Okay, this chapter is...very long. But prepare yourself for the secret to finally be revealed! Whoo!
Disclaimer: I do not own BTR
~June~
"How long are you going to stay, Dani?" Harmony asked her eyes wide with awe; the light brown haired girl still couldn't believe her sister who left was back.
"Well, I can't hide from my job forever," Dani joked.
Mrs. Mitchell leaned against the small counter. "Speaking of which, what is your job?"
"I'm...a real state agent; and I work part time at Groovy Smoothies."
Logan said, "Way better than my job."
"At least you've got a nice boss; my real state agent boss is a total A, and my Groovy Smoothies boss is just plain weird."
"What's the 'A' stand for?" Harmony piped up.
"Nothing dear," Mrs. Mitchell said with a small laugh.
Dani smiled. "Yeah, I guess I'll leave this Friday; you can visit whenever you want, I live in the Bushnell, just ask for Dani Taylor Mitchell."
"When we get the money, we will," Logan half joked.
Her smile faded. "Right, sorry, ugh! How could I be so insensitive; I could help you guys out if you want, I'm making a lot."
"No, hun we'll be fine," Mrs. Mitchell told her with a hint of regret.
"Just tell me if you change your minds."
Harmony grabbed Dani's wrist; her eyes bright. "Dani! Do you wanna play soccer with me?" The 7-year old looked to any opportunity to hang out with her sister she hardly knew.
"Sure, Harmony," Dani said with a small nod. "Logan, you want to join us?"
Logan shook his head. "I'll be fine, thanks." Dani shrugged and jumped out of the trailer with Harmony.
Once the door was closed behind them, Mrs. Mitchell inquired, "Are you nervous about the talent show?"
"Hmm?"
"It's coming up soon isn't it? It's on the last day of school, right? You were writing an original song?"
"Oh, yeah it's on the last day...I've got the song finished."
"Can I hear some of it."
Logan shrugged. "Why not; I needed an opinion anyway." He reached into his back pack resting on the foot of his fold out bed. Logan pulled out the notebook and flipped to the song. "Cause the world stops, when I put my arm around ya, around ya; whoa-oh, and nothing even matters... nothing even matters..."
Mrs. Mitchell applauded. "Wow, can't wait to hear the rest!"
"Well, I worked hard on it; so you better like it," Logan exclaimed. He hesitantly asked, "Do...you think, Kendall would like it?"
"I'm sure he will; why do you ask?"
"Oh, um; no reason, he just insisted he'd come," Logan replied. His cell phone vibrated on the counter. "Speaking of Kendall, that's probably a text from him; mom, can you hand me my cell phone?" She did so.
Let's go see oaky! ~KK
Logan rolled his eyes, half in amusement. Oaky? Really? Are you seriously naming a tree? ~LM
Well...yea. ~KK
At least give it a better name than Oaky ~LM
Like wat? ~KK
I don't know; what do you suggest? ~LM
Skyscraper ~KK
He still remembers that? Logan remembered naming the first oak, Skyscraper because of how surprisingly tall it was. Not only that, but; them being so young back then, the oak seemed to tower over them. Logan glanced up at his mother who was watching expectantly.
Skyscraper Jr.? ~LM
Agreed, soooo, wanna come w/ me 2 water Skyscraper Jr.? ~KK
Sure. That was our plan for taking care of this tree; see you in a few minutes ~LM
Logan figured none of this would turn into anything; who becomes friends over a tree? It seemed ridiculous... "Oak tree?" Mrs. Mitchell inquired, tilting her son's phone so she could read the texts. "Did you plant a new oak?"
"Kendall did, but we agreed to take care of it together," Logan explained. "I'll be back soon, going to water it now."
"Alright…" Mrs. Mitchell sighed. "I'll stay here with Dani and Harmony; I'll write a note if we go out."
Logan nodded. He waved to his two sisters as he ran by, and as usual slowed down by the time he was halfway through the forest. Another text buzzed in. It wasn't Kendall though.
Your mother told me Dani came back for a while –NM
Logan stiffened. Why would she tell you anything? ~LM
I called her –NM
The brunette texted back furiously, what the hell? What the hell did I tell you about not calling? ~LM
You can't stop me from doing anything...Hortence – NM
Logan gripped the cell phone so hard it could have shattered. Don't. Freaking. Call. Me. Hortence ~LM
Fine. Logan. –NM
Go away. Just, stop. Leave me alone. Leave my family alone. How many times do I have to tell you? ~LM
Mr. Mitchell didn't text back after that. Logan let out a deep, frustrated breath and continued on to Skyscraper Jr.
Sunday morning, Kendall met up with Jo and Jett for breakfast at one of their favorite coffee shops. "So...what have you two lovebirds been up to?" Kendall teased as they all took their seats outside.
"Oh, just spending time together; watching movies, going to clubs...things couples would do," Jo answered casually.
"Have you taken it to 'the next level yet,'" Kendall questioned with a smirk.
Jo gasped and reached over to punch him in the shoulder. "Shh! And...Actually, no. In fact, I think my..." she lowered her voice, "CIA dad would murder Jett if that happened."
"Just wait until we get out of college; then we'd move into our own apartment, then Mr. Taylor wouldn't be able to do anything to stop us," Jett exclaimed smugly. "How bout you, Knight?"
"Oh...well, I'm uh; I don't- I haven't had-"
"No, not that! What have you been up to?" Jo interrupted.
"Oh, that. Logan told me he just wanted to keep everything subtle...but, we are raising a tree together," Kendall said.
Jo and Jett exchanged a glance. They whispered something together, Jo nodded and said, "Hey, there's gonna be an incredible party for the end of the year at an amazing new club, wanna come with us?"
"Sorry, can't; the talent show is on the last day of school."
"Why can't you just not go to that?" Jett questioned.
"I promised Logan I'd be there," Kendall said.
Jo crossed her arms and sighed, "He can come too, afterwards; he won't be mad. You know Logan, he doesn't get mad easy."
"Yeah, did you see how much he hated me in the past months? I don't want to start that again!" Kendall chuckled, thinking his friends were joking around.
"Logan won't care then," Jett pointed out. "If he hates you still, then he won't care if you don't show up!"
True, Kendall thought. "What's this new club called?" He wanted to know.
"Midnight break out," Jo said.
"Who else is going?"
Jett answered this time, "Well...James, the Jenifers, Annie, Stephanie, and a lot of people! Carlos, Camille, and our other friends are either going to or working at the talent show."
"You planning on getting wasted?" Kendall mumbled.
"No," Jo scoffed indignantly, rolling her eyes. "We don't even know if they're serving beer."
Kendall sighed, conflicted. Maybe Jo and Jett were right. Logan wouldn't really care. "Okay, what time are we going?"
"We'll pick you up at 8: 00," Jett told him.
"Sounds great, how long we planning on staying; unlike you two, I actually have a curfew and will get grounded if I break it," Kendall warned.
"Don't worry, Kendall; we should be back by about 12: 00," Jo exclaimed. "And your curfew is 12:30."
"What!" Jett gasped in disbelief. "Only 12: 30? Mine's 1:30!"
Kendall snorted. "Is that why you sleep until the afternoon on weekdays?"
"Yes, and of course I need my beauty sleep," Jett said in a 'how could you not know that' way.
Kendall took a sip of his now cold coffee. "Whatever, dude. I'll go to the new club with you guys…Are you sure Logan won't be mad?"
"One hundred percent!" Jett cut off Jo before she could answer.
"It's a date," Kendall agreed. "No, no, no; not like a date, date; that'd be just plain weird, it'd be like a-"
"Kendall, we get it," Jett and Jo cut him off.
"Sorry."
Jett snorted, "Seriously, you've been different ever since you go wasted for the first time."
"Like...?"
"Well let's see...you explode in the middle of lunch all the time, you babble a lot more than usual, and...you reek of desperation," Jett said.
Kendall muttered, "No I don't."
"Yes. You do. And everyone else thinks so too," Jo agreed. "Just like everyone thought giving up on Logan might've been for the best."
Kendall found it strange how Jo was so quick to point the last part out. She'd actually mentioned it in more than a few of their side conversations, which Kendall still thought made no sense. "We're getting a long okay," he said quietly. "Like I said before, we were ur-almost friends again, then he called it off; but I think it'll work."
"Whatever, Kendall," Jo sighed. "Just remember to be ready on time to get to Midnight break out."
"I've got a few days," Kendall pointed out.
"Yeah, just don't forget," Jett added as if he didn't hear the blonde boy. He and Jo both grabbed their coffee and headed off.
"Bye," Kendall muttered. "Oh wait a sec!" He stood up. "Did you two seriously just leave me with the bill again!" Kendall sat down again. "Why does that always happen...wow. I do have anger managements. Was I like that before? Hmm, wow, I can't even remember that. GAH! Now I'm talking to myself?"
I bet people are staring, Kendall thought, just pretend to read the paper or something. He looked around. Damn it, Jo did you take it? You never read the paper, and I need it so I don't look crazed! "Nevermind," I sigh in defeat. I throw down a reasonable amount of money down on the table and leave quickly. In his hast, Kendall bumps into someone.
"We have seriously got to stop doing that before one of us gets a concussion," the other person mumbled.
"Logan, sorry…you can get a concussion from that?" Kendall inquired.
"If the two people were running fast enough...it probably would have to depend on the force," Logan explained.
"Hm. Interesting?"
"Thanks for the sarcasm."
"No, that'll totally help me out the next time I... yeah I really didn't need to know that, I have no idea why I asked...so, where you going?"
"Oh, I was going to check on Skyscraper Jr. again, you?"
"Just...heading home maybe," Kendall said. "I really don't need to be back for another hour, I could come with you."
"Okay," Logan said with a hint of suspicion. "Who were you getting coffee with, I saw you run of from one of the coffee shops."
"Jo and Jett," Kendal answered quickly as if it would hurt the brunette to know that. It's not like he knows what they're saying.
"Cool."
"Yup."
After a second or two went by, Logan asked hesitantly, "What did you three talk about?"
Kendall paused for a moment. "Um, we talked about the, uh talent show and um that it's probably going to be really great this year," he improvised.
"That reminds me, you're still coming right?"
Kendall stopped again. Logan did too this time, turning around to face him. The taller boy searched for any sign that the brunette wouldn't care otherwise. He doesn't know what makes him say it but he exclaims, "Wouldn't miss it for anything." Wha-? What is wrong with you! Why'd you say that! Kendall scolded himself.
"Great!" Logan says, turning back around. Kendall caught up to him and couldn't bring himself to look over to Logan. He didn't want to know if for once the brunette wanted him to be there. He didn't want to think of how the other would react when he didn't see him in the crowd. Just don't think, Kendall told himself.
"I can't wait; are your mom and Harmony going?"
"Yes...and an old friend...but that doesn't matter, all of my other friends who aren't in the performance or stage crew are working or are going to this...new club..."
Kendall's face pales. "New club?"
"Yeah, what was it...Midnight something..." Logan muttered. "It's supposed to be really cool, but Steven, a friend from work says his cousin works there and it's supposed to just like ever club; dancing, drinking, and a lot of dark spaces if you know what I'm saying."
"Wow, that sure sounds like I really boring place to go," Kendall chuckled nervously.
"You look pale, did you have some bad coffee?" Logan asked.
"No, actually the coffee was really good."
"I don't drink coffee much anymore."
Kendall somehow felt that, that was better left open; un-questioned. "What...what song are you singing for the talent show?"
"It's a surprise."
"C'mon. Tell me," Kendall pressed. "Is it a song I know?"
Logan shook his head, and bit back a smirk. "Nope. I don't think any one knows it."
"What, is it like by a neglected artist? Everyone knows the Beatles," Kendall pointed out.
"One, the Beatles were not and are not neglected artists, and two; it's not a Beatle song."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I think I'd know if I was sure or not."
Kendall badgered, "Give me a hint at least? Is it pop? Rock? What?"
"Hmm…I'm pretty sure it's pop," Logan said.
"Tell me!"
"No! And if you do not stop asking, I am going to find someone very big and very strong, and will have him beat you up and lock you in the janitor's supply closet."
"You wouldn't do that, and who is this person?"
Logan sighed in annoyance. "That's for me to know, and for you to find out."
"But...I don't wanna find out," Kendall whined realizing what it would mean if he found out.
"Then stop asking, Kendall."
Kendall nodded. His true reason for asking was because he knew he wouldn't be there to hear.
~Night of the talent show~
Kendall jumped into the back of Jett's car, as he did so he tried to shove away any pang of regret. Kendall tried to convince himself over and over again that Logan wouldn't care; heck, he threatened to have him beaten and locked in a closet. Jo turned her around in the passenger seat. "This is going to be so awesome!" She squealed.
"Yeah...awesome," Kendall tried to sound enthusiastic.
"Kendall; we told you already that none of us are planning on getting drunk," Jett sighed in an almost mocking way.
"I know, I'm sure the club has some rule about people under eighteen though."
"Then we'll lie and say we're in our twenties," Jett answered.
"That never works," Kendall warned. "Besides, we all look way to young to be in our twenties."
"True, but then maybe the real twenty year olds will be jealous," Jo chirped.
"How does that…" Kendall began.
"Ooh! We're here!" Jett exclaimed pulling up to a dark alleyway. Stairs led downward, a neon sign flashed above them. They got out and carefully walked down the stairs. Jett knocked on the door and a man who looked to be in his early thirties, opened it.
"How old are all you?" He questioned.
"Twenty," Jett exclaimed.
"Nineteen," Jo continued.
"Nineteen," Kendall finished.
The man examined them. "Huh. Okay, welcome to Midnight break out." He smiled. "Enjoy yourselves."
"See he totally bought it," Jo whispered to Kendall once they were inside.
Kendall shrugged. "I guess so."
Jett shouldered his way to the front. "The Jenifers, James and Annie are over by the bar!"
"Bar?" Kendall hissed under his breath.
"No one's drinking, and if they are you don't have to," Jo pointed out. Kendall nodded slowly.
"Hi, Jo, Jett...Kendall?" curly Jenifer greeted. "I thought you were going to the talent show tonight."
"I...changed my mind," Kendall says honestly.
"Good, I mean you'd be stupid to miss out on this," blonde Jenifer stated.
Kendall bit his bottom lip. "Uh-huh."
Throughout the night strobe lights flashed endlessly, multi-color disco balls spun, and music echoed through the club sending vibrations through the ground. Kendall was having fun with his friends, but couldn't bite back the feeling of pure, utter guilt. Maybe I'll get lucky and Logan would throw up out of anxiety then won't perform at all! Kendall thought. ACK! No, that would be terrible...maybe Mrs. Mitchell will video tape it.
"Kendall," James exclaimed, pushing his way over to the blonde; Annie behind him. "Quite standing around, Annie and I just requested Party rock Anthem."
"I thought Annie thought that song was annoying," Kendall murmured.
"I do," Annie sighed. "So I requested a song for after that, that isn't as irritating."
"LMFAO is not irritating," James argued. The music abruptly changed. "Oh. There it is now."
"C'mon, Kendall," Annie pressed.
"Alright," Kendall said with a small shrug. He did admit, maybe dancing around with friends was a lot more fun than sitting around in an auditorium. Jo bounced over to Kendall as the son boomed on.
"You look like you're having fun," she shouted over the music.
"Yeah, you were right," Kendall admitted in an equal ton. The song slowly faded off.
"Okay, now we're goin to slow it down so grab that special someone," the DJ said into the mic.
"I'm going to go find Jett," Jo said. Kendall couldn't say anything in response. He had frozen over completely. This song reminded him. Reminded him of Logan. It was Sparks will fly. Their music video song. Kendall followed the direction in which Jo went and found her slow dancing with Jett.
"Jo, Jett; I'm gonna, my curfew it's almost up, it's a long walk," Kendall stuttered.
"It's only 11: 50, and Jett can drive you," Jo mumbled.
"No, I'm fine; thanks for bringing me here," Kendall sighed. "Bye guys."
Kendall knew the talent show was long over. He knew where Logan was and knew he'd feel better if he apologized. Kendall had made a promise...that he didn't keep.
Logan sat beside the young oak, he starred up at the night sky. He didn't want to cry. He shouldn't cry. He wasn't sad. Logan knew he shouldn't be sad over this. The brunette reached over to Skyscraper Jr. and stroked it's small, individual leaf.
"Looks like we're both alone," Logan sighed. He jerked his head up at the sound of footsteps. "Kendall."
"Logan, you don't know how sorry I am."
"Where were you?" Loan demanded, keeping his voice even. Kendall looked at the ground. "Where were you?" Logan repeated a little harsher as he stood up to face the blonde.
"At an end of the year party at the…new club," Kendall answered quietly.
"What?" Logan felt like the words choked him as he said, "You went to that club? Kendall, I was expecting you to come to the talent show!"
"I know you were, and I'm sorry, I just didn't think you'd be upset seeing how you act like you don't give a shit about me!" Kendall spat, sounding edgier than he wanted to.
"I act that way, sure; but, Kendall I do actually care about things, and this was one of them!" Logan countered. "You know, I wrote an original song for that night." The shorter boy's voice sounded as if it would crack at any moment, while at the same time venom coated each word.
"You did?"
"Yes, Kendall, I did!"
"Well I'm sorry, if you didn't want to tell me that!"
Logan let out a furious groan. "Kendall it was going to be a surprise, okay? Damn it, what the hell does it take for you to realize that I wanted you to be there!"
"I don't care!" Kendall doesn't know what made him say that, but now he can't stop himself. "I don't know how or why you hate me, and I've tried to revive our relationship but you do nothing to meet me halfway!" Kendall grips Logan's shoulders. "Why. Do. You. Hate. Me?"
Logan brushed Kendall's hands away. "You really don't know...do you?" The brunette shook his head in disgust and stalked past Kendall.
"You know, I never thought Logan Mitchell would be a-"
"SHUT UP!" Logan Spat. He couldn't take it. He just couldn't take it anymore. Logan couldn't hold it in anymore... "YOU WANNA KNOW WHY I HATE YOU? YOU'RE THE REASON MY FATHER LEFT!"
Kendall flinched. "What? You're kidding? Are yous seriously going to stand here and blame me for that? I had nothing to do with that!"
"YES, YOU DO!" Logan's voice shook while at the same time carried a lifetime's worth of anger. "Remember that night when you got drunk. That summer. That time where you were too drunk for your own good? DO YOU EVEN REMEMBER WHAT YOU DID? "
"No, actually I try to forget!"
"YOU GOT MY DAD FIRED. YOU WERE DRIVING WHILE DRUNK AND CRASHED INTO HIS BOSSES CAR! And do you wanna know what made it worse?" Logan breathed out, "It. Was. My. Car. YOU GOT HIM FIRED, AND HE CAME HOME THAT NIGHT AND BEAT ME!"
"Oh my god, Logan," Kendall's voice sympathized. "I didn't know."
"OF COURSE YOU DIDN'T KNOW! YOU WERE DRUNK OFF YOUR ASS!" Logan took in a deep breath then released but still couldn't keep his voice calm. "HE LEFT AFTER THAT, AND MADE SURE MY MOM WAS FIRED! THEN HE PULLED ONE OF THOSE HOLLYWOOD BLACK-BALL THINGS AND MADE SURE NO ONE WOULD HIRE HER!" Kendall tried to speak, but Logan continued, "YOU'RE THE REASON MY FAMILY IS LIVING IN A TRAILER, YOU'RE THE REASON MY FATHER DISOWNED ME AS HIS SON, YOU'RE THE REASON MY LIFE IS A LIVING HELL!" Logan closed his eyes, then opened them again. He tried not to cry again, but this time he couldn't stop them. "Don't talk to me, Kendall. I mean it this time." With that, he shouldered past the blonde and walked slowly down the street.
So. You finally know.