Hey look! It's 12 AM and I should be sleeping.
But I'm not because I want to update and am partially crazy.
I guess that's good for you though. :) Chapter dos of Temptations, whee~.
"James?"
"Yeah?"
"Shut up."
"Wow, thanks pal," his friend retorted sarcastically "You're going to diss me over the phone?"
"Well, in about—" Carlos removed his phone from his ear to check the time. "–ten minutes, I can diss you face-to-face. Would that be preferred?"
"Of course," his friend replied in the same sardonic tone. "Could you do that for me?"
Carlos chuckled. "Wouldn't want to dissatisfy a buddy, now would I? But in all seriousness, James, I don't give a rat's ass about how your boyfriend is 'hulking' and 'manly.' If you haven't noticed, my love life is comparable to my grandma."
"Isn't your Nana dead?"
"Exactly."
"Oh. Hm. Well, sorry man. Anyway I planned a guy's movie night, just you and me dude."
Carlos mumbled answers to let James know he was paying attention, until he noticed something in the dark alleyway of which he was passing. He did a double take, and his jaw dropped to the floor.
"Um, James, let me call you back!"
The Latino quickly darted into the dirty alley and dropped onto the ground beside the wounded boy, who was bleeding in several places and purple and black from bruises. His arm was covering his face. Breathing heavily, Carlos gently peeled the arm from the boy's face and onto the side. Wait...
"Logan?" Carlos gasped.
Suddenly, the eyes fluttered open, exposing the dark brown eyes that belonged to the brunette.
"Carlos?"
He sat up and stared at Carlos with fixed eyebrows.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"Uh, what the hell are you doing feigning death or unconsciousness or something?" Carlos fired back.
Logan chuckled. "Oh, some dudes were chasing me, cornered me into this alley, got mobbed by his stupid gang, pretended to die, and voila! Here I am."
Carlos gazed at Logan in incredulity, unable to form a reaction. "Seriously? Voila? Dude, you're hurt!"
He extended his hand to examine the deep gash on his cheek and his bleeding lip. Logan rolled his eyes and slapped Carlos' hand away.
"Relax, I'm sure I'm fine. Nothing I can't bandage up."
"B-but your white shirt is no longer white!" Carlos protested, pointing at the blood-soaked shirt that clung to Logan's chest. "Is that even yours?"
"Meh, it's a combination probably. I got stabbed today, but I'll take care of it, alright? Calm your titties," Logan shrugged and stood up.
He took a step in the direction of the streets and fell down.
"Shit!" he hissed and clutched his leg. "Jackass fucked up my leg."
Carlos was speechless. He helped the injured boy up and held Logan up as he limped out.
"You don't need to help me," Logan said.
"I know, but you're hurt. I need to you see a doctor or something. I'm going to tell my dad, and he'll catch them."
"No!" Logan blurted, panic in his eyes. "No, please. I'll be put into juvy for sure if you do. And I don't go to the doctors."
"What? Why?"
"Oh, well doctors just charge so much and—"
"No, idiot! I mean, why would they put you in juvy for self-defense?"
"Well, because it sort of wasn't. I kind of... provoked it? The guy, Neal, he almost killed my friends, so I went back for revenge," Logan explained. "But it didn't exactly turn out as planned, as I was outnumbered. If Officer Garcia—I mean your dad—finds out, I'll be beyond dead."
Carlos hadn't even noticed they stopped moving. He just gaped at the limping boy. Should he disappointed or afraid?
"Carlos, please don't tell your dad. Your dad hates me," Logan begged.
"Fine," Carlos decided, continuing to walk again until they walked out from the alleyway and into the streets. "Look, I'm going to take you to my friend's house. We're supposed to be hanging out, but you're still bleeding profusely, and I need you to clean up okay? No dying on me."
"Alright," Logan shrugged as he limped alongside Carlos up the street. "Why is everyone looking at us?"
"Oh, I don't know, maybe because some dude is limping and bleeding?"
Logan chuckled. "You're so caring for one moment, and then sarcastic the next. It's funny."
Carlos raised an eyebrow. "Why is that funny?"
"It just is. Like for instance, you want to help me, but you get so worked up over everything I do and say. And this vein in your forehead just like, pops out when you're in rage mode."
"Well, your lifestyle scares me," Carlos commented.
"Lifestyle?" Logan laughed, causing Carlos to smile a little too.
"How do you still laugh when you're bleeding like this?" Carlos inquired, shifting topics. "Doesn't it hurt at all?"
"Yeah, it hurts. But I've felt worse, I guess."
But before Carlos could reply, Logan gestured to the backpack strapped onto Carlos' back.
"What's with the backpack? Isn't it Saturday?" he asked.
"Yeah, so?"
"Didn't you say you were going to a friend's house to chill?"
"Where are you going with this?"
"...You brought homework?"
"...Yeah."
It was silent as they limped for half a block until Logan just busted out laughing.
"What?" Carlos shrieked, afraid the boy had just gone insane or something from the extreme loss of blood.
"You, hahaha, brought homework to, hahahaha, a hang out? HAHAHA!"
Logan coughed in between laughter, but only to start giggling again. Carlos face reddened and his lips curled downward into a pout.
"Hey! That's not funny! There's always time for homework!" Carlos argued, face reddening rapidly as Logan's laughing failed to cease.
"That is so funny. You're such a little nerd, Carlos," Logan joked, grinning.
Carlos ignored the little flutter in his tummy and the skip of a heartbeat. He just looked away and pointed to the building beside him.
"We're here," he mumbled.
Carlos helped Logan up the steps and rang the doorbell. Logan's vision was getting a little blurry and tripped a couple of times, but they managed to climb the flight of stairs. They quickly rang the doorbell. Almost immediately, the door flung open and an angry James appeared.
"Way to hang up on me, dick," he greeted in a joking manner and frowned, arms crossed. He shifted his gaze onto Logan and his eyes instantly widened. "And why the fuck is he bleeding? Holy shit."
"Calm down, pretty boy. Just get me the first aid kit, would you?" Logan ordered, still dizzy.
James glared at him and invited them in.
"Be right back."
When James left the vicinity of the room, Carlos nudged Logan lightly.
"Don't be so mean!" he hissed.
"I'm sorry, I'm just... I'm getting a little dizzy that's all."
"Oh my God! Do you need to go to the hospital?" Carlos panicked.
"No, I'll be fine."
Logan tugged at his shirt.
"Could you help me get the shirt off?"
Carlos nodded and bit his lip as he tried to prevent a blush that was spreading across his face. He reached for the hem of the shirt and pulled it up and over Logan's head. He closed his eyes tightly so he couldn't see the wounds on the pale boy's chest.
"Really, Carlos?"
"Yes, really, Logan," Carlos said, eyes still shut tight.
"Here's the first aid kit—whoa! Oh my God, dude! Your chest!" James exclaimed, dropping the small box in his hands. He picked it up again.
Logan took the kit from James and quickly started cleaning his wounds.
"Hey James, let's leave him alone for now. I don't exactly I want to see his wounds or anything," Carlos suggested, standing up with his back facing Logan.
Logan snickered as he continued to wrap himself in gauze. James nodded, his eyes still inspecting the wounds with interest. James followed Carlos out and into the kitchen.
"Um, would you mind telling me who this kid is?" James harshly whispered as soon as Carlos shut the kitchen door that led to the living room.
Carlos explained to James about how he got in trouble a few nights ago, and how he found him lying in the alley bleeding and feigning unconsciousness to trick some gang leader.
"He needs somewhere to stay. He's not in the best condition," the Latino finished.
"So? What are you—." James closed his mouth and gave Carlos a pointed look. "No. No fucking way."
"Why not?" Carlos whined.
"Because if you didn't notice, he kinda hates me!" James snapped. "And I'm too pretty to get my throat slit, okay? No."
"But James—"
"I don't understand," the pretty boy interrupted. "Why are you so eager to help him? You don't know him and he's dangerous. That kid probably has killed many,many people, and I'll bet you not just out of self-defense."
"James, he just needs guidance."
James looked at his friend intently, as if studying him.
"You like him don't you?" James finally gasped, pointing at Carlos. "Ooh, look at that! Carlos likes the bad boy!"
Carlos hid his face in an attempt to conceal his incarnadining face, but failed. "I-I don't think he's g-gay. And I think I can help him!"
"Look Carlos, you can't change everyone. He's a delinquent, and you're not going to turn it around," James sighed, placing a hand on Carlos' shoulder and looking into his eyes, seriousness heavy in his gaze. "And what will your dad say?"
Carlos opened his mouth to answer, but the kitchen door swung open. The injured boy limped in and stopped at the sight of the two friends staring at each other.
"Uh, sorry, I just needed some pain killers," he apologized sheepishly. He pointed to the living room and chuckled. "I'll just be, uh, back there. Sorry."
He stumbled back out the kitchen and closed the door.
"You don't think—?" James wondered aloud, taking his hand off of Carlos and stepping back.
Carlos shrugged. "Whatever, that's not the task at hand we need to focus on. I need to help him."
"So what are you gonna do?"
The shorter looked at the floor for a few moments, mind transfixed in deep thought. A figurative light bulb lit up in his head and proclaimed, "I'll sneak him in!"
James gave him a 'are you crazy?' look. "Carlos—"
Carlos held up his hand in front of his friend's face, silencing James instantly.
"No listen. My dad doesn't get home until late, and he leaves early. It's perfect!" Carlos explained.
"Whoa, whoa, Carlos. No, that's way too risky. If you dad ever finds out you're in cahoots or something with Louis—"
"Logan," Carlos corrected.
"—Fine, Logan—then he'll ground you forever if not send you to like, boarding school!"
Carlos headed for the door and stopped before pushing it open.
"I have to try. He's hurt, and he doesn't have medicare so he can't afford to go to the hospital. Plus, that would raise too many questions and he'll be locked up in juvenile detention, James."
James let out a defeated sigh. "Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you. Anddon'tyoudaredragmeintothis!"
Carlos smiled and chuckled lightly. "Got it, buddy."
James followed Carlos back out after he snatched the bottle of Tylenol and handed it to Logan, who was lying on the floor.
"Um, why are you on the floor?" James asked.
"I didn't want to get your couch dirty," Logan replied coolly, taking the small bottle from James. "Thanks."
"No problem. I'm just going to leave you to two to talk," James announced and left the room at once.
Logan looked at Carlos, expecting him to notice the puzzled expression he wore and clarify what James meant.
"Um, well," Carlos began, sitting on the floor next to him, "I've decided to take you home and keep an eye on you."
"Carlos..."
"No, don't even start with me," he lashed, suddenly sounding strict. "Logan, you've obviously gotten injured pretty badly, and since you won't go to the doctor's, I need to know you're okay!"
Logan gawked at Carlos with a stunned look, blinking several times.
"Um, okay, fine," he softly said. "How do you suppose we deal with your father?
"Okay, first off Logan, we don't say 'deal with' when we're talking about people's dads. It sounds violent. Second off, I'm going to sneak you in."
Logan laughed. "Mr. Garcia breaking the rules, eh? That must never happen."
That was responded with an eye roll from Carlos.
"Just say yes, Logan."
"Yes, Logan."
"LOGAN!"
Logan grinned that signature crooked grin of his.
"Yes, Carlos. Thank you."
"You're welcome," Carlos beamed.
Lol, pointless banter. Don't worry, I promise next chapter will be better...
I promise, okay? Okay cool.
Review if you please. It is preferred and makes me feel motivated to write, so. ;)
