Chapter 9
Kendall pulled away from the hug he had desperately needed. Kendall knew he was showing weakness, but he didn't care at that moment. He had gotten what he needed, encouragement and a comforting touch. It strengthened him, and he felt that everything was going to be okay. He knew it was as silly and childlike as anything got, but he just didn't care. He felt free for once.
Then, suddenly, his life took a turn. He was snapped out of his carefree trance when James burst into the room, panting. "Carlos! Car-los!" He panted, gasping for breath. He had ran back here as fast as he had ever ran when he could find Carlos. He needed help if they were going to find him fast.
Kendall nodded, understanding. "Where is he?"
James looked down. "Lost. I can't find him anywhere." He admitted, waiting for Kendall to start getting angry at everything and everyone. But Kendall didn't. He immediately started thinking about where the heck Carlos could be in this small hospital.
"James, chill out, man. This hospital is the smallest thing ever." Kendall said, not knowing the hospital was huge.
James stared at Kendall in shock. "It has twelve freaking stories!" He pointed out, stating the obvious that only Kendall seemed to be oblivious to. Kendall widened his eyes in shock and worry.
"Let's go." That was all Kendall needed to say. The two ran out of the hospital room, not caring if they bumped into anyone. They had to find Carlos.
"You get floors 1 through 6, I'll get 7 through 12!" James shouted to Kendall. Kendall would have scolded James for trying to be the leader, if they were in a different situation. But right at that moment, Kendall couldn't care less. He had to try and find Carlos. Kendall nodded quickly, and hurried to look through the floor he was currently on. He looked through hallways and in the waiting rooms.
When he didn't find any trace of the Latino friend, Kendall ran downstairs to Level 1. "Carlos! Carlos, where are you?" Kendall yelled loudly. The nurses shushed him, but Kendall ignored them completely. Where was Carlos?
He checked floors 3, 4, and 5. He looked everywhere. He even went into the women's restroom in case Carlos was too sad to notice which bathroom he went into He wasn't there, nor was he in the men's bathroom. Kendall crossed his fingers and hoped so hard he thought his heart would burst that Carlos would be on level 6.
Kendall skipped the stairs as he ascended up them. "Carlos!" He shouted. No answer. "Carlos!" Still no answer. Kendall looked desperately through all the rooms, bathrooms, waiting room, hallways, every square inch of that level. No Carlos. Kendall slid down against the wall he was leaning against, exhausted and so worried. How could he lost two of his best friends?
"Wherever you are, buddy, I'm going to find you. James or me." Kendall promised, just sitting on the ground and ignoring everything in the world. Kendall quickly pulled out his phone and texted James with shaky hands. "Found him?"
…And waited desperately for an answer.
Line line line
James paced back and forth through the 7th floor. Carlos wasn't here. He checked the 8th floor. Nope. 9th? No chance he could be there. James confirmed his suspicions when Carlos really wasn't there. James ran through the 10th floor, sure Carlos wouldn't be there. He was about to give up and start on the next floor, when he heard sniffling. Quiet sniffling. James was sure it was Carlos. The sweet innocence in the boy's voice could only be Carlos.
"Carlitos?" James whispered softly. He knew Carlos couldn't heart him, but James wanted to find Carlos first, and talk with him face to face. He ignored the beeping in his pocket, assuming it wasn't that important. This wasn't time to text.
James saw that he was in the middle of a very dimly lit hallway. He walked through the hallway, looking for a shadow, a black figure, anything, to signal that Carlos was there. And he saw it. A figure curled up into a ball, their shoulders shaking. Definitely Carlos.
"Carlos." James said loudly, startling the younger boy. Carlos looked up slowly, and felt relief when he saw James. James was here. He had nothing to worry about now. Well, except for the fact that Logan was probably dying as they spoke. Carlos shuddered, trying his hardest not to think about it anymore.
"J-james. I'm so scared." Carlos whimpered softly, not caring if he sounded weak or pathetic or anything like that. Carlos let out a soft sob, and James quickly wrapped his arm around Carlos's neck, pulling him into his chest.
"It's okay, buddy. It's okay." James told him gently. Carlos nodded, and sobbed into his best friend's white V-neck. His tears soaked James, but for once, James didn't care about his looks or his appearance. James rubbed Carlos's back again and again, hoping that Carlos would calm down. Carlos did, and he sniffled twice.
"I love you, James." He mumbled softly, before he fell asleep. James smiled, and reached into his pocket. He read Kendall's two-word message. "Fpined hun?" That was what it said, but James knew it was really meant to be, "Found him?"
James smiled and started texting his message back, his hands firm. "Level 10. I've got him." James quickly sent the message, and lay his head onto Carlos warm head. He knew Carlos was asleep, and he couldn't help thinking that right now, he was happy. It seemed impossible, but James Diamond felt happy at that moment.
"Love you too, bud."
Line line line
Kendall rushed to level 10, relief washing through him when he saw James and Carlos sitting in the middle of a hallway. A dark, dark hallway for a dark, dark day.
"Hey, Kendall. It's all good now." James smiled at him, his white teeth showing even in the dark light. Kendall nodded and sighed.
"But now with Logan. Logan isn't okay. He has a 10 percent chance of surviving." Kendall told James, too tired to think if James knew or not.
"I can't believe Logan didn't tell us." James said sadly. Kendall nodded. He felt like he was doing a lot of that today.
"Maybe he had no choice." Kendall replied softly, not wanting to wake Carlos. James pondered over that for a second, and then turned back towards Kendall.
"I should've known." He said.
Kendall shook his head. "No, it was my job. I was supposed to know. I'm supposed to take care of all of you guys, and I lost Carlos and got Logan into a hospital." He argued, knowing that all of it was true.
"Kendall, this isn't your fault. You take too much of the responsibility. But remember, I'm the old one here, right?" Kendall smiled, and James felt his heart lift. If Kendall smiled, then maybe their situation wasn't all that horrible.
"If anything, it's both our faults." James continued. "We didn't notice when Logan was distracted. We could have, but we didn't." James pointed out. Kendall said something in agreement. James didn't know what it was, but he knew Kendall wasn't blaming this all on himself. This was all of their faults. They got themselves here.
"Yeah." Kendall whispered. That was when Carlos started to wake up.
"Carlos, you awake?" James whispered softly, stroking his youngest friend's hair. Carlos nodded and looked up.
"I know why." He said, his voice hoarse and sad.
James and Kendall stared at him in confusion. "Why what?" Kendall asked.
"Why Logan has rabies." Carlos replied innocently.
"Why?" James asked him curiously. How did this happen to Logan? He was healthy, ate healthy everything, and he worked out and exercised daily. He was the healthiest person on the planet, no joke. But who would be joking now?
"The bat." Carlos said those two words so quietly, the other two had to lean in to hear him.
"What?" James and Kendall were both confused. "What are you talking about?"
"The bat. The time we went camping and Logan got bit by the bat when he went into the cave because I dared him to." Carlos told them softly. He said it so innocently, like it didn't matter. But even Carlos knew it mattered .His friends needed to know. The doctor needed to know.
"Oh my gosh." James spat out in realization.
"The bat." Kendall said, his eyes widening in fear and shock.
"I can't believe we didn't realize that earlier." James stated.
"Good job, Carlos. You're the smartest little thing ever." Kendall told him, ruffling the Latino's hair. Carlos smiled and looked down again.
"Can we go home now? I'm s-scared to see Logie now." Carlos told them quietly, not wanting to see Logan again. Kendall and James nodded. The three stood up and quickly left the hospital. Quickly left the place where all their trouble had began.
A/N- How'd ya think? Lot of talking in this one, huh? Hehe. Lame joke.
Well, my computer had a virus and kinda… died, so I had to type this chapter over. Hope ya like it!
Please review? Pleases? Love ya all in the friendly way..
The one and only,
Anonymous Skrtle!