A/N: Thank you to the few reviewers I've had! I've had many, many hits on my story, but scarce reviewing, which makes me wonder; what do you all think so far? Without reviews and criticism, I'm unsure how exactly you all feel about this. Please review, if you have the time! Criticism is welcomed, as long as it's constructive, of course. I appreciate your input more than you know. I'd like to know how my readers are feeling at this point. Thanks in advance! xx

Much to Julian's dismay, Logan meant it when he said he wouldn't be seeing Julian again after class. The rest of the day, Logan was nowhere to be seen. Not even at lunch period, where the trio always ate together in the memorial garden behind Hanover. When Julian approached the garden, a bottle of water in one hand and an apple in the other, he frowned when the only person he saw sitting on their bench was Derek.

He took a step forward, eyeing the perimeter subtly, searching for another sign of life.

"Logan's a no-show, then?" He inquired as he took a seat beside Derek, who was munching happily on his second slice of pizza.

Derek looked up, crumbs tumbling rudely from his lips as he spoke. "Nope," he swallowed hard, reaching for his soda bottle. "I haven't seen him since first class." He took a giant swig from the bottle, eyeing Julian's pensive expression. "Have you?"

"Seen him?" Julian shakes his head, fiddling with the stem of the apple. "Negative. I ran into him in the hallway on the way to calculus, but not since then."

Derek stuffed his mouth full of more pizza, shrugging his shoulders. "What did he say to you?"

"Nothing. Just throttled me for bringing up his pills or something."

"That was kind of a dick move, Jay."

Julian shrugged. "Whatever."

They sat in a comfortable silence for a moment as Derek ate his lunch. Julian stood up after a bit, tossing his apple at him and turning away.

Derek caught the apple, staring down at it before looking up. "Wait, where are you going?"

"To find Logan," he stated simply.

"Wait!" Derek shoved the last of his pizza into his mouth, collecting his bag and hurrying after him, falling into step beside him. "I'm coming with you."

Julian turned his head to look at his friend, quirking a brow. "Why?"

Derek rolled his eyes. "He's my friend, too, you know. And I wanna figure out what the hell is going on between you two, since you won't tell –"

Julian stopped in his tracks. "What did you say?"

Derek gulped. "He's my friend too…?"

Julian waved him off. "No, no, after that."

"I wanna know what's going on between y—"

"That," Julian snapped. "There's nothing 'going on' between us." He began walking again. Derek stared after him for a moment before following him.

"Dude, chill out," he grumbled, stepping after him. "I didn't mean it like that."

Julian shut his eyes briefly before walking faster. "Yeah, well, it sounded like it."

"Why are you getting pissy with me? If it's not like that then you shouldn't even be getting mad."

Julian's gaze found the ground and remained there as he walked, an involuntary flush covering his cheeks.

A light seemed to go off in Derek's head once more. He leaned in closer to him, lowering his voice. "Wait. Is there something going on between you? Like... like that? I don't understand why you would be acting like this if there weren't."

Julian stopped in his tracks, spinning around to face him. "I already told you 'no', Seigerson. Drop it."

"I thought you were straight? What the hell—"

"How many times do I have to say this? NOTHING IS GOING ON!" Julian roared, his flush deepening. Derek's mouth fell open at his defensiveness.

"Dude… sorry I asked…" he murmured as he backed slowly away from Julian, who rolled his eyes and took a step toward him.

"I don't know what is going on in your head or how you came to the conclusion that I—" He dropped his tone, eyes shifting around at the students swarming by him. "—like him, but you keep that thought in your thick little head, okay?" He leaned back, straightening his uniform out slightly and adjusting his tie. "I can't have your sick little rumor jeopardizing my reputation, or my career."

A slow, knowing grin crept over Derek's face. He took another step backward, holding his hands up in a mock-surrender fashion. "I'm not saying anything, Jules."

Julian's eyes locked on his dangerously. "I'm warning you, Derek." He scowled as he turned back around, marching off to continue his search for Logan. Derek shook his head and turned around, heading in the opposite direction. This wasn't something he wanted to be in the middle of, he decided.

Julian combed the grounds of campus with expert eyes, searching desperately for the familiar blonde bob of hair to no avail. He only had half an hour left of lunch period, so he knew he had to make this quick. After ducking in the lunch hall, scouring South and Main eagerly, he only had one other place Logan could be.

Stuart House.

He began heading toward it, peeling inside quickly and slamming the main door behind him. His eyes darted around the common area, searching the faces of the boys in there. None were Logan. He checked the coffee supply, and even storage while he was down there. Nothing. No sign of him anywhere.

"Goddamn it, Logan!" He cursed under his breath as he trotted up the stairs to the Stuart dormitories. He had to be here. There was nowhere else he could have been, unless he was hiding, but that didn't sound like Logan. His steps slowed as he reached Logan's dorm room. With a deep breath, he slowly pushes his door open, not bothering to knock. He never knocked.

Logan sat with his back against the headboard, hands woven into his hair in a distressed manner. His wide eyes were set on his knees which were pulled tightly to his chest. The Loro Piani scarf was draped across his lap. This was the first thing Julian noticed. Logan, however, didn't notice Julian's presence until he had spoken.

"What are you doing in here, Logan?"

The blonde's head jerked up, eyes meeting the voice addressing him. His hands dropped from his head into his lap, covertly tucking the scarf into a less visible fashion.

"What the hell are you doing in here? That's the better question. This is my room, afterall."

Julian shut the door quietly, taking a step further into the room. His eyes never left the green ones staring back at him. "You're really this upset with me for bringing up your…" He motioned over to his bedside table, "Your medication?"

Logan quirked an eyebrow. "You came all this way to ask me if I'm mad at you?" He shifted a bit in his seat. "Since when does my being mad at you phase you?"

"I'm just wondering."

"That's an awful long way to walk to just be wondering about something," Logan challenged, dropping his gaze. He sighed. "To answer your question, yes. I'm rather annoyed with you right now."

Julian let a tiny smile play against his lips. "I can tell. You never miss lunch hour. It's your favorite part of the day."

Logan glanced back up to him, hearing his playful tone. Julian took a step nearer and the prefect shifted uncomfortably, the scarf lying in his lap still. He brought his knees closer to his chest in an attempt to conceal it better, which Julian seemed to take as an invitation to sit down, because he did. He looked over to him from the foot of his bed.

Silence. A long silence, then: "Sorry."

Logan's eyes narrowed. What was this? Julian Larson, the self-righteous and least humble person he'd ever known, making an apology?

"Excuse me?"

"For bringing that up. It was a low blow. I'm apologizing."

"That's not very much like you at all."

Julian sighed loudly, pressing a finger to the bridge of his nose to summon calm. "Look, Logan. Are you going to accept my apology, or what?"

Logan sighed, shrugging one shoulder. "Fine."

"Is that a yes?"

"If you want it to be, sure."

Julian groaned. "Why must you be so insufferable all of the time? Is it necessary?"

"Only because you're an unchangeable asshole ninety percent of the time, yes."

"I'm trying to make things right, Logan. You aren't letting it happen."

"Why should I?"

Julian leaned closer, glaring. "You know how much it takes for me to apologize to someone."

Logan considered this for a moment. He had thought of this earlier. It was strange Julian was apologizing at all, let alone pushing Logan to accept his sentiments. The prefect sighed.

"If I tell you it's okay, will you leave me alone?"

"Only if you mean it."

Logan shifted again, parting his lips to answer him. Before he could make a sound, however, Julian had moved closer to him. He pointed to Logan's lap.

"Loro Piani?"

Logan's eyes dropped down to the scarf in his lap and he blanched. Shit. Julian had seen it, despite Logan's best efforts to conceal the garment. He remained silent, eyes frozen in fear and locked with Julian's.

Julian eyed him curiously. "You haven't given it to Kurt yet?"

Logan blinked, searching for an excuse. "I've yet to see him."

"But why is it in your lap?"

Shit. Shit, shit shit. What was he supposed to say? Admit the truth? That he was desperately clutching at it the entire night, and as soon as he got back into his room? He couldn't do that. No way.

"I… uh, I…" He stammered, unable to form the right words. Hell, there were no words.

Julian smirked. "I think you should keep the scarf. It would look good on you, and you know it. It's why I got it in the first place."

Logan glanced down at the scarf in his lap that was betraying him. He glared hard at it, remaining silent.

Julian frowned. "Or, I'll just take it back, and no one will get it. That works too…" He reached for the scarf. Logan jerked away.

"No."

The brunette quirked a brow. "No? Why?"

Logan averted his eyes. Why did Julian have to ask so many questions?

"I want it."

"Why?" Julian's smirk grew.

Logan rolled his eyes. "Squash your ego."

"I've no ego, Logan. What is it you are insinuating I am thinking, mm?"

Logan's eyes darted over to meet the other boy's.

"Nothing. Look, I accept your apology. Can you go now?"

"Can I take the scarf with me?"

"No! Stop it!"

"So you like the scarf, then?"

Logan sighed. Julian was pushing this, and it was agitating him.

"If I tell you yes, will you leave?"

"If you tell me the truth, I'll leave."

"Yes."

"Is that the truth?"

Logan slapped a hand to the side of his face in frustration. "Christ, Jules, yes, it's the truth! Now go."

Julian didn't move. He leaned closer to him. "Why do you like it so much?"

Logan was about at the end of his patience. It was wearing thin, and his medication was beginning to wear off. He just wanted to sleep. It's partially why he had come here during his lunch period in the first place. He intended to take a nap, but Julian wasn't letting this happen. He was exhausted, and sick of this.

"Because you gave it to me. I like the way it feels, and I like the way it smells like you," he blurted out, not bothering to filter his words as he normally did. He was too tired to care. His eyes bolt wide open, realizing the admittance he had just made. He met Julian's gaze, which was now wide with shock. What did Logan just say to him?

"B-Because… because what?"

Logan gulped. Hard. Almost painfully hard.

"You heard me."

Julian's gaze never wavered. Not as he stood, and not as he slowly backed away toward Logan's door. Logan sat up straighter. "Where the hell are you going?"

Julian didn't answer. He was petrified. In a matter of fifteen minutes, Julian had indirectly let slip to Derek that he may or may not have felt something for Logan, followed by Logan indirectly admitting to Julian himself that he may or may not have felt for Julian. It was too much for the actor to handle. He had to leave. He had to do what he did best when the going got rough. He had to run away. Literally.

"Answer me!" Logan demanded as he realized Julian was ignoring him. Julian remained quiet, turning and hurrying for the door without another word.

"Don't walk away from me, Larson!" Logan pleaded, throwing the scarf from his lap and standing up, hurrying after him. Julian shook his head with wide, frightened eyes.

"S-Stay … stay away, Logan."

Logan's heart sank. In all his years of having Julian's friendship, he had never said that to him. No matter how many times Logan had thrown him against walls, decked him in his jaw, called him the worst names imaginable, Julian had never said that to him. Ever. He had always been the one person who never, ever told him to keep away. And he was saying it now? After Logan's awkward slip of the tongue?

His insides twisted as he stopped dead in his tracks, unsure of what to do besides simply let Julian walk away. He had fucked up. Big time. He never should have said that to him. What a fucking idiot, he thought. With a loud grunt, he slammed his door and paced back toward his bed. Fuck classes, he thought. Fuck his grades, fuck his teachers. He didn't care. He wasn't staying awake and dealing with the horrible churning in his stomach at Julian's words. No way in hell. He stormed back to his nightstand, jerking the drawer open and pulling out four pills – twice his normal dose. He took them all at once, determined to numb himself. He couldn't deal with this. He refused to. He threw the scarf angrily away from his bed and threw himself down upon the sheets, waiting for sleep to take him from this awful, living, breathing nightmare.

He had destroyed the last relationship he would ever touch. All of his friendships had failed prior, and he clung to Julian like he was a life vest in the raging waves of his life. Now he didn't even have that.

Why should he remain awake?