Point Of View 2 [*Do not read until you've read the same chapter of ATW]

Chapter 126 Do The Right Thing

The cherry on top was what the reporter said next.

"Sources reveal Nate Hollan's fiancé, Julia Moretti, has called it quits on their touch and go rocky relationship due to relations with Hollan's long term and well-known personal bodyguard, Paul Rossi. It is said Rossi, who was already in a relationship with Hollan's personal assistant, Trisha Banks, initiated the new relationship with former America's Voice winner,  Moretti." One reporter states and a photo of me, Nate and Paul at the IHeart Radio Awards.

"Oh God." I stare at myself on TV feeling utterly humiliated. How the hell do they find this shit out so quickly?

*****

*James*

I wake up to see a distraught look on Paul's, Nate's and Julia's faces.  For a few minutes I lay still, confused, tired and my muscles are sore. I realize I'm still in the "postictal" phase. That's what Dr. Giovanni explained to me once. It's the period immediately following a seizure where the brain is recovering from the abnormal electrical activity.

"He was asleep!" Julia cries. I'm unable to speak and my vision is a bit blurry but can hear her loud and clear. "This is all our fault! We probably stressed him out yesterday!"

"No, Moretti.... His father stressed him out yesterday." Paul stands a few feet away. Nate and Julia are holding me on my side. I've lost control of my bladder to boot.

"His FATHER?!" 

"I'll tell you later...not around him." Paul motions towards me as my body relaxes into the mattress.

"You're ok." Julia whispers to me. I'm able to sit up now and my vision becomes clearer. Julia wraps her arms around me

"I- I was sleeping, wasn't I?" I stutter. Something that happens often after one of my seizures. I'm starting to learn all the different things that go on in my body during and after these fragile moments.

Julia nods at me with teary eyes. These are the terrifying seizures I'm afraid of that could take my life. I've only had it happen once before, but it wasn't that long ago which concerns me.

"I'll help you get cleaned up. Nate, Jeremy left extra bedding in the hall closet. Can you change the sheets? Paul, can you grab a garbage bag to put everything in so I can bring it to the laundry room?" Julia looks at the other men in the room. She lets me rest for another minute or two so I can regain composure but I'm also sitting in my own piss right now which is embarrassing as all hell.

Both of us are too tired and barely awake to act on anything so when Julia brings me into the shower, she forfeits the swimsuit. We are in here to wash up and get out. Like always, I bare my soul in the shower while Julia helps wash me up. I don't want her thinking she is the reason for the seizure or any stress. She's not. 

"Yesterday, Gwen asked Casey and Trisha if they could run by my house to grab my mail. My mother isn't doing well so Gwen was busy w-with mom." I close my eyes, taking in the warmth of the water against my tired body.

"I'm sorry. Anything I can do to help your mom??"

"No. The doctor says her dementia is progressing at a fast rate, it's only going to get worse unfortunately. But..." 

"What is it?" 

"I'll show you when we are done."

Julia drops the subject like I need her to and I lean against the wall with my eyes still closed. 

"This one took a lot out of you, didn't it?" I feel Julia put a gentle hand on my cheek.

"My muscles ache." I nod. "I feel like I just ran a marathon."

"I'll tell Trevor when he comes, ok? You should skip sessions and rest today, James."

I usually would disagree with that because I try to go to all the Avalon sessions but Julia is right. I'm wiped.

"Ye-yeah, ok." I give in easily.

Julia takes care of me in all the ways. She helps me get dressed. Helps me brush my teeth and all the things people take for granted that I can't do. Especially today. My coordination is very off, and it's noticed, though Julia doesn't point it out. She happily cares for me without one complaint. She knows just what to do without me ever saying it. I hope I don't lose that. I hope I don't lose her as my caretaker when my six months home confinement time is up. Even if that means I continue to live here at the Avalon so she can get the help she needs, though right now she's not even bothering with the sessions or Trevor as her counselor. We will need to get her back on track.

When we walk out of the spacious bathroom into the bedroom, I'm surprised to see both Nate and Trevor in the room talking.

"She passed away." Trevor stands up abruptly right as we walked into the middle of their conversation. "Anyway, if you ever want to set something up, I'm around."

"Traitor. He said that to me too. He's dying for business since this one won't give him the time of day." I laugh loud and watch Nate's left eye twitch from his hangover. Serves him right. 

"Thanks for making the bed up for me, Nate." Julia leans against the doorway feeling awkward around Nate now that the cat is out of the bag between her and Paul. This will take some time to get used to for everyone. The blowout her and Nate had yesterday afternoon was a massive one on top of it all.

"Jule, can we talk about yesterday? Now that I'm sober?" Nate pays no attention to anyone else in the room. He's desperate to plead his case to Julia. To win her love. It's actually hard to watch. Hollan really does love her. And this time, it wasn't anything he did to fuck it up.  It's just the life he lives. That's a hard pill to swallow.

"Actually," She begins to fidget with her hands a little and bites the inside of her cheek. "I'm going to go check on Mike while James rests."

"Jule..."

But as quick as she appeared she disappears. Nate frowns feeling pretty defeated right now.

"Like I said..." Trevor looks at both Nate and me. "I'm here if you need me."

The doctor walks out of the room leaving me with a pretty distraught Nate. I sit next to him on the bed and hunch over like he does before I say what I need to say.  

"Hurts like hell, doesn't it?"

"My hangover?"

I give Nate a dumb look. He knows exactly what I'm talking about. He is watching Julia let him go just like she let me go. And it for sure- Hurts like hell.

*******