Life Lesson: Never post a story/chapter after a funeral. You need at lest 12 hours of sleep and a red bull before you can successfully update without making any ridiculous and avoidable mistakes.
James and Carlos both fell through the front door of 2J, gasping for air as they tumbled to the ground in a flurry of multiple designer shopping bags and boxes.
"Dude...I am never...going shopping...with your mom...again." Carlos panted out from his place on the floor, turning his head slightly to the left where James was gasping for his breath back as well.
James could only groan. His plan to declare his possible love for Carlos had not been going so well today.
Brooke Diamond stepped over her son, barely glancing down at him as she entered the apartment.
"Thank you so much for going with me. I just needed to do something to keep my mind off all the terrible things that have gone on. I just feel absolutely awful."
Carlos's mom then came around the corner to the front door, looking exhausted with her high heels in her right hand.
"No problem Brooke. How could we say no?" She panted, stepping over the fallen boys as well and wincing her way to the couch.
"Well, with Garcia, Katherine and Gustavo working with the lawyer on Logan's case, I know you must have been as stir crazy as I have been." She looked around, "It seems like no one is back yet."
Both boys groaned again, just in case their mothers didn't hear them. This was not what they had in mind when Gustavo had given them the day off to work on the details of Logan's case. Both boys had been planning on going to the beach or just lounging by the pool, but Brooke diamond hijacked them the first moment she got to be her bag carriers for her sopping spree. At some point even Mrs. Garcia had been dragged in.
"Um...why are you guys on the floor?" Four heads turned to the open door, revealing a Kendall looking down at his friends, confused at the situation.
"My mom made us her man servants" James exclaimed, reaching a hand up to Kendall who pulled him off the floor, before doing the same with Carlos. All three boys grabbed the bags and plopped them
down onto the couch next to a lounging Sylvia before joining her on the couch.
"Where's Logan?" Carlos asked and Kendall nodded his head towards the hallway, "On the phone with Jenny proving he is alive and OK."
"How did the session go?" James asked.
Kendall sighed and looked over towards the empty, open door. "Good. I think." He turned back to his worried friends. "He's going to keep going to see the doctor. I think she could...really be of help."
"And she doesn't think I'm crazy." Logan said, walking into the room and pointing to the multiple bags and boxes. "Been busy?"
Mrs. Diamond rushed over to Logan's side. "We've been doing some shopping. I even got you a few things!" she exclaimed, grabbing six bags and shoving them into Logan's arms. "I can get more if you need it!"
"Um...thanks!" Logan said, trying to show gratitude in his confusion. "Um. I will try them on later. I'm kinda tired. I think I'll just lay down for a while."
Kendall stood to give him a quick kiss and Logan, carrying the bags, headed towards his room.
"Mom! You have got to stop smothering Logan. He forgives you." James said, throwing his hands up in frustration.
"I know that. I...I just feel bad. The poor boy having to go through all this. It just brings out the mother in me." Brooke said, taking a seat next to Sylvia, who was currently passed out.
"He's not going through this alone. We are all here for him and we will do everything we can to help him." Kendall said.
"Good. Now how about we get dinner started? Your mom and everyone will be hungry soon." Brooke stated, standing up and regarding the three boys.
"Uh...are you sure you want us anywhere near a kitchen?" Carlos asked, nervous about the thought of mixing sharp utensils and his clumsy nature.
"You all will be fine. Don't worry. Mamma Diamond will help you. And Mama Carlos...when she wakes up."
Hours later, Kendall opened his bedroom door to find Logan passed out on Kendall's bed. Though Kendall couldn't help but smile at the sight, it instantly turned into a frown when he noticed that Logan wasn't sleeping as peacefully as he had assumed.
Logan was moaning gently in his sleep, mumbling words Kendall couldn't make out while he jerked and twitched.
Kendall was over at his side instantly, running a hand along his back to turn him over so he could pull the now shaking boy in this arms. Kendall inspected his face, the bruises still evident. His limp hands also held reminders of that night.
"Shhh. Baby please wake up. Logan, hear my voice. Wake up. Wake up." Kendall spoke loudly, remembering what Dr. Mira had said about Logan being half deaf in his right ear. He would have to remember that for the future.
Soon, Logan awoke with a jerk and Kendall only tightened his hold to keep Logan from trying to get away.
"Relax its only me. Look at me. Look at me Logan." Breathing heavily Logan turned his eyes towards his love, and instantly relaxed.
"I'm sor-" Logan began, but Kendall cut him off with a short kiss.
"Take a deep breath. You're OK." Kendall stated. Logan nodded and they stayed like that, holding each other for a few minutes.
"Want to talk about it?" Kendall asked. After leaving the doctors office Kendall and Logan hadn't really spoken about what had gone on in the session, except for Logan to say, "Can we just talk about this later?"
When Logan shook his head, Kendall tried not to show his disappointment, until Logan said, "Just...not right now. Tonight, before we go to bed. We can talk. I'll tell you. Anything. I promise."
Satisfied, Kendall smiled and nodded.
Logan then turned to Kendall. "Why did you come in here?"
"Oh! Dinner is ready." Kendall said, shifting off the bed and then pulling Logan up, wrapping an arm around him when he stumbled a bit, unsteady on his feet.
"Want me to carry you out there?" Kendall joked. Smiling, Logan swatted him gently and muttered a "Shut up."
Logan walked into the dinning room and was greeted with the smells of various foods. His eyes met the source when he came into the kitchen and saw an array of chicken, fish, potatoes, rice, pasta, stuffed mushrooms, empanadas, various vegetables, and lasagna.
"Um. Whats with all the food?" Logan asked, walking over to the large table with a place setting for nine.
"We've been cooking all afternoon." Carlos said, wearing Mama Knights apron that had a Minnesota Wild icon on it.
"It was my turn to take my mind of off things, and for the boys to help." Mrs. Garcia said, placing the salad on the table.
"Well trying to..." Kendall said, pulling out a chair for Logan to sit in while he took the chair next to him.
Just then, the bathroom door swung open, revealing James covered in black smudges, except for his face. "OK! My eyebrows are not singed off. We are good!" Everyone let out a cheer and Brooke Diamond, also in one of Mamma Knights aprons, went over to her son and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
Mama Knight then came out of her bedroom with Officer Garcia following, both looking tired and worn out.
Logan was desperate to know what happened today with the lawyer.
"Let's all sit down." Mr. Garcia said, and after everyone loaded the table with the various food stuffs, he sat and folded his hands to say grace.
His words were short and meaningful, and as soon as he finished everyone dug in.
Logan was surprised to find how hungry he was, having been to nervous to eat before seeing the doctor then to exhausted afterward.
Dinner conversation was kept light, everyone avoiding the obvious topics of Logan's meeting with the doctor and the meeting with the lawyers. Parents caught up with sons and the boys were able to hear about the friends and family they left behind in Minnesota.
After the last bite was eaten and the last dish put away, everyone scattered through out the apartment. James and Carlos commandeered the TV to catch up on some video games. Katie went online to check the foreign markets and their interest rates. Brooke, Mamma Knight and Mrs. Garcia were going through the clothes they had bought for the day. Kendall went to go take a shower.
And Logan. Logan sat alone at the table with Officer Garcia trying to make sense of the situation he had now found himself in.
"So there will be a trial. Since the situation with Doctor Bonner put you in physical danger, we are trying to reprimand custody from you parents. Is that OK? Is this what you want?" Garcia asked, feeling terrible for the confused kid in front of him.
Logan could only shrug. "That's what Doctor Mira recommended to me...but...she also said that there is a chance that I will get put into foster care cause I'm still underage."
Garcia sighed, running a hand over his mouth. "It's a possibility, but one that Sabrina and I are hoping to avoid. I think once we prove that you shouldn't be with you parents because of the threat of their sending you to Doctor Bonner again..."
"Wait...again? But wasn't he arrested for what he did to me?" Logan cut in, fear settling in his stomach.
Garcia nodded his head before continuing. "Yes, for now. But he can just as easily make bail if one is set. That's why if your parents don't have custody over you, they can't force you into his treatment."
Logan gulped. "And if we lose?"
Garcia grasped Logan's arm. "We won't."
James glanced over to his friends father and friend speaking to each other. Logan looked absolutely defeated and wrecked. James didn't know what he would do if he was in Logan's shoes. He couldn't imagine his mother and father treating him the way Logan's did. And he was certain by now that there had to have been some sort of abuse in his past for his parents to act the way they had.
It made him angry because Logan is his friend and if he knew or could have done something about it...James shook his head. He knew there was no way. Logan was always to good at covering his tracks. He could only hope that Kendall could break through his barrier, because Logan was going to need them more than ever.
Speaking of, Kendall had just exited the bathroom, and his gaze fell onto the boy sitting now alone at the table. He walked over and nudged him a bit, tilting his head towards the bedroom. Logan heaved a heavy sigh and stood, saying good night with the rest of the group before heading away with Kendall.
James turned to his younger friend, Carlos, who was currently doing a double combo before he DEFEATED the Mortal Kombat character Kano he was playing. James couldn't help but love how Carlos would stick his tongue a bit out of his mouth when the level got difficult. Or how even when Carlos was loosing he would still joke around and have fun with it. James could think of a million things he loved about Carlos...even if he was keeping some sort of secret that had to do with the white paint smudges along the sides of his legs.
Tonight. He knew that Kendall was going to confront Logan about his past tonight, so he might as well make it even and confront Carlos as well.
Kendall sat on his bed and watched his boyfriend change into his T-shirt and shorts for bed. He wasn't sure how to bring up such a heavy topic, especially one that Logan really didn't want to talk about. When Logan was standing in front of him, eyes down and not sure what to say, Kendall just grabbed his hand and pulled him towards him. He leaned back against the wall and lifted and arm so Logan could crawl to his side to cuddle.
"I don't know where to begin." Logan said, his voice quiet.
Kendall wasn't sure either. "How about you start with your dream?"
Logan was quiet for a moment, before saying, "I don't really remember all of it. I was back in the basement, Bonner was there. He was saying...not very nice things. I just wanted you to come find me...but you never came." Logan took a breath as Kendall clutched hims closer, "Then...he got violent, like he did before. He just...has such a short temper. I always set him off. No matter how much I tried not to..." Logan's voice trailed off, and he suddenly pulled away from Kendall, standing.
"Logan..." Kendall began moving to follow him, but his words and actions died when Logan spun around and held out a hand.
Logan stared at him for a moment, then said, "You can leave me. If you want. I-I won't make a big scene about it. I won't blame you at all, if you don't want to be with me anymore, after this.. I-I-I'll understand."
Kendall was speechless. Where was this coming from? "Logan...why would I ever...why would you think that?"
Logan ran his hands through his hair, turning away from the questioning eyes. "Kendall. I'm not who you think I am."
Kendall scoffed at Logan's words, replying, "Logie I've known you since we were 8. I think I know who you are pretty well."
"Would you have ever guessed that I would have done...those things? That...what you know about me had ever happened."
Kendall stood, walking towards Logan, but not touching him, "No. But that's only because you are so damn good at hiding Logan." Kendall took his loves chin in hand, and said, "You only did those things to protect yourself. I don't blame you, or think differently of you at all." When Logan closed his eyes and tried to pull away, Kendall only held on tighter, "I know you. Logan. I know you're a good person. And I know you love our friends and my family. Mom and Katie. I know you love me. I know that because I love you."
Logan, sniffed, trying desperately not to cry, even as he saw tears forming in Kendall's eyes.
"67." Logan answered.
"What?" Kendall asked, letting go of Logan.
"67. That's...that's how many times you've said you loved me."
Kendall let out a soft laugh. "You remember that?"
Logan, however, wasn't smiling, "I remember...a lot. I remember by counting...like...I remember that my parents have told me they loved me 12 times, for every graduation since Kindergarten. All the parents would say how proud they were of their kids...and my parents would say that they loved me. That's the only time they would ever say it."
Kendall took Logan's hand, sadness in his eyes, but Logan couldn't stop now. "I remember how many times I went to Doctor Bonner's. How many minutes until he normally started getting...mean. How many punishments in a month. How many bruises. How long it took until Bonner got angry..."
Logan had to stop...he was getting to lost inside his own memories, and needed to detour.
"I also remember...before coming here...before you loved me...how many times you would check a player who was gunning for me in a game. How many times you touched a puck." Logan paused, his voice beginning to crack as his eyes filled with tears, "How many times you smiled at me in a day."
Kendall pulled Logan in a hug as he watched him break. Though Logan's face was muffled against his shirt, he could still hear Logan beg, "Please...Please don't leave me." as he sobbed against him.
"Logan." Kendall led Logan back to the bed, setting him down beside him even as Logan clutched to him like a lifeline. "Logan look at me." Kendall wiped some of Logan's tears away and said, "I know this was really hard for you...and it's only going to get harder from here. But...I'm not going to leave you. I want to stay. To be with you. And, I do know you Logan...better than you think. I may not have an IQ of five million like you," Logan let out a soft laugh at his words, "but I am smarter than you think. And I know there is no one I would rather lay down with a night, than with you in my arms."
Logan launched himself at Kendall, kissing him full force, trying to pour all his gratefulness and love into this one action. They kissed for a while, just enjoying the love they were sharing with each other, before finally breaking apart.
"And don't you even think about leaving me...got it?" Kendall said, laying his forehead against Logan's, who nodded.
Kendall pulled Logan back until they were laying down together, settling under the covers and shifting to get comfortable to sleep, before he whispered, "Thank you,"
Logan let out a breath and said, "Me? What for? You were the one who listened."
Kendall smiled before kissing Logan on the forehead, "Thank you for trusting me enough to talk."
"We need to talk." James stated as Carlos bounced into their room in this shirt and shorts, doing a dance move they had learned for their previous concert.
Carlos stopped short, then immediately looked guilty. "OK! I'm sorry! I didn't want to use the last of your shampoo but Logan had Camille over and I didn't want to go out into the hall way to get more because I was afraid she'd see me naked-" Carlos began, rambling.
James held up a hand and said, "First. I knew it was you. Why do you think the next day you couldn't find your helmet for 6 hours?"
"Hey-" Carlos began, but James cut him off.
"Second. That's not what I wanted to talk to you about. I wanted to ask you about why you keep ending up with pain blots all over you?"
Carlos immediately froze up before turning away from James to crawl into bed, " I told you-"
James grabbed his arm, pulling him back to standing, and not letting go when they were facing each other. "Which was a lie. Now tell me the truth Carlitos. Whats with all the paint?"
Carlos jerked his arm away, immediately going into the defensive. "It's nothing. Just leave it alone James."
Surprised and even more hurt by Carlos's dismissal, James frowned and said, "Why won't you tell me? I'm...I'm your best friend." He couldn't believe it. Normally Carlos is terrible at keeping secrets, and here he's been keeping one and James just couldn't figure out.
Carlos's resolve faded at bit at Jame's words, but he kept his ground. "James...I know you're my best friend. I just-I need to keep this to myself...for now OK?"
Still hurt by Carlos's secret, James turned away from him. "Yeah. Fine. Whatever," He said as he climbed into bed.
"James..." Carlos began, but James kept his back to the Latino boy.
"It's fine Carlos. I understand." I understand you don't trust me. James thought to himself. Immediately he wanted to kick himself, since he had been giving Kendall and Logan tips on trusting each other, and here he was with the one person he trusted more than anyone, keeping secrets from him.
He tried to think about what the characters in his novels would do in this situation. Often the reason behind their keeping secrets had to do with a dark or passionate past, like in Jane Eyre. But James was just mostly hurt by Carlos's refusal to trust him, and couldn't bring himself to justify it.
He wanted to cry when he heard Carlos heave a heavy sigh before climbing into bed, then turning the lights off.
Normally the boys would talk or goof around before passing out, but tonight, they fell asleep in total silence.
I'm sorry for the angst! Don't worry it won't last long, I promise. And the next chapter will have even more Jarlos goodness in it. I can't keep these two mad at each other for long! I hope you enjoyed it. More will be up soon!
xoxo BA