Thank you for seeing this story through to the end! It has taken me forever, so sorry. But anyway, I wanted to give you all a secondary ending, in case you were really digging the side plots and wanted them to continue. You can choose to completely ignore this or not. It's up to you. All just for fun. The "real" ending is chapter 20, not this one.
Kendall lays in bed for what feels like an eternity. Time passes through the rest of the day but it doesn't seem to faze him. Every few hours, his mother pops up into his room to check on him and offer some food but he declines every time. His world is over. It's ruined. Why would James do that? What sort of destiny have they fulfilled now?
He knows his family is worried about him but he doesn't even give a shit. James was everything to him. Even though he had a hunch that he would give up and go home eventually, once it has actually hit everything changes.
"I need you," Kendall whispers to himself, touching the empty space in his bed. It feels miles wide now. Hearing his voice stirs Sissy, and she comes up to lie down in that area. Kendall smiles to himself but starts to cry. He needs James so bad. He never realized. What happens now? Does he get so lonely that he dies? Is that possible? If it is, he will. That's how bad it feels.
Meanwhile, the airplane touches down in New York and James gets off with his newest little buddy. Fox is overwhelmed to be in the airport, but once they get out and into the city so he can walk on his leash, the world becomes extremely exciting. He leaps around ecstatically, happy to follow James wherever he goes.
His mother doesn't live where she used to. Even though the divorce was in her favor, they have a tiny apartment now. James hasn't even bothered to ask where his father lives; he doesn't care at all.
When James comes up to the new apartment, he's greeted by his sister who hugs him so tightly he thinks he'll be strangulated.
"I-I missed you, too" James says, struggling to breath.
"Look at your puppy! Oh wow!" his sister squats down and starts to play with Fox. "He's sooooo cute!"
"That's Fox," James says. "He's been a real good guy."
Now his mother comes out from her room with a humble smile on her face. She folds her arms and nods silently to her son. "You did the right thing," she says.
"I don't know if I did," James admits. "I left the man I love. He must be feeling terrible."
"But you're back with your family who really, truly needs you. We only have one James, but Kendall will find another boyfriend."
"That's true, you're right." James sighs and his mother shows him to the guest room, which will now be his. He settles in a bit and she brings him some coffee.
"You came home to people who love you, too," Mrs. Diamond says.
"I know," James answers in a tiny voice. He sits on the bed and slowly drinks the coffee, sighing constantly.
"You have mail, by the way."
"Oh?"
"It went to the old place, before the divorce." James's mother brandishes a letter from somewhere and hands it to him.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"I probably didn't matter."
James rolls his eyes and looks down at the letter. It doesn't have a return address, but he opens it, cautiously, anyway. Inside is a thin letter that just has a phone number. The bottom is signed "Carlos." James holds the letter in his hands and smiles. He still wants me.
Kendall doesn't see much of a future for himself. He's lost the one thing that mattered most to him, so how can he go on? Two days are spent practically in bed, barely eating. At some point, Sissy decides enough is enough and she really wants to go for a walk.
"Just ask Kevin," Kendall groans, but Sissy stays by Kendall's side and stares at him. "Okay, okay."
He slides out of bed miserably and heads downstairs. It's a little before lunchtime, and Mrs. Knight is working on something tasty in the kitchen. Kendall ignores it, puts of a pair of sneakers and takes Sissy outside.
"Happy now?" Kendall asks, sighing. Sissy seems to have a sense of smugness to her and she starts walking ahead. "Hey!"
Kendall follows her out to the driveway where she suddenly stops. She sits down and gazes over the path up to the house.
"What's with you?" Kendall asks. The dog's tag wags for a second and she keeps staring away from him. Then a car comes. "Watch out," Kendall whispers. Sissy stands her ground.
The little compact sedan rolls up to the front of the house and parks. Kendall doesn't recognize the car at all, and with the tinting of the windows and the noon sun, he can't see into it at all, even squinting. Sissy is pleased, and shortly after the car's arrival, Yuma joins them outside as well.
Kendall doesn't move at all, just standing and staring at the driver's door opens. Then Logan steps out. He puts his hands into his pockets and slowly teeters over to Kendall, who can barely believe his eyes.
"Logan?" Kendall asks quietly. He's changed so much in that little time. His body is stronger and his hair is buzzed around the back, curling into a pompadour on top. He's grown up, or something.
"Hey," Logan says shyly. He still has those cute little dimples, though. He walks right up to Kendall and stares up at him with his chocolate eyes wiggling brightly in the sunlight. Kendall looks back at him, smiling. In unison, they smile and say, "I missed you."