Chapter Eight: Or Is It?
James' phone rings later on that afternoon.
"Hello?" James answers sounding a little tired.
"Hey, James. It's me. I just wanted to see how you are. You sound a little tired. I just wanted to hear your voice."
"Ellie? Aw, how sweet of you to say that. I'm doing a lot better, thanks," he says with a smile.
"Aww, there's that angelic voice I wanted to hear," Ellie replies laughing, "I hope everything is well."
"Thank you very much. I hope you'll stop by later."
"I will once I get out of the studio."
"Great. Well, I hate to cut this conversation short, but I have to take my medicines. I'll talk to you later, sweetie."
"Okay. Take it easy, babe."
Hadley walks in the room with a cup of gingerale as soon he hangs up the phone.
"Who was that?" she asks.
"Oh, that was just Ellie making sure I was okay."
"Here, sweetie. I brought you some gingerale to take away the taste of that nasty medicine," she says sweetly.
"Oh, thanks. Just put it on the table." James reaches his up to stretch his arms, but he comes to a point where he can barely hold them up, cringes, and puts them down.
"I'm so thankful, and I know you are, too, that you didn't die," she says as she leans down to kiss his cheek. James turns away and looks to see Kendall walk through the door.
"Hey, man. How are you?" Kendall asks.
"Good," James replies, "still stiff, though."
"I can imagine."
"You look so broken," Hadley chimes in.
"Thanks, Hadley. Thanks," says James disappointed.
"I was being, nevermind. You know what I meant," she says as she looks down at the floor.
"Do you need anything? Food? A blanket?" she asks trying to cover up her stupid statement.
"Actually, yes. Can you go to In-N-Out burger and get me a burger? I'm craving one so badly."
"No problem," she laughs.
Kendall jumps in, "I'll keep an eye on him."
She smiles and walks out.
"Dude. She is so obsessive," James says slamming his head back into the fluffy pillow and rolling his eyes. "What doesn't she understand about me saying 'we're done'? Is it that confusing?"
"Not at all, buddy," Kendall replies snickering.
"So, what is the situation between you and Karlee and Shelby and Logan?"
"Well, Karlee and I are dating now and so are Logan and Shelby. Logan finally got the balls to tell Shelby that he liked her. He was all choked up and finally was like 'So much shit is happening right now and I don't' wanna go through it without you by my side.' Gahh. Logan is so…fluffy." Kendall says laughing.
James and Kendall share a small laugh until James grabs his chest and coughs. "Ow, it hurts to laugh," he says frowning.
"I'm bbbaacckk!" Hadley says marching through the door. "Fast, right?"
Kendall rolls his eyes and James takes a huge bite out of his burger.
"Ohmygosh. That is so good. Thanks, Ell—Hadley," James accidentally says. He just shoves more burger into his mouth. Kendall looks around as if that didn't just happen and Hadley, surprisingly, does the same. She takes a breath and sits down.
She looks at James, who is eating rather quickly. "Slow down," she says.
Two minutes later, James begins coughing and turns a light tint of blue.
Hadley begins to panic. "James! James! Sit up straight!" she yells as she pats his back.
Kendall yells out the door panicking and shaking, "Can we get a nurse or a doctor or something? He's choking!"