A/N: reading givesmehope again. This one is rated T for a possible bad word or two and brief mention of suicide.
His heart almost stopped when he read the text. His hands were trembling so severely he was honestly surprised he didn't drop his cell phone. Those words continued to stare at him, nag at his stomach, giving him the worst ache in his chest he had ever felt. It felt like he'd just been rammed into the board, repeatedly throughout a game. No, it was worse than that, way worse.
James is in the hospital. He tried to kill himself. -Logan
Based on pure instincts, Kendall immediately dropped his duffle bag and ran out of the locker room, one destination in his mind. He had to get there; that was all that mattered. The cold Minnesota air burned his lungs as he inhaled sharply, pushing himself into a full out sprint down the street. The hospital was about 10 blocks from their high school; taking the icy, dangerous conditions of the sidewalk, it was about a thirty minute distance.
Kendall made it there in ten. He wasn't sure if it was the adrenaline pumping through his system or the fact that he had to make sure the love of his life was okay but he hadn't stopped running or even slowed down the whole time. He was panting drastically as he stumbled into the hospital room, instantly hit with the atmosphere of sorrow and confusion.
"Kendall...?" came James' soft, meek voice.
He rushed right over to the bed, taking James' hand in his own and ignoring the white bandages wrapped around his wrists. "I'm here baby..." he assured him, running a shaky hand through his hair.
"I know," James whispered, "But why..?"
"What do you mean why?" Kendall asked, brows knitting together in confusion.
"You're supposed to be at the game," James reasoned, eyes widened in a mixture of shock and guilt. "The Maple Leaves AND the Minnesota Wilds have scouts at that game! To watch YOU play!"
"I don't care about them James," Kendall muttered, trying his hardest to fight off the tears welling up in his typically strong emerald eyes. "I was so scared when I got that text...I had to make sure you're okay."
James' own eyes teared up at Kendall's words. He couldn't believe the other boy gave up the hockey game that would ensure his future career. He couldn't wrap his mind around the concept of how selfless Kendall was.
