December 11th
A feeling of Christmas was starting to build up in the air. Each day brought a new aura onto the town. Today especially for some reason as a two week countdown began to tick away. Houses upon more houses started to decorate their lawns and rooftops with dangling bulbs and various decorations that filled the lawns like awaiting for Santa's arrival. A nice harmonious blend of red, white and green sprinkled the town.
A time of festivity also calls for a time for parties. One especially since the whole school is invited to the Jennifer's big Christmas bash. And every student is tingling in anticipation. Even the set of friends, Logan, Carlos and James had been awaiting for nightfall to come, when all the party goers come out to play. But for the time being, while there are still hours of daylight shining down, there's nothing much to do than to make the most of it.
Logan and Carlos were invited by James to pick out an entirely new, Christmas look for all three of them. Ever since the concert yesterday, they've been respected as real stars. However, only stars in their cozy town. But, for a new image calls for, well, a new image. And no better place to try out for a new image is the mall, of course. Various shops filled with many options as far as the eye can see.
"And it's entirely our choice, boys. Pick one," James clamped a hand on both his two friends' shoulders. Looking around, seeing the various people walk in and out, the ceilings lighting up like stars, but much more brighter, well because they're closer than stars, of course.
"Are you serious, James? We can pick a new outfit?" Carlos looked at James with twinkling eyes, adoringly. He looked like a kid awaiting a new toy to play with. And James just smiled down on him, nodding.
"Yep, go crazy guys, but you better look good. That's why I'm here for ya." James assured them of their good looking attire. So he dragged him to the nearest store that caught his eye. Shoving the two friends inside, James felt like he was in his own haven. He spent no time in rushing to the clothes rack and started picking from a few costumes. Logan and Carlos didn't know much about this as much as James did, so they went at it together.
"Hmm, how about this, Logan?" Carlos pulled out a gray button down shirt and placed it on top of his own shirt. It had stripes across it, which Logan thought looked good.
"Yeah, that looks nice, but by itself, I don't think it's going anywhere." Logan put in his thoughts, which Carlos agreed before placing it back on the rack. Logan searching through his own pile, picked a graphic shirt that was a bit colourful.
"How about this one, Carlos?" Logan did the same as Carlos did, holding it on top of his own shirt. Carlos speculated it, examining how it'd look like if Logan did wear it.
"It's nice, and colourful, but not for a party though. But you should get it anyways. I'm sure it looks good on you."
"You really think so?"
"Yep," Carlos assured with a smile, so Logan decided to grab it. Looking around for a bit more, they didn't notice James had changed out from his casual clothes into a more stylish look.
"Like what you see, guys?" James emerged from the dressing room, taking a spin to give a full view to his friends, who were giving him awes and whistles, impressed with what he can put together with his fashion eye. He came out wearing a white v neck with a silver blazer, with dress pants to match. He also equipped a scarf and a fedora, plus a pair of leather shoes.
"Love the look James." Logan complimented at the look, which honestly, made him look smoking hot. At least, that's what Carlos' blank and drooling look told him. It was so obvious he was all over him. And by the direct contact that James was giving Carlos, I think Logan has discovered something very interesting. But right now, Logan just slapped Carlos to snap him from his daze. Otherwise, James would suspect something's up.
"Um, uh, I-I think you look great. Smoking Hot!" Carlos slapped his hands to cover his mouth, realizing the accidental slip of the tongue. Logan just looked at him with wide eyes, surprised at what he just heard. Of what James heard too.
"Erm, what he means is, that you'll have all the girls crawling over you. You should definitely get it." Logan tried to cover up Carlos' faux pas. He simply shoved James back into the dressing room to change, trying to make James avoid Carlos' reddened face. Then, he just dragged Carlos out of the store and went to another one. They could not face James after that.
–
After spending a delightful and embarrassing time at the mall, the three friends find their way back to James' house, who advised them to add just that little more to their costumes. They just didn't know that James had planned to paint their faces with odd items, in which other people call, make up.
"Please James, I don't want anymore." Logan tried to shove James away from his face, who was attempting to put some eyeliner on him. It was suppose to help him 'define his face'. It probably would, coming from James, but Logan just didn't like it when people wore makeup. It was like a mask, looking so artificial, hiding the true you and exposing a fake. So he wanted a natural look, which James was not listening to upon request.
"Wait, Logan. At least make me finish. I promise you that you'll look great after this one more fine touch."
"No! Wait, leave me alone, James. I don't want to wear anymore." Logan swatted at James, trying to get him to, "STOP!"
"Okay, geez Logan. I just wanted to help." James closed up the small tube, while Logan went and got a wet wipe to wash off his face.
"At least let me.."
"OW! What's your problem James?" James had attacked him with a set of tweezers, and picked at the stray hairs between his eyebrows. Logan thought James was annoying before, but now he's just frustrated at him. Let him be.
"I-I'm sorry, Logan. I'm just conflicted is all." Logan really did look pissed off at him, before continuing to wipe his face off, seeing the smudges of black mix on the paper. He could see James look defeated on his bed. Now he did feel kind of bad. If there was a problem with James..
"What's the matter James? You're usually not this troubled, so it must be something big." Logan sat down beside him and rubbed his shoulders soothingly, trying to rid of any stress he was feeling.
"Logan, don't fool me. Please be honest. I saw what Carlos had done back at the mall."
"Oh," That was all Logan had to say. He didn't think James would think much about this. But depending on how James feels about this, he didn't want to be angry at James for the possibility of hating Carlos. Luckily he wasn't here, he was taking a shower and getting cleaned up.
"Yeah, and I don't know how I feel about it, though." James leaned back onto his bed, with his face in his hands. Logan leaned back, resting side by side with him. He looked at him, like looking at a sick puppy, and wanted to nurture him.
"Tell me what's really the problem James. I'm your friend, you can tell me anything. I promise I'll always be here for you. And I absolutely promise I won't get mad at you." Logan knew what was coming, so not being mad is the important part of all. And he could see that spark in his eyes when he removed his hands.
"Promise?" He nodded, and wrapped an arm around him. James just laid his hands and the back of his head, staring blankly at the ceiling.
"I-I think I'm in love with Carlos." Oh yeah, I already knew that, please. Oh wait, but James didn't know that.
"No way! Are you serious?"
"Yeah, and it's Freaking Me Out!" James jumped up from his bed and began pacing about, all nervous and anxious, which was really ruining his hair.
"Look James, there's nothing to freak out over. It's perfectly normal to feel this way, okay? All you got to do is just act upon these feelings, and everything will turn out okay." Logan steadied his pace, letting him look sincerely into his eyes. And knowing that relieving comfort, James started to melt in his arms. With a heaving sigh, he felt everything was getting back to normal again.
"How do you know that?" James said in a soft, innocent whisper. And Logan thought it was cute how James felt so small. So he smiled at him.
"I just do James. You've got to trust me when I say that I know everything." Logan said profoundly, starting to joke around before James smiled widely again.
"Thanks Logan. I know I can count on you." James pulled Logan into a tight, warm hug, resting his head on Logan's shoulder. This felt different from the hugs Kendall gives. It was more like an embrace with Kendall. With James, Logan felt like he did something well that he helped his friends in any way possible. And it was really satisfying.
"Now just don't worry about it, go get dressed and spruced up, and let's go to that party."
–
The party dragged on into the long hours of the night. The Jennifer's house was brightly decorated with a variety of lights, it might as well simulated a rainbow in the daytime. Like any teenage party, the only thing that there was to do was eat, drink and dance the night away. Not really a lot of things to do. There were times like this that Logan kind of missed his childhood. At any party, there was always something to do, and time simply passed them. Here, the music was so loud, you can't even talk to anyone. And you can't go outside because of the freezing weather. So Logan and Carlos, alone in the corner, were a bit miserable. They were simply talking to each other, because not a lot of people paid much mind to them.
Tell that to James then. He was being treated and respected like a real star, a real celebrity. Guys were talking to him, girls were flirting with him, everyone was looking up at him. And really now, they were in the same group, so why is it that his two friends are jealous of him. James didn't even pay a single look to his two friends, rather he's making new ones. And the two of them were seething mad. But it was a cliché that it did happen, that everyone only goes for the attractive lead singer. Well then luckily Kendall decided not to come to the party.
However, the unexpected turn of events was starting to go underway. James and a single girl, probably a Jennifer, were standing somewhere idly chatting away. Logan and Carlos, after dancing for a bit, were getting drinks to cool off. What Logan didn't mean to see was what surprised him most of all.
James was holding onto his drink while strolling with the other girl, found themselves conveniently under a piece of mistletoe hanging about. Upholding tradition, they had no choice but to kiss under it. And be shocked was an understatement on Logan's behalf. He stood there, mouth agape, at what he just witnessed. He cannot believe he'd do that to Carlos. Oh wait, Carlos!
"Carlos, er do you wanna go outside, it's a bit stuffy in here, Let's go!" Logan tried to pull Carlos outside, but he didn't budge.
"Whoa, chill, what's your problem, Logan. It's minus something out there." Carlos pulled his arm free from Logan's grip. Logan had to come up with something.
"Um, okay, but I'm hungry, let's go to the snack table." They walked into the kitchen to grab a bite, but little did they know that they were in perfect viewing position of the whole incident. Carlos turned his head around and saw James making out with Jennifer. His eyes dilated, his mouth ran dry and he stood paralyzed. Logan, after taking a bite out of his excuse food, saw how Carlos had seen James, and immediate grew worried. What probably ticked him off the most was that Jennifer was running her slim hand up James' v neck, rubbing it against his rock hard abs, getting some kind of twisted pleasure from it.
A sour feeling started to form in Carlos, and it was eating him up from the inside. Feeling on the verge of tears, Carlos tried to run away from the scene only to be caught in Logan's arms.
"Oh no you don't, not here. Not now, not ever." Logan tried to soothe a crying Carlos in his arms, sending warm and loving thoughts, trying to tell him that everything will be okay.
"And how do you know?" Carlos was still feeling rightfully upset. He looked at Logan with red, bloodshot eyes, and a runny nose. His voice had changed and was a bit course from all the sobbing, and it broke Logan's heart to see his friend that way.
"How long have you known me, that I do know everything, Carlos." Carlos laughed and cheered up a bit, and after he collected himself a bit, he felt fine. Still upset, very upset, but Logan was there along side him to give him comfort.
"You know what, before the night's over, there's one thing I want to do." Carlos, looking much more determined that a few moments ago, went over to the dance area, where there was karaoke happening, picked up the mike and cut off the music.
"Hey, everybody. You probably know me from yesterday, but for those who don't." Carlos looked over to see James standing next to Logan, was actually looking at him and what he was going to do. They looked curious about his actions, so he spared no time awaiting suspense.
"I wanna sing a song for you guys," Carlos went over and tapped a few buttons, until his song choice came blasting through the whole house.
"I see you driving 'round town with the girl I love, and I'm like forget you," People started cheering for the song that played through. James looked the most confused as to why he's singing this song for, but Logan got the message.
"I guess the change in my pocket, wasn't enough I'm like, forget you and forget her too. See if I was richer, I'd still be with ya" The crowd went wild for the song, as Carlos' mood became lifted, starting to play on his rage and sadness. The only way he controlled it was by not looking at James. Which was definitely hard.
"Although there's pain in my chest, I still wish you the best, with a forget you" Carlos collapsed under the pressure and ran off the stage before anyone even noticed. Into the blizzard he went, where Logan also realized until a while later, and followed him home.
Although there's hostility, it's nothing that friends can overcome, especially with the heavy feelings they have.
