A/N: Hello, my lovely readers! I told you guys to expect an update by next week-Well...technically it's next week now...And I just couldn't wait any longer ;D You guys rock! So, here ya go…
Disclaimer: Carlos, Logan, James, Kendall…I own not neither these boys, nor their delightful television program.
Face Value
Chapter 3: Marred
"Your boy-boy-b-b-b-b-b-boyfriend…"
James' mic stand clattered to the floor as he threw it down, promptly rushing out of the sound booth.
"James!" Kendall called, racing after him. Logan and Carlos gaped at each other; briefly stunned, then jumped over the fallen stand and dashed after the other boys, leaving the music track to play on in the empty sound booth.
James charged through the men's room door, hot tears already spilling over. He kicked the trashcan violently, sending a scatter of paper towels across the tile floor, then drew back his fist, attacking the wall until his hands hurt. He staggered backwards, breathing heavily, and fell on the sink with exhaustion, gripping the porcelain tightly as he stared up at his own reflection.
James choked on the scream. The face. Tremors seized his body and he burst into new tears; his vice grip on the sink the only thing keeping his knees from totally collapsing under him.
James Diamond wasn't beautiful anymore.
Light scratches covered his face; his lip was puffy and tight, with an angry pink slice running across it diagonally. Dried blood settled into the creases at the corners of his mouth, smeared down his quivering chin. One of his large front teeth and the tooth beside it were missing, in addition to the right canine below them. The rest of his teeth on his right side looked like someone had tried to smash them in with a hammer, tilting inward, twisted and cracked.
His light brown eyes locked onto the mirror and swam; his vision blurring into nothing as he broke down, wailing at his marred reflection.
James brought his eyes back up, staring at his image, frozen in place. He couldn't move—all he could do was stand there, screaming, clinging desperately to the sides of that sink, while the tears streamed down his face. Their saltiness stung his busted lip, but he let them roll; dripping off his chin and soaking into the collar of his shirt.
Suddenly, he heard footsteps outside the door and fled the sink, barricading himself in the nearest stall.
"Where do you think you're going?" Logan, Kendall, and Carlos spun around, coming face-to-face with Griffin and his crew. Kendall pushed open the bathroom door, motioning for Carlos and Logan to go on without him. Kelly and Gustavo rounded the corner, witnessing as Kendall glared back at their band owner, Arthur Griffin, fearlessly.
Logan walked into the vacant restroom, stepping over the mess of crumpled paper as he made his way toward the only closed cubicle. "James?" He pecked on the door softly, "You okay?" Logan leaned against the stall, waiting for an answer. His head dropped when he heard haggard sniffling on the other side of the door. "C'mon, we know you're in there James," He gently coaxed, rattling the lock, "Will you please open the door?" A few seconds passed, and still no response. Logan turned to Carlos, shrugging. "He won't talk to me."
Carlos put his mouth up to the door and yelled, "Hey! James!"
James tried to ignore his friends. He curled up into a ball on the toilet, drawing his knees up to his chest when he noticed Carlos peering at him through the crack around the door.
"Go 'way, Carloath!" He shouted, followed by a loud hiccup. "I'm fthine…I juhth—had to looth the baffroom."
It was quiet for a minute and James breathed out shakily, hoping the silence meant Logan and Carlos had finally left.
"Hey-you're not using the bathroom!" Carlos' voice suddenly chimed overhead.
"Um—Embarrafth-ing!" James looked up; expecting to see Carlos hanging over the top of the stall, but he was gone. "Aah!—" two pairs of hands grabbed his ankles, dragging him under the door.
Carlos and Logan released his feet, smiling. James crossed his arms and glared up at them from the floor.
"What's going on? What is the problem, here?" Griffin asked.
"What's the problem?" Kendall repeated. His vocal pitch rose in agitation. "How can all of you be so stupid?" He asked incredulously. "You can see James is hurt. We need a dentist." He jerked a thumb toward the restroom door. "He just took a puck to the mouth on a slap shot, and you haul us here to sing another stupid song!" Kendall shoved the door open roughly, then turned back around and yelled: "GIVE US A FRIGGIN' BREAK, GRIFFIN!"
Kelly held her breath as she watched him storm into the bathroom. Gustavo looked ready to burst.
"Bad Boy." Griffin quipped happily, straightening his collar. Kelly and Gustavo's mouths dropped open, perplexed by his inappropriately calm reaction. Arthur Griffin smiled at his crew, "Glad I made Kendall the one in this band. He's goooood." Kelly and Gustavo gawked at each other in utter confusion. When they looked back, Griffin had vanished.
Kendall walked into the restroom and found James sitting in the floor, glaring up at his other two band-mates. They all turned around and looked at Kendall as he pulled his phone out to check the clock. More than a half-hour had passed since they'd arrived at the studio. He ran a hand over his face.
"These teeth aren't gonna last." He sighed, "Thanks to Griffin, now there's no way we'll make it to the dentist on time." He crossed his arms, biting down on his thumbnail. "What do we do?" Kendall rested his elbow on top of one of the urinals, lost in thought.
James curled into a ball and buried his head in his knees. Carlos came over and sat down beside him as quiet took over.
"I'll do it." Everyone looked up, turning toward the source of the voice. "…I know enough about medical procedure, I'm pretty sure I can re-implant the teeth…at least well enough to last 'til we can get to a real dentist." He dug his hands into his pockets, searching their faces for approval.
"You'll do it?—Seriously—you think you can really do it, Loge?" Kendall asked, hopeful. James jumped up and stared at them, listening intently.
"Yeah," Logan answered. "It's not that hard, I read about dental reinsertion in a medical journal." He replied confidently. "James, you come over here by the light," Logan pulled James over by the sink as he washed his hands. "Okay, now I just need the—CARLOS!"
"NO, Carlos!—what are you doing?" Kendall ran over, jerking the milk carton away from Carlos' lips. James shrieked in horror.
"I got thirsty…" Carlos whimpered. Logan held the carton over the sink, pouring the remaining milk into his hand. The two teeth fell into his palm and the boys breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Kendall shook his head at Carlos. "You drank James' tooth milk? Dude, that's so gross…"
"Ready?" Logan made James sit down on the sink. "You'll probably feel this, but it won't be as bad as getting them knocked out." Logan peeled James' lip back gently, carefully placing the first tooth against the gum. James flinched slightly as Logan applied pressure.
"Ow—ow, ow, ow…" He squeaked while Logan pressed down on the tooth, sliding it back into the empty socket with a nasty popping sound. Kendall and Carlos stood by, watching closely.
Logan removed his hand and let James close his mouth. He reached for the other tooth as James rubbed his achy jaw. Carlos and Kendall remained close by, completely still. The soft sound of Logan's focused breathing seemed to echo off the tile walls, the only noise in the enveloping silence.
"Ya doin' okay, James?" He asked quietly, wiping his fingers on a paper towel. James exhaled and nodded. "Alright, just one more." Logan laid his fingers on the side of his friend's face, gently tipping his chin back again. But, his concentration was swiftly broken when a loud commotion erupted outside the door, diverting everyone's attention.
"I DON'T CARE GUSTAVO! ONE OF MY BOYS IS HURT!" There was a loud crash, followed by a few seconds of jumbled racket, before they heard a pair of heels clicking hurriedly down the hall.
Right on! Hey, you're still reading :) I adore that.
Well, then…How about this chapter? I wanna know what you're thinking-Talk to me! :D