When Kendall finally settled, he excused himself to go to the bathroom. James moved to follow but he assured him that he just needed a minute. Once the door was shut, James turned to Logan.
"You still think he can handle a public trial?" he hissed.
Logan only answered with a sorrowful gaze. James sighed. He wasn't really mad at Logan. He understood where he was coming from. When he'd first seen the bruises and the blood he'd wanted Kendall to go to the cops as well. But when Kendall started to remember, when he was forced to mentally repeat what had happened to him it had taken a toll. It hurt his friend too much. Now James wanted nothing more than for Kendall to forget too.
"Hey, Loges. I know you're just trying to help."
When Logan didn't look up James made his way to him. He pulled his short friend into an embrace and felt it when wetness hit his shirt. Logan was crying too.
"Hey."
"I didn't mean to set him off, James. I swear."
"I know. And you didn't. That asshole that did this to him did."
It figured Logan would be the next to break. Though Kendall had a way of looking out for them all it had been Logan who'd needed him most growing up. Being the smart kid, being so slight he'd had his share of bullies. Unlike Carlos who wasn't afraid to fight back, Logan just wasn't built to fight with his hands. So Kendall had done the fighting for him. Kendall had been his ultimate defender.
It hurt them all to see him like this, but for Logan it had to be shattering.
"He's going to be okay, Loges. I'll make sure of that. Trust me."
Logan sniffled, nodded his belief into his shirt.
"But Carlos...he'll never forgive me--"
"Carlos not forgive? You bump your head or something," James tried to lighten the mood.
Of any of them Carlos was the most forgiving. Or the most naive as Kendall would note. Even James could hold a grudge for the right reason. But Carlos was almost like a child. He could get angry and boy could he pout but give him a day or so and he'd forget why he supposedly hated you.
"The day Carlos doesn't forgive you is the day I shave my head and draw on eyebrows."
That earned a half giggle from his friend. Everyone knew how much James loved his hair.
Logan took a deep breath before finally stepping away. He glanced up at James with thanks in his eyes.
"You know, you're not so bad at this," he murmured.
James raised his brows questioningly.
"At what?"
"Taking care of people."
James felt a hint of embarassment at the compliment. He didn't take care of people. That was Kendall's job. He could never be Kendall.
"You really did bump your head," he brushed it off.
James went to the kitchen then, looking to clean the mess from the floor. He wasn't surprised when Logan kneeled down to help. By the time Kendall returned from the restroom, the floor was damp but cleaned, pitcher peices discarded in the trash.
He looked at his friends, almost sheepishly.
"I, um I'm sorry about..."
They waved it off.
"You don't have to apologize," James told him.
Kendall cleared his throat. Looked at Logan. Noticed his red eyes.
"Geez, Loges I didn't mean to--"
Logan gestured toward James.
"What he said."
When he offered a weak smile Kendall relaxed a little.
"So where's Carlos?"
James looked to Logan.
"He went out to get some air."
"Oh. Well tell him to get back here. I think I might take you guys up on that offer for quesadillas," Kendall joked.
It was clear that the subject of his meltdown was closed now. No one was going to challenge him on that. He sat down on the couch, found the remote. James took a seat beside him, his arm sliding around his shoulder. Kendall nestled closer. Logan pulled out his phone and sent the text.
KENDALL SAYS COME UP FOR QUESADILLAS.
He plopped down on Kendall's free side then and awaited a response.
BTRBTRBTRBTR
Sitting in the limo, enjoying the smooth leather seats, Carlos was reminded of the many times he'd ridden with his band of friends. Now he rode alone. But he had to. To help Kendall. A vibration in his pocket brought out his cell. He glanced down and noticed it was a text from Logan. Still irritated by his refusal earlier, Carlos didn't bother to read it.
BTRBTRBTR
Five minutes. Ten. Twenty. James glanced over at a noticeably tense Logan. He was staring down at his phone, his leg twitching.
"Still no answer?"
Kendall sat up guiltily.
"I shouldn't have gone crazy like that. I probably freaked him out."
"No," James and Logan protested in unison, drawing a suspicious brow raise from their friend.
This wasn't on Kendall. Carlos was still upset with Logan for not describing the attacker. But they couldn't exactly tell him that.
"Let me try," James found his phone and texted next.
WHERE R U?
He waited. Got a response almost immediately.
BUSY
It wasn't lost on anyone how he'd blatantly ignored Logan's text. The poor guy slouched in defeat. Kendall noticed.
"What's going on between you two?" he asked.
James was more concerned with what Carlos was busy with. Whatever it was, he shouldn't be doing it alone.
WITH WHAT?
"Nothing. It's nothing," Logan was answering Kendall.
LATER
James didn't like that answer. Especially after their day so far. A tight feeling in his gut, he left the couch. He excused himself to his bedroom (and away from Kendall's ears) as he called up his reckless friend.
"James--"
He didn't give Carlos a chance to finish.
"What are you up to and why am I not included," he hissed.
He glanced back at the door to be sure Kendall hadn't followed him. Nope, he was busy with Logan.
"I have a plan" his friend told him.
"I'm going to find the guy, James."
The tight feeling intensified.
"Not without me you won't! Damnit Carlos we're supposed to be a team."
"We are. I just found us a new member. He can help."
A new member? No, what had happened to Kendall was far too personal to be spreading around. If Carlos opened his mouth to someone...
"Tell me you didn't say anything."
"I didn't. I don't have to. Look, I can't talk now but trust me, my friend Greg's going to give us everything we need."
This was the first time he'd heard that name.
"Greg? Who the hell is Greg?" James wasn't liking this.
"He's the owner of Blaise. I met him last night. He's going to help us, James. He's-- oh I gotta go. I'm here."
Before James could demand more answers, the line died. Stubbornly he called right back but Carlos must have rejected the call. He didn't like this. Not one bit. When last night had they met? Why hadn't Carlos mentioned this Greg guy before? And why hadn't James seen this Greg?
Feeling uneasy, he stepped back into the living room to find Kendall patting Logan's arm sympathetically.
"...whenever you're comfortable telling me," he was saying.
"Loges, did Carlos mention meeting anyone last night?" James needed to know.
Brown and green pairs of eyes looked his way, confused.
"At Blaise? No. Why?"
James pressed further.
"What about a Greg? Supposedly owns--"
The noise that shot from Kendall's mouth was a mixture of a gasp and a scream. His hand hit his mouth and in that moment he looked like he had at the club last night. Sheet white. Sick. Terrified.
"G-Greg?" his voice was shaking at the name.
"Did you say Greg?"
The twisting in James's stomach burned sour, the bad feeling multiplying exponentially.
"Kendall?" Logan whispered.
"Is he the one we saw last night by the bar? The one who hurt you?"
Though his reaction had said enough, Kendall's confirming nod sealed it in stone.
"I-it was him. It was Greg."
His lip quivered but he didn't allow himself to cry. He stared at James with panicked eyes.
"How do you know about Greg?"
James was already on the phone, frantically calling Carlos back.
"Because Carlos just went to his house. He's with him. Right now."
BTRBTRBTR
Greg's house was huge. As he led Carlos through the carpetted halls full of modern fancy stuff that put Gustavo's mansion to shame, the Minnesota native couldn't help his amazed reactions. Wows and whoas escaped him as he noted flat screens, chandeliers, a billiard table and an Olympic size pool in the back.
"You got all this from the club?" he gasped.
"Blaise must be super popular!"
Greg gestured for him to sit down on a lawn chair by the pool. He was already in shorts and flip flops, but chose that moment to remove his t-shirt, exposing his massive and toned body. God he was even more ripped than James. And James believed in working out!
Carlos sat down, averting his gaze from the model specimen before him. He didn't want to stare. That would be rude.
"No, Blaise is more of a passion project. All of this came from my trust fund."
Carlos had to look at him then.
"Trust fund? You're rich?"
Greg chuckled.
"My parents were."
He gestured to the glass sliding door and a young man hurried out with a tray of drinks. Greg took one and waited for Carlos to take the other. They looked fancy in their glasses but Carlos could recognize the scent of alcohol.
"Long Island Iced Tea," Greg answered his curious gaze.
Carlos could hear Logan in the back of his head then, "It's too early to be drinking. Have orange juice instead."
Shut up Logan. I'm still mad at you.
Defiantly, he took the glass and drank. Greg seemed more than pleased with that. When Carlos started to set it down, his new friend reached over, patting the bottom of the glass to discourage it.
"Drink up. You seemed a little upset when you called. This will relax you."
He'd noticed? From just one phone call? This Greg really was a nice guy! Carlos got the sense that he must care about him. Why else would he invite him to his home and offer free food and drinks?
He continued with the tea until Greg removed his hand from the glass. Which only happened once it was empty. Carlos couldn't hide the smile of gratitude at someone actually taking an interest in his feelings. Greg returned the smile.
"So you asked about Blaise?"
