Thanks for over 100 reviews. =]. I didn't think this would get this many reviews. =] They make me happy and motivate me to work harder on updating faster. And btw, THANKS to all of the anon/non-registered reviewers. I love to reply to all of reviewers.
Where's Alice
The faint rays of light cause James to stir in his bed. He smiles and rolls, tucking the soft body between his arms and legs. The warmth of the clothed cylinder he tightly holds makes him giddy and overtly gleeful.
"You're so soft, Logan. I can just lay in bed with you all day." James dazedly states, not even bothering to open his eyes. Just the thought of the lithe boy in his arms is enough for him to know he's not dream. He waits a second, the silence makes him chuckle that Logan wants to just sleep like a log in his built, muscular frame. "I'm so glad that you're my boyfriend, Logan. You're the only one who doesn't disappoint me. Everyone I dated treated me like poop but you, no. You make me happy. I know you'll never leave me, cheat on me. You're so innocent and cute and perfect."
He continues rambling, spewing complements after complements of how Logan is different from his past relationships. After ten minutes of coddling, James gets suspicious of the quaint silence. "Logan, are you awake?"
He asks, finally opening his eyes. He looks down, blushing that he was confessing to his long body pillow the whole time. Sliding the pillow off of him, he looks around the bed and the room of signs of the shorter brunette. Logan is no where in sight. James shakes his head, chuckling at his embarrassing confession to a pillow. No wonder why Logan didn't reply back. He wasn't on the bed.
"Hey Logan," He calls loudly. "I'm going to brush my teeth, ok? Have fun exploring my house." James comments, remembering Logan never saw the rest of his house and assuming, with the curiosity of a kid, he would venture through James' mansion. He is rich after all. He mother brought five houses in the tri-state area for storage of her expanding cosmetic company. James agreed that if he does inventory of the supplies, his mother would let him live alone in one of the houses. Thinking this would help James' business skills, she agreed and let James do what ever he wants. He is placed as the owner of the home and is allowed to let anyone live with him as he pleases.
Actually, James offered Carlos a room but being the proud and independent Latino Carlos is, his friend rather find a job and live alone. Beside, James is a messy person. Carlos would have gone crazy if he had to clean James' expanding closets. The stylish boy continuously restocks his supply of clothing to match the trends and season. Oh how much fun Carlos would have cleaning a mansion instead of his one floor home?
"I have the same toothbrush and toothpaste Carlos has so you don't have to be worry, Logan." James continues calling from his open bathroom. The silence starts to scare him. It's as if Logan never entered his home at all but that is not possible. Logan was on the bed last night. There is no way Logan disappeared.
"Hey Logan, where are you?" James searches the house, one room at a time. Checking the cellar as the last place of the two floors plus basement home, James panics. His face is flushed of the hard worked tan he got yesterday at the beach and his hands trembles.
"LOGAN!" He cries loudly, running around the house once more, twice now that he checked the home, but his boyfriend is no where to be found. "This is not funny Logan. Come out!" The fear of losing Logan can be heard in his trembling voice. It was his second day, heck it hasn't even been twenty four hours yet, and James already lost his boyfriend. That's a horrible new record.
"Logan! I'm not sad or mad. Please come out. I am your family. I'll miss you if you leave." James scrambles through his memories of why Logan would run away. The only time he did was when Carlos got mad at Logan but that doesn't make sense. James was nothing but kind to the boy. His anxiety builds and he resorts to asking Carlos for help.
"Please pick up." James prays, listening to the rings of his phone. "Please have Logan."
"Hello."
"Is Logan with you?" James yells, disregarding the tired voice his friend has. "He is missing."
"What?" Carlos shrieks, dropping his phone. "What happened? Is Logan ok?" He stammers, voice brimming with worry.
"I don't know." James continues checking his house for a fourth, a fifth time. "I woke up in the morning and Logan was gone."
"That is what happened when I yelled at him." James hears his friend's whisper. "Did you yell at him last night?"
"No, I never yelled at him. I let him sleep on my bed with me. I practically would have given him anything he wanted if he asked. There is no reason why Logan would want to disappear." James trembles, leaning against his kitchen counter for support and wiping the beads of sweats off of his forehead.
"Maybe Logan is in the closet." Carlos tires to comfort, hoping that was would Logan is doing.
"Are you freaking joking?" James yells at his friend. "Are you freaking making fun of us because we're gay? You are freaking-"
"NO!" Carlos yells at James' accusation. "When I first told Logan to go to bed, he ran into a closet. My dad said he found Logan in a closet and I'm guessing since Logan never slept over your house he got scared and ran into a closet."
"Oh, that makes sense. Sorry Carlos. I am just a bit antsy." James frisks each room again, checking every single one of his deep walk-in closets but in the end, Logan is no where to be found. "He's not here! Could he had run away? What did I do wrong? I only had him for a night and I screwed up!" James shouts into his phone, kicking his closet door.
"You did nothing wrong." His friend coaxes. "Logan is somewhere. We will find him. I'll help you."
"Really, Carlos?" James excitedly jumps through the cracked door and into his massive closet of clothes. He checks his wall TV for the weather, collecting his outfit. "Carlos! It's frigid cold! It's forty five degrees outside. If Logan is out there, he is probably frozen. Dammit! Why can't today be warm like yesterday?"
"James! Calm down. We will find him. Just get dress."
"Right, thanks buddy." James jumps into his jeans and t-shirt, not even caring to fix his hair. "What's the plan? I'll check the park and you check around?" James commands in his frantic panic.
"Sure James. He is probably in the park. I'll check everywhere else."
"Thanks so much Carlos." James dashes to the front of his garage, unchaining his bike.
...
Flipping his phone off, Carlos sighs. He's supposed to be getting ready for work. He's starting his double shift in two hours and he hasn't showered or eaten yet. Shaking his head and wanting to help his friend, Carlos wraps a scarf around his neck, and throws on his down jacket.
I'm going to be late to work, he texts his boss, hoping he won't mind Carlos walking in an hour late. He might get fired but finding Logan is more important than his tedious job at the grocery store half a mile away.
Fixing his jacket buttons, Carlos steps to the front door, turning the knob with his free hand. Unexpectedly, a body slides off the door and onto his legs. Carlos gasps, watching the cold, naked body on his porch. It's barely covered, using the shirt and jeans as a makeshift blanket rather than as actual wore clothing. Its cheeks are blue and the limbs are ice cold.
"Logan!" Carlos drops to the ground, warming the unconscious body with his jacket.
"Car?" The eyes flicker.
"No Logan! You have to stay awake." He shakes the body, holding it close to his chest, folding his jacket around his blue discolored chest. "Logan, come on, stay awake! Don't leave me."
"I'm cold."
With the boy in his arms, the Latino dashes to his room, placing Logan on the bed and under the thick covers. He rushes to the portable heater, wheeling it next to the bed and turning it to max. Lastly, he rushes to close his front door before returning to his friend's side.
"What were you doing, Logan? You could have died in the cold!" Carlos yells even though he said he wouldn't, cringing and pacing in frustration. He wasn't going to get this involve with Logan now that the boy has James as a boyfriend but he can't help feeling over worried for him; Logan is basically a baby in the world. "Logan," he repeats, calming a bit. "Why did you run away?"
"I-I'm hungry."
"No Logan. Answer the question first and then I'll get James to make you food."
"Please Carlos." Logan begs with his brown eyes, reaching for Carlos' arm with his frostbitten blue fingers. "I'm hungry."
Carlos shakes his head and sighs. "You have to answer me when I come back, ok?"
Logan smiles, nodding his head against the familiar pillow. Unknowingly Carlos cracks a smile from watching one form on Logan's face. He's not supposed to be this affected by his friend's boyfriend, but he can't help it. Logan is a pool of innocence that creeps smiles onto Carlos every single time. It's not supposed to be this way. Carlos groans, returning to the kitchen with a can of soup.
Finish making the steamy bowl of chicken soup, Carlos convenes back to Logan's side of the bed. The brunette pouts, staring at the foreign bowl of piping hot soup. "I want pancake."
"And I made you chicken noodle soup," Carlos replies to Logan's whining. "You are having soup because you're cold, which I am very mad about."
"Sorry Carlos." Logan looks down, scooting closer to the boy holding the bowl.
"No, no. Stay there." Carlos pushes Logan back to the middle of the bed, cocooning him with the whole blanket. "You have to stay in the blanket. I don't want you to be cold."
"But you said no eating in bed."
"And I say stay." Carlos commands, scooping a spoon of the broth. He blows on it until the steam is barely visible. "Open your mouth." Logan does, letting Carlos feed him the first spoon of chicken broth.
"Mmm." Logan smiles, sloshing the soup in his mouth. He opens his mouth wide, waiting for the second spoon. But after ten seconds of waiting, Logan crooks his head and looks at Carlos. The other boy holds a somber, almost depressed expression, staring into the entropy of components in the bowl. "Sorry," Logan apologizes, sort of sensing the mood.
"Why did you run away?" Carlos blinks back his forming tear, continuing his feeding. "You could have froze to death if I did not find you in time."
"Sorry," he repeats, avoiding eye contact.
"Open your mouth." Carlos softly commands, holding the spoon to Logan's mouth. "Why Logan?"
"I miss you. I promised to never run away from you." Logan whispers. He shakes off the huge wrapped blanket and crawls onto Carlos' lap. Avoiding the hot bowl in Carlos' hand, Logan plots himself on the familiar crossed legs, hugging Carlos. "I don't feel right sleeping in James' bed. I want Carlos."
He feels the warmth of Logan's body transferring onto him; the soothing feeling of the naked body pressed on him but he can't. "Logan, you have to stay under the blanket. Please, I don't want you to get sick."
Logan pouts but obliges after looking at Carlos' broken but stern face. "Sorry, Carlos." He creeps back under the covers.
"You have to sleep at James' house." Carlos states, scooping a spoon. "You're his boyfriend and boyfriends sleep together."
"But I can't sleep with James." He says, swallowing the load of chicken breast and noodles.
"But you have to, Logie."
"No, I want to sleep with you," he cries, brimming his irresistible pout. Carlos sighs but knows he can't give into it.
"Logan, you make James really happy. Please sleep with James." Carlos begs, blowing on the next spoon. "James really likes you and is very happy that you're his boyfriend. Please don't make him sad."
"But I miss you." Logan finishes the thick soup, sliding down with his head to rest on the pillow. "Do you miss me?"
Carlos freezes, thinking about his night's sleep. The answer is a mix of both but truthfully, he did. He did miss having Logan sleeping on his bed. He did miss Logan breathing on his bare chest. And he did miss the way Logan scoots into his frame at night as if he is seeking protection in Carlos' arms. It's hard for Carlos to say that he realizes how much he wants Logan back after a single lonely night but what about James? His friend deserves Logan and he asked him first. Not that Carlos wanted a boyfriend or was even looking but he kind of misses the things Logan would do with him, both the socially accepted and the unusual ones.
"I do but James is your boyfriend and you know what boyfriends do."
"They sleep together." Logan repeats, holding his hand out for Carlos to join him. Carlos involuntarily slides under the cover, letting Logan fold into his body. Even though Carlos is wearing a shirt, Logan muzzles his head against the familiar chest, wanting him and no one else.
"Logan please, you're James' boyfriend." Carlos pushes Logan off of his body. "This is wrong. You can't do this to someone other than James. Please don't do this."
"But I miss you." Logan weakly answers. "Last night, I tried. I slept on James' big bed but I felt lonely and scared. I had a dream. My mom and dad were back and they wanted to hit me. They said I am a bad boy for running away from them and they wanted to beat me. And I know James said he will protect me but he's sleeping. His arms are not like your arms. I feel safer in your arms. You're my hero."
Carlos stares into Logan's eyes, wanting to ask him to come back and to promise he will protect him forever but they are not together. They can't do that. "Please Logan, you have to sleep over there. James is a good guy and he will protect you. James protected me from bullies all the time and he will do the same for you. He won't let you get hurt."
"But Car..." Logan looks as if he is going to cry.
"Do it for me." Carlos says as his last resort. "Do it for me. If you really miss me please sleep with your boyfriend. That will make James really happy and ... me too." Carlos whispers the last two lying words, averting his eyes from Logan.
"Ok." He looks up at the willing boy. "If Carlos is happy, I will do it."
"Thank you, Logan."
"But," the boy interjects, grabbing his hand. He gives a longer yawn. "But Carlos has to sleep with me one last time, please. You're my hero."
Carlos chuckles, the innocent face making him smile. He nods and slides closer to Logan, letting the boy sleep into his body. "Go to sleep Logie."
"Night Car." Logan ends, breathing on the patch of exposed skin above Carlos' collar. The bigger teen smiles at the ticklish air and tightens his embrace, knowing this is the last time and he should make the most of it.
Sighing, because he doesn't want to end the moment, Carlos slides out his phone when Logan is definitely asleep and texts James that he found Logan.
Twenty minutes later, Carlos hears the doorbell, expecting it's his friend. He checks on Logan; the mousy boy cuddling in his body, sleeping like a baby. It makes Carlos smile but he has to break from the hold. Gently and swiftly, Carlos slides out of bed without stirring the sleep boy and walks to the front door.
"Thank god you found him." James throws himself into the home. "Where was he? Did he freeze to death?"
"Umm... he was asleep in front of my house." James crooks his confused head at Carlos' answer, finally noticing the minute details about his friend. He's wearing a slightly opened button down shirt and jeans that are wrinkled on one side as if he just got out of bed from sleeping with someone and his hair confirms it. It's perfectly styled on his left side and his right is just messy and unkempt.
"Where is Logan?" He follows Carlos into the bedroom, seeing his boyfriend asleep naked on the bed. The content smile on Logan's face makes him cringe with frustration. Why isn't Logan happy in his bed? And the body shaped imprint in the mattress and pillow next to Logan's isn't helpful in calming him either. It just confirms that his boyfriend rather sleep with his best friend than with James.
"James, I told Logan to give your bed a shot." The stylish brunette turns to face his friend, watching him fix his obviously wrinkled shirt and bed-rested hair. It makes him furious; proof of Carlos' untidiness confirms his boyfriend's desire to sleep with his friend and what's worst? The same friend has to ask Logan to sleep with James just to get Logan to be fine with something so universal. Logan should want to be with James and not Carlos. It's not right. Logan shouldn't have to be persuaded to sleep with James; he should want to.
"Thanks Carlos, it's means a lot," he says as calmly as his enraged mind can. "Now maybe Logan can be a boyfriend I can hold on to." He awkwardly laughs. Carlos eyes him funnily, getting uncomfortable by James' plastered smile.
"James, Logan does like you. Don't over think this or compare it with the past. You have him." The teen pauses, breathing a heavy breath. "He's lucky to have you."
Now it's James' turn to see Carlos' uneasy, forced smile. It causes a wrench in his stomach, regretting that once again, he selfishly took if not stole something from Carlos. "Carlos. Are you ok?" James asks, referring to the sleep, placid boy on the bed.
"Yea, I'm fine. Why?"
"Nothing." James doesn't want to press further. Why would he? Why would he want to force his friend to say what he fears, that he, like himself, is in love with Logan? And he knows if Carlos just admits it to Logan, Logan would drop James and get with Carlos in a heartbeat, giving James a heart attack. "It's just seems like you're... distracted and all."
"No, I'm fine. I was just scared that Logan could have died. I couldn't let him right?"
"I guess you're right." He agrees. "So Carlos... Do you want to do something? The three of us can grab breakfast or something."
Carlos peeks at Logan stirring on the bed. He would love to but being around both James and Logan together would cause too much tension. "I can't. I have to go to work."
"Oh ok. Sorry."
"No it's ok. I rather make sure Logan is ok then go to work on time." Carlos adds, trying to comfort his friend. James bites his lips guiltily and Carlos sees it. "Actually James, I know how you can convince Logan to stay with you." He offers, picking through his closet.
"Really, how?"
...
After hanging out in Carlos' house, watching TV with Logan, the couple returns back to James' house. It's late and dark. James hoped that he could stay at Carlos' house, waiting to surprise the worker at night but Carlos texted me that he is doing a double shift until ten at night; way too late, pass Logan's curfew for them to wait.
"Brush you teeth, Logan," James commands, watching the shorter brunette taking out his old toothbrush and toothpaste, which he took from Carlos' bathroom, of his pocket. James told him that he brought Logan a brand new one but the boy insisted on using the one Carlos gave him. It didn't make sense to the rich boy. Why can't Logan just use the new one James gave him? Why can't he throw the old, ugly one Carlos gave him? The new one is perfectly fine, great in fact. The one James gave him is perfect and expensive. It's better than the cheap one Carlos had lying around; so why does Logan choose Carlos' over James'?
He groans again, reaching the same answer. It's not fair that Logan doesn't understand the effects of his mundane actions but James can't yell at him. He promised not to yell at Logan. And beside, what if Logan breaks up with him over a little toothbrush?
"Your turn." Logan jumps out, bouncing around James. The smile really is infectious, instantly lifting James' mood. "James can brush his teeth."
"Alright," James giggles, walking to do his routine in the bathroom. He finishes his normally hour long process, ready to sleep. Logan is patiently waiting, playing with the wrinkles of the bed sheets. He snickers joyously, stretching and crumpling the thousand thread count covers.
"Alright Logan. Time for bed." He surprises the brunette, picking and tossing him into the air onto the fluffy mattress. Logan laughs, curling up for James to do it again.
"Again! Again!" James obliges, having his moment of fun with him. Soon, after ten tosses, James pants tiredly.
"Ok, Logan. Time for bed." James tickles him until both boys are under the wooly blanket. "Where is my goodnight kiss?" James taunts. The other boy grins and presses his lips on James' lightly. "Do you feel better, sleeping with me?" Logan nods. "Will you run away again?" Logan pouts, freezing at the question. He doesn't answer, unsure of himself.
"Well, Carlos gave me something to give you."
"Carlitos!" Logan yanks the toy from James' hands, hugging it deathly tight. "I miss you. Don't you ever run away from me again."
James laughs, admiring Logan's innocence. He scoots closer to Logan, arms resting over Logan's side. Surprisingly, James expected Logan to shift or move but the cute boy stays still, already fast asleep with the dog clutched to his body. James chuckles, wearing a content grin. Finally, something good happened in his new relationship.
"Night Logan."
This is my favorite chapter (so far). I love parts where Logan seeks Carlos for protection. Lol. Next chapter is … interesting/funny/mature (still teen rating, no smut. Smut would ruin the integrity of the story.). Logan wants answers but Carlos is not ready to give "the talk" ;].
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