A/N: All right guys, time for a new chapter after quite a long hiatus. I haven't written in a while, or watched BTR, so here it goes haha.

Sun Down

Chapter Eleven

Your eyes turn white in the bright lights. I know there's torment in your heart, Oh, and it's swimming around your body like a shark.

The day of the Nutcracker finally arrived. Maddie for once, was actually excited about something. She had regressed so quickly after her weekend in West Hollywood. Though it was never stated aloud, the two came to a mutal understanding that while they were not exactly dating, they were something. She had gone back to her ex for a weekend, to spite Logan, but really she had only injured herself. Logan felt like a baby sitter, more than whatever you would call their relationship, but maybe that's what he was, just her baby sitter.

After Maddie had confessed that she liked Logan, she began to come around again. It was almost like she picked up where she left off. Logan was pleased the process didn't need to start all over again. In fact, she was doing better than he had ever seen. She talked about the Nutcracker non stop, and once he'd even come over to find her lacing up her ballet shoes.

"Logan," She said, "Ally and I are going to use the gym this evening to dance. Do you want to watch?

He was taken a back. She was inviting him to watch her dance? He'd always been curious. She'd told him once before when she first invited him to the Ballet that once she had danced as Clara. At the time, Logan had no idea who Clara was, but as the show apporached, he discovered that Clara was the lead.

"Yeah," he said, "Yeah i'll be there."

Having Ally at Palm Woods had worried him at first because Maddie had seemed afraid when she arrived. But it turned out that having her here was a good thing for Maddie. She had someone that she knew well, other than Logan, and someone who shared the same intrests and desires. Once Maddie gave in to Ally's constant prodding for a lunch date, Maddie relaxed and they were friends. Logan knew that Ally was a dancer, she'd been picked up by a dance studio, and he knew that Maddie used to dance as well. But he found out from Ally that Maddie had gone to the same dance school, and she had been the star pupil, until she met Aaron.

Nothing had changed at the Palm Woods in all the time he'd been there. People, performers had come and gone, but for the most part it was exactly how it was when they showed up last winter. It was comfroting, but sort of melacholy as well. Kendall and Jo were still together, James was still chasing every female, and Carlos was still getting himself into shenanigans. Logan though, Logan had changed. He'd come here with big starry eyes, draming of making it big, but the appeal had all worn off. He enjoyed what he was doing, where he was, and was grateful for the oppurtunity, but his eyes were focused on what would become of him when the Palm Woods was no longer his home. He wanted to be a Doctor, a surgeon, someone who saved lives. This realization made him wonder if that's why he was trying so hard with Maddie. He was trying to save her. But he'd also come here as a push over and he hadn't even realized it until recently. But he had changed the perception people had of him. He had a few outbursts of anger, and became involved with a beautiful girl, and people looked at him differently. He had an air of respect, dignity. This is what he had wanted, but he wasn't sure this was how he wanted it.

"So, Logan, got a hot date tonight?" James grinned. "Finally going to make a move of that mystery woman?"

That's how James referred to Maddie. Anyone who didn't find him attractive was a mystery. They couldn't possibly be sane.

"James, don't you have anything better than to antagonize Logan?" Katie asked.

He shrugged, "Not really."

"You're just upset because the prettiet girl in Palm Woods likes Logan, not you."

James scowled at her. While he tried to pretend this was not true, it was quite obvious that he resented Logan for this, and therefore didn't think much of Maddie.

Class ended at two. Maddie and Ally were going to dance in the gym at three and then they would get ready, and leave Palm Woods by seven, and arrive at the theater in West Hollywood by eight. Hopefully. Ally was joining them tonight, she was going to the same show so they decided to all go together. Ally's boyfriend Paul would be picking them all up.

Logan arrived at the gym a few minutes early, in time for him to watch the girls finish lacing up their shoes.

"Logan!" Ally exclaimed. "I'm so excited you're here. Maddie is a wonderful dancer, she was built for it, she is my idol. I can't wait for you to see her raw talent!"

"I haven't dance in eight months." Maddie said adjusting the waist of her spandex shorts. He'd never seen her in this get up before. Flesh colored tights, black spandex shorts, and a long sleved leotard to match the tights. Her hair was tied back in a tight bun,and her face was fully exposed. Without her hair to hide behind, it became quite apparent how gaunt she was. He felt a sinking feeling in his gut and remembered the Jenifer's statement about a possible eating disorder. He watched her stretch, as she leaned from side to side, her ribs became visible through her leotard. Ally was small, and she was rail thin, but Maddie didn't look well.

He watched the do plee'ats and do the splits. Logan was impressed in general, but for Maddie, not having practiced in eight months, it looked like she had done this every day of her life.

When the music began, the two girls stood side by side feet facing out, one foot in front of the other, and there arms, were round, their hands came together at the finger tips in front of their torso, it was a classic pose. Their heads were bowed, but when the music began, the two girls began to dance gracefully. It was a classical song that Logan didn't recognize. Maddie moved like nothing he had seen before. Her movements, slow and graceful, like the song, and when the time came, she was leaping sizable distances across the hard wood floor, and landing with hardly a sound. She spun and spun and spun. She never lost her balance, she always kept her form. She was born to be a ballerina.

When the song ended and then stood again in the position they began, Logan clapped and Ally wrapped her arms around Maddie. "You're wonderful to dance with Maddie, can we do it again?"

Maddie's cheeks were flushed and she looked slightly embarassed but she agreed to continue dance with Ally. "Let's get cleaned up for the show tonight."

Logan walked her back to her room, and raved about how well she danced. "I mean, i don't know much about classical dancing, or ballet, but wow."

"Logan," she said, "You don't have to keep it up. I'm not fishing for compliments."

"You don't have to!" He threw his arms up, "you're so amazing! You should do this professionally. Seriously, let's get you dancing here at Palm Woods."

"I can't" she said.

"Why?"

They reached Buddha Bob's apartment. "I have to be cleared medically."

"And you wouldnt be?"

She looked down at the ground, and held one of her arms in her other hand. She shrugged "I mean, I might, but if i don't then i'm under doctors orders."

"Oh."

"Well, I'm going to get ready, and I'll meet you in the lobby around, 645?"

"Sure."

Logan went back to 2J to shower and find a nice outfit. He wasn't sure what to wear, so he decided it would be better to over dress than under dress. He wore black slacks, a white button down and a black blazer to match. He hadn't planned on wearing a tie with it, but James and Katie insisted. So James tied a black tie around his friend's neck. It was a very bromancy thing to do.

At 630, Logan went down to the lobby. Inside there was another young man, maybe a year or so older, who was wearing very similar attire. He approache him, "Are you Paul?"

"Logan?"

"That;s me."

"Nice to meet you man, i'm a big fan by the way."

Logan laughed, "Thanks. He recognized Paul as the same guy he'd seen Ally with when Maddie disappeard for the weekend.

Soon, the elevator dinged and both girls exited. Ally was dressed in all white, and bounded across the room to leap into her boyfriend's arms. Maddie was wearing a long sleeve red dress, that came down just above her knee. It was form fitting and the fabric shimmered in the light. She had a black coat in her arms. She had done her hair and make up. Curls and cat eye. She was breath taking as always, but Logan foundhimself at a loss for words when she appraoched.

"I think you're supposed to compliment me." She nudged him.

He opened and closed his mouth, like a fish, and finally composed himself. He amanged to say, "You look so lovely. "

She smiled at him, one of those real, radiant smiles. Logan was ready for an evening alone with her. He was proud to have her on his arm. In the Car the radio played softly, and the four acted as if they'd all known each other for sometime. It was nice for Maddie's walls to come down for a bit. She smiled and laughed, and spoke with Ally about ballet in terminology that neither Logan or Paul understood.

The theater was packed, mostly with men and women, dressed much nicer than them, and older as well. But here and there one could spot the young couple. A boyfriend here with a ballet enthusiest, or maybe just trying to be romantic, bought tickets and wasn't quite sure what he'd gotten himself into.

Logan and Maddie had seperate seats from Paul and Ally, so when they parted ways, they agreed to meet back at the car once it was over. But from then on out, it felt very muhc like a date with Maddie.

"I'm excited," She told him.

"I can tell."

"How?"

"You're fidgeting. You never fidget."

She shot him a pointed look, "Don't ruin my evening." In a moment of vulerability, he put his arm around her waist and pulled her into him. "I'll try." Then, there it was, the second true smile of the night.

They were in the balcony, the first box on the left. It was an amazing view, such an angle gave them sight over the technique from above. They sat together, and Logan found himself watching her more than the show. She would move with the music. She knew the coreography, and she was moving her feet in minutruized motions. Occasionally, she was postion her arms to match the ballerina. She was pretending she was down there and it was so utterly adorable that Logan could hadrly take his eyes off of her.

At the end Maddie looked engerized. She looked a wayLogan had never seen before. She looked alive and ready to take on the world.

"Wasn't it wonderful?"

Logan smiled and agreed. They were swimming their way through the sea of people, making their way back to Paul's car hand in hand. She hadn't held his hand for some time, but it just felt right. They crossed the parking lot, Paul and Ally were already back at the vehicle. They smiled and waved the other couple over.

"Madison!" Suddenly someone shouted. Logan stopped and Maddie turned around. There was a terrified look on her face.

"What? You look surprised to see me."

Logan noticed Ally grabbing paul's jacket. Paul tensed up. Logan looked at Maddie and saw that she was frozen. A man was appraoching, early twenties, dark hair. He wore a loose fitting button down, tucked into a loose fitting pair of slacks.

"What are you doing here?" Maddie managed to squeak out.

"What was that?" He asked in a slightly aggressive tone of voice. Maddie took a breath in and repeated herself. "What do you mean, what am i doing here?" He lit a cigarette. he was only a few feet from her now. "I'm here for you."

He reached out towards her, and she flinched backwards. She took a step back towards Logan and he took a step forward.

"What's this? You're gone for a little while and you think you can get rid of me? You came back to me, didn't you? What's changed?"

Logan looked at Maddie, she had tears streaming down her face, and she was brething rapidly. She looked so afraid.

The man tried to take another step forward, but Logan put himself in between them. Instint was taking over, Logan wasn't quite sure what he was doing. It almost felt like he wasn't in control anymore.

"Back up." he said.

"Who the fuck do you think you are?"

"It doesn't matter. I said back up."

"Logan," Maddie's voicce quivered.

When Logan looked forward again, the man wasn't alone, four more had joined him.

"Aaron, who's this?" One of them asked.

"I asked, who the fuck are you?" Aaron repeated himself.

"I said it doesn't fucking matter." His voice was hard, he was angry. There was rage building. This was Aaron. The man who fucked up Maddie.

"You should probably stand down, my friend." Another man voice from behind Aaron.

"Logan." Maddie said again. "it's okay, I'll go with him."

"Yeah, listen to her. She knows what she wants." Aaron grinned.

"No, you fucking won't." Logan said to her. Maddie looked taken a back by the harshness in his voice. But Logan had stepped up, and he wasn't going to back down now. "I don't know who you are, and I don't want to. So why don't you turn the fuck around and leave this girl alone."

"You got some kind of nerve, kid."

"No, you got some kinf of nerve, harassin a teenage girl in a parking lot. Don't you have some better shit to do with your life? What are you, 25? You still go to high school football games?"

Logan had no idea what he was doing. H watched his comment visibly change the atmosphere. It went from confrontaitional to dangerous. Aaron's face was in a grimace, and his friends didn't look to pleased.

"Pretty boy, you should take your hands off my girl, get in the car with you friends and go home."

Logan spit. And then, with that sign of disrespect, Logan took the first hit.

A/N: What do you think? Too dramatic?