James's POV

"What're we gonna do?" I asked, Logan's arm around me and my head on his shoulder as we lay on his bed.

"What do you mean?" he asked lazily.

"I don't think long-distance is really a good idea."

I propped myself up and looked at him, a pit in my stomach. I had been avoiding the question to myself, to Carlos, and to Logan. But now I had to know.

"I don't know," he admitted. "Can we avoid this conversation for a little longer?"

Logan smirked cutely and ran his index finger along my jaw before smoothing down my hair.

"I missed you so much," he said softly, and I grinned, leaning forward to offer him a kiss. For a second he paused, and I knew he wasn't sure whether he was ready to kiss me again, but then he did. I missed those lips on mine.

Suddenly a flood up pent-up passion was unleashed and we were kissing more deeply. Before I knew it his arms were around my neck and I was towering over him.

When I tried to unbutton his jeans, he pulled away.

"I'm not having sex with you," he said gently, dark eyes innocent on mine.

"I understand," I said, a little let-down.

"It's just… Sex is something that requires a lot of trust, James," he said honestly, and I could hear in his voice that he wanted to get carried away with me just as much as I did. "And really… I don't know about trust yet."

His hand stroked my cheek.

"I deserve this," I grumbled, plopping down beside him. Logan chuckled and rolled to face me, stroking my hair with light fingertips before he kissed my temple.

"I still don't know where I'm going to college," he said.

"Come back to Cali with me and go to UCLA," I pleaded as cutely as I could.

"I'd love to," he smiled, but then his grin dropped. "It's just… So far away from Mom. I'm all she has and… And what about Kendall? He's going to MU, and I can't just leave him. I'm like his brother."

My eyes dropped and I nodded. Honestly, I wasn't used to not getting my way. That's another thing that Logan taught me. It seems like all he does is tell me no. I liked that, though. He was teaching me to stop being such a spoiled brat.

"Then… Then I'll move here," I proposed. "Or wherever you decide to go to school."

"What's here for you?"

"What's in Cali for me?" I shot back. "I don't belong anywhere. At least when I'm with you I feel a little appreciated."

Logan chewed his lip, eyes downcast.

"I don't know, James," he murmured. "It's impossible to answer that right now."

I nodded, settling down beside him and looking at the ceiling. Having Logan back was supposed to be the end of my rough patch… But it seems like I'm just headed into another one.

Logan's POV

Saying goodbye to James that evening was difficult to say the least. I just got him back and suddenly he was going back home across the country, and I had no idea when I'd see him again. Needless to say, I was dreading this moment.

"Are you crying?" James chuckled, hugging me tight at his grandparent's front door.

"No," I said defensively. "Not yet."

"No tears. I've made you cry enough as it is," he demanded playfully. "This isn't goodbye, Loge. It's… It's 'See you later'. We'll see each other soon, and it'll be totally rad."

I laughed a little at his California slang and rolled my eyes.

He pulled away from the hug and took my face in his big hands, forcing me to look up at him.

"We'll get something figured out," he promised. I looked up into his hazel eyes, framed with dark lashes, and I knew he was sincere. He gave me a dazzling grin and hugged me again, this time my arms wrapped around his torso, too.

After a minute he pulled away and peppered my face with kisses before he moved to my neck and down my arm with a train of light pecks before he kissed my palm and each of my fingers, and finally my lips.

"I need to get to bed. It's late and I have a flight at 4 AM," he said softly.

"Okay," I said weakly. "One more kiss."

The last kiss was long and lingering before he pulled away and headed to the door.

When I got home, Kendall was there waiting for me. He and Mom were making a cake. When I entered, he looked back at me grimly and Mom looked at me sympathetically.

"How did it go?" she asked.

"Okay."

"Then why do you look so sad?" she asked as I sat on the counter beside Kendall.

"I have no idea when I'll be able to see him again," I explained with a sigh.

"Well good riddance to him," Kendall said smartly. "I think you're better off without him, Logie. I really do."

"I disagree," Mom smarted. "You haven't seen how happy Logie is around him."

"I have. Before that-" Kendall stopped himself before calling James a nasty name in front of my mom. "That jerk broke his heart."

"You don't know the story," I argued.

"I don't care what the story is," Kendall said strongly. "There's no excuse for what he did."

I locked my jaw and turned my face away angrily. Kendall had never pissed me off like this before. We had been friends for a really long time and only recently had he started to really butt heads with me. Usually we got along so well, and when we didn't we either agreed to disagree or I gave in for the sake of peace. But now every time James is brought up we fight and neither of us is willing to back off of our side.

"Kendall," I began forcefully, but tried to calm myself before continuing. "What will you do when I marry that man?"

Kendall looked over at my mom, but she pretended to not be paying attention.

"Then…" he began softly. "Then all I can do is hope you still want me as best man and uncle to your babies."

"We're already talking about babies?" Mom asked excitedly.

I smiled a little, looking into Kendall's hard eyes. I knew somewhere in him he was excited that I had a love interest. He was excited to see me happy for once.

Kendall's POV

Of course I wasn't expecting a knock on my door at 2 in the morning, and I was nervous about answering it. I was the man of the house, so I put on a T-shirt with my boxers and grabbed a baseball bat, creeping to the front door.

Looking through the window, I saw that it was James.

"What the hell are you doing here? It's fucking 2 AM," I hissed, opening the door.

"I have a flight in a few hours… I have to talk to you," James whispered. "Come outside."

I looked around outside to make sure it wasn't an ambush before stepping out, keeping my bat handy.

"I should bash your head in right now and be done with it," I grumbled as I stood before him. He was only about an inch taller than me, and sure he had more muscle but he wasn't violent. I could take him. Hell, I already had taken him.

"Look," James said calmly. "I need your help."

I stared at him angrily, leaning on my bat.

"Do you know where Logan's planning on going to school?" he asked.

"He's still deciding. Why?"

"Because I want him to go to UCLA."

"Well tough cookies, asswipe. He's never gonna leave his mommy."

"He was obviously considering it, since he applied there," James reasoned.

"Maybe I don't want him to move across the country to be with some guy that broke his heart like you did," I smarted. "I still think he's an idiot for taking you back."

"You know how smart Logan is. So it should tell you something about the attraction between us when he takes me back, knowing logically that he shouldn't."

Well, fuck. I had never thought of it like that.

"I know I'd be just as mad as you are if some chick pulled this shit on Carlos. But, Kendall, I'm gonna marry Logan one day."

"Bullshit," I spat.

"I'm not here to change your opinion of me," James finally said, fed up. "I'm here to ask you to just talk to Logan. Remind him that it's a possibility for him to come to UCLA."

"Why should I?"

"Because if he goes there, you can visit him and see Carlos and go to the beach and party."

"I can do that anyway."

"Do it because you know it's what's gonna make him happy. Just think about it. If he hears you encouraging him to go there, he'll know it's a good choice."

"Fuck you. I'm going to bed," I grumbled angrily, turning to the door.

"Dammit, Kendall, I'm not asking a favor. I'm asking you to do what's right, because I know that's kinda your thing."

"How's this the right thing? If he goes to any of the other schools he'll be closer to his mom and I and therefore he'll be happy."

"He'll never get out of this chapter of his life he's been in since he was born if he stays close. You know he won't. He'll stay here and not make any new friends and depend on going home for the weekends."

I crossed my arms, ready to just hit the guy.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" I prodded. "You don't know him. You think you do, but you don't. I know what's right for Logan and you're not it."

"You're wrong."

I set my jaw and he set his. A worthy opponent, if I do say so myself. Willing to stand his ground for Logan. Actually… I think James is more like me than I care to admit. I hate to say it, but maybe Logan does need him, since I'll be appearing less in his life once we start college. He needs someone like me around to protect him and make him have fun…

What was I thinking?

"I'm going back to bed," I said, turning to the door. When he tried to stop me I turned to him with warning in my eyes.

"You know I'm right," James growled.

Logan's POV

I hadn't come up with a solution to my problem. I ended up starting school at MU with Kendall, since MU is just as good as any other school and is closer to my loved ones.

James was disappointed, though he would never say so. He kept telling me he was happy for me, and glad I had a dorm with Kendall and everything worked out. But it didn't all work out. I still wanted to figure something out for James and I.

He still wanted to move here to be with me, but I always pushed the idea away. I didn't want to take him from the place he was happiest- California. Hell, anyone is happiest there, I think. When I talk to him on the phone he's always with Carlos playing cards or watching movies or playing video games, and he was always having so much fun. He talked about interesting people he gave surf lessons to and shark sightings at the beach… So every time he mentioned that he wanted to move here, I would tell him I was too stressed to talk about it right now.

Kendall and I were through the first few months of college when I got the first call that changed everything.

Kendall was up hanging out with some girl he met- probably making out with her while I was sleeping. My phone rang, but I didn't wake up, so Kendall got up and answered it.

He shook me awake in a panic.

"Your mom," he said breathlessly. "Get up. We have to take her to the hospital."

"What?"

I got up and took the phone, putting my shoes on. Mom was on the other line. She was having chest pains. I kept telling her to keep calm, that Kendall and I would be there soon. She kept telling me that she was calm, it was me that needed to chill. I called an ambulance and got there at about the same time as them.

Mom was sitting on the couch, holding her chest.

Kendall held my hand as they put Mom on the stretcher. He was just as worried as me… My mom was like his mom, too. We both rode in the ambulance with her, but we had to wait in the waiting room while she was attended to at the hospital.

"Are you her sons?" a male doctor asked, approaching us.

"Yeah," I said, standing. "How is she?"

"It was a minor heart attack. She handled it well," he said calmly. "But she'll likely have more, which may be serious."

I looked over at Kendall, and he took me under his arm.

Mom assured us that she was fine- no need for us to stay with her for a few days. So we went back to school the next morning, but she was still weighing heavy on my mind.

The next call came from the hospital during a class a few months later- November. Mom had a worse heart attack while she was at the grocery. She lost consciousness this time and was in custody at the hospital.

I rushed down there without Kendall, and found that she was in the hospital bed looking weak. Last I saw her was a week after her first attack, but now she looked way worse. She was pale and tired looking.

I was crying and shaking when I entered the room and she hugged me gently from the bed.

"I've made a big decision, Logie," she said once I was calmed down. I looked at her from my chair beside the bed. She squeezed my hand and smiled a little. "I'm moving to the beach."

"The beach?" I retorted. "Do you think you're okay to do that?"

"The change in scenery will do me well. I'll get fresh air and be able to walk on the beach. I'll exercise more and eat better… I have to do something to change my lifestyle, obviously."

I didn't know what to say. Of course I didn't want her to go. If she lived at the beach, I'd be too far away to help her if she had another heart attack.

"What beach?" I asked absently.

"I was thinking… Whichever one is closest to UCLA," Mom said slyly. "I have it planned out. You can come with me, Logie, because I know you'll worry. They'll transfer you to UCLA next semester and you can get a dorm or an apartment or live with me. And you'll be with James."

"Is this all part of your plan to bring James and I together?" I laughed slightly.

"You can't get married if you never see each other," she grinned. "But I really do want to live at the beach. It'll be good for me."

I sighed and rubbed my face.

"Or you can stay here," she said simply. "I know you don't want to leave Kendall."

"Kendall isn't having heart attacks that I need to be available for," I reminded her. "If you're really doing this, I don't see a choice."

"Don't act so depressed about it," Mom chuckled, squeezing my hand. "I know you're celebrating on the inside. I just solved your problems."

"You're not doing this for me, are you?" I asked.

"Everything I do is for you, Logie."

Kendall's POV

"Mom wants to move to California," Logan said softly from across the booth at the hospital cafeteria.

"She's probably drugged up," I reasoned with a chuckle. "She's lived in that house since she got married to your dad- I don't think she's gonna leave it."

"She's serious," Logan sighed. "Says she needs a new lifestyle, and I agree."

"She lost it," I smirked shaking my head. Years of being a single mom has taught Joanna not to make rash decisions like this, so I knew it must not be real.

"Kendall, my mom doesn't kid about this stuff," he reminded me. "It's really happening."

I bit the inside of my mouth- nervous habit- and Logan took a sip of his coffee.

"I have to go with her," he finally said. "I can't let her move away knowing she's susceptible to heart attacks."

I wasn't surprised… I'd do the same thing if it were my mom.

"I guess I'll transfer next semester to UCLA," he said softly. "I'm sorry, Kendall. I don't want to leave you."

"I'm a big boy now, Loge," I said absently. "I'll manage without you."

"Not without me. We'll talk on the phone and everything."

I leaned forward, putting my head in my hands. I didn't want Logan to know how much I'd miss him… I'd be lost without him. But he needed to go to be with his mom. And as much as I hate to admit it, he needed to be with James. They talked on the phone every night and I even heard James say that he loves Logan one night. Logan is still apprehensive… As he should be… So he couldn't say it back. I know he does love James, though.

I never mentioned James's late-night visit to my house before he went back to California. I thought about it a lot and decided to lay off of Logan for wanting to be with James. I'm not saying I encouraged their relationship or ever tried to convince Logan to go to UCLA. But I didn't say anything negative about them. I held my tongue.

This was the next chapter in Logan's life, and he had to leave me behind.

"It'll be awesome," I finally said. "You'll get to go to an awesome school… Hang out on the beach… And see James whenever you want."

Logan grinned bashfully and nodded.

"I'll visit whenever I have the dough. I love those California babes," I smiled, trying to lighten the mood for my own sake. "And I kinda miss Carlos."

Logan smiled and put his chin on his knuckles.

"We'll still be best friends, Kendall," he said smartly. "A separation will be good for us. Make us stronger."

I didn't know how Logan and I could be any stronger. We were like the Dream Team.