A/N—Surprise, it's another chapter already! I did get a lot written on my last day off, yay! Hope you enjoy. A lot going on in this chapter. :)

And for those writing in the forum's Major Event Challenge, a reminder that the 30th is the last day to post. And if you do enter, make sure to read/review all the other stories as well! If you have no idea what I'm talking about and would like to know more, message me on the site. It's a fun exercise to write and read what everyone comes up with for the challenge. I'll have my story up this weekend.

And on with the show! Thank you for reading. As always, I hope this finds you safe and healthy.

After a brief debate while throwing on shoes, Logan decided to leave Brooke out of the loop on this one; she had enough on her mind and didn't need to know about any of this unless it became reality.

Logan was going to stop it from doing that.

How, he didn't know. All he knew was that the time for walking on eggshells was over—James needed to be smacked, and very hard. Figuratively, of course, because Logan also knew that physically he was no match for James.

Maybe Kendall and Carlos could hold him down.

But no. No, that wasn't the way to get through to James. Carlos and Kendall were right—Logan knew how to get past that wall because he'd done it already and now the battering ram needed to come out. Cold, hard truth would be Logan's best weapon.

Will it, though? he asked himself as he pulled the front door closed behind him. You tried that, and it pushed him to this. You forced him to face it and now he's running. James is not good at accepting the truth when it hurts him.

Too bad. Running wasn't an option.

For Logan, however, running was the best option. He was panting when he reached the Diamond house and hesitated on the front steps just to catch his breath. He'd get nowhere with James if he couldn't even talk.

Just like at Jenny's party, Logan wondered how the neighbors weren't complaining about the loud music coming from the backyard. Knowing Brooke, she'd probably paid them all or invited them just to keep them from complaining. The front of the house didn't look any different, but once Logan stepped inside he could see how busy the event planners must have been all day. Streamers and signs hung everywhere, balloons were tied in bunches and spread around the space, and the dining room table housed an entire buffet of offerings. The kitchen seemed to be built around a massively tall cake sitting on a pedestal. Even after being served, what was left towered above Logan's head. Leave it to Brooke to go all out.

Logan paid little attention to the people scattered throughout as he moved from the foyer to the dining room and the kitchen further on. A quick sweep with his gaze was enough to know the only person who mattered wasn't present. He followed the music and pushed on through to the backyard, which he'd not been in before but even so could tell it had been transformed. Strings of lights hung from every direction to meet in the middle, where an actual disco ball shone as it spun. Had he not been in such a hurry to find James, he might've stopped to marvel at it and wonder how it was being suspended. Instead he barely noticed the D.J. or the actual bar that had been brought in, all of his focus on finding James.

The grass was covered with couples moving together in time to the music. He recognized his own foster parents out there having a blast, and some of the guys from the hockey team. Most were strangers to him. Where were Carlos and Kendall? And more importantly, where was James?

Along one side of the bordering wall sat a row of tables that had been set up. He spotted Brooke seated at one with Jennifer and Katie, all of them relaxed and laughing as if the world wasn't about to fall apart. Again he was jealous of those who could live their lives without worrying for the future when he had no such luxury.

It's fine. I'll find James, I'll fix this, and everything will just go on as it's supposed to.

Logan had to believe that. But he couldn't do anything until he found James. Maybe he was hiding up in his room?

He let his gaze take one more pass around the backyard, this time noticing a shed near the D.J. A shed would be the perfect hiding place, wouldn't it? He could just imagine James holed up in there drinking in the dark, feeling sorry for himself. The vision made him want to both hug James and roll his eyes. Why couldn't he have met James later in life, when there would be no teenage hormones and recklessness to deal with?

You can do this. If anyone can talk him down from the fear he's feeling right now, you can. DO THIS.

Logan nodded once to himself and stepped off the patio, thinking to skirt the dancing crowd on the way to the shed. He'd just rounded the first corner when a body twirled in front of him to block his path. A giggle was followed by "Hey, cutie. Want to dance?"

He halted in place, a sense of deja vu coming over him. When he looked more closely at the girl, a niggling sensation worked at his brain; he'd seen her before, but where?

And did it really matter right now? There were more important things to worry about. He was on a mission. "No, thanks."

Before he could step around her, she shrugged. "Your loss." Then she was swallowed up by the dancing crowd, Logan watching her spin away.

That's when it came to him. She'd been at Jenny's party, and hadn't she said the exact same thing that night? The vague memory came back to him now, and yes—it had definitely been the same girl.

One of the movies from this time that had survived into the future was called The Matrix. Logan had watched it more than once, fascinated by the concept of an entire planet of people living in a dream world and having no idea that reality existed outside it. Now he was reminded of it and what was known as a glitch in the matrix—an exact repeat of a moment, as if there was a glitch in time itself. A sense of deja vu, like you'd already lived through that moment.

Logan was feeling it now, and strongly. But this was different, this wasn't a moment repeated immediately like a skip in a record. Days had passed between their first meeting and this. More than a week! So no, this was nothing like that and he needed to just stop letting outside influences distract him. The girl was someone from Denfield who knew both Jenny and James and therefore had been invited to both parties. For whatever unimaginable reason, she found Logan attractive and was trying to get his attention. It really wasn't something to overanalyze.

James. You're here for James. Find James!

Right. He started to move toward the shed again, putting the girl out of his mind, and made it three steps this time before being hailed.

"Logan!"

He barely heard his name over the music, but when it was repeated he spun around. Carlos and Kendall were running toward him from the patio. He met them halfway.

"Where's James?"

"He went that way," Carlos answered, pointing toward a corner of the backyard—the one that housed the shed, not surprisingly. "About five minutes ago."

"We haven't seen him come back, we've been watching. Unless..." Scared green eyes were turned to Carlos. "Do you think he hopped the wall?"

"Nah, we would've seen him. We were watching."

"Did he go in the shed?" Logan wanted to know. "That's what I was thinking."

"I didn't see him go in," Kendall answered with a shake of his head. "He walked like...around it. I'm thinking he's hiding behind it, in that corner. We were gonna go after him but...well, he's probably sitting back there crying and we thought he needed time to do that."

Logan let out a long sigh, having imagined the same thing. If James was crying, this might be easier. Or he might lash out in embarrassment. "Okay. I'm going in."

Kendall stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. "Just remember that he's been drinking, so he's already not himself. He'll probably yell at you again and...be a dick and try to hurt you."

"I'm aware of that. It's fine, he's the one hurting here and I need to help. Thanks for calling me, guys."

Carlos suddenly leaped toward Logan for a tight hug, forcing Kendall to drop his arm. "Good luck, man. Be brave."

"Carlos, I'm not going to war." Though that wasn't technically true, Logan feared. "I'm just going to the corner of the backyard. I'll be back."

Kendall dragged Carlos off of him. "You didn't tell Brooke, did you?"

"No. I have no intention of telling Brooke. This would kill her." He realized what a poor choice of words that had been and closed his eyes. "You know what I mean."

"Just go." Kendall gave him a light push. "Say whatever you have to."

"I will."

This time there was no distraction. No one blocked his path. Logan made it to the shed and walked along the side, halting when he heard a sound. At first he thought it was a sob, then realized it was laughter. Soft laughter.

Female laughter.

"What the hell," Logan whispered. He peeked around the corner of the shed to find James leaning against it while a smaller body pressed close to him in order to deepen the kiss they shared. Her hair wasn't blonde, it was long and dark, and Logan didn't recognize her until she pulled back with a smile that was highlighted by one of the perimeter lights mounted on the wall.

Shock made his jaw drop. It was Denise. Denise, who had been hoping to date Carlos—or at least that was the accepted theory. She'd shown every sign that it was Carlos she wanted to be with.

At the moment, Carlos seemed to be forgotten. Her eyes sparked with determination and she leaned in again, James allowing it as their lips met and her hands reached out to hold both of his. "Let's get out of here," she murmured, forced to be louder because of the music. "Nobody's home at my house."

James opened his mouth but Logan never gave him a chance to answer. "Oh, I don't think so." He rounded the corner to face them. "James isn't going anywhere." Denise gasped in surprise and backed away two steps. James looked over with slightly dazed hazel eyes that quickly rolled up in resigned annoyance.

"Of course you're here. Of course you're fucking here. Do I need to get a fucking restraining order, asshole?"

The mere thought of it turned Logan's blood cold. He wasn't going to let James run, though. "Denise. We need to talk. Please go."

Denise looked to James for direction, but his gaze was fastened to Logan's face in rage. Perhaps seeing that whatever came next wouldn't be pretty, she ran.

Logan thought he'd seen James angry before. This was an entirely new level and the fire in James' eyes tempted Logan to back down, but only for a second. He had to do this. "They told me what you're planning."

James spun away. "Jesus fucking Christ. I thought they were my friends."

"They are, that's why they'd do anything to keep you here."

A harsh laugh escaped as James turned toward him again. "So they sent you? The person I hate more than anyone on Earth? They think that's going to make me want to actually stay?"

Logan ignored the pain those words caused and barreled on. "You can't run from this."

"Fuck you!" James exploded. Logan had expected to find him a little unsteady but he was one hundred percent in the moment and coherent. "Don't tell me what to do or how to live my life! You don't know what I'm dealing with!"

"I do. That's why you trusted me before, because I understand—"

"Oh, and that worked out so well for me, didn't it? Trusting you with my feelings and my fears and my deepest secrets, only to find out you just wanted to fuck me?"

"James! I'm not out to fuck you! I just want to help!"

"You can't! Nobody can help! Nobody can change this! It's happening and I refuse to stand by and watch. You can't make me watch my mother die!"

"James—"

"It's done! I'm leaving!"

Logan took a step closer so that he didn't have to yell. "No, you're not. She needs you, you know she needs you, and you can't let her—"

"Oh, that's why they sent you. I get it now. You're here to talk me to death in hopes I miss my bus. Because you really don't know how to shut up."

Patience, Logan. He spoke calmly. "I'm here to stop you from making a mistake."

"Nothing you say can change my mind. Just stop talking."

"Do you want your mother to die alone? Scared and wondering if her son is even alive?"

"Fuck you," James muttered again.

"That's what'll happen if you leave. She'll end up in some random hospice with no one to—"

"Shut up." If it was possible, flames would've shot out from James' eyes.

"No one to hold her hand, no one to tell her it's going to be okay, no one—"

"Shut up!"

"No idea where you are or if you still love her or if she could've done something different to—"

"Shut! Up!"

James was three seconds away from punching him, Logan was almost certain. He pressed on anyway. "In her final moments, when she should be at peace, she'll be afraid for you and—"

James made his move. It wasn't the brutal fist smashing into his face that Logan had expected; instead it was the violent press of James' mouth to his, so forceful that Logan was shoved back against the wall of the shed, which rocked on its foundations before Logan got his bearings and leaned away from it. He moved closer to James, his hands reaching up to dark hair that was just as soft as he'd imagined. Hands gripped him hard by the waist before they moved to cup him from behind, pulling him tighter against what was an unmistakable erection that matched Logan's own. James' tongue invaded his mouth, hot and demanding and everything Logan had wanted from the moment he was old enough to understand what lust was.

For ten seconds that felt like eternity, Logan lost himself in the kiss that was never supposed to happen. It was James who finally pulled back, not suddenly but slowly so that their harsh breaths mingled and Logan whimpered against warm lips.

"Well," James panted. "Found a way to shut you up, didn't I?"

Logan didn't want to let go. He felt James pulling away, both emotionally and physically, and held on. His arms stayed wrapped around James' neck and his face buried itself in the hollow of James' neck.

"You just had to show up here tonight, didn't you?" There was no heat behind the words. "You couldn't stay away, you couldn't make this easy on me. Why are you such an asshole?"

"Because I care about you."

"Don't you understand that I can't fight you? That I can't be around you because I do stupid things like this?"

Logan's head flew up, nearly knocking against James' chin in the process. James tried to look away but Logan grabbed his face to keep their eyes locked. "Is that why you don't want to see me? Because you're afraid of this?"

James licked his lips, trying to look at anything but Logan. "Look, having a crush on you is fine as long as it's one-sided. It can't go anywhere, and it doesn't hurt anybody. It was easy to just spend time with you and not be afraid that this would ruin me, because I knew you didn't feel the same."

Realization dawned slowly. "But then you found out that I did."

"I really didn't remember you from the party. Not until Mandy reminded me. But if you felt the same way, we'd have to do something about it. We'd have to talk about it, because God knows you can't do anything without talking about it and bringing feelings out into the open. I couldn't allow that. You get it, right?"

Logan wasn't sure he did. "Because...of your career? Of your image?"

"Exactly! I can't have a boyfriend! Logan...I have a future and there's no room in it for a boyfriend!"

Logan knew that better than James did. "Is that why you're running away? To escape me?"

"No, not...completely. I was already planning to move out when I turn eighteen. But the whole thing with Mom, and you forced me to face the truth, and you put me in a position where I need you, where I feel like I don't even know how to make it through a day without you...I can't have that. I can't be around you because it makes me weak. It makes me care more about you than my own future and..." Gentle fingers came up to tilt Logan's chin toward him. "I can't face her death alone."

"You don't have to. That's why I'm here."

"I can't be with you. If I fall in love with you, I'll never leave. I have a destiny, Logan. It's not here."

"You're right," Logan nodded. "You do and it's not here in Duluth. But this isn't the time to leave. Your mother needs you. Everyone needs you. Stop running from the people who love you."

James' eyes fell closed. "You love me."

The time for lying about that was over. "I do. But what I said in my text is still true. I won't pursue my feelings. I'm not here to distract you or make you love me. I don't want to be your boyfriend."

One of James' brows shot up; he knew that wasn't exactly true.

"Okay, maybe if things were different and we lived in a world where everything was perfect...yeah. We could be together. This isn't that world, though."

James backed away a few steps, his arms dropping. Logan's hands did the same. "You're saying," James started, "that even if I was willing to just give it all up and be with you...you'd turn me down?"

"Yeah."

"Wow. That hurts."

"I'm sorry." Logan reached up to caress James' cheek. "It's not that I don't want to be with you. It's just not meant to be."

"Am I not good enough for you? I mean, I admit that you can do a lot better, and you'd be wasting your time with someone like me who isn't as smart or—"

This time it was Logan who shut James up with a kiss, and this one was less violent. It lingered in a soft touch that neither wanted to break. "There is no man more worthy of me than you, James. Trust me, I'm the one who isn't worthy of you."

"You know that's bullshit, right?" James hugged Logan in tight.

"I'm not your destiny. But your place is here, at least for now. You can't leave."

"I can't stay. It's killing me."

Logan sighed, holding James close. "What time does your bus leave?"

"Four. I was hoping to sleep at Kendall's and then just sneak out from there."

"Carlos is staying there. Come home with me. Let's talk this out. No interruptions, no one else hearing any of what you say. Just give me tonight to try to change your mind."

"You can't, Logan. I'm sorry. My mind is made up."

"I know. Please, James. Give me tonight. If nothing else, let me spend the last few hours of your time here with you."

He felt James wavering. "No fair kissing me to change my mind. No tricks."

"No tricks," Logan promised. "Just...talking."

James rolled his eyes. "Why am I not surprised?"

Logan laughed and hugged James tight. "Because you know me. Want to get out of here?"

"Honestly...yes. It's making me sad to know I won't see these people again. How good are you at climbing walls?"

Dread filled Logan. Of course James wouldn't make this easy.

"I can't believe you needed help getting over the wall."

This was followed by a chortle. Logan had seen the word in old stories and often imagined what it might sound like in person; now he knew, because that was definitely a chortle. He refused to be ashamed and continued to type on his phone while trailing James down the sidewalk. "We can't all be as athletic as you. Some of us choose to exercise our brains rather than our bodies."

"Yeah, nerds," James teased, and instead of offending Logan it made his heart sing. He'd missed this. "Who are you texting anyway?" James stopped dead in front of him, causing Logan to crash into a broad back and almost drop his phone while James spun around with wide eyes. "It's not my mom, is it? Did you tell my mom about this?"

"No. I don't want your mom to know. It would probably cause her to give up and just...die." The time for sugarcoating was over. James needed to understand just how much of Brooke's current fighting attitude was for his benefit.

He got the point, at least enough to look away in shame before continuing the trek to the Garcia home.

Logan followed. "I'm texting the guys. They're worried about you."

"I'm aware of that."

"We're going home. We'll be in the basement, but don't tell your parents. We need time to talk alone." Logan sent that and waited. Carlos' reply came back quickly.

"There ur parents now 2."

Huh. Logan supposed that for the rest of his life, they would be. Unless he completely disappeared once the mission was finished. That had been his plan originally, but now the idea seemed...lonely.

His phone buzzed again. Kendall this time. Logan had a sudden vision of the two of them standing shoulder to shoulder with their phones in hand. "Is he staying?"

"Working on it. I'll let Brooke know he's safe with me. And I'll text Sylvia that I'm going to bed early and will talk to them in the morning."

"She won't check on you?"

That was a good point. She might. "I'll figure something out."

"Dude plz just make him stay!"

They really needed to start a group chat, because that one was from Carlos. Logan sent off one more text ("I'll be in touch") before slipping his phone into a pocket and reaching out for James' hand. It was dark and nobody was out, so hopefully he wouldn't fight the gesture.

James didn't. His own hand tightened around Logan's. "Ready to pay attention to me now?"

"Every second of every day," Logan grinned. "Though I may need to run upstairs when Papi and Sylvia get home, just so they know I'm there. Otherwise they'll send out a search party."

"Yeah, they would." They turned onto Beech Lane, now half a block from the Garcia residence. "Cold?"

Was he? Logan hadn't realized he'd shivered, but James picked up on it. "A little, I guess."

Their hands parted so that James could shrug out of his jacket, and then the warm brown leather was draped across Logan's shoulders. He wrapped it more tightly while breathing in the scent. "Who knew you were such a gentleman?"

"Not me, that's for sure. I think you're the first person I've ever done that for."

"Seriously?" Logan glanced up at James' profile. "All the girlfriends you've had and no one's ever been treated this well? Not even Mandy?"

"Especially not Mandy," James replied darkly. One arm reached out to pull Logan against him as they walked. Logan went willingly.

"What happened with her? I heard it's over."

"Well, I couldn't just disappear like that. Not if we were together. I had to end it."

Of course. Logan should've made that connection by now. "Right."

"I'd been thinking about it anyway," James admitted softly. "Someone told me she isn't right for me and...I couldn't get it out of my head. Couldn't get him out of my head."

Logan's face broke into a wide smile. "Sounds like a smart guy."

"About some things. Mostly he's just a pain in my ass."

It felt good to laugh again.

What Logan really wanted was to cuddle up with James on the sofa, but he thought that might take them places neither was destined to go—no matter how badly either of them wanted to. Instead he waited for James to kick off his shoes and drape a blanket over himself. It brought back memories of their first night together, when James had come to him for comfort. "Are you hungry?" Logan asked now. "Did you eat anything at the party?"

"Not really," James shrugged.

"Not even your birthday cake?"

"I wasn't exactly in the mood to celebrate."

Logan nodded slowly, wishing they had cake or even ice cream in the house. Sylvia's dedication to healthy eating was working against him. "So are you hungry?" he asked again.

"Yeah," James sighed. "I'm starving. Sorry."

"It's fine. Stay there, we've got tons of leftovers."

"You uh...got some of that soup you made last week?"

"I don't. But if you stick around past morning, I'll make you some for your birthday."

James bit his lip and looked away. Logan ran upstairs and left him to his thoughts.

First things first. Brooke needed to know James was safe. While Logan was heating up a plate of homemade macaroni and cheese for James, he dug out his phone to text her and chuckled. In the ten minutes since he'd last looked at the display, Brooke had messaged him four times.

"I can't find James. Or the boys. Have you heard from them?"

"Logan? Talk to me. Can you get hold of Carlos or Kendall?"

"Logan, this isn't a game! Don't you dare ignore me!"

And then the last, which had come in only two minutes earlier: "LOGAN MITCHELL, CALL ME RIGHT NOW OR I WILL DRIVE OVER THERE MYSELF AND DRAG YOU OUT OF BED!"

Time to put her mind at ease. "He's here with me. I'm sorry I didn't answer sooner, we were talking. He's safe, Brooke."

"He's with you?"

"Yes."

"Where is here?"

"At the house. He's going to stay the night and we're going to talk. You have to trust me."

"So he's speaking to you now?"

He was doing a lot more than that. Logan's body overheated when he thought back to the kisses they'd shared. "Yes. We're friends again. I think he's finally ready to open up to me but I need time. Let him stay here tonight."

"You'd better call me in the morning."

"I will. If all goes well, we'll both be there tomorrow celebrating James' actual birthday. Please save him a piece of cake, he didn't get any."

"I'll save an entire tier. Just please get through to him, Logan. I want my son back."

The microwave beeped. After testing the temperature of the food, Logan put it back in for another minute; he was still learning the contraption. "I'm working on it. I promise I'll be in touch. Just let us have tonight."

"Fine. Tell him I love him."

"He knows that, Brooke. He loves you, too."

Her response to that didn't come in until he was pouring James a glass of lemonade. "Thank you for loving him. He needs you."

"I need him, too." It wasn't a lie. "Goodnight."

Just before carrying everything down to James, Logan decided the best way to handle Sylvia was more of the same: honesty. He texted her that James had come to the house and needed to talk because he was in the middle of a breakdown, then begged her and Papi to leave them be in the basement. She replied that she would and to let her know if she could help in any way.

You really hit the lottery with this family, you know?

Logan recalled James saying that and knew that it was true. He wouldn't be so quick to dismiss them once things were on track.

After pocketing a bottle of water for himself, Logan made the trek downstairs to James. It was time to do what he'd been sent here to do.