Mending
Chapter 1: Broken Bond
Someone once told me a best friend is someone who mends you when you are broken, but what do you do when it was your best friends who broke you when they turned their backs on you? How do you heal from something like that?
Carlos and I have asked ourselves these questions every day for the past three years. Ever since our former friends James Diamond and Logan Mitchell turned their backs on us in eighth grade.
The four of us all met our first day of Kindergarten. That day was forever in my memory. It was probably the best day ever. The four of all got in trouble and sent to the time out room where we all started talking about out hate for our mean teacher, Ms. Agatha.
As the years went by we grew closer and became more than friends. We became brothers. We were inseparable and had each others back through everything. We did everything together and we were there for one another no matter what.
Carlos and I protected James and Logan. They were the weaker of the four of us and people tended to pick on them more. Carlos and I would do anything to make sure no one hurt our brothers, they in turn helped us when we needed it.
We were inseparable. We had a bond like no other. Nothing was going to tear us apart, or so I thought. There came a day when our friendship was tested. James and Logan made a very bad decision.
School had just finished for the day and the four of us just walked out of the school building. James and Logan were both really happy that Dak and his crew had left them alone. I guess they finally learned that Carlos and I had our brothers' backs.
It was then I realized I had forgotten some homework I really needed to finish.
"Guys I forgot my homework," I said.
"Crap, me too," Carlos said.
"I'll be right back," I said turning and running back into the school building. I heard Carlos holler too. James and Logan were left alone outside. A few minutes would be fine. I ran to my locker and got my homework and ran for the door as fast as I could.
I reached the door when I heard voices talking outside.
"I just want to make a deal with," Dak said. I peeked out the door wondering who he was talking to. I hoped to god it wasn't Logan and James. If he laid a hand on them I would kill him.
"W-What kind of deal?" Logan stuttered. I hate how these jerks scared him.
"Oh just a small little deal really," Dak said casually.
"What?" James asked as Carlos joined me.
"You and James can join us and your bullying stops," My mouth fell as Dak said that.
"What about Kendall and Carlos?" James asked. I looked to my side at Carlos.
"You would have to stop being their friends," Dak smirked.
"But they're our best friends," Logan said. I was glad he and James felt that way.
"Yeah, Dak. So screw off," Carlos said as he walked out the door with me right behind him.
"Think about it Logan. You and James would be popular. No one would bully you and you could rule the school with us," Dak said gesturing to himself and his friends who were standing just a few feet away.
"What happens if we refuse?" James asked. I could not believe he was considering this. I looked at Carlos and could see the same shocked look on his face.
"We will continue to make your lives hell and it will be ten times worse," Dak laughed coldly.
"You won't touch them, Dak," I growled. I would not let him near Logan or James.
"You can't protect them forever, Knight," Dak smirked.
"We'll do it," Logan said. I turned to Logan shocked and at a loss for words. I could not believe he had just said that.
"Logan, no," Carlos said shocked.
"We have to." James said. Carlos looked liked someone had just slapped him in the face. I probably looked the same.
"No you don't. Carlos and I will protect you. We always have," I said my voice cracking I could not believe this was happening.
"We are tired of having to be protected we want to be able to go to school and not be in fear," Logan said looking down.
"Guys please," Carlos whimpered as Logan and James made their way to Dak.
"Does what we have mean nothing to you! We have been friends since we were five!" I yelled. I could not believe they were just tossing me and Carlos aside after all we had been through together.
"We are sorry." Logan said.
"But we have to do this," James sighed.
"You boys made the right choice," Dak said smiling at my now former friends.
"We will see you tomorrow Knight and Garcia. Our fun with you two has just begun," Dak said causing his friends to laugh as they left. Logan and James looked at us one more time before following Dak, leaving me and Carlos behind broken.
"Kendall what just happened?" Carlos sobbed.
"I-I don't know," I said falling to my knees. Two of my best friends had just betrayed us after they promised we would always be together.
Logan and James were not that nasty towards us at first, but as they grew more comfortable in their new circle of friends they began to change until the two of them became just as cruel as Dak and the rest of his friends.
With every punch and verbal insult our former friends threw at us our hearts broke a little more. Turning us into the people we are today.
"Kendall do you think Logan and James ever remember when we were best friends? When we'd share our every thought? Every smile? And every laugh? Or do you think they regret those times we shared together?" Carlos asked me sadly.
It was a Friday night, which meant it was time for our weekly sleepovers in my tree house. People make think it weird for two seventeen year olds to sleep in a tree house but it had always been a tradition of ours. Carlos and I look forward to them every week, and once upon a time so did James and Logan. But I doubt they even remember that.
"I don't know Carlitos. I hope they remember them but it has been a long time since they were our friends," I said.
"I could never regret those times. They were some of the happiest times of my life," Carlos smiled sadly.
"Same here Carlitos I'll always cherish those memories. Even if Logan and James have forgotten how precious all those times are the two of us can remember it always," I said patting Carlos' shoulder.
"You know sometimes I wish I could walk away and forget what we had with them, but I can't. No matter how bad they treat us I can't forget what we had," Carlos sniffled. I pulled my friend into a hug. Even after three years James and Logan's betrayal hurt us. Nothing we did took the pain away.
"I know Carlos I can't tell you how many times I have wished for things to go back to the ay things where. But we can't all we can do is be grateful we still have each other," I said to Carlos as a few tears found their way down my face.
"You're right, Kendall. Thanks for not abandoning me," Carlos said looking me in the eyes.
"I would never abandon you Carlos and thank you for not abandoning me," I said.
"I could never turn my back on you, Kendall. We have been best friends since we were five," Carlos said.
"That did not stop James and Logan," I said bitterly.
"Kendall popularity just meant more to Logan and James it did not matter to them if they turned their backs on the only people who had been there for them through the good and bad times," Carlos told me. I was shocked at how serious he sounded.
"You're right, Carlos. And you know what? You are the only friend I need," I told my Latino friend, meaning every word of it.
"I wonder if they ever miss us," Carlos stated.
"Probably not," I answered truthfully. Carlos could always tell when I lied. Besides I don't believe in lying. Especially to a brother.
"They love ruling the school too much to miss their childhood friends," I sighed.
"But we were more than their friends, we were there brothers," Carlos whimpered.
"I know but they seem to have forgotten that," I replied.
"Why? They promised we would be brothers forever," Carlos sobbed.
"I know they did buddy," I said. And I did remember.
We were twelve and camping out in my tree house in the backyard.
"Thanks for standing up for us guys," Logan said smiling at Carlos and I. Logan was bullied for being smart and James was bullied for his unnatural beauty. Carlos and I always came to our brothers' defense though.
"Yeah if it wasn't for you guys we would have got our butts kicked," James said grinning.
"No problem it's what brothers do they look out for each other." I told my friends.
"We will always be brothers," Logan declared.
"Promise?" Carlos asked.
"Promise." The three of us said, smiling at Carlos.
"We have to make it official," James said. He jumped up from his spot and left the tree house. He returned a few minutes later with a pen and paper.
Together we drafted a small contract. We all signed it and even cut our thumbs and pressed our blood to the paper. It was a sacred pact between friends, between brothers. We hid the contract in the rafters of the tree house so we would never lose it.
"I bet they forgot that too," Carlos said bitterly.
I decided we needed to do something else this trip down memory lane was only brining us both pain.
"Hey Carlos you want to go out?" I asked noticing it was only 6pm. Carlos brightened at my question.
"Where to?" He asked smiling.
"How about we go for pizza at Griffins Pizzeria?" I know how much Carlos loves that place.
"I can get corndogs on my half right?" Carlos asked. He ate corndogs on almost everything.
"Sure buddy," I said laughing.
"I am so in then!" Carlos cheered.
We had just finished ordering our pizza when some kids from our school walked in. I groaned when I noticed James and Logan where with them.
"Kendall maybe we should go," Carlos said nervously. Anytime James and Logan were around us they would harass us. They did have an image to keep up after all. Then again I think they just didn't care about us anymore.
"Carlos we already ordered and we are not going to let those jackasses run us off we have just as much right to be here as they do," I replied. Just then, Logan and James spotted us they left their friends at their table and made their way over to us.
This should be fun I thought bitterly.
"Look who we have here James. It's the moron brothers," Logan said as he and James laughed.
"As I recall Mitchell, you and Diamond were once moron brothers with us," I sneered. Carlos and I refused to address the two of them by their first names around them.
"Can it, Kendall. We have wised up since then," James smirked.
"Oh really seems to me you both dumbed down, Diamond," Carlos growled.
"You are pushing your luck Carlos. You know we won't hesitate to kick your asses." Logan glared.
"I dare you to touch him. I'll beat you both so bad you won't even recognize yourselves," I snarled. No one messes with my brother, even these two.
"Aw, is he your boyfriend, Kendall?" Logan laughed.
"No, he is my brother and there is no way in hell I will let a bunch of douche bags mess with him," I said my voice cold.
"How sweet," Logan said
"You don't scare us Kendall," James smirked.
"I will let you in on a secret Hortense. You and Diamond don't scare us either," Carlos smiled, using Logan's first name.
"Don't call me that," Logan snapped.
"Hit a nerve did he Mitchell?" I laughed. Logan and James stepped closer to us just as the waitress Mercedes came to our table with our pizza. Mercedes was a close friend of ours and she knew what douche bags Logan and James were. Mercedes was also the daughter of the owner of the restaurant and in college.
"Do I have to throw you two out?" Mercedes asked staring James and Logan down.
"No," They both said.
"Good go to your table then," Mercedes commanded and they both left.
"Thanks Mercedes," Carlos said before taking a slice of pizza.
"Yeah we owe you. We were about to punch those tools," I told her before I grabbed myself a slice of pizza.
"No need to thank me Kendall. You and Carlos are sweet boys and don't deserve to have punks like them mess with you," Mercedes said smiling at us before she left.
"They weren't always like that," Carlos sighed. I could tell he was getting sad again. We both were.
"Carlos, the James and Logan we knew are gone," I told him, a trace of pain in my voice. I hated saying that but it was true.
"I know, Kendall. Let's forget about them and just enjoy our night," Carlos said putting a smile on his face.
"You're right Carlos. Those jerks will not ruin our good time," I smiled at my friend.
We enjoyed our pizza making small talk and just enjoying ourselves without any more drama from the band of idiots.
Ok so for those of you who haven't figured it out, this is Mending from Rhett9. He has lost his inspiration and I adopted it. I am taking his chapters and tweaking them a bit. I have been working hard to keep this to the original while also making it my own. So I hope you enjoy this. Anywho review and let me know what you think.
Always
OUTOFMYMIND