Chapter 18 On the Road
It's been five days since three women talked in the Knight kitchen and came up with a plan. A plan that would reunite their four boys so they could become whole again.
They needed to hurry. Because soon school was starting again and they agreed on one thing; none of the boys were staying here. Things couldn't go on. Logan couldn't start prep school and get forced into making new friends. James could not start home schooling and become hidden and locked away forever. And Kendall and Carlos needed to be able to spend time together, without people watching them constantly or trying to force them to go back to the way they were. They needed time and space to heal with the four of them. The women knew exactly how to give it to them.
This was why Katie Knight finds herself climbing the large tree just outside of Logan Mitchell's bedroom window. She is as quiet as possible, making sure not to alarm his parents, who are quietly reading in the living room downstairs. As she finally reaches the top branch, she takes a small pebble out of her pocket and carefully throws it at the window.
It bounces off the glass with a small bump. Katie waits for a moment and watches the room for any movement. She frowns when she sees no one. She sighs and throws another pebble, with more force now. Last chance.
She almost yells out in glee when she suddenly sees a shape sitting upright from the bed underneath the window. She nearly gasps when he turns towards the glass and meets her eyes. This was Logan? The heavy bags underneath his red, tired eyes shows her he needs this escape, more than anything. He frowns when he sees her and looks around for a moment, almost scared that his parents could walk in any second. She motions for him to open the window. He gulps, but then hesitantly moves forward and slides the glass upwards.
He takes in a deep breath of fresh air and Katie wonders for a moment how long it's been since he's been outside at all. But she snaps out of it when she remembers why she came.
"Hey Logan." She quietly says with a small smile. He smiles back slightly, his eyes showing how happy he is to see a familiar face.
"What are you doing here?" He almost whispers. She nearly winces at how careful he is being. It makes her feel so angry for his parents to lock him in here like a criminal. She wishes she could just take him with her right now. But that's not part of the plan. It would ruin everything.
"I uh, I came to give you this." She replies after a moment and pulls a piece of paper out her pocket. "Don't read it right now, just wait until I'm gone." She tells him as she reaches out to hand him the letter. He takes it with trembling hands. He sends another questioning look her way as he holds the folded piece. "It's going to be okay, Logan. Everything is going to be okay." Is the last thing she whispers to him, when she hurries down the branches.
He heard his mother's voice down the hall just as clearly, but he wishes she could have stayed. He had longed for anyone to talk to for so long now. Just a familiar face. It was all he wanted. He watches her with sad eyes as she hurries back to her own house. She looks back one more time and smiles at him with a nod. He looks at the folded piece of paper in his hands again and he suddenly believes her words. Her promise; everything will be okay.
Before reading it, he quickly stuffs the paper in his back pocket as his mother opens his bedroom door.
"Logan, I was calling you. You didn't answer." She scolds slightly as she watches the open window curiously.
"I'm sorry, mother. I felt really warm suddenly, so I opened the window for some fresh air. I guess the noise from traffic kept me form hearing you." He answers with a polite smile. She looks suspicious, but lets it slide.
"Just come downstairs in one hour, okay? The Goldman's are coming over. Their son will be going to Oakdale as well and he is dying to meet you. Just think about it; your first real friend." She says, her smile growing with excitement for her son, before silently closing the door behind her.
He smiles back politely as his fingers fish out the letter out of his pocket. He sits on his bed while slowly unfolding
The next house to be visited is the Diamond mansion. Luckily, James isn't in lock down like Logan is. But it still isn't easy to get past the front door.
"I'm sorry, Katie. James just isn't ready for visitors right now." Brooke Diamond politely smiles as she tries to close the door. But young Katie is not backing down and quickly puts her foot in between the door. Brooke looks at her in disbelief. When did everyone stop listening to her?
"Mrs. Diamond, I know you think James doesn't want to see anyone, but please, I just need to talk to him. It'll only take a minute." She stubbornly says as Brooke tries to close the door again.
"Katie, I said no. He is not ready for visitors!" Brooke argues as the two women battle the door.
Neither notices James as he stands behind his mother, watching with a frown as she struggles to close the door. But when Katie is close enough to stick her head through the door opening, she breaks out into a smile.
"James! I'm so glad to see you!" He almost smiles back, but covers it up quickly and puts a scowl back on his face. "James, I need to talk to you. I uh, I need some advice. Please, I can't ask anyone else. You're the only one with an actual fashion sense." Katie pleads. James frowns at this. She's clearly lying right now. But he hears the urgency in her voice.
"Mom, it's okay. Just let me talk to her." He quietly says. His mother looks up in disbelief.
"James, I don't think that's a good idea." She immediately says, still firmly holding the door. He strides over and puts one hand on the door himself.
"Just give us a minute." He says, a stern look in his eyes. His mother wants to argue, but she doesn't need her son even madder at her. So she sighs and lets go of the door, walking away.
James sighs and stands halfway in the door, clearly not wanting to open it further. Katie again tries not to gasp when she takes in her fourth brother. He looks nothing like "The Face" anymore. His hair is shorter than she remembers, looking messy, unkempt, and lifeless. His clothes are baggy, not matching. He looks like he completely gave up.
He looks smaller, thinner, weaker than she remembers. This is not James. She hasn't noticed how long she's been staring when he suddenly coughs slightly and closer the door a little further.
"How uh, how are you?" She quietly asks. He looks down, embarrassed now. Again, large bags are visible under his eyes. She wonders if all the guys share the same nightmares every night.
"Why are you here, Katie?" He asks her. She is taken aback at that. She thought he'd be happy to see her. But he sounds so tired, defeated.
"I uh… I came to give you this." She says after she pulls herself together again and pulls a second letter out of her pocket. "Read it when you're by yourself and please, James. Don't give up. Everything is going to be okay. I promise." She offers with the same promise and smile she gave Logan. But the hopefulness she saw appear in the smart boy's eyes is not visible at all right now.
"What is this? This is why you're here? Just to give me some stupid letter?" He asks as he holds the piece of paper and waves it around.
"James, just read it, please." She tells him as she eyes the form of Brooke Diamond watching them from the kitchen. He huffs.
"What is so interesting about this damn letter?" James asks her angrily with a strange grin.
"James, I'm begging you, just read it. It's really important. I know you're tired and that you're ready to give up, but help is on the way." She whispers the last part to him and he frowns. "Everything is going to be okay." She whispers again and another emotion shows in his eyes. He eyes the letter in his hands. He looks up to say something, but the young teen is already gone.
He slowly closes the door, keeping his eyes on the letter.
"What's that?" His mother asks from the kitchen. His eyes shoot up and he annoyingly shakes his head. He rolls his eyes and heads for the staircase. "James, I asked you a question."
He ignores his mother's calls and heads for his bedroom. Unbelievable how she doesn't trust anything he does. He angrily slams the door behind him and lies down on his bed.
How dare Katie look at him like that? With so much pity? And then accuse him of giving up. He didn't give up. He just…
He sighs and punches a pillow beside him. He holds up his hand and once again eyes the folded paper in his hands. He sits up and slowly unfolds it.
It's 4AM on Sunday when a window slowly slides open without a sound. A bag comes barreling out, and whispered cursing follows the slight Banging sound the bag makes when it hits the ground. A dark figure sticks his head out the window quickly, looking around to see if anyone reacts. He sighs a sigh of relief. Nothing.
Slowly and carefully he starts to maneuver himself out of the window and towards the tree branch next to his window. He nearly falls, but he manages to grip onto the branch securely, before climbing down as silently as possible. At the last moment, he drops himself to the ground, landing on his feet next to his bag. He looks up at his house quickly once again. But this time his eyes show small guilt.
"I'm sorry…" He whispers, before he grabs his bag and sneaks out of the font yard towards another house.
He walks up towards the door and nervously holds up his hand, before dropping it again. He used to come over here all the time. But it's been so long and things are so weird now… Did he used to knock before or ring the doorbell? Wait, they had a doorbell?
As he ponders this, he doesn't notice the door opening. He finally looks up and his brown eyes meet green eyes with bushy eyebrows.
"Hey, Kendall." He quietly whispers. Never before has there been this much tension between them. Neither teen knows what to say as they stand in the doorway quietly.
"Logan, you made it!" Katie quietly exclaims as she pushes Kendall out of the way and pulls Logan into a hug. Logan smiles fondly, but tenses up a little. He awkwardly pats the girl's back.
Katie lets go and quickly looks outside from left to right, before closing the door.
"Mom, look, Logan's here!" She quietly calls out as she rushes into the living room. Jennifer Knight walks over quickly and her eyes tear up as she sees Logan nervously holding his bag. She rushes over and envelops him in her arms right away. He doesn't know how to react at first, but he soon puts his arms around her as well and tries not to fall apart on the spot.
It's been so long since he has been held like that, loved like that. He can't help but let tears fall from his eyes and get lost in the loving embrace.
Mrs. Knight holds him quietly and rubs his back as he quietly cries in her arms. She tries to keep in her own tears as she holds the fragile boy.
When he finally calms down, she lets go and looks at him with a loving smile.
"I'm sorry…" He whispers as she wipes his tears away. He looks down in embarrassment.
"Don't be, sweetie." She tells him, shaking her head. "Don't ever feel sorry for showing your emotions, Logan. I'm just glad you're here." She tells him and she pulls him in for a final hug.
He sniffles a little once she lets him go and he gives her a grateful smile. He looks around and sees Kendall nervously watching him from the door.
"How are you, Kendall?" he asks quietly, but Kendall's eyes just grow wide and he quickly hurries away. Logan sighs, closing his eyes dejectedly.
"Logan, I am so glad you came." Katie tells him excitedly. "I knew you would."
He smiles slightly. "Yeah, well. There's only so much I can take of my parent's parties." Katie grins. "So uh, is it just me and Kendall?" He asks nervously.
"Nope. I gave James a letter too. He should be here any minute." She says with a determined look. Logan smiles.
"But wait, just James? Not Carlos?" He asks with a slight frown and some worry. Katie just grins.
"No need. Come on, I'll show you." She grabs his hand and pulls him into the living room. He nervously glances around and stops moving when he sees Carlos and his mother sitting on the couch, a suitcase on the floor beside them.
"He's been coming over since about a week now. He's been playing video games with Kendall." She informs him. Logan smiles slightly, but its no longer real. Yes, he is happy that Kendall and Carlos seem to be doing better. But it would feel a lot better if he was included and if Kendall didn't shy away from him every time he saw him. He watches Carlos and even though he hopes there is a glimmer of his old friend on the couch, all he sees is emptiness with a dark shell.
"Okay, guys, we really should go now if we want to get there in time." Jennifer Knight announces. Logan and Kendall both look at her with scared eyes.
"But James…" Kendall quietly starts as he looks at the door, as if longing it will open right then.
"I'm sorry, honey. But we can't wait. We have to go before sunrise, before everyone starts to wake up." She tells him and squeezes his shoulder lovingly. Her heart breaks at the hurt in his eyes.
"We can't go without him, mom. We can't." He tells her, his eyes pleading, hoping. She shakes her head and gathers him into her arms. He lays his head on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart. I guess he just needs more time." She whispers to him. She feels him nod sadly and lets go of him. He looks at the ground and as she looks at Logan, his eyes are just as sad. "Well, come on guys. We should really go now." She says as she walks towards the door with her own bag and opens it.
Sylvia also stands now and tries to pull Carlos up with her. But without a word he stands up himself and walks out the door. She sighs, but grabs his suitcase and pulls it towards the door quietly. Katie quickly follows, looking excited and even trying to get Carlos excited as well.
This leaves Logan and Kendall as they stand in the small hallway. They both look at the floor, not really sure of what to say.
"So uh, you want to..." But Logan doesn't get to finish his sentence, because Kendall quickly grabs his suitcase and walks out the door. He sighs and closes his eyes. This is going to be so much more difficult than he thought.
He follows suit and soon all bags are in the minivan. The guys are inside the car, Katie in the front seat, while Logan is in the middle row, and Kendall and Carlos are in the back.
Jennifer Knight is standing outside with the tearing up Sylvia Garcia.
"Are you sure you don't want to come?" Jennifer asks the woman. She shakes her head quickly.
"I have more children to take care of. They need me here." She looks at Carlos with pain in her eyes again, but he doesn't acknowledge her at all. She looks back and forces a smile as Jennifer grabs her hands and squeezes softly. "Just take care of them, Jen. Bring my baby back." Her voice cracks as the tears finally take over. Jennifer hugs her immediately.
"I will, I promise I'll bring him back. We're going to bring them all back. It's going to be okay." She promises, her own lip quivering slightly as she sniffles.
"The others will never forgive us for this. Antonio will never forgive me." Sylvia muses as the women part from their embrace.
"They will. Sure they'll be angry at first. But they'll come round, you'll see. It's what's best for the boys and right now, this is it." Sylvia nods.
"Just take care of them and once you're able to, give Carlos a hug for me." The woman says, Jennifer's heart breaking at how much it must hurt not to be able to hug her own son anymore.
"I will." She quietly responds. Sylvia nods.
"Okay, well. You should go. You've got a long way to go." Sylvia tells her and Jennifer nods.
"Take care of our boys." Jennifer smiles and gets into the car, Sylvia standing back. She wraps her jacket around her body a little tighter and stares at her lost son one last time. The car rumbles to life quickly as Jennifer starts the car. Sylvia watches as the car suddenly moves.
"Wait, wait!" A voice suddenly makes Sylvia turn her head. The car starts to drive, but as Sylvia recognizes who is calling out, she quickly motions for her to stop. Jennifer frowns, but puts her foot on the brake.
A figure comes running over with a bag. He pants as he stops.
Sylvia smiles at him with tears in her eyes.
"Can I still come?" James softly requests as everyone watches him with wide eyes. Jennifer and Katie quickly exit the car to help him with his bag. Jennifer puts it inside, while Katie attacks James with a tight hug. He smiles for the first time in a long while. She opens the car door for him and he seems a little surprised that everyone is there.
He looks at his friends in hesitation, but then slides in next to Logan. Carlos still stares off into space, while Kendall stares at James. But when James catches him and smiles, he looks away as quickly as he can. His smile falters and he looks towards the front instead.
The door is closed and while Jennifer says goodbye to Sylvia one last time, now the car really is ready to move. Jennifer and Katie wave at Sylvia as they drive off. Sylvia stands watching until the car disappears from sight. She takes a deep breath before walking off towards her own house. Ready to face everyone as they woke up to find their children gone once again. But with a good reason this time.
Hours later a car stops in front of a large building. The sunshine greets the newcomers as they step out of the car. They watch as the rays of sunshine glisten on the front of the building: Welcome to the Palm Woods.
A/N I am so sorry for keeping you guys waiting. I have been very busy with school and I was kind of stuck as well with my stories. I finally got back into a writing mood, so here's a new chapter.
So, the plan is not very extensive and a little easy maybe, but I think this is what could happen. I hope you all like it and thank you for your patience
Let me know what you think and I'll try to update a little sooner this time. I'm not sure yet about the new chapter, but I'll try to come with something. Until then, if you have ideas, let me know
Thanks for everything guys, the reviews keep me writing!
Love, Baxxie