YAY an update during the week. Going to be 100% honest here. Did NOT think that was going to happen. Haha. Oh well, it just means we're getting closer and closer to THE chapter. Hopefully by Sunday we should be at that chapter. :D

Also, check out the cover photo of this story! It's amazing! I love it! MY friend Olivia made it cx you should follow her on Twitter (ItsOliviaR5). & me whilst you're at it ;) (ashtonsbradR5)

Anyway, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own R5, The Vamps or the song English Love Affair by 5 Seconds Of Summer, all rights go to Hollywood, Mercury/Virgin EMI & Capitol Records!

Chapter 35

20 Days

James sighed heavily, walking into the practice room where he got the attention of Tristan and Connor. They both turned to him, Connor sighed and Tristan rolled his eyes – knowing what that meant.

After they left the USA, the day after Ross and Brad broke up, things kind of took a depressing turn for everyone. Barely anybody was happy any more because Rydel, Ellington, Rocky, Riker and Ryland were trying to make Ross happy and cheer him up about the whole thing as he still felt guilty and heartbroken over the same thing, and that made them unhappy. Tristan, Connor and James were doing pretty much the exact same, except James a little bit less because he and Brad still weren't talking as much.

But you know when it got out about Ross and Brad, and then Brad slowly started going downhill where he wouldn't do anything any more, he wouldn't smile, he'd either be unhappy or cry and then he started making himself sick? Yeah. That got worse for him ever since they broke up. In the past week it's become a daily thing.

It was clear to everyone how miserable the pair were without each other, even the fans could tell when word got out about them breaking up. Sure some were happy they did, some were sad and some weren't bothered. But they did notice and start to feel bad and sorry for them both. Everyone basically felt sorry for them both.

The worst thing about it for Ross is that he had nobody he felt comfortable talking to any more to let it off his chest about. That person was Laura and now he can't talk to her about this whole thing because she's dead. Well, he can talk to her but she won't respond. Gravestones can't talk. It seems ever since Ross and Brad broke up he had been paying more visits to Laura's grave. One week he went every day. Now he goes every other day.

Tristan shook his head "I'm sorry but, he needs help," Tristan said, not really wanting to admit it but Connor and James agreed with him in some way "he can't keep doing this to himself! And he's doing it because of that fucking ass hole!" he said, raising his voice and getting frustrated.

"Calm down Tristan," Connor said quietly, and holding a sleeping Tyler at the same time "you don't want Brad to hear you and Tyler's asleep. So shush."

"Sorry," Tristan lowered his voice.

"We can't help it," James said, talking but at a quiet level so Brad couldn't hear them from the next room "he's just... depressed, or something like that. Why else would he be acting this way all the time?" James asked "I think we need to at least try and help him. Or take him to the hospital. Maybe they can help him."

"That sounds like a good idea... but I don't think hospital's help with depression, James." Connor said, sitting down on a chair with Tyler.

James shrugged "Well, it's not just depression. Especially if he's harming himself. I mean, I know it's not cutting self-harm, but still. He won't go out any more, he keeps making himself sick because he won't eat anything as well as drink. All he wants to do is lay in bed all the time." he said, sounding frustrated. He was really frustrated at how his best friend wasn't acting like his best friend any more.

It was like he was a completely different person.

Tristan rubbed his hands together slowly "Well, I was talking to Natalie the other day," Tristan said, Natalie is Brad's older sister "and... she doesn't like how he's treating himself, and she said the same thing as you, James. I think his parents agreed too. They said something about booking him an appointment at the hospital today, but he refused to go. Hence why he's here. He shouldn't be here right now."

Connor scoffed "Then force him. He's not helping himself. He needs to get better. Especially when we go back to America with all the travelling. Not to mention where R5 is well known, so no doubt he will probably see his face every where he turns and that'll make him worse."

Tristan turned to James "You take him," Tristan said, James raised his eye brows at him "you're the strongest out of us all, and lets face it, it doesn't take a lot to grab Brad and carry him does it?" he asked, James shook his head "besides, I think it's time you two got back into talking as best friends again."

As James went to go protest about that, Brad walked into the practice room looking like hell as usual. He went to go over to his guitar, but Tristan stopped him. "Hey," Tristan said, getting in his way and putting his hands on his shoulder's "um... a little birdy told me you have to be somewhere today."

Brad shook his head, being confused "No I don't..."

"Don't lie."

Brad sighed and rolled his eyes "I'm fine. I'm not depressed!" he said loudly, pushing Tristan out of his way. He knew that they weren't saying he was depressed, but they were thinking it. Why else would they want him to go to the hospital for? He is not depressed.

"Look, Brad," Tristan said, grabbing hold of him gently "it's not that you're depressed, it's just... the way you're treating yourself. We're worried. It's not right. It's not... you. And we're not saying it's over Ross, but ever since people found out about you both dating—well, when you dated – you started acting like this too. I mean... it's been a month now, maybe a little bit longer... this 'depression' should have only lasted a week or so."

"I'm. Not. Depressed." Brad protested, snapping. He was really fed up of people assuming this. Yes, he felt down, sadder and sicker when he and Ross broke up – but it doesn't mean he's depressed. It's not like he's in the corner of the room sawing his wrists off with a blade. He's just not motivated to do stuff recently.

Tristan rolled his eyes "Enough, Brad. James is taking you to the hospital – and I don't care if you have any sort of protests, you're going. Not for yourself, but for us, your sister and your parents because they're worried about you too," Tristan sighed "please? We just want to see the old you again..." he said sadly.

Brad looked down a little bit, feeling sadder himself. He looked back at Tristan and nodded with a small smile "Alright."

James slid on his coat and took out his car keys "Right then, lets go." he motioned for the door.

Brad glanced over to him and to Tristan before making his way over to the door. Tristan and Connor both watched as they left together, hoping inside that not only that this might help Brad but they both might actually come back as friends again.

Rydel put her head round the door of Ross's room, seeing him laid on his bed with his back facing the door. She sighed and walked over to the bed slowly "Ross?" Rydel asked, knowing he was awake.

He ignored her.

She went round to the side of the bed he was facing, and saw that he looked a complete wreck. His hair was a mess and his eyes were puffy from crying or for the fact he was about to cry again. She sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed his side gently "Do you want to get out of bed today?" She asked and he shook his head "please? Do something? Not even come downstairs for something to eat?"

"No. I'm not hungry." He said, completely emotionless.

"You have to eat Ross, please. For me?" Rydel asked, he stayed silent. She sighed "Look, I'm going out in about half an hour to go get some stuff, I'm bringing Matthew with me. Will you come with me? I won't be able to carry stuff and push a pushchair at the same time..."

Ross looked at Rydel, debating about it in his mind. "Why don't you ask Rocky or Riker?"

"Because I don't want them to come with me, I want you to." She said with a small smile.

They stayed silent for a moment whilst Ross thought about it in his mind. He shook his head again and looked away from Rydel.

Rydel frowned and just nodded "Alright then." She got up from the bed and left the room, taking glances back at Ross as she done so.

She hated seeing him like this. This had been almost an exact same routine ever since he and Brad broke up, and honestly it was breaking her too.

She had a phone call with Connor the other day and he was telling her everything about Brad and how he's doing, which is pretty much the exact same thing as Ross. It sucked so much.

Rydel went back into her room and picked up her phone from the side, shutting her bedroom door.

Connor sat in the practice room on his own. James and Brad were still at the hospital, and they had been for hours. He's left a couple of messages and calls on both their phones but none of them were replying. He didn't think that sorting out a form of depression could take so long at a hospital.

Unless there was some sort of emergency at the hospital that delayed all the appointments.

Still, they went at like 2 and now it's almost 7.

As Connor went to go call one of them again, Rydel's number came up on his phone. "Hey," He answered "what's wrong?" He asked.

Rydel sighed, being laid on her bed "I'm just fed up. I tried to get Ross to come out with me, but he won't," Rydel said, making Connor sigh over the phone too "I hate seeing him like this."

Connor wiped his hand with his face, starting to feel slightly fed up and sad too "Yeah, I know. I hate seeing Brad the way he is. But James has took him to the hospital today because we're getting really worried about him," he looked over to the door of the practice room as he could have sworn he heard Brad and James's voices shouting at each other from outside of it. He shook his head "I think they're back now... I thought I heard them outside."

"We need to do something," Rydel said, sitting up on her bed "they need to see each other again."

Connor shrugged "Well, it's obvious they still love each other," Connor said, easing Rydel into an idea that was slowly coming into his mind "maybe we should try and get them back together." He suggested.

"I don't care as long as they're happy. It's torture seeing them like this, Connor," Her voice broke and she dropped her head, rubbing her eyes. She lifted her head up when she had a rise of suspicion "Why? What do you have planned?"

Connor looked up at the ceiling, being unsure as to if Rydel was going to be sneaky and cunning like this "Maybe... er... We could trick them into meeting up with each other somewhere? Then get them to talk and I'm sure if we leave them they'll find their way back to dating each other."

Rydel smiled, as that idea sounded like a good one to her - but at the same time she had the feeling it could fail. "Oh... Well, I'm sure we can arrange for something to happen."

"We get back in America soon, something like... 15, 16 days. Maybe when we get there we should leave them for about 3 or 4 days, then get them to meet. If that makes sense?"

Rydel nodded "Yeah, it makes sense. But where would they meet?"

Connor shrugged "I don't know. Somewhere they both know and won't suspect anything? Where does Ross go on a regular basis?"

"Lately? The graveyard," Rydel said, making Connor silent over the phone "to see Laura."

Connor breathed in relief, as for a moment he thought Ross was starting to lose it. "Yeah, some how Brad wouldn't appreciate me taking him to a graveyard. Maybe if he was dead then he wouldn't mind." He joked.

Rydel thought about it for a moment, trying to come up with places. There were so many. The park, a cafe, the street, the diner.

"The diner," Rydel said "Ross always goes there and talks to some girl called Sally! He wouldn't suspect a thing! Would Brad?"

"Eh, I'm sure if I give him a good enough reason for going there he won't."

Rydel smiled, having a good feeling about this "Alright, the diner it is."

Connor was smiling at how this was going to work out, but frowned as a sudden bad feeling came over him. Rydel noticed it had gone silent on the other end of the phone so her smile slowly dropped too "Connor?"

Connor went to go respond but the practice door room swung open, crashing off the wall due to Brad coming through it in some sort of... Rage? No it wasn't rage because it looked like he was crying. Brad stormed through the room and went over to another door that led into the bathroom, slamming it behind him.

Rydel heard this on the other side of the phone "What was that?" She asked.

"Brad," Connor looked over to the bathroom door when something caught his eye by the other door that fell out of Brad's pocket when he came through it "Listen Rydel, I'll call you later because it looks like it's just kicked off and not in a good way."

"Alright, I'll talk to you later." She said.

Connor hung up "Hey, Brad, you dropped something!" He called, walking over to the piece of paper.

As he walked over to it, James walked through the door looking around where he also saw the piece of paper on the floor. He picked it up off the floor before Connor could. "What's wrong with him?" Connor asked.

James shook his head, putting the piece of paper in his pocket "Nothing. Doesn't matter. He's er... Just upset because he had to go to the hospital." He made his way over to the bathroom door.

Connor turned around and faced James "Was it depression?" Connor asked.

"What?" James asked, sounding confused. He then replayed over what Connor had just said in his head "Oh! Yeah, sure. That's why he's upset... Let's just say... He was NOT expecting it."

Connor laughed "So he really thought he was fine?" Connor asked and James nodded. Connor shrugged "I guess that's depression for you. You don't want to believe you're depressed and get help for it," Connor said. He noticed how James was fidgeting with his hands nervously, in some sort of worry. "What's wrong?" Connor asked.

James shook his head "I-it's... it's nothing. It's just Brad... I don't know what to do," he said, staring out into space with the blankest expression ever. All he wanted to do was help his friend and he didn't know how. This isn't something he's use to or expected. Ever. "I want to help him so bad. But I can't. I don't know what to do. And he's probably in there having some sort of a break down all because he's—yeah." he ran his hands through his hair after wiping his face.

Connor nodded "Yeah. Sometimes hate and harsh break-ups can really make you depressed. I know, I went through a harsh break-up like that but neither of us hit each other. It was horrible. I was in Brad's state for weeks, 2 at the most. But I wasn't as bad as him. I got over it. It doesn't seem like he can. I wish I could help him like I helped myself, it's not fair that he has to go through what I went through."

James sighed, still staring out into space "Your damn right it's not."

Connor frowned, nudging him in the arm gently "He'll be okay. All he needs is his friends around him to make him feel better and he'll be back to the Brad we all know and love before we know it." He said, reassuring him.

James gave him a small, sad smile "Don't be so sure of that." He said quietly.

"James, it's depression. As long as he has the right people surrounding him, he'll get better in no time, I promise." Connor reassured again with a small smile and James nodded. "Anyway," Connor said, going over to where Tyler was in his car seat "I better go because I don't think Tyler can cope being around here any longer with all the loud noises, so I guess I'll see you later." he lifted up the car seat.

"See ya."

Connor went to go leave but stopped when he got to the door "Oh! What was that piece of paper on the floor?" Connor asked as James went to go into the bathroom where Brad was "is it Brad's? Cos I could have sworn it fell out of his pocket."

James nodded "Yeah, it's his."

"What is it?"

"Just a prescription," James said "you know, people with depression do tend to need medication as well as good friends."

Connor rolled his eyes, knowing James was mocking him about what he said about needing friends when you have depression "Well, I'm passing the pharmacy on my way home in the car, do you want me to go pick it up?"

James shook his head "Er, no. I'll go pick it up when I drop Brad home. Thanks for offering though. I'll see you tomorrow or something."

Connor nodded "Yeah, see ya. Tell Brad I'll call him later?" Connor asked, James nodded before Connor left through the door.

James sighed and shut his eyes as Connor left the practice room. He rubbed his face again and opened up the door of the bathroom where he saw Brad curled up in a ball in the corner, crying his absolute eyes out. "Brad..." James said sympathetically. He shut the door and crouched beside him, bringing him into his arms for a hug and he held him. "It's alright. It'll be okay..."

Even though James was telling Brad that, he knew for a fact it was not going to be okay.

Horray. More depressingness yay. I know how much you all love depressingness with my stories (sarcasm). But yeah. You all know it's going to get worse than this so yeah. Brilliant.

Thanks for watching!

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