So this is different than my other stories. It's set in the boys' present rather than future. Let me know what you think!
Standard disclaimers apply, I don't own the boys, the Palm Woods, or Camille.
"Why is he so mean to me, Logan? I mean, I get it. Everybody has those people that they tease. But he's downright mean to me!" Alaina complained to her best friend for what felt like the millionth time that month.
Logan sighed. "Laina, you know he's just a complete douche to some people, right? You give him a reaction. So he's meanest to you. I've told you time and time again, if you stop getting angry at him, he'll stop being so horrible to you."
"It's not as if I can just stop though, Logan! It would have been easier half a year ago. But now he's taking shots at me. And they're really starting to hurt."
Logan looked sad. "Come here." He wrapped Alaina in his arms. "I'll talk to him for you. He is one of my best friends, after all."
She looked up into his eyes. "Thanks. You're such a good friend, you know that?"
"Yeah, I know." They sat in each other's arms for a moment more. "Are you good now? Can I let go?"
Alaina pouted. "Fine. But I'm giving you another hug after you talk to him."
"I can deal with that," Logan laughed. "Now I'm going to go talk to him for you. You stay here. And don't do anything... destructive." He gave her a knowing look.
"I won't!" Logan raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "I promise." She saw Camille round the corner into the lobby of the Palm Woods. "If you're so worried, make Camille sit here with me.
He looked to where Alaina's eyes had darted seconds before, and smiled. "Hey Camille." She walked over to him and gave him a peck on the lips. "Will you sit here with Laina for a couple minutes? I have to go talk to Kendall."
"Sure, Logie." Camille smiled at Alaina. "We'll just talk about you." She teased.
Alaina smiled weakly. "Thanks, Logan. I really appreciate it."
"Sure. I'll be back in a few." He departed for the elevators, to go up to the boys' room in 2J.
Logan really worried about Alaina. Sure, she seemed strong and happy, but beneath her bubbly exterior was a fragile and insecure girl. He knew that if Kendall kept pushing her, she'd do something that she'd regret. And Kendall would never forgive himself. As mean as he was to her, he was a really nice person. So it didn't make sense that he would be so horrible to such a nice person.
As he opened the door to their room, Logan resolved not to leave until the issue at hand was completely gone.
His eyes immediately landed on Kendall, who was sitting on the bright orange couch playing a video game.
"Hey, Kendall? Can I talk to you for a few minutes?" Logan asked cautiously. Kendall didn't like being interrupted while playing a video game.
To Logan's surprise, Kendall paused the game and cheerily said, "Sure, what's up?"
"Well, it's about Alaina." Logan began.
"Oh, that slut? What about her?" He turned his attention back to the television screen.
"Actually, you just gave me the perfect segue. You really need to stop being so cruel to her. She's been going through a lot lately, and you really aren't helping matters. I'm really worried that if you keep treating her like you have been, that she's going to snap and do something we'll all regret later."
Kendall leaned back on the couch. "Oh come on. It's all in the name of fun. You can't blame me for having a good time."
"Fine. Can you tone it down a bit though? Keep it to general rude remarks instead of direct shots at who she is?" Logan pleaded.
"I can't promise anything. But I'll try." Kendall un-paused the video game and went back to playing, tuning out the rest of the world.
"So what's Logan talking to Kendall about?" Camille asked as soon as Logan boarded the elevator.
Alaina paused for a moment. She was under the impression that everyone knew the way Kendall treated her. She struggled to think of a plausible lie to tell Camille. "Uh, he's asking what time they have rehearsal tomorrow so we know when we can study for our math test." That sounded about right. She knew that herself and Logan were the only two students in the Palm Woods school who cared enough about their education to study for a math test.
"Oh, ew. Count me out. I'd rather rehearse for my next audition. Speaking of which, how's filming going?"
Alaina was the star of an upcoming movie. Just another romantic comedy, but it was enough to land her a room at the Palm Woods. The decision to cast her was a hard one for the producers. It was between her - a talented nobody - and Camille - A talented starlet. They decided on the unknown talent, so they could be the first to introduce her. Camille had been bitter at first, but after Alaina and Logan become friends, she warmed to Alaina.
"Oh, it's going really well. I think Jesse and I have finally hit our stride. You know, we finally have chemistry. He's actually taking me to dinner on Friday!" She didn't want to tell Camille that she had only agreed to the date to get her mind off of Logan. Camille, for all her understanding, could be really jealous.
Alaina hadn't started out liking Logan, it had just happened. She originally had crushed on James. She only started talking to Logan because she figured he'd help her get James. But, despite the fact that she and James became good friends, they never hooked up.
But even after she stopped liking James, she didn't stop talking to Logan. She eventually grew to trust him, and told him some of her deepest darkest secrets. Logan was always a perfect gentleman, never judging, and never telling anyone those secrets she divulged to him. Eventually Logan came up with a nickname for her, Laina. It was just a shortened version of her name, but she never let anyone else call her by it. Logan was too special to her.
After a couple months, Logan and Camille got together. Alaina liked Camille, they had already been friends because of the audition they went through. Alaina thought it strange, though, that Camille viewed her as something of a sister-in-law. It wasn't as though Logan was her brother.
Logan was the reason that Alaina and Kendall were introduced. He was nice at first, only making witty comments. Then he started to be mean to Alaina. Calling her names based on her looks - "Ginger" and "Midget" were amongst his favorites - and making cracks about how nobody liked her. At first, they didn't bother her. She gave him a reaction because she knew that was what he was looking for. But the more he did it, the more it hurt. And she started to do something to take her mind off of the insults.
When Logan found out that she was cutting, he wouldn't leave her alone for more than a couple minutes at a time. He even slept in her room for a couple of nights. Eventually, the number of scratches on Alaina's arms subsided, and he started to leave her alone more often. But she hadn't stopped cutting, only moved the location of the cuts. Her stomach and thighs were prime real-estate.
The elevator doors opened and Logan stepped out. He immediately smiled at Alaina and Camille. He walked over to the pair and gave Alaina a thumbs-up. It's taken care of. Things are going to be fine. She smiled back at him, but she knew in her heart that Kendall would never stop.
The thought brought tears to her eyes, but she pushed them back and swallowed hard. Smiling again, she excused herself to her room to do the assigned reading for the day. Only when the elevator doors close did she let the tears fall from her eyes.
Sorry that's a bit depressing... It should brighten up in a few chapters... :)
Review? I'll love you forever. 3