Hiya, thank you for all your feedback, I really do appreciate it and the fact that you're sticking with this story! Hope you're enjoying it. Feel free to drop me a pm and have a chat and let me know what you're liking. Thanks! ~hereiamdestroya
When Alby is finally seen to, he manages to wake up but he's disorientated, even as you stand next to him while he lays on the hard bed, a doctor hovering around him. Alby is bloodied and his clothes are creased and it's just too much to see. James tells you to wait outside, and that he'll stay with him when they start stitching up his head wound. You could only stomach the sight of your own blood – not anyone else's.
You do as he says and reluctantly wait outside in the business of the A&E waiting room. You should have gone to the party; you should have been there to look after your brother. God, you were an awful sister.
After ten or so minutes, James comes out of the room, holding up a weary but awake Alby. You take his other side and make your way out of the hospital and down to the car in complete silence. Laying Alby down across the back seat, you get in the passenger seat and James drives quietly, still not saying anything.
"I think you should go home with Alby" James eventually says, glancing over at you, his eyes tired.
"We are going home"
"No, (Y/N), I mean home" James amends. You stare over at him, half of you wanting to punch him for even suggesting the idea and the other half knowing he was right. You did not feel comfortable with the idea of Alby getting on a plane on his own later in the day and going home to the onslaught of your parents. Maybe you could just get him home and then get straight back on a plane for LA.
"Think of everything you could sort out there" James says. He knows you too well. "You still have a family (Y/N)"
"But they don't want a daughter" You whisper. "They don't want me"
When you wake up at seven am, you leave James to sleep in a little and wander out and down the hall to Alby's room. You and James had put him in his bed in the early hours as soon as you were home and had fallen asleep quickly after.
The blonde boy is fast asleep, his forehead stiches very visible, eyes shut tightly, as if dreaming a bad dream. You leave him be and go back into the kitchen where James now stands in just his boxers, pouring out two glasses of orange juice.
You stand behind him and wrap your arms around his waist, kissing his spine. He relaxes into your hold and turns his head, leaning down to kiss your lips.
"I've rung the airline. Two seats to Nebraska departing at 12:35" James tells you.
"I don't want to leave…I don't want to leave you" You whimper, feeling tears water in your eyes.
"Hey, hey" James starts and turns around to hold you in his arms. "Don't be upset. Tour starts on Monday so it'll be better that you're with Alby for a bit, won't it? I know this is going to be hard, but I think it'd be a great opportunity for you to try and sort things out"
You shake your head no but James just kisses you. "I'll call you every day" he says. And you don't doubt him. But you just can't bear the idea of today being the last time you'll see your boyfriend for two months. Of course, you're thankful it's not as long as it could be, but still, you were kind of devastated.
"This isn't how I wanted to say goodbye" You whisper.
"We're not saying goodbye, ok. We're saying See you later. And you'll see me soon" James defends. "I'll take you guys to the airport and then head to work. We still have the entire morning together"
You didn't want it to be like this. You didn't want to go to the home you'd run away from. You didn't want to face any of that shit. James' phone vibrates and he reluctantly answers it.
"(Y/N), it's for you" He passes you the phone and you hear Carlos' sombre tone.
"(Y/N), I'm really sorry ok. I honestly didn't know how much Alby'd had to drink. I'm sorry. How is he?"
"He's doing ok. Sleeping at the moment. Look, I'm really sorry for snapping at you and Logan last night"
"It's fine, you had every right to. We should have looked after him and we didn't"
"No no, that was my job. It wasn't your fault at all"
"Tell Alby we're sorry and that we'll see him around sometime. Have a safe flight ok (Y/N)"
"Thanks Carlos" You hand the phone back to James and they talk for a little while. Just as he hangs up, Alby appears at the doorway in clean clothes – a black t-shirt and jeans, his blonde hair freshly clean, looking surprisingly better than you thought he would look this morning.
"Hey" He starts, his tone of voice worried. "I'm really sorry about last night guys"
"You fucking terrified me, d'you know that?" It probably wasn't the best way to deal with the situation but it made you feel better to swear at him and let out your frustration.
"I know…honestly, I was just drunk and thought I could do anything…I don't know what to say other than sorry. Sorry to you both and sorry to the guys and I'm just sorry ok" Alby stands awkwardly, physically in pain.
You pace across to him and press softly on his shoulder. "It's ok. All that matters is that you're ok, right James?"
"Right" Your boyfriend's commanding tone shows his support and though you can't see him behind you, you know he's nodding in accordance.
"You need to get your stuff packed. We have a flight in a few hours" You tell him, folding your arms.
"We?" Alby's eyes light up. "You're coming home?!"
"Not for long. Only to get you back safely" You don't tell Alby that you might stick around for a little while, a few days at least. The ide ain itself is painful to you and makes you anxious, without the worry of Alby expecting you to come home and stay there. It just wasn't your home anymore. Your home was Los Angeles and your home was James.
You and James had spent the morning together, driving around the town for the last time in a while, windows down, just enjoying each other's company, leaving Alby at home to pack.
You'd grabbed coffees at your favourite café and you'd gone to work to inform them that you needed to leave for a little while – that a family emergency of sorts had come up and it was crucial that you have at least a week off. You'd also rung your therapy, telling them you would be unable to attend for at least a week. Only because of James' status had they been so accommodating.
As the sun started to rise higher and higher, you eventually made your way back to the apartment, smoking a cigarette despite James' look of disappointment. You find Alby all ready and packed, eating cereal while watching something on TV and quickly pack a few pieces in a suitcase. You really weren't sure how long you were going to be there for.
The hardest part of packing was deciding that you'd have to leave your cutting blades behind, hidden deeply in one of your underwear draws in a small tin box. You guessed it was a good thing but it still made you anxious having to leave their comfort behind.
The entire drive to LAX you could feel yourself tearing up. You didn't want either of the boys to see you like this so you held it in. But when it got to the part of the airport where James couldn't go any further, you couldn't stop the tears from sliding quietly down your cheeks.
Alby and James shared a handshake and a hug and James apologized for not having been able to take Alby to a basketball game in the end. Alby thanked him for everything before walking ahead a bit, giving you some space.
You stand face to face for a few seconds, eyes just searching each other's.
"I don't want to go" You say honestly, bluntly.
"I know, angel. But, this is going to be ok" James pulls you tight. "I love you so much…so fucking much"
You both stand like it for a moment, embracing. "I'll see you real soon ok. As soon as you want to leave, ring me and I'll put you on the first flight back to LA or to wherever we're playing and just come on the tour bus ok. You don't have to stay there if you don't want but I think- I think this could be a fresh start – one that's healthy for you" James says.
You just nod, a little happier in the knowledge that if it really gets too much, you can leave. You don't have to stay long. You hear the announcement for your flight to say it's boarding in ten minutes and try to stop your tears.
"Call me once you land ok, if you can" James offers. He kisses you deeply, lips locking and you hold onto the feeling of being so close to James, so intimate, knowing you won't be feeling it again for a long time. "I love you"
"I love you more" You say, looking up into those beautiful hazel green eyes of his. He shakes his head and laughs.
"That's not possible" He pecks you again, once, easily on the cheek. "Go. You don't want to miss your flight" James picks up the suitcase from the floor and pulls it out, ready for you to wheel away.
You see Alby waiting to go, tiredness creeping into his eyes. Hugging James tightly one more time, you finally let go and step back. And just before you turn to leave, heading to your past, James smiles and whispers one thing…
"I'll be thinking about you worldwide"