A/N: Sorry it took me a bit to upload this chapter. I haven't been avoiding writing. As you may or may not have noticed, I have been writing. I churned out a couple of one-shots and started another multi-chapter story since the last chapter of this story. I knew what I wanted to do in this chapter. I just haven't got around to it until now. Um…so I should probably say that last week's episode of Glee served as inspiration for this chapter.
Disclaimer: Yeah…I own a big, fat goose egg. And no, I don't even mean that in its literal sense…
Til I Forget About You
First Day
It was my first day of school in New York City. I was going to a public school. Gustavo said that it was entirely up to me. He would pay for my tuition either way—even if I wanted to go to a fancy private school. I wasn't quite sure how I felt about that. Was he just being helpful? Or was he that desperate to be rid of me? At any rate, I opted for public school. He was already paying for my tuition regardless, so I didn't want to be an even bigger burden.
It felt really strange being all alone in school. I didn't have my best friends with me like I was so used to. Kendall, James, and Carlos were all back in Los Angeles. Kendall and James probably didn't even consider me one of their best friends anymore. Camille was busy filming for her movie role, so she wasn't in school with me either. I had no one.
After going to the administration office and getting a slip of paper that I would have to take to each of my classes and have my teachers sign, I went to my assigned locker. I had no trouble finding my way around school because I was also given a map. I just tried not to have my face buried in it any more than necessary. I didn't want to draw any more unnecessary attention to myself. I hated being the center of attention.
As I was opening the combination lock on my locker, some jock passing by thought it would be fun to knock me into my locker. He was probably around six foot four inches tall. He had an athletic build. He had spiked blonde hair, and was wearing a varsity jacket. A tingling sensation spread throughout my forearm as I had hit my funny bone. I slid to the floor and buried my face in my hands. Was this what school would be like here?
The jock made this 'Do something about it' gesture before he walked off. It had caused a commotion as I could feel people's eyes on me. However, no one said or did anything. Nobody offered to help me up. Nobody asked me if I was okay. Of course, why would they? I was just the new kid. I was at the bottom of the totem pole.
If Kendall, James, and Carlos were here, they would've come to my aid. They wouldn't have stood for how that jock just treated me. Only they weren't here. It had been a long time since I had last been bullied. Back at The Palm Woods, I was popular. Even back in Minnesota, Kendall, James, Carlos, and I were inseparable, so unless someone had a death wish, they left me alone. The only times I had been bullied back in Minnesota were those occasions where Kendall, James, and Carlos weren't around to protect me.
I took several deep, cleansing breaths in an effort to calm my frayed nerves. I picked myself up off the floor, opened up my locker, and stuck everything but a three ring binder in there. I closed my locker and headed off to homeroom. I decided to take all honors and AP classes. I wanted to keep busy. I wanted to feel challenged. The busier I was, the less likely I would think about how much I missed being back at The Palm Woods. The less likely I would think about how much I missed my friends.
I had even signed up for show choir and hockey. I had a 'use it or lose it' philosophy. Even though I didn't have Kendall, James, and Carlos with me, it didn't mean I had to stop doing things I love. Who knows? Maybe it will help me not think about how homesick I already was.
XXXXX
Only two things were in between me and the end of my first day of school: show choir practice and hockey practice. Frankly, I couldn't wait for my first day of school to finally be over. I had been thoroughly humiliated already today.
I kept getting knocked into my locker by jocks. I gave up counting how many times that had happened so far today. My hair was still damp and messy because they also gave me swirlies three times today. I probably stunk too because they also threw me in a dumpster a couple of times. As if all that wasn't bad enough, during P.E. they had urinated in my shoes while I was showering. They made a squishing noise when I walked.
I sat in the back of all my classes. I didn't want people to stare at me. Had I sat in the front, everyone probably would have too. Luckily, none of my teachers made a spectacle of me being the new kid. They just signed the slip of paper, gave me the class syllabus and textbook, and told me to take an empty seat. Of course, it was painfully obvious that I was the new kid even if I didn't have to stand up in front of the class and introduce myself.
I quickly discovered how clique-ish this school was. No one seemed interested in me joining their inner circle of friends. No one even seemed interested in talking to me. The day was almost over, and I hadn't even managed to make any friends yet.
I walked up to the choir director and gave him my slip of paper to sign. He was in his late twenties. He had short black hair that was carefully slicked back. He wore glasses with thick lenses.
"Hello," someone said to me.
I turned around, and was surprised to see a short, blonde haired girl talking to me. She was probably around five feet two inches tall. Her hair was medium in length and was pulled back in a ponytail. She smiled brightly at me.
"You must be new. I'm Courtney," she said, introducing herself, and holding out her hand for me to shake.
I shook hands with her. "I'm—"
"Logan Mitchell of Big Time Rush. I know. I'm a huge fan!"
"Of me or the band?"
I didn't know what I found more surprising: the fact that someone actually was talking to me for the first time today or that someone was a fan of Big Time Rush even though we weren't exactly a household name quite yet. I mean we were still a fledgling band.
"Oh, definitely the band!" she replied, winking at me playfully.
My breath hitched in my throat when I saw one of the jocks from before walk over to Courtney and put an arm around her. He kissed the top of her head as he pulled her closer to him.
"Hey babe! What are you doing talking to him? Come on, let's go," he ordered.
"Bye, Logan," she got out before he pulled her away from me.
"Okay boys and girls, take your seats," the choir director instructed.
I noticed Courtney was sitting with that jock. I could tell from his body language that the two of them were boyfriend and girlfriend. I sat on the other side of the choir room by myself. Nobody wanted to sit next to me. The choir director passed out sheet music to all of us. It was "The Only Exception" by Paramore.
After doing vocal warm ups for a good fifteen minutes, our choir director had us start rehearsing "The Only Exception."
"Conrad, you're up," he said.
The jock stood up and walked over to the front of the class. He stood front and center as the piano started playing.
When I was younger I saw
My daddy cry and curse at the wind
He broke his own heart and I watched
As he tried to reassemble it
And my momma swore that she
Would never let herself forget
And that was the day that I promised
I'd never sing of love if it does not exist
But darling, you are the only exception
You are the only exception
You are the only exception
You are the only exception
I was actually kind of surprised that Conrad could sing. I never would have pegged him to be a singer. He had a good voice, but there was nothing remarkable about it in my opinion. I thought I was a better singer than him. It was pretty obvious though who the male lead was in this ensemble.
I had to admit that he had all the girls in the room swooning over him, particularly Courtney. He looked each of them in the eyes over the course of his solo and sang to them. It was a pretty smooth move. Conrad had a baritone voice.
I shot my hand up in the air.
"Yes, Logan?" the choir director asked.
"I'd like to audition for the solo," I stated.
I didn't know where all this confidence was coming from all of a sudden. Maybe subconsciously it was my way of fighting back—it was my way of standing up to Conrad. This school was his turf. This choir room was his turf. What better way to get him back than to steal his thunder. It's not that I had anything to prove. It's just that I knew I was a better singer, and I just wanted to be given a fair chance.
Conrad looked at the choir director in disbelief.
"Mr. Andrews, you can't be serious? You're actually going to let him audition? I'm the male lead here, not him! He's just the new kid!" Conrad exclaimed.
"This has never happened before, but I encourage healthy competition. I think the only fair thing to do is let Logan audition. Your fellow choir members will be the judges. After Logan has auditioned, I want each of you to write the name of the person you feel should get the solo. Whoever has the most votes gets the solo," Mr. Andrews said.
I couldn't help but feel like this would turn into more of a popularity contest. I knew that the odds weren't in my favor, but that wasn't going to stop me from auditioning. At the very least, my fellow choir members would be aware of what I was capable of. Maybe I'd even earn their respect or even friendship.
I stood in front of the choir as the piano started playing.
When I was younger I saw
My daddy cry and curse at the wind
He broke his own heart and I watched
As he tried to reassemble it
And my momma swore that she
Would never let herself forget
And that was the day that I promised
I'd never sing of love if it does not exist
But darling, you are the only exception
You are the only exception
You are the only exception
You are the only exception
Whereas Conrad sang it straight, I changed it up and made it my own. I added vocal riffs and runs. I changed the phrasing. I added swells in dynamics. When I had finished, I felt like I had done a better job than Conrad.
As I took my seat, I looked at my fellow choir members. Some of them kept carefully blank expressions on their faces. However, some of them shook their heads impressed with my audition. That gave me hope. I looked over at Courtney. She gave me a small thumbs up, and grinned at me. Then, I looked at Conrad. He looked completely beside himself. He looked livid.
After everyone had cast their vote, Mr. Andrews stood in front of the class.
"Before I reveal who got the most votes, how about a round of applause for both guys," he said.
The class clapped their hands. There were thirteen people in the choir: six girls and seven guys. It didn't really surprise me when it was revealed that Conrad got the solo. What did surprise me though was that the vote was 11-2. I voted for myself, but that meant someone else did too. I was pretty sure it was Courtney.
XXXXX
I picked myself up off the ice for the umpteenth time. Just my luck, Conrad was on the hockey team too. Of course, he was also the star player. I was quicker than him, but he was bigger than me. Plus, after the stunt I pulled in show choir, he had a bone to pick with me.
We had split up into two teams. I was the last person picked. Of course, I wasn't really picked. One of the teams just ended up with me. Everyone ganged up on me—even people who were supposed to be my teammates. I got checked into the boards roughly. I got tripped by other people's hockey sticks.
Despite all the adversity I faced, I somehow managed to keep the score close. I was practically carrying my "team." We were trailing 4-3, and I had scored all three of our goals. Our coach blew the whistle signaling the end of the game.
After the whistle was blown, Conrad skated over to me and checked me into the boards one more time just for the heck of it. He stood over me. I ached all over, and not just from hockey practice either. I had been bullied all day, and I had the bruises to prove it.
"Stay away from Courtney! She's my girlfriend! I know she was your second vote in choir. If you try to pull something like that again, I'll personally see to it that you don't live to regret it!" Conrad screamed at me, before skating off, kicking a shower of ice in my face as he was leaving.
XXXXX
I glanced at the alarm clock on my nightstand. It was nine o'clock in the evening. I had already finished all my homework. I was just waiting for Camille to get back to our apartment. She had been at a studio set all day filming for an upcoming movie. While I was waiting, I decided to call Carlos.
"Logan! How are you doing, buddy?" he greeted excitedly.
I hesitated ever so slightly. I hoped Carlos didn't pick up on my hesitation.
"I'm doing good. How are you, Carlitos?" I replied.
"I'm okay. I guess. I miss you so much though. It's just not the same here without you," he commented.
I could hear the sadness and sincerity in his voice. I could tell he really meant it. I frowned. I didn't want to be the cause of Carlos' sadness. Sure, I might not be there, but he still had Kendall, James, and all of his other Palm Woods friends.
"I miss you too. More than you know," I stated.
"How was your first day of school there?" he asked.
Again, I took some time to carefully choose what I was going to say. I couldn't tell him the whole truth. I didn't want him to worry about me.
"You know. School's…school," I replied.
"How are the students treating you?" he questioned.
My breath hitched in my throat after I heard his question. This was the one question I didn't want him to ask me. I hated lying to Carlos, but I much rather he think I'm fine than for him to be worried about me when he couldn't even do anything about it.
"Everyone here is pretty nice," I lied.
"That's good. I bet you already have tons of friends there. Everybody likes you," Carlos said.
I heard the knob on the front door jiggle. Then I heard the sound of the dead bolt unlocking.
"I think Camille's back. I'll talk to you soon, okay?" I said.
"Alright. Bye Logan," Carlos responded.
"Bye Carlos."
I hung up my cell phone, and went out to the living room just as Camille walked in through the front door. I walked up to her and threw my arms around her in a hug. It was so good to see a friendly face. She seemed startled by my gesture.
"Are you okay, Logan?" she asked me, as she returned my hug.
I fought back the tears that threatened to spill from my eyes. I didn't want to cry in front of Camille. I didn't want to cry at all. I didn't want to give Conrad and his jock friends the satisfaction of making me cry no matter how much I may feel like crying right now.
"I am now that you're here. How was your day?" I inquired.
"Busy. I'm so tired right now. How was your first day of school here?" she asked me.
After having just lied to Carlos about this, I found it even easier to lie to Camille about this.
"It was good. I joined show choir and the hockey team," I answered.
"Really? That's great! I'm glad that you're still doing stuff you love," she replied.
I pulled back from her. I held her at arm's length. As I looked in her eyes, I couldn't help but feel like something was off with her…with us. An uncomfortable, awkward silence fell upon the both of us.
"So, what do you want to do?" I asked.
"Actually, I think I'm just going to head off to bed. I'm beat," she replied, before heading for her bedroom.
I sadly watched her go. I wanted to do something, anything with her. I hadn't seen her all day. I just had the worst first day of school imaginable too. I couldn't help but wonder if this is what it would be like every day while she was filming. I sure hoped not because if so, then what was the point of me even coming with her?
To Be Continued…
A/N: Liked it? Let me know in a review. I'm not a mind reader, people!