He spotted Kendall limping towards him in the cafeteria. "There you are! What happened to you? Why're you all…?"

He sunk into the seat adjacent. "Guy fuckin threw me into a guard rail."

Logan gasped. "Here at school?"

"No, no." he reached over and chomped on one of Logan's tater tots. "I left after second period ta beat this guy down real fast." the brunette was gaping at him in concern. "Chill yer balls, I won."

"You skipped third period…for a fight?"

"Uh-huh. Are you surprised?"

"I- well, yes. Skipping school, Kendall, really…"

"Oh, don't get so worked up over it.", he waved, "Point is I won and I got here in time ta have lunch with you." he pinched his partner's cheek, who reddened at the sentiment, looking down briefly.

Bashfulness subsiding, he asked another question. "Are you okay? You limped in here…"

"The upper part a my back's all messed up. I'm fine, it's just sore."

"Well…well, would you like me to…?"

"Ooh, what?"

"Well, since my parents are doctors I know a lot about muscles and what-have-you, so I could try to knead your back if you like."

The blonde finished chewing and swallowed. "You wanna gimme a massage?" quirking his eyebrow.

"Well, I mean…do you think that's a little too much for being in public? Would that make people feel uncomfortable?"

"Nah nah, that's fine. You seriously wanna gimme a massage though? Right now?"

"Well I don't want you to be in pain all day. It's not going to look weird, is it?"

Kendall was already up and scooting back on Logan's bench so that his back was leaning into the boy. "It's gonna look like what it is, baby. Yer givin me a massage."

The brunette situated himself so that one leg was on either side of the bench, and brought his hands to Kendall's shoulders. He never usually got to admire the guy this way; upon recollection, the top was usually the hands-on one in the relationship. He started out gentle, not wanting to hurt the fighter further.

"You can go harder, yanno. I ain't gonna break."

He worked his thumbs in circles, pressing down with his fingers as he loosened his shoulders. Then he used his knuckles to start kneading the actual part of the back that seemed to be bothering the blonde. He arched into it, settling more into his partner and allowing his head to droop. Logan scanned the cafeteria. Oh, people are definitely watching. But then he looked back at Kendall.

Purely relaxed, under his touch he resembled one of those wild animals. Under his touch, he had found out exactly how to tame him. Well, let's not get too ahead of ourselves here. He just beat up some….

"Hey, Kendall?" he was working the backs of his ribs now, and the addressed didn't even bother to open his eyes.

"Mmhm?"

"What, um…what happened to the other guy?"

"Oh…" he almost groaned, signaling that what Logan was doing was just right, "he might still be unconscious."

"Unconscious? Kendall!"

"Shh….don't worry bout it, he had another guy there with 'em."

"Oh, umm….alright…you won't get in trouble, will you?"

He jostled a little in his laugh. "Don't be ridiculous Thumper. Aah….that would be such a bad idea… this feels really good, Logie."

"I'm…I'm glad." I've involved myself with a loose-canon! Jeez, Logan, way to be completely suicidal- The bell rang for fourth period. "Sorry, guess we gotta go." he rubbed his hands quickly over the full plane of his back before turning to get his tray.

"Do we seriously hafta stop?" his voice and eyes pleaded.

"Yes. Maybe we can finish up later or something, though."

"Mmm…yeah." he strolled after him, waiting until the brunette organized the messy pile of trays that the rest of the students had left before yanking him by the waist. He made sure their lips brushed. "Thanks fer the massage, Logie."

The boy couldn't even speak. He made a mental note to later assess the pros and cons of such school-girlishness.

Then he forgot because Kendall was trying to eat his face. Which he had no problem with whatsoever, mind you. He moaned when the blonde tugged at his hair to get him closer, and he hooked his arms behind the stronger male's neck.

Someone behind him cleared her throat. "Kendall, dear. Everyone already knows you're getting some, sweetie."

Kendall chuckled and pulled away. "Hey, Joyce. Everyone, huh?"

"Oh, yes." Logan craned over his backpack to see the five-foot-two woman with curled white hair. Paired with her rosy cheeks, short fluffy 'do and blue eyes shining behind her spectacles, she could have been mistaken for Mrs. Clause. And she's friends with….Kendall? "It's all the gossip behind the counters. That little spa therapy session sure ruffled their feathers."

The brunette glowed pink. "Oh, nonono, sweetie, no need to be embarrassed. Here." she pulled two items wrapped in wax paper from behind her back. "Have a cookie, each of you. And hurry up to class."

They took them, Logan's fingers still shaking. God-forbid he ever get into some sort of trouble. "Thanks, Joyce." "Thank you, ma'am."

"You're welcome, boys. Have a nice day. Oh! It's so nice to see how happy you two are!" she floated back into the kitchens, Kendall munching on his treat whilst he guided the petite boy out the doors.

"You have….the weirdest things happen to you, Kendall."

"I do?"

"You…you skip class, get tossed into a- what did you say earlier?"

"A guard rail."

"Right, a guard rail. Wait-"

"Empty street."

"Oh, alright. Only further adding to my point." his guide chuckled. "You get a massage, then commit PDA, and upon being caught in such actions, are reprimanded with a cookie."

"Enjoying narrating my life, are we?"

"I'm just saying, I'd never get away with it. It's…quite interesting being with you, Kendall." he was looking up at him, maybe with a bit more worship than he should be for it to be normal. But those who spend the majority of their weekends with their noses in books aren't exactly the best at suavidity.

"Aww, but you make it fun." he made them stop walking and locked their lips, releasing him much earlier than he had last time. "Here's yer class, go learn some shit, kay?" he winked and headed towards mainstream English.

Yeah, like I can completely concentrate on anything anymore…

***

"So I got a massage two days ago, and now yer makin me a cake? Ya gotta be shittin' me."

"No, I am not-" Kendall smiled, for he knew there's no way the other would say it. "I am not. And besides, it's really for my Lang class. I know," he noticed the puppy-dog face, "I'm sorry. You must be highly disappointed."

"You hurt my feelings."

"Ha ha. You can have some after it's done, if you like. I just need a piece to bring in, and you insisted I come over here tonight, so…"

"You don't wanna be here?" he was quirking that eyebrow at him again. Logan tried to sigh, but it came out as more of a giggle when he placed his hand on the other's bicep. "Of course I wanted to come over. I love spending time with you. But I also have a thing for not failing."

"Can I help you?"

"Do….you know how?"

He shrugged. "Just tell me the directions."

"Okay…well, can you grab me…." he read off, "three eggs, water, vegetable oil, and flour?"

"Sure can." he started over to the fridge and main pantry. "What else?" he called back.

"Uh…butter, vanilla extract, cocoa powder and red food coloring. Oh! And three cake pans." he had began walking over to him, anyway, so there was no need for shouting. Apparently Kendall hadn't realized that cakes consist of multiple ingredients. They gathered all of the supplies and Logan commenced adding this to that, stirring this here and preheating the oven to 350 over there. The blonde observed and handed him something every once in a while.

"So, how's this fit into yer class, anyway?"

Logan shook his head. "It's….a very ambiguous class."

"It's cute when you use words I don't know."

He chortled. "It means, like, not very clear-cut, hard to define. She just said make something and bring it in." he got a look. "Seriously, we get about zero information. But I trust it's for a purpose."

"What purpose could that possibly be?"

"Uh…well she says it's to better prepare us for college."

"You have no idea what this damn cake's for, do you?"

"Not a clue. But," he closed the door and set the timer, "it's in the oven now, so either way I get the grade."

"Uh-huh. I feel so bad for not signing up fer the class." he joked.

"Well, it's what I'm good at. Basically once you get into the advanced program in elementary school there's no turning back. They always work in what we should sign up for next year in that year's lesson plans."

"You never did any like, sports or something?"

He hopped onto the barstool. "No, just school. Did you ever do anything besides beat people up?"

He slid onto the one next to him. "Eh, I did hockey a couple years ago. 'Cause, yanno, grew up with ice-skates. Plus mom said it'd help get the aggression out."

His eyes were wide with interest. "I never knew that. Well, I mean we haven't known each other that long anyway, so that's not very surprising of course. Were you good?"

"The best, man."

Logan rolled his eyes. "Then why don't you still play?"

"I quit freshmen year. The coaches had too many rules and half those guys wouldn't fight ya if you tied yerself up for 'em."

"So you're saying that you were too much of a free spirit? For ice hockey?"

"Yup." he popped the "P".

"But you still sing. That's another thing besides fighting."

"Yer the only one who's ever heard it. Besides when I used ta live with my family anyways."

"It's still a really nice talent."

He leaned closer to him. "You think so?"

"Of course. I can't get that song out of my head now."

Kendall chewed on his lips thinking. He surveyed the boy he had next to him. "You sing?"

"Me? Not-not well."

"Who told ya that?"

"Well, nobody, but-"

Closer. "Would you sing fer me?"

Logan really would have said no. Truly, it was light years beyond his comfort zone, as the act of public singing is for most people. However, the taller boy's calloused fingers were caressing his jaw line and those green eyes just looked so hopeful…"O-Okay."

He grinned and pulled the boy towards the den. He motioned for him to sit on the couch as he himself retrieved the guitar from the corner. Kendall sat next to him, as closely as one holding a guitar could get. Logan was biting his lip, watching his partner check between tuning that he wasn't going to run away.

"Kendall…what about the cake?"

"We'll hear the timer. It'll be on the monitors."

"Oh…right…"

"Nervous?" the chocolate eyes snapped back up to meet the quirked grin.

"Yeah…"

"Why? You don't even know if yer good or not."

"It's not gonna be as good as your singing."

"Aww…" he pecked him on the cheek before setting his hands in place. "if it's not, I'll stop ya, okay?"

"…kay."

He began strumming that song that Logan had heard him play eleven days ago, but he knew it well.

"Now, just…I'll shut my mouth when I want you to sing, okay? And I'll nod when I want you to repeat the next line."

Logan showed that he understood, and Kendall began:

Young, full of running
Tell me where has it, taken me? *nod*
Just a great Just a great
Figure eight…

Kendall was smiling as he sang the rest of the verse, Logan following the nod well. He had heard him sing, just a little. He wanted more. He pretended to close his mouth, and Logan started the chorus, then he sang right along with him. The brunette almost stopped, cursing himself for doing it wrong, but that sly smile on Kendall's face told him that that was on purpose.

Don't say a word, just come over, and lie here with me
'cause I'm just about ta set fire, ta everything I see
I want'chyou so bad I'll go back on, the things I believe
And there I just said it, I'm scared you'll forget bout me

Kendall really did keep his lips together this time. It was elating, hearing this kid that he was taking such a fancy to, play like a songbird for him. Logan didn't look too sure the entire time, but he didn't break the gaze. It made him a little less awkward, anyway.

So young, and full of running
All the way to the edge of desire
I steady my breathing, silently screaming,
I hafta have you now

He let him go through his verse. Kendall was in complete control of the situation, but Logan was…enlightening it. The brunette couldn't help but think of them as he sang. This afternoon was becoming deeper and deeper by the hour. They duet through the chorus, and alternated at the end. On the last line, it emulated out of both of them.

And there I just said it, I'm scared you'll forget about me

Kendall placed the guitar on the floor and snaked toward the boy on his couch. He cupped his face in his hands and their lips met, him pulling back a tad. "You sing great, Thumper. You sing really, really great." and they kissed again.

"You're holding back, Kendall. I can tell you're holding back on me."

"What're ya sayin'?" he smooched, "You want me ta let go? You want me ta take control?"

"Y-yes…."

He made to move on top of him, but the timer buzzed. He groaned and looked at his bottom. "You wanna…?"

"No…but, it'll burn if we don't-"

"It's okay." *kiss* "I'll save it fer another day." Logan smiled apologetically and gave him another peck before they popped off the couch toward the kitchen. Kendall crossed his arms and leaned back on the counter. The brunette extracted the pans from the oven and saw the blonde chuckling to himself.

"What?"

"Oh, nothing. Just thinking about that day I'm saving it for."

"What day is that?" he grinned.

"Trust me, baby." he raised his eyebrow. "You'll know."