Logan was frozen, unable to breathe. The thought of Carlos alone with that monster... James cursed as again his calls went answered. Kendall was up on his feet pacing rapidly.
"GPS," he snapped.
Given Carlos's tendency to lose things, Logan had set it up to keep track of his phone. Now they could use it to track him.
"Logan, can you activate it?"
He jolted at the desperate command in Kendall's tone.
"I--yea, I can."
Kendall's laptop was thrust before him, anxious eyes awaiting him to work.
I should have just told him. If he'd known what Greg looked like he wouldn't have gone with him.
If anything happened to Carlos because of him, he wouldn't be able to live with himself.
We have to find him!
It wasn't long before they had a location. Kendall was the first one out the door James close behind. Logan was gripping his phone as he caught up to the two, ready to dial the police.
BTRBTRBTRBTR
"You hid the cricket in your mouth?" Greg was asking in astonishment.
"That's pretty wild!"
Carlos didn't know how they'd gotten on the subject of Big Time Rush's first world tour and the little friend he'd smuggled in from France. They'd just been talking easily and words flowed. It didn't help that he was on his second iced tea. Liquor often loosened his lips.
"Your boyfriend must think you're a handful."
"I don't have a boyfriend," he admitted as he finished the glass.
Normally he wasn't this buzzed so soon. Apparently Greg's server was generous with the alcohol portion of the recipe.
"No? What about that guy you told me about? The one that gave you the VIP passes?"
He remembered Dak and laughed.
"Oh Dak? No he's just really nice. We haven't talked much."
"But you like him, right?"
Carlos felt himself blush.
"I mean, I don't know. He's cute."
He wasn't sure how he felt about Dak.
"I think you're much cuter."
That surprised him. Carlos knew he wasn't bad looking but Dak Zevon was Hollywood cute.
"Really?"
Greg leaned closer to his chair.
"Really. I don't understand why you're single."
He couldn't help but to laugh at the compliment.
"Oh god, you sound like my mom. She's always like 'Meijo, why don't you find a nice young man to settle down with? To take care of you?'"
He pitched his voice high with the imitation.
"And my dad's like 'Oh let the boy live. He's young. He needs to sow his wild oats.'"
For his father he'd lowered it in exaggeration. Greg was closer now, chuckling at his storytelling.
"And what do you want, Carlos?"
He hadn't expected the question, to even think about its answer but his brain was buzzing merrily. That eliminated whatever filter he may have had.
"I want my friends back," he sighed truthfully.
"We used to hang out all the time. At the Palmwoods, we used to live together. We had these water gun fights and pranks wars and Logan used to spend time with me. But now...now he's all like 'Oh I have to go to class' and 'Oh I have to study' or 'Oh I have to help Camille make the chicken soup.' He's always so busy. So I just go workout with James. But then the guys at the gym start hitting on him so he forgets about me too."
He sagged back in his seat.
"And Kendall was the one who wanted to move out in the first place. He needed space he said. There was plenty of space at the Palmwoods!"
"Sounds like your friends are taking you for granted," Greg's hand was on his cheek.
Brushing his tan skin lightly.
"They should appreciate you more."
Carlos frowned. He'd never thought of it that way before. Kendall had thanked him for the get-well basket a few days ago. That was appreciation, right?
"But I appreciate you, Carlos."
He was happy to hear it.
"I appreciate you too," he beamed.
It was always nice to be appreciated.
"Why don't we take a dip in the pool?" Greg suggested.
That sounded like fun. Carlos was always down for swimming. Sure he didn't have trunks on him but that never stopped him before. He was pulling off his shirt when he remembered a funny story about a pool.
"This one time in Minnesota, we all went swimming at the Y and Logan lost his trunks" he began to slurr.
Those teas had packed a big punch. He shook his head, feeling a bit woozy.
"You sure do talk about this Logan a lot."
"He should come home... instead of... always being at school. And...whoa, I don't feel so..."
He fell back in the chair, drowsy and buzzed and he wasn't sure. He began to blink rapidly, trying to clear his head. What had he been saying? Oh yea, he was talking about Logan. Stupid busy Logan that barely spent time with him anymore and wouldn't tell him important things.
"I'm mad at Logan," he announced.
"Because he won't tell me--"
"Enough about Logan! You want to fuck him or something?" Greg snapped suddenly.
Was he mad? Had he made him mad? Carlos hadn't meant to make him mad.
"What is it with you? I give you a ride in my limo, let you in my home, offer you drinks and all you do is talk about this fucking Logan?! Are you trying to make a fool of me?"
Greg was standing over him now, dark eyes seething. The young Latino blinked up at him, confused.
"I-I-" he tried to sit up but his head was swimming. He wasn't used to being affected so strongly by only two glasses of alcohol. He'd never been a lightweight.
"Greg, what's--what's--"
The larger man was straddling him now, his hands low but Carlos couldn't figure out what he was doing. Just as he was about to ask he was distracted by a shriek from the house. He turned to the sliding doors in time to see Kendall and James running toward him.
They look mad. Are they mad at me too?
He couldn't understand why everyone was so angry with him. What did he do? It was Logan they should be mad at.
Greg was gone and to his surprise, his chum appeared. He leaned over him, touching his forehead. Annoyed, Carlos smacked at his hands.
"Go away...I'm mad..."
Logan ignored his protests, continuing to check him as he brought his phone to his ear. Who was he calling?
"...report an emergency..."
Where had Kendall and James gone? And where was Greg? Confused and so sleepy, he let his eyes droop.
"Carlos? Carlos, stay with me!"
But sleep was calling. He had no choice but to answer.
BTRBTRBTRBTR
Nothing could describe the fear in Kendall's heart as they raced toward Greg's place. Though James'd had his keys, Kendall had confiscated them in the parking garage. He'd floored it out of there like the devil was on his ass.
No, the devil wasn't on him at the moment. He was on Carlos.
I won't let you hurt him you son of a bitch!
Logan was in the backseat, calling the authorities. If it would protect Carlos, Kendall didn't care. Whatever it took to save his friend.
When they arrived at the destination, he flew out the car, attacking the front door with his fists. The kid who answered was shoved aside as Kendall forced his way in.
"Carlos? Carlos?!"
He ran from room to room, determined to find him. Nausea plagued him but the fierce need to protect his most childish friend filled his being.
"Hey! Who do you think you are coming in here like--"
James yanked the squirming guy (he was close to Logan's size) up by his collar, pinned him to the wall threateningly.
"Where the hell is our friend?"
James had never been much for violence save rough-housing with his friends; he'd always been too pretty to fight, but the look Kendall saw in his eye promised that and more if they didn't get an answer. Were he not so focused on saving Carlos he would be shocked.
"O-Out back! B-b-by the pool!" he pointed in the direction.
Kendall didn't wait to see him released, darting off. He was aware of James at his side as he slid the doors open but the sight by the pool burned his blood cold.
Him.
Greg. On top of a shirtless Carlos, tugging at his jeans.
No not him!
Something snapped in the blond then, and he was screaming as he charged at the predator. Greg barely had time to stand, before Kendall launched his attack.
