Of the Past

-For 2 kool 2 spell 'kool' right-

Nothing could have prepared him for the shock of his life. He grew up without feeling compassion and he was never wanted besides his best friends, but even then Logan Mitchell doubted their loyalty. Kendall Knight was the leader of their quartet and he was also the protector. There had been numerous amounts of times when he protected Carlos Garcia, a fellow friend, from bullies picking on him during school. He was laid back and down to earth, something that Logan could only dream of being. Carlos was a small ball of energy that always ran around getting himself into trouble or injured. He was happy the majority of the time and it was rare that anyone saw a frown on his face. The last member of the group, James Diamond, was vain beyond belief. He thought he was the most amazingly good-looking guy on the planet and had the best voice as well. Kendall, Carlos, and Logan believed in James' confidence that one day he would become famous, but they always made sure that he stayed grounded and that his ego didn't expand too much.

On the other hand, Logan was pragmatic and thought through everything with logic and figured out the consequences beforehand instead of just having fun. He used to be carefree and allowed his instincts to take over, but that was before his father began abusing him.

It started when Logan was nine and he came home from school with a deep cut on his knee. John Mitchell was anything but happy when he saw the cut. John yelled at Logan that he couldn't be reckless and injure himself. He had said that Kendall, James, and Carlos were bad influences on him. "If you want to be hurt so badly Logan, then I'll do it for you," John screamed as his fist collided with Logan's jaw. That was when it began.

Kendall always questioned Logan and kept persisting even when Logan clearly stated that it was nothing. Logan didn't want Kendall to get the police involved. It was a one-time thing and John hadn't hit Logan for the next month. Carlos and James were silent about it and didn't press the matter fully aware that Logan would tell them when he was ready to tell them. After a month since the first bruise appeared, Logan showed up at school with a nasty black eye and a cut lip. Kendall blew ballistic and screamed in Logan's face about it. He just didn't understand why Logan wouldn't tell him how he was getting hurt. Kendall never believed the stories of falling down the stairs or tripping over the rug.

Logan ignored Kendall for the following week after crying himself to sleep that night. To have Kendall yell at him like that broke something within Logan. Having John use him as a human punching bag wasn't nearly as bad as having his best friend scream at him and constantly push the subject when Logan just wanted it dropped. James and Carlos were the only ones that Logan spoke to both inside and outside of school. Kendall sort of became a fourth wheel when they would hang out, James and Carlos having been angry at Kendall for yelling at Logan.

The beatings continued even after Logan began high school. He joined the ice hockey team and received bruises from that which prompted John to hit him more. Logan's mother really had nothing to say on the matter and would occasionally backhand Logan as well. She said that he deserved discipline and this was their method of straightening his act. John and Laura didn't want their son to become involved with alcohol, drugs, or sex. They wanted him to grow up to be a perfect role model of a doctor.

That was why Logan welcomed the change LA brought when him, Kendall, James, and Carlos moved to LA to record a demo for Gustavo Rocque. He was able to start a new life and leave the abuse behind in Minnesota. Logan relaxed in the warm weather, allowing the sun to melt away all the tension that built up over the years. For once Kendall dropped the subject of Logan's mysterious bruises and never mentioned them again much to Logan's delight.

It was about a year after Logan, Kendall, James, and Carlos moved to the Palm Woods that Logan met Leanne Case, an aspiring musician. She had black cropped hair with edgy side bangs. Her eyes were a deep green that masked the internal warfare like the canopy of the forest. She was petite and slender with full curves and a sun-kissed tan. Leanne was introduced to the guys, Camille, Jo, and Guitar Dude at a bonfire by Kelly Wainright, who had dropped Leanne off at the Palm Woods. Kelly explained that Leanne was going to be the new guitarist for the band and would help lay down tracks with Gustavo. She left immediately afterwards, leaving Leanne to fend for herself. Camille, being the overly friendly person she was, offered Leanne a seat next to her and struck up a conversation.

"Hi, I'm Camille. It's nice to meet you," she said with a large smile.

"Leanne, pleasure," the black-haired girl replied hesitantly. Leanne was extremely introverted and never was well with meeting new people, but once she actually knew the person, she was loud and easy-going. Camille was pretty with long, brown hair and a beauty mark above her lip. Next to her sat a small blonde with wide eyes and a soft smile. Another blonde sat next to her, but he had shaggy hair, green eyes, and a large smirk on his lips. Beside him was a tall brunette, his bangs hanging over his eyes. He was wearing a wife beater that showed off his toned biceps and tanned skin. He was absolutely gorgeous and Leanne found herself swooning slightly on the inside. Sitting next to the brunette was a guy with wild hair and a guitar in his lap. Despite the fact that it was night he was wearing sunglasses and he seemed pretty chill. A small Latino with a black helmet was next to him talking animatedly to a lean, pale-skinned brunette to his right. His hair was black and spiked up in the front, but it looked soft and clean compared to gelled and stiff. His eyes were a deep brown and a coy smirk played along the corner of his lips.

"This is Jo," Camille said motioning to the small blonde next to her, "then Kendall, Jo's boyfriend, James, Guitar Dude, Carlos, and lastly Logan." Leanne nodded and waved slightly at the group before everyone resumed their previous conversations. Camille caught Leanne glancing at Logan. "He's single if that's what you're wondering."

"What?" Leanne snapped her head to face Camille, a large smile present on her lips.

"I see you looking over at him. He's my ex-boyfriend, but don't worry you can totally have him," she whispered into Leanne's ear. "Besides, he seems to keep looking at you as well."

"WHAT?" Leanne screamed as she fell off the edge of the seat and onto the concrete. Camille started laughing as did most of the people at the pool. Logan chuckled before standing up and walking over to where she had fallen. He stretched out his hand and smiled.

"Need help?" Blushing, Leanne gratefully accepted Logan's hand and stood up, their hands remaining in a tight grip. Leanne bit her bottom lip as she felt a shiver rip up her spine. Her heart began pounding against her rib cage. She tentatively looked up into Logan's eyes and froze. Logan was looking intensely at her, a myriad of emotions floating in his eyes. Forgetting that they were in the middle of the pool area, Logan bent down and pressed his lips against Leanne's in a gentle, but full of passion kiss. Leanne wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his body flush against her own. Logan's grip on Leanne's waist tightened as he swept his tongue along her lips, gently prodding them apart.

"Yeah, go Logan!" The two broke away from each other, a deep blush coating their cheeks. James was wolf whistling while Carlos and Guitar Dude sat there with stupid grins. Kendall and Jo were smiling and Camille had her mouth hanging open. Leanne gulped and stared at Camille. Although she said that Leanne was free to go after Logan, Leanne couldn't help but feel as though Camille was still in love with Logan. Shaking her head with tears in her eyes, Leanne briskly walked away from the group ignoring the calls for her to return.

She found herself walking through the park with her head hung low and guilt weighing heavily on her shoulders. She couldn't believe that Logan had kissed her. Don't get her wrong, she never felt anything as invigorating as that kiss, but the look of Camille's face was one of betrayal and downright hurt. Leanne sat down against a tree trunk and stared up at the stars, or what few she could see. The sound of footsteps brought her attention to her right, her head lolling to the side and bangs flopping in her eyes. Logan stood there awkwardly with his hands shoved into his front pockets.

Logan had followed Leanne to the park and stood off to the side. He decided to kiss her on impulse and he never felt anything like it, not even when he was dating Camille. The look Camille threw in Leanne's direction was uncalled for especially after she told Leanne that he was single and that she should go for it. Why encourage her then make her feel guilty? The main reason that his relationship with Camille failed was because she used to slap him all the time and it brought him back to his childhood. Logan promised himself that he wouldn't allow himself to fall victim to the abuse anymore.

"Leanne, are you alright?" She sighed and nodded.

"Yeah, sorry," she said while looking out across the park. Logan knelt in front of her and held her chin, forcing her to look at him.

"You have nothing to apologize for. Camille shouldn't have told you that I was single and to pursue me if she was going to get jealous," he stated softly. Leanne felt her face heat up. Had Logan heard her conversation with Camille? Logan chuckled at the red blush creeping over her cheeks and across the bridge of her nose. Smiling, he leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers briefly before pulling away. "There's something about you that just draws me in and I can't explain it. I want an explanation, that's just how I am, but maybe I'll learn to just let it go."

"Logan, I need to tell you something if we're going to try a relationship," Leanne whispered, her eyes beginning to tear and voice catching in her throat. Taking a deep breath she continued, "I was abused sexually as a child. I'm not going to be ready to be intimate with you right away." Leanne looked down ashamed. For a reason that she didn't understand, Leanne was attracted to Logan on a high level. She had the butterflies in her stomach and her heart was racing. Logan's expression softened.

"I was abused by my parents. They used to hit me because I would get bruises from hockey or playing with Kendall, James, and Carlos. They saw it as an excuse to hit me saying, 'If you want to hurt yourself so badly Logan, then I'll do it for you.' Then my father began hitting me and about a few months later my mother began. That's why I came to LA with my friends: to have a new beginning. I understand that you need time and I'm willing to wait. Our pasts are the past and we need to learn to leave them behind. I'll help you if you help me," Logan said, a wide smirk on his lips.

"It's a deal," she quietly responded prior to kissing Logan again, her hands running to the nape of his neck as he wrapped his arms around her waist.