Here's chapter 22. I really feel like you guys deserve a medal for sticking with me this long haha. This takes place sometime after Big Time Single, but before Big Time Wedding. Enjoy!

o*o*o*o*o
Truth hurts – not the
searching after; but
the running from.
-John Eyberg
o*o*o*o*o

17 Years Old

The sound of a phone ringing draws Logan's attention away from the documentary he is watching on TV. At first, he's confused because 2J doesn't have an actual phone; everyone just uses their cell phones. It takes him a minute to realize that the ringing is coming from the laptop that James had left open after talking to his mother via video chat.

Pausing the video, Logan makes his way over to the TV. He jiggles the mouse, bringing the computer to life. He blinks in shock at what's starring back at him. James has obviously forgotten to log out of his video chat account and is now receiving a call. It's the person that's calling that surprises Logan.

Jo Taylor.

He clicks accept, waving as the blonde's face appears on the screen. "Logan?" She sounds surprised, clearly expecting James to be the one who answered.

He grins. "Yeah, sorry about that. I'm was watching a documentary and you know the guys-as soon as I said the word documentary they went running as fast as they could." He chuckles. "Did you want to talk to Kendall?"

"Yeah." Jo nods. "But I can wait. How's everything in L.A.? How's Camille?"

"Everything's good. Gustavo has us working like dogs. You know, the usual. And Camille is fine. How's New Zealand?"

"I love it." The actress admits. "I mean, I loved L.A., it was where I needed to be to become an actress. But New Zealand is a lot of country. It reminds me of North Carolina. And I get to act." She smiles brightly. "It's the best of both worlds."

Logan smiles back. "I'm glad. I'm really glad that you didn't regret your decision."

The blonde shakes her head. "Can you keep a secret Logan?"

"Um," Logan blinks in shock. Of course he can keep a secret, he's been keeping a huge secret for years. "Yeah, of course. What is it?"

"From the moment I found out that I'd gotten the part, actually probably from the moment I decided to try out for the part, I'd felt like there was this pull. I felt like something was telling me I had to go to New Zealand. And from the moment I lied and told Kendall that I couldn't get out of my New Town High contract, that pull got worse. Like it was fighting my decision. It didn't let up until I called my agent and told her I would go."

Logan gaps open mouthed at the video of the actress. She sees this and laughs. "You think I'm crazy, don't you?"

The genius snaps his mouth shut, shaking his head vigorously. "N-no! Not at all! I think you're exactly where you're supposed to be. I've read those books and you are that character."

"Thank you." Someone, it sounds like her father, calls to Jo from off screen and she turns to face them for a moment before turning back to Logan. "I have to go, we're going out to dinner. I just wanted the chance to tell Kendall that I know we broke up and that it was painful but I know it was for the best and that no matter what it feels like now, we're both going to better off." She gives the brunette a knowing look that he refuses to analyze.

"I'm glad you think so. And Kendall is getting there. But, honestly, we just got him off the couch," She raises an eyebrow and he chuckles, "long story. And seeing you might send him back there. Please don't take it personally…"

She shakes her head, still smiling. "I don't. And I get it. It was easier for me because I really cared about Kendall, but acting is what I've wanted to do my whole life." Her dad calls to her again. "I gotta go. And thank you for not thinking I'm crazy."

The genius smiles. "I could never think you're crazy." He thinks back to when he had almost decided not to go to L.A. Especially since I think the same kind of thing happened to me…

They end the call and Logan returns to his documentary, hoping to get it finished before his friends return home. Unfortunately, he can't concentrate on the documentary any more, because his mind keeps wandering back to what Jo had said, about the pull that seemed to be forcing her to go to New Zealand. And about his own pull, the one that had all but refused to let him not go to L.A.

After several minutes, it becomes clear that he's not going to be able to concentrate on the documentary until he at least tries and tackles the questions on his mind. He heads back over to the laptop, bringing it to life and quickly going to Google. For a lack of a better reference point, Logan types in the words fate and pull and sees where that takes him.

The first thing that looks even remotely promising is a web page for an anime that centers around the legend of the Red String of Fate.

When nothing else looks any better, Logan changes tactics and searches for the red string of fate in Google, hoping that maybe, at the very least, that will lead him to something else. He vaguely recalls learning about the legend years ago. He's not really into mythology, however, so he'd dismissed the whole thing, and can barely remember what he's read about it.

He learns, or relearns, that it's an Asian legend, similar to the Western idea of soul mates. "An invisible thread, also known as the red thread of fate." He reads, "It is said to be tied to the pinkies of two people who are destined to be together. It crosses space and time and unites lovers no matter the obstacle."

He scoffs. "Yeah. Right."

But there's a twinge in his chest a -he can't believe he's even thinking this- a pull that disagrees with his initial rejection of the theory.

"It can't be true." He whispers, but even as he does so, he goes onto the L.A. Libraries website and finds one of the books that the website had recommended. This is crazy!

His brought out of his musings by the door opening and Kendall, James, and Carlos poking their heads into the room. "Is it over?" Carlos asks.

"Huh? Oh," Logan laughs lightly as he realizes what his friend is referring to. "Yeah, I'm done for now."

"Great!" His three friends make their way into the apartment and Kendall immediately turns to Logan. "Want to go to the hockey rink with me, Logie?"

Logan shakes his head, despite the fact that some one-on-one time with the blonde sounds like exactly what he'd like. "Can't. I, uh, I have go to the library."

He makes his way out of the apartment and doesn't miss the way Kendall's face falls as the genius refuses, yet again to hang out. He makes his way to elevator and tries to ignore the pull in his chest to go back to the apartment, back to Kendall.

He decides to actually head to the library and check out that book on the red thread of fate. He's going to read it cover to cover.

Just in case.