Chapter 12! Danny O'Donoghue is the singer of The Script, if you don't know. I recommend listening to Kendall and James's song. It helps with understanding and whatnot. Anyway, enjoy!

"Logan, it's James. I need your help."

There was a brief pause. Then, "What? Why?"

"Me and Kendall . . . there's been some issues."

"What kind of issues, James?" Logan sounded impatient.

"We're not together anymore. I thought you would've known." James explained everything he knew for sure about the situation. "I need him to take me back. I . . ." James's voice died away.

"I get it, James. But, what can I do?"

James sighed. "I don't know, honestly. But you were the only person I could call."

There was another pause. "Well, I don't live with Kendall anymore, as you know, but I can give you the number of someone who does. They'd be more than happy to assist."

"Ok, great."

After copying down the seven digits of Eric's phone number, James said, "What do you think I should do? To get him back, it has to be a big gesture to convince him."

"Honestly, I think it's up to you to think of something yourself. But, if you want any advice, Kendall just loves it when people act like they care, like they're making an effort for him." There was a distinct bitterness in Logan's voice as he added, "Sean never bothers."

"Thanks, Logan. I'd better start brainstorming."

"Good luck. Kendall needs someone like you." There was a pause. "And, you know what? I think you need someone like him too. To loosen you up out of that copper lifestyle. Must get dull."

James grimaced. "Thank you, for that. Talk to you soon."

"Later, James. Hope you win." Then he hung up.

Win? James stuck his cell phone into his pocket and started the car. The radio came on as he drove out of the parking lot.

"Now it's time for some old hits of The Script—"

"Goin' back to the corner where I first saw you, gonna camp in my sleeping bag, I'm not gonna move. Got some words on cardboard, got your picture in my hand, sayin' 'If you see this girl, can you tell her where I am?' Some try to hand me money, they don't understand, I'm not broke, I'm just a broken-hearted man. I know it makes no sense, but what else can I do? Hoiw can I move on when I'm still in love with you?"

James's hand flew forward to switch the song off, brow furrowed in concentration. And he thought. And wondered. Maybe it was worth a shot.

After all, if Danny O'Donoghue had done it, why couldn't he?

So the next day, there he was on the corner by the Crystal hotel. So much had happened here; that moment when he first saw Kendall, the time when he'd saved him from that guy Wayne, where they'd met on their first date, that time he was wasted . . . When James set his guitar case open beside him and started to play, it truly felt natural.

Some people passed by and dropped money in the case, but they didn't matter. He was only there for one person. Hopefully they would come.

Suddenly a single white rose landed in his guitar case. James looked up to see Kendall standing there, face expressionless. "White roses stand for remembrance, you know," he said, a tiny smile appearing for a moment, but then it was gone again.

James remained sitting, sensing it probably wasn't a good idea to stand up. But he was puzzled. "So, you're forgiving and remembering me?"

Kendall shook his head. "I think you should move on, because I'm not a good idea. But I hope you don't forget me." His smile faded, his voice quietening considerably. "And I hope you forgive me too."

Then he turned and walked away. James knew getting up and trying to stop him was no good. So he started strumming again, catching the attention of more nearby pedestrians. "If one day you wake up and find that you're missing me, and you're heart starts to wonder where on this earth I could be, thinking maybe you'll come back here to the place that we'd meet, you'll see me waiting for you on the corner of the street . . ."

Kendall had turned around and was watching him from a distance. James couldn't tell anything from the look on his face. "So, I'm not moving, I'm not moving." Kendall had already turned to leave again. James kept sitting there, wondering which song he was gonna play next. He just hoped it wouldn't rain.


Kendall hated parties like this. When everyone was dancing, drinking or taking drugs. Maybe even High School parties were like this, but he didn't want to see anymore girls in tiny outfits with their legs wrapped around metal poles, or men pouring wine and tequila down each other's throats. He couldn't stand it. Especially since all Sean's butt hole friends were here. He didn't know who was the worst; Lance with his loud obnoxious laughing, Henry with his big sweaty hands that couldn't keep to themselves, Archie with that crack he kept pushing . . . the list went on and on.

The last straw was when Henry slapped his ass before shoving him onto one of the tables, offering him what was obviously roofies to put in his drink. Kendall had turned and fled away, cheeks red with frustration and anger. He was so tired of this.

Then Lance appeared in front of him. "What's up with you?"

"I'm leaving," Kendall replied, trying to push past him.

Lance just waved the bottle of champagne in Kendall's face. "At least have something to drink before you go, baby. You need to loosen up."

"I don't want anything," Kendall snapped. He wasn't in the mood to party, or do anything. He wanted James back, so badly. These past couple of weeks had been painful without him around. He hadn't realised how much he actually needed him until he was gone.

He was walking toward the door when he felt somebody grab his arm. He turned around to see Sean there, eyes narrowed. "Where are you going?"

"I'm going home," he replied, shaking his arm free. You can take the car; I'll get a taxi. But I'm not staying here another minute." He turned and stormed away, ignoring the confused look Eric gave him as he left. He didn't want to live like this. Not anymore.

James was sitting in a brightly lit coffee shop when he received a new test message. He opened it up.

Hey, Bus Guy, it's Eric. Logan gave me your no. Kendall's goin home ALONE ;) get stuck in there! xx

Bus Guy? James frowned at the little screen, but typed back, Thanks, will do :)

He quickly stood up, leaving the shop and leaping into his car. It didn't take him too long to get to Kendall's neighbourhood, and he parked near the top before getting out to walk. He didn't want to be seen parked outside Kendall's house. His phone beeped with another text, and he read, Try Kendall's room, first window on right side, 1st floor. He'll be there.

Thanks. James found the right window when he got to the house, and smiled to himself when he saw light shining through the gaps in the closed curtains. He window was level with his shoulders, and he took a deep breath before reaching up and knocking on it three times. He heard movement before the curtains were thrown open. Kendall stood there, curtain in each hand, eyes widening when he saw him. He quickly pulled the window up. "What are you doing here?" he hissed. "If someone sees you—"

"That doesn't matter." James was determined. "Look, I haven't planned what I'm gonna say at all, so I'm just gonna improvise." He took a deep breath. "Kendall, I don't care what you tell me about what Sean would do to me if he found out we were still together. He's not gonna find out, I'll make sure of it. I'll go on dates with you in caves, or in deserts, or a forest, I don't care, I'll make it work because I can't give you up. I know we have something special, and I know it meant something to you too. You can't hide your thoughts as well as you think. We've come through a lot, and there's no way we can just give it all up like this."

Kendall was watching him with wide eyes as he finished.

"Kendall . . ." James took a deep breath. "Here's the thing. You could agree to take me back now, but even if you don't, I'm gonna be waiting on that corner until I see you again, I'm not gonna leave you alone. And if you change your work spot, I have sources to inform me of where you've gone. You're stuck with me."

Kendall gave a tiny smile. "That was so incredibly cheesy," he replied quietly.

"I know. But cheesy works surprisingly well." He paused. "So what's it gonna be?"

Kendall bit his lip, and James could see tears building up in his eyes. "I don't know." He ran a hand through his hair. "I'm scared, Jamie," he whispered.

James kept eye contact. "Me too. But, part of my job is being brave. I can deal with this."

"Don't you understand, it would be easier for you and everyone if you just forgot about me?"

James shrugged. "Yeah, that would be easier. Doesn't mean I'm gonna do it."

Kendall laughed at that, eyes shining. "You're way too stubborn for your own good. You don't know trouble when you see it."

"Trust me, I do. I just dig trouble." James's face became serious. "Kendall, it comes down to what you want. So, can you look me in the eyes and tell me you never wanna se me again?"

Kendall's smile faded, and he shook his head no. When James grinned at him, Kendall smiled back and pointed towards the back of the house. "Back door's that way."

James hurried through the garden and onto the small patio at the back, where Kendall appeared a few seconds later, sliding the door open for him. James walked inside, putting the guitar back in its case and leaning it against the counter.

"You should sing to me more often, I think," Kendall said.

"Is it something else nobody except me has done?"

"Yup."

"Awesome."

Kendall giggled, then his face suddenly became solemn. "I'm sorry, about what I said to you before," he said, blushing. "About not liking you, and saying you're always in my business. I didn't mean any of it."

"I know you didn't," James replied, smiling. "I could see it in your eyes."

"Is that why you came back?"

"I would've come back anyway."

Kendall shook his head in something like bemusement. "I don't believe that."

"Well, it's true. I can be very stubborn."

Kendall smiled again. "So, what else do my eyes tell you?"

"Well, the information is never very specific, but it's enough," James replied breezily. "Like I can see how you're feeling. When you're happy, when you're sad or angry." He smirked. "Or when you're horny."

Kendall's mouth fell open and he blushed again, eyes on the floor. For the first time, James noticed what he was wearing. "You're pretty dressed up. Where were you?"

"A party, with Sean and his friends," Kendall said dully. "I came home early." He moved towards the kitchen door. "I'm gonna change, actually. Be right back."

"Can't I come with you?" James asked with a smirk, before he could stop himself.

Kendall's eyebrows rose, and he replied with, "Not yet," before leaving the room.

James glanced around the kitchen, foot tapping absent-mindedly on the floor. He couldn't help feeling that he'd totally won over Sean. Any thoughts of how Kendall had originally chosen Sean over him were completely gone. It was abuse that had driven him to it; James knew that for sure. He was standing there for a couple of minutes, daydreaming of Kendall when the door opened again.

James hoped his jaw didn't drop when Kendall walked back into the kitchen, wearing nothing but a large white shirt. His bare feet moved silently over the tiled floor as he walked back over to James. He's totally wearing that just to tease me, James realised as Kendall wound his arms around the brunette's middle and rested his head against his chest. "I missed you holding me," he sighed happily.

In spite of himself, James wrapped his arms around Kendall's waist, breathing in that scent of cinnamon from his hair. "I missed holding you."

Kendall hummed contentedly, hands running up and down James's back slowly. James had to use every ounce of self control he had not to jump him there and then. That shirt was really killing him, especially since he had a view of Kendall's long legs, and the shirt just about covering his upper thighs, the material curving over his ass surprisingly well. And James had to avoid groaning when Kendall looked up at him with innocent eyes and said, "You look kinda like you're in the mood for hot makeup sex."

"You read me too well."

"Get to it, then."

At first James wasn't sure what exactly Kendall had said. Then he quickly grabbed Kendall's waist, lifting him up from the floor and pushing him against the wall. Kendall laughed loudly, hugging James's waist with his legs and wrapping his arms around his neck. James walked backwards through the door and into the hallway. "Which way?" he managed to gasp between kisses.

Kendall pointed to one of the doors, other hand tugging on James's long brown locks as the brunette kicked the door open. He spotted Kendall's tattered old messenger bag by one of the beds and tossed Kendall onto it before diving down on top of him. They wanted all the emotion they'd been feeling to go into this. All the hurt, all that time they'd been apart. When Kendall flipped them both over so he was on top, James didn't even protest at being on the bottom again. Kendall could do whatever he wanted to him.

James ran his fingers underneath Kendall's shirt as the blonde kissed every inch of his face. "You going commando under here?" As he trailed his hands over Kendall's ass, he felt a soft string beneath his fingers and grinned.

Kendall laughed at James's expression. "Nope. Better."

Kendall sat up, still straddling James's waist, and started unbuttoning his shirt. James somehow managed to pull his own t-shirt off too, before lying back to watch his blonde beauty undress for him. It was taken a lot longer than he wanted, what with the shirt being so big and having all those annoying extra buttons. But Kendall eventually opened the last one and tossed the shirt over his shoulders to join the other clothes on the floor.

Kendall leaned back down to suck on James's neck, hands fumbling with the button of his jeans. James ran his fingers along the strings of Kendall's blue thong, snapping it and making Kendall squeak and start giggling. "Dammit, Kendall," James murmured, sliding his hands beneath the tiny underwear and pressing his forefinger against Kendall's entrance. "How did you know how much I love these things on you already?"

"Intuition—ohh, James!" Kendall groaned and lifted his hips so James could pull his underwear down. He quickly got off James and pulled it down his legs and threw it away, while James opened his pants and pulled them and his boxers off in one go. Kendall crawled back on top of him, grabbed the sides of his face and kissed him long and hard, his tongue sliding along James's teeth and prodding at his tongue. James shoved two fingers inside Kendall, delighting in the moans that escaped from the blonde's parted lips. He didn't even seem to mind that they were dry and were stretching him too quickly to be very comfortable.

Working Kendall open was a lot easier when his third finger moved inside, and soon James was pulling his fingers out and Kendall was shifting so that he was hovering above James's erection. They kissed one more time before the blonde lowered his body down fully into James's lap. James gasped as he suddenly felt the tight velvet heat encasing his cock. Before he could control himself, his hands were gripping Kendall's hips and he was lifting him up only to tug him back down. Kendall fell forward right into James's arms, their lips crashing together as he started moving himself, hips jutting up and down, back and forth.

"James! Oh God . . ."

"Kendall," James groaned as the blonde's fingernails dug into his chest. "So good . . ."

Kendall moaned and screamed every time James's tip slammed against his prostate, and the sudden feeling of Kendall contracting around him caused him to sail over the edge, feeling burst after burst of his seed filling Kendall up. He quickly took hold of Kendall's dick and pumped him once, twice, three times until he came too, all over James's chest. Feeling completely drained all of a sudden, James slumped back, head hitting the pillows as he pulled Kendall down with him. Their bodies were pressed together as they kissed again, James lifting Kendall's hips so he could pull out of him, before setting him back down and wrapping an arm around his waist. Kendall rested his head in the crook of the brunette's neck, snuggling in close to him.

"Best makeup sex ever," James murmured, chuckling.

Kendall giggled, hand turning James's face so he could give him another kiss. "I agree. I'm sorry, Jamie. For everything. All the trouble I've caused." His lips lowered into a pout. "No wonder Faye doesn't like me."

"I don't care what she thinks. I've never criticised anyone she dated, and I really hated some of them."

"Oh yeah? Did she date any strippers?"

"Nope. But there was one guy I was convinced was a drug dealer, another who was obviously gay, and then there was that one who was already married . . ."

Kendall bit his lip in an attempt to control his laughter, and James couldn't help grinning at how adorable he looked. Then suddenly, as if the universe really did have something against them, he could've sworn he heard the distant sound of a car engine. Then Kendall was sitting up so fast James could swear he heard something crack. Then Kendall was grabbing a packet of tissues off the floor and ripping it open, cleaning James's chest off at the speed of light.

"Babe, are you ok?" Kendall expression put James at ill ease. He'd never seen the blonde look so scared before; he looked like a deer caught in headlights, and he couldn't seem to breathe properly.

"You need to go," Kendall said quickly, darting down to pick James's clothes off the floor before throwing them at him as he reached for his own.

James got dressed as quickly as he could, hopping around as he pulled his jeans on. "I'll talk to you tomorrow." He stopped. "What about my guitar?"

"Shit! Ok, two seconds." Kendall hurried out of the room, before running back in with James's guitar case and all but throwing it at him. Then Kendall was pushing James towards the window before he even had his shirt fully on. "Out this way, ok? He won't see you."

James pulled the window open and hopped out, landing on the grass. He turned to look at Kendall who was leaning out of the window. He quickly closed the gap between them and kissed him softly. Kendall reached out a hand and rested it on the back of James's neck, pulling him a bit closer.

Then James heard the distant sound of a door slamming, and Kendall pulled away in an instant. "Bye, James."

"Bye," James murmured, turning to go as Kendall shut the window and the curtains almost simultaneously. He turned and walked quietly through the garden and out onto the sidewalk, heading towards where he'd parked his car. He felt like a winner.

Kendall, meanwhile, was straightening the sheets of his bed hastily before throwing himself onto it and straightening his hair with one hand as he picked a book off the floor with the other and opened it. Act normal.

The door opened and Sean stood there, smiling at him. "Hey. You missed a great party."

"Mmm." Kendall put the book back down, praying he didn't look like he'd just slept with another guy. "Sorry, babe. The music was so loud, I just had to get out of there."

Sean moved towards him, sitting down next to him. "Fair enough, I guess. So you just read the whole time? Sounds boring."

"Well, you know what I'm like." But he really didn't.

Sean just shrugged, hands gripping the sheets when he frowned suddenly. "Hey, I think this is wet, or something."

Shit! Kendall just moved closer to him, sighing. "Fine, maybe reading wasn't all I did." He moved a hand around Sean's shoulders, fingers playing with the hair on the back of his neck. "I was just so lonely here without you."

Sweet talking; something he'd improved at over time. Clearly his reply was sufficient, because Sean leaned over and gave him a kiss, smirking to himself. "You're so kinky. Maybe you should sleep with me tonight," he murmured, hand stroking Kendall's hip.

"Mmm." Kendall faked a smile. "Maybe I should. Up to you, baby."

Sean straightened up, backing towards the door. "Well, come on, then," he said, opening the door and beckoning Kendall over.

Kendall took a deep breath and got up to follow Sean upstairs, telling himself over and over again that everything was fine. Nothing to worry about. He had James back, Sean was none the wiser. What could happen?

He totally jinxed it.

Sean sat down on the bed of his room, Kendall walking over to him without direction. Sean pulled Kendall down onto his lap, wrapping him up in his arms before kissing him slowly.

Kendall started to relax. They were just kissing, after all. It was fine, nothing to worry about. Even when he felt Sean tugging his shirt up, he pulled back and let him take it off before kissing him again. He slid his hands under Sean's shirt, figuring he might as well make this believable as he ran his fingertips over the brunette's abs.

Sean moved his hands lower and lifted Kendall slightly, pushing him back and laying him down on the bed before straddling his waist. Kendall moaned weakly as Sean cupped his cheeks and kissed him harder. Sean pulled back, lips curling into a sneer as he chuckled softly, hands moving to pin Kendall's wrists by his head, still keeping him there, trapped. "You're a stupid whore, you know that?"

Kendall's eyes widened. "Huh?"

Sean laughed. "I can't believe you, lying to my face." Then his narrowed his eyes. "I told you to stop seeing him."

Kendall told himself to keep calm, though he tried to free his wrists from Sean's iron grip. "I . . . I don't—"

"Shut up!" Sean yelled, face twisting in anger. "Don't bother lying to me, you little bitch!"

Suddenly Kendall was absolutely terrified. "S-Sean, I—"

Sean's fist slammed into his cheek, causing him to cut off his protests and whimper in pain. "You know, Kendall, I did you a huge favour. Getting you away from Paul. I'm pretty sure you owe me."

"Sean, I'm sorry!" Kendall cried, trying to free his hands again.

Yeah, that's not good enough anymore. I'm really mad, Kendall."

"Please . . ."

Sean laughed again, almost manically, reaching down underneath the mattress, other hand caressing the inked skin of his collarbone. "Black roses stand death, you know."

Kendall's scream was muffled by Sean's hand closing over his mouth and nose. In his other hand he held a long, thin knife. Kendall was using his hands to try and pry Sean's palm off his face. He was afraid to go near the knife. But then it was coming closer, the blade glinting silver and almost looking surreal as Kendall stared at it, suddenly numb with horror. Sean really wanted to hurt him? Like, seriously hurt him?

He got his answer when he lowered his hand until the blade was resting against Kendall's stomach. For a second all he felt was coldness, then a sharp sting as the knife curved over his skin, leaving a thin cut behind, blood seeping through the gaps in his skin. Another curve, and then Sean moved the knife over, a straight line slashing down, and then across. As all this happened, Kendall found himself frozen, unable to defend himself.

Sean's finger traced over his cheek, blood smearing on the skin from his fingers. Kendall felt like he was going to be sick. But then he somehow managed to get his legs out from under Sean, and kicked him in the chest, knocking him onto the floor. He got up and ran, stumbling a little as he made his way to the door. He fumbled with the key, managing to unlock it just as Sean got back to his feet. "You bitch!" he shouted angrily, hand on his head, face scrunched up in pain.

Kendall ran, heading straight for the stairs without looking back. It was only as he was about halfway down that his churning stomach forced him to stop for a second. His eyes strayed down to his stomach, where blood was still dripping down slowly over his skin. His eyes widened as he struggled to keep breathing normally. He really hated blood . . .

He probably fainted then, but he wasn't so sure. He was just there, suddenly curled up at the bottom of the stairs with no idea how he got there. He quickly got up onto his knees, trying to ignore the fact that he was bleeding everywhere and it was so gross and Sean was yelling and still following him—

I have . . . I have to get out of here . . . But he was so dizzy, his head throbbing as he struggled to his feet. He stumbled as he stood up; he could hear footsteps behind him, but somehow he couldn't even react until he felt a pair of arms grab him from behind.

Kendall immediately started struggling, sobbing in fear as the grip on him only tightened. He punched and kicked, thrashing and screaming, but Sean had always been stronger than he was. Eventually the taller man threw Kendall against the wall, causing him to lose his footing for a second or two. That was all it really took.

For a second the two just stared each other in the eyes. Unspoken messages passed between them, some angry, some loving. Then Sean's anger got the better of him as he grabbed the lamp off the table in the hallway, ripping it right out of the socket in the wall. Eyes wild, he swung it straight at Kendall. The base struck him in the head, and he let out a cry of pain, the force of the blow sending him flying against the wall and then onto the floor. He didn't get back up.

Sean stared at him, the mad anger burning through his head slowly fading away. He dropped the lamp on the floor, stared at the limp form at his feet. He bent down and rolled the blonde onto his back. Funny, how he looked so much more peaceful now then he usually did. Almost angelic. His eyes were shut, his eyelashes like a dark crescent across his cheek, his lips slightly parted. A thin trail of blood was sliding down his forehead, and as it slid over his cheek it almost looked like he was crying blood. Sean picked up the knife he'd dropped on his way, and slowly cut the last two letters into the blonde's stomach. U. T.

"You stupid slut," he murmured, voice cracking as tears built up in his eyes. His head was ringing so much he barely heard the sirens outside. "It's all your fault. You know that. I had to do it, you know I did. You were gonna run off with your stupid copper fuck toy . . ." A tear fell from his eyes, landing on Kendall's forehead. He brushed it away with his thumb, sniffing as he continued shakily. "You were gonna just leave me here. I couldn't let you do that. You're all I've got, and you were gonna leave me. I didn't have to hurt you . . ."

As he heard the front door smash and fall off its hinges, he ignored it. He sobbed angrily and slapped Kendall across the face, his rage increasing when the blonde didn't even flinch. "You stupid slut! Why are you doing this to me? WHY!"

He felt two pairs of arms grabbing him and pulling him to his feet. He felt his hand being pulled behind his back and heard a little metallic click. He aimed a kick at Kendall's bloody stomach, screaming with rage as the cops pulled him outside. "You stupid, stupid slut!"

James wasn't sure why he'd followed the squad cars back into Kendall's neighbourhood. Maybe it was paranoia. Or maybe he just wanted to lend a hand, no matter which house it was. Now he watched the cops shove Sean into the back of a squad car, one of them yelling to a group of paramedics just climbing out of an ambulance. "Get inside the house, we've got an injured male on the first floor!" They grabbed a gurney and hurried into the house with it.

James watched in horror as they came back out, carrying somebody blonde and pale. His eyes could barely focus properly. He couldn't even see any indications that Kendall was still alive in his panicked state. There was a large cut on Kendall's temple, blood trails on his face. He had no shirt on, and on his stomach were four letters, cut into the skin. They were stained red and James could read it easily. S L U T.

He felt anger bubbling up inside him, and he although he wanted to grab that knife and slit Sean's throat with it, that wasn't very wise.

"James, hey." one of the officers greeted suddenly. "What are you doing here?"

"I saw you and just . . . I don't know." He still couldn't think straight.

"Well, we're gonna call in another investigator. I know you're not on duty, but do you think you could just take a quick look?"

"Sure." James walked inside the house as nonchalantly as possible. He saw a knife and a lamp on the floor and put two and two together. More blood drops on the stairs, blood stains on the floor. When he walked up the stairs and checked every room, he found more blood drops on the bed in one of them.

He walked back downstairs and into the kitchen, giving it a quick glance. A flash of yellow caught his attention, and he spotted a bouquet of sunflowers on the table, still wrapped up. There was a little white card attached to it. After a moment of hesitation, James walked over and flipped the card over, reading what was written on it.

I'm sorry. Forgive me.
Love
Sean.

Please review! And go check out my new FF!