I knew I wasn't getting an answer from him.
"They're still running test," Kendall answered. He didn't sound like he had been crying. He sounded like Kendall. Simple and strong. He had always been.
I nodded and walked further into the waiting room. The blond boy stood and hugged me tightly. I embraced him back, feeling like a 16 year old again. It felt good to hug Kendall, after all this time. It was like we were in love again.
"I missed you so much," he whispered, without releasing me. I nodded and buried my face in his shoulder for a split second. Then I remembered that Carlos was in there too. I looked up and saw him still staring at his lap.
He looked terrified. He and James had been best friends forever. Now he was watching him slowly go away. It was heart breaking. I wanted to hug him like I did when we were in love too. To tell him that everything was okay. We were going to get through this.
A nurse came out and approached us. She eyed me up and down for a few seconds before talking. She showed a fake smile, "He's stable right now. You can visit him, but one at a time, please."
We all nodded and she walked off. We looked at each other. Who was going to do the deed of seeing him first? My eyes went straight to Carlos. He nodded and stood.
"I'll go," he mumbled and disappeared down the hallway where the nurse had come out of. I closed my eyes for a few seconds before sitting down. Kendall followed in suit.
Silence sat in the air for a long time. What was I supposed to say? We hadn't talked in years. "What's up" just didn't seem suitable.
"I can't believe it," I heard him mutter. I looked over and our eyes met. His green ones were so serious that it almost killed me. I knew he wasn't going to cry at all. He hadn't since his dad died.
"Do you know what happened?" I heard myself say, but couldn't believe. Why couldn't I have just stayed silent? When in doubt, shut up. I had learned that rule from an early age,
"No. They won't tell us anything," Kendall was fuming. I didn't have to look at him to tell.
"Maybe it's not that big of a deal," I tried to reassure. He looked over at me. Instead of angry though, his eyes were soft.
"Of Logie, I missed your delusions of grandeur," he laughed. I didn't know he even knew what that meant. He was so different. I couldn't believe I'd let all these years go by.
"What do you think happened?" I asked after a beat of silence. I heard him exhale and shift in his seat.
"Hell if I know," he mumbled. I heard his finger cracking. It was a nervous habit of his. It always grossed me out, but now I found it comforting.
It was quiet again, our minds in contemplation. I wanted to know what was wrong. Why was James in here? More important, why was it so important that he asked for them to call us? The "friends" he hadn't spoken to in 5 years.
"Do you think he's going to die?" I questioned again. I knew it was wrong to be talking to Kendall like this after all this time. We should be quiet and just ignore each other. It was what was right.
"I don't know, Logan," he said, looking at me again, "I don't know."
I nodded another time and looked at the wall in front of me. I traced each one of the cracks in the wall. I remembered when I wanted nothing more than to work in this place. I wanted all the prestige and accolades. But now, I wanted nothing more then to leave. To be gone and far away from this hell.
Why would I have ever wanted to be the person who decided whether someone lived or died? The one who had to tell someone that their loved one was gone. What if that person was like James to them? How could I be the one to break the heart of someone who was best friends with the person I killed?
"We need to get out of here," I announced. Kendall looked over at me curiously. He nodded and we left.
"Wow," I whispered as we drove in his car down a back road leading to the beach. I could see the stars illuminating in the sky above the crashing waves. Sure, it wasn't Minnesota beautiful, but it was close.
We parked and got out. The beach had been closed for hours now, but neither of us cared. We headed down the sand slowly and to the water. I moment we reached the bay, we both sat. It was almost an instinct.
"This is amazing," I breathed, feeling the water brush against my toes.
"Yeah…it is…" Kendall responded. I looked over at him gazing at the stars.
We were silent again, reveling in the beauty of our surroundings. It was like we were together again, our bond rebuilt. I don't know why I ever left. This was too perfect.
"It killed me when you left, you know that right," he suddenly said. I looked at him and our eyes met. I could see his emerald orbs shining in the moonlight.
I found myself wondering why I left again. I don't know the answer. I want to find out though. Soon…
I stood and brushed the sand off my shorts. I couldn't answer him then and needed to avoid the question. "We should get going…"
"We just got here," I can hear the smirk in his voice. I'm already traveling up the beach to the car. He runs after me. "Logan!"
I turned around, "What Kendall?"
He simply nods, "We should go," his voice is sad, "Carlos is probably wondering where we are."
We get into the car and head back to the hospital. This moment was supposed to be just us and perfect. But I had to ruin it.
By running away. Like I do best.
