Here's chapter 16! You're getting it early today because I work from literally open to close. You'll get 17 early too because I work all day tomorrow too.
Enjoy! (:
o*o*o*o*o
I cannot live without you.
It is simply not an option.
-unknown
o*o*o*o*o
15 Years Old
"Where is he?" Carlos and James watch as their blonde friend paces across his living room floor. "He was supposed to be here half an hour ago!"
"Dude…" Carlos pulls back the curtain covering the window and giving everyone in the room a glimpse of the piles of snow that cover every inch of the world outside. "I'm sure it's just taking them a little longer to drive."
"Yeah," James runs his lucky comb through his hair, "Logan called and told us he was almost in town. So he's probably just stuck driving really slowly."
Kendall nods. "Yeah, I guess you're right." He forces himself to sit on the couch. He's still for about ten seconds before his leg starts bouncing.
He knows that he shouldn't be this nervous. It really had only been about forty minutes since the genius had called and informed him that he and his mother were almost back in town. There's nothing for him to be so anxious about. Except there's this feeling in his gut that just won't let him relax. He's learned over the years that, when it comes to Logan, he's got a sixth sense- Carlos calls it his Logie Sense- and he hates to ignore it.
He's always had an issue letting the smaller boy out of his sight-something that stemmed from his years of protecting the slightly nerdy boy from bullies. So when Logan had announced that he and his mother were going out of town and that he was going to be late for their regularly scheduled sleepover, Kendall had felt slightly uneasy about the whole thing, but had been able to push it aside because Mama Mitchell was probably the one person who was more protective of Logan than Kendall was.
"Kendall." The blonde is brought out of his thoughts by James' voice and the hand that the pretty boy puts on his knee to get his leg to stop bouncing. "Everything is fine. Stop being so paranoid."
-0-
"Can I be paranoid now?" Kendall hisses, snatching his phone off the coffee table and starting to dial the smart boy's number, too panicked to remember that Logan is number two on his speed dial –second only to his mom.
James peers out the window, looking worriedly down the street that remains empty of anything but snow. "Yes. Call Logan. Even if traffic and the weather is terrible it shouldn't be taking this long."
The blonde's already got the phone pressed to his ear. His heart nearly stops when the call goes straight to voicemail. "Something's wrong." He says, standing up and making his way to the hallway, where his boots and jacket are waiting.
James and Carlos follow him. "Dude, no." Carlos pleads. "It's freezing out. You can't just run out and try and find him. You don't even know where he is."
"That doesn't matter!" Kendall snaps. He takes a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. "Sorry. I just…I have to go find him. You know how it is."
Finally Carlos nods. "Fine. But James and I are coming with you."
"Maybe you should stay here." James suggests. "That way if Logan does show up we know. And if something is really wrong we know we can get a hold of you so you can call your dad."
Carlos nods after a moment of silence. "Fine." He takes off his helmet and hands it to James. "But take this with you just in case."
The pretty boy smiles gratefully before putting the helmet on his head, knowing it's the shorter boy's way of being there with his friends in spirit since he can't go with them in person. The two taller boys finish donning the rest of their winter gear and make their way out into the snow.
"So where do we go?" James asks.
"The nearest highway exit." Kendall suggests. "That's the most direct route to my house from where they were coming from."
"Sounds like as a good a place as any to start."
They walk in silence; Kendall trying his best to feel Logan the way he's always been able to. He tries to feel the gentle pull that always leads him to his best friend. Instead, the blonde feels nothing for a few seconds and then there's an almost violent tug in his chest. One so strong that Kendall doesn't have a choice but to follow it. He takes off running, leaving James behind calling after him.
As he runs he realizes that it feels like he's not even in control of his own legs anymore. He doesn't even know where he's going. He just knows he has to get there. After five minutes of running faster than he's ever run in his entire life, the blonde finds himself on a back road that is no where near the highway exit that he and James and been headed too.
And there, in a ditch about halfway down the unpopulated road, is Mama Mitchell's Honda.
Kendall's heart jumps to his throat when he sees it. He makes his way towards the car, his hands shaking. When he reaches it he can see Logan and his mother, eyes closed, sitting in the car. They're both shaking pretty badly. He immediately whips out his cell phone and calls James, informing the pretty boy of his location and asking him to call an ambulance and Carlos. After he hangs up he tries to size up the situation. The entire passenger side of the car is pushed against the snow bank, so getting them out that way isn't an option.
The driver's side is pretty banged up. Whatever hit them, Kendall suspects it was probably another car, hit right in just the right way that the blonde is sure he isn't getting the Mama Mitchell's door open any time soon. The door in the back, however seems to be okay. He rips it open, calling the genius' name frantically.
The shaking genius pries his eyes open and turns to face the blonde. "K-Kendall?"
Relief floods through the other boy's body. "Hey Logie. I know I'm probably not supposed to move you, but I have to get you out of here, okay?"
Logan shakes his head. "M-m-my mom. G-get her out."
"Kendall!"
The blonde turns at the sound of James' voice. The pretty boy is running up to the car, looking frantic. Kendall nearly smiles in relief. "James is here. He'll get her out. Now come on. I'm going to need you to help me as much as you can."
He crawls into the car as much as he can and does his best to hoist the smaller boy up and into the backseat as carefully as he can. Kendall catches a glimpse of Logan's cell phone, lying cracked and broken on the floor by the genius' feet. As soon as he has him out, James crawls in and begins to do the same for Logan's mother.
Kendall yanks off his coat; dropping to the ground and wrapping it around the smaller boy before pulling him close, trying to share body as much as possible. He can see James do the same for Mrs. Mitchell out the corner of his eye. He hugs the other boy close, holding him tightly against him. He can hear the sound of sirens in the distance and smiles gratefully.
"The ambulance is on its way, Logie." The taller boy mumbles into the brunette's hair. "Everything is going to be okay."
"T-t-t-thank y-y-you."
"No thanks is necessary." The blonde shakes his head and is surprised to find a few tears dripping down his chin. "You're my best friend."
The genius snuggles closer to Kendall, soaking up all his body heat.
"You're not going to leave me. I won't let you."