Landing In London {Dreams & Bleachers Sequel}

Humbled

Jade's POV

I've never been much of a fishing person, neither has Aleks or James, so the three of us stayed in while the others went out on the lake. Besides that, there was just something telling me to stay, and my gut feelings haven't been wrong before.

"Even after Taylor bitched you out, you're still going to drink?" James complained.

"You heard that last night?" Aleks asked, trying to get the top off a beer.

"Who didn't?" I replied. "Doesn't matter. Everyone knows she hates your drinking."

It really did pain me to see him drinking. I once was an alcoholic, and I know how bad it hurts the ones I love, but I've learned, an addict will only set down the bottle when they're ready. So, I can't push him, though I wish Taylor would see it my way.

"Yeah, well, I hate her smoking, but she doesn't do shit about it." He griped, trying to cover his own ass.

"Don't throw her under the bus like that. You know, it really does hurt her." I said.

He rolled his eyes. "No it doesn't. She just doesn't like that her family has something else to bully her about."

I sighed. "I'm only going to tell you this once; There is nothing in this world better than spending a night under the stars with her, or seeing her gorgeous face tear up when you ask her to marry you, or the first time you see your baby resting in her arms. Those, are the memories you want! You don't want to look back and realize your whole life was DUI's, fights, spending nights in the bar when you should be with her... seeing that precious little girl of yours look at you like she's terrified." I began to trail off, reflecting back to a bad night when I was younger, and I scared Ella to death.

Aleks didn't say anything. He just sat there, a distraught expression painted on his face. Before he could force words out, the front door swung open. My beautiful girl walked in, looking beat.

She smiled at the guys, then looked at me. "Honey, can I talk to you upstairs?"

I nodded, following her to our room. Harley looked pretty out of sorts. Something was majorly bothering her, and I am really hoping it's not what I think it is.

She sat down on the bed, running a hand through her hair. I sat down next to her, putting my hand around her back.

"You alright?" I asked.

"No, I-I don't know." She sighed. "NJ is deathly ill. Ryder checked him in to the hospital, and I think it'd be best if we head back."

"Yeah, you're probably right." I responded, standing to start packing our things. "Are you going to be okay, Sweetie?"

She nodded. "Yeah, I think so, it's just... It's terrifying. I don't want to lose him. He's like family to me."

"He is family." I corrected.

Harley's POV, Later

After a long drive, Jade and I grabbed a shower at the hotel, then headed for the hospital. A nurse directed us towards the correct floor, and I was relieved to know he at least isn't in the ICU.

We reached NJ's room to see he was asleep, but Ryder was very much so awake. He was writing in his notebook, with that passionate look gleaming in his eyes. As we walked in, he set down his things, and hugged us both.

"How is he?" Jade whispered.

"Doing much better now that he's here." Ryder replied. "I should've taken him in earlier than I did."

I sighed, looking deep into his troublesome eyes. "It isn't your fault, it's that asshole doctor that thought blasting his immune system with meds would magically work. I know nothing about medicine, and I could tell you that it wouldn't work!"

Ryder released a trapped breath, glancing back at NJ. "I still should have known. We should have never gone to the reunion. NJ isn't supposed to be in big places like that, and I'm afraid that's where he caught, what they think is, a very severe case of pneumonia."

"People don't die from pneumonia, at least not in this day and age." Jade comforted as he pat Ryder's shoulder. "Harley and I are going to grab some food. Can I bring you anything?"

"No, I'm fine, thank you." He responded.

"You're sure?" I asked.

Ryder nodded, forcing a smile. "Y-yeah."

I wearily followed Jade out. He had the same solum look I did. Neither of us said it, but we knew; Ryder is depressed, terribly. I can't blame him. If Jade was on death row, I'd be pretty fucking upset too.