Author Note: Thank You guys so much for reading/following/favoriting/reviewing! We are a little more than halfway through with this fic. There are 12 chapters total and still some major twists and surprises ahead! Enjoy!
Chapter 7: Talking Aloud
"Cupcakes? You shouldn't have?"
Carlos closed the stove after placing the cupcake tins inside and turned around to see him sitting on the counter again, dipping his fingers into the left over batter.
"It's your birthday. I always make you cupcakes on your birthday."
"Yea, but you didn't need to send Logan to the store to get me decorations," he said jumping off the counter and walking over to the fridge. "You're going to make me fat."
"You're not fat. You're a model. Besides, he offered."
It was silent for a moment.
"It's all right you know," he said softly as he closed the door to the fridge before turning back to Carlos and leaning against the appliance.
"Huh?" Carlos looked to him in confusion.
"To love Logan."
"I don't love Logan."
"Carlos, you can't lie to me. I see it every time you look at him and it's all right. I'm not mad."
"But you-"
"If I can't be with you, Carlos, then there's no one else I'd rather see you with. He loves you. He really does and I know he can take care of you. Just give him the chance."
Carlos just nodded, avoiding his eyes.
"He's still upstairs. Go talk to him."
Logan stared down at the phone in his hand. This could not be happening. He had way more than he could handle as it is with Carlos, but now he had to deal with the Garcia family as well. The Garcia family, whom hadn't seen him over six years and had disowned him because of his love for James.
How was he supposed to tell Carlos?
While he was deep in thought, he failed to hear his best friend enter the room. It wasn't until the smaller boy wrapped his arms around Logan's waist, that he knew he was there.
"I thought you left already," Carlos giggled as he pressed his nose into the back of his friend's neck.
Logan smiled, loving the feeling, "I was on the phone."
"Hmm?" Carlos hummed as he began leaving a trail of light kisses down the brunette's neck. "Anything important."
"It was Kendall. He-um- just wanted to say hi."
"Oh," Carlos grinned. "Look, Logan, about last night-"
"Carlos, you don't have to say anything. I know it was a mistake and we can just forget about it," Logan interrupted him
"But I don't want to forget about it."
"Carlos, your not re-"
"I am ready, Logan. Please just give me a chance?"
"Carlos, about Kendall's call. He didn't call just to-"
"Logan, don't change the subject."
"This is important. Your father had a heart attack."
"Oh?" Carlos said dropping his arms to his side before walking over to the bed and taking a seat. Logan followed.
"He's in surgery right now, but- Carlos it doesn't look good."
"Um-well, I guess we can send some flowers or-"
"Carlos, your Father is dying."
"What Father, Logan? Not mine! I disowned him six years ago, remember?"
"Baby, please-"
"Don't call me that!" Carlos shouted, tears threatening to fall.
"I'm sorry. Please, just hear me out," Logan pleaded as he sat down and attempted to wrap his arms around his best friend who pushed him away. Carlos stood and hurried across the room.
"I'm not going there, Logan. I'm not!" he said shaking his head, the tears streaming down his cheeks as he fell to his knees.
"Carlos, please-" the brunette pleaded as he rushed over to his best friend, dropping to his knees beside him, only to be pushed away again.
"Just leave me alone," Carlos whispered, his hands covering his face. "Please, just leave me alone."
Logan nodded standing to his feet. He knew he needed space. Besides, he could hear the oven timer going off. This could wait a few moments.
"I'm going to go take the cupcakes out of he oven, then go to the store. Are you going to be alright?"
Carlos nodded, refusing to look up.
"Alright. Call me if you need me," Logan stated before walking out the door, leaving the smaller man alone.
Carlos didn't bother to look up, even after the door was closed and Logan was gone. It was an angelic voice that caught his attention.
"'Bout time Karma caught up to the old man."
Carlos looked in the direction of the voice to see him, sitting there on top of the dresser. His dresser. He hoped down when he saw Carlos look at him.
"Miss me?"
Carlos couldn't help but smile, "You have no idea."
"Why is it, every time I come to see you, you are crying?"
"Because I'm thinking of you," Carlos shrugged his shoulders as he wiped away his tears.
"Get over me already," he laughed, causing Carlos to chuckle a bit too. "So, when are you going to the hospital?" he asked as he walked around the room, checking out everything.
"What? I can't go! Are you crazy?"
"He's your dad, Carlos. You can't ignore that no matter how bad you try."
"But he kicked us out, James."
"He kicked me out, Carlos. Not you. You chose to leave, remember?"
"I chose you."
"And I chose you," he smiled.
"I would do it again in a heartbeat," Carlos insisted. "I couldn't let him treat you like that. He blamed everything on you. It wasn't your fault."
"I know Carlos. How could I forget? I think you used every cheesy pick up line in the book."
"Well, what do you expect? We were only fourteen."
Both boys laughed at the memory.
"Of course, you continued to ignore me for a year."
"Yea, well I thought you were just teasing me or something. I never thought my best friend would be in love with me. Or I with him," he took a deep breath before continuing, "Then again, who could resist you? Logan being in love with you, too."
Carlos looked down at his hands at the sound of his new room mate's name.
"He doesn't want to be with me."
"Of course he does, Carlos. He's just scared."
"Scared?"
"He's afraid that you're using him. Like your trying-"
"To replace you with him?"
"Exactly."
"But you know that's not true. I do love him. I've always loved him. Not like you, but I do. You know that."
"I know that, Carlos, but he doesn't. Try to talk to him again. Tell him how you feel."
"But what if he-?"
"He'll listen, Baby. He's our best friend. He has to listen to us," he said as he took a sit on the edge of the bed, "Now, about your dad. I think you should go. You need to talk to him for both of us. Before it's too late. Besides, I think it's time for you to reconnect with your mom, and Logan should see his parents too. I don't want you guys to leave without talking to your parents again. I don't want you to end up like me."
"I can't James. It's been too long and he-"
"He'll talk to you, Carlos. He wants to fix things too. It's too late for me, but there's still you."
Carlos sighed. He knew he was right, "Will you come with me?"
"I'm always with you, Carlos. I always will be. I'm apart of you."
"I know," Carlos gave in, "I'll go as soon as Logan gets back," Carlos looked at the ground. "Hey James?"
"Yea, Baby?" he asked.
"What are you?"
"What?"
"Are you like a ghost? Or an angel or something?"
"What do you think, Carlos?"
"I don't know what to think anymore."
"Maybe that's your problem then."
"Huh," Carlos looked up confused. His attention was diverted by the sound of a car pulling into the driveway.
"Logan's home. You should go."
Carlos looked towards the window as he heard the car door shut and Logan whistling as he walked up the sidewalk.
"But James- James?" Carlos looked around. He was gone.
"Carlos?" Logan's voice called up the stairs. "I got skittles!"
Carlos took a deep breath before standing up. He looked around the room one last time, "I love you, James," he whispered before making his way out the door.
