A/N: A bit of an AU ending to episode 23. Character's belong to CP Coulter. I OWN NOTHING! This is my first published fic, so be nice :D
The air was cold, and bitter. Dalton was quiet as ever at night.
From Stuart House, Julian fell back onto Derek with a startled gasp, clutching onto his friend who looked on in horror: splattered all over the Stuart House front steps was what looked like crushed red roses, petals torn and folded everywhere, and scarlet liquid painted the ground, black in the moonlight.
A mutilated photograph of Julian—taken from the school paper—lay on the steps.
Derek hissed a curse and pulled Julian back inside quickly, looking around the grounds for any sign of who did it. He pushed Julian inside, and immediately closed the door as he went to go get a bucket of water to get rid of the "gift".
Julian sank against the wall, heart in his throat. It was worse now. He knew it was worse now that the message was loud and clear.
He couldn't leave.
Julian took a few steps back inside the hall. Derek had just slammed the door closed after washing the last remains of the roses. He turned around to see the actor's eyes still wide in horror.
"You can't leave, man. It's not safe."
"I-I know.. I-"
"Know what?" came a voice from behind them.
John Logan Wright III, dressed in his night wear, was standing at the end of the hall, looking up in confusion between his two friends.
"Jules? What's going on?"
Julian felt his throat tighten at the nickname. What on earth was he going to tell him?
"N-nothing. Go back to bed, Logan." was the indignant reply.
"His stalker left a bloody threat on the steps when he was leaving for another movie," Derek said. "He can't leave now. Not tonight at least."
"That bastard! I swear we'll find- but you were leaving? Without even a goodbye, Julian?" Logan said to Julian, a bit of hurt was hinted in his tone.
"I-what does it matter?" He snapped at the prefect. "You wouldnt care!"
That got Logan riled up "You told Derek and not me? Dammit, Jules, I thought we were friends!"
"Guys.."
"Friends?" Julian snorted, "When have you ever cared about me or what I do? Cause thats what friends do, Logan! When have you ever cared about someone else, huh?" his heart ached, and his voice almost broke. Deep breaths, Jules. "O-one who isn't a love interest!"
Julian had expected a rise out of the blond. He expected to get pinned down on the floor, or thrown into a wall, or maybe just a punch in the face. Instead, the sound of knuckles slamming a nearby wall caught him of guard. The Stuart prefect was shaking violently before his eyes. He looked up, and Julian saw his usually piercing green eyes weren't blazing, in fact it was gathering a few tears.
"Dont you.. I sure as hell care, Julian!" Another smack on the wall "And you were just going to run off- You put up with me and I-" Logan let out an exasperated sigh.
"I know enough not to let you go like that." He finished.
The other two Stuarts were in shock. Did Logan just restrain himself on his own?
After a few minutes of awkward silence, the blond spoke again.
"Come on, if the stalker was serious, you better sleep in my room tonight."
Julian nodded mutely.
Logan helped him with his bags as Derek led them up the marble stairs. When the actor brought his things into Logan's room, Derek held back and whispered to his blond companion "How'd you do that back there?"
" Do what?"
"Not go batshit on Jules!"
"I was about to, but I just didn't.. feel the need to. I just cant believe he didn't tell me sooner!"
Derek pretty much ignored the last part. "Lo, you've never done that on your own! Is that a good sign?"
"I don't know."
"But you'll be okay right? I don't want anymore fights for at least just one night, got it?"
"Yes, mother." Logan rolled his eyes.
"Shut up. You sure you don't want him to stay in my room instead?"
"Positive."
