Chapter 25

It was the summer before 4th grade. The boys had just got off of 3rd grade a week ago. Kendall was now 9, James was 9, Logan was 8, and Carlos was 8. "It" happened that day. No one could ever forget "it."

The boys were heading for the pool. They were betting on who could hold their breath the longest. "I think Kendall can!" Logan shouted. Carlos thought James could. Logan and Carlos started arguing. It got really annoying after awhile, so Kendall shut them both up.

"We'll see when we get to the stinkin' pool!" He snapped. Carlos looked hurt for a second, and Logan just rolled his eyes. He was used to Kendall's sudden anger for no reason at all things. He thought it had something to do with Kendall's ADHD. Logan sometimes felt bad for Kendall; he had to go through all of this by himself. Of course, they were there when Kendall needed help, but he was the only one who could fight the disease physically.

When they got to the pool, Kendall and James prepared themselves for the breath holding contest. Logan was going to be the judge. If Kendall won, then Logan got $2. If James won, Carlos would get $2.

"Ready...set...GO GO GO!" Logan shouted loudly. A couple of older kids and adults stared at them for a few moments, and then turned away, not caring at all what had just happened. As long as no one drowned or something stupid like that.

Kendall and James looked small in the water. After 10 seconds, it both seemed like someone was about to burst out and lose. Carlos pushed James's head down. James suddenly seemed to stop moving.

Logan realized what was happening. "Carlos, let go of him!" Carlos took his hands off quickly, but James never came up. Kendall came up a few seconds later, but James never did. The boys waited for a few minutes, and James never came up. No one could hold their breath that long.

"Call 911! James just drowned!" Logan cried. One of the lifeguards hurried over to them, dragging James out. The lifeguard pushed on James's tummy, and James coughed out huge mouthfuls of water. Then he fainted again.

In 5 minutes or so, the ambulance came. They lifted James onto a huge white sheet, and into an ambulance. The lifeguard called Mrs. Diamond, and Mr. Diamond. How he got their number, no one knew. At least the boys didn't know.

Mrs. Knight picked the three remaining boys up. Carlos was wailing his head off, and Logan was almost crying. Kendall tried to stay strong for them, but he found that he couldn't. James might die, and it was all because of... of what?

"Logie? What happened? How could James have drowned?" Logan looked up with teary eyes. He glanced quickly at Carlos, who had stopped crying and started sniffling. Logan sighed. He said that Carlos held James head down, causing him to not be able to come up for air. Kendall felt anger and sadness pulse through him all at once. This was all Carlos's fault. But Kendall knew he shouldn't blame Carlos. It was their fault they decided to play a breath holding contest. But Kendall didn't know how to keep his anger in.

"I'm sorry Kendall! I didn't know James would just die in the water!" Carlos said. Kendall turned on him.

"You're sorry? That's all you ever say! Why can't you be more mature and stop doing stupid things!" Kendall started crying tears of anger and madness. Carlos looked so hurt, and it hurt Kendall to see him like that. But he had to learn his lesson.

"But I didn't mean, to Kendall! I'm sorry!" Carlos cried, his eyes filling with tears. Kendall just sighed angrily.

"That's what you always say! You need to start growing up! Stop being a big baby!" Kendall retorted. Carlos looked shocked that his friend would say something like that.

"But you're my best friend, Kendall. Why would you say that?" Carlos asked, obviously taken aback.

"I'm not your best friend anymore if you keep doing stupid things like that! You probably killed James! He's my best friend! Not you!" Kendall shouted. Carlos stared sniffling and hiccupping. Mrs. Knight told his son to calm down, but Kendall was far from calming down.

"From now on, Carlos, James and Logan are my bestest friends!" Kendall said loudly. Carlos was sad, but suddenly anger filled him, too.

"Fine! It's your loss anyways!" Carlos turned around and looked out the window. Kendall did the same. Logan was stuck in the middle, not knowing what to do. He may be smart when doing math and stuff, but he didn't know what to do when two of his best friends were fighting each other. Whose side would he go on? Kendall was right; Carlos did have to grow up, but he said that a little harshly. Carlos was really sensitive, but not as sensitive as Logan. But Carlos was also right; Kendall was saying hurtful things, and probably didn't mean it. But if Logan knew Carlos right, he knew that Carlos took little things like that to his heart. Logan didn't blame him; he did that many times also.

Logan put his hands on both of their shoulder. They both turned around, hoping that Logan was on their side. But when their eyes caught each other's, Kendall turned around angrily. Carlos looked like he wanted to forgive Kendall, and stared at Kendall's turned back for a minute or two. Then he, too, turned away. Carlos was horrible at holding a grudge against someone; this was probably the longest he'd ever held a grudge. And what made it even worse was that the grudge was against Kendall, one of his best friends. Logan sighed. He was worried about all of his friends. Kendall and Carlos were slowly dying on the inside, and James was slowly dying on the outside.

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They finally got to the hospital. Logan hopped out of the car, glad to get out of the uncomfortable silence in the car. Mrs. Knight looked at Logan. Her eyes seemed to be asking what happened. Logan shrugged, and pointed at the hospital. James. The one word said everything Mrs. Knight needed to know.

The boys entered James's room 10 minutes later. James had a plastic tube stuck to his nose to his mouth. Did he have trouble breathing? They, even Mrs. Knight, had no clue. Logan was pretty sure James was really sick.

The doctors came in and said that all visitors needed to go out for about 10 to 20 minutes. They had to do surgery on him. Logan asked why, but they just told him to leave quickly. They would tell him later. Sure they will, Logan thought.

Mrs. Knight left to go to the bathroom. That usually took her a loooong time. Who knows what she does in there?

There was an awkward silence as the three boys just sat there, staring at the closed door of their best friend's hospital room door. Kendall stared at the numbers. 352. 352, 352, 352, 352... he would never forget that number.

Carlos sat and looked down at his feet and the ground. Tears pricked his eyes, but he refused to let them fall out. Logan and Kendall couldn't see how much he hated this. How much he wanted Kendall back.

Logan just went back and forth between Kendall and Carlos. Logan felt somehow... left out. He knew it was stupid to feel left out from a fight, but he still wished... he didn't know how to describe his feeling.

Kendall left to go to the bathroom. At least that was what Logan thought. Kendall didn't even say anything, just got up and ran down the hall. Logan looked at Carlos; at least there was only one person now. Logan put his arm around Carlos. Carlos looked up, and quickly wiped his tears away.

"Don't worry, Carlitos, I'm still your best friend." Logan grinned. Carlos grinned back and hugged Logan.

"Logie? What's going to happen to James?" Carlos said quietly. So quiet, it was probably quieter than a whisper. Logan sighed and shrugged. He really didn't know.

"I don't know, buddy. But whatever happens, we'll do it together." Logan replied. It seemed to work, because Carlos sighed happily and patted his helmet twice. Logan didn't remember seeing it on his head before. But he knew Carlos and his helmet... they were like magic buddies...

Just like he and Carlos were right now.

Little did they know that Kendall was watching them, peeking out from the bathroom.

A/N- First fight! Uh oh! Whose side are you on? Please tell me in a... REVIEW!

ReRy's:

bigtimerushfangirlamy- Thank you for being a loyal reviewer!

MiiMyselfandTime- Thank for being also a loyal reviewer! Others seemed to have given up on me... or this story! :( And I hate Phillip, too! :)