"Kendall, are you sure you don't want us to stay?" Carlos asked giving me a worried glance.
"I'm sure if you guys stayed, no work would get done. Because the moment Logan did something you disapproved of, you would fight him," I replied trying to shove Jett and Carlos out of the front door.
"You say that like it's a bad thing," Jett grumbled.
"It is when it affects the grade I could get. I mean, if you guys kill Logan, then I fail," I said shaking my head.
"Fine, we will go. But the moment he gives you any trouble, call Jett or me," Carlos sighed.
"I will," I answered. Carlos and Jett told me goodbye before they headed off to do God knows what.
It was four o'clock when my doorbell rang.
"Well, this should be fun," I sighed as I got up to answer the door.
"Logan. Come in," I said faking a smile. Logan rolled his eyes before stepping inside.
"So where are we doing this stupid thing?" Logan asked.
"I figured we could work in the living room since I am home alone so there is no one to bug us," I answered.
"Fine by me." I could tell by his tone he didn't want to be here. I nodded before leading him to the living room.
"Feel free to sit anywhere," I said as I took a seat on the couch. Logan nodded and then took a seat in the chair across from me.
"So who goes first on this stupid thing?" Logan asked taking out his notebook and a pen.
"You can go first, so just ask me things I guess," I said giving him a smile.
"Okay. Why are you such a loser?" Logan asked giving me a lopsided smile. I was used to being insulted by now so his comment didn't bug me.
"I don't think I am, so I don't know the answer," I said shrugging my shoulders.
"Why do you do that?" Logan asked.
"Do what?" I had no idea what he was talking about.
"You never say anything when I insult you."
"What am I supposed to say?"
"How about insulting me back," Logan answered.
"You cannot judge a man till you know his whole story. I don't know the first thing about you Logan, so it would be wrong of me," I answered honestly. I have never believed in judging a person before you got to know them.
"You're weird," Logan said shaking his head at me.
"That depends on your view of weird," I stated.
"Whatever. How do you feel about being at the bottom of the popularity hierarchy of the school?" Logan asked giving me that smile again. I could tell he was trying to upset me and I wouldn't let him.
"Walking through the halls of high school is quite similar to walking through a battlefield. You are never quite sure what you will find lying around the bend. Everyone seems to be thinner, taller, blonder, prettier, and tanner than you. They all seem to be having the time of their lives despite the educational setting. They all seem to have the most friends and the most people to say hello to walking through the halls. Well, life isn't what it seems. Most of those people just surround themselves with others because they are too deathly scared to be alone. They are so scared that they aren't really friends, they just pretend. Because without those people, they would be nothing. They hurt just like you do. They notice the imperfections in their own faces as well, even though your eyes cannot see them. They notice how the girl next to them is taller and thinner, even though you don't. Maybe sometimes it's what you don't see that makes you more alike than you'll ever know," I said. I wasn't stupid and I knew all of those so-called popular kids had fears and insecurities just like I do. They just chose to become jerks to hide their own pain.
"How about a simpler answer, smart ass," Logan stated giving me an eye roll.
"Fine. You laugh because you think I'm different while I laugh because you guys are all the same," I replied giving him my own smile as he groaned before writing my answer down.
"What is your favorite color?" His question caught me off guard for a second. It was the first sincere question he had asked me.
"Green," I answered.
"Favorite superhero?"
"Spider-Man," I answered without a moment's hesitation.
"Spider-Man sucks. Everyone knows Batman is the best," Logan scoffed.
"Are you serious?" I looked at him like he was crazy, which he clearly was. Everyone knows Spider-Man is freaking awesome.
"Yeah Knight, I am," Logan responded, giving me that smile again. But this time it was different. There was no mocking or hate behind it…it was genuine.
"What is your favorite animal?"
"Wolf."
"Mine to. I can't believe we have something in common," Logan said fake gagging, which caused us both to laugh.
"What is one thing you miss?"
"I miss being a kid. No one cared how you dressed. We were all friends. And you could be yourself. When did we turn so judgmental?" I asked. I don't know what made me ask it, but I had been wondering it since Logan got here. This Logan and the Logan I am used to were so different.
Logan sighed before answering. "I think when we are younger, we see the world as being all sunshine and rainbows, and as we get older, we realize that is not the case. The world is a cold, cruel place and you have to become someone you never wanted to be in order to survive."
"I guess you're right."
"Of course I am," Logan responded.
"So is that what happened to you? I know our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become." I knew I was pushing my luck, and that any moment he could beat me to a pulp, but I wanted to know more about him.
"I guess you could say that," Logan answered looking me in the eyes. For a minute, I could see the pain in those brown orbs. But it didn't last long before they went back to normal.
"I'm sorry," I whispered just loud enough for him to hear me.
"For what?" Logan asked giving me a confused stare.
"For whatever happened to you that made you into the person you are now."
"So I treat you like shit every day and you're sorry for me?"
"Yeah," I said shrugging my shoulders.
"You are something else, Kendall."
"D-Did you just use my first name?" I was shocked. I think that was the first time he actually called me Kendall.
"Yeah I did," Logan responded. "Now let's get back to the questions," he added.
After a few more questions and a few more laughs, it was my turn to ask the questions. "What does your mom do for a living?"
"She is a real estate agent."
"That's cool," I said writing down his answer.
"What about your dad?"
"That is none of your business," Logan stated using the tone I was all too familiar with. I thought we had come to an understanding, so his shift of attitude caught me off guard.
"I just need to know for the project," I said. My voice trembled a bit.
"I don't give a fuck," Logan said before standing up and grabbing his stuff.
"Where are you going?" We still had twenty minutes to work on the project before Jett and Carlos would be here.
"Home" is all he said before he walked out of the door leaving me completely confused at what had just happened.
"So Kendall, how did it go with the King of Douches?" Carlos asked as he and Jett entered the front door.
"Can't you two ever knock?" I asked.
"No," Jett replied flashing me a smile.
"He didn't hurt you, did he? Because if he did, we will go find him and kick his ass," Jett said taking a seat next to me on the couch.
"No, he didn't hurt me. It was going great actually," I answered. I figured I would tell them what happened. We never kept secrets.
"And then he just left," I said as I finished telling them what had happened this afternoon.
"So let me get this straight…Logan Mitchell - the asshole - was actually laughing and having a good time with you?" Carlos asked from his seat in the chair across from me.
"Yeah, until I asked what his dad did for a living," I sighed. If I had known the question would have set him off like that, I would have never asked it.
"So Logan has daddy issues," Jett stated from his seat next to me.
"What do you mean?" Carlos' curious voice asked.
"Well, he was fine until Kendall mentioned his dad. Then he became his usual self," Jett said. His theory made sense.
~Logan POV~
Why had I been so stupid? I thought to myself as I drove myself home. I had planned on treating Kendall the way I always treated him, and for a while, my plan worked. But for some stupid reason, I let my walls down. I showed him the side of me I ever only showed my mom, Dak, and James.
There was just something about him that made me feel different. I wanted to show him the good side of me. Him bringing my dad up helped snap me into reality.
"I won't let him see that side of me again," I whispered to myself as I pulled into my driveway.
"So how many times did you punch him?" James asked as I walked into the living room.
"I am starting to think you two having a key was a bad idea," I mumbled as I flopped into the chair across from James and Dak. I loved them but I wanted to be alone right now.
"No, it was a wonderful idea. Now answer James' question," Dak stated.
"None," I answered looking at them both.
"Seriously?" Dak asked.
"Yeah, thanks for the faith in me," I said sticking my tongue out.
"Well then, why are you back early?" James asked. I sighed knowing they wouldn't shut up until they found out what was wrong with me. The downside of being friends with someone for a long time is they can always pick up on your mood, so it is almost impossible to lie to them. Besides, I didn't believe in lying to my brothers.
I told them everything that had happened at Kendall's.
"Well, he couldn't have known," Dak said once I finished.
"I know, but I couldn't help blowing up once he mentioned him."
"So what are you going to do know?" James asked.
"I'll just have him put down that my dad died."
"I meant about doing the rest of this project with Kendall."
"I slipped up today by letting him see the real me. I swore to never let anyone else in, and then I go and blow it in one afternoon," I said looking down at the floor.
"Logan, Kendall is going to realize something is up sooner or later," Dak said giving me a sympathetic glance.
"Maybe letting someone else in could be good for you."
"How so James?" I asked, staring at him. I wasn't going to be stupid and start trusting people. I mean, if my own father who was supposed to love and protect me could hurt me, who's to say other people would be any different?
"Look, I know your father was a heartless monster and that he broke you. But listen to me. Not everyone in the world is a bad person. You love me, Dak, and your mom, right?"
"You guys are different."
"How are we different?" Dak asked crossing his arms.
"I know the three of you are good people and I trust you. You saw me at my worst and were still there for me." I hated sounding vulnerable, but it couldn't be helped in a situation like this.
"And how do you know Kendall isn't a good person? You will never know unless you give him a chance," Dak said. His voice no longer held the hint of irritation it had earlier.
"I don't want to give him or anyone else a chance."
"Logan, please just try for us. It kills us knowing we haven't been able to help you," Dak pleaded.
"You guys have helped me," I said giving them a confused stare. They had been there for me when I needed them the most, so how could they think they hadn't helped?
"That's true, but we haven't helped you in the way you need it the most," James said giving me a knowing look. I had no clue what he was talking about.
"Fine, if that is how you guys feel, I will try for you," I said throwing my hands up in surrender. I would do anything to keep Dak and James from being upset, and if I had to do this, then so be it.