Behind Closed Hearts

Chapter 25

James didn't bother waiting for anyone as he left the school, trotting down the stairs two at a time. He wasn't going to bother trying to get a ride with anyone. He had decided that he was just going to walk home and stew things out.

"James!" Jordan called, running up to him as he reached the bottom of the stairs. He didn't waste any time getting to the point. "What time should we meet up with Seamus tonight?"

James sighed. "Do we have to?"

Jordan scrunched up his face angrily. "What time?"

"Same as last night," James said shortly and began walking again with hunched shoulders.

"That doesn't tell me anything!" He followed him, keeping his fast pace easily. "I don't even remember what time we went out last night."

James rubbed his hand across his forehead in frustration. "Let's just make it midnight."

"Great!" he said, giving him a playful punch to the arm. "I'll go tell Seamus! See you tonight!"

"You do that," James muttered under his breath, watching him sprint away. He was too nosy for his own good.

--

He arrived at home in a dismal mood. All James could think about was his damned test he had to study for.

But how would he be able to study when in the back of his mind, all he would be thinking about was his meeting with Seamus and Jordan? Damn it all! Couldn't everyone just mind their own business?

James shoved his key into the lock and struggled it open. Inside, James dropped his bag by the entrance and kicked off his shoes. "I'm home!" He called, not expecting a response.

But that's when he heard it. It was a soft whimpering coming from upstairs that sounded so pained that it stopped James in his tracks. His heart thudded in his chest. "Lily," he whispered.

Suddenly, he took off running, up the stairs in a flash to the source of the whimpering in the bathroom. "Lily?" he called out, rounding into the bathroom. He stopped frozen.

Lily was on the ground of the bathroom, but she wasn't the one whimpering. She was holding a crying and moaning Nathen who was struggling against her small arms. James paled at the sight. "What's-?"

Lily's head shot up. Her eyes were streaked with tears that ran with her makeup and she looked terrified. "He-he's having a fit!" She said desperately.

Nathen struggled hard and Lily was jostled harshly. She groaned in determination and slammed him back, hard, against the base of the tub. "He needs his medication!"

"No, no, no, no, no! YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!" Nathen screamed, thrashing.

James flew to the cabinet, feeling his heart pound hard in his chest, and ripped open the small door to reveal the bottles lined up on each shelf.

He shoved bottles aside, looking desperately for Nathen's medication. "What does it look like?" James said in panic as Nathen pushed Lily violently. His shaking hands knocked bottles into the sink with a hard crash. Nathen moaned at the loud noise.

Lily attempted to shush him before turning to James. "Top shelf! It's an orange bottle."

James grabbed several bottles from the top shelf and brought them over to Lily. "I don't know which one it is!"

Lily attempted to take a bottle from James, moving her hand for only a second from Nathen's body, before he pushed her. Her head smacked with a loud clash against the tiles.

She gasped but threw her hand back onto Nathen's shoulder to restrain him. "James, you have to give it to him! I can't move my hands."

"Which bottle is it?" James asked shakily, moving the bottles in her eye line.