Chapter 20 pt2
**Alexis**
I get a call later, that Kim and James are going to LA to be with Trey. I hope he will be okay because if they are all going, the news can't be good. After I am alone for the better part of the day, Johnnie calls and tells me that Trey is in a coma because of swelling in his brain. He also has broken ribs, a smattering of deep bruises, and a huge gash on his head. I feel so bad. I decide I need to be there for them all. I buy a ticket and order a cab to the airport.
I'll surprise them. I arrive at the airport and hope they'll be happy to see me. My flight gets called and I make my way to the cabin. I made sure to bring my pills. I find my seat, unfortunately, it is beside a larger man and my eyes widen when I see who is sitting in my row. I am stuck right in the middle of Tina, a smelly man, and fucking hell. Please make this flight go by quickly.
Tina sneers, “It's you. Oh, this is going to be fun.”
“Yes, what a treat indeed. Do you just like making everyone's life a living hell?”
Tina glares, “No, I just hate wanna-be groupies.” I inwardly scoff. I could never be a groupie. Johnnie was the first guy who I ever messaged first. He will likely be my last too.
“Why not just find people that want to be around you? Your life must be so unfulfilling that you push yourself on men. I didn't make Johnnie come, he chose to visit me and now I am returning the favor. A relationship works both ways. He made the effort and now I am, but you don't know how relationships work.”
“I know when a man wants me. Johnnie just needs some convincing,” she says as the plane takes off.
“Tina, move on. He doesn't want you. He has made that clear in his words and actions.” His actions have shown me that he cares for me, but I hope it doesn’t fade, as it had in the past.
Tina scoffs, “Well, he's just playing you. You're not his type.” I just roll my eyes as I turn my head and stare out the window. “You'll never fit in. These guys love what they do. They won't quit for you. They don't do relationships or fall in love.”
“Maybe, but at least they treat me kindly. They can't even stand you. If you behave more like a woman and less like a mean girl, then they might want to hang out with you away from the cameras.”
“Oh, honey, once he gets what he wants from you he'll be on to the next,” she retorts.
“Maybe, but perhaps I am okay with that.”
I'm really not, but I don't want her to think she's getting to me. If Johnnie had just waited until Valentine's Day for our date, then I would think that Tina might be right. Johnnie can't be making this type of effort, just because I am a trophy, because I am like a virgin, can he? The man next to me lets out a fart in his sleep and I start choking on the stanky air. Tina looks green. I cover my face as l try not to gag. I can't help but giggle as he lets another one out.
Tina whines, “Oh come on....this ain't right. Fuck! I am never flying coach again. I don't care if it leaves me penniless.” Tina starts gagging and I can't help but chuckle so hard, I almost pee my pants. She ordered us both a drink and the flight attendant gave us extra napkins and a deodorizer. “Is death from flatulence a thing?”
I laugh. “Maybe he will explode and our torture will end.” Suddenly, he lets another one out, so loud that Tina jumps out of her seat. She grabs the mask above her head and places it over her face. I quickly pull my phone out and take a picture. I have to get up and go pee from laughing so much. I walk down the aisle. Tina looks scared of having to endure Sir Farts Alot alone. Maybe she just needs a woman to call her on her shit. Either way, I am done being a bullied doormat. I am waiting for one of the bathrooms. Finally, one opens and the person winks at me. I step inside and almost die. What the fuck, is it World Stench Day? Right now I am thankful that I am not in a movie like Happy Death Day or Groundhog's Day because this is one day that I don't want to relive.
After I finish in the tiny bathroom, I go back to my seat and see Tina with her head between her knees. “Sit now,” she commands as she pulls me down and I bump into Pepi LePew. He lets out another one.
“Shit... look what you made me do. He's like a freaking whoopie cushion but full of gas.” We both laugh out loud. Whoever thought we would bond over a stranger's flatulence? Finally, we land and I can breathe again. We go our separate ways. I walk out to my cab and head to the hospital.
California is beautiful. Palm trees and ocean for miles. Skateboarders and cyclists are everywhere. Soon, I'm at the hospital. I step out and make my way inside. I text Kim to tell James to go to the lobby. He is about to die when he sees me. “Sorry to just show up.”
“No, I am glad that you did,” he says as we go into the elevator. He has me press the ICU floor which makes my heart race. The realization that Trey is in critical condition hits me hard. Flashbacks of the times I spent there flooded my mind. But this guy has a team of people who care about him. He will be fine and until then I will help care for his people. The heavy steel doors open and I step out and limp down to the corridor. “Let's go in, but we can't stay long, as they have rules,” James says. I know their rules all too well.
I step in and enter the room. I see Trey lying in the bed with tubes and wires going in and out of him like in some horror movie. His leg is wrapped in a cast, his waist is bound along with his head. His face is swollen and bruised. I suddenly realized how lucky I was that Kim saved me that night. Poor Trey, he doesn't deserve this, no one does.
“He's in a rough way. But he'll pull through he's a fighter,” James says.
“Where's Johnnie?”
“He stepped out for a minute,” James replies.
“You should go find him. He's not taking it so well,” Kim says with sad eyes. I know what her look means. It means that Johnnie is blaming himself, as I had once.
I walk over to Trey and touch his hand, probably the only place on him that isn't injured. “Trey, you don't know me but I have been in the fog where you are. Don't stay down. Rise up! You got this, Trey.” I step back and walk out. I limp down the hallway. I push through double swinging doors. I enter a waiting room and see Johnnie sitting in the corner by the window looking lost in thought. Speaking softly, I say, “Johnnie.”
He turns and a half-hearted smile lifts to his lips. “What are you doing here?”
“I just had a strange feeling. I wanted to make sure you were okay.” I walk over and wrap my arms around him. His arms take me in as he sinks into me. I can feel the weight he is bearing and I want to help lift it. “He's going be okay.”
“It's just hard to see him like this. He's always so upbeat and the life of the party. To see him so lifeless just hurts,” he sighs as he holds back a sob.
“I know,” I speak softly, rubbing his back. “Believe me, I know. He will rise, trust it.”
His arms tighten, and he takes in a deep breath against my neck. “Mmm....you smell so good…”
“Seriously? Is your nose malfunctioning? I thought I would smell like whatever that female skunk was called that Pepi LePew chased.”
He leans back to look at me. “What?”
“Oh, on the plane there was this man that kept farting. I thought I would never escape and I was worried I would have his smell forever embedded in my skin and hair.”
Johnnie laughs, “No, you smell incredible.” He dips me back and kisses me hard and with unbridled passion. He pulls me back up. “I'm really glad you came. I missed you.”
“Me too,” I tell him about sitting next to Tina. He looks scared at first but I say we seemed to part on good terms. He seems unsure...guess we will see. We head back to Trey’s room. We couldn't stay too long as he's still in critical condition. They said they would call if anything came up. No news is good news in this case unless they call and say he's awake. We headed to a hotel as the guy's house was under investigation. Cops couldn't get anything from the cameras and Trey is the only eye witness. I feel for the guys.
We opt to order room service, but Johnnie says he isn't hungry despite not eating today. I am worried about him. All of the guys seem off, but I understand it's hard to try and have fun when your friend is in a bad way. It is nice to see the guys are so caring and concerned. They really do love each other. There is a knock at the door, so I walk over to the door and break out with a huge smile when I see…”Dean!” He will help me keep the guys’ spirits up, I just know it!