Kendall didn't want to feel guilty about Logan anymore. He found the only way he could avoid feeling guilty was to avoid Logan completely. So far it had been easy since from what he could tell the boy hadn't been to school in the past three days. But now that he was back he seemed so miserable it was almost difficult to look at him.

He just thought that Logan looked his best when he was happy. He knew the only way they would both be able to move on was if Logan would just date someone else.

Kendall wondered how after two years of being on the same hockey team with him he'd never gotten the memo that Dak Zevon was gay. He thought he'd already hooked up with all of the decent looking guys in their school but somehow he'd missed out on Dak. Kendall knew that Dak was one of those really nice guys. He was almost too nice to be a hockey player. He figured Dak would be nice enough to actually want to date someone and do all that romantic crap Logan probably wanted. Plus he was a junior so he was at least closer to Logan's grade level.

"Hey Dak," he called out when he spotted him. Dak paused on his way to class and turned around. "How's it going?"

"Um, alright I guess," he said.

"Got any plans this weekend?"

"I don't know I might order a movie on Netflix."

"What no hot date planned?"

Dak had started walking again but he slowed to look at Kendall. "No..not recently."

"So you're not seeing anybody then?"

Dak stopped completely and quirked an eyebrow. "Are you trying to ask me out on a date Knight?"

Kendall smiled at him. "Don't be silly Dak. We're teammates. That could never work."

"Right.."

"I was just thinking you and Logan might be good together. Logan Mitchell," he clarified.

"The freshman?"

"Yeah...he wanted me to find out if you were interested. So are you?"

"I don't know... he's cute I guess. But he's kinda young," he said. Dak appeared to be actually considering it but then he shook his head. "Nah, no way."

"Why not?"

"Because James'll have my balls."

Kendall didn't get why everyone was so afraid of James. But then again he could see why Dak would be worried since James did have some kind of authority over him. He was their team captain so if he wanted to he could make Dak do a hundred suicides without a break just for the hell of it.

"Don't worry about James...I could talk to him if you want."

"You'd do that?" Dak said, looking skeptical.

"Sure."

"And Logan really wants me to ask him out?"

"Yeah, he's kinda shy though. Like really shy, so he might seem put off at first. Just don't mention anything about me talking to you. He's really nervous about the whole thing."

"Alright, fine. And you'll talk to James?"

"Yes, I'll talk to him. Look, there he is. Hey James!" he called out.

James was walking with Lucy and they both stopped once they heard his name and walked over to Kendall and Dak.

"What's up?" James asked.

"Nothing, Dak just wants to ask you a question," Kendall said.

Dak looked back and forth between Kendall and James. Kendall nodded at him and James stared. "Uh, well the thing is...I was thinking that Logan might like to go out with me sometime. I was gonna ask him out..."

James seemed confused by the suggestion, like he wasn't expecting it. "Why?"

"Why do I want to go out with him?"

"Yeah, and why should I let you."

"Because he seems nice?" Dak tried. "And because you know me...and I know you. So I know what'll happen if I ever do anything to hurt him."

James seemed to deem this an acceptable answer but he didn't respond right away. Everyone just stood waiting to hear what he was gonna say. Kendall eventually rolled his eyes. The suspense was truly killing him.

"Good answer but no," he said. "He's too young to date."

"Um, excuse me, James knows he doesn't get to decide that," Lucy said, intervening and pulling him aside. "James you know you're being ridiculous. How old were you when you first started dating?"

"That is irrelevant."

"How is it any different? You're only acting this way because Logan's gay."

"Well, that's because I know how guys are. No offense Dak."

"But Logan is a guy..." she said.

"But he's young. And he trusts people too easily. You don't get it."

Lucy sighed. "James it's sweet that you want to protect him but you know you're being unreasonable. You said it yourself that Logan's been really down lately. Maybe this'll help cheer him up. And besides, Dak is totally harmless."

James looked at Dak who smiled at him somewhat awkwardly. "Fine," he relented."You can ask him out or whatever. If he says yes, just know that his curfew is at 10 o'clock, 11 o'clock on weekends. If he breaks it I'm holding you accountable."

"Okay, got it," Dak said.

James clapped Dak on the back, maybe a bit harder than necessary and Dak flinched. After he and Lucy walked away Dak turned to Kendall and glared.

"What? I thought that went well," Kendall muttered.

Kendall could at least feel as if he'd done Logan a favor now. During lunch he figured would be the time when Dak would ask him out. So he sat at his usual table with Jo and he watched while something he had taken the time out of his day to set up was put into motion. He told himself that this was for the best, that Logan would be happier with someone like Dak. Someone he was sure would be able to give Logan what he wanted, because Kendall was fairly certain that he couldn't.

Whenever Kendall thought about Logan he remembered the time he'd gone to the park with his younger sister when they were kids. And Katie had found a baby duckling underneath the slide that had gotten separated from its family. It was so small, no bigger than the palm of his hand, and so defenseless and scared. It immediately latched onto the first thing to hold it and show it kindness. He remembered Katie had wanted to take it home and keep it but they ended up bringing it to an animal shelter.

Baby animals were prone to being very possessive and believing the first person they see to be its mother. That was kind of what Logan reminded him of sometimes. The boy was too clingy for his own good. Kendall imagined if he didn't get rid of him now, Logan might try to follow him around forever. That night he'd showed up at the store looking for him he'd just looked so lost, like he needed Kendall and didn't know what to do without him. That thought alone was frightening enough to Kendall, the idea that he could be needed by someone. Kendall was certain he wouldn't be able to give Logan whatever it was that he needed. He didn't think he was built that way.

The only person he'd truly ever really known how to take care of was himself. He knew that because he'd been doing it long enough, ever since he was able to. But he couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if he had just taken the boy out on a date like he wanted him to. Would it have really been so horrible? Probably not. Logan would probably be overjoyed if it were him rather than Dak who was asking him out right now. But could he really picture the two of them as a couple? What would they even do together? Go to mall and walk around holding hands, hang out at the arcade?

He supposed it didn't matter. Maybe now he'd never know because Dak was asking him out and from the looks of it Logan was saying yes. Kendall watched as Dak approached him and how confused Logan looked while he was talking to him, like he was so surprised that Dak would even want to date him. Probably that anyone would want to date him. That was another thing Kendall couldn't understand. Logan didn't seem to get that he was actually good-looking and smart, and if he just knew how to own it he could have anyone he wanted.

"What are you staring at?" Jo asked.

"Nothing," he said. It had taken him a moment to even realize she was talking to him. "I was just curious."

"About what?"

"Since when are you and Dak friends?"

She looked at him. "I don't know, since this year."

"I just didn't know you associated with people like him."

"What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean, Jo."

"Kendall, I've changed a lot since the last time we broke up. I'm not the same girl I was when we first started dating," she told him.

Kendall could see how that was true since she was probably the most sheltered person he'd ever met when they first got together, thanks to her freakish religious parents. But he'd always kind of liked that about her. And anyway it wasn't really her fault.

"I've learned that I can't force my beliefs on other people," she continued. "And besides, Dak is really nice and he's got a great voice. He's playing the male lead in Aida for this year's musical."

"Oh, cool."

"Speaking of the musical...you're coming to our drama club meeting next Tuesday to help out right?" she asked.

"I guess so."

"What do you mean you guess?"

"Jo how am I supposed to know what I'm doing three days from now?"

"Kendall, you promised!"

"I'm kidding," he said, putting his arms around her. He smirked at her. "Stop pouting," he said, even though she was cute when she pouted.

Logan was extremely nervous before his date with Dak. He tried on three different outfits before he decided to go with a light blue button down collared shirt, a pair of black jeans and a pair of dark boots. He tried putting some of James' product in his hair but he ended up washing it out once he realized he had no idea what he was doing.

He kept telling himself not be nervous, at least not for the first half of the date. Since from what Dak had told him they would be going to see a movie first, then afterwards they'd probably get a bite to eat. But the whole date idea had come as such a surprise to him and he didn't know what to expect. He didn't even know who Dak Zevon was before the day they met. When he asked him out he was completely caught off guard, but in the moment he could practically feel Camille wanting to squeal behind him, silently urging him to say yes and Dak obviously wanted him to say yes, so in the end he just said yes.

Logan was for once glad that James wasn't home on the night of his date. Because he knew the older boy would find some way to embarrass him, god forbid he attempt some intimidating older brother routine. Logan decided he wanted this night to go well. It was his first date after all and he wanted to remember it fondly.

Dak showed up at exactly 6 pm like he said he would and he even called fifteen minutes ahead of time to make sure Logan would be ready. Logan could tell right away that Dak was what one might call a gentleman. He opened doors for him and when they got to the theatre he paid for their tickets and their popcorn and drinks.

The movie turned out to be really boring, at least to Logan. He'd let Dak pick it out and they ended up at some indie movie with a car on the poster that was being advertised as an action film. But there wasn't much action, just a lot of driving. Supposedly it was all symbolic, but Logan still didn't get it even after Dak tried to explain it to him. Logan just wanted to watch something blow up or at the very least see something with an attractive male lead.

Dak really was handsome. Logan was almost the same height as him so Dak didn't tower over him like Kendall did. His eyes were blue, not green, and his hair was short and brown, not the blonde tuggable locks Kendall sported. Dak had perfect teeth, Logan noticed. He liked to stare at them whenever he talked. After their movie they went to a diner to get something to eat and get to know each other better. Logan wasn't very good at small talk, especially with people he didn't know well, so Dak did most of the talking and Logan just listened. He told him about how much he loved musicals and theatre and about all the summers he spent in New York with relatives watching plays on Broadway. Logan had never taken much of an interest in theatre before but he liked listening to Dak talk about it.

After their date was over and Dak was walking him to his doorstep, Logan hoped he would kiss him goodnight. He thought that maybe if Dak kissed him he would feel something, like a spark, and just like that he would fall in love with him and most importantly, fall out of love with Kendall. But it didn't quite happen that way.

When they were standing outside his door Logan thanked him for taking him out and told him he had a nice time. Dak smiled and he leaned in and Logan felt his heart speed up in his chest. Then he felt Dak's lips against his cheek and he pulled back. That was it.

After Logan went inside he began to worry that maybe Dak didn't like him and that was why he didn't want to kiss him. But Dak ended up calling him that night and asking him if he wanted to go out again. And on their second date things went similarly. Dak walked him to the door, them holding hands the whole time, and then Dak leaned in and kissed him...on the forehead.

A real kiss wouldn't happen until their third date and only because Logan initiated it. They were sitting in Dak's car parked outside his house after seeing another movie.

"So how did you like it?" Dak asked.

"It was alright I guess. I liked it better than the first one. Can I pick the movie next time?"

"Sure Logan," he said smiling. "Well, I'd better get you inside. I'll walk you to the door."

"Wait," he said, grabbing his arm and stopping him before he could get out of the car. Logan leaned forward, quickly before he lost his nerve, and kissed him.

Dak seemed surprised at first but he didn't push him away. So Logan put more into the kiss, parting his lips so their tongues and teeth could clash together. He pulled Dak closer, massaging his tongue with his, smirking when he heard a light groan escape his throat. Logan reached for his belt buckle.

"Whoa," Dak said, grabbing his hands.

"What's wrong?" Logan asked.

"You, uh, like to move kinda fast don't you."

Logan sat back and sighed. "Don't you want to kiss me? Or do anything at all? I thought you liked me."

"I do Logan, I just think we should take things slow. There's no need to rush into anything."

Logan furrowed his brows. He didn't understand why but the idea seemed so strange to him. But if it was what Dak wanted.. "Okay, I guess."

"It's already past ten. You'd better get inside," Dak said.

"How do you know what time my curfew is?" he asked.

"I just figured..." he said. "Hey, I'll call you later on when I get home."

Logan nodded and got out of the car to walk himself to his door. He started thinking though, that the only way Dak could've know that was if somebody had told him. Logan hadn't told him so the only other person who could've told him was James. For some reason that pissed him off more than anything. The reason Dak didn't want to kiss him was probably because he was terrified of his brother.

Logan was sick of being treated like a child all of the time. He was sick of feeling like he could never take care of himself. The only person who had never made him feel that way was Kendall. Kendall had never been afraid to touch him. Logan remembered how he'd kissed him, pushing him up against the side of his car. All the times they'd touched, and how he'd made him feel things with his hands, with his mouth...

Logan shuddered when he thought about it. But that night he did his best to push Kendall out of his mind and go to sleep.

That night Logan had wanted to confront James about meddling in his life, but James was in a weird mood when he got home. He was being moody and quiet, barely acknowledging Logan. James never usually acted standoffish towards Logan, ever, so whatever was wrong must have been really serious. In the morning when he woke up to get ready for school James was already gone; he didn't even wait to see if Logan wanted a ride. Logan figured that whatever was wrong probably had to do with him and Lucy and maybe it was better if he didn't get involved.

After school he ended up staying behind with one of his teachers to finish working on a paper. Afterwards, on his way to catch the activities bus he bumped into Jo. Or rather she bumped into him. And then blocked him when he tried to get past her.

"Hey, it's Logan right?"

For a moment he just stared at her stupidly, with a deer-in-the-headlights expression, half expecting her to start screaming at him for screwing her boyfriend.

"Where are you headed?" she asked.

"I was just about to catch the bus," he mumbled.

"Oh well there's another one you can catch in an hour and a half if you're not busy. We're supposed to be having a meeting for the drama club but only two people showed."

"You want me to come?"

"Would you mind? We could really use some extra hands," she asked, peering at him hopefully.

Somehow, Logan noticed, Jo was even prettier up close. Her blonde, perfectly curled hair looked even blonder and shinier and she smelled really nice, like vanilla candy. Even though he would have rathered done anything else, he found himself unable to say no to her. And in a way he felt that he was obligated to help since his boyfriend was one of the lead roles in the play. He figured that Jo probably knew that and that was why she asked. "Sure...why not."

Jo smiled at him and linked her arm around his to lead him to a room where two other girls were sitting together at a table. "Logan this is Jennifer and Jennifer," she said gesturing to each girl. "Guys this is Logan. He's gonna be helping today."

Logan waved and they both said "Hi."

Jo explained to him that they were gonna be finishing the costumes and they just needed someone to make a flyer advertising the play so they could make copies and put them up around school. "It doesn't have to be super fancy. Just make sure the name of the play and the actors are in big letters. And include the date, location, etc," she said, writing all the information down on a sticky note and then she handed it to him along with a marker pen and several sheets of paper.

"Okay, I'll try. I'm not much of an artist though."

Jo smiled. "Don't worry, we have faith in you. And thanks again for doing this," she said.

Logan nodded, smiling politely before getting to work.

"I thought Kendall was supposed to come help?" One of the Jennifers asked.

"He is but he's nowhere to be found. I tried texting him and everything," Jo said.

"Sweetie, maybe it's time you shortened the leash a bit..." Curly-haired Jennifer said.

Jo sighed. "You guys have no idea. A month ago he would have done anything I told him to. I never should have told him about that stupid thing with James."

"Well you were trying to do the right thing. That's understandable."

Logan glanced up at the mention of brother's name and he and Jo locked eyes briefly. "Sorry Logan, you probably don't want to hear about my boring relationship drama."

"No it's fine," Logan said quickly. "Maybe I could offer some advice. I mean I'm gay, we practically live for this stuff."

Jo giggled. "Okay...well Kendall and I just got back together after I did something really stupid. But it was only because he cheated on me first."

"He cheated on you?"

"It was one time and he still denies it happened but I know he did. The girl he hooked up with was a huge slut."

For some reason Logan didn't really find it all that surprising that Kendall had done that. He was more surprised that she had taken him back afterwards. But then he started to feel majorly guilty, because whether or not what he had done with Kendall counted as cheating, he knew that there was no way Kendall had told her about it.

"Anyway, I thought things would be different now after we got back together. Am I wrong for expecting so much of him?" she asked.

"Of course not. If he cares about you and respects you, he should want to do things to make you happy. He should know what's expected of him. You shouldn't even have to tell him," Logan said.

Both of the Jennifers nodded in agreement.

"I think you might be right..." Jo said.

"And for the record, he had no right to get mad at you over whatever you did if you actually took him back after he cheated on you. I mean he can't expect you to be perfect when it's clear that he's not either."

"I thought the same thing, I just didn't want to say anything," interjected blonde Jennifer.

Just then Kendall entered the room, pausing once he realized all eyes were on him.

"Sorry I'm late, Coach called a meeting and he wouldn't let us leave. So what'd I miss?"

"Everything," Jo said, rolling her eyes. "You might as well have not shown up at all."

Kendall looked at her, confused, and even more confused when he saw Logan sitting at the table. "It wasn't my fault."

Jo ignored him and turned to Logan. "Logan, you should think about joining the drama club full time. We could always use more people, especially now since we're opening in two weeks."

"Sure, sounds like fun," he said.

"Great. We normally meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays but since we're opening soon we'll be meeting everyday this week and next week."

"Okay," Logan nodded.

"Come on Jennifer, we need to make sure Jennifer can fit into her dress." She turned to Kendall one last time. "Kendall, just stay here with Logan and help him with the flyers."

Kendall watched the three girls leave the room and then he looked at Logan who was sitting at the table, staring up at him with feigned innocence. "Hey," the younger boy greeted casually.

"Don't 'hey' me. How'd you know I'd be here? Are you stalking me now?"

"Not everything I do revolves around you Kendall, though I can see how you'd be conceited enough to think that."

"Then what the fuck are you doing here?" he asked. Despite everything he had done to solve his Logan problem, the boy still kept popping up everywhere Kendall went.

"I'm only here because Jo asked me for help. If you had showed up on time I wouldn't even be here. Trust me, I don't like it anymore than you do."

"Well you could've just said no." Kendall said, taking a seat across from him.

Logan shrugged. "I was being nice."

"So what are you and Jo like friends now? Don't you find that weird at all?"

"Do you think it's weird?"

Kendall thought about it. "I guess not...since you're with Dak now," he decided.

Logan looked away from him and stared down at his paper. For some reason he really didn't want to talk about Dak with Kendall. But Kendall seemed to be able to sense that so of course he pressed on.

"So how's that going?" Kendall asked.

"It's fine," he said.

"You should be proud of yourself. Dak's pretty hot."

Logan shrugged. "He's alright I guess."

"I bet he's a really good kisser," Kendall said.

Logan opened his mouth to respond but then he shut it when nothing came out. He felt his face heat up all the way to the back of his ears. "Why do you insist on doing that."

"Doing what?"

"Trying to make me blush.."

Kendall smiled and shrugged. "I don't know, because it's so easy. And I like seeing you all flustered."

"Please stop," Logan said. If he didn't know any better he'd say that Kendall was flirting with him, but it felt more like he was just messing with him. "Anyway does your girlfriend know that you do that?"

"What?"

"Well that you're gay. Or half gay or whatever."

"What would I tell her that for?"

"Because she's your girlfriend," Logan said, though he realized that maybe that was more of a reason not to tell.

Kendall snorted. "Jo doesn't even like it when I curse around her. I don't need her throwing her bible at me over the fact that I like dick too."

Logan paused his drawing to look at him. "She didn't seem to care that I'm gay," he pointed out.

"Maybe not to your face," Kendall retorted.

"But I don't get it...she seems so nice."

"She is, but she's also brainwashed. Don't you know who her father is?"

"Mayor Taylor?"

"Yup, he's a fag hater. You didn't hear that from me though."

Logan frowned. He didn't want to believe something like that. "But he's the mayor."

"The world has no shortage of bigots, Logan. Especially here," Kendall said. It was part of the reason he wanted to leave so badly.

"And you're not just saying that because you don't want me hanging around Jo?"

"No, I'm saying it because it's the truth," Kendall said. Maybe he was exaggerating a little bit, but there was some truth to what he was saying. He knew Jo better than anyone and as pretty and sweet as she was on the outside, he knew that she could be really frigid and bitchy when she wanted to be. It was probably best for Logan's sake that he didn't hang out with her. The boy didn't need to spend so much time hanging around girls like her and the Jennifers anyway.

"Why would you even want to be with someone like that then?" Logan asked.

"Because it's not her fault. You can't help who your parents are."

"But she has her own mind and her own thoughts. She can form her own opinions."

"Logan, whether anyone wants to believe it or not, we all grow up to be our parents eventually," he said. Kendall knew this because while he was sure he'd gotten most of his good qualities like his independence and his strong work ethic from his mother, he was sure that his desperate desire to travel, go out and see the world he'd gotten from his father, which he figured explained why he hadn't seen the man in eleven years.

Logan glanced up just as Dak entered the room. "Hey Logan... What are you doing here?" he asked.

Logan forced a smile onto his face. "Um, I decided to join the drama club... Are you surprised?"

"Yeah that's great," Dak grinned and leaned down to peck him on the cheek. Then he looked at Kendall who nodded at him.

"We were just talking about you, Dakman" Kendall said.

"You were? Where's everybody else?" Dak asked.

Logan stood up quickly. "Jo and Jennifer are trying on costumes I think. But we're pretty much done here. Would you mind giving me a ride home?" he asked him. It was awkward enough for him just talking to Kendall about Dak, so he was sure sitting in a room with the two of them together would be twice as awkward.

"Okay," Dak said.

Logan gathered his things and handed Kendall the flyers. "You don't mind finishing these do you?"

Logan didn't really give Kendall a chance to respond. He just grabbed Dak's hand and dragged him out the door.

Kendall just smirked and shook his head while the boy rushed out the door.

So this was the longest chapter I've written so far. It was originally gonna be a lot shorter but it was taking me so long to write I decided to just put everything in this chapter so when I finally updated I'd have a really long chapter for you guys :P

Not much else to say, just hopefully the next update doesn't take me this long. And next chapter might be a kogan chapter but with lots and lots of angst...

Please leave a review! They make me happy :)