Logan was leaning against the outer wall of Steak 'n Shake when Camille drove up. He slid into the car and smiled at her.
"Thanks, Camille," he said. Camille was his best friend, had been ever since she sat on him in preschool and made him eat dirt.
"Anytime, Logan. What's the matter?" Logan looked away, trying to stop crying.
"Nothing," he said, his voice breaking.
"Logan, I'm not going anywhere until you tell me." Logan sighed, crying a little.
"Do you remember my crush on James?"
"Yeah, and I still think you're crazy. He's a jerk."
"You're not kidding," Logan said, sniffing.
"What happened, Logan?"
"Well, I finally went out on a date with him and it was terrible! It started out alright, I guess, but then Kendall fucking Knight walks in and James starts pretending I'm just his tutor, it was awful."
"I'm so sorry," Camille said, rubbing his arm. "I've had my fair share of bad dates, and they're just the worst."
"You have?" Logan asked.
"Yeah, like once, this guy kept forgetting my name and staring at my breasts the entire time. Another one tried to have sex with me the minute we got to his car. And once, a guy grabbed my ass in the middle of a restaurant so hard I squealed."
"You're kidding!" Logan said, laughing a little.
"Not at all. Guys are the worst." Camille looked over and blushed. "Sorry, most guys."
"Nice save," Logan laughed. Camille pulled up to his house. "Hey, you wanna come inside? Mom wouldn't mind."
"Sure thing." Camille parked the car and walked inside.
"Hey, Mom, I'm home! Camille's here!" Logan called as he walked in. Mrs. Mitchell was at the table with a pile of papers in front of her.
"Where's James?" she asked, looking up and over her glasses.
"He's, uh…he had to go to hockey practice earlier than expected."
"So he didn't give you a ride home?"
"He offered but I told him it was unnecessary."
"Ok, then. I'll be leaving soon, I have to stop by the office."
"Okay. Is it alright if Camille stays for dinner."
"You know you're always welcome Camille."
"Thanks, Mrs. Mitchell. Hey, Logan, are you ready to have your ass handed to you COD style?"
"You're on." Logan followed Camille into the basement and plopped onto one of the two beanbags in front of the plasma screen. He turned on his Xbox and grabbed a controller.
Camille set the game on pause as soon as it began.
"Why didn't you tell your mom the truth?"
"She doesn't need to know. It would just upset her- my first date gone wrong." Camille groaned.
"Sometimes I forget just how socially awkward you are."
"Sweet of you," Logan grinned.
"I'm guessing that's not the only reason, though."
"What do you mean?"
"You're hoping it'll work out with James. You don't want your mom to be mad at him when it does, so you just won't tell her that you're off to a rough start."
"If that was true, then our first date would not be the thing I'd be trying to hide from her. It'd probably be the years of torture."
"Whatever. And you know it's true, you still like James even if you don't like what he did."
"Shut up and play."
"Uh-huh," Camille said, turning the game back on.
Logan and Camille played for an hour and then went upstairs for dinner. Mrs. Mitchell had left so Logan went over to the stove.
"How about spaghetti?" he asked Camille, glancing over to her. She fell onto the couch and pulled out her phone.
"Are you kidding? Pizza!" Logan set the pot back down and walked over to her, shoving her legs over and sitting by her.
"Cheese," he said, turning on the T.V.
"Uh, try Hawaiian," Camille said, dialing Papa John's number. Logan rolled his eyes, scrolling through the channels while Camille spoke on the phone.
Logan stopped on Grey's Anatomy, smiling. Doctor shows were his favorite. They reminded him of his dad, without forcing him into a flashback, and he wanted to become a doctor. To be just like his father.
Halfway through the show, the bell rang.
"I'll get it," Logan said, hopping up and pulling a couple of bills out of his wallet. He opened the door and smiled at the boy standing there.
His smile froze and he stilled, his hand tightening around the doorknob.
"What do you want, James?" he asked.
"Logan, I had to apologize for earlier." Camille appeared at Logan's side.
"What do you want, Diamond?" She glared at James.
"I'm here to talk to Logan. Camille, right?"
"Yeah."
"I thought I recognized you from last year's play. You were the lead right."
"Possibly. What's it to you?"
"It's just that I've always wanted to be an actor, and you were great in that. But, not the point. Logan, I'm a jerk, and I'm sorry. It's just, whenever Kendall's around, I start worrying about stupid stuff. I'll be the first to admit that I'm obsessed with how people see me, and that's not fair to you. I'd really like to make it up to you, just give me one more chance. Please, Logan?"
"James, aren't you supposed to be at hockey practice?"
"That's not important."
"But don't you get suspended from the team if you miss practice, or something?"
"It's not important, Logan. Nothing's as important to me as you are."
Despite herself, Camille couldn't help but let out a small "Aww" when James said that. Logan nudged her, shooting her a glance and she put her acting mask on, becoming cold ad unfriendly again.
"James, tell me one reason I should give you another chance."
James took a deep breath and reached for Logan's hand. Logan snatched it away and James looked into Logan's eyes.
"Because I love you, Logan Mitchell."
And with that, he stepped forward and drew Logan into a kiss. His arms wrapped around Logan's small figure and Logan threw his arms around James's neck. When he pulled away, Logan was smiling.
"That's a very good reason," he said. There was a small knock behind them and James turned around to see the pizza man at the door.
"Sorry to interrupt," he said, "but, uh, your, uh… you know."
"It's fine," James said. "Nothing could spoil the moment." He pulled money from his own wallet and handed it to the guy. The man's eyebrows shot up as he stared at the hundred-dollar bill.
"Thanks, dude," he said.
"I'm in a good mood." James smiled again as he closed the door. He carried the pizza over to the table and opened the box.
"Hawaiian! My favorite!"
As Logan and Camille walked over to him, Camille whispered in Logan's ear, "I approve."
