Chapter 16
James opened the wooden door hesitantly. What had happened with Kendall to make him so vulnerable, so not Kendall? James had never seen Kendall so depressed before. Kendall was always the one comforting them, never the other way around. But James found that maybe; just maybe, Carlos would have to say something to Kendall to make their leader better again. James just hoped that Carlos would say the right thing. He knew he himself wouldn't be able to.
"Logan?" James saw Logan look. For some reason, Logan looked different. There was something about him that didn't seem as innocent and as modest as it was before. Logan was always the level headed one. But right now, James thought that Logan looked as crazy as ever.
"How are you?" James asked. Logan stared at James's head and didn't respond.
"Dude, what's wrong?" Logan shook his head, glaring at James's… hair? James's eyebrows furrowed together in confusion. What was Logan doing?
"How?" James looked back up at Logan, who finally decided to speak up.
"How… what?" James asked, wanting Logan to elaborate. Logan was never as blunt as he was being at this moment. He would always say everything in detail.
"How can you love it so much?" Logan continued, being as confusing as ever. James sighed, taking Logan's face into his hands.
"What's wrong, Logie?" James whispered, brushing his fingers tentatively against Logan's cheek. Logan suddenly made a strange noise in his throat, and shook James hand off his face.
"How can you love you stupid hair so much?" Logan cried, practically shouting. James recoiled, surprised and hurt at the statement. What was Logan talking about? His hair had nothing to do with this.
"Logan, you're-"
Logan coughed. "No, you're the crazy one! You're the one who suggested the game, James! Why didn't we just go exploring the nature or something James? We could've played that game anywhere else in the world. But you didn't want to explore the nature, huh James? You thought you were too pretty for that!" Logan cried, angry tears forming in his eyes.
"Logan, I didn't-" But Logan didn't want to hear it.
"You just think that you're the best thing there is! You think you're prettier than anything, James! Let me just tell you, you're not!" Logan shouted angrily.
James stood agape, feeling hurt and betrayed. No one had ever insulted him like that before. It wasn't the ugly part; James didn't care at this moment how he looked; but it was the part that Logan had said it to him. Logan didn't insult anyone, so if Logan insulted him, then that must really mean that he was just a self-conceited freak.
"Logan…" James trailed off, not knowing what to say.
"You know what, James? Back off, okay?"
Suddenly, something flickered inside of James. He felt anger, hatred, for whoever it was laying on the hospital bed. James's breathing started getting heavier and heavier, until he raised a fist and whammed it against Logan's face. When he pulled back, he saw that he'd made a bruise on Logan's cheek. But he didn't care.
"Did you just… punch me?" Logan said, he voice getting higher. James nodded. He was going to say more, but just then, he felt something connect with his eye. Logan's fist.
When Logan pulled back, James swallowed his pain and held his eye with his hand. Logan punched him. He punched him! Logan never hurt a soul before… he'd never even kill a mosquito if it was biting his arm off. But here he was, punching a human in the face. And more so, punching James's face. His best friend since who knows when.
"I can't believe you, Mitchell." James said in anger, wanting to throw more punches. But Logan was already in the hospital, and no matter how angry James was at Logan, he wasn't going to hurt his friend anymore.
"You're lucky you're practically living in a hospital." James said quietly, glaring at Logan and walking right out of the room. Just as Kendall had. He could feel anger boiling inside of him, and he was glad that he was done with Logan for now.
Kendall stood up quickly when James came stomping towards them. "What happened, dude?" Kendall asked with concern. James shrugged, and quickly sat down next to Kendall. If he couldn't control his anger, he would rather punch Kendall than Carlos. Kendall could take it, but Carlos couldn't. Kendall was the strongest out of their group, other than James, of course. James's punch would probably be dodged. James just hoped that didn't have to happen.
"Logan's is such an idiot!" James cried, starting to cool down. Now he felt betrayed, hurt, sad, worried, all at the same time. How could Logan just say that to him? Without thinking it first? Logan always thought before he spoke. But not this time.
"Litos, why don't you go in now?" Kendall urged Carlos gently. Carlos nodded, looking at James with a cautious and fearful look in his eyes. He slowly turned and walked in the hospital, worrying about James.
When Carlos closed the door, Kendall turned to James. "Details. Now." He demanded. James would've laughed at how protective Kendall was being at that moment. But he just couldn't. What just happened shook him up.
"He punched me." James said, his voice shaking. Kendall's eyes widened.
"Logan?" James nodded, clenching his fists together.
"This is my fault, isn't it? If I hadn't suggested it, then…"
"Dude, why would you think that?" Kendall asked, his green eyes staring into James's.
James told Kendall about what Logan had said to him.
"Logan said that?" Kendall confirmed with a disbelieving look on his face. James nodded.
"I just can't believe this is still the Logan we've known since kindergarten. That hurt me, Kendall. I can't believe I'm like that. I'm disgusting." James said, his voice shaking. He blinked back tears of shame. He was a fool to think that he was ever pretty at all. Look where that led him.
"Oh, James, don't listen to him… I think Logan's just… affected by all of this. He'll be good in no time. You're the most caring and kind person I've ever known. Yes, you're sometimes in love with yourself, but when your friend is in need, you step right up and help them. Remember that time Logan was sick, and so you stayed home from your date with the hottest girl in school?"
James smiled, remembering the incident. He had no problem ditching the girl for Logan.
Kendall continued. "Or that time that hockey player was bullying Carlos and you stepping in to take the punch? And you ended up with a black eye?"
"Or when I was depressed when my dad, you know… and you gave up that trip to go see male models just so you could attend my dad's funeral?"
James smiled slightly. "Yeah, but you guys mean the world to me. More than my hair ever would." He admitted.
Kendall nodded. "That's pretty awesome to me, James. That's pretty darn caring for someone who thinks that their disgusting." He smirked, sensing that James was getting encouraged.
"And you know what, James? If Logan says you're not pretty, then he's completely wrong. Logan is wrong for once in his life. But James, you're beautiful on the outside and the inside. I don't mean it like I wanna kiss you or do something gay like that. But seriously, if you don't have pretty hair, you've definetly got a pretty heart."
James thought about it for a while. No matter what, he'd always have a pretty heart to Kendall. And that's all that mattered at that moment. "You know, Kendall, you always know just what to say. Thanks." Kendall just shrugged indifferently.
"It's my job." He stated as though it were obvious.
"Hey, since Logan hurt you, and me, then don't you think he'd hurt Carlos, too?" James suddenly said out of the blue.
"Yeah… let's go check on them." Kendall suggested. The two boys got up and walked into the room where Logan was slowly turning into a different person.
A/N- Will they be on time? The suspense, peeps… Love it!
So… I've got seriously awesome and angst plans for this story… and let me just say, one of the boys (not including Logan) will soon be in some serious trouble. Let me just say that! ;)
Thanks everyone for the awesome review! I love them so much! Please keep them going!
Peace, Love, and GIRAFFES! :0
Anonymous Skrtle