Chapter 22
Luck seemed to be on Logan's side today. At least a little luck was.
Because James had woken up.
Right when he, Kendall, and Katie had arrived at the hospital, the doctors delivered them the good news. Kendall didn't look like he really knew what was happening, but Logan could see the joy on Katie's face and feel the shimmering ounce of hope inside of him.
Maybe if James recovered… He shook his head. Kendall would never recover. It wasn't ever going to happen. It was impossible.
But then he shook his head again. Nothing was impossible… but Kendall's case sure was close to it.
Now he stood inside James's hospital room, staring as James yawned. He still didn't know what had happened that day they found James lying on the floor, looking like he was dead…
But it didn't look like James wanted to talk about it. He just stared down at the floor, looking sad and pained. His neck brace supported his badly broken neck and back. Logan was surprised James wasn't crying out in pain. Back and neck injuries were usually deadly…
Logan tried not to think about it. Sometimes, it sucked wanting to be a doctor. He knew everything about every single medical injury or disease. Well, close to every single one. And it sucked especially when you knew exactly what was wrong with one of your best friends. Well, count Kendall into that and it's two of your best friends.
"Hey, James. How are you, buddy?" Logan said quietly, breaking the heart-stopping silence. James shrugged the best he could with a broken neck.
"Could be better." He answered hoarsely, wincing a little. He tried to smile at them, but it just turned out as a grimace.
"You okay, man? You want me to get the doctor?" Logan asked quickly, worried that James was in horrible pain.
James shook his head. "N-no. Just… I-I'm sorry, Logan."
Logan stared at him, confused. "Sorry for what?" He questioned, though he thought he already knew.
"I was g-going to do it." James whispered, tears in his eyes.
"Do what?"
James looked like he was going to pass out. Well, he probably was. "Tell C-Carlos… where's Carlos?" He asked, his breathing getting faster.
"He's got a fever. What do you wanna tell him, James? I'll tell him for you." Logan told him quickly. He was afraid James wouldn't pass out soon, and then he wouldn't get to know what exactly James had done wrong.
"Tell Carlos… he-he knows. I-I was gonna take his R-ritalin, 'member?" James's eyes closed, and for a second, Logan thought he was dead. But then his chest rose and fell normally, signaling that he was asleep.
Logan sighed. Kendall turned towards him. "What's Ry-a-lin?" He asked innocently. Logan just sighed.
"Just… something you don't have to worry about, alright?" Kendall nodded happily.
"Then let's go! Carlos said yesterday he'd go down da swirly slide with me!" Kendall giggled like it was the funniest thing ever, and Logan glanced at Katie. The small girl was looking down at her feet, obviously shaken up from the encounter with James.
James had wanted to drug himself, didn't he? Ritalin calmed Carlos down, but it also energized tired people. And James had been stressed out for the past few weeks… stressed out big time. And Logan hadn't even noticed.
"I-I'm sorry, Katie. That you had to see this." Logan spoke quietly, his words almost but not quite drowned out by Kendall, who was now singing Twinkle Twinkle. Katie just nodded, her eyes sad but not angry at him.
Logan looked away. Out of them all, Katie didn't deserve this the most. Kendall was her big brother, her role model, the boy she'd always looked up to. And now, with a snap of fate's fingers, that Kendall was gone. And it already hurt for Logan… imagine how much more it would hurt for Katie, one of Kendall's family members?
"Let's go, Logie!" Logan froze at the name. Kendall always used to call him that, when they were younger, when they grew up… Kendall called him that all the time. And for a second, Logan thought the old Kendall was back.
But just for a second.
line line line
Carlos coughed violently into his hands as he felt someone's warm hand on his back. "Shh, it's alright, sweetie. It's alright."
"M-my throat hurts, M-Mrs. Knight." Carlos whispered, his voice raspy.
Mrs. Knight just nodded. "I know, sweetie, but the medicine should be working soon. You just get some rest, alright?" Carlos nodded, wiping his nose on the edge of his sleeve.
It was still his fault, wasn't it? It was his fault he was sick, it was his fault Kendall was permanently sick, it was his fault James was in the hospital… so why wasn't Mrs. Knight mad? Why hadn't she already sued Carlos's family, like all the people on the Internet said to do?
Carlos didn't know why those thoughts had resurfaced again, but when you're sick… you tend to think about the negatives.
So why wasn't Mrs. Knight angry that Carlos had practically destroyed her son?
"Carlos, honey, is something wrong?" Mrs. Knight asked gently. Carlos was pulled out of his thoughts, and noticed the tears streaming down his cheeks.
And suddenly, he couldn't keep it in anymore.
"Why d-don't you just sue me a-already?" He whispered, hoping Mrs. Knight hadn't heard. But of course, she had.
"Why would I sue you, honey? You've done nothing wrong." Mrs. Knight answered sincerely. It just made Carlos feel worse.
"I-I killed him, Mrs. Knight! I m-made Kendall this way! It's all my fault! So why don't you just sue me for it now?" Carlos cried, not even caring that his throat was burning up.
Mrs. Knight put her hand on Carlos's hot cheek. "Oh, Carlos, sweetie… it's not your fault. Sometimes, things just happen to good people. And it's no one's fault. It's just luck and chance, honey. I don't blame you for this." Her gentle voice soothed Carlos, but only a little.
"I-I'm sorry, Mama Knight…" Carlos interrupted himself with a loud cough, his cheeks burning red and his breathing getting uneven.
"Carlos, you've always been like son to me, you know that. I'd never blame you for this, baby. Never. Now why don't you just get some rest, alright?" Mrs. Knight kissed Carlos on the forehead, and the boy smiled a little.
Maybe it was all right if Mrs. Knight didn't blame him. But he still blamed himself. But just not as much as before.
"O-okay, but…can you get me some water?" He asked meekly. Mrs. Knight smiled at him and went to retrieve his drink.
But when she came back, Carlos was already asleep.
She pulled the blanket up to his chin and made sure he was breathing right.
"Sleep tight, Carlos."
A/N- Alright, so my reviews are declining a little, and this chapter probably didn't help. But I'm sorry again, you know the drill. But reviews will get me to update faster… maybe? ;)
And as for this story, I'm not giving up on it, so those of you who think I am, I'M NOT! Really. And I CAN'T WAIT FOR SEASON 4! AND THE MARVIN MARVIN EPISODE WITH BTR! I miss my boys on TV, ya know? ;)
So please review?
Anonymous Skrtle
