Happy cries echoed around the pool, the sun pouring over their bodies as the teens from Palmwoods enjoyed their summer. Kendall Knight and Carlos Garcia happily played water tag, darting through the water as if it was air as they weaved in and out the other occupants. Carlos was currently "it", easily diving under the water and swimming as fast as a dolphin through the liquid towards his taller blonde friend.
James Diamond sat on a chair with a couple of girls, smirking as he dragged his Lucky Comb through his straightened fringe, making sure it maintained it volume. One of the girls looked impressed, flirting shamelessly with the pretty boy, while the other just looked bored, rolling her brown eyes at the shallowness of it all.
Logan Mitchell, the small, pale, nerdy member of Big Time Rush lay simply on his back in the most deserted part of the pool, a small smile unconsciously gracing his lips as he tried to relax in the cool water, ignoring the harsh sun rays possibly burning his exposed chest. Kendall and Carlos had asked him, practically begged in Carlos's case, to join in their game of water tag, but Logan didn't even have to think before he turned it down. This was when the two knew that something was wrong with Logan today.
James had asked Logan to lie with the girls and tan with them, but Logan just shook his head instantly with a small smile and replied with a feeble "Not today, Jamie."
When Logan used the old nickname, this was when James knew something was wrong with Logan today.
However, the three also knew the reason. Logan had been in foster care ever since the four boys had met in kindergarten that faithful day in the sandpit. Once several years had passed with the boy in the run down foster home, no family stepping forward to help the skinny, pale boy feel loved again, Mama Knight took it into her own hands. A several months, forms and inspections later, Logan was fostered by the Knights.
Kendall had been ecstatic that Logan was officially his brother, especially after the two had grown so close over the years since meeting. The boys had been 13 at the time of the adoption, a full 7 years after they had become best friends, practically brothers anyway, but that slip of paper had meant everything to them.
Logan however, never gained the Knight's surname, wishing to keep his father's. No-one argued with his wishes.
Back on topic, the boys knew the reason that Logan was so distant today. At 3pm, he was due a phone call from Fredrick Marshman, Logan's social worker, in order to arrange a date for Logan to see his biological mother and father for the first time since they had moved to LA. The raven-haired boy's relationship with his parents was a strange one. He didn't trust them at all, several years of abuse having lead to him to trust almost no-one; yet, he had completely forgiven them and loved him with all his heart.
On the other hand, Kendall didn't believe his parents cared for Logan at all. They always made one excuse or another as to why they couldn't go and visit their son, work was short of staff, they were coming down with an illness and didn't want to risk infecting the boy, an important business trip had come up, most of what the blonde believed to be complete bullshit. The sad thing was, Logan would take his parents back in a heartbeat if the social services allowed it.
3pm came around sooner than they thought, and soon, all four boys were in apartment 2J. Carlos and Kendall were rubbing a towel over their hair and bodies, still giggling in their trunks about the intense game of water tag. James was in the bathroom, complaining that the humid heat had frizzed his hair, so was madly trying to straighten it out once again, moaning every 5 seconds about how it wasn't fair.
Logan sat on the couch, his left leg bouncing absentmindedly in nervousness as he waited for the phone to ring. He hadn't said a word since refusing to tan with James, and his mouth didn't seem like it'll spew random facts like normal any time soon.
15 minutes later, Kendall and Carlos were finally fully dry, and sat beside a physically shaking Logan. Fredrick was 15 minutes late calling now, what if something had happened? His left leg continued to bounce, his mouth obviously dry by the amount he was licking his lips. Both boys hated seeing Logan in this state, although it happened every time his parents were involved. James finally came from the bathroom; his hair now straightened to his liking and sat on the floor by Logan's legs, hoping the three friends being near would calm his nerves.
Finally, the phone began ringing loudly, making Logan jump slightly in his seat and begin to make his way over, but Mama Knight got there first.
"Hello? Yes, Mr Marshman, Jennifer Knight speaking." She was silent for a few seconds as a voice buzzed on the other end of the line. "Yes, Logan's here. Do you wish to speak to him now?" She waited again before agreeing and smiling reassuringly at Logan, passing the phone into his hand. Resting her hand on her foster son's shoulder for a few seconds, she left towards the kitchen.
Logan's face lit up as he heard the kind, familiar voice reach his ear. "Freddy, it's been too long!" He heard a chuckle on the other end.
"Now, Logan, You know you're not meant to call me that." He scolded, but his tone was light-hearted, simply happy the troubled child trusted him enough to know that he didn't mean it. "So, on the subject of a date for you to meet your parents..." He began, voice quieting a little. Logan didn't like this, Fredrick didn't sound happy.
Kendall watched as his best friend talked on the phone to the man he'd known for over 9 years now, noticing the happiness from Logan's eyes slowly fade, his lips setting into a painfully sad smile. Eavesdropping slightly on the conversation, all three worried friends heard Logan's voice crack as he whispered the phrase all of them wished he didn't have to.
"I guess they cancelled again..?" After staying silent for a few seconds, listening to Fredrick's reply, Logan let out a small sob of pure sorrow. The sound almost broke Kendall, Carlos and James's hearts, their first reaction being to go and hold the boy, but they didn't want to interrupt the call as Fredrick comforted Logan, then began the usual 'hopefully they'll be less busy next time' speech.
"Don't worry, Fredrick, I understand their work comes first." Logan whispered into the receiver, trying hard to keep his feelings from his voice. However, even he knew it was hopeless, they all knew how he felt over the matter.
"Logan, I'm telling you this as your friend, I don't wish to upset you but please, stop getting your hopes up. They do this every time. I should be unbiased but I hate hearing that amount of pain in your voice, I'll do all I can to get them contact with you, alright?" Logan simply nodded his reply, and put the phone down.
He stood, silently by the phone for a few seconds, making no effort to move. Slowly standing, Kendall began to step towards his foster brother.
"Logie, you alright?" Once he laid a hand on the boy's shoulder, the waterworks broke. Tears streamed from his brown eyes and his chest convulsed with gut-wrenching sobs. Shoving Kendall harshly away from him, Logan bolted to their shared room, slamming the door behind him and throwing his body onto the sheets, gathering them up in his arms and sobbing freely into his pillow.
"W-will Logie be okay?" Carlos's quivering voice asked. The two older boys knew that Logan breaking down had shaken Carlos, as it did every time. When Kendall didn't reply, due to not knowing an answer himself, James hugged the Latino boy.
"Of course he will, Carlitos. We just gotta be there for him like always, you know? He'll get over this, I promise you." James let go of Carlos, who seemed to have calmed instantly at the words, and began to follow where Logan had ran to.
"Err, James..." Kendall began, causing the pretty boy to stop, and turn to his friend questioningly. "What if he wants to be alone right now?" He questioned. James just rolled his eyes.
"Kendall, you're meant to be his brother. You know as well as I do that he doesn't want to be alone right now. He might think he does, but you know that as soon as he gets comfort he's going to cling to it like a lifeline."
Kendall stayed silent for a few seconds, his green eyes boring into James's hazel ones as he took in what the brunette had said, before slowly nodding in agreement.
"Yeah, let's go see our Logiebear."
Carlos squealed in delight, rushing towards the bedroom door and pressing his ear against it. Then, his gleeful expression faded. "He's crying, Kenny."
Biting his tongue to avoid saying something cruel to the boy, Kendall said nothing, reaching towards the door handle and opening it. On the bed lay Logan, curled up as small as he could possibly get, and still fully dressed as he hugged the sheets close to his chest, almost suffocating himself in the fluffy comfort. Kendall stepped in first, taking long strides across the room to where his brother lay. His whole posture radiated confidence, as it always did. He would make those tears stop, even if it was the last thing he'd ever do in this world.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, ignoring the groan it made from carrying the weight of two fully grown boys, Kendall gently began rubbing small circles into his back in a comforting manner. With no warning, Logan suddenly sat up and threw himself into Kendall's chest, holding his shirt tight and sobbing into his shirt. Getting over his momentary shock, Kendall wrapped his strong arms around the smaller boy's back, holding him tightly as he comforted him. It wasn't long before James and Carlos had joined them, all four boys now lying on the single bed with their arms wrapped around Logan.
The sobs that filled the room began to die down, Logan's breaths becoming deeper and calmer as his mind succumbed to darkness. He lay with his head on Kendall's chest, both hands resting on top of each other in small fists beside his face. Kendall had one arm around Logan, the other resting behind his head on the pillow, while Carlos was on Logan's other side, his head sadly resting on Logan's waist, still rubbing small circles into the now sound asleep boy's back, scared that if he stops, Logan would be ripped back into the harsh reality. James lay at the foot of the bed, head resting on Logan's legs. It wasn't much, but it was still the much needed comfort of them being there with him.
Kendall began to speak, no louder than a whisper. "I hate Logie's parents, you two. Logan's usually so happy. I bet they don't even know how much they hurt him every time."
James piped up at this, a little louder than Kendall, but careful to keep his tone low enough to not disturb their sleeping friend. "I bet they do, after all, it's their fault that he's in care in the first place. Remember that time when we were 9 and Logan first told us why he'd been put into foster care? The things those two did to him... I'm amazing he still wants to see them."
"That's the problem with Logie though, James," Carlos began, his voice thick from the tears he'd shed with Logan. "He's nearly as forgiving as me!"
They all went completely still and silent as Logan groaned and stirred a little from Carlo's outburst, but a few seconds later, he settled back into his sleep, none the wiser to their conversation.
"Careful, Carlitos, keep your voice down." James scolded gently, Carlos whispering his apology.
"You know, if he was allowed, Logan would take his parents back in a second. Their relationship is... complicated. I know he loves Mom, Katie and I as family, but no matter how much we want to, we're not biologically related to him. I know that's what he craves."
James sighed, slowly pushing himself up so he's sat quietly at the foot of the bed, not even bothering to fix his now ruffled hair from the position he was lying in. "Everything will be ok though, we're all there for Logan, no matter how much his parents let him down. Right?"
"Right." Kendall and Carlos agreed stubbornly, nodding their head in agreement. James then lay back down with the other boys. Slowly but surely, the boys curled into each other's comfort, falling into their own deep sleep.
Mama Knight smiled from her position in the doorway, watching the boys sleep curled with each other. She had desperately wanted to comfort Logan earlier, but she was not what he needed. Apparently though, the boys were.
She'd never been so proud of Big Time Rush.
I'm really enjoying writing this so far, I know I updated quickly but I can't promise that will last, due to the fact I'm still having a lot of exams and coursework in school at the moment. But I'll update whenever I can. Please review! It would be greatly appreciated :). Also, thank you to those few who alerted this story, it means a lot. Lots of Love, Lunachu.