I must have passed out, because I awoke on the floor. I sat up and looked around. I groaned. My head was throbbing. I placed my hand on the back of my head and felt a bump. I pulled back my hand and it had some blood smeared on it. I turned around. There was blood on the wall also. I looked over at the clock. I had only been asleep for about twenty minutes and my parents were coming soon, so I had better clean up. I wiped the blood off the wall and walked to my dresser. The room was spinning to such an extent, I had to grip my dresser to keep myself from falling over. Once I steadied myself, I grabbed some clean clothes and slipped them on. I hurried to the bathroom, or at least went as fast as I could without passing out. I quickly ran a comb through my hair, pulling out the dried blood as well. I checked myself in the mirror and walked out. I heard a knock at the door as I was walking into the kitchen. I headed over to the door and opened it.
"Hey, come on in," I said throwing on a fake smile. "How are you?" I asked. After I said it I knew it was a bad question.
"You ask us how are we? After all that's happened you expect us to care about a meaningless conversation? We lost our son. Don't you care?" My mom said stepping closer and closer to me.
"Yes, I care, he was my brother, but I'm your son too. And you don't care about me?" I replied slightly raising my voice. The room started to spin again, but I did my best to ignore it.
"No you are not my son, and we don't care about you, and we never will," My father said smacking me into a wall. Opened my mouth to say something but he wouldn't let me. "Now listen to me, because of you Cameron died. It is your fault your brother is dead. And remember, it's your fault because you were born. If you were never born none of this would have ever happened. You fucking imbecile," he said smacking me across my face.
Right now I was at their mercy. No one was home and they wouldn't be home until later tonight.
Suddenly, I was kneed in the stomach and I gasped as quietly as I could. He then pulled me by my hair and tossed me across the room. When I landed I felt something crack. My mother just stood back and just watched with a smile on her face. I was picked up once again, but this time he kept the punches coming nonstop. I could feel blood dripping out the side of my mouth by the time he let me down. On their way out my father said something that would change my life forever.
"Oh, by the way, you have to come home to Minnesota for your brother's funeral. And you are staying in Minnesota and quitting this idiotic band. Don't even say you could never do it, because they are your friends, remember they could care less about you and besides there is no changing my mind." And with that he left. Taking my dreams and my sanity with him.
I didn't want to see anyone so I just walked into my room and pulled the covers over my head. My head hurt nonstop since I woke up, but now that sleep is taking me over, it just faded to a dull ache. I closed my eyes and surrendered to the black.
I woke to a bright light in my face. I looked at my clock. Oh my god, it was already eight. Why didn't anyone wake me? I jumped out of bed and regretted it. My head started to throb once again and now I felt nauseous from the stabbing pain in my side and stomach. I almost doubled over in pain. I sat slowly down on my bed when Logan came in.
"Hey, James. If you are wondering why we didn't wake you, it's because Gustavo gave us the day off," Logan said excitedly.
"That's great. I'll go change and meet you guys at the table," I said with a small smile. At least I will get to rest today.
"Alright, but hurry up. Ms. Knight made pancakes and they won't be here for long," he shouted hurrying out of the room toward the pancakes I'm guessing.
"Hey, let go! Those are mine." "In your dreams, I got them first." "Hands off, Carlos." "NO, your hands off, Logan."
O.k. Note to self: Don't come between Carlos and Logan and pancakes unless you want to be mauled.
I got back up and changed into a light blue long sleeve shirt, blue jeans, and white sneakers. I made sure the bandage around my wrist was hidden. I walked into the bathroom and combed my hair. Every time the comb ran through my hair my head hurt to an extent of me wanting to faint. I set my comb down, thinking it was better to have messy hair then a throbbing head. I slowly lifted up my shirt and saw a large purple and blue bruise forming across my stomach. Also, I never noticed this but I had lost a lot of weight. You could see my ribs clearly through the thin layer of skin covering them. I put my shirt down, wincing when the fabric touched the bruise.
I headed into the kitchen and poured a bowl of cereal, seeing as all the pancakes were gone. I munched quietly on my cereal while the other guys bickered about who got the last pancake. I rolled my eyes and continued eating. Their fight was disrupted by the ringing of the phone. Mrs. Knight hurried out to answer it. Her smile dropped.
"Uh huh. I understand. See you soon. Good bye." She hung up the phone.
She walked over to me and pulled me into the other room.
"James, your parents want you to return home for the funeral. I will talk to Gustavo for you don't worry about that," she said laying a hand on my shoulder.
"Thanks. Oh, do you think you could tell them why I'm going home after I leave. I don't really want to deal with any questions right now," I said a single tear falling down my face.
"Of course, honey. Go get packed. Your flight leaves at eleven, alright," she said with a small smile.
"Yeah. Thank you," I said giving her a hug, and ignoring the stabbing pain in my stomach.
I hurried off to my room and pulled a suitcase from under my bed. I laid it across the top of my bed and started packing. I packed some clothes and everything of value. I knew I wouldn't be coming back. My parents would never let me. I cried silently as I packed the rest of my things. When I was finished, I dried my eyes and pulled my suitcase to the door. It was around ten fifteen now and I needed to leave now if I wanted to catch my flight. The guys looked at me like I was crazy when I told them I had to go back to Minnesota for a few days.
"But why?" Carlos asked showing a puppy like innocence.
"It is an important family matter. I have to go back for a few days. I will be back soon," I lied. There was no way I would be coming back but they couldn't know that.
"Alright, be safe," Kendall said giving me a hug, which Carlos and Logan joined in on.
"Thanks. I will," I said smiling. I just remembered I never said good bye to Katie. I hurried into her room to find her still asleep. I told her good bye quietly and kissed her forehead. She mumbled my name in her sleep.
I walked out of her room and grabbed my suitcase. I waved good bye to my best friends, who were more of a family to me than my real one. I walked out the door, and knew going home was a big mistake. A tear dripped down my cheek as I entered the elevator. I pressed the lobby button and waited until the door opened. I walked through the Palm Wood's doors and into the awaiting taxi. I took one last look at the building, and as the taxi drove away I knew I would never return.