Author's Note: In all honesty, I don't know how I feel about this chapter. And please, as much as I'd love to, do not expect weekly updates. I just happened to avoid my school work this week, and plus I was sick, so I decided to write. And also I'm astounded by the response this story has gotten. Never would I have guessed people liked ghost stories…
Kendall's eyes began to flutter slightly but he didn't want to open them just yet. He heard their voices, arguing and joking. "What'd you do that for?" Carlos yelled, Kendall hearing the distinct sound of a slap across the face.
"Oww Carlos! His sympathetic nervous system just shut down draining the blood from his skin and depleting the flow of oxygen from his brain!"
"What? English please?"
"Ugh. You know medical terminology calms me down." Logan pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a long groan. "In other words he fucking fainted!"
"Oh. Well you can't just scream like that. You probably just woke up his entire family. If you did, how are you supposed to explain that?" Carlos pointed to Kendall's lifeless body cradled in James' arms. The brunette kept his head down, his eyes scanning over Kendall's face for any sign of him coming back to his senses. He didn't miss the flutter of his eyelashes, but James ignored it, not sure if it was of any importance.
Logan and Carlos continued to fight, and while in the midst of it James pulled Kendall's body around to the other side of the porch and laid him down against the wood.
"Come on Blondie." James whispered, patting either side of Kendall's face lightly in hopes that the boy would come to. "Blondie please. Please wake up."
A pale hand reached up to cover the hand James had placed on Kendall's cheek, James sighing a breath of relief at the touch. When Kendall opened his eyes he saw James smiling down at him.
"Hi." Kendall said, his voice rough.
James smiled even wider. "Hi."
Kendall attempted to sit up, his head feeling a little woozy at the quick movement. Not missing a beat James moved to sit behind Kendall, giving the pale boy a place to rest his head while wrapping his arms around Kendall's torso. "You okay there?"
"Yeah, I think so." Kendall rubbed his temple with his tips of his fingers, feeling a migraine coming on. "Are they still arguing?"
"Heard that didn't you?" James chuckled. "Yeah they are. I'm surprised they didn't notice when I took you away. Want me to go get them?"
Kendall waved it off with a weak flick of his wrist. "Let them fight. I think they need it."
James was so confused. "Why would two people need to fight?" Kendall turned slightly in James hold to give him a better look. The expression on James' face almost made him want to laugh. "Isn't fighting bad?"
Kendall simple shot James a weak grin. "They just need to. I'll explain it to you later."
"Okay…" James whispered before the silence overtook them. Neither knew what to say as they sat there together in the dark. From around the corner they could still hear Carlos and Logan's muffled voices, but Kendall drowned them out.
For the first time since James appeared, Kendall took the time to actually look at him. He was for lack of a better word, beautiful. In the darkness he couldn't see much of his face besides the structure of his cheekbones or the way his hair swept across his forehead at just the right angle. Despite the shadows Kendall could just make out the lining of James' thin lips and sharp nose and the slight glimmer of those hazel eyes staring right back at him. As clichéd as it was, the sight took Kendall's breath away.
Carlos held onto the shaking Logan in his arms. Even though he was shorter, Logan bent his head forward to bury his face in Carlos' chest while the Latino ran his fingers through Logan's damp hair soothingly. "I didn't expect him to be real Carlos." Logan sobbed, the tears blending in with the already wet fabric of Carlos' hoodie.
"Logan it's alright," Carlos cooed, unsure of what else to say to calm the crying boy.
"But it's not. Ghosts don't exist, they aren't supposed to exist. They are all just paranormal fallacies that excite our imagination into believing that we are communicating with the dead. None of it makes sense. He shouldn't be real. Why is he real Carlos? Why?"
Carlos was at a loss for words. "I don't know Logan. But for some reason, he means a lot to Kendall."
Logan unburied his face from Carlos' chest and looked at him. Logan's eyes were bloodshot and his face was pale. And all Carlos wanted to do was kiss him. Make everything Logan was feeling whether it was fear or pain, he just wanted to make everything that could ever make Logan look so distraught just go away. "Do you…you don't think Kendall…he doesn't like him does he?" There was jealousy behind Logan's words that made Carlos' heart shatter.
"Honestly, I don't know."
"Dammit. I just…he's a fucking ghost for Christ's sake." Logan pointed over to where Kendall and James had been, finding their spot vacated.
"Umm…where'd they go?"
Carlos glanced around them just as Logan pried himself out of his arms, pushing Carlos away and rushing around to the other side of the porch. Once he turned the corner he exhaled a heavy sigh, his heart stopping at the position the other two were in. James' arms were wrapped around Kendall as they sat there, just looking at each other exchanging no words, only silence.
The first to notice his presence was Kendall. "Logan!" he cried, standing up and pulling the brunette into a hug. "Hey try not to scream so loud next time." Over Kendall's shoulder Logan tried to escape the glare James was throwing in their direction, but for the moment he decided to revel in the feeling of being in Kendall's embrace.
"You heard that? Are you alright? You look parched…and you're so pale. Kendall do you need anything?"
Kendall couldn't keep himself from giggling softly at the way Logan overreacted. "Hey Loges?"
"Yeah?"
"Take a deep breath." Kendall paused, allowing Logan to breathe deeply. "Better?" Logan nodded. "Good. Now shut up. I'm totally fine. There's no need to worry, and I don't need anything. Where's Carlos?"
"Right here," Kendall heard Carlos's voice, his usually cheery banter replaced with a bitter tone. Carlos rounded the corner with his hockey helmet askew on top of his head. And if Kendall was paying any attention, he would have noticed the sparkling tears at the corners of Carlos' eyes.
"Hey bud. Thanks for everything tonight." Kendall moved from Logan to Carlos, wrapping his other friend in a tight hug. Once Kendall was missing from his grasp, Logan instantly missed the contact.
"Not a problem. So how's the ghost? How's James? He still here?" At the mention of his name James was at their side in an instant, wrapping a strong arm around Kendall's waist with his left hand while holding his right hand out for a shake with Carlos.
"Hi." James smiled at Carlos, and gripping his hand a little firmer than necessary. Carlos winced from how tight James was squeezing his hand, but the exchange between the two went unnoticed.
"Hey." Carlos mumbled, prying his hand from James' hold and massaging it softly.
"So you're the one Kendall told about me…" James chuckled and Kendall blushed, Carlos and Logan not missing the vindictiveness lurking behind James' words.
Carlos stood his ground and reached up to straighten the helmet on his head. "Yeah, I am. I hope that's alright. I told Logan too…" Carlos paused when James' head turned, not only to the side, but all the way around so that he could face Logan where he was standing behind the three of them with a frightened look in his eyes. "What the hell James?"
James laughed. "I'm a ghost, this shouldn't surprise you. Logan?"
"Holy. Fucking. Shit." Logan managed to get out before collapsing to the ground.
"No. Logan!" Carlos quickly rushed to Logan's aid, pulling him up and fanning him. "Kendall…he has anxiety issues. Will you help me get him to the car?" Carlos chanced a glance at James, his spine shuddering at the way James' head was facing the opposite direction as the rest of his body. It didn't matter if he was a ghost, it scared the living daylights out of Carlos.
"Sure Los. Stay here James okay? I'll be right back." James nodded and turned his head back around while Kendall helped pick Logan up and drag him over to Carlos' car. Setting the small brunette in the front seat, Logan came to, shaking his head a little as he regained consciousness.
"Are we…are we going home?"
Carlos placed a hand on Logan's knee from the driver's seat. "Yeah buddy. We are."
"O-okay. See you l-later Kendall. T-tell James I said bye."
"I will Logan. Be careful driving home guys. And thanks for everything; I'm really glad you go to meet him. Isn't he great?" Kendall smiled softly.
"Yeah, he's just peachy. Bye Kendall." Carlos started up the car, both him and Logan watching as Kendall walked back up the porch and around to the side of the house where James was waiting for him.
"I don't like him Carlos." Logan mumbled, still a little shaken. "I don't trust him at all."
Carlos nodded his head and put the car in drive. "Me either Loges." But at least he keeps Kendall away from you. And that's what matters most.
Once Kendall was back with James, he walked the taller boy over to the back swing on the porch and sat down with him, holding his hand as he did.
"It's just so weird." Kendall thought aloud, staring at their entwined fingers and grinning, his heart beating a million miles per minute.
James turned to him with a sad smile. "What is?" he asked, squeezing Kendall's hand a little for reassurance.
"You. Me. Being able to see you. And feel you. And hold your hand. It's just…"
"Weird?" James offered, both boys erupting into a silent fit of giggles.
"Yeah." Kendall stared at their hands some more, just letting everything from the night sink in. James possessing his body, flashing memories from his childhood, Kendall calling up Carlos in the middle of the night to help dig up a dead body, fighting through the rain to find a key, and bringing a dead soul back to life. It was mind blowing. Like something you'd read in a book, but for Kendall it was one hundred percent real. But one question still lurked in the back of his mind, waiting to be answered. "Hey James?"
"Yeah Blondie?"
"How come…well how come Carlos and Logan could see you? I guess I just figured, or hoped, that I'd be the only one too. Does this mean everyone will be able to see you? Will I have to hide you from Katie and my mom?" The questions spilled from Kendall's mouth in a slur of words all jumbled together, but thankfully James could keep up.
"Woah. Calm down Kendall. First of all, they could see me because they believe in me, they knew of my existence. Despite what they tell you, they wanted to see me, or else they wouldn't have been able to. Only people who believe in me can see me and talk to me, just like you, Carlos, and Logan. So unless you told your family about me, then no, you won't have to hide me."
"So…you're kind of like Santa Claus…believing is seeing?"
James cocked his head to the side, his chestnut hair falling into his eyes as he looked at Kendall with a puzzled expression. "What?"
"Nevermind. It's from a movie. Way past your time bud."
"Oh…okay then."
They were silent for a few moments, their hands still interlocked between them as they sat side by side, James using his long legs to lightly swing the bench back and forth. A bit of light was just coming up over the horizon. Kendall broke his hold of James' hand for a second to check the time. Another night without sleep. He was going to have to call into work for this, even though work was the farthest thing from his mind. The thought of dawn breaking brought on even more worries.
"You're not going to disappear when the sun comes up, are you?" Kendall asked, turning to James and returning the welcome of his hand by latching onto his fingers again.
"I'm not a vampire, Blondie." James joked, cracking a smile and causing Kendall's cheeks to redden. "I don't disintegrate in the sunlight."
Kendall ducked his head in embarrassment, his blonde hair hiding his gaze from James'. "Oh right. Ghost, not a vampire. Sorry I'm mixing up my mythical creatures here."
James sniggered and reached under Kendall's chin so that he could have a better look at him. "Exactly. I have nothing in common with those bloodsuckers. Well besides the biting part. I love to bite, but only if you want me to." James winked, and if Kendall's cheeks had been red before, well now they were positively scarlet.
"Ha-ha. Good to know you have a sense of humor." Kendall mumbled softly.
"Mmhm. I can be funny when I want to be. Don't even have to try." James smiled smugly and let go of Kendall's hand, Kendall missing the contact dearly before sighing happily when James wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "So what do you want to do Blondie?" The brunette twirled Kendall's hair between his fingertips as he spoke. "Have any more questions for me?"
Kendall nodded, but decided to keep his mouth shut for now. "You really want to know what I want to do?"
"Of course. We can do whatever you want. There's no limit for how long I can be with you now." Kendall treasured the fact that he could have James' all to himself for as long as he wanted. He snuggled a little closer to James. It didn't even irk him, the way an aura of bitter cold followed James around, no matter how real he seemed to be, Kendall still had to remember he was dead.
"Then can I just go to bed? I'm exhausted." And thinking about it Kendall was. His arms ached from the shoveling and his head was beginning to spin. All he wanted was the warmth of his bed.
James frowned at the thought of Kendall falling asleep, but he agreed all the same. On their way back inside, Kendall scooped up the flashlight while James picked up the wooden box that seemed so unimportant now that Kendall had all the answers. Making sure to be quiet, Kendall put the flashlight back in its rightful place in the kitchen and stealthily made his way upstairs with James following in his wake.
Once in his bedroom, Kendall shed out of his clothes and pulled on a pair a sweat pants and a hoodie, basking in the dry warmth. Without a hesitating move he fell down onto his bed and pulled the covers up past his chin while James stood at the foot of the bed awkwardly, unsure of what to do.
"Well don't just stand there you idiot. Don't ghosts sleep too?"
"I'm dead. I don't need sleep."
Kendall really needed learn everything there was to know about James. "Right, well, what are you going to do then?"
James shuffled his feet, switching the weight from one foot to the other. "I actually, well now that I can move freely, I think I may go visit my parents' graves."
Remembering the note tucked away in the box, Kendall couldn't help but wonder why. "I thought you hated them?"
"It's been seventy years Kendall. A lot can change in that kind of time."
"Oh. Okay." Kendall yawned and shifted a little bit in his bed, letting his eyes flutter close.
James stood there until Kendall was asleep. At the sound of Kendall's heavy, even breaths, James took a few careful steps over to the head of Kendall's bed and leaned down to kiss his temple softly. "I'll be back before you wake." He whispered.
With no intention of actually visiting his parents at all, James stalked out of the house, the sun now fully up over the horizon. He was thankful for the fact he was no longer bound by chains to stay in the same place. Earlier all he could do was walk around the ins and outs of the house he grew up, learning all the secrets the old place had to hold for him. Then Kendall came along, and things changed. No matter the time of day, he could follow Kendall wherever he went. But there was always that little problem of staying by Kendall's side. Now that he was free, and invisible to most, he could do whatever he pleased.
Following where his feet were taking him, James hurried down the dirt roads in hopes he would find just what he was looking for. While he walked he tried to clear his head, but there was one thing he couldn't seem to let go, and that was exactly why he was doing what he was.
After about an hour or so, James showed up at the doorstep of a nice white house that matched all the other well groomed houses down the street. There was no peeling paint or ghastly weeds littering in the yard. Instead he saw a two car garage, cement driveway, and a lovely two story home.
Because of his…predicament, James had no choice but to let himself inside. The house was still asleep; nothing made a sound besides the old grandfather clock resting against the wall just inside the foyer. Rolling his eyes at the ticking chime, James made his way upstairs and stopped at the first door on the right. Pushing the door open, James slipped inside, quietly closing the door behind him.
There in bed, lay sleeping the object of his desire. Scanning his eyes over the rather mundane furnishings, James almost missed the second sleeping body in the bed, holding the other close to his chest. Both boys were sound asleep, and for that James was grateful.
As silent as he could, James walked about the room, looking for something to write with, anything he could get his hands on. Stepping over to the desk, James rummaged through the drawers, his eyes landing on a black sharpie, a pocket knife lying right beside it. Wanting to seem more…dramatic, James held the pocket knife tightly in his palm before retreating back over to the door. There along the molding, James carved six words.
Smirking at his work, James dropped the knife into his pocket and walked out the door, happy to know he hadn't disturbed the two sound asleep figures in bed. Knowing his dirty deed was done, James took his time returning home. For a moment he even considered visiting his parents, but letting the thought sink in, he knew all he would do is spit on their graves. He was glad the old fuckers were dead. They never cared about him either way.
Finally, reaching his old home, James softly made his way back up to Kendall's/his old bedroom and crawled into bed with Kendall. He wrapped one arm loosely over the blonde's waist and nestled his head in the crook of Kendall's shoulder. And he let his eyes close, wishing on sleep that would never come.
Logan budged in his soft bed and turned in Carlos' embrace to face the sleeping Latino. Logan knew of the crush his friend had on him, and as much as he found it endearing, the feelings weren't reciprocated. Carlos was the brother he always wanted. He was the boy in third grade who came to his rescue when a fifth grader threw Logan into the trash cans at the back of school for being a nerd. It was Carlos who knew everything about him, and Logan knew everything about Carlos. But the thought of changing their friendship into a relationship was one thing Logan couldn't do. He needed Carlos to be his friend and his brother. Not his boyfriend.
Then there was Kendall. As smart as he was, Logan was unable to figure out the reasons why Kendall had him twisted around his finger like a puppet on strings. There was just something about Kendall that Logan found exciting. And his deep dimples and green eyes and charming smile…Logan couldn't help but fall for him. And even worse as it was, Logan didn't want to stop falling. He wanted to be with Kendall. He still remembered how it had felt to have Kendall's arms around him earlier and the warmth he had brought to him. When he was with Kendall, it was so much different from being with Carlos. But he just didn't have the heart to tell the Latino. He liked to believe that Carlos had no idea Logan knew of the crush. Logan liked the idea of being oblivious.
Realizing he had spent enough time lying in bed and thinking of everything, Logan poked Carlos on the tip of his nose to stir him awake. "Carlos. Carlos wake up." Logan whispered, moving his quick fingers down over Carlos' sides and tickling the boy until he woke up.
Carlos stifled a yawn as he shifted in the bed. He reached up to rub his eyes free of sleep and smiled when he saw Logan looking down at him. "Morning Logie."
"Morning Los."
"Think Kendall's going to come into work today?"
Logan thought for a moment before shaking his head. "He needs some sleep. He'll probably skip out today. We'll just cover for him."
"Sounds good. I wonder what he and James did last night."
Now that was something Logan never wanted to think about. He hated James. He didn't trust him at all. There was something in the way he looked at Logan. It brought chills to every bone in his body just thinking about it. "I have no idea Los. But come on. Let's get up. I'll make us some waffles."
"Yay!" Carlos screeched, jumping out of bed and doing a ridiculous happy dance with a tent bulging in his pants. "Oops." Carlos mumbled, hurrying to cover himself up with blush on his cheeks.
Logan only laughed at Carlos' adorableness and nodded his head in understanding. "It's no biggie. You can fix that in the bathroom while I make you breakfast. Just please don't make a mess in the bathroom. And stay away from my mom's nice towels."
Carlos blushed even redder at the thought of fixing the problem in his pants in Logan's bathroom, knowing he'd be thinking of the aforementioned the whole time he pleasured himself. "Okay…"
"Trust me Los. It's fine." Logan swung an arm over Carlos' shoulder and led him over to the door. Before they even had the chance to make it out into the hall something stopped them; something that scared them so bad that even the bulge in Carlos' pants dropped at Logan's scream. But this time Logan had a right to scream, and Carlos was screaming along with him. There, along the edge of the door frame, carved in nice little letters were the words. Stay away from Kendall. Or else.
So yeah, starting now, the story is going to get creepy. And I know what you're all thinking, Renee it's already creepy. But I was lying in bed one night, and I considered just how creepy I wanted this story to get…and well, you're in for a treat I guess. Then again I don't know if my writing can justify actually being scary. But I'll try. Hope you liked it!