What I Thought I Didn't Need

Chapter 3

James was waking up! I don't know why I found that so hard to believe but I did. I was trying my hardest not to squeal for joy, but I did anyways. As I did, I got up and kissed my best friend on his cheek. He gave me a quick hug in return. I went over to the bed and grabbed  my brother's hand. I didn't care how abnormal this was to us. I squeezed his hand lightly and whispered, "James? James, wake up. You're okay now." As I was saying this, tears started rolling down my cheeks. I wondered if I should tell him what I had been thinking earlier. I decided to do so. But not before he was completely awake. James's moaning snapped me out of my thoughts. "Hey buddy. You scared us half to death."

James opened his eyes and looked at Enrique who waved and said hey, then back at me and asked the question I was hoping he would never ask, "Where are mom and dad? Did you call them?" Enrique came up beside me putting his arm around my waist.

Through tears and more tears I finally answerd, "I'm sorry but they....they umm....."

"They couldn't make it." My best friend finished the sentence for me.

I held on tighter to James's hand and said the only thing I could, "I'm sorry." Fresh tears made their way down my face.

"Hey, it's not your fault Ashton. Don't worry about that." Him being wounded and comforting me made me even more sad. So I just stood there holding onto his hand for dear life, crying.

When I finally got a hold of myself, I sat down in his hospital bed beside him while Enrique went to the bathroom to get me some tissue. Then and there I said the one thing I hadn't told him since we were kids. "I love you James. And I realized I have been taking you for granted. Once we get out of here I want to start acting like your sister. Not a stranger that you live with." I laid my head on his shoulder let go of his hand. "I want to go home and I want us to be a family. I want us to talk. To have meals together and go places together. James, this made me realize we won't be here forever." I sat up and looked him straight in the eyes and I saw him do something I had never seen him do before. He was crying. My big brother was crying. I reached down and we hugged. "So how about that?"

This time he reached for my hand and held on tight and nodded. "I love you too."  He smiled at me and I did the same. I heard someone talking in the hall. I turned to see the doctor walk in with Enrique. I sat back down on one of the chairs and Enrique joined me handing me the tissues.

"Thanks." I said and he winked in return.  "So when can James come home?"

The doctor looked amused. "He should be ready by tomorrow morning. I'll give him some meds though, to make sure he doesn't get an infection."

I smiled as big as I could. As did James and Enrique. I was so happy that everything was going to be okay. The doctor said some more things about my brother's condition before he left. I figured now was a good time as ever to ask James what had happened. "So what happened? Who shot you? And why?"

James put his hands over his face and took a deep breath before looking me in the eyes and said, "It was a drug deal. I was supposed to get this guy his ice. I told him it was worth twice as much as he gave me." He paused in between finding it hard to go on. "So he gave me more money." I listened in horror. I couldn't believe my brother would ever enter the world of drugs, but I was so blind, I hadn't noticed he already was. "Later, he found out. He came back demanding his money back. I had already spent it so he shot me when I said I didn't have it. Again he paused taking s deep breath before finishing. "You guys had the music blasting to his benefit so no one heard."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. My knees felt week and I had to hurry to wobble over to a chair.

My brother? Shot? Drugs? Unbelievable. Why?!

I reached up with both hands, closing my eyes and massaging my temples.

Mom and Dad will flip. They will freak out.

I uttered the only words I could, "Why James, why?" Looking up at my brother I noticed he couldn't make eye contact with me. Enrique stood in the corner of the small room, baffled. I could tell he was also in shock. My head snapped back at James when I heard him sniffle. James was crying. Full out. I went to him and hugged him tightly, wishing I knew what to say. "It's okay."

I had barley got the words out of my mouth when Enrique's phone rang. "Hello." Voices on the other end started chatting fast and I watched as Enrique did a series of nods and 'okays.' Finally he ended the call.

I had let go of James by now so I asked curiously, "What was that?" Directing my question at my best friend.

"Your parents won't be coming home tonight. Something about a business meeting hours away. They told me to tell you not to go home alone, considering your brother was shot there today. Your mom said to stay at a friend's house." Enrique said as he scratched the back of his neck the way he often did when he talked.

I cursed under my breath. "Well where the heck am I supposed to stay, considering my only girlfriend moved away? I have no where to go."

"You can stay at my place..... I mean at my mom's. I mean I live there too. Ugh, whatever you get the point." He waved his hand in the air in frustration.

This time, James spoke, "Yeah we get it." He chuckled under his breath. "Go get a change of clothes and you can stay at his place." He said pointing a thumb in Enrique's direction.

We have been best friends since we were just nine years old, yet since we became teens, spending the night at his house seemed out of the question. But what the heck right? Lots of girls stayed with their boyfriends and no one seemed to care.

Relax Ashton. Nothing's gonna happen. He's helping you out for crying out loud.

"We should get going. We've got lots of homework."

Enrique snapped me out of my thoughts.

"Yeah, let's go." I gave James another quick hug and said my goodbyes. I stood by the door as I waited for Enrique to shake his hand and say bye. With that we headed over to my house to get everything I would need.

Why am I so exited about this?

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Author's note:

To anyone that's reading my story:
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