Chapter 32
Carlos pulled his jacket on tighter, shivering a little at the cold and the dark. It was already at least 8 pm, and it was getting really dark.
Not only was he a little scared (of the dark), he also felt guilty and sad and stupid and like a horrible friend.
He just hated the feeling of betraying his friends… James probably felt like Carlos hated him or something. Carlos had been ignoring James and Logan for the past few days.
But Carlos didn't really hate them…he wanted James as his friend again. He just didn't know how to apologize without them blaming the whole Kendall accident on him, saying it was all his fault.
But then he felt bad for being so selfish. He was just worrying about himself and not thinking about his best friends. This was his fault, really. Maybe not completely, but it was at least partly his fault.
A big part was his fault.
But he didn't mean to push his friends away just to save himself. He really didn't. They had been friends for so long, Carlos didn't think he could go a day without them. But would James forgive him?
Probably not, since he'd just kicked him out of 2J.
Carlos was going to change that. Well, at least try to change that. He reached into his pocket, took out his phone, and dialed James's number.
He was going to apologize, no matter the consequences. He had to step up and take it like a man.
"Carlos, god, we're so worried about you! Me and Logan and driving around looking for you! Where are you?" Carlos was taken aback. When had James started caring about him again? It sounded like James was really worried, even though he was the one who had kicked Carlos out.
They'd just had a huge fight; Carlos expected James to be completely pissed off at him. He was even hesitant about calling him. But James sounded like he was… wasn't mad at Carlos anymore. He seemed to have forgotten about the whole thing.
Carlos smiled at that. "I-I'm at the corner that intersects Palm Woods and that high way." He responded vaguely. He didn't drive often, so he had no sense of direction. But James seemed to understand. He always understood Carlos.
"Alright, we'll be there. Logan, step on it!" Carlos heard something in the background, probably Logan getting annoyed.
Things were back to normal.
But Carlos still couldn't help thinking that when James came, he would be mad again. James spending time with Logan took his mind off things, but when he saw Carlos again, that familiar sense of hatred would rise again.
Carlos sighed, sitting down and hugging his knees to his chest. He really just wanted his friends back. Kendall needed them together, not separate. After all, hadn't they worked best together hunting for those ghosts and playing the hockey championships against Deluthe?
They were the best they could be together, not on their own. It was the reality of it all, and Carlos wanted his friends back. Then at least everything would be okay again. At least Kendall wouldn't feel alone anymore.
Carlos looked up when he heard a strange sound. It sounded a little like a growling dog, a little like a scream. His heart beat faster. What if there was some sort of… animal out there? It would rip him to pieces, he just knew it.
Then he heard voices. He relaxed, knowing it was not an animal. But then he tensed up all over again. What if was a criminal, like one of those serial killers Kendall always used to watch on TV?
"Carlos? You out here?" James, it had to be James. Sounded just like him.
Carlos didn't know whether to respond or not. Was James still mad at him or what? He didn't want to risk anything, so he kept his mouth shut.
But when James said something that sounded like "Let's go" to someone else, Carlos knew he had to speak up. He had no clue how to get back home (he had walked until he didn't know where he was), and James was his only chance to get back safe.
If James still wanted him in 2J. Hadn't he kicked him out? Carlos had his bags in his hands, full of clothes and his stuffed animals and his helmet and food. It just proved the fact that James had indeed kicked him out.
He kept his mouth shut, afraid that James was just here to finish his job. As in, hurt him. And he couldn't let that happen.
"Carlos? Dude, if you're out there, please respond. We're worried about you." It was Logan. Logan was here. Logan didn't hate Carlos, maybe Logan would help him.
"L-Logie?" He heard footsteps, then someone's relieved voice.
"Carlos, thank god you're here." It was James. He sounded happy, relieved, grateful to see Carlos. Maybe James had forgiven him, even though this was all his fault in the first place. Not partly, all his fault.
All his fault that he had hurt James's best friend in the whole entire world.
Carlos reached out and hugged James in his arms tightly, tears falling down his cheeks. "I-I'm sorry, James, I didn't mean what I said. This is all my fault, I know, y-you were right all along…" He sobbed into James's shoulder.
He felt James's protective and comforting hands wrap around his shoulders. "Carlos, please don't cry. I'm… I'm not even mad at you anymore. This isn't your fault, either, and I'm sorry for saying that." He whispered gently into Carlos's ear.
Logan watched them with a smile. Finally, things were getting back to normal. He hated how James was treating Carlos and how Carlos was ignoring James, and he was so glad they got it all sorted out.
Lots of things had changed for the worse, but James had changed for the better. He used to be so self-centered, full of pride, and had an ego the size of Australia.
But now, he had turned into a caring and protective older brother to Kendall, Logan, and Carlos. He had learned how to deal with Kendall and his tantrums without losing his patience, how to calm Logan down without freaking out himself, and how to stop Carlos from crying without getting disgusted by the tears on his shirt.
James had transformed into a beautiful man, and even though he had done it under horrible circumstances, Logan was proud of him.
"I-I'm sorry…" Carlos whispered. Carlos, on the other hand, had transformed into something… well, not as good.
He used to be crazy, a daredevil, and loud, but now he was quiet, scared, and timid. And don't get him wrong, Carlos had been a little bit timid before, but he was never quiet. He would recover from his nightmares and keep on living life to the fullest.
Logan didn't know whether he had even changed or not. He felt the same. He still hyperventilated, freaked out, panicked, and he was still the smart one. Maybe he hadn't changed at all.
Logan was glad for that.
"Carlos, don't say that. You've done nothing wrong… I should be the one apologizing." James assured the younger boy gently.
Carlos buried his face into James's shoulder. "No, we're both wrong. We were fighting when Kendall needed us the most…" He said softly, lifting his face to stare at James sincerely in the eyes.
James looked at Logan, who nodded at him. Carlos was right. They had been caught up with their own little problems while Kendall was still suffering on the inside, in his own little world.
They were going to change that. They were going to help Kendall instead of focusing everything on themselves. Kendall had always taken care of them, and now it was time to return the favor.
It was time to take care of Kendall Knight.
"You know what, Carlos? You're right." James turned and started walking back towards the car, having reached some sort of conclusion. "Come on, let's go." Logan and Carlos glanced at each other, but followed James without hesitation.
"Tomorrow, we're going to have a Kendall day." James said once he'd started the car and was driving home.
"What's that?" Carlos asked, leaning his face against the window where he was seated in the back.
"We're gonna do everything that Kendall likes doing. You know… hockey, eat candy, whatever he wants, we'll do it." James told them, a huge grin on his face.
Logan was glad to see James so happy. He hadn't been that happy in such a long time, and it was slowly killing Logan as well.
But seeing James's genuine smile for the first time in weeks was the happiest thing Logan had ever experienced.
"Yeah! That's so sounds awesome, James!" Carlos cried excitedly. His grin was possibly even bigger than James's, and he was bouncing up and down in his seat. Logan smiled, shaking his head affectionately at his younger friend.
No, make that the second happiest thing.
A/N- Hola, short chapter but at least they made up! Next chapter's gonna have plenty of Kendall, so don't worry, folks out there who are Kendall fans!
This story is kinda almost ending… but trust me, there'll still be a few chapters left, so don't worry. I'll alert you guys when it's almost over… honestly, I have no clue myself. I have the ending all planned out, but I don't know how long until the ending actually happens.
So yeah. Who's ready for the LAST BTR episode EVER? I'm so sad, I'm, like, sobbing on the inside. And I'll probably be sobbing on the outside soon, too. Please let there be a 5th season…
Anyways, review and tell me what you think of BTR's last episode and this chapter, of course (haha).
Peace, Love, and Giraffes,
Anonymous Skrtle
