Author Note: So happy to hear there is some interest in this. Here's the second chapter. Please tell me what you think! :)
Chapter 2: Second Best
Carlos awoke the next morning with a horrible headache. He had cried himself to sleep and his eyes were burning with dryness after shedding every last tear the previous night. Though it pained him to do so, he carefully opened his eyes only to squeeze them shut once more as they were met with the bright sunlight that shone through the billowing curtains that fluttered with the warm morning breeze. Birds could be heard chirping a merry tune outside the window of the apartment, encouraging the world to wake to this beautiful spring day.
No matter how beautiful it was out there, it seemed to Carlos that a dark cloud was hovering over him. The sun was up, which meant that it was some time after seven, which also meant that James was long gone by now. Flying high in the sky. Probably halfway over the Atlantic by now while Carlos was left here, alone, pleading for his safe return.
With his eyes still clamped shut, Carlos rolled over only to feel that he was not alone in the bed. His day brightened right there. James never left. Snuggling into his best friend, he wrapped his arms around him and snuggled into his side.
"You're here!" he whispered excitedly as he felt roommate stir. His best friend grunted happily before wrapping his own arms around his little buddy.
"Good to see you too, Carlos."
At the sound of his voice, Carlos' eyes popped open. Looking up he came face to face with chocolate eyes, shining happily back at him.
"Logan? When did you get here?" he asked as he saw that this wasn't James' shinning hazel eyes, but their childhood best friend Logan instead.
"Right before James left. He didn't want to wake you, but he said he will call as soon as the plane lands."
Carlos nodded in disappointment.
"Hope you don't mind me joining you. James said the pull out couch was broken and since this was the only bed, I thought you wouldn't mind if I crashed for a few hours. The drive here was exhausting," he yawned as if to prove his point.
"Naw, it's alright," Carlos forced a smile. "Besides, I missed you," he added a smile as he snuggled back into his friends arms like they had done when they were younger and it was the three of them and their fourth musketeer, Kendall who was off playing hockey for the Minnesota Wilds.
"I missed you guys, too, Carlos."
The two best friends fell asleep for a few more hours before each finally made their way out of bed. Logan headed for the kitchen to make coffee and breakfast, allowing Carlos time to shower and get dressed.
"You ready to start packing?" Logan asked, smiling across the table as he watched Carlos finish up his eggs and toast. "Kendall should be here anytime now to help us start moving."
"I'm kind of going to miss this place," the younger boys sighed looking around the small apartment. "I've been here since I was sixteen after Dad kicked me out. James had called it our little mansion."
"Well this new place must be a palace then," Logan chuckled looking at the pictures of the newly purchased home that were lying out on the kitchen table.
"I know. It is a bit big," Carlos shrugged, sipping his orange juice. "We really don't need a place like that."
"I thought this was your dream home?"
"It is, but- we sort of got into a fight before he left."
"Oh? What about?"
"Well I had this dream and I was worried about him leaving for this trip and I asked him not to go, but he refused to stay and said he had to leave so that he could buy the house for me and I told him I didn't want the place or for him to get the job. I just wanted him to stay here. Where he's safe," Carlos sighed. "Am I being selfish?"
Logan took a breath, "He really works hard to take care of you. Everything he does, he does it for you. All those long hours and business trips. He said this trip was going to change that. That he would get to spend more time with you and that you could go back to school and get your diploma."
"I know, it's just- I can't get that damn dream out of my head."
"He's going to be fine, Carlos, don't worry. You and I both know he would do anything to be here with you right now, but he's not, so you're stuck with me!" Logan smirked.
"You're right. I am stuck with you," Carlos teased, throwing a dishtowel at his best friend as he rinsed off his breakfast dish before walking out of the kitchen.
"Yea, I know. I'm just second best," Logan mumbled to himself. Deep down he truly longed to be simply the best in Carlos' eyes, but he couldn't. Those eyes were saved for James.
"Good morning Homo family!" a voice rang out through the tiny apartment before a tall blond strutted in through the front door.
"Kendall!" Carlos exclaimed as he ran out of the bedroom and threw himself into the blonde's awaiting arms. Kendall picked him up off the ground and swung him in the air before putting him back onto his feet.
"Logan?" the new arrival questioned turning towards the brunette with open arms, "You know you missed me."
"Are you sure about that?" Logan raised an eyebrow teasingly.
"Logie bear!"
"Awe, fine," Logan smiled giving in as he let the hockey player wrap him in a bear hug, the Latino calling out for a 'chum hug' before joining in as well.
"I get my own room at this new crib right?" Kendall beamed.
"Of course, you both do!" Carlos bounced up and down excitedly as he pulled his friend over to the table to show off the papers that were laying around. "You're going to love it. I can't wait to get it all set up for when James get back."
Logan sat back in the armchair, his elbow propped up on the arm while he rested his head in his hand. He was exhausted. Drained. He barely slept in almost five nights now. It seemed that every time he would close his eyes to get even the littlest of sleep, he would be awaken by a sob, a sniffle, or shriek from his little friend. Carlos had yet to leave the room. The only time he even bothered to get out of bed was when he could no longer hold in his urges to use the bathroom, but as soon as he finished, he returned to the bed.
Logan had to force him to eat. Force him to drink. Force him to shower and at times, force him to turn off the television when the footage on the news became too much for him. The only thing he didn't have to force him to do was sleep. His tears took care of that. It seemed like every time Carlos was finally starting to get better, something would happen, and his tears would flow until he was sound asleep in Logan's arms, his own arms wrapped firmly around the same pillow that James had once laid his head upon.
Logan was torn from his train of thought at the sound of the phone. He dreaded answering it every time, but he knew it was necessary. They were still in the dark. The news had reported no survivors, but they had yet to receive the horrible news in person. So far only a phone call from the airline informing them of the accident. They were to call when the searching had seized and all the passengers were accounted for, dead or alive, but they had yet to receive the second call.
Although Logan dreaded the call, he needed to receive it. He needed to know the truth. He needed to hear someone say it out loud. He needed to hear James being addressed as an individual and not as a passenger. He needed to answer the phone.
"Hello?" he gulped as he held the phone to his ear.
"Logan?"
"Kendall!" Logan answered back excitedly, overjoyed to hear the voice of their fourth musketeer. "What are you doing calling? Shouldn't you be on the ice?"
"I just wanted to check up on you guys? How's Carlos? Is he holding up alright? How are you doing? I should be there with you guys. This is ridiculous, I'm just a plane ride away, Jo and I can easily-"
Logan swallowed hard at the mention of the plane, "Kendall, relax. I can handle it. I promise if I need help, you will be the first person I call."
"Logan we're a team, remember? We promised that if any of us ever needed help that we would be there for each other."
"And we are, but you have another team to worry about too, now. I have this under control. You do what you need to do there and I'll take care of him."
"You don't have to do this on your own."
"I know I don't have to. I want to."
It was quiet for a moment on the other end until Kendall finally spoke, "Logan, what about Brooke? Someone should tell her."
Logan groaned, pinching the end of his nose. Kendall was right. Even after everything Brooke had done to James and Carlos when they were only sixteen, she was still his mother. She had a right to know, "Would you-" he didn't have to finish.
"Yea, I'll talk to her."
Kendall was always the leader of the group. He was the stronger out of the four of them. He had a way with words. If anyone could handle a situation like this, it was him.
"Are you sure you can handle it?" Logan could hear the real question hidden beneath. Kendall was the only one who knew about Logan's true feelings for the Latino.
"I can do this Kendall. I need to do this."
"I know you can," Logan could tell by the sound of his voice that Kendall was smiling. "Where is he? Can I talk to him?"
Logan looked across the room at his best friend's sleeping form, "He's sleeping. He was crying all night again."
Kendall sighed as a loud bustle of noise rose up from behind him, "Look I got to go. Practice is starting. Tell him I love him and miss him. I'll come visit as soon as I can and if you need anything. Anything at all, don't hesitate to call! Promise?"
"Will do, Kendall and we love you too!"
Before Logan could say more, the line went dead. He shook his head as he threw the phone onto the dresser beside him before resting his head into his hands.
"Logan?" a small hoarse voice called out from underneath the blankets before Carlos appeared. His eyes were swollen and red with tear tracks stained on his cheeks.
"Yea Carlos?" Logan rushed to his side sitting beside him on the bed.
"Who was on the phone? Was it James?"
Logan frowned at his tired and confused best friend as he looked down at the blankets, "It was Kendall. He had some time before practice and wanted to call and say hi and that he loved us. He wanted to talk to you, but you were sleeping."
"Oh," Carlos said disappointed before falling back into the blankets, "Well let me know when James calls. Alright?"
Logan just nodded, stroking his best friend's side. This was worst than he thought.
Carlos was in denial!