Landing In London {Dreams & Bleachers Sequel}

Tough Love

Ryder's POV

My hopes of NJ getting better are nothing but a faded dream now. I'm lucky if he even eats, let alone keeps it down. Nicky is deathly ill, with no signs of improvement. I'm scared to death, that he could... Let's not even say it, let's not make it a reality.

I slowly entered his room, which is like a biohazard site anymore. He was curled up on the bed, with a fan blowing on him as he laid awake, and in pain. I kneeled to his bedside, gently placing my hand in his.

"Honey, I think you need to go to a hospital." I quietly said.

"No." He groaned weakly, to a point I could barely hear him. "I hate hospitals."

I sighed. "Nicky, please, don't make me force you."

"I'll be find. I'm starting to get better." He insisted.

"No, you aren't. I'm sorry, I'm only doing this because I love you. We have to take you in." I firmly replied.

Nicky looked at me briefly, with pain, and understanding. Deep down, he knows he has to do this. I'm convinced he'll end up dead if I don't get him medical attention.

Genesis' POV

We were out shopping, trying to make the best of most the girls being in terrible moods. Harley and I tried to stay optimistic, but it's hard when they're shooting our happiness down. Ashley got forced on us, which didn't go well, considering her and Harley don't get along. Apparently Ash and Monica have issues with each other too, which was evident.

Arianna and Taylor were playing the 'my man is worse' game back and forth all day. That got old pretty fast. Now, we were sitting outside an ice cream shop, trying to make the others crack a smile.

"Aleks just text me asking when we're coming back. Seriously, he doesn't give a shit when I'm right in front of him, but as soon as I leave, he's like a little kid pulling on my pant leg." Taylor griped.

"At least you have some child in your life." Arianna responded. "I had planned to be married by now, and at least have a dog!"

"You don't want children yet, trust me." Harley said. "Don't get me wrong, I love my children dearly, but I would have opted to have them later in life."

"Why do you say that plural? I thought you only had one kid?" Monica asked, almost like she was digging for something.

"Jade has two daughters. Only one is biologically mine, but I still claim the other one. I was a part of her life from the time she was three years old." She responded.

I'm pretty sure Monica comes from money. She tends to pass judgement a lot on the few in our group who didn't come from at least a middle class upbringing. When she isn't being a judging bitch, she's actually pretty decent.

Someone's phone started ringing. When I realized the ringtone, I knew it was Harley's. She answered, getting transfixed in the call. I saw the color start to drain from her face as she talked. When she finally did hang up, she started to stand while excusing herself.

"I need to head back and talk to Jade about an... emergency." She said, then bolted out before any of us could object.

"I hope she's okay." I thought out loud, then realized that unfortunately, the two people at the table that should have cared the most, didn't give a rat's ass.

"Yeah, hopefully everything is alright with her kids." Ashley, surprisingly, added.

"It's probably NJ." Arianna muttered with distaste. "He was sick, I guess, and that's why him and Ryder didn't come."

"Sick with what?" Monica asked.

She shrugged. "Didn't ask."

"You didn't ask?" I gasped. "For all we know, it could be, just a cold, or it could be cancer!"

"Well, if you think it's important, you ask." Arianna responded, not phased at all.

"I shouldn't have to. You should care about him more than that." I said, attempting to guilt her into realizing her crooked state of mind. "You guys grew up with both of them! They mean a lot to Harley and Jade, and you act like they're just pets or something."

"Just because they're important to Harley, doesn't mean they have to be to us. We don't really have a good history with Ryder and NJ." Taylor replied.

"That doesn't change who they are now. They both are very caring human beings, but apparently you two aren't." I snarled, getting up and leaving the table, Monica and Ash soon to follow.