Thanks for being patient with my updating.
Humpty Dumpty
"Time for bed," Carlos tells the boy after wiping him dry with a towel and dressing him in a fitted pajama, even though he knows Logan is just going to rip it off in the bedroom anyways.
It's been a routine for the two over the last few days. Logan would giggle as Carlos tickles him into the two-piece night wear. Then the Latino would give a stern face, pointing his straight finger at Logan's chest like an authoritative parent. Logan ceases his laughter, waiting for Carlos to say the three words, "time for bed." That is his signal for Logan to dash to the bedroom, to rip the clothes off and to jump on the bouncy spring bed.
It, even though Carlos knows if he ever ran around naked or jumped on a bed would end with him getting grounded, brings a smile to his face. He doesn't understand why rules don't apply to Logan but watching Logan being happy is more than enough to keep him happy.
"Are you dressed for bed?" Carlos asks as he walks into the room, knowing certainly that the boy is naked.
"Who is this?" Logan shoves a wooden picture into Carlos at the doorway. It takes him a second but he instantly realizes the picture Logan is pressing into his face.
"Where did you get that?" Carlos yells, grabbing the memory from Logan's fingers. He clinches his teeth, face turning a deep red at an alarming rate.
"Um..." Logan pouts, sensing he did something wrong. "There." He points to the open night stand drawer.
"Who do you think you are, going through my stuff? This is private." Carlos slams the picture in, scaring the brunette with the loud noise.
"Sorry." Logan plays with his fingers. "You look very happy with the girl and I wanted to know."
"Logan. This isn't your business to know." Carlos yells, fixing the knocked over contents. "This isn't even your home. You can't go through my stuff, do you understand?"
Logan shifts his exposed toes against the rough carpet.
"Do you understand me?" Carlos yells once more; this time Logan nods. "Good. Now go to sleep." The angry owner throws off his shirt and crawls under the blanket, staring at the petrified boy, who looks like he is about to break down into tears in seconds. "Go to bed."
"Sorry, Carlos." Logan fearfully grabs the pajama shirt off the floor and throws it on. He walks into the bed, curling his body and legs into a ball, waiting for Carlos to react. Luckily Carlos wraps his arms around his frame instead of the slap Logan dreadfully feared. "Good night, Carlos."
Consumed with his anger, Carlos doesn't answer back.
...
Rustling, Carlos groans on the cold sheet his body rolls onto. He blinks, steadily opening his lazy eyes to the green printed wall. He shakes his head, noticing he is on at the left side of the bed where Logan normally is sleeping or was sleeping. The empty space has an indent of the boy's figure and the gray fitted shirted Logan wore is messily placed on the pillow.
He checks the side fixture alarm clock before he groans again; six thirty A.M. Who would wake up at this time? It's too early for anyone to function or too late for party goers to stay out but seeing his friend is up, Carlos thinks he might as well start breakfast.
"Logie, go brush your teeth!" He screams in his surprisingly quiet home. He ignores the tranquility, thinking finally after last night's happening Logan needs to learn his place in his home. "I'm going to make pancakes."
No answer. Now it starts to concern him. Pancakes are Logan's favorite. The boy can eat two plates full of the fluffy dish, sometime stealing Carlos' meal just because of his affinity for them. Something is wrong.
"Logan, where are you?" He calls, walking through the various rooms. He isn't in the kitchen waiting for the food, the bathroom brushing his teeth or even in the living room after Carlos taught him how to turn on the TV. The boy is no where to be found and it is scaring him. "Logan, if this is a joke, ha-ha! You win! Now come out."
His heart beats faster, arms spazzing with nerves. "Logan! I'm serious. Where are you?" His tan skin flushes a pale complexion as he rechecks closets, empty rooms and the front porch. It is then he concludes Logan left, hopefully not too long ago or maybe Logan ran to James for something, maybe to return clothes. That's a possible reason. Yes, Logan is returning clothes so he can be naked. That is right.
"Come on James, pick up." Carlos taps his foot impatiently after just the first ring.
"Hello?"
"James!" Carlos screams into the phone as soon as he hears a sleepy moan. "Is Logan with you? Please tell me he is with you. He has to be with you. Is he there?"
"Carlos, it's like six thirty in the morning."
"Is he there?" Carlos yells into the phone, annoyed with his friend.
"No, he is not here."
Carlos slaps his head, even though he expects as much that Logan is not to be there.
"He isn't with you?" Carlos hears his friend rustling out of bed, putting clothes on.
"No. I woke up and, and he was gone." Carlos says, folding his hand on his sweaty forehead; a few random strands of raven hair stick to the skin.
"Why did Logan leave like that? Isn't he happy living with you?" James asks.
"Well, yesterday I know I shouldn't have but I yelled at him." Carlos whispers, guilt and blame filling his thoughts. "It's my fault, James. It's all my fault that Logan ran away."
"No it isn't." James comforts even through Carlos knows his friend blames him a bit if not for the whole problem. "Give me five minutes and I'll be over. Get your bike ready and meet me outside. We will find him. Don't worry."
"Ok, thanks James."
...
Riding his way down the short path, James couldn't help but think of how callous Carlos is; how thoughtless and cruel he is for yelling at a poor baby. If he was in the same situation he would never yell at the boy. Even though James had no idea what sparked the problem, he is sure one hundred percent, he would never do anything to stress Logan.
Slowly, Carlos' house comes into view, the said boy straddling his bike ready to go.
"Thanks James. I don't know what I would do without you." Carlos smiles, tightening his helmet on his head. James nods.
"That's fine. So how should we do this?"
"Well Logan is naked so we have to find him fast before anyone sees him. I don't want to explain to my dad or to the neighbors why I have a naked boy running around."
James crooks his eyebrows judgmentally. He couldn't help it but blame Carlos more for causing the helpless boy to run in the cold state. Thank gosh that the weather today is warmer than usual.
"I think we should split up and meet at the park. Logan is shy of people so he should be hiding in open, empty places and hopefully not in other people's homes."
James nods, agreeing with his plan. "I take left and you take right?"
"Ok. Keep your phone on in case I call." Carlos commands, preparing his foot on the petal. "And James?"
"Yea?"
"Thanks for being my best friend. I really need you this time." James smiles, guilt clouding him for thinking Carlos is careless or a horrible for losing Logan. He shakes his head.
"You can thank me later when we find Logan. So go now!"
And with that, both boys diverge in opposite directions, eyes focusing on places Logan could hide his lithe body in. Carlos speeds, eyes shaking as fast as his trembling hands firmly grasping the handles. He bites his lips, knowing if he opens his mouth a slew of yelling will erupt, waking the whole neighborhood.
The park was thirty minutes away from his house by bike therefore Carlos believes that Logan could not have ventured that far. They only went to the playground once, a couple of days ago but Logan couldn't have remembered the directions on how to get there, can he? Carlos starts sweating beads, wanting to deny Logan's intelligence but he knows Logan is smarter that what he is perceived to be no matter how innocent and young at heart Logan is.
...
Walking through the mall, Carlos has a couple extra tens he is willing to spend on buying clothes that would fit Logan. He thinks that maybe the reason for Logan's aversion toward being dressed is because the clothes don't fit.
The mall is not too crowd, a couple of high school kids here and there but with the college vacation still in effect, mostly the mall remains scarce. Looking at the various stores for places that would sell clothes to fit Logan's size, extra slim and tall, Carlos loses track of where the boy is.
"Logan!" He calls out once, back tracking his way down the hall. Luckily, Logan has not traveled too far away, stopping at the pet store. Carlos observes with his face scrunched, wondering what the boy is doing. "Thank God I found you."
Logan pouts, eyes welling with tears. He stares through the clean, glass window at a puppy running in circle, chasing his wagging tail. Reaching out for the dog to only be stopped by the dense hard glass, Logan sniffles.
"Logie, are you ok?" Carlos asks, slouching down to Logan's level.
"He's sad." Logan declares, lips quivering. Carlos takes a second look at the animal, noticing the brimming smile on the golden miniature dog.
"No he isn't Logie. Look. He is smiling, having fun."
"He's in a cage." Logan cries. "He is sad. His parents hate him and left him in a dark cage."
"Logan." Carlos says softly, pulling Logan's head away from the shop. He forces Logan to stare at him. "His parents didn't hate him. Look, he is happy."
"No! He is sad. His parents locked him up and beat him. He is sad. That is why he is locked in the cage."
The pain throbs in his chest, knowing exactly what Logan is talking about; Logan's projecting his inner pain. "Logan, do you know what this is?"
Logan takes a look at the store sign before shaking his head no.
"This is a pet store where people buy puppies and take care of them, making a new friend."
"But Doggy doesn't have a family. He doesn't have one for a long time."
"He does now." Carlos squeezes Logan's hand. "Logan. You are my Doggy . I will take care of you and become your best friend. I will make you happy because you make me happy."
"Thanks Carlos." Logan grins, taking a peek at the cheerful animal. "Carlos? Can we buy Doggy? I don't want clothes. I want Doggy."
Carlos grits his teeth at the pout, wanting to say yes but knows he can't. "I'll tell what. I will buy you a dog but not a real dog. But you can still hug it and play with it, ok?"
Instead of answering, Logan throws his arms around Carlos in a tight embrace. "Thanks Carlos. I get a new friend?"
"Sure Logan." Carlos smiles, caressing his back as he tilts his head down into the crook of Logan's shoulder. Suddenly, he blushes, noticing something about the boy. Through his loose, oversize jeans, Carlos realizes Logan is not wearing underwear; those round curves sticking out at him as clear as day.
Quickly, Carlos breaks from the hug. "Co-come on Logan. We have to buy you some clothes." Carlos directs, walking awkwardly like a penguin from his suddenly tightened and filled pair of skinny Jean. "Come on Logan, before someone sees us." Carlos mumbles the last part. Logan giggles, observing Carlos' waddle. Not caring why Carlos is walking this way in the first place, he copies him, waddling excitedly.
"Carlos is funny."
...
Dodging the trees and mailboxes, Carlos speeds faster. Every second of not see the little brunette hurts more than the last; the thought of losing his friend after that memory makes his emotions more unbearable.
He holds his tongue, wishing he can just shout out that he is sorry and just wants Logan back until he finally reaches the park, seeing a pale body scaling a tall oak tree.
"Logan!" Carlos calls, catching the said boy's attention. Logan, frighten and surprised, climbs faster, hugging the trunk for support. Carlos jumps off of his bike.
"Carlos!" The Latino turns his head to his left, watching his other friend jump off of his bike.
"Logan is in the tree." Carlos runs towards his tall friend. "He can fall."
"We have to get him."
"No!" Logan yells as the two boys walk closer to the base. "I don't want to come."
"Logan, that is not safe. Please come down."
"No!"
"Please come home."
"I don't have one." Logan whimpers, making Carlos twist in pain. "Carlos does not like me."
"I'm sorry, Logie!" Carlos cries. "I am very sorry, Logan. I didn't mean to yell at you. I was just mad and I didn't want anyone to see that picture. But you mean more to me than that picture. Please come home."
"No!"
"I promise never to yell at you again. I promise to be your best friend. I'll make you pancakes everyday and my five layer cake whenever you want. Please Logan." He begs.
"No!"
"Logan, please." James joins. "I promise to play with you more and make you happy. Just come down before you get hurt."
"No!"
"I promise to be your family!" Logan opens his clinched eyes. "I am your family. I care about you. I know I am not your mom or your dad but I will never hurt you. I will never make you sad. You are my family."
"You mean it?" Logan whispers silently but Carlos can read his lips.
"Yes! We are a happy family. You, me and James. We are the best family and ... and I will never make you sad again!"
Logan calms down, his arms loosening around the rough bark.
"That's good, Logie. Just come down slowly." Carlos coaches, watching Logan descending slowly until his hand slips. "Logan!" Carlos calls, watching the body fall.
James freaks out. "Carlos, run! You're closer!" The Latino sprints foreword, dashing as fast as he can, using Logan's cry as his motivation to move faster.
And the falling boy cries loudly, his eyes shut close as his limbs flail in the air. "Save me!" He cries, seeing the darkness of his closed eyelids until he feels the impact of something hard beneath him, knocking him unconscious.
...
Twitching and blinking, Logan gradually opens his heavy eyes. His pupils adjust to the dim light in the room. He feels around, the softness beneath him and a warm source to his side. He tries to sit up but the warm source moves with him, pulling him back down.
"Just, just lay down with me." Logan recognizes the voice, forming the body in his faint eyes.
"Ca-Carlos?"
Shh. Please don't talk." Carlos whimpers almost as softly as a baby's cry. "You've gone through a lot this morning and I can't let you get hurt anymore."
Logan shifts on the bed, his eyes fully accustomed to the light. He notices his tall friend sitting in the seat next to Carlos. "James?"
"Shh Logan." James repeats with a finger to his own lip. "Just get some rest. You must be tired."
Logan nests his head into the pillow, stiffening a couple of tears.
"No, no Logie. Please don't cry. James and I are here for you."
"I am a bad friend." Logan stutters. "I made Carlos mad. I made James sad. I am bad."
"No, no Logie. You are not bad. This is what friends and family do." Carlos solaces.
"No. Go-good families don't make each other sad or mad."
"No, but good families worry about each other." James adds, taking a seat on the bed. "We worry. We care for you, Logan. That is what families do. We want you to be safe and happy."
"You promise you are not sad, Jamie?"
James laughs at the nickname, knowing Logan is getting better. "I am never sad because of you. You make me happy."
Logan smiles until he turns to face Carlos; the grin falling from his lips. "Do you not like me anymore, Carlos?"
"I always like you, Logan."
"Are you mad at me?"
Carlos thinks for a second, remembering the picture. "No. No I am not mad anymore. This is your home now and I want you to feel welcome. I would miss you too much."
"Miss?"
"That is when you want someone but the person is not with you anymore." James defines. "I will miss you too."
"Miss me?"
"Don't ever run away from me again, ok Logan?" Carlos pulls the boy in closer, his head nesting in Logan's hair. "Everyone will miss you. I'm not happy if you run away from me again."
"I will miss you, too." Logan cries. "I promise to never run from you again, Carlos. I will miss you."
"Hey, hey. Don't cry, Logan." Carlos scoots back, reaching under the pillow. "You know who else will miss you?"
"Who?" Logan asks before glee and surprise wash over his face. "Carlitos!" He grabs the hidden dog shaped doll from Carlos' hands and coddles it against his chest, squeezing tightly.
"Carlitos?" James snickers at Carlos. "He named it after you?"
"Carlitos, I miss you." Logan interrupts Carlos before an explanation is given. He wiggles closer to Carlos, resting his naked body in Carlos arms. "Carlitos wants to hug his family."
Carlos chuckles, wrapping his arms around both of them. James sighs silently, standing up from the bed. He watches the two and the doll like a fourth wheel, unwanted and distanced. He blinks the collecting tears back in his eyes as he slowly backs away to the door.
"Um... I guess I'll be going." James says questioningly, hoping his friends would see him but they don't. He sighs again, leaving the house and leaving Carlos to cuddle in bed with the one he wants.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I hope to post the next chapter soon.
Please Review =]