Hi, everyone! It's been a while since I updated, but this chapter will be worth the wait, I think. :) Just been busy with band camp, but it's over now so I should be able to write more. Thanks for hangin' in there! :)

I immediately spotted my handsome surfer as my bare feet dug into the soft sand on my way to my usual spot. Gosh, James took my breath away. He didn't appear to be working- he was out surfing like the professional he was.

I lay my blanket out and sat, immediately taking out my sketchbook. I wanted to draw the surf shop- it had a new meaning to me now and I wanted to capture the beauty it had to me that a photograph wouldn't have.

Before I started, I glanced over to James to see that he seemed to be looking at me, though I couldn't be sure with his sunglasses. I smiled and he seemed to react with a smile back, and I gave a little wave. He waved back before his attention was ripped away by a person on a board floating beside him, who he didn't appear to know.

Soon Kendall came down and sat beside me.

"Are you going out tonight?" I asked, knowing it was him before even looking at him. He was observing my drawing over my shoulder.

"Maybe. I'll talk to Carlos about it."

"You two really hit it off."

"Don't worry, Logie, you're still my one and only," Kendall said in mock innocence, kissing my cheek. I laughed and dramatically wiped the kiss away, making Kendall giggle.

"Here comes your boy toy," he sang.

"What?" I snapped. "How do I look?"

Kendall looked at me and twisted his lips before swiping at my hair a little and adjusting my sunglasses, then smiling.

"Gorgeous," he said. I turned the other way to catch sight of James coming out of the water, surfboard beneath his arm, fingers running through his wet hair and water glistening down his abs.

I watched him lean the surfboard against the closed surf shop and come over to us.

"Hey," he beamed, sitting in the sand across from us. It drove me nuts knowing that he would get up and be sandy, but I liked that it didn't bother James at all. "Wanna surf?"

"No way," I grinned. "Kendall?"

"Hockey players and surfboards don't mix," Kendall joked.

"I can do it," James pointed out.

"Good hockey players and surfboards, I should say."

"Ouch," James laughed, touching his chest. "That was below the belt."

"Are you working today?" I asked James.

"Nope. Which means we can hang out!" James smiled. "Any suggestions?"

"I know what you could do!" Kendall interrupted excitedly. "Go check out that college, Loge."

"UCLA?" I asked doubtfully. "I don't think James wants to go there."

"I know where that is," James said enthusiastically. "It's not far at all. We can go there if you want. Were you planning on going to school there?"

"Well I was considering it, but-" I began, but was cut off.

"It's so awesome- you'll love it. I've been to parties there," James beamed. "Let me throw on my clothes and we can go."

Please don't put on any clothes, my thoughts pleaded with him, but of course he didn't hear. He flashed me a big smile before hopping up and going over to the surf shop.

James' POV

I was nervous about taking Logan around in Mercedes' silver Maserati. She let me borrow it for today, since Carlos was off at his parents' house all day with the Jeep and I wanted to go out. She wanted to spend the day with me, but I got out of it, because I would rather spend the day with Logan.

It felt wrong to have him here in the car with me, though. My current love interest unknowingly in the car of my fiancé…

But I hadn't really planned on taking him anywhere. I thought a day at the beach would suffice.

"This is so nice," he said, carefully closing the door and looking around. I knew I would have to vacuum out the sand from my side's floorboard, but Logan's remained tidy. "I thought you didn't have a car?"

"This is Mercedes'," I said truthfully.

"Oh," he said softly, not looking at me.

"She doesn't get how cool this car is. She just likes it cause it was expensive. But Carlos is out with the Jeep with his parents, and I needed a ride to the beach. So she lent it to me."

I revved the engine up, and Logan remained silent, obviously thinking. Finally he turned to me as I backed out of the parking spot.

"Did you say you still live with her?" he asked.

"No," I said. "I probably said that we live together, but we don't. She's over a lot, though."

"Why?"

I was silent for a second, thinking.

"She's still kinda attached," I said slowly.

"Do you still love her?"

"I never loved her- I told you that," I said softly, speeding down the road. "Right now I just want her out of my life, but I don't think that'll ever happen considering our parents."

"Are you sure?" Logan asked, and I glanced over at him before looking back to the road.

"If you knew Mercedes, you would know that she's awful."

Logan was silent, and I couldn't help but feel that I fucked up with him. I made him think that I was still hung up on Mercedes, since she was always at my house, and that made him unsure of my feelings for him.

"I can't stop her from coming over," I said, reaching over to put a hand on his leg, his dark eyes dropping to it. "She does whatever the hell she wants. Don't worry about her."

"You seem like you're hiding something," he finally said, making my heart stop. "Sometimes you word things weird and you avoid topics, and I don't know you well enough to pinpoint it."

I didn't know what to say, so I pull my hand back to the steering wheel, feeling his eyes on me.

"Are you?" he asked. "Hiding something?"

"No," I said, shaking my head, acting incredulous, like I couldn't believe he would accuse me of that. "I'm an open book, Logan."

"Good," he said, more confident now. "I really, really like you, James."

I beamed over at him, but worries melting, and he gave me a dimply grin.

"I really, really, really like you," I responded.

Logan's POV

As we toured campus by ourselves, I started imagining going here for school.

Of course the school would be great- it was one of the best schools in California. But if I went here, would also be able to see this hunk of a man walking beside me every day. We could maybe even be together, and the thought of that sent my heart pounding.

That's just what James did to me.

He made my heart thunder, because he was literally the man of my dreams. He was so handsome- dead sexy, if you will. He was sweet as sugar and friendly enough to make me always feel welcome. Over all that, he seemed to really like me and want me. I mean, he told me he likes me, but it seemed beyond a crush. Beyond a summer-fling. He looked at me like I was a god, like I was something special, like it pained him to know that I was leaving in just a few days.

He was perfect.

I glanced over at him as we walked down the campus sidewalk.

"Did you ever think about going to college?" I asked.

"Not really," he said, his hazel eyes dropping to me and giving me that look- like I was the most important thing in the world. "I never was good at school, and never liked it. I didn't have a plan in high school, and I still don't."

"You still don't?" I repeated. "Meaning you're planning on changing professions?"

"Well I mean, I love teaching surfing. But it doesn't really put bread on the table, and what happens when I'm thirty and still surfing? I'll get sick of it eventually."

"What else do you want to do?"

James smirked and rolled his eyes.

"You'll think it's stupid," he said shyly. It was the first time that I saw him appearing self-conscious, his confidence gone.

"Come on," I laughed. "Tell me."

"It seems like nothing compared to what you're doing with your life."

"Just tell me."

"Showbiz," he said simply. "I love it all. Singing, acting, modeling. I could see myself doing any of that."

"That's not stupid," I said with an excited smile. "That's so cool."

"Really? Think so?" he asked hopefully.

"Of course," I grinned. "I know you can model- that's a no-brainer. But can you sing and act?"

"I can sing pretty well- took voice lessons as a kid," he said proudly. "Acting? Not so much."

"You can take acting lessons, too," I pointed out. "There are performing-arts schools all over this state. If that's your dream, you should go for it."

"I had a gig a little while ago," he said. "I was in a commercial for my mom's makeup products. I mean the works- it was awesome. They put a little makeup on me and gave me a few lines.I just really loved being the star of the show, you know? I loved having my makeup done- that sounds dumb, I know- and everyone catering to my every need."

"That sounds amazing."

"It was. And all I had to say was something about how awesome Brooke Diamond Cosmetics was, and-"

I zoned out from him as his words rang a bell in my brain. Brooke Diamond Cosmetics… Commercial…

Then I saw it. James- the James walking right beside me- on my TV screen smiling brightly at me as he tried to sell me makeup. I remember the first of only a few times I saw the commercial, thinking how gorgeous that man was, and thinking that his beauty just came from makeup.

But it wasn't just makeup. That's all natural beauty, and I see that now.

So that must be where I saw him first, where I heard his voice, that lead to me dreaming of him.

"Logan?" James asked, stopping on the sidewalk. I snapped out of it and stopped, too. "You okay?"

"I dreamt about you," I said, cocking my head with my brows furrowed.

"Woah- I don't think you should share that," James giggled.

"No, I mean the first day I came here, I fell asleep on the beach and dreamt about you. Before we even met. And you know, you can only dream about people you've seen before, and I had no idea where I had seen you before," I said quickly. "But now I know it was from the commercial."

James stared down at me, looking a little confused.

"What was the dream about?" he egged.

"It wasn't a sexy dream," I insisted with a smile. "We were dancing- slow dancing."

"That's it?"

I decided to leave out the kisses and the "I love you's" for now.

"That's it," I nodded.

"I'm flattered," he beamed. "I'm the man of your dreams."

I felt myself blush, but he didn't seem to care. He just hugged me for the first time ever, and though I was stiff at first I melted into it, hugging him back.

"You're really amazing," I said softly. His scent was overwhelming- a tiny bit of cologne, his natural scent, and sea salt all mixed together. It made my head spin in delight. There's nothing sexier than a man who smells good.

James' POV

I don't think things could have been more perfect. Logan and I were having a moment- our first moment. It was monumental.

"You're really amazing," Logan had murmured against my chest, and I was afraid that my heart would beat out of my body and hit him.

"Amazing" is a powerful word when used to describe a love interest. A hamburger is amazing. The ocean on a hot day is amazing. The smell of cookies is amazing. But there's something different about calling a love-interest amazing.

It's almost an intimate word, and it means that that person likes their love-interest so much that really they have no flaws.

I had been told I smell amazing, that I look amazing, and in high school that I'm amazing in bed. But never once have I been told that I- all of me- am amazing.

We left the college soon after that, and I was glad. Schools made me nervous and bored.

"So what did you think?" I asked starting up Mercedes' car, him in the passenger seat.

"I liked it. But I'm still not sure. I'll have to look into my other options first," Logan said simply.

"But if you go here, you get the beach and the awesome weather and, you know… Me," I pointed out. Logan flashed me a smile as I started driving, but I think he knew I was serious.

"I definitely like all those things," he said. "But it's far from home. And I have to think about what's the best choice for my career, you know?"

"Yeah, yeah," I winked.

"James… Can we keep in touch after I leave?" Logan asked slowly. I glanced over at him, concern on my face.

"Of course," I said.

"I mean I don't necessarily mean in a romantic way, but I wouldn't want to just lose you," he said. "Even if I can't have you, you're still a great friend."

I smiled over at him, my heart swelling. He makes me feel so special, and I don't think he even tries.

"You can call or text me anytime," I assured. "This doesn't have to be goodbye, you know."

Logan seemed to relax a little and smiled at me before looking to the road.

"What should we do now?" he asked.

"I really don't think I have enough money to go out to eat again," I laughed nervously. "I get paid on Fridays."

"That's okay. I'll pay."

"What? No way, Logan."

"Why not? You paid for my fish taco and said I could get it next time, then yesterday you wouldn't let me pay for you. Let me get this," he urged.

"I'm just… Against that."

"Why? I'm a gentleman, too, James," he chuckled.

"I'm weird about it, okay?" I asked, then realized I was too touchy about it and smiled a little. "My mom paid for everything I could ever want until I moved out. It's just… Not something I like anymore."

"Men pay for their dates all the time," he reminded me. "This isn't a charity case. This is me picking up my date's tab because I'm a gentleman."

"But-"

"James, you're gonna lose this fight."

I sighed and laughed a little.

"Let's go somewhere cheap. How's pizza?"

"Sounds good."

Logan's POV

I was really nervous as we reached my hotel room door, simply because I wanted a kiss really badly, but didn't know if it was too soon, or even how to get a kiss.

I felt at ease around him, but still I had no idea how to initiate a kiss. I felt embarrassed just thinking about it.

But at the same time, we only had a few days together. If we didn't kiss soon, how many kisses would we get between now and when I leave? Not enough, that's for sure.

"Do you wanna come in and watch a movie or something?" I offered, turning to him before the door. It wasn't late at all- just after 7.

"I'd love to, Logan, but I don't think it's a good idea."

"Why?"

"Because I don't know if I can trust myself in a hotel room alone with you," he smiled, eyes dancing.

"Maybe you don't have to."

I felt my cheeks immediately redden and he giggled.

"I never expected that to come from your innocent little mouth," he smiled. "I need to go, though. Get Mercedes' car back to her."

"Okay," I said, trying my damndest to look as cute as possible for him, working my brown eyes to my advantage. It dawned on me that James didn't know just how young I really was.

He smiled and hugged me before kissing my forehead. I looked up at him, telling him with my eyes that I wanted a real kiss, but he just smirked at me.

"You're really cute, you know," he said, kissing my cheek this time. "Come see me tomorrow- I'll be working the booth."

"Okay."

I looked up into his clear hazel eyes, willing him to put those damn lips on mine, but instead he gave me a final hug before backing away.

If you don't do it now, you'll have to wait a whole other day just to try again.

I paused and turned, my hand on the door handle.

"James?" I asked the man who was slowly walking down the hall. He stopped and turned, only a few feet away.

"What's wrong?" he asked, coming back to me slowly.

"Um… Nothing…" I fumbled, my face burning and brain scrambling for what to say. "I just… Um…"

"Logan's at a loss for words. This is new," James smiled good-naturedly, making me smile, too.

"It's just… We don't have a lot of time together, and I really like you and-"

"And?"

"And I was wondering if it would be alright if um…"

"Logan?" James laughed. "Just say it."

"Nevermind," I said quickly.

"Okay," James smiled. Before I could process anything, his warm fingertips were on my jaw and his lips were on mine in a quick peck. He gave me a knowing smirk then, and I knew he somehow knew exactly what I was trying for earlier.

"Night," he said.

"Night," I said whimsically, watching him disappear down the hall as I leaned again the door.

Suddenly the door opened and I went scrambling into familiar arms.

"I saw that," Kendall sang, pushing me to my feet again. "That was so adorable. Come on- you have to tell me everything."

I was still dazed as I was pulled into the room. I could still feel those brief, warm, perfect lips on mine as I was sat on the bed, Kendall kneeling before me and staring up at me like a kid waiting on a story from his grandparent.

"Start from the beginning- when you left the beach," Kendall said eagerly. I tried to put my brain together, just staring down at my best friend, trying to remember anything before that kiss. "Wait! I have to pee first!"

Kendall scrambled up and to the bathroom and I fell back against the soft bed, smiling at the ceiling.