Chapter 29

If there was a record for the fastest turn, James, Logan, and Kendall would have beaten it when they turned to face Carlos. For a few seconds, no one spoke. Kendall, Logan, and James were shocked that Carlos had actually spoken. They were still a little pissed off, but mostly they were confused about what Carlos had said.

"Carlos, what do you m-mean?" Kendall asked hesitantly. Carlos looked away from his friends' stares. He shouldn't have told them… he shouldn't have. They were already looking at him weird.

"Carlos, what do you mean?" Kendall repeated, this time more loud and firm.

Carlos bit his lip and stared at the three guys. "L-Logan's right." His voice felt and sounded weird from not using it for so long.

Logan sat down next to Carlos on the grass, wrapping his arm around the younger boy. "I was right about what, Litos?"

Carlos sniffled. "I tr-tried to… to…" He trailed off, not wanting to say it.

"It's alright, buddy, we won't get mad." James told Carlos gently, sitting down beside Logan. Kendall sat down on the other side of Carlos.

"I tried t-t-to… k-kill myself."

Everything stilled. Even the birds seemed to stop flying. No one spoke. Kendall, James, and Logan all had shocked expressions on their faces.

Kendall was the first to break the silence. "Carlos… wh-why would you do that?" He asked gently, his eyes still wide with shock. Carlos looked down, feeling so ashamed of himself for hurting his friends like this.

"Carlos, buddy… I'm so sorry." James got out, wrapping his arms around Carlos's small frame. "I… I don't know what to say."

Carlos's hands shook as he looked up at his friends. "I just.. c-couldn't take it a-anymore…" he whispered. It was so soft the other three weren't sure they heard right. Pain? What kind of pain was Carlos going through?

"Carlos, tell us what happened. Why you felt so hurt… o-other than because of u-us…" Logan almost started crying when he realized they were part of the reason Carlos had attempted suicide. He would never forgive himself for this.

Carlos sniffled. "I… I can't."

Kendall bit his lip. "Carlos, we won't judge you. We won't make fun of you. We'll still be your best friends." It sickened him that he was the reason Carlos didn't trust them anymore. He was the reason Carlos almost died.

Carlos's heart lifted. They were still his best friends… they didn't laugh at him or bully him. They were still his best friends. They wanted him to trust them, and they seemed sincere about their apologies. Maybe you can trust them now, Carlos told himself.

Maybe he could…

"I… e-ever since we came to th-this… school, people h-have been p-pushing me around…" Carlos started quietly. He saw the shock on the faces of his friends transform into pity and shock.

"Was… was it bad?" James didn't want to know the answer.

"It…s-sometimes people beat me up s-so bad that… e-especially your f-friend Jason and th-this other g-guy…" Carlos let out a small sob, burying his face into James's familiar chest. He felt like James was actually going to protect him for real this time.

Kendall was shocked. Jason had hurt Carlos this bad. And Kendall had never even bothered to care. He never even bothered to find out if anyone was hurting Carlos. He was such a horrible friend… He was always too busy hanging out with Jason and his crew that he had no time for Carlos. He felt so bad…

James rubbed his youngest friend's back comfortingly. "Oh, Carlos… was that all?" He didn't really want to overwhelm Carlos, but this may be the only time he'd want to talk about it. James needed to get the most of this moment.

"Th-they called me h-horrible names and made online c-clubs about how s-stupid I was… and e-everyone hated me. E-except B-Bethany." Carlos whimpered. His body shook with tiny sobs, and James looked up at his friends helplessly.

After they'd got Carlos to stop crying, Kendall asked, "Bethany? As in, Simon Peterson's girlfriend?" Simon was one of the most popular guys in school, and his girlfriend was one of the most popular girls. If Carlos was actually as hated as he said he was, then Bethany liking Carlos seemed a little weird

Carlos nodded. "She started t-talking to me every day, and l-laughing and sm-smiling with me… I th-thought she was the o-one… but-but-but-" Carlos bit his lip, not wanting to say anymore. His friends would surely make fun of him if he told them the rest.

Logan shook Carlos gently. "Then what, buddy? You can tell us, we won't make fun you. Promise." Once again, Carlos was persuaded by his best friends to keep on telling his story.

"My parents c-called a f-few days after and… and they s-said… they got a d-divorce. Dad left to Wisconsin a-and my Mom stayed. My-my dad swore at me when… wh-when I t-told Mom where he-he was… and…" Carlos trailed off, tears in his eyes again. This time, the guys didn't tell him to go on. They'd heard enough to know that his parents hated each other now. And that Mr. Garcia was a big jerk

"I-I went on a d-date with Bethany the d-day you guys… ma-made fun of my s-suit. I r-really thought she lo-loved me… but then… th-that day you guys to-told me you h-hated me and that your p-parents made you be friends with me… Bethany t-told me it was a-all a prank. And that d-day… I jumped off th-the school." Carlos whimpered again, sobbing into James's already soaked shirt.

James, Kendall, and Logan were drowning in guilt. They had told Carlos that they hated him all along… they were the ones who he'd trusted. Carlos trusted them to protect him, but they just bullied him and told them they hated him.

The three held Carlos close, comforting him with their words.

"Carlos, we're so sorry. We were just being stupid. I promise on my life that we still love you. My mom didn't force me to be friends with you. I promise." Kendall had said firmly.

"We are so so so sorry. I just can't believe… I can't believe we were so stupid."

"You'll be alright now, Carlitos. We'll protect you forever and ever and ever. We'll never let you go."

Carlos fell asleep listening to the words of his big brothers, safe and protected from the monsters that were out to hurt him.

A/N- So… he spilled. And his friends are "drowning in guilt'. You'll see where Carlos goes later on next chapter… I think you may enjoy it. He's gonna go back to SCHOOL! Ooops, just spilled…

Anyways, please review this chapter! It means a lot to me! And P.S- I kinda accidentally posted last chapter as this chapter... so I reposted it. Sorry bout that.

Peace, Love, and Giraffes,

Anonymous Skrtle