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

Chapter 161 Deadlines And Decisions

*Trisha*

"It's been a full week, James." I clasp my friend's hand, desperately hoping for a response. Nothing.But his hand is warm and soft, not rough or calloused, as he doesn't use his hands as often as the rest of us due to his weakened fine motor skills.

Since getting the call from Paul and rushing to the hospital, the night I took my turn by James's bedside like everyone else, this is the first time I've actually sat with him. Alone.

"You know I'm not good with this shit, hotpants. Why do you keep messing around with us...going all out into a coma and crap?" I smirk but the tug on my heart brings me back to what I need to say. I study the man's emotionless face. He looks so calm. But then again, James always looks calm.

"I've been avoiding this. A-avoiding you." I stammer, holding back tears. "Even before your seizure. I was staying away from everyone. From the Avalon. Only visiting when absolutely needed. What kind of fucking friend am I? Who does that? I'm no Julia and I know I'm not your best friend but, buddy please. You need to wake up."

Tears leak from my eyes and I know my mascara looks like a dirt road path down my face. I look around and grab the box of tissues to clean myself up.

 "Christ, I told you I wasn't good at this shit!" I sniff and blow my nose, throw it away, take a pump from the hand sanitizer and make my way back to James, taking hold of his hand again.

"Listen, I'm running out of time. I already wasted all that time ignoring you and now..." I close my eyes when I hear the suite door open and continue but in a whisper, unsure who entered behind me. "We're leaving soon. I fucked up, didn't spend enough time with you and now we're leaving."

Unfortunately, even though I've had just as much media training as Hollan over the years, I can't hold in this emotion and burst into tears. I drop my forehead down to James's hand and sob. 

A gentle hand rests on my shoulder, and before I can comprehend my actions, I stand and wrap my arms around his torso, sobbing  into his chest.

"I wasted all that time!" I cry out.

"He's gonna wake up." He holds me a little tighter and rests the side of his face on the top of my head.

"You don't know that! You don't fucking know that." 

"No, I don't know. But I know James and he is not one to give up easily.  He's not a quitter, Trish. If he were, he would have thrown in the towel years ago, given the challenges he has faced.."

No truer words have been spoken. I let that sink in, lift my head and nod in attempts to pull myself together more.

"Who the fuck made you such a good hugger?" I lighten the atmosphere and gain a smirk.

"I certainly didn't learn it in 'bodyguard' school." Paul takes a deep breath and gazes down at me. "He's gonna wake up."

*****

As the day goes on, I become more aware of the tasks at hand. The constant reminders from Richard and Leslie make it hard to forget. Even with all that's going on they still expect me to work and make all these deadlines? I thought I was Nate's personal assistant, not theirs!

I have no choice but to have a meeting with Nate and Evan to go over the itinerary.  Some of the bodyguards are taking a much needed break in the small waiting room down the hall so we sit in the living room portion of the hospital suite. Nate and I sit on the couch while Evan sits on the cushioned chair. Julia bathes James on the other side of the partition.

The infamous "Tour Binder" is pulled out of my bag. The thing weighs more than Moretti but has years worth of planning, hard work and dedication to make the tour possible. We dive right in and get to it.