Sorry for the longish wait (well, for me at least.) I've been writing a very angry, hateful Jarlos story so it's hard to write this angsty but loving one. Excuse me for this depressing chapter.

James spent the next week never leaving Carlos' side. He made sure Carlos was never alone. Carlos was doing a lot better, but, he was obviously stressed.

James knew why. Carlos was missing a lot of school and missing hockey.

Carlos told James sometimes in freshman year, he'd skip out on hockey practice to hang out with his other friends. He'd always lie to his team and coach, and ever since then, although they never found out, he'd feel horrible whenever missing a practice even if he was sick or injured.

Every time Carlos would worry, his breathing would get heavy. He had panic attacks and James was trying his hardest to calm him down. The doctor said he would most likely have panic attacks from the traumatic stress.

"Carlos, baby, I love you. It's gonna be okay. The past is the past, don't stress. You'll be fine, the school understands." James would whisper comfortingly to him.

His muscles were super tense as he panicked.

"J-James, what is everyone gonna do when I get back? No one will treat me the same..." He'd sob silently.

"Carlos, everyone loves you. Kendall and Logan will always be there for you, and you know I would if I went to your school."

Carlos continued to cry but calmed down a bit.

"It's already April, Carlos. One more month of school, and then just one more year. It will get better, I promise." James would kiss his cheek afterwards and hold him. Carlos would eventually stop crying completely and yawn.

"My back hurts, James..." He'd sigh. Carlos was always in a lot of pain and James hated to see him in any type of pain.

"Stay here, I'll be right back." He kissed Carlos before running to the kitchen. Carlos' mom luckily had this heat pad thing that definitely helped Carlos relax.

Something else that helped Carlos relax was James when he sang.

He'd sing and run his hands through Carlos' short but soft hair. He'd smile as Carlos would fall into a deep sleep.

A week after James left Carlos' home, he found Carlos barely calling him anymore. He hoped he was alright. James had already been behind in school from that week spent with Carlos and he was always busy with homework.

One day, James decided he'd visit Carlos.

He knocked at the door. No answer.

He kept knocking.

He knew Carlos' mom was at work but she trusted Carlos. Anything Carlos could cut himself with was gone.

Or so they thought.

James once again repeated the night before the horrible incident where Carlos' dad beat him and climbed the tree next to Carlos' room.

He was happy to see the window was open. He opened it quickly and climbed in. Carlos wasn't in his room.

He heard the sink running in the bathroom so he opened it to find Carlos running his wrist underneath the water.

"Carlos?" James asked.

Carlos flinched, frightened. "James? Why are you here?" His eyes were bloodshot.

"I was worried about you... What are you doing?"

"N-nothing..."

"Fuck, Carlos," James' face scrunched up with worry and he quickly grabbed Carlos' wrist, seeing three new cuts.

"James, I'm sorry..." Carlos started crying.

James held him as tight as he could.

He needed to try a little harder at fixing the broken boy.

Super short. More of just a filler.