When Derek tried to open the door, he found it to be locked. Muffled sounds came from within the room, and he could imagine Julian pacing around aimlessly, not knowing what to do with himself. He leaned in against the door and knocked.
"Julian? Jules, let me in! It's me, it's Derek!"
Silence, followed by a short buzzing sound. Derek pushed down the lever and entered the room. Julian was pacing around the room alright, but it was not aimless at all. Derek watched as he went from his wardrobe to his desk and back to his bed, taking shirts, books, ... with the determined efficiency of someone who is used to pack suddenly and quickly. The suitcase on the bed was rapidly being filled up.
As Julian passed him, Derek grabbed his arm and turned him around.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing, Jules?"
Julian looked back at him for a few, long seconds, eyes so dark no emotion shone through, before he tore himself free.
"What does it look like? I'm packing." He reached behind Derek to close the door and lock it -he wasn't risking Logan bursting in again- as he spoke.
"My manager already called me, they're preparing a statement. Deal with the... rumors... , calm down the press and the fangirls, clean up the image. Quiet the LGBT groups - there's a whole shitload of them, did you know? They're all saying the same though," Julian pouted his lips, bringing his hands together in a pray-like gesture, and continued in a high voice, " 'Please come out, stand up, this will be so empowering for the LGBT community.' "
But Derek wasn't impressed.
"For fuck's sake, Jules, this is ridiculous. This has nothing to do with the press or your image and you know it. Why don't you just talk to the guy? You can't expect him to just fall in your arms all of the sudden, but maybe give him time, I mean, he didn't even kno-"
"Well, that's the whole point now, isn't it?" Julian laughed joylessly, the sadness now so strong even the dark of his eyes couldn't conceal it anymore. "Because he knew, Der. He knew. He knew and he never said anything, never tried anything. I think that solves that issue, don't you?"
Derek's mind quickly flashed back to his meeting with Logan in the hall, only minutes earlier. The Stuart prefect hád seem strangely unfazed by Julian's in-adverted coming-out, but Derek had a hard time believing Logan had actually been aware of the actor being bi before today. Logan was too conceited and too temperamental, there was no way he would've let the chance slide to mock Julian about being a closeted bisexual in Hollywood. Or was there?
He turned his attention back to Julian. The movie star threw the shirts he was holding in his suitcase, and let himself fall on the bed next. He rubbed his hands together, and finally looked up, locking eyes with his best friend as he continued in a much lower voice, pleading.
"I could barely stay here with him not knowing, Derek. And now that he does... now that he does, you can't expect me to stay. You can't. I... can't."
Derek had never had any trouble dealing with the stuck-up primadonna that was Julian. He'd never let himself be intimidated by Julian's fame, or attitude, and they'd always been able to talk, to understand and respect each other, even when they didn't agree. But the boy that was sitting on the bed before him looked nothing like the lordly Hollywood actor he knew.
After they'd found the bloody message from the stalker, Julian had been scared, terrified, and Derek had taken care of him, protected him, it had been easy to know what to do. This time however, with Julian looking so utterly lost, Derek wasn't quite sure how to handle the situation. Finally, he crouched before his friend.
"Jules... I know it's hard. But, it's just not safe for you out there. What with... recent events..."
He saw Julian wince and Derek shut up. He knew that, even now, weeks after the dramatic finding on the Stuart steps, Julian was still having trouble sleeping. He didn't need to be reminded of the danger that was possibly waiting for him outside Dalton walls.
But the tv-star wasn't going to give in easily.
"If anything, the... thát... , is one more reason for me to leave. She knows where I am, and she knows how to get to me. If she can get in and out of the school unnoticed, do you really think she's going to stop there? I have to get out of here, D, away from her, away from him, away from the press, away from all of this bloody mess I've gotten myself in."
"But it's not safe!", Derek exclaimed, exasperated. "Jules, we've been over this, you can't leave now! And besides, where would you go? Your mom's place isn't exactly hidden and unreachable!"
Derek was right on that - the location of Dolce Larson's house was common knowledge, with the house even being included in a "Famous Cribs" tour that was organized for tourists in Hollywood. Their second homes in New York and Chicago had been revealed recently as well, and they'd even got hold of the location of their summer house in the Hamptons. There was no way Julian could hide out there.
"I'll figure something out. A hotel somewhere. Maybe fly to Europe. Still haven't seen Venice."
"... because, you know, there's no paparazzi in Venice," an all too familiar voice sounded, "Derek's right, Jules, leaving Dalton is the stupidest thing you could possibly do right now."
Julian felt like he was having a déjà-vu as he jerked up from his bed to find Logan standing in the doorway for the second time that day. His much-tested patience was slowly wearing thin.
"Logan! How the fuck did you get in here?"
The Stuart prefect was clearly enjoying his dramatic entrance, casually leaning against the doorframe, a broad smirk plastered across his face. He flipped a bright white card through his fingers.
"Well, after a certain Stuart," and at this Logan couldn't help but glare at Julian, who returned the look effortlessly, "locked himself up in his room for days without the prefect being able to come to the poor boy's help, Professor Murdoch and I decided it would be better if I had a master key with access to all student rooms. In case of emergencies, see. Which this clearly is."
He put the key card in his pocket and folded his arms, nodding at the stuffed suitcase on the bed Julian was now trying to close.
"Were you really planning to just leave?", he asked. "There is no place on earth that will protect you from the paparazzi and the press like Dalton, Jules. They'll be all over you, demanding confirmation, denial. They wíll find you, and they wíll get their statements, you know they will. Unless you remain within Dalton walls. They can never get to you as long as you stay here."
Julian grumbled. Logan didn't know half the reasons why he wanted to leave this place, and he was not about to tell him. Unfortunately, as far as the press was concerned, Logan had a point: there was no place he was safer from hidden camera's and constant questions as Dalton. But he would not let Logan win another argument today.
"It's not because your father dropped you here to be out of the way, that the world has forgotten about rest of us here. You're right, those bloodsuckers will demand statements and quotes, but they will get them whether I'm here or on a gondola. And if you don't mind, I prefer the latter!"
At the very mention of his father, Logan's blood had started to boil. Neither Julian nor himself had ever shied away from arguing or insulting the other, but there had always been that mutual understanding that their family and home situation was not to be involved. Julian had now crossed that line, and Logan could barely contain himself.
"Leave my father out of this," he growled, "and don't forget you're the one who runs of and buries himself in work every time life gets a little bit hard! But if you so desperately want to go to Venice, why don't you let me book a flight for you? I'll drive you to the airport myself. I'm sure you'll have loads of closeted Hollywood-stars to keep you company there!"
Julian flushed with anger, and stood trembling on his legs.
"Don't give me that crap, Lo, what would you know about being closeted in Hollywood?"
"You're right, I don't! Because unlike some other people, at least I have the guts to come out and stand up for who I am!"
Julian had never lifted a finger against Logan, not even when he had found himself being thrown against a cd-case all those months back. But he was tired, tired and angry. The paparazzi. Logan. The stalker. His manager. Derek. They all wanted something from him, and he just wanted to be left alone. Why couldn't they just leave him alone? He heard Logan's words replay in his head. Who knows, you might've stood a chance. It's too late now.
And he lost it.
If Derek hadn't stepped in, Julian would have thrown himself at Logan and kicked him in the face. As it happened, however, it was Derek who received the first punch, having put himself between both boys and directly in the line of fire when Logan had lunged at the exact same moment as Julian had. Logan's fist hit Derek right on the nose, and he fell on the floor as the world went black before his eyes. It took him several seconds to recover, and by the time his vision had cleared up Logan had apparently wrestled Julian against the ground, holding him tightly in place. Both boys were breathing heavily, and although Julian tried to wriggle himself free from time to time, he knew it was useless.
"You," panted Logan, "are not going anywhere. I won't let you."
Julian's eyes shot fire.
"And you," he shot back, "you are not telling me what to do."
They stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity, the tension between them so dense it was almost tangible, until finally, with a last shove, Logan got up and stormed out of the room without saying another word.
Julian remained on the ground, motionless, and Derek looked at him, concerned about his friend more than about the blood that was now steadily dripping out of his own nose.
"Are you alright?"
The response was as short as it was curt.
"Get out."
"Jules..."
"Get out!"
Slowly, Derek got up and walked to the door. He turned around, looking at the actor who still hadn't moved since Logan had left.
"If you need anything..."
"GET! OUT!"
-oOo-
Derek felt like the only thing he was doing these days was banging on doors and shouting. Right now, he was hitting his fist against Logan's door. This whole situation was getting very much out of hand very quickly, and he wouldn't have any of it anymore. Several Stuarts passed by in the hallway, but they were wiser than to comment or to ask anything. He ignored their looks, and focused on the door in front of him.
"Logan, I'm not leaving until you let me in! Logan!"
He kept on drumming his fists against the door until, finally, he heard a short buzz.
If he had planned to confront Logan, he didn't have time to even start talking. As soon as he opened the door, Derek felt himself being pulled in and smacked against the wall. He'd have to get Logan back on his medication again, he thought fuzzily somewhere in the back of his head. All this pushing around would get him bruised all over and the girls didn't like that. Although, maybe he could get Tess to play nurse?
He didn't have time to continue the fantasy, though.
"How long?"
Derek tried to think. How long, what, exactly?
"How long?" repeated Logan, his face so close to Derek's, Derek could see the tiny freckles on Logan's nose, and the little star-shaped scar next to his eyebrow. "How long has Julian... has he... been... "
Derek looked at the blonde in surprise. Was that a tremble in Logan's voice? Was he... nervous?
"How long has Julian been bi?" he asked, as he lifted an eyebrow, "Well, I'd say... for about 17 years now."
"Don't mess with me, Der!" With a thump, Logan's fist landed next to Derek's head, sending the framed pictures on the wall rattling. "How long has he... has Julian... been in... how... with... with me?"
Derek stared as Logan tugged away and sat on his bed, eyes on the ground, suddenly uncharacteristically calm - at least on the outside. It took Derek several moments to recompose himself, but then he lumped into a chair, swinging his feet on Logan's desk.
"Oh, so you noticed that?"
"Yeah..." Logan looked up at him, and made a vague gesture. "Sorry about your nose, by the way."
Derek shrugged. " 's Ok."
"You haven't answered my question."
"Forever," Derek said finally. "Freshman year."
He watched Logan closely, but his reply didn't seem to elicit any response. The blonde prefect just sat there, staring, unmoving.
"I'm really thick, am I not?"
Despite himself, Derek felt the corners of his mouth rise.
"Yes," he said, "very thick, if I may say so."
Logan must have heard the smile in his voice, because he looked up at Derek. His green eyes, otherwise so full of emotion, were now almost expressionless, devoid of any feeling.
"So... what do I do now?"
"You're asking me?" Derek shook his head. "This is something between you and Julian. You figure it out."
"I thought you were the Don Juan here? Mister Experience?"
"Sorry dude, can't help you - no experience in failing to notice my best friend being in love with me for over 2 years. If you want advice on how to get a girl to agree to a threesome, though, I'm your man."
Logan managed a wry smile, but said nothing.
And so they sat there, in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
-oOo-
The next morning, Logan got in line behind Julian as they were queuing for breakfast. The actor looked curiously composed and, for the first time in weeks, well-rested, his brown hair combed neatly over his forehead. Logan vaguely wondered how he himself looked like, although he guessed he had had better days - even a cold shower and the 3 cups of coffee he had already downed that morning couldn't hide the dark circles under his eyes that resulted from staying awake the whole night.
"So, I see you're still here?" he said casually.
He didn't mention the fight they had had the previous day, nor did he offer an apology. He never did. He had never needed to, and now he knew why.
"Yeah," Julian replied equally casually as he took some bread, "decided it was too obvious if I'd leave school in a hurry. Wouldn't look good."
Outwardly, Logan was the image of calm, but inside he heaved a sigh of relief. He wanted to say something, but Julian continued.
"I'll be going Saturday. Clark's coming here for Parent's Night anyway, he'll be able to sneak me out discretely."
With his usual charm, he winked at the girl behind the counter as he took the plate with scrambled eggs and turned to walk to their usual table, leaving Logan staring after him. It took several minutes before he noticed the girl was talking to him.
"Excuse me? Mister Wright? How would you like your eggs today?"
So... as I stated previously, I had no intention of continuing this story. But I got some story alerts and some reviews so I thought, what the hell, why don't I give it a try? And here you are... I have one more chapter in my head about the events at Parent's Night (read: I see a jealous!Logan), anything after that will depend on reviews and feedback I get on this and the next chapter (or the lack thereof, lol).
Hope you liked it, feel free to let me know what you think!
