"Hey Mom, I'm home! Logan's here too!" Kendall called as he walked into they walked into his house. Logan smiled as he stomped off the snow on his shoes on the mat before walking the rest of the way in. Kendall and him took off their coats and hung them up, walking into the living room.
Mrs. Knight came down the stairs, smiling at Logan. "Hi Logan, it's good to see you again. It's been a while." Logan smiled back and waved. Mrs. Knight smiled a second longer before turning her gaze to Kendall, putting on her stern-Mom face. "Kendall, remember what I told you to do last night?"
Kendall thought about it for a second, then opened his mouth, a cocky smile on his face, but his mom shot him a glare, so he snapped it shut again before sighing. "Dishes?" He asked, face falling.
Mrs. Knight nodded. "Exactly, and I covered for you from last night, but you can do the ones from this morning. Maybe Logan will help you." Logan smiled slightly at Mrs. Knight again, before turning his grin to Kendall, making it bigger and cheesier. Kendall gave him a side look a chuckled.
"Okay, on it Mom. Come on Loges." Kendall said, turning and walking into the kitchen. Logan sent Mrs. Knight another wave before following him.
*Where*The*Heart*Is
"Hey Loges?" Kendall asked after a couple minutes of washing dishes, handing Logan them to Logan to try and put away.
"Yes Ken?" Logan question back, raising an eyebrow and smirking slightly.
"Do you think your parents would mind if you stayed the night tonight? Maybe tomorrow too?" Kendall asked, keeping his gaze on the sink as he scrubbed at a pan.
Logan's stomach dropped for a second. Right, there wasn't school for the next few days. Which also meant there wouldn't be for a couple weeks, because if school was out the next day too, then they were just lead right into Christmas Break. Logan needed to think fast if he was going to stay out of that tent till school started up again. With most of his money in change, he more than likely didn't have enough to live off of for that long. He hardly made it through Thanksgiving when his friends all went to visit family for the week.
"Logan?" He heard Kendall ask. Logan looked up to see Kendall staring at him, a confused look on his face.
"Oh, sorry spaced out. What was the question again?" Logan asked, stalling for time to think up a quick story.
"I asked if you thought your parent's would let you stay the night for the next couple nights." Kendall repeated, handing Logan the pan.
Logan picked up the towel he was using and started drying the pan, still running ideas through his head. "I've been meaning to ask you about that. My parents are supposed to take this big business trip to...someplace in California, and they won't be back till New Year, no promises." Logan said, finally finishing the pan and going to put it away.
When he turned around, Kendall was staring at him, looking shocked. It made his stomach start twisting in knots. Did Kendall not believe him? It did seem a little out there, didn't it? Oh no, Kendall was going to figure him out and they were gonna give him to the police and they were gonna put him back in foster care and they were probably going to send him somewhere worse than the last where-
"They're leaving for Christmas? Alone?" Kendall asked, still looking shocked.
Logan laughed. "This surprises you?" He asked, walking back over to the sink.
"Yes, well not really, but I was hoping that they'd at least stay home for Christmas. Or take you with them for once." Kendall said, looking like he couldn't decide whether to be sad or angry.
Logan shrugged. "They haven't before." He said, before he could stop him self. Too far. He thought.
Kendall sent him another shocked look, handing him the last cup. "They've never spent Christmas with you?"
Again, Logan shrugged, thinking back to the last good Christmas he'd had. Back when his mom was still alive, and his dad was sane. "...No, they have. Just...it's just been a long time." He said, putting the cup in the cabinet and turning his attention to the ground, tears pricking at the back of his eyes.
Before he could think farther into it, a pair of arms were wrapping tightly around him, pulling him close to the body attached. "I'm so sorry Logie." He heard Kendall whisper in his ear, which made the tear multiple in Logan's eyes. He blinked them away before returning the hug, leaning into Kendall and burying his face into his shoulder. Kendall just pulled him imposibly closer, and Logan took in evey ounce of warmth and comfort he offered.
After a couple minutes, Logan pulled away, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. When he looked up at Kendall, he was puzzled by the expression Kendall was wearing. He was looking at Logan like he was the most heartbreaking thing he'd ever seen, which just made Logan's stomach twist again and he turned his gaze back to the ground.
Then he heard chuckling. He looked up to see Kendall laughing and shaking his head, looking at the ground. After a second or two though, he looked back up, and just smiled at Logan. "Come on dude, let's go see how long we can talk my mom into letting you stay here. Which would probably be forever, if we could."
Logan laughed along too, although that sounded like a dream come true to him.
*Where*The*Heart*Stays*
"So you're staying here with Kendall?" Carlos asked whenever him and James stopped by after lunch. Carlos sat down on the couch in the living room, a bowl of popcorn in his hand.
"Yep." Logan said, sitting down on the oppisite side of the couch, taking a sip of his soda.
"The whole Christmas break?" James added, sitting down next to Carlos and eating a piece of popcorn.
"Yep again." Logan said, nodding.
"Only because his parents are complete jerks." Kendall said from his place by the TV, where he was setting up the movie.
"Hey my parents aren't- ...okay, yeah, they are." Logan agreed with a slight laugh. "My mom was pretty cool... for a while... but then the bigger and better jobs come along, and it all just kind of disappeared. Although I don't really mind it that much. I wouldn't be here with you guys if it wasn't so."
James and Carlos nodded, both eating mouthfulls of popcorn, watching as the previews started. Kendall walked over and sat down in between James and Logan, throwing an arm over Logan's shoulder. Logan looked over and smiled slightly, and Kendall ruffled his hair in return, making Logan slap in the shoulder. "What movie are we watching anyway?"
Carlos spoke up this time, after roughly swollowing his popcorn. "How the Grinch Stole Christmas, cartoon version!" He said cheerfully and scratchily, before breaking into a coughing fit. The three boy's just looked at him, wondering how someone could look so happy while chocking. James handed Carlos his drink, and Logan sent Kendall a confused look. "Is there a reason, or is this just for fun?"
"It's a little tradition of ours. Everyday on the first day of Christmas break we watch it, and seeing as how Christmas break is more than likely starting early, I figured we should go ahead and watch it." Kendall said, a small smile on his face.
Logan nodded slowly, before settling back into his place. As the movie finally started, Logan started chuckling slightly, making the other three boys turn and look up at him. "What's so funny?" James asked.
Logan just shrugged slightly. "I'm just glad you guys are my friends, is all." The three other boys grinned widely before turning their attention back to the movie. Logan shifted a little. getting comfortable, before leaning his head against Kendall shoulder and turning his attention also to the movie.
*Where*The*Heart*Is*
"Kendall, look." James whispered as the movie ended, pointing next to Kendall.
Kendall looked down to see Logan fast asleep against his shoulder. Kendall chuckled quietly, trying not to move to much as to not disturb the younger boy. He only got to enjoy the sight for a few seconds before Logan was suddenly moved from sight. He looked up to see James holding the younger boy bridal style. "I'll take him up to your room, let him sleep while we talk." With that James headed up the stairs.
Kendall turned his attention to Carlos. "Talk? Talk about what?"
Carlos just shrugged, seeming as clueless as Kendall. They heard the bedroom floor creak above them as James walked across. Kendall laughed to himself, because after all the times James had come over, he still didn't know, or didn't care, where the creaks in the floor was. Even Logan knew where the creaks were, so Kendall figured it was the latter. The creaking stopped for a minute, before resuming. The bedroom door shut, and then James came running down the stairs again.
"What are we gonna talk about James?" Carlos asked, looking slightly excited.
"We're gonna talk about Kendall's crush on Logan." James said, sitting down next to Kendall.
Kendall looked at James, his eyes widening. "I-I do not have a crush on Logan." He chuckled nervously. James and Carlos looked at each other, before looking back at Kendall. "I don't!" Carlos and James kept staring, not blinking. "Okay, just stop with the staring!" James and Carlos did a quick fist bump, their eyes never leaving Kendall. "Okay, so maybe I have a tiny crush on Logan, but it's not like I can do anything about it."
"Why not?" Carlos perked up. "You guys are so cute together anyway, it be so awesome!"
Kendall laid back against the back of the couch. "Well, we've only known him for, like, 4 months, we've never met his parents or even been to his house, and most importantly, we don't even know if he likes guys."
"Have you ever asked?" Carlos asked.
"That's not usually a normal question, 'Litos. Again, we've only known him for a few months." Kendall said, running a hand over his face. "I wish I did know though, but even if I did he'd never fall for me."
James scoffed. "Yeah, right. Have you seen him recently?" Kendall sent him a 'duh, what's the point' look, so James continued. "Dude, one he was cuddling with you during the movie. Cuddling. And obviously he was comfortable enough doing so, because he fell asleep. And this morning, his eyes just lit up when he saw you, like they always do whenever you're around him. Plus, he always tries to stay as close to you as possible."
"That," Kendall said, sitting up straight again, pointing a finger at James. "Is because he's love deprived. Back to point one, his parent's are almost never around."
"Well, why don't you change that?" Carlos asked, picking up Logan's soda and taking a sip.
Kendall blinked. "What?"
Carlos shrugged. "You said you've never met Logan's parent's, or even been to his house. If he's staying here till next year, he's gonna have to go back to his house sometime to get clothes and such. Just make sure you go with him when he does."
James stared at him, then turned back to Kendall. "Mister Genius over here has a point, and a plan. Stick with it, it's rare that Carlos' has a moment."
Carlos looked extremely proud of himself, and Kendall nodded. "Yeah, yeah. Good plan 'Litos. I'll go with him to his house, or find a way to trail him."
Carlos clapped his hands together loudly. "Awesome, now that that's settled, how about some more popcorn?"
The other two boys laughed and lead the way to the kitchen. They didn't see Logan peak his head around the corner of the stairs before running back up. He hadn't caught the beginning of the conversation, just enought to know he was going to figure out a way to get to his stuff, if he wanted to keep up his act. Logan walked back into the Guest's room, and fell onto the bed. He wanted to keep up his act, didn't he?
I'm starting to annoy myself. I'm in that state of mind where I've read other fanfictions by really good authors that I just loved, but now I'm compairing my writing to theirs, and it's just not adding up. I'm proud of my writing, but I'm just in that mind state where I know it could be better. Meh.
Anyway, I hope ya'll liked! Next chapter will be the Christmas Tree shopping, an almost Kogan moment, and a better look into Logan's life before he lived in his tent, so look forward to that!
Thanks to everyone who reviewed, followed, or favorited since the last chapter, and anyone who will in the future! It means so much to me, really truly. Love ya'll!
-Saun