Chapter 27
"My favorite lollipop color is red, cuz it always tastes like cherry and something else… what's your favorite, Jamie?" James blinked out of his trance, not hearing a word Kendall had just said.
He forced a smile. "What was that, Kendall?"
Kendall didn't seem to hear him. Instead, the blonde boy ran over to the lollipop section, grabbing a handful and running back towards James. "Jamie! I got some candy!"
James heard a few people snickering. He whipped his head around and saw a few boys about their age standing by and laughing at Kendall. James clenched his fists together; what if these were the boys who had hurt Carlos?
Carlos. That was all that was on James's mind right now. What had happened with him? Why had they left Kendall alone? Was he even there when it happened? Well, obviously he was, since he told them boys had hurt Carlos.
But-
"James, come on! Let's go pay!" Kendall dragged James by the hem of his shirt. James stumbled along to catch up with Kendall's speed. The cashier quickly checked the candy out, and James paid.
As he and Kendall walked out of the store, he heard someone whisper "Look, it's that retard again."
James thought he saw red in his vision. He pushed Kendall out the door, who was too busy sucking on his lollipop to notice what was about to happen.
James whipped around, spotting the group of boys. There were three of them, all with smirks on their faces. James stalked on over to them, his breathing getting heavy.
"Who're you calling a retard?" James shouted, catching the attention of a few customers. The three boys watched James, not even flinching.
James would make them flinch.
"Huh? Answer me." James towered over the boys, who were at least half a head shorter than him.
One of the boys answered. "We're calling your retarded friend a retard. You got a problem with that?"
James drew his fist back and punched the boy in the face. The two other boys saw this and quickly ran over to the check outs, screaming in protest.
James shoved the remaining boy backwards. "Yeah, I do got a problem with that." Then he turned and walked out the door.
"Come on, Kendall. Let's go."
"What happened, Jamie?"
"Nothing, Kendall. Just had to get rid of some trash."
line line line
Logan hated this.
He hated all of it.
Kendall getting messed up in the head, Carlos getting beat up by some unknown jerks, James… James not being James anymore.
He just wanted it to end. But Logan knew better than that.
Bad things went by slow.
It had only been a few weeks, but Logan felt like this had been his whole life. He hated it, hated it so much. He would do anything to get things back to the way it was before. Anything.
Logan sighed, his head in his hands.
The doctors said it wouldn't be long before Carlos woke up, that his injuries weren't life threatening, but that he'd have to wear a cast on his arm and he would be in pain for a couple of days. Logan was lucky that was all he suffered
He wondered how James was taking all of this. Logan would've broken down already if he were the one who had to take care of Kendall at the candy shop. He didn't know how James did it. James stuck strong throughout the whole… thing, and Logan admired him for that.
He wouldn't have been able to do the same.
When Carlos stirred, Logan almost didn't notice. He was too deep in thought. Thinking about what, it wasn't even clear to him.
"L-Logan?" Logan looked up, scared for a second, wondering who had called his name. His heartbeat slowed down when he saw it was just Carlos, but then sped up again because Carlos had woken up.
."Carlos!" Logan stood up so fast his chair almost toppled backwards. "Carlos, you're awake!"
Carlos winced a little, then looked at Logan. "Is Kendall a-alright?"
Logan nodded. "Yeah, he's fine. What happened to you, Carlos?" Logan asked urgently. Carlos looked away.
"I… Logie…" Carlos trailed off, tears in his eyes. Logan put his hand on Carlos's unbroken shoulder. Carlos seemed to relax a little at his touch.
"J-just some boys in that alley near… near the candy shop. How-how did you guys find me?" Carlos got out, his voice weak but clear.
"Kendall found us and led us there." Logan just then realized how miraculous that was. Kendall had found them. Then remembered where Carlos was. The fact that Kendall even knew something was wrong was remarkable.
Maybe Kendall could get better, after all.
Carlos smiled. "That's amazing."
Logan nodded. "Yeah, I know. Didn't realize it until now, though." The two were silent for a few minutes, other than the sound of Carlos's heavy breathing.
"You okay, buddy? You look horrible, no offense. Doctor says you have a few broken ribs and a broken shoulder, so you have to wear a cast. And…" Logan trailed off, not wanting to continue.
Carlos nodded for him to go on. "You're face is all busted up."
Carlos brought a hand up to his face, and the slightest touch made him flinch a little in pain. "Ow. Those stupid boys." He said quietly.
Logan's eyes widened a little. "Did you know who they were?"
Carlos shook his head. "Never seen them in my life. But they were doing drugs, a-and I just… I had to protect Kendall, you know? Is he hurt?"
Logan stared at Carlos's busted face. Carlos, his little brother, had stood up for Kendall when no one else was there to. He'd gotten beat up for Kendall, and yet he didn't seem to be worried about himself.
"Carlos… Kendall's fine, and it's all thanks to you. I-I'm so proud of you, Carlos… I don't even know if I could have done something like that." Logan whispered. Carlos smiled a little.
"You could have, Logie, if it were for Kendall. I know you would have. I thought I couldn't either, but… I did." Carlos said quietly. Just then, James and Kendall come stomping into the room, their clothes wet from the rain Logan didn't even know had started pouring.
"Carlos! You're awake!" James ran over and tried to hug Carlos, but instead just patted his head. "Are you alright?"
Carlos nodded, but his eyes were on Kendall. Kendall stared back, and for a moment, it was like he understood what had happened.
But then his eyes brightened and he said, "I got candy! Look what Jamie got me! The red one!" Kendall squealed excitedly. Logan still wasn't used to that sound.
Kendall bounced over to where Carlos was lying and grinned. Then he seemed to calm down and whispered something into Carlos's ear. Carlos's eyes widened, and he seemed to have trouble breathing.
Kendall bounced back to where he had been standing, and sat down in one of the plastic hospital chairs. Carlos moved his body, but cried out in pain when he did. Logan and James rushed over to comfort him, and Kendall just watched.
"Carlos, are you alright? Do you need us to get a doctor?" Carlos just shook his head, his eyes still wide.
"I-I'm fine. Just… hurts. Do I still have to stay here overnight?"
James nodded. "Yeah, doctor said probably for the next few days. You're in no shape to go home, even I know that, and I'm not a genius doctor like Logan."
Logan rolled his eyes. "I'm technically not a doctor, James."
James shrugged. "Whatever. What did Kendall say to you?"
Carlos froze, his eyes wide again. "I… Kendall… he told me that…" His eyes traveled to where Kendall was sitting, his head against the wall, his eyes closed. He was about to fall asleep, the lollipop still in his mouth.
When Kendall didn't start snoring, Carlos looked back at them. "He told me… 'thanks for saving my life.'"
No one spoke for a long time. Logan thought he could hear the beating of his heart. He thought James and Carlos could hear it, too.
James stood up, a strange look in his eyes. Logan couldn't read it. He couldn't read any of the emotions on his friends' faces.
"What if… what if he's getting better?" James whispered, his voice trembling.
No one said a word.
A/N- I'm sorry for the slow update, you guys know the drill… but I hope this chapter kinda made up for it… not one of my best ones, not really any action. But I'm hoping the next chapters will be more interesting.
Review maybe, guys? And once again, sorry for this slow update. I'm still trying to brainstorm ideas for the next chapter, so bear with me. ;)
Peace, Love, and Giraffes,
Anonymous Skrtle
