*James's P.O.V*

"That's it for today, guys. See you all tomorrow."

I sighed with disappointment. I sat on the bright orange couch of the living room set.

It was only 4. I wasn't ready to go home. My mom wasn't expecting me home until 9. I might get in trouble if I came home too early…

"James?" I snapped back to reality and looked up. Logan was in front of me. "You OK?"

I wiped my palms on my knees. "Yeah, yeah," I said, "just don't wanna go home yet."

"Why not?" he asked as he sat beside me. "Most people can't wait to get off set."

I shrugged. "I like it here. My house is a little-" I paused trying to find the right word "-crazy."

Logan was confused. "But isn't it just you and your mom?"

I nodded. "Still. Crazy."

He didn't press on.

"So," he said, "what are you doing tonight?"

"My mom isn't expecting me home till 9, so I'm not sure."

"Wanna hang out until then?"

I looked up at him. I hadn't stayed at a friend's house in almost six years. I slowly nodded.

"But my mom can't find out," I said quickly.

"Why no-?"

"She just can't." I stood up.

Logan stood up, too. "Let's go get something to eat and head over to my place."

Logan went to the drive through at Burger King.

"What do you want to eat?"

"I don't know," I said. "I haven't eaten here in years." Honestly, I can't even remember the last time I had a full meal.

"Really?" Logan asked. "That's so weird. I eat here all the time."

"My mom doesn't really like fast food," I lied. She only allows herself to eat it. "She's very picky."

I could tell by the look on Logan's face that he knew something was up. I could tell he wanted to ask me a lot of questions.

"What happened there?" Logan pointed to a long scar on my arm. It ran from my wrist to my elbow.

My mind raced to find an excuse.

"James," Logan said softly, "you didn't do that to yourself, did you?"

"What? N-no," I stuttered. "Of course not."

"James, you can tell me the truth," he said.

"No I can't," I responded. I instantly regretted it. "I can't tell anybody."

"Why not?"

I ignored him and glanced at the clock. It was 8:50. "Crap! I have to get home!" I jumped up and ran out the door. Logan followed.

"James, calm down," Logan said as he turned onto my street.

"You don't understand," I said desperately. "I have to be in my house by nine o'clock."

"Will you really be in that much trouble if you're two minutes late?" he asked.

I nodded. I started at the clock and watched it change from 8:59 to 9:00. I didn't wait for Logan's' car to stop completely before I jumped out and ran to my door. I thought I had successfully gotten into the house unnoticed until I heard my mom's voice from down the hall.

"James Diamond!"

*Logan's P.O.V*

"See you tomorrow!" I yelled to James as he jumped out of my car. He didn't respond. He just shut the door and ran up to his house. I sighed and drove off.

Something was seriously wrong with James. He panicked when I asked him about his scar. There were so many on his arm… He had to have done it. There has to be a way to get the truth out of him.

I called Kendall as soon as I got home.

"I mean, haven't you noticed something odd about him?" I asked.

"Well, yeah," Kendall answered. "The kid has a ton of scars and bruises. There's no way he got them all from falling."

"And tonight he was panicking because he wasn't in his house by nine," I said. "He said he'd get in a lot of trouble even if he was only two minutes late.

Kendall was silent for a minute. "You don't think he's being abused, do you?"

I almost dropped my phone. That thought hadn't even crossed my mind. "It would explain the bruises."

"And the scars."

I sighed. "I have to get the truth out of him." I heard Kendall sigh, too. "Anyways, I'll let you go. Thanks for talking to me."

"Anytime, Logan."

I threw my phone on the bed and started pacing. So many thoughts were running through my head.

"Dammit," I muttered. "So much for getting sleep tonight."

"You look like a wreck," the makeup artist complained the next morning. "Start sleeping at night, Logan."

When she walked away, Kendall spoke up. "You look tired, bro."

"I was up all night thinking about James," I yawned.

"That's a little weird," Carlos laughed.

I pushed his shoulder. "Not like that, freak."

I looked up to see James and his mom walk in. I jumped up and walked towards him.

"He missed the bus, so I brought him," his mom explained. "He didn't sleep well last night. He fell down the stairs."

"Hey, James," I said as I reached him.

He looked up and I gasped quietly. His lip was swollen. There was a huge purple and black bruise on his cheek. A small, but sad, smile lit up his face. "Hey, Logan."

His mom turned to walk away, but I stopped her. "Wait, Mrs. Diamond?"

"Yes?"

"I'm Logan," I said. She nodded. "Mrs. Diamond, I was wondering… Is there any way that James can stay the night tonight?" James's jaw dropped. "He can borrow some of my clothes."

James's mom glanced at James. "Would you like to stay at Logan's house, James?" she asked. He nodded shyly. She turned back to me with a fake smile on her face. "Then, of course! James can stay the night with you as long as you have him home by noon." Her eyes hardened.

I glanced over at James. He was shocked. "Y-yes, ma'am. I'll have him home by noon."

"I'll see you tomorrow, then, James."

*James's P.O.V*

I watched my mom walk away. Did that really just happen?

"James," Logan said softly. I looked up at him. "James, what happened?"

"I fell down my stairs," I half whispered.

"No, you didn't," he said coldly.

He grabbed my arm and pulled me towards his dressing room. I could feel Kendall watching us. He shut the door behind him and locked it.

"Logan, wh-"

"Stop lying," he demanded.

"I'm not lying," I said.

"Dammit, James, yes you are," he said. He sighed and softly ran his hand over my cheek. "Is this my fault? Did this happen because I made you late?"

I didn't answer. I couldn't tell him that he was right. I couldn't tell him that my mom punched me because he didn't get me home on time. Tears were threatening to fall. I could feel my wall crumbling.

"James, you can be honest with me." He put his hand on my shoulder and my wall fell. I collapsed into his arms crying.

**Author's note:

Sorry it took so long to update! I'm still not so sure where this story is going, but I'm working on it! :) I'll get chapter 3 written as fast as possible!

-Xoxo L