Chapter 21
To say the least, the return home was not a happy reunion. Almost every single person they passed, even Bitters and the Jennifers, stared at Kendall. Just stared with wide eyes, not even caring that Kendall was right there and could feel all their confusing stares on him.
Mrs. Knight rushed Kendall home, assuring him that there was lots of ice cream in the fridge. Kendall seemed to forget all about everyone staring at him, and skipped happily away into the elevator, humming an innocent tune.
Jo was the first one to break the unnerving silence. "Oh my gosh, Kendall… What happened to him?" She whispered, her voice shaky and her eyes teary. Neither Logan, Carlos, nor Katie knew how to respond to that.
Finally, Logan spoke up, seeing as he was kinda the leader here. Katie was a little girl who was still broken from Kendall's tragedy, and Carlos… well, Logan knew better than to let Carlos talk. "He fell."
He didn't care how blunt and vague the answer was, just spoke those two words and waited for people's reactions. Some seemed to understand what was going on, but Jo was part of the group that didn't.
"Kendall ended up with a concussion that caused mental retardation." Logan announced, his voice sounding professional and emotionless, like a doctor's when they told you someone you loved had passed away.
` No one spoke. The lobby was silent. Logan could see Katie and Carlos with their heads down, and Jo trying to blink back her tears. "I'm sorry." Logan whispered, taking Katie and Carlos's hands and dragging them into the elevator. With a shaky hand, he pressed the "2" button.
The sight of Kendall with chocolate ice cream all over his face did not comfort them from the living nightmare they lived in.
line line line
Logan sighed to himself as a certain blonde-haired boy poked and prodded his bedposts, giggling the whole time. "Kendall, buddy, it's time to go to sleep." Logan told him, just as a mother would to her 5 year old son.
Kendall pouted but complied nonetheless. "Okay, Logie…" He giggled at the nickname, and Logan couldn't help but roll his eyes, too. The nickname never got old, and it was always annoying. But since it was Kendall, he let it slide.
It wasn't like Kendall would understand if Logan told him to stop calling him that anyways.
Mrs. Knight had dressed Kendall up in some adult size kiddie pajamas she'd bought at the store, though Logan didn't know any store that sold adult kid clothes. Kendall looked adorable in it, but it only served as a reminder of how different Kendall was now. Before, Kendall would've barfed if he were forced to wear something like that.
But now, Kendall just bounced around, poking the little duckies on his pj's. Logan shook his head, nonetheless amused by the childish act. "Alright, Kendall, let's get in bed, alright?"
Kendall nodded happily and Logan tucked him in. If there was a bright side to all of this, it would be that Kendall was always happy now. He was never stressed out like he used to be, and always had a smile on his face.
"Good night, Kendall." Logan whispered, turning off the lights and flicking on Kendall's newly bought nightlight. Clearing his throat, he said a little louder, "Good night, Kendall."
Kendall turned in his bed. "Nighty night, Logie."
Logan kept his eyes on Kendall's figure until he was sure he was asleep. "Oh, Kendall…" He whispered to himself. Kendall obviously couldn't respond, but Logan was glad he got it out nonetheless. He loved Kendall, but it was too late to tell him now, right?
He loved his best friends equally, but for some reason, what happened to Kendall just made him love the blonde boy even more. He loved James, Katie, Mrs. Knight, Carlos, his family… He loved all of them so much. But Kendall just… Logan felt like he had to love Kendall more now that all… this… happened.
"Uh… L-Logan?"
Logan sat up. Carlos. James was still in the hospital, unconscious, probably. That meant Carlos was sleeping in his room. By himself. Logan got up, chastising himself silently for not thinking about this earlier. Carlos hated sleeping by himself.
"Hey, Carlos, what's up?" Logan asked quietly, even though he knew what was up. Carlos hugged his teddy bear tightly against his chest, biting his lip.
"I… I'm scared." Carlos whispered. "Can… can I sleep with you?" He asked nervously, his cheeks red.
Logan smiled. Carlos's adorableness never got old. "Of course, buddy." He got a few blankets and spread them out on the ground. "Here, you go sleep on my bed, and I'll sleep on the floor."
Carlos nodded hesitantly. "A-are you sure? Cuz the floor's really uncomfortable." He asked uncertainly.
"Oh yeah, I'll be fine. Don't worry about me, buddy. Just get some sleep, okay?" They were all tired. Katie had been yawning nonstop the ride home, and Carlos could barely keep his eyes open just standing in Logan's room. James, before he got himself into the hospital, had started growing black bags under his eyes from lack of sleep and stress.
After Logan tucked Carlos into bed like he'd done with Kendall, and made sure his younger friend was asleep, which took about 10 seconds, he finally closed his eyes.
Logan didn't have one dream that night.
line line line
"Logie, wake up! Wake up!" Logan groaned, rubbing his sleepy eyes tiredly. It felt like he'd just fallen asleep seconds ago, even though it was already bright outside. He opened his eyes, well, forced them open, and saw Kendall standing above him.
"Kendall, buddy, I'm up, alright? Stop shoving me." Logan mumbled, yawning. Kendall beamed, jumping off of Logan's makeshift bed on the floor.
"Should we wake Carlos up?" Kendall asked, his eyes darting around the room without focusing on anything. He giggled. The giggle sounded nothing like Kendall, and to some extent, it scared Logan. It was just another example of how much the old Kendall had disappeared.
Logan glanced at Carlos's sleeping form. He hadn't seen Carlos so peaceful… since the day Kendall slipped and fell. But for some reason, Logan didn't think Carlos was fine. Maybe it was a doctor instinct or whatever, but Carlos seemed like he wasn't fine.
Logan sighed, getting up and putting a hand on Carlos's face. Just as he'd thought, Carlos's face burned like a forest fire. Logan didn't know how he had known Carlos was sick… he just knew. Something like what had happened to Kendall was bound to make Carlos sick. After all, even James… did whatever he did and ended up in the hospital.
"Oh, Kendall… look what you've done to us…" Logan whispered quietly, not angry at Kendall but just at the situation in general. Luckily, Kendall didn't seem to hear a word Logan had mumbled under his breath. Logan turned towards Kendall.
"No… just leave him there. Let him sleep."
Kendall wrinkled his eyebrows up. "Why?"
"He's sick, Kendall. Really sick." Logan answered, his mind not focused on Kendall. Carlos probably just had the flu… but when Kendall said he's just had a headache… and look how that turned out.
Logan shook his head. Stop being so paranoid. It's just a fever.
"Kendall, can you go get Mrs.-I mean, mom, for me?" Kendall nodded eagerly, happy that he had something to do. Mrs. Knight fussed over Carlos, gave him some medicine, and the whole time, Kendall just bounced around like a little kid. Logan doubted Kendall even knew what was going on.
"I think he'll be fine in a few days, Logan. He just needs to rest. Why don't you guys go get Katie and give James a visit? I bet he's woken up by now." Mrs. Knight told Logan. Logan nodded, grabbed a bouncing Kendall, woke up Katie, and started driving towards the hospital.
Kendall had changed, Carlos had a bad fever… He hoped that at least James was okay.
A/N- So… faster update but still not really fast… but winter break has been awesome! Just chillin' at home and being crazy, ya know? (which doesn't actually justify as to WHY I haven't updated in so long…)
Anyways, I hoped you liked this chapter and please PLEASE review? I need to know what I'm doing good on and what I need to improve on. Please? Thanks so much!
Peace, Love, and Giraffes,
Anonymous Skrtle
