Riding the ski lift to the top of Aspen Mountain, Carlos enjoyed the wind blowing in his face. He kicked his feet and smiled at his girlfriend, though she couldn't really see it through his facemask. This is what he had been waiting for since the day Gustavo told them they'd be taking a break in Colorado.
"Calm down, Carlos." Alexa grabbed his gloved hand as he continued swinging his legs. "I know you're excited but I don't want us to fall off the lift."
"Smile!" Carlos had pulled out his phone and was now trying to take a selfie with Alexa. "Beautiful." He showed her the picture of them all wrapped up in their snow gear with heavy jackets, face masks, helmets, and goggles (which were propped up on top of their helmets at the moment).
"Send it to me."
"I'm posting it on Scuttlebutter." As soon as he attached a cute little message regarding the guys spending time on the slopes he and Alexa reached the summit. They hopped off the chair and waited for the guys to get there.
"Let's get going!" Carlos shouted once Kendall hopped of his lift. James and Logan had shared the one ahead of him and were already situated to fly down the mountain.
"Take your time," Alexa said. "The slope's not going anywhere."
Carlos glared at his girlfriend and then turned around to position his snowboard.
"Dude, you've got plenty of time to fly down the mountain as many trips as you want," Kendall said.
"Not if you continue to move slowly."
"You didn't have to wait on me."
"OK, fine." Carlos pulled his goggles over his eyes and pushed off.
"Carlos!" Kendall called after him, but it was too late as Carlos went sailing down the slope.
"Stubborn idiot," Alexa mumbled. "Watch out!" She cried as her boyfriend headed towards a group of children. She breathed a sigh of relief as he ended up avoiding them. However, turning caused him to lose his balance. He almost lost control of his right ski, but was able to rebalance himself.
"Let's just us four go down together," Logan suggested. "He'll calm down as soon as he gets the first run out of his system."
"CARLOS!" Alexa screamed.
"That's how Sonny Bono died," Logan said under his breath. Unfortunately, Alexa was able to hear him. "N-n-not that—"
"The lead singer of U2 is still alive," James said.
"Sonny Bono," Kendall corrected him. "You know Sonny and Cher."
"Oh."
"CARLOS!" Alexa screamed again.
"Alexa and Logan you ski down to Carlos. James and I will call 911," Kendall ordered.
"I—I—" Alexa sputtered.
Logan reached his hand out. "We'll go together."
Alexa took hold of Logan's gloved hand and together they slowly made their way down the slope until they reached the tree Carlos had careened into. Logan unhooked his skis and knelt down while Alexa just stood there with tears streaming down her face. A group had gathered around and no one was doing anything but watch.
"He's still breathing," Logan informed everyone. "And his helmet isn't cracked," he added for Alexa's benefit. "I need to keep him still in case he hurt his neck or back." When Carlos fell he ended up on his side, which was actually a good position for him in case he threw up or something. "He doesn't appear to have any broken bones, but we won't know until he gets x-rayed."
Alexa nodded slowly.
"911 will be here any minute now," Kendall said skiing toward the group with James right behind just as EMT began their trek towards them with a stretcher.
"Out of the way!" The EMTs barreled through the group. "You, too." The lead EMT pushed Logan to the side. He sat there in the wet snow wide-eyed as the technicians did their work.
Both Kendall and James dropped their ski poles and took hold of Alexa's hands. This was the second time this trip Carlos had a nasty fall. Colorado was quickly becoming their least favorite place to be.
After the EMTs strapped Carlos to the stretcher Alexa took off her skis and quietly followed them to the ambulance. Only one person could accompany them and no one was going to deny her.
"We'll follow in the truck," Kendall said.
After parking the SUV, Kendall, James, and Logan ran into the Aspen Valley waiting room to find Alexa sitting curled up in a chair in the corner of the room. They had shed most of their ski gear in the SUV but hers lay in the chair next to her.
"Any news?" Kendall asked.
Alexa looked up at them with her tear-stained face.
"He-they-he, um, they don't think he's in a coma, but he did remain unconscious on the ride over here." She held his helmet in her hands. "They, um, they wouldn't let him keep this on."
"Carlos Garcia?"
Everyone looked at the doctor.
"We've got Carlos in a room. He's not in a coma and should be waking up shortly, that's the good news. The bad news is he did suffer another concussion, his second in two months. We didn't find any broken bones, but when he wakes he may complain of a sore neck and back. We want to keep him here a few days to monitor his concussion."
Alexa took a deep breath. "Can we see him?"
"Yes."
"All of us?" Kendall asked.
"Yes, just keep quiet."
"Thank you."
"He's in room 3."
Kendall led the group to Carlos's room where they quietly entered. Carlos lay asleep in the bed with an IV attached to his left arm.
"Hey, Carlos," he spoke softly.
Carlos's eyelids fluttered but he didn't wake.
"I feel like this is my fault. If I hadn't pushed you to go on without me we'd still be at the mountain having fun."
"Don't blame yourself, dude," James patted Kendall's back. "It was an accident. Accidents happen."
"I wish there was something I could do," Logan said. "I don't like just standing here feeling helpless."
"You're not helpless," Alexa said softly reaching for Carlos's hand. She rubbed his knuckles with her thumb. "If you weren't here I'd have broken down…I don't know what I would have done. Carlos, I love you," she whispered. She kissed his cheek and watched his eyelids flutter again.
A groaning sound came from the boy. He blinked once, twice, thrice before opening his eyes completely.
"Carlos!" Alexa exclaimed softly.
"My head hurts," he complained. "Aren't—aren't we supposed to be at the top of a snow covered mountain?"
"You have a concussion," Logan explained.
"Concussion?" Carlos blinked his eyes like he was trying to focus on something.
"Yeah, you had an accident on the slopes," Kendall said. "You almost hit a bunch of elementary age kids and instead ended up hitting a tree."
"Did I? Did I? Anything else?" He asked confused.
"The doctor said you're probably sore, but no, luckily, you came away without any other injuries," James answered.
"This is your second concussion in two months," Alexa added.
"Doesn't sound good," Carlos slurred rubbing his head and closing his eyes. "That light is really bright."
"You want us to turn it off?" Kendall asked.
"Yes."
James turned off the light and then everyone sat around his bed. Logan and Kendall each got a chair (why are hospital rooms only filled with at most two chairs?) and James and Alexa sat on either bedside's edge.
"Am I going to be okay?"
After finding out the extent of Carlos's concussion (blurry vision, some slurred speech, a major headache, no memory loss to report at the moment), Kendall went to call his mom and Logan called Carlos's parents, just like before. James went to the waiting area for a cup of coffee leaving Alexa and Carlos alone.
"Here's your helmet." Alexa handed the beloved object to Carlos.
"Not broken this time."
Alexa smiled softly. "Fortunate that."
"Yeah. Oh, don't cry." Carlos made to wipe the tears now coming down Alexa's cheeks. "I'm okay."
"No, you're not. This is your second concussion in two months! How you haven't suffered brain damage or something I don't know. Gosh, Carlos! I love you. I can't lose you."
"Mom sends her love," Kendall entered the room holding his phone, "and Katie wants to talk to you." He handed the phone to Carlos.
"I'm okay," Carlos said over the phone. Screeching could be heard from the other end but no one could make out what was being said.
"I told her not to yell at him."
"Hey, I've met your sister. Carlos is lucky to only be yelled at."
Kendall grabbed the phone from Carlos.
"Baby sister, Carlos has a concussion and does not need to be yelled at. I will give you back to him if you promise to be calm." Kendall rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I love you, too." And then he hung up. "Sorry about that."
"She's worried." Carlos closed his eyes.
"Well, your parents are trying to get on the next flight here," Logan announced entering the room with James holding onto a cup but not drinking. "And your mom wants to talk to you." He handed his phone to Carlos.
"Mom, I'm okay…yes, I am…but it's just a con-…No."
Alexa rubbed his arm, trying to comfort him as, she had no doubt, he had a hard discussion with his parents.
"You don't…no…it's just a con…Mom! You don't need to come. What are you going to do? I've got Alexa and Logan here as well as James and Kendall. I'll be fine. I love you, too. If it gets worse I'll let you know or Alexa or Logan or James or Kendall…yes. Okay, bye." He handed his phone back to Logan. "I convinced them not to come."
"No. It's just a concussion."
"Yeah, but it's your sec—"
"—Ond in two months," Carlos finished. "Keep reminding me."
"Sorry, I'm just worried about you!"
"OK, OK." Carlos gave his girl big brown puppy dog eyes. "Sorry for worrying you. Love you."
"Love you, too." She pecked his lips. "Please stop doing this to me."
"He's Carlos Garcia," Kendall pointed out.
"Would you want me to be anyone else?"
"No," Alexa reluctantly agreed.
No offense to anyone living in Colorado. I'm sure BTR loves performing there.
I have never, not once in my life, been skiing much less snowboarding, so bear with me on everything. Hopefully, I did well. I'm a warm weather girl.
It wasn't an engagement that my engagement chapter coincided with. It was Katelyn's wedding which was Saturday (7-19). So, who else you want to see get married?
BTW, I know Bono and Sonny Bono's names are not pronounced the same, but hasn't everyone at one point in their lives confused the two?
Got my first review that dislikes what I'm doing to James. I know I'm not going to please everyone. I'm not turning James into a nerd. He is not going to be a nerd. He is still James-I-Talk-To-The-Mirror-And-Love-Cuda-Products-Too-Much Diamond. In real life Carlos is the Christian, but this isn't real life. In real life Kendall doesn't play hockey, Logan doesn't have a problem talking to girls, James knows how to ride a motorcycle, and Carlos becomes the game show host. I don't want to freak anyone out. James is not becoming a Bible touting dude who quotes scripture every chance he gets. Right now, in this story, he's in the middle of an identity crisis. Things will calm down. Please, please stick with me! Please! James is not going to turn into Kirk Cameron! I wish I could have sent a response to the review, but it was anonymous. I knew the negative reviews would come.
I hope the God part that people may not like doesn't turn you from the story. It shouldn't be as prevalent as it was in the last chapter anymore.