*Trisha*

I watch Julia leave the hospital room, shutting the door behind her. She has been crying. What else is new. 

I know on the door and let myself in to see Nate again.

"What the hell was that all about Playbo- ...Nate?? Hey... what happened??" I stop in my tracks and shut the door quickly. He's crying. He's covering his face with his hands and crying. I rush to him and sit on his bed. 

 "Talk to me..."

Nate wipes his face and looks over at me.

"Help her book a flight home." He mumbles and tilts his head to the side to rest it on my shoulder. I nod and rest the side of my face on his head. This is the right thing to do. Julia equals stress. I care about Nate way too much to see him go downhill because of stress. 

"Ok. I'll make sure she's all set." I know what I need to do.

"It needs to be done while I'm still stuck here. Before I get discharged. Ok?" He pleads. "I won't be able to watch her go once I'm out. I won't be able to let her leave."

I nod. "It's the right thing to do."

"Shut up, Trish." He mumbles, and I pull him in for a hug and let him cry.

*****

*James*

"Knock. Knock. Julia, are you good in there?" I have to keep checking on her often since I have to work. Nate was adamant about not leaving her alone.

"I know you're in there. Paul wouldn't be sitting out here by himself for no reason. Open the door." I know again. "Cmon, Julia."

She's shutting down. This I know for sure now. She's in bed and shutting down, and I don't know what to do about it.

"Hey."  I walk to the oversized chair in the room, refraining from going on the bed or touching her. I don't know her mood and don't want to chance her lashing out. "I know you're awake."

"I never said I wasn't." She mumbles underneath the down comforter.

"Hmmm?? Did someone say something in here? Cuz all I see is this HUGE mass under those covers." I know this will get her all riled up.

"HUGE?!! Who are you calling HUGE?!" Julia throws the covers off her and sits up. Well, that was easy.

"I KNEW that would get your attention." I smirk. "You're checking out on me, aren't you? Not in a good way, either. I can see you driving yourself crazy up there." I tap the side of my head a few times. 

"Christ, what's going on, Julia? Friend Mode activated. Talk to me."

Julia looks away.

"Fine. Guess I'm just gonna torture you with my singing if you won't talk to me."

I sigh and scroll through my phone. I find Julia's favorite song on Spotify. Luke Bryan's "Play it again." I turn my volume up and look at her. Once the music starts, I sing along...

"She was sittin' all alone over on the tailgate. Tan legs swingin' by a Georgia plate. I was looking for her boyfriend thinking.' No way, she ain't got one. As soon as I sat down, I was falling in love, trying to pour a little sugar in her Dixie cup."

I place my phone on the table and stand up, still gazing at Julia while singing the lyrics. If this doesn't cheer her up, then I am out of ideas. I pull her out of bed and make her slow dance with me to the music. She wraps her arms around me and hides her face while we sway to the music. I tuck her hair behind her ears and move my lips close to her ear while I sing.

"She was like, Oh my God, this is my song. I've been listening to the radio all night long. Sittin' round , waitin' for it to come on, and here it is..." I kiss the top of her head, and she begins to cry. She is in a really bad place mentally right now. It's scary. 

"What's going through that head of yours right now?" I pull her chin up, so she looks at me and wipe away her tears.

"Julia..."

"James. I'm gonna go home."

And that's when my world stopped spinning.  I freeze.

"What?!? Why??"

Julia breaks down and sobs, and I'm practically holding her up now. This is really friggen happening. My heart PHYSICALLY hurts.

"No. You can't leave." I shake my head, "Julia. You can stay with me. No one can make you leave."

"No one is making me. I'm making this decision. I can't stay here. It's killing me."

I back up and look down at her, first confused. But then I understand.

That's when everything came crashing down on me. This is MY breaking point now. My eyes fill up right away, and there's no holding back. Julia is making the decision to leave me. To leave L.A.

Aside from when Carter died and hearing the news about my mother's health, I have ever felt so heartbroken in my life.

"Don't leave me. I love you. We can figure this out, babe. Please! Julia. You're my best friend. You can't go."  I bury my face in her neck and cry hard.

"I'm sorry. I have to do this." 

Julia lets me cry in her arms for a while.

A really long while.

Maybe over a half hour while.

Then, I receive a text from a co-worker that tonight is going to be busy in the lobby thanks to a business conference happening. It's already almost time for my shift. 

"Will you come down to the lobby later tonight?" I ask, wiping my eyes and trying to pull it together before work. Julia fixes the collar of my polo shirt.

"Yeah. If it's not busy down there."

"You're gonna be ok up here, right? If you need anything, call me. I'll come right up. I don't care how busy it is." I kiss the top of her head and look at the time. "Shit. I gotta go."

I rush out, still in tears, and quickly head for the elevator. I know Paul noticed me upset, but there's nothing I can do about that.

****

*Trisha*

I sit in my booth in the cafe with my laptop doing my task.
My job.
Finding a flight to Boston for Julia. The sooner, the better. Nate isn't going to get better with her around. The media is gonna soak this all up and run with the story. Julia can't handle it. If Macy couldn't handle it, Julia sure as hell won't be able to. God, if I was a drinker, I'd be drunk right now. But here I am, sipping Chamomile tea, trying to figure out my best friend's life for him. 

I find a few flights and save them on my computer. I texted James a few times now, but he hasn't responded to any. He must be busy with work. I have so many questions about how he got caught up in Julia's web but have yet to find the time or courage to ask him. I really like him and really wish he wasn't a part of this drama.

I open a text from my ex, Dave, checking in on me. Obviously, he heard the news. The entire world has heard the Nate Hollan news. I don't know what to say to him, so I don't answer him right now. Instead, I text Nate.

[Hope you got some rest this afternoon. I found a nonstop flight from here to Boston. I wanted to check with you first before I book it. The day after tomorrow. Does that work?]

I text, and he answers right away.

[That works. Can you be the one to reach out to Julia, though? I can't handle this right now.]

[Of course, Nate. What do we tell Richard? Or anyone for that matter?]

[I haven't thought of that yet. I'll figure it out. I'll make sure her name isn't dragged through the mud more than it already has been.]

[Are you ok? I can come by and keep you company.] 

I know he's not ok.  No one is ok.

[No, my dinner should be arriving soon. Then I'm gonna try and sleep before the nurses do their rounds again.]

I sigh and put my phone down. Then book Julia's flight.

Nate texts me again.

[ A few more favors, Sorry. Can you run to my place and grab my grey Nike sweatpants and my green hoodie? You know the one I like. The dark green one. It's fucking cold as hell in this place. I think my leather carry-on bag is in the closet on the floor. My driver will be waiting to drop it off.]

I start typing but he doesn't wait for my reply before rattling off more tasks to be completely. Looks like I'm on the clock tonight. Maybe that's a good thing. Maybe keeping busy will help.

[Oh, and can you reach out to hospital Cara's at and let them know why I haven't visited her? I'm sure they already know. Cara doesn't even want to see me, but I don't want her to think I'm choosing to not be there now. I've been going to see her almost every day, whether she likes it or not.]

[You got it. Clothes. Flight tickets for Julia. And I'll reach out to West Hill. I'll come by to visit you tomorrow.]

[Thanks, Trish]

I get the barista's attention to order a strong coffee to go before I head to Nate's place to grab his clothes for the driver.

*****

It's 2am and Julia still hasn't come down yet. About an hour ago I saw a very weak looking Nate walk out to an unmarked car and sit in the passenger seat. He must have come in through the side door. How did he get out of the hospital? Of course he would come to see Julia. 

I've officially lost to him.

I need to run up and check on Julia. No one is in the lobby, so I head to the elevator. Once off I see Julia and Paul out in the hallway, talking. Paul sits back down when he sees me approaching.

"Hey, thought you were gonna come down and hang out?" I walk up to Julia and see her devastated face. 

"He left." She looks up a me. I apparently am in 'best friend mode', even though it hurts like fucking hell because I want to be more.

"I know, sweetie. I'm sorry." I wrap my arms around her, and she cries. Paul shakes his head at the insanely odd dynamics of our friendship.

"I told you he was gonna break your heart. You guys broke each other's." I mumble and while saying it I think to myself (and you're breaking my heart now too.)   

"I have to go back to the front desk. I was just coming to check on you. The invite is still out there if you want to talk...but I gotta go."

Julia backs away and looks at Paul. "I imagine you'll be joining us?" 

Paul stands up and nods. "Part of my job."

Paul and Julia follow me down to the lobby.

*****