I'm so sorry I haven't updated in a while, this chapter was really hard to write :/
I'll hopefully have chapter nine up really soon but no promises!
I was really tired when I edited this so mind any mistakes, I take full responsibility for them :P
Hope you all enjoy :)
Chapter Eight
The library was as quite as usual but as Logan weaved cautiously through the shelves, searching for his extortionist he also could feel a sense of anticipation in the air, one that only he was aware of. He soon caught sight of Kendall sitting at a small table nestled in the corner of two selves. He had his feet resting on its scratched and rutted surface, eyes focused on his phone as he tapped away at its screen with lithe movements. Logan's nerves fired up and although he was silent as he approached Kendall look up all the same, seemingly sensing his presence. A mocking smile took up residence of the green-eyed boy's face, gesturing for Logan to have a seat. The brunette complied, eyes downcast as he waited for Kendall to speak.
"Wise choice Loges, I knew you'd show up, after all, you're supposed to be smart!"
When Logan didn't make a reply Kendall continued, unperturbed by Logan's silence.
"Now, down to business, Logan you'll be doing some work for me, I want you to give me everything I need to know for finals in one neat little document. I don't care much for this school stuff but I at least need a passing grade to get anywhere with hockey. As I said I don't really think you have a choice, I mean you don't want anyone finding out about, well you know…" He made a cutting gesture with his hands.
Chuckling to himself, Kendall continued, "so I want you to make a start on that, well, now. I want it by Friday, got that?"
He raised a questioning eyebrow but Logan only nodded, refusing to meet those malicious eyes.
"Great!"
Kendall stood abruptly, clapping a hand over Logan's shoulder,
"Glad we could have this little chat, remember, Friday."
Logan listened to Kendall's retreating footsteps, letting his forehead rest against the cool of the table. His mind was whirling. Everything was happening much to fast. The problem with his father had escalated to a whole new point, Kendall's blackmail, his new found friendship with Carlos…
Logan heard light footsteps as someone hurried by him, the brunette catching a musky scent that reminded him of cloves…
He lifted his head, taking in a deep breath of air. What was he to do about Kendall? He didn't want to conform to the wishes of the conniving boy but what choice did Logan have? He'd have to or otherwise he'd risk his relationship with Carlos, not to mention bringing unwanted attention to himself. Logan went to stand, but as he did so his hand brushed against something on the table, something that hadn't been there before.
A note, worn and crinkled sat on the edge of the table, folded up into a small square. Letters written in a slanted fashion proclaimed it was for him.
Logan
The brunette looked around but there was no one else present in the small nook. With a slight hesitation Logan took the note and unfolded it, his mind hoping against hope that a certain Latino had placed it there.
Dear Logan,
I'm going to be blunt, I don't really think there's any point in trying to be vague. I like you; I really like you. I don't know for how long and I don't know why, all I know is that I really like you. I'd like to be brave enough to tell you in person but I'm not because I'm scared you'll reject me. So for now just that you know is enough and maybe one day I'll have to courage to talk to you. In reality though its all wishful thinking, I know you have your heart set on someone else so I hope you have a nice life with him.
Signed,
D
Logan stared at the note, dumbfounded as the meaning on the words sunk in. This was too much; this was too sudden.
Logan collapsed back into the chair, pinching the bridge of his nose fiercely.
Why now? Why now, of all times did something like this have to happen? Couldn't he catch a break? He already had enough on his plate.
"Hey, Logan!"
Logan's whirled his head around, tension flowing from him as he saw Carlos approaching him, after being pointedly shushed by a nearby librarian.
The Latino dropped down into the seat, the one, only minutes before Kendall had occupied, Logan, in spite of himself, smiled at the swift turn of events.
Carlos didn't give the shaken brunette a chance to speak, talking rapidly, an excited gleam in his eye.
"I was thinking that maybe you could come sit with me and my friends at lunch today?"
It was when Logan didn't reply that the Latino noticed something was playing at his mind.
"Hey, are you okay?" He asked tentatively, reaching from Logan's hand. When the Latino's hand brushed against his own Logan jerked violently, pulling his hand away. He stared at Carlos, as if seeing him for the first time. The brunette, after a few stoic moments gave a weak and forced smile, muttering a stream of incoherent words that Carlos took for an apology.
"Seriously Logan, what's the matter?"
Logan shook his head furiously, averting his eyes from the Latino's deep brown ones.
"Logan…"
The brunette sighed, dropping his head back down to the table.
"Nothing's wrong" he mumbled, "I've just got a lot on my mind is all; don't worry yourself about it."
Carlos pursed is lips, cocking his head to the side as he scrutinized Logan. After a few moments he nodded,
"alright, if you say so."
Logan looked up at the Latino and smiled softly.
"Now what did you ask me?"
At the mention of his suggestion Carlos' demeanour immediately brightened.
"Oh right, well I was wondering if maybe you'd like to come sit with me and my friends at lunch time? I thought you'd like the company?"
Logan pretended to consider the proposition for a moment, weighing it up as if he had some other choice.
"Alright" he answered, "I'd love to."
Carlos was positively bouncing up and down in his seat, grinning manically.
"Really?"
Logan rolled his eyes.
"Yes! I promise I'll be there!"
"Awesome!"
Carlos jumped from his seat and went to dash off in the direction of the library exit. But before he could take more than two steps Logan asked a sudden question that had the Latino come to a stop.
"This means we're friends right?"
Carlos turned and furrowed his eyebrows, answering with a smile.
"Yes Logan, I think this means we're friends."
It was safe to say that Logan Mitchell had never really had a friend before. In the space of about ten minutes the brunette had been bombarded with three very different pieces of information. Kendall had him in a position he couldn't possibly back out of, someone, somewhere in the school held romantically inclined feelings for him, and that now he had at least one person he could safely call a friend. At the sound of the bell Logan left the library, worried, curious and excited.
Gym.
Logan loathed the class and all its occupants, ditsy girls that had their eyes glued to their phone all lesson and Neanderthal boys that Logan believed must be the missing link between man and ape. They had all gathered around Coach Wilson at one end of the gymnasium, Logan hanging at the back of the group, waiting impatiently for a bell he knew wouldn't sound for another hour.
"Alright," began the Coach gruffly, "today we'll be beginning volleyball, we'll start with a few serving techniques."
In the next ten minutes Coach Wilson demonstrated several different serving techniques, all of which Logan knew he wouldn't be able to successfully do. Being in the gym brought back memories of his first meeting with Kendall, where the green-eyed boy had pitched his idea of blackmailing Logan into helping him pass finals. With a bitter smile Logan thought that if Kendall had just simply asked, he probably would have done it willingly.
Everything was so much more complicated than it needed to be.
"Mitchell! Logan Mitchell!"
The brunette was pulled from his reverie by the Coach's shouts. Every member of the class had their eyes turned on him, the girls smiling with venom, boys sneering down at him with contempt.
"Y-yes?" Answered Logan unsurely, trying his best to ignore the other students.
"Logan I asked if you'd like to help me demonstrate how to do a topspin serve?"
Logan knew he didn't have a choice so he nodded timidly, his classmates parting as he stepped forward to join the coach. As he passed the last of the students he felt his feet get caught up in something and when he looked back Logan saw the smirk on the face of one of the tall, athletic boys; Jett, his name may have been. Before Logan had a chance to react the floor rushed up to meet him, the two colliding with a pained grunt from Logan. For a moment the class was completely silent, Logan simply lying on the linoleum floor. But that moment passed quickly and within seconds every member of the class was in hysterics, people supporting one another as they all gasped for air between manic laughs.
Struggling up to his feet Logan looked around himself, at the taunting and mocking laughs, at the accusatory fingers pointed and jabbed at him. He turned to Coach Wilson, who simply stood there with a cocked eyebrow, a small and amused smile tugging at his lips. The sounds of the snickers and sniggers were overwhelming; Logan stumbled away from the clustered group; his eyes meeting those of Jett's for a spilt second. In that second his saw the malice and hatred that those eyes bore, that Jett bore for Logan.
"That's right, run fag!"
The words hit Logan like a gunshot, knocking him to the ground again. At this the class broke down into another bout of hysterics, Coach Wilson joining them. Tears stung the brunette's eyes as he got to his feet, running blindly towards the gym's exit, streams of tears prickling the soft skin of his cheeks. Never, in all his life had anyone at school ever said a word against Logan; but something had changed, everything had escalated; everything was getting worse. Not only did people ignore him; they also hated him.
Kendall had been right after all.
Lunch swung around in quick procession, Carlos barrelling into the cafeteria, eager for Logan's arrival. Midway to his table Carlos was stopped by a gaggle of girls who looked to be no older than fifteen.
"You must be Carlos" said the girl who appeared to be leading them, a blonde wearing about six inches of makeup.
"I'm Jennifer" she fluttered her eyelashes dramatically and leant forward, the five odd girls behind her whispering and giggling all the while.
"You know" she continued, taking a predatory step forward, running a finger down Carlos' arm in what he guessed was supposed to be a seductive fashion,
"you're really hot."
Carlos took a step back, grimacing as he looked for someone to rescue him.
"I think we'd make a great couple…" she drawled, pursing her heavily chapped lips.
"Sorry" said Carlos apologetically, backing away, "I'm taken; I've got a boyfriend."
Before Jennifer could reply Carlos dashed off to the safety of his usual lunch table, glaring at the amused expressions of his friends.
"Got cornered by the Jennifers and their gang huh?" Questioned Lucy with a grin.
"Shut up" answered Carlos, turning away from her. He scanned the cafeteria crowd for Logan but saw no sign of the brunette.
"So what did you say to escape them?" Asked Camille curiously, leaning in for an answer.
"Well I said-"
Carlos, on recollecting the encounter realised exactly what he'd said.
"Oh God I'm stupid" he muttered, shaking his head with a groan, "I'm so stupid!"
"What is it?" Camille and Lucy asked in unison, Jo and Kendall now picking up on the threads of the conversation.
"What's going on?" Asked Kendall, looking from the eager faces of Lucy and Camille to the pained face of Carlos.
"I'm stupid" moaned the Latino, slamming his forehead against the table.
"Carlos is stupid" offered James, looking up from his handheld mirror, as he brushed aside a stray strand of hair.
Before anyone could provide any extra explanation Logan arrived at the table, hesitantly tapping Carlos on the shoulder.
Carlos turned and looked up, his frown transforming into a smile the moment his registered the presence as Logan's.
"Logan, come sit down!"
"Carlos, is it okay if I just talk to you for a second?"
The Latino stood up slowly, nodding,
"sure" he said, "of course."
Logan drew him aside, out of earshot of the others, the Latino noticing how Logan's eyes were glued to those of Kendall's.
"What's up Logan?" he asked in concern.
Abruptly tears sprung to Logan's eyes, the brunette choking back a sob,
"is it okay if I come over your house after school?"
Carlos struggled to refrain himself from taking the vulnerable looking boy into an embrace, to whisper soothing words into his ear. But all he could do as he looked around at the crowded area was say,
"yeah Logan, of course you can."
By the way, if anyone is interested I will have a Supernatural fanfiction up in the near future, and if you have no idea what Supernatural is do yourself a favour and watch it because its quite the amazing one :)