I just read over this chapter and cried.
The grammar is cringe worthy so I went through and edited everything in a rush, so I apologize to everyone who've already read this and had to suffer through that.
Chapter One
"Come on Carlos, you can do it, almost there, yes!"
James threw a fist into the air as Carlos managed to shove the last of the note into the locker, grinning at his shorter Latino friend. Carlos only rolled his eyes at his friend's enthusiasm, letting a small smile tug at his lips.
"James, calm down, you're more excited than I am."
"Well you should at least flash a grin Carlos, you've been talking about doing this for months now."
"I know, I know…" muttered Carlos, leading James away from the locker, hoping that Logan hadn't seen him, wanting to remain as inconspicuous as possible. He knew James was right and that in hindsight he should be more excited but all Carlos felt was a tangle of nerves and giddiness. He didn't know how Logan would react to his note, he could only hope the outcome was positive. Three months ago Carlos had admitted to his best friend that he liked Logan and since then James had pestered him to do something about it, and now finally he had, he just hoped it wouldn't be something he'd live to regret.
"So what exactly did you write?" James asked as the two headed ever further from Logan's locker, Carlos eager to avoid the brunette until he had to meet up with him at the place specified in Carlos' note.
"I just asked if he'd meet me outside the school at four today, will that be a problem James?"
James stuck his tongue out at the Latino in defiance, extracting a comb from his jean pocket and absently running it through his already perfect hair.
"Do you think he'll show up?"
Carlos shrugged, "I don't know, I just hope he will."
"Well how could he possibly resist that charm of yours?" Asked James, wiggling his eyebrows.
"Well I didn't exactly but put my name on it…" The Latino trailed off, staring down at the floor.
"What?" Exclaimed James, "are you serious? Now he's going to think there's some creep wanting to meet him after school, it'll look so suspicious!"
"Yeah well I wasn't exactly feeling that confident!" Retorted Carlos, "I didn't want him to come looking for me…"
James rolled his eyes, "whatever Carlos, but don't say I didn't tell you so when Logan calls the police on you."
Carlos gave his taller friend a final shove before rounding a corner and heading away, determined not to let James have the satisfaction of seeing him blush.
"Just remember, don't show up in a white van, it won't go down well!"
Carlos turned and glared at James,
"Yeah well that bronzer makes your face look like an orange!"
"So you just found it in your locker huh?"
Logan nodded in answer, eyes glued to the small slip of paper as Camille leant over his shoulder, muttering under her breath as she read.
"Sounds kind of creepy" she muttered, "you know, meet me outside the school at four? Just seems suspicious."
"I don't know" Logan murmured, tilting his head, "I think its genuine."
"What makes you think that?" Asked Camille, hands settling on her hips as Logan turned to face her, "what if this is some kind of prank or something?"
Logan shook his head, "its not like anyone as anything against me…"
"Well you never know" said Camille, "I bet there are some people who aren't so thrilled with your, you know, preferences…"
Logan rolled his eyes, "regardless, I'm going to see who this mysterious person is, I'm curious."
"Well you've got an hour to kill before they show up so do you want me to wait around with you?"
Logan shook his head at Camille's offer, "no I'm fine, I've got homework I need to get done anyway."
"Are you sure?" She asked, "I don't mind staying, really. "
The brunette smiled at her, "honestly Camille, I'm fine, just go home, I'll call you tonight okay?"
"Alright" she said with a small smile of her own. With a brief hug and a wave the two parted, Camille heading for the school entrance, Logan to the library.
By Logan's watch it was three fifty-five, he knew it'd only be minutes before the anonymous writer would arrive. A small breeze had picked up outside the school gates and leaves danced past him on the wind, some less graceful ones scraping along the pavement. Among them was a sheet of paper, swirling about and as it continued in its dance Logan caught a glimpse of what was printed on it. The face was easy enough to recognise, for the majority of the past year it'd been stuck up on every available space around town. Jo Taylor; the girl that had disappeared. Logan remember her, he'd seen her around school from time to time, although he'd never spoken to her much. She had been one of those girls that everyone had loved so naturally everyone had been shocked when she'd been reported missing, having never had come home from school one afternoon. After about a year of fruitless searching the police had closed the investigation and the Taylors had moved away, leaving everything to return to more or less the way it had always been. Jo had just slowly faded away, the ones that had been closest to her even returned to their usual antics.
"Hey, watch out!"
Logan turned, but by that time it was already too late.
With a surprised gasp someone collided forcefully into him, throwing him off his feet and to the concrete ground, books flying in all directions.
Logan heard tentative steps approach the place where he was sprawled on the ground, groaning from a pain that shot up through his leg.
"Are you okay?"
Logan nodded silently in reply and rolled over onto his back, taking the hand that had been offered to him. Slowly he was pulled back up to his feet.
"I'm really sorry about that, I didn't see you until it was too late."
Looking up Logan was met was deep brown eyes and a sheepish smile that sent shivers rolling up his back.
"No, no, it's okay" said Logan, bending down to gather his books hurriedly, hiding the blush that had crept up his cheeks.
"Here, let me help you." Two others joined Logan's hands as he collected the last of the books and when he stood up again, Carlos Garcia handed him the few he'd picked up.
"I'm so sorry," he repeated, staring down at his scuffed shoes.
Logan smiled, "as I said, its fine, were you the one who left me the note?"
The brunette thought it would be easier if he was blunt.
Glancing up, Carlos blushed, "yeah…"
"So, did you want to talk about something?" Logan asked, dumping his books on a nearby bench and taking a seat, inspecting the covers of each one.
"Well yeah, but now that I think about it, its not really important…"
"Well I'm here now so you might as well try me" Logan smiled up at the Latino again as he picked up another book to inspect.
Carlos shifted his weight from foot to foot. Now that he was here he wasn't sure he'd be able to say what he wanted to say, be able to admit how he felt about Logan; his heart was hammering wildly against his chest and his knees felt weak, on the verge of buckling.
"Oh, doesn't look like this one fared too well." Logan held up a book with a wry smile, its spine having detached from the main body.
"Did I do that? I'm so sorry, I can pay for a new one." Carlos stared at the book in mild horror, although grateful for the change in subject.
"No, that's fine, this one has had its day anyway."
"But there must be some way I can make it up to you then?" Asked Carlos, he knew the line sounded clichéd but he was now eager for Logan not to discover his reasons for setting up this meeting.
For a moment Logan didn't answer but somewhat suddenly his eyes shifted to the skateboard that Carlos had tucked under his arm, a smile creeping up his lips.
"Well there might be one thing…"
"What?" Asked Carlos, "I'll do anything."
"Would you teach me how to skate?" Asked Logan, smirking now.
Carlos hesitated for a moment before answering, caught off guard by the question.
"Yeah, sure I would."
"Would you teach me something now?"
Carlos couldn't help but smile as he answered, "Sure."
"So who was that boy with you?"
Logan glared at his mother, who's eyes were planted firmly on the road ahead, hands gripping the steering wheel of the car at the advised ten and two positions.
"Just a guy from school mum, nothing to get excited over, I don't even know him that well."
Joanna's deep red lips curled into a sly smile, "are you sure he isn't your boyfriend?"
"What? No!" Logan felt his cheeks grow hot at the prospect.
"Well why not?" She asked, "he sure seemed fond of you."
"How could you possibly know that?" Logan questioned, "he barely knows me, I think that's probably the first time we've even spoken."
"So he's definitely not your boyfriend then?"
Logan sighed, "no mum, he's not my boyfriend and he won't be becoming my boyfriend anytime soon."
"Does that mean you don't like him either?" Joanna looked shocked, giving Logan a sideways glance.
"No I don't not like him, as I said I don't even really know him…"
Joanna looked disappointed; "you two just looked so cute together… Logan you have to at least admit he's an attractive boy."
Logan rolled his eyes and waved his hand dismissively, "yeah, I guess."
"Would you at least consider dating him?"
"Mum!"
"Okay, sorry, just a thought."
The two sat in silence for a time, Logan picking up the conversation once more,
"You know you didn't have to pick me up, I could have caught a bus home."
"I know" Joanna replied, "I was just on my way past, and anyway I need to drop in on the old Taylor house, I've finally got a buyer lined up so you can help me take out the 'for sale' sign."
"Someone is buying that place? Who?" Logan was genuinely surprised, no one in town even ventured near the abandoned home anymore, afraid of old wounds resurfacing.
"Some business man from Connecticut or Maine, him and his wife seem pretty set on purchasing."
"How much?" Logan asked, staring at his mother.
"Enough to earn me a decent commission" she smiled widely with a small laugh, "now, how was school?"
The large, airy house that once belonged to the Taylor's looked more or less similar to the others that lined the street, the mundane façade not portraying any hint of the painful memories that were held inside. The for sale sign stood sentry, staked on the unkempt front lawn, Joanna giving a satisfied sigh as she produced another almost identical sign from the trunk of her car, the only difference being the word 'sold' in large bold print dominating the space. Logan wandered up towards the porch, staring down at the sprigs of ivy that had begun to cling to the cracked railing and columns.
"Hey mum, do you mind if I take a look inside?"
Joanna shook her head, tossing Logan a key, "just don't be too long, I don't want to be waiting."
Logan couldn't say why but he felt a burning curiosity to see inside the home that was once inhabited by Jo Taylor, a girl he had barely known. Seeing that missing poster earlier on had brought thoughts of the bubbly blonde girl to the forefront of his mind and now the brunette couldn't shake off the haunting thought of her. With a muted creak the door swung open to reveal a bare entry hall, dust motes hanging suspended in the musty air. With hesitant steps Logan crossed the threshold, floorboards squeaking underfoot.
At one time all the rooms would have held a homey feeling but now, as Logan walked slowly through them, they were cold, blank and impassive, not a hint of the fact that once a happy family had lived there.
Logan found Jo's room easily enough, the only one in the house where the walls were painted in a lavish pink. That poster had sparked a morbid curiosity within the brunette, one he felt he needed to satisfy; to see a piece of Jo Taylor, just to convince himself that at one time, the glamorous blonde with high aspirations had existed and wasn't simply a figment of Logan's imagination. The room, just like all the previous was completely empty, devoid of any furniture, high paned windows on the opposite side of the room spilling a warm yellow light into the empty space. As Logan moved further into the abandoned space his foot caught on something, causing him to stumble. With a gasp he fell, catching himself on the nearby windowsill. After a few moments he regained his balanced and turned to inspect what had caused his fall. One of the floorboards, varnished a dark mahogany colour had risen from its place, jutting up further than any of the others. With his foot Logan tried to push it back into place but it wouldn't budge. Crouching down, Logan carefully threaded his fingers underneath it and pulled up, watching with surprise as the whole board extracted itself from the floor. Beneath was a dark, shallow space that may have once held something small and square but now, in its place were only a few pages, cramped with scrawled writing. With a shaking hand Logan reached into the space and raised the pages to his eyes for inspection. The first two words on the top of the first page had Logan raising his eyebrows, the discovery had suddenly become interesting. Although the writing in some places was barely legible the title made it quite clear.
Dear Diary,
He knew he shouldn't but Logan's curiosity was burning brighter than ever before and he couldn't resist the temptation of reading on.
I'm so scared. I just don't know what to do anymore. Should I tell someone? No, I don't think that's such a good idea, I got myself into this mess, I need to get myself out.
Logan tore his eyes from the page. What could Jo have possibly been scared of? He looked up at the date in the right hand corner of the page, realising that the entry had only been written a few weeks before her disappearance.
"Logan! Come on, let's go!"
At the sound of his mother's voice Logan jumped to his feet and carefully put the floorboard back in place, tucking the diary pages into his jean pocket and dashing out of the room. To Logan it seemed that Jo Taylor had a secret, and he was eager to find out what that secret was.
"Why do I fail at life?"
"Don't be stupid Carlos, you just didn't have the best luck."
"No, this is a legitimate question, why do I fail at life?"
"Yeah Carlos, why do you fail at life?"
Kendall elbowed James sharply in the side as Carlos paced back and forth before them, muttering furiously under his breath.
"I mean I had him right there, I could have told him everything but he just looked so casual and I got intimidated and then I freaked out and I couldn't say anything!"
Carlos stomped a foot on the ground, turning to face his two closest friends.
"Carlos, don't worry, you can always try again, next time just go for it, don't hesitate."
Carlos grumbled some more before beginning to pace again, James only rolled his eyes.
"Carlos," Kendall began again, "don't get so worked up about this, just talk to him again tomorrow."
"He's right you know," said James, "just talk to Logan again tomorrow, tell him how you feel then, and then he'll fall into your arms and you can be all cutesy and in love with each other."
Kendall elbowed James again, this time James responding with a glare, "what? I'm only being truthful."
"Maybe you guys are right," Carlos sighed, "I guess I'll have to man up and tell him tomorrow."
Chapter two should be up soon, so if you liked it make sure to review :)