Hello, readers and a merry holidays to you! First of all, I would like to thank those who have read this and I never expected so many people to like this, since this is my first story. I probably shouldn't be so cheery while I'm writing this, but I can't help it! Alright then, allow me to stop my boring chatter. Hope you like it!

The next few days were a blur of pain to Carlos. In that time, the misery-stricken boy could only watch as Logan drifted away from him. He even started bunking with Kendall, his excuse being, "You probably hate the amount of books in your room, so I'm doing you a favor." Carlos knew the real reason.

Logan hated him. That was the only explanation that came to his mind. He forced the smart boy away from him with his confession. He didn't have to tell him. He didn't have to tell anyone. That could've been the one secret he took to his grave, yet he trusted too much. He went too far and he knew it.

Carlos stared at the ceiling with an absolutely dull expression. He had simply given up trying to be cheerful, when everything was wrong. The world had slipped out from under his feet and no one knew. He hadn't even told the only person who knew about his crush, James.

Carlos stood up and trudged to the bathroom. He glanced behind him once he got to the door. There was no chance James would be back soon, because this was prime tanning time. He turned back to the bathroom door, took a deep breath and pulled it open. He stepped inside and locked the door behind him, proceeding to the sink.

He was startled by his eyes, despite his fear, they showed silent determination. He was really going to do this, because he couldn't back down now. He opened the medicine cabinet and rummaged around until his hand clamped over the slim object.

The razor glinted maliciously in his palm as he stared at it. He turned it over a few times before bringing it to his wrist, then he stopped. What if I die? He thought to himself. "No one will miss me." He answered out loud, colder than ice. He sighed and a tear rolled down his cheek.

The blade stayed in place on his wrist, too close to a major vein for comfort. It seemed to dare him, challenging his strength to cut himself. But, could he? He had told himself time and time again that he could, but now... he just didn't know.

He was startled by a door opening then closing. "Carlos? Are you here?" His eyes widened and he jumped at the sound of the voice, causing him to drop the razor. He stared down at it and tears filled his eyes. He sunk down to the floor beside the blade and curled into a ball. He cried and disregarded the knocking he heard from the other side of the locked door. "Carlos! Answer me!" there was no response.

Carlos crawled to the door and unlocked it. He had no reason to do so, but if James couldn't open the door, he would've busted it down. The door opened and the pretty stood in the doorway, still wearing his swimming trunks. He looked panicked. "Carlos!" he yelled dropping beside the weeping boy, opposite to the razor blade.

"Are you okay? Tell me what happened. Please calm down." he said softly in Carlos' ear. He had pulled the small boy towards him and enveloped him in a hug. He spotted the razor blade on the floor and a wave of despair washed over him. "Carlos... D-Did you..."

Carlos looked up at James with a pained expression. Tears were streaming from his eyes. He knew what James was referring to. He shook his head. "I'm too w-weak. I couldn't do it." He started crying harder and he buried his face into James' chest.

"Come here. Let's get you out of the floor." James said carefully, as if saying the wrong thing would set the broken boy off. He picked him up and led him to his bed. He set Carlos down on the bed and pulled away. "I'll be right back. Stay here." He walked away hesitantly.

James walked through the open door and picked up the razor, placing it on the sink. He left and shut the door, quickly crossing the room to get a shirt from his dresser, put it on, then proceed to sit next to Carlos. The said boy was watching him the whole time with a strangely childlike quality for someone who had tried to cut themselves. James wrapped his arms around Carlos without saying a word.

Carlos only turned his head to bury it in James' chest. They stayed like that for a few minutes before James spoke up cautiously. "Why did you do it?"

The smaller boy felt a pang of guilt. There was so much pain and fright in James' eyes. "It- It just hurt soo much, Jamie. I couldn't stand knowing that Logan hated me. And I thought... I thought no one would miss me if something went wrong... If I died a-and I thought I could do it, but... I-I couldn't... Please, don't hate me, too."

The pretty boy was shocked at those words. He thought Logan hated him? That no one would miss him? "Carlos... Logan doesn't hate you, he just needs some time to adjust and..." he swallowed hard. Carlos was watching him with a blank expression. "I could never hate you, Carlos, because... because I love you and if you died, I wouldn't have a reason to live. Please believe me."

Now, it was the latino's turn to be shocked. James loved him? "James..." he breathed out before the taller boy leaned down and kissed his cheek, afraid to go any farther. Carlos gave a surprised squeak in response. "D-Do you really... Love me?" the last two words echoed in his head as if he he had spoken in a large cave instead.

"Y-Yes. Do you... feel anything for me?"

He blinked. Did he? The entire time he was falling for Logan, he was oblivious to the fact that someone felt that way for him... Awkward, short, Carlos. And of all people, it was the one boy who could make any girl fall for him at the drop of a hat, but he chose Carlos.

"Look, I know you still like Logan, but... Could you give us a chance?" James asked hopefully, still holding the smaller boy in his arms. Carlos smiled shyly and nodded. He wrapped his arms around James and buried his face into the latter's chest, but he caught the immediate goofy smile plastered to his lips.

So, one question should be answered. Question: Did James like Carlos? Answer: Oh, yes. Yes he did. But, there is another question. How will this relationship work out? Can Carlos let go of his previous crush? Or will he continue to fall for the raven-haired device of torture? Now that I've put those thoughts in your mind, Happy holidays!

*E.M.*