A/N: Wow, I'm glad everyone took the big news well! I was afraid it wouldn't make any sense hahaha. Hajakuru Luver93, I never did see that show, so I didn't (purposely) get the idea from it. But it sounds like my kind of show! Too bad it was cancelled. Oh, and I should point out that Eric was the one who gave her the camera. Thanks for asking, The Monster That Lives Under the Bed. Sorry I didn't include that in the last chapter. There was just soo much information, it was hard to keep track!

Anyways, you guys aren't here for the ridiculously long Author's Note. So I'll just shut up now.

Disclaimer: I don't own BTR

Chapter 21: Need You Now

James POV

It was hard, looking at her in that white bed surrounded by four equally white walls. It just reminded me of how much I hated hospitals. As I gazed into her room from the noise-filled hallway, my mind drifted back to the event that had led me back here. I was tugged back to reality by a gentle and familiar voice that called out my name.

"James?" I heard Leigh ask. My heart began to pound in my chest, in both anticipation and fear of what I was about to say.

"Hey, L-Katherine." A ghost of a smile appeared on Leigh's face.

"Call me Leigh." Her eyebrows furrowed, "Why'd you come back? Is everything ok?"

"Um…sort of." Apprehensively, I moved inside her room, sitting down on the side of her bed. She looked up at me, her eyes bright with confusion. I inhaled, hoping to gain courage from the oxygen that entered my body. With no previous experience to draw on, I decided to just jump in.

"I've been thinking lately."

She cocked her head. "About what?"

"Just…a lot of things. Mostly about you. When I first met you, how you became a part of the gang. Our "fake date." But most of all, I've been thinking about the day you disappeared."

I paused, gauging her reaction. If she knew where I was going, she hid it well. All I saw in her face was curiousity and interest. Emphatically, I began to speak once more.

"I literally felt sick when you disappeared. We all did. I know you don't realize it, but we all really care about you. Which is why we went looking for you the night we were kidnapped. But even before that happened, I had an epiphany. I…I realized that I liked you. Like…like you, like you."

I felt my face grow warm and red and my stomach began to do flip-flops as I searched her face, hoping to find some sort of reaction. But her mask held strong and I saw no indication of any emotion. Feeling foolish and regretting that I just told her how I felt, I began to apologize profusely, tripping over my words in my desire to ease my humiliation.

"I'm sorry! Look, it's just a stilly little crush! It'll go away, so please just don't hate m—"

I was cut off by a pair of lips pressing themselves onto mine. In shock, I reciprocated. It was a chaste kiss, but full of sincerity. She broke the kiss, and I looked at her wide-eyed. My heart hammered into my ribcage once more as I took in her beautiful, forest green eyes. A smile appeared on her face as she said the words I've been dreaming of hearing.

"I like you, too, James."

I felt a goofy grin begin to spread across my face as the knot in my stomach began to ease and the air returned to my lungs. Happily, I leaned in and engulfed her in a gentle hug. As we embraced each other, a single thought crossed my mind.

Maybe hospitals weren't so bad, after all.

A/N: So yeah, I'm not a very romantic person, so if this sucked, I apologize. And I hope everyone is cool with her being with James. I actually wanted her to be with Logan, but it just didn't feel right. So again, apologies if anyone is disappointed. There's only one more chapter left! Who's excited? Let me know what you're thinking. Thanks again for reading! You all are amazing.