Chapter 12: Goodbye…the Hard Way
"Just let him calm down," Logan yells at Hadley.
"Logan, we have to go pick up James' parents," Ellie says addressing Logan, ignoring Hadley's freakout.
"Logan, you can't leave me!" Hadley says as she grabs Logan by his sleeve, walking over to the side of the room.
"Logan!" Ellie yells.
"Get the hell off of me, Hadley. Grow the hell up already," Logan says as he yanks his arm from Hadley's grip. He walks over to Kendall and bumps his fist to his. Logan walks over to Shelby and takes her hand in his. Shelby looks up at Logan with knowing eyes. Shelby knows how sensitive Logan is. She knows how much he hates drama. She knows how much her boyfriend wants his best friend to be okay.
"Let's go, baby," Shelby says as she cups his face with her hand, "James will be fine."
"But, Hadley…" Logan replies as he cuts eyes at the girl who was hovering over James like a bird over prey.
"But, Hadley what? There is nothing she can do. James know what he wants. She isn't it." She kisses Logan softly on the lips. They break apart, but Logan pulled her back in close to him and wrapped his arms around her waist while he pressed his lips hungrily against hers. He had never wanted anyone so badly before, but seeing as how much James and Ellie have gone through, he wants that same kind of love with Shelby. Ellie can't help but smile at the two, but is quick to break them apart to leave the hospital. Karlee walks up behind Kendall and turns him around by his belt loop. Kendall looks away at the floor, avoiding eye contact with his girlfriend. He wants to cry and he knows that if he looks in Karlee's eyes, he wouldn't be able to do anything but give in to her gaze. He grabs Karlee's hand and kisses her hair.
"I love you, but I have to be angry. I have to yell. I have to defend him," he whispers as an unwanted tear trickles out of the corner of his bright green eye.
Karlee wipes the tear off of his face. "Kendall, I know. I'm not the one who's stopping you from beating her ass. If I were in control of you, her ass would be in the ground by now," she says seriously and somewhat loud enough for Hadley to hear. Kendall giggles at his girlfriend's remark and as she walks away, he turns back around to James' bed, gripping the rail to prevent himself from biting Hadley's head off. He can't help but notice that Hadley is about to cry again.
"God, the hell's your problem, now?" Kendall asks smartasstically (new word!).
"My problem? Uhmm, you're the one who has the problem with James and I being together," Hadley replies.
"Ha, you and James aren't together anymore, remember?" Kendall responds as Hadley flashes back to the moment where James left her apartment slamming the door after he said it was over. "He dumped you," Kendall finishes. Hadley looks at James then back at Kendall. Kendall turns around to see Ellie, Logan, Shelby, and James' parents. They all were crying by this point.
"Hadley, can you please leave the room?" Ellie asks quietly.
"Why do I have to leave? I'm fine where I am," she responds.
"Have some respect and give James' parents some time with their son," Karlee says.
"James' parents? Oh my gosh, I'm so sor-," Hadley tries to say until she is interrupted by James' mom.
"Leave please."
Hadley gets up and walks out of the room, with Kendall, Logan, Shelby, and Karlee trailing behind. Carlos hugs Kendall and they all sit down.
"Why didn't they ask Ellie to leave? That bitch fucking stole my boyfriend," Hadley mumbles angrily.
"She didn't steal anybody," Carlos says as he slowly stands up.
"You don't know about everything that's happened, Carlos," Hadley snaps as she waves a hand shooing Carlos away.
"Yeah, but I know enough. James would never want to hurt a fly. He couldn't! You accused him of doing horrible things that he would never think of doing. He fell in love with his best friend. Ellie is an amazing girl. She works hard, she's sweet, she's pretty and is a hell of a lot more of a best friend to us than you are. You do nothing but claim James as your puppet. You don't deserve James and he deserves way better." Hadley looks at Carlos confused.
"What the hell are you trying to say, Carlos?" she asks, "That Ellie deserves him? Oh, nonono. She's done with James. She gave him to me."
"Do you hear yourself? You're talking about my best friend as if he's an…an item on a shelf! You're being so egotistical and so selfish. Do you honestly think that James loves you anymore? No. He doesn't. So go the hell home." Carlos says furiously.
"Nobody likes you," Logan says as he gets up and clasps Carlos' shoulder.
"And James doesn't even want you here," Kendall finishes as he puts his hand on Carlos' other shoulder.
Hadley wipes the tears of defeat that streamed out of her eyes and walks out of the hospital.