Happy New Year everyone! I'm not all that excited about the 'holiday' aspect of it, but I do like that it's a time for new beginnings. I didn't re-read so don't kill me if there are any mistakes.
Disclaimer: I wouldn't want to own BTR, too many variables and personalities.
Logan has never been more zoned out in his chemistry class. He can't believe that he's been suckered into meeting one of his bullies. Granted, he hasn't really been bullied recently. Actually, they've been taunting him more than anything.
That's the only reason he made Kendall feel dumb yesterday. The blonde wouldn't stop messing with him. Are they not in college already?
And now that Logan is ready to pay attention, the professor decides to end the class. Crap. He sighs and packs up his stuff. "I guess it's time to meet the psycho."
Now he's standing alone with the James Diamond behind the buildings, having the weirdest conversation ever. Ever.
"You've been stalking me for over 10 years in Carlos' treehouse?" Logan says, not really knowing how to feel.
James rolls his eyes, "I wouldn't call it stalking. More like watching over you." He says with his bag on his shoulder and his hands in his jeans.
The genius still doesn't know what to think, "Why?"
"Because you remind me of my little brother, Liam." James says easily, willing to tell all of his secrets to have Logan trust him.
Except Logan's not happy, "So you bullied your little brother then too?"
"What?" James is starting to get frustrated, "I never bullied you, Logan." He says strongly.
Logan scoffs, "Really? You mean rubbing my head, practically petting me, wasn't belittling? You made me feel like I'm an animal or something." As he talks he sees James looking at him with a confused smile. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
James steps closer to Logan, "Because these," he messes up Logan's hair, earning an eye roll, "are my way of saying that I like you and that things will get better."
Logan is speechless. James has never liked me. He's always hated me, that's why we never talked. "Wait. You have a little brother?"
"I did. He died before we moved here." He says.
Logan swallows, "Oh."
James chuckles, "Yeah, 'oh'." He sighs. "Okay, so you know all of my secrets, and now we can move onto your personal growth."
"Why do you want to 'help' me anyway?" Logan asks with hint of annoyance in his voice, and fixes his hair. "You hate me. You've always hated me." He says, more so convincing himself than anything.
James has a look of hurt on his face. "That's not true. If you're referring to us not talking much as kids, it was because I just lost Liam and you reminded me of him so much. You still do. At the time, I couldn't handle it."
Logan nods in understanding, knowing what it's like to lose someone you love. He doesn't know what he would do if he met someone that reminded him of his dad. But that doesn't completely excuse James' behavior over the years.
James flinches a little, he's hurt. "I'm sorry for letting them bully you, Logie. I just didn't want know what to do." He says quickly.
Logan chooses to ignore the nickname; "I'm not talking about the harsh words from Kendall and Carlos or the beatings from Jett. I'm talking about you." Logan isn't sure if he believes that James' head rubs were telling him that things were going to get better.
James' eyes widen, he didn't know about Jett and he will definitely be having a talk with him later. "Me? What did I do?" I've never hurt him. Right?
"Treating me like a puppy, like I'm not even human, isn't bullying to you? I'm sorry if I sound like I'm not hearing you James, but this is how I felt for the last 8 years." Logan is getting frustrated.
"Logan? I wasn't trying to make you feel that way. Honest." He steps closer to him, "I used to rub my brother's head like that all the time." James doesn't know why, but he's suddenly nervous. "It's stupid, but it always made him feel better." He says in a lower voice.
Logan looks down at the ground, shaking his head. "You know what," his eyes meet James', "The past is the past." He takes a deep breath. "Let's just find a time to do this whole 'love myself' thing and move on with our day."
James doesn't care what anyone ever thinks about this, but he wraps his arms around Logan. "I'm sorry for anything I've ever done to you." He says. "You mean a lot to me and I'm really sorry."
He's shocked, but he returns the hug, awkwardly patting his back. "It's okay, James." He doesn't feel like it's okay quite yet, but he hopes that will change someday.
James pulls back with a soft smile on his face, "I know you well enough to know that you don't mean that, but I'll make it up to you. Starting with getting the guys to back off."
Logan's hand finds the strap of his backpack. He adjusts it because he feels uncomfortable, and he's not sure if he can trust James or not. The words are nice, but it's almost been a decade of this torment. "I'll believe it when I see it."
"Okay. Fair enough." James feels weird all of a sudden. He checks their surroundings, but he doesn't see anything out of the ordinary. Feeling safer, he looks back to Logan. "Meet me—" He begins, but stops when he hears the snap of a twig. Someone's watching them and he knows it.
Logan's confused as to why he randomly stopped talking, "Are you okay?" He asks, looking around.
James' attention snaps back to Logan, "Uh, yeah. I'll text you the details, okay?"
"Okay." Logan nods and quickly walks away.
And suddenly Kendall Knight appears in front of James. With a tree hat on. Crap. "What was that, James?" He asks, snatching off the hat and motioning in the direction Logan walked away in.
James puts on his most charming smile, and then promptly removes it when he remembers whom he's talking to. Kendall responds best to authenticity. The truth. "That was me helping out your former bestie."
Kendall nods, "Yeah, I got that part. Why are you helping him though? He's a loser, in case you forgot."
James shakes his head, not believing how high school this has become. "Kendall, if you were here during our conversation, you'd be able to see that Logan misses you and Carlos. He still loves you guys despite the bullying." James pauses to see if there's a reaction. When he doesn't get one he continues on, "I don't know about you, but I would've done something crazy if you guys ever left me."
"We would never leave you, James." Kendall says with a strong sense of power.
James already knows that, and he's pissed. "But you'll gladly leave Logan. Let's not forget that the guy you used to look up to in high school secretly liked to take it up the ass."
"So Reynolds is gay, what's wrong with that?" Kendall says quickly.
James puts his hands up in surrender, "You know I don't judge people like that, Kendall. It's just that you are Mr. Be Yourself, and you willingly left one of the realest people you know to hang around a closeted ladies man for the sake of popularity. I stuck with you because I love you and Carlos, but it doesn't mean I agree with all of your decisions and it's past time for me to speak up."
Kendall looks as if he's going to retort, but he closes his mouth with a heavy sigh. "You got me there." He admits.
"All I'm saying is that we're not in high school anymore. You know who you are and who you want to be. Why not try to make amends? It'll be an uphill battle, but it's not too late." He says, really hoping he's getting through to his thick-headed friend.
After a few minutes, Kendall nods. "I'll think it over."
James breathes a sigh of relief, "Now what are we going to do about Jett?"
Kendall's green eyes turn a shade darker. It's a rare expression, and it's a scary one. "Don't worry about Jett. I'll handle him." Kendall doesn't mind messing with someone in a humiliating kind of way, but to violently beat someone is not okay with him, and he will make sure Jett's punishment is sweet.
The next week passes by in the blink of an eye for Logan. His studies are going well, and hanging out with James hasn't been so bad, even if the pretty boy has an unhealthy obsession with bandanas. There are pictures of bandanas everywhere. What is wrong with James?
Right now, the unlikely pair is in James' apartments playing a racing game on his huge TV. Logan loves James' palace compared to the baby room he's been living in all his life.
Wait…James is rich, and he's been rich forever. Why would he even be in a public school?
And of course Logan can't keep hold his tongue. He pauses the game, and ignores James' frustration, "Since you're really rich, why did you go to public school? I mean, wouldn't your parents have put you in a private school?"
James smile, "This is why I like you." He says simply.
Logan turns a shade of pink.
"No one has ever asked me that before." He explains, still smiling and looking like a model. "My parents wanted me in a private school, but I chose not to go. Not much individuality when you're wearing a uniform."
Logan is satisfied with the answer, "That makes sense." He then unexpectedly unpauses the game, catching James off guard and winng the race. He jumps up and does a stupid dance to celebrate. "Woo hoo! I won!"
James could only laugh at the silliness. His heart warmed as he notes that Logan has gotten comfortable with him and he couldn't be happier.
The front door of James' condo slams shut.
"I haven't seen this side of you in a while, Logan." Comes the voice of Kendall, who just walked into the apartment with Carlos next to him. Both boys are smiling and happy to see that Logan is happy for a change, no thanks to them.
Logan stops dancing and quickly composes himself. He looks James, "You didn't tell me they were coming over." He whispers harshly, deciding to take a seat on the couch despite wanting to leave.
They heard him despite the whisper.
"He didn't tell you because he didn't know." Carlos speaks up as he walks over to the pair.
Logan notices that Carlos has a twelve pack of grape soda, Carlos' favorite. He sets it on the coffee table and sits on the end of the couch, on the other side of James.
Kendall has two boxes of pizza in hands.
Where did those come from? Logan thinks.
The blonde sets the pizza boxes next to the case of soda and sits on the end of the couch, right next to Logan. "Hi." The blonde says in a whisper.
What do you think is going to happen? I haven't even begun the next chapter yet, so you'll have to be patient with me. Sorry guys and girls. Please follow, favorite, and most importantly review!