Title: And So It Goes
Author: SLynn
Rating: T
Pairings: Logan/Camille and Kendall/Jo
Spoilers: None
Disclaimer: Does anyone actually read this? If so, these characters and settings are not mine. I'm only borrowing.
Summary: Katie has a plan, but it's Kelly that ends up needing one.
Chapter 14
The next day, after lessons at the Palm Woods, Gustavo kept them all busy. He'd arranged everything so completely that Carlos didn't have time to feel awkward around Kelly, Logan didn't have the strength to continue moping about Camille, and Kendall didn't bother trying to sort out how all of this had resulted in problems between himself and Jo. James, who took these sessions much more seriously than the rest of them, was even worn out by the end of the afternoon, glad that at least it was Friday.
"What are we going to do tonight?" James asked when they finally arrived back at their apartment and slumped onto the couch.
"I promised Katie I'd take her out to play mini-golf," Logan sighed, resting his head against the back of the cushion.
Sensing that all eyes were on him, he explained.
"I owed her one."
"Can I come?" Carlos asked.
Logan was about to say, 'sure', when James interrupted him.
"No. No, you're not going to waste your night babysitting."
"She's not a baby," Logan interjected automatically.
"There's an informal gathering happening at the pool tonight," James soldiered on, ignoring Logan, "and we are going to find you a girlfriend."
"No," Carlos said, pulling a face and shaking his head.
"And then," James said, pointing at Logan, "we're going to find you a new girlfriend."
"Really?" Logan asked as if the word itself was sour.
"And then," James said, pointing finally at Kendall, "we're going to find out what's wrong with your girlfriend."
"There's nothing wrong with Jo," Kendall said defensively. "And hey, how about, instead of playing matchmaker, you find yourself a girlfriend."
"Yeah," Logan and Carlos said together.
"Because I am too pretty to be dating just one girl."
"I don't think I want a girlfriend right now," Carlos said, with a sad shake of his head.
"Me, either," Logan added.
"And there is nothing wrong with Jo," Kendall repeated. "We just... we're having a disagreement."
James didn't look convinced.
"So, can I come?" Carlos asked Logan again.
"Yeah," Logan answered. "The more the merrier."
"You two are really going to spend a Friday night, in L.A., playing mini-golf with a ten year-old?"
"Yep," they answered as one.
"Okay," James said with a note of finality to his voice. "Have it your way. I was only trying to help."
"Hey, boys," Mrs. Knight called out, having just gotten home. "How was your day?"
"Good," they all chorused, earning an approving chuckle.
"James," Mrs. Knight said, waving him over and handing out a package. "This came for you."
"Excellent," he said, taking off with the care package his mother sent him monthly.
"Anything for me?" Carlos asked hopefully.
"Sorry, not today," Mrs. Knight answered. "Oh, but Logan..."
"Really?" he asked, getting to his feet and shocked his parents bothered.
"Oh, no," she answered. "Nothing in the mail, but your mother called today. She said your phone keeps going to voice mail and she was starting to worry."
"About the phone," Logan finished for her.
"About you," Mrs. Knight said in what she hoped was a convincing tone.
Logan just smiled politely, not wanting to break it to Mrs. Knight that not all parents were good ones, like her. As far back as he could remember, Mrs. Knight had been single-handedly raising both Kendall and Katie, without ever complaining. His own parents couldn't find the time between them to even say anything nice.
"Give her a call," Mrs. Knight said, extending out the phone to him, which he reluctantly took.
"I'll just... " Logan rambled, pointing vaguely towards the bedrooms.
Dialing as he walked, his mother answered on the third ring.
"Hi, Mom."
"Logan?"
"Yeah," he answered, unable to help the sigh that escaped his lips. He was an only child. Who else would call her Mom? "It's me."
"I've been trying to call you for three days. Haven't you gotten my messages?"
"No, I'm..."
"Well, why not?"
"Because... I accidentally dropped my phone in the pool."
For a moment there was dead silence and then Logan thought he heard his muffled voices, which could only mean his mom had covered the phone with her hand. Undoubtedly, she was discussing the matter with his dad.
"What do you have to say for yourself?" she asked once she'd gotten back on the line.
"I'm sorry."
"And?"
"It was irresponsible and next time I'll take better care of my things."
"Fine," she said briskly. "Your father and I will credit your account and tomorrow you can go out and buy a new one."
"Thanks."
There was another long pause.
"How is school?" she finally asked.
"Great, actually. Miss Collins said..."
"That's good," his mother interrupted. "And that music thing? That's still happening?"
"Yeah," Logan answered shortly.
"Okay then," she said, and Logan could almost see the icy smile he'd come to associate with his mother. "Your father and I are going to a charity auction. You remember the Hawthornes? Mrs. Hawthorne is hosting, so of course we have to be there. They have a daughter your age. Amy, no... Ashley?
"April."
"April, that's right. The next time your home, you'll have to call her."
"Sure," Logan answered automatically; it was easier than fighting about it, because there was no way he was calling April Hawthorne, now or ever.
"Don't give Mrs. Knight any trouble."
"I won't."
"We'll talk again soon. Bye, dear."
His mom had hung up before he'd told her goodbye, but that wasn't new.
"Bye, Mom. Great talking to you," Logan continued on sarcastically to the dead air on the other end of the line. "Not that you listen."
"Who are you yelling at?" James asked as he came into the room.
"No one."
"Your mom or your dad this time?"
"My mom."
"Hey," James said, "look what my brother sent."
James tossed him a car magazine.
"What am I looking at?"
"This," James said, coming over and turning a few pages to the one marked. "He bought a junker he swears he's going to fix up just like that one."
"Really?"
"Probably," James answered. Despite how he sometimes complained about his older brother, he really looked up to him. "He'll probably make a fortune selling it, too."
"What else has Mark been doing?"
"Still trying to convince my mom that trade school is perfectly acceptable and that he really does want to be a mechanic."
"She'll come around," Logan said. "He's good at it and it's what he wants to do."
"Yeah," James said, sitting on his own bed, "my dad will work it out. She's really going to freak when I tell her I'm not going to college."
"What? Why aren't you going to college?"
"Yep. She'll sound just like that," James said, smiling.
"But..."
"I'm not going because I'm already doing what I want to do with my life."
Logan didn't argue with him, but it was weird. When he'd pictured going to college, he'd always thought they'd be all going together. The way they did everything else.
"So are you really going to go play with Katie tonight or what?"
"I promised her," Logan said, throwing his hands into the air. He was kind of wishing he hadn't now. Katie was a good kid, but he'd spent the entire week with her. Logan preferred the thought of hanging out with his own friends tonight, but wasn't about to go back on his word.
"Your loss."
Logan rolled his eyes and tossed the magazine back at James just as a knock came at the door.
"Enter," James hollered, and Katie pushed open the door.
"Ready?" she asked Logan.
"Yeah, let's go," he answered, hopping off the top bunk.
"Have fun," James called after him sarcastically.
Logan didn't answer him, but as they walked into the living room together, he did turn to Carlos and said, "Ready?"
"Let's do it," Carlos said, smiling at them both and jumping to his feet.
"Carlos is coming?" Katie said, stopping in her tracks.
"Yeah," Logan answered.
"My all time best is four under par," Carlos chimed in. "But tonight... tonight I make history."
Logan laughed, but Katie didn't look nearly as amused.