Logan waited at the front steps of the school for Carlos. School was gonna start in twenty minutes, but this is where they agreed to meet. Kendall and James had long before disappeared into the school hand in hand.

He sighed and ran his hands through his hair, even though James told him not to when it was fixed. He didn't WANT to go home. Now that he knew that Papi wasn't above hitting him. But Carlos was there.

He and Carlos could run away together. Not TECHNICALLY run away, since they were both 18, but they could find somewhere to live. They didn't need to live there with the Garcia's. They could find jobs- easy.

"You look like you're thinkin'." came a familiar voice and Logan looked up to see Carlos smiling down at him. The Latino sat next to him, setting his backpack down.

"About you." Logan grinned. "About how we should run off together."

Carlos nodded and his eyes dropped.

"Dad's real sorry." he said. "He feels really bad about all this and wants you to come home."

Logan sighed and shrugged.

"And I yelled at him for a long time. Cause I can only imagine how you felt after that... After all you've been through." Carlos said. "But I want you to come home. Cause Mom's okay with us. And Dad- he'll come around."

Carlos laid his head on Logan's shoulder, looking out at the groups of teenagers in the parking lot and stairs. Some looked at them, but they were used to the idea that they were gay.

"He was right, though." Logan said. "He has all the reason to blame me. You were perfectly straight before I came along."

"Doesn't matter." Carlos shrugged and raised his head to look at him. "All the matters is that I love you. And I want to world to know about it."

With that, Carlos grinned and planted a gentle peck right on Logan's lips.

"Will you come home after practice?" he asked, face still close to Logan's.

"I guess so. If YOU want me to." Logan grumbled. Carlos smiled and kissed his boyfriend again before getting up and helping Logan up, ignoring the eyes on them as they went up the stairs hand in hand.

"MITCHELL! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU TODAY! HIT. THE. DANG. PUCK!" Coach Wilson yelled from across the ice. Logan groaned and continued with hockey practice until he missed even more pucks and even fell off of his skates a few times. He was sent to the bench.

"I dunno what's buggin' you today, but get it straightened up. You hear me, son?" Coach almost yelled in Logan's face as he took off his helmet and sat down.

"Yes sir." Logan grumbled, slamming his helmet to the bench beside him and crossing his arms.

"NO sass, Mitchell." Coach snapped.

"Yes sir." Logan muttered and the coach left him alone.

He watched as his teammates glided along the ice with ease and scored goals. He could do that on any other day. But not today- he had stuff on his mind today. He had to go home after practice and talk things out with his family at the risk of Papi getting angry again. Logan was AFRAID of Papi. He knew what men could do and he didn't want to be a part of it.

After practice, everyone went to the locker room to take off their equipment. Like usual, Kendall and James changed with Logan, but there was something off between them tonight. Normally they were laughing and making jokes and punching each other around. But today it was just silent.

"Something wrong?" Logan asked, realizing that Kendall was on one side of him, James on the other. Normally they were both on one side.

"Nope." Kendall said, shooting James a look as he hauled up his hockey bag. "I'll see you later, Loge."

"Uh- yeah."

"Good luck with your parents." Kendall said as he left.

Logan turned to James, confused.

"What's going on?" he asked James as the bigger boy angrily zipped up his bag.

"He's being a diva." James grumbled.

"What did you do?"

"First, I accidentally said he was eighteen, when he's ACTUALLY seventeen. My fucking bad when the entire human population other than me is eighteen these days."

"That doesn't seem bad." Logan said, confused.

"That's not the bad part. I also, sorta, KINDA, like... Checked out a girl's ass." James said slowly. "And he kinda saw."

"JAMES!"

"Okay, FIRST OFF, it was a nice butt. Second, I'm pretty proud of myself for not giving in earlier- I used to be like a badass bachelor before him." James said. "And it wasn't the first time, but it was the first time he caught me. And yeah... That's why he's all pissy at me."

"Think he'll do something drastic?" Logan asked.

"Nah- just won't come over tonight. Won't talk to me for another few days, no matter how much I plead. Won't come over when you guys are over. Won't sit with me at lunch. You know- the usual." James spat.

Logan rolled his eyes and shrugged. James and Kendall fought all the time. Sometimes James was mad at Kendall, but mostly it was the other way around. Logan almost NEVER even knew why they fought, but he didn't pry.

And it was then that Logan realized how little he and Carlos fought. Actually- it was mostly petty bickering if they DID fight. Almost a year of being together and they had never had a real fight...

"I'll see ya, Loge. And good luck." James said as he left. Logan zipped up his bag, put on his coat and scarf, and made his way out.

He went out into the cold March air, into the snow, and got into Carlos's little car.

"How was practice?" Carlos asked as Logan leaned over to kiss him.

"Horrible." Logan grumbled, turning up the heat in the car.

"Why?"

"I was all distracted and stuff- couldn't concentrate. Got sent to the bench." Logan sighed. Carlos started the car and put his hand on his boyfriend's knee as he began driving.

"Can't believe I can't even play for my Senior year." Carlos said. "I wish I could be there to kick the coach's ass."

Logan smiled in the dark as Carlos squeezed his knee a little.

"I'm scared." he said suddenly.

"I know." Carlos said, knowing that he was talking about their talk with their parents. "Me too."

They got home and Logan put his stuff away and joined his family in the dining room. Carlos and Logan on one side, Papi and Mrs. Garcia on the other.

"Boys, you have to understand our shock when we found out about you two." Mrs. Garcia began. "This whole time we thought you were just best friends. Come to find out, you've been dating for almost a year. Now... We realize that you two are legal adults. And there's nothing we can do to punish you for you decisions. You're lucky I persuaded your father not to kick you two out. But there will be... Precautions."

Mrs. Garcia turned to her husband expectantly.

"Absolutely NO sleeping in the same room. I know how you teenagers like to... Cuddle." Papi began. "You won't be left home alone anymore. We'll have Andres or Javi or Antonio come and babysit you two. The door has to ALWAYS be open to bedrooms that you both are in."

"And what if the door ISN'T open? What if we DO sleep together?" Carlos challenged.

"Then you'll be kicked the hell outta my house." Papi growled. "There's nothing I can do about my sons being gay, but I can sure as hell make it as miserable as possible."

"Excuse me, Papi? Sir?" Logan piped up, tense. "What is all this supposed to DO?"

"Keep you from having sex. That's what." Papi said darkly. "My son will NOT be a butt pirate."

"Roberto!" Mrs. Garcia scowled, then turned to the boys. "Just like any parents, we don't want our children to have sex. That's all. There are DISEASES you can get."

"Mom! Neither of us have diseases!" Carlos groaned.

Papi got up.

"That's all. But remember. If I catch you so much as holding hands... You're both out." he said. "You may be my youngest and last son, Carlos, but that doesn't mean I have to harbor you forever. You're an adult."

Carlos was herded into his room, Logan into his.

This is no fun. :( I miss you. Carlos texted Logan immediately.

L: Ik. This is horrible. :/ I say we make a run for it. Elope. :)

C: I'm down. Goin all Romeo and Juliet.

L:Except we're not gonna die.

C: We're all gonna die eventually. :D

L: He types with a smiley face. You're dark.

C: So are we really gonna elope?

L: No. :/

C: Y?

L: Cause neither of us have the balls to do that.

C: I do.

L: OKAY, Los. XD Whatever you say.

C: We could just live with James.

L: I say no eloping until school ends.

C: Awe. No fun.

L: We'd have to go to some other state!

C: Ain't nobody got time for that.

L: :D Shut the hell up.

C: He types with a smiley face.

L: Think I'd get caught if I just scurried over there and smothered you with a pillow?

C: I think dad would welcome it.

L: What if I were to smother you in kisses? Kiss you to death?

C: That's a good way to go. I'm down. C'mon over.

L: :D I'm gonna go to sleep.

C: It's Friday night!

L: What else am I gonna do?

C: Stay up and text me!

L: I barely slept last night! I'm tired.

C: Poo. Okay. Night.

L: Night. Love you.

C: Love YOU.

You know what to do. :D