James woke up with a pounding headache. His arms ached. His legs ached. His neck ached. His chest hurt. And oh goodness, he had snot running out of his nose. He wiped his nose with the back of his hand and then wiped it on the bedspread.
He wished his mom was here. No, wait, that's not true. She would just wrap him in a blanket, leave him on the couch to watch TV, and head off to work. He wished Mama Knight was here.
"I don't have time to talk, James. I'm about to leave for the studio," Lucy answered her phone after James sat up and retrieved his from the night stand. He vaguely remembered Lucy returning home from New York the night before and having a good long conversation with her.
"I'b sick," he rasped out. He hated the sound and feeling of his voice.
"You don't sound good, poor baby. What's wrong?"
"I hurd," James whined bringing on a cough.
"I bet you do. I'm sorry I'm not there to take care of you, but you've got Logan."
Logan! That's right, he did have Logan.
"Doe, I don'd," James sniffled. "He's id LA."
"Oh, that's right. He's flying back today isn't he?"
"Nod util tonighd." James coughed again. "All this talkig makes my throad hurd. Bud I don'd wand to hag up."
"I can talk to you until I get to the studio."
"Thak you."
"Have you, uh, taken any medicine? Maybe a decongestant or a cough suppressant?"
"Doe. I don'd wand do ged up," he moaned.
"Is Kendall or Carlos there? I'm sure one of them will help you."
"Kindle's bad ad be."
"Because of the whole band thing, which I brought up. I'm sorry."
James was about to tell her it wasn't her fault, but it was. If she hadn't told Kendall he wouldn't currently be mad at James.
"What about Carlos?"
"Yeah. CAR-LOS!" James shouted bringing on a coughing fit. He fell back against his pillows. "Thad hurd my head."
"What's wrong, Buddy? You sound awful." Carlos burst into the room.
"I'b sick."
"Yes, you are. Do you need anything? I wish Logan or Alexa was here."
"Why Alexa?"
"She's a girl. Girls know how to do this kind of thing."
"You cad take care of be."
"Kendall. He can do it."
"Doe he wo'd. He's bad ad be."
"Bad?"
"Yeah, you doe, a-gry."
"Oh, mad. Why?"
James eyes went wide which caused his head to hurt more. He couldn't tell Carlos why Kendall was upset with him. He didn't want Carlos to be mad or disappointed, either.
"We god in a fighd the other day."
"Oh, I was wondering why you two were avoiding each other yesterday."
Today was Monday and the fight happened on Thursday, so it just goes to show how preoccupied Carlos can get when he's with Alexa. James sighed and then coughed.
"Well, maybe he'll help out when he finds out your sick?" Carlos sat down on the bed and put a hand to James's forehead. "You don't feel hot."
"I'b dot. Well I ab bud I'b not! Why ca't you help?"
"I don't know what to do!"
"James?"
James looked at the phone in his hand that he forgot he was holding.
"I forgod you were there."
"I know, babe. I'm getting close to the studio, so why don't I leave you in Carlos's capable hands." James didn't think she'd had enough time to get close to Galactic Records, but maybe his head was messing with his perception of time.
"You dell him thad!"
"Tell him what?"
"Thad he's capable."
"Honey, I think he knows."
"Doe he does'd!"
"He doesn't what?" Carlos asked.
"You doe't thik you're capable of takig care of be!" James whined.
"You're a big baby when you're sick!"
"Lucy, Carlos called be a baby."
"Well, you are kind of acting like one."
"I'b dot a baby. I'b sick."
"Okay, okay, you're not a baby. I gotta go now. I'll call you when I'm done or on my break or something. I'll call you later."
"K."
"Love you."
"Love you, doo." He tossed his phone to the side and turned to Carlos. "Cad you ged be sobe bedicide and a glass of wader?"
"What kind of medicine?"
"Ubbb…subthig for a cold."
"I think Kendall's awake. I'll ask him."
James rolled his eyes. Carlos was perfectly capable of taking care of him; he just needed confidence knowing that he could. Carlos left the room and James snuggled down into his comforter. He was already feeling the chills.
"Tissues, doo!" He called out holding his head with his right hand.
James groaned at the knocking on his door. He didn't bother to open his eyes and get a look at whoever was there. It was probably Carlos with the medicine, hopefully.
"Carlos said you were sick."
"Kindle?" James mumbled.
"What's wrong, Buddy?"
James groaned.
"I'm sorry; I couldn't quite make that out."
If he wasn't so weak James would have thrown his pillow at Kendall. He felt the mattress dip and opened his eyes slightly to see his blond best friend sitting on his bed with one hand closed into a fist and the other holding a glass of water.
"I got this for you." Kendall handed James the medicine which he swallowed down painfully with the water.
"Aks," James replied closing his eyes and snuggling deeper into his bed.
"I'm sorry for getting so mad at you. I shouldn't—we should talk about this. Yeah, not now, but when you're feeling better."
"You're juss sayig thad because I'b sick."
"No, really, I thought about it last night and I'm not being fair to you. I haven't really talked to you about what's going on with you. What is going on with you?"
"By head hurds."
"I know that. I mean since we got here. You started going to church and all of a sudden you've, I don't know, you're not the same James."
"I'b still be."
"I'm going to be completely honest with you. I've been talking to Lucy a lot lately—about you," he quickly added. "She's worried."
"Nuffig do be worried abou'."
"I'm going to let you get some sleep. If you need anything text me or something. I want to talk about this, James, but I'll wait til you feel better. I'm worried, too."
The next thing James knew his phone, wedged underneath a pillow, was making the most awful noise. After pulling it out he realized it was ringing, so he answered it.
"'Ello?"
"Did I wake you?" Lucy asked on the other end. "I've got a thirty minute break so I thought I'd call to see how you are."
"I'b fide."
"James!"
"OK, by head still hurds. I'b as stuffed up as cad be. By ears are clogged."
"Maybe you need to go to the doctor?"
James groaned.
"Id's just a cold."
"Do you wanna get better?"
"I will."
"Go to the doctor?"
"Doe, get bedder."
"JAMES!"
"I cad still hear you doe."
"Not if you don't go to the doctor."
"Oh, I'll be better by toborrow."
"And if you're not you'll go to the doctor? Promise?"
"Well…"
"If you love me you'll go."
"Fide. I probise." He closed his eyes. The nasty sinus headache was getting stronger. He involuntarily moaned into the phone.
"Babe?"
"By head hurds."
"I know. I wish there was something I could do."
"Talkig do you helps."
"I wish I could stay on the line, but my manager is yelling at me."
"I cad hear hib in the backgroud."
"I love you, James. I'll talk to you tonight. Go to the doctor."
"Love you, doo, okay, ad do."
As soon as he hung up there was a knock on the door and before James could say anything Carlos entered.
"Hey, I thought you might be bored lying in your room all day. Oh, and hungry. When you're sick you need to eat and since it's lunchtime I made you a corndog." He pulled said corndog out of his hoodie pocket and handed it to James.
Not having much of an appetite James bit into the dog. It was tasteless and bland but he politely smiled and continued chewing.
"I also brought a deck of cards." Carlos waved the cards in James's face. "We can play Go Fish or Poker or any card game you wish."
He didn't feel up to playing cards, but James was bored with just lying there so he allowed Carlos the deal the pack for a simple game of Go Fish.
"If you wipe your nose with your hand then pick up your cards one more time I'm leaving," Carlos complained during their third game.
James smiled at Carlos actually being grossed out by something.
"Sorry, bud if you'd broughd the tissues like I asked…"
After winning two more games Carlos retrieved the box of tissues and left James to his own devices.
He didn't know what to do. He could play with his phone, but he was kind of bored of that. Besides, looking at the screen too long made his headache worse. He didn't want to get up and get his fashion magazines—MEN'S fashion magazines—from his dresser. He was tired of them anyway.
He grabbed his Bible, the one Fallon let him have, from his nightstand. Having read John a few times James was now slowly venturing into the other Gospels.
"'As it is written in the book of the words,'" he stopped reading and tossed the book aside. He didn't even feel like doing that.
"UUUUGGGGGGGGHHHHH!" He groaned loudly even though it hurt his throat. Being sick sucked. If he had the strength he'd go downstairs and watch some TV or something, but just the process of sitting up made him dizzy. Playing cards with Carlos had been a challenge. He couldn't imagine trying to walk down the stairs. He wished the bedrooms had their own TVs. That would've provided him with something to pass the time.
"You okay, Jay?" Kendall poked his head into the room. Wearing a gray beanie and sporting red cheeks and nose, he looked like he had just been outside.
James coughed. "I hade beig sick!"
Kendall nodded. "Wanna come downstairs and watch TV or something?"
"I duddo." James sat up and held his head. "Sittig up makes me dizzy."
"I'll help you downstairs and get you some medicine."
James reluctantly agreed to let his blond friend help him walk and together they made it into the living room. Upon seeing them, Carlos jumped out of the recliner chair and offered it to James.
"I saw Paige outside."
"She Resvped to our party," Carlos said. Kendall rolled his eyes at Carlos's pronunciation of RSVP. He knew how to pronounce it, but just liked saying it that way sometimes.
"Yeah, she really wanted to come, especially since she knew Jo would be there. She likes meeting fans. Apparently, she came down with the same thing James has."
James must have been very sick for he could have sworn he heard Kendall mention Jo without breaking down in tears or anger.
"Did she go do the doctor?" He asked between sniffles.
"I didn't ask."
Kendall returned from the kitchen and handed James some pills, a glass of water, and placed a box of tissues on the end table.
"Hey, James."
"What?" James opened his eyes and spotted Logan standing before him.
"I heard you're sick."
James coughed something terrible to answer Logan's question.
"I brought you this." Logan produced a laptop placing it, where else, in James's lap. "Lucy told me to bring it for you. She wants you to call her." He tapped the lid of the computer as he said that. "And this." He handed James a bottle of orange juice.
"Thacks." James weakly opened the bottle and took a sip.
"There are tissues on the table." Logan pointed to the green box on the end table. "I'm going to help Kendall warm up some chicken nuggets and tots for dinner. If you need anything just yell. Or better yet," he waved his cell phone, "text."
"How was your trip?" James asked before Logan left the room.
"Good." Logan smiled with a far off look in his eye.
James chuckled as lightly as possible to still be considered a chuckle and opened his laptop.
"James!" Lucy exclaimed after he signed on to Face Talk. "It's so good to see you. Man, do you look sick."
"Whad every guy wads to hear frub his girl."
"Sorry. I love you. I just wasn't expecting you to look so pale."
"I have't bid able do tad like I did id LA."
"No, you look worse than you did last weekend. Sorry," she added. "I don't mean to be so mean."
"I ab sick. I jusd have do deal with a girlfried who is brudally honestd."
"It's because I love you. Hey, we need to talk about—" Lucy started.
"Hey, we need do talk aboud—" James said at the same time. They laughed. "You firsd."
"We need to work on our New Year's collaboration."
"Cad we do thad whed by head's dod hurding?"
"Oh, yeah, sure, but I want you to start thinking of a song. If we a do a cover we'll have to get the rights. Now, what did you want to say?"
"Ke'dall dold be subthig idderesdig. He ad you have beed talkig alod dogether…aboud be."
"Yeah?" The expression on her face didn't change. She wasn't going to give anything away.
"Why?"
"Because I love you. James, I hate seeing you sad."
"I'b dot sad." He forced a smile on his face. "I ab a liddle perdurbed—"
"Big word there, babe."
"Upsed—thad bedder? I'b nod stupid."
"Never said you were. In fact—"
"Thed stop acdig like I ab! I cad use big words."
"You're right. OK, I'm sorry." She pouted giving him a "please forgive me" look.
"Apology accepded," he coughed and took a large gulp of his orange juice. "Please be honesd with be. What are you and Ke'dall talkig aboud?"
"You. Colorado is changing you. We're worried Fallon is messing with your head. I know," she continued when James tried to interrupt. "You said she isn't and I trust you. But, this Christianity kick you're on—"
"Id's nod a kick."
"Whatever. It's got you wanting to quit the band and change your life."
"I should chage by life."
"Right, but you're not the boy I used to know."
"Ad thad upseds you." He rubbed his head. "It's by life. I doe whad I'b doig."
"Do you? Have you thought about your decision? Have you talked to anyone? Besides Kendall?"
"Doe."
"I don't want you to make a mistake, babe. If qui—if this is what you think you should do I'll support it, but I don't want you making this decision rashly."
"Whatever. I thoughd you wadded be do chage. Y'doe stop beig so…so…self-absorbed."
"I love you and only want what's best for you."
"Okay. By head hurds so I'm godda go."
"Please don't be mad."
"I'd dot bad." He closed his laptop and spotted Carlos sitting on the couch.
"What did she mean you want to quit the band?
If you need a translation for James please let me know and I'll translate it for you.
Bible passage: Luke 3:4 NIV
Kind of a sexist thing for Carlos to say about girls, but moms are female so I think it kind of gets imprinted in our brains that when we're sick we want a female to take care of us (though I don't think any of us object to male doctors and nurses).
I probably haven't done a good job showing James's changes, I don't know. Whatever. As for Paige, I was going to have her meet Jo at the party, but then I forgot to write it up, so I just mentioned that she was sick as to her reason for not showing up. Darn it.
Channeling my inner Carlos Garcia. I had a dream about a corn dog last night. It was great because I could taste it. It was bad because they made me throw it away after one bite!