A/N: Even though it hasn't been that long, I feel like I've been kind of slacking on this story though I haven't meant to. But now, or at least until I start my new story, this is the only thing for me to work on and I'm thinking about putting off another story for a little while because school is getting a bit hectic. We'll see. But I really do love this story and I want to work on it as often as possible. So yeah. So just a little warning, I'm assuming from what you've told me, you weren't expecting this to happen... So find out what "this" is... Haha. :)

And thank you for all your support as always. Oh! And I saw the Hunger Games yesterday too! It was amazing!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the plot and I characters that I have created.


I smile, touching my cheek. She kissed me. Well sure it was just a quick peck on the cheek, but still. That quick peck, right now, was making me feel like I was at the top of the world. A smile makes it way to my lips and I know nothing was going to be able to wipe it off.

I trudge my feet to 2J, trying to let the smile fall. But no, it was impossible. I had secretly liked Camille for almost over a month and even though she hadn't known, a little bit of hope sparked in me. Maybe she liked me back.

I almost laugh at the thought. There was no way she'd ever like me back. That kiss was probably just an in the moment thing. Yeah, that was it. Maybe it was the fact that I'd never been in a real relationship and that James had planned out every date that I'd ever been on, but I was scared. I didn't know what a relationship was supposed to be like but at the same time I longed for Camille to kiss me and let me hold her in my arms. I longed for that. As if we'd ever be in a relationship anyways.

But nothing at this point could put a stop to the hope that was growing inside of me. She had kissed me. And that was enough for me to have hope.

I get to the apartment in a daze, still thinking intently about the kiss. Maybe it had meant something. I push open the door, the smile evident on the features of my face. I was sure that the skin at the corners of my eyes were slightly crinkled and my lips were tilted upwards.

Pushing open the door, I rub the back of my neck, looking down.

"Logan!" a shrill voice exclaims. It's bitter yet sickeningly sweet. I know that voice too well. I shut my eyes. No. She wasn't here. There was no way, right? She was in Minnesota doing who knows what. Probably having an affair while my dad was at work. I could almost laugh at the thought if it wasn't for my sympathy for my dad. He probably had no idea what was going on. Fear builds inside of me and runs through my veins. There was no way... Still, I force myself to look up and oh how I wish I hadn't. There standing in the middle of the abstract, colorful living room was my mom. She stood out painfully, everyone else clad in bright, vibrant colors and her in dark gray attire. I cringe just looking at her.

My breath is knocked out and I struggle to breath. The smile I thought could not be ruined, was now long gone. "Mom..." I whisper, trying to hide the fear in my voice, "You're here."

"Don't you like my surprise?" she sneer, chuckling darkly. But I know no one has noticed but me. James, Kendall, Carlos and Mrs. Knight were all behind my mother, trembling smiles on their faces. They knew the struggles I had with my mom but I knew that even they didn't know to what extent it was. I searched James' eyes and he shoots me a desperate, helpless look. He feels bad for me, all of them do. I suppose Rachel and Katie are hanging out by the pool since they've been inseparable again after their reunion. Half of me is happy that Rach isn't here to see all this, that she isn't here to see our mom give us a "surprise", but the other half is wishing that she was here because in the end, it will be me who will have to explain to her why our mom decided to show up.

"Y-yeah," I stutter, wringing my hands together nervously.

"I've missed you and Rachel!" she tells me, gathering me into a hug. It's cold and feels odd. We rarely make physical contact but I figure she's put up a charade for everyone else. Then, in a low voice, she whispers threateningly in my ear, "Not. I hope you're ready for me to give you the hardest time of your life." Her voice is harsh and cold, putting even a Minnesota winter to shame. Then she pulls back, a feigned smile upon her face.

Instantly, I step back, coughing and sputtering. "I-I um... have to go- I'm going to go take a shower, okay? I kinda fell..." I trail off, only half lying. I did lie down in the grass and was sure to have grass stains splayed over the back of my shirt.

"Of course sweetie," Mrs. Knight responds.

"Yeah, of course sweetie," my mom says, a sinister smile on her face.

I force a smile, slowly backing away before bounding up the steps as soon as I reach them.

As soon as I reach the bathroom, I slam the door behind me, being careful that it's not so loud that my mom can hear. I turn the shower to as hot as it can go and slip inside without even bothering to take off my clothes. The clothes stick to my skin, drenched with water. It's hot and I can feel the water leaving red spots on my skin from the heat even through the fabric of my shirt. But I don't care. How... Why was my mom here? Did she really want to torture me and Rachel so much? For the first time everything was going right and I thought I'd gotten away from my mom for the longest time and now she had to come and ruin it all. There was only so much I could take. Those texts and emails were horrible but nothing would ever compare actually being face to face with my mother. This was going to be hell.

I finally get out of the shower, peeling off my wet clothing and tossing it in the laundry and wrapping a white, fluffy towel around my waist. No doubt my back was as red as a lobster...

I step out the bathroom, into our bedroom and open up one of the drawers. Even though I know she's going to say something rude anyways, I throw on a nice light blue polo shirt and dark jeans just to let her know that I haven't changed that much- that I'm the same nerdy Logan that I was before I left Minnesota. Truth is, I was almost positive I'm not the same nerdy Logan that I once was. Sure I still care a lot about school and excel but my life had grown beyond school boundaries. L.A. has taught how to break out of my box and do what I want not what everyone else wants. It has taught me to be independent. But now that my mom was here, I was sure everything was going to go down the drain.

I look in the mirror, making sure I look presentable. I don't even know why I care so much about what she thinks.

"Logan," a voice pulls me out of my thoughts. I feel a hand on my shoulder and I half hiss and half yelp at the sudden contact. Maybe I shouldn't have turned the water up so hot. I spin around, coming face to face with James. His eyes are concerned and I know I'm the reason behind his worrying. "Are you okay?" he asks in a low voice.

"Yeah," I say slowly, "Why wouldn't I be?" I ask, letting a wobbly smile come to my face. I look at him, my eyes softening, "I'm fine, I promise." And though I didn't realize it then, that was my third lie and after three lies, there's no going back.

He looks at me and I know he's not completely convinced. "I don't think so," he says slowly but I don't object. "Whatever. If you're going to keep letting this happen then let it, don't think I'm going to sit here and do nothing about it. Do you realize all the action we can take right now? Right now, the situation is in our hands. We have control, not her. And if you wait too long, Logan, it's going to be too late..." James rambles. He shoots out ideas, some crazy and others reasonable, but I'm only half listening. It's not like my mom isn't going to put down a damn good fight anyways.

It wouldn't be the first time my mom was trying to ruin something I wanted so bad. So maybe becoming a part of boy band with my three best friends and moving out to L.A. was never part of the plan. But it became part of it. That opportunity was too amazing to turn down and it soon became my dream too. I wanted this. I wanted this so bad. But the last thing I wanted was my mom to ruin this for all of us.

That was the thing. I don't think she realized what she was doing. By coming here, she wasn't making life harder for just me but everyone around me too. James, Kendall, Carlos, Rachel, Katie, Mrs. Knight, Camille... even Gustavo and Kelly were going to suffer from her actions as well. And that was going to cause everything to come crashing down.


A/N: So... how was that? I think I like how it came out. How many of you thought that was going to happen?

I don't know why chapters for this story never come out long. Every time I try to make them long they either come out short or I start rambling. I don't know. Maybe it just works that way...

I got a confession to make. As much as I love all the bromances, I usually be safe and stick with Kogan but... writing James more than I usually do is making me fall in love with Jagan. Lol.

So... review?