AN: Sorry for the long update, I actually have a lot of projects that I'm currently working on so I apologize. This chapter is a bit lighter compared to the ones to come after it, though something does happen with Logan. I'm also trying to incorporate more characters into this story while not making the entire thing about Carlos and Alana. Well, I'll let you all get to the story, hope you all enjoy.
"So Carlos, how are you feeling sweetheart? Are the doctors making you feel better? Sofia Garcia asked looking to her son who was currently bouncing in his seat with concern in her dark eyes.
"I'm great mom, I drew you a picture," he replied, a wide grin stretching his lips. "I hope you like it."
He flipped open his sketch book open to the marked page and carefully removed the page from the book before handing it tenderly to his mother.
"It's beautiful Carlos," his mother breathed looking to the drawing with a warm smile on her face. "But are you sure that you're okay dear?"
"Yeah mom, I'm fine," he smile broadly at his mother while a muck of emotions battled to show themselves. "A new girl moved in last week."
"Really? Did you make friends with her?" Sofia always worried about her son; his obsession for fire seemed to be the only thing he actively focused on.
At the question the teen blushed and looked down to his fingers that clutched onto his sketchbook tightly. "Well, we're more than just friends; she's my girlfriend and her name's Alana."
His heart raced when he thought of the damaged girl was so consumed with. The young boy missed the wife eyed expression on his mother's face when he finally looked up to meet her now curious gaze.
"Honey, are you sure about that? I wouldn't want you to get hurt," her voice was gentle and full of concern as she took his hands into hers.
"Of course I am momma, she's tons nicer than all the other girls here," his smile never faltering and the radiating warmth that swirled in his heart began to spread to the blood rushing in his veins. "I- I think I'm in love with her."
A warm smile curled to Sofia's lips despite the fact that her son may be falling into something that could hurt him worse than the fire he was so obsessed with.
"If she makes you happy, then I'm happy," she sighed and leaned over the table to kiss his cheek. "Take care of yourself Carlos."
"I will, I love you mom," he replied hugging his mother tightly as she stood up. "Tell dad and Tony, I said hi."
"I love you too honey, I'll tell them and you be safe now," she hugged him a find time before one of the guards escorted her to the public exit.
"Bye mom," he called after her as the doors closed behind her, his eyes widened at the sight of a tall Italian man with piercing green eyes stepped into the room. A wave of cold washed over him when the man's eyes connected with his dark ones.
"Hi daddy," Alana's voice fluttered from behind sending the lost warmth back into Carlos' body. "Hi Carlos, I saw your mom, she's really pretty."
His full attention was on her as she stepped closer to him, tucking the ever present sketchbook under his arm, he took her hands into his own not really caring if Alana's father was glaring a hole into his head,
"I'll see you in group later, okay. I have to talk to my dad now," she smiled tenderly at him while squeezing his hands tightly.
"Okay, bye Aly," his hands reluctantly slipped from hers, the warmth of her still clinging to him and seeped quickly into his bones.
He turned away from her, taking the sketchbook back into his hands as he walked towards the exit that led back into the institution. Looking back he stared at the girl of his affections longingly, the warning his mother had given was far from his mind.
"Who was that boy?" George Ramazzotti asked trying to keep his voice conversational and calm, his shoulders were tense with the news he had.
"His name is Carlos… he's my boyfriend," she looked to the surface of the table she now sat at as if it were the most interesting thing in the world while ringing her hands tightly.
"Oh? Do you like him?" he never knew of her having any boyfriends before, the daughter he knew was too timid to speak to boys much less start a relationship.
Her tongue felt like lead in her mouth as her father stared at her intently, keeping her eyes on the table; she nodded her answer, her hands still clenched in her lap.
'Speak up dear, daddy can't hear you,' Elektra cooed softly into Alana's ear making her shiver noticeably.
"Are you cold?" she shook her head still neglecting to speak, but she finally lifted her eyes to meet her father's.
'This is daddy Alana, you don't have to be afraid,' Chelsea whispered sitting on the left side of her.
'For once the whore is right,' Elektra grumbled while giving Alana a rough poke in the side. 'Talk to him.'
"So why are you here daddy?" she asked finally feeling her tongue work properly in her mouth.
"Well, I came to check on you, to make sure that you were getting better," he sighed running a hand through his dark thick hair peppered by strands of gray. "They found Michael's body, he's dead."
'Wonder how long it took for them to find that disgusting excuse of a man,' Elektra snarled as she squeezed Alana's shoulder. 'He thinks you killed him.'
"Why are you telling me?" her head hurt with the familiar ache pulsing behind her eyes as the information sunk in.
"After Michael had gone missing… I found pictures of you in his room," he father paused taking a long ragged breath before continuing. "Did he hurt you?" Was that the reason you hated him so much?"
Her throat tightened with a sudden dryness taking over as images of her vile half-brother flooded her mind. She flinched noticeably, her eyes bleeding blue before panic could consume her.
"So let's cut to the chase," Elektra snarled, her shoulder relaxing slightly, but held far more strength in them than Alana. "You think that Alana had something to do with that animal's death, don't you?
George's jaw tightened, he remembered seeing those cold blue eyes, he never thought he'd have to see them again, "I'm just tying up loose ends." He locked his fingers together on top of the table not sure how to continue.
"Figures, you'd try to get justice for that creep than worry about your daughters well being," the fierce blue eyes bled black, her strong posture changed to a stiff meeker one. "Alana called for you every time he tried to cover her mouth, but you were never there- you didn't save her."
George sat there stunned, this was the second time he'd seen her personality shift and he knew as he watched his daughter's eyes go back to the emerald green he'd always known that she was far for broken than he'd realized.
"I'm sorry princess," he whispered making a move to grab her hand.
"It's not like you knew… or could do anything, bye daddy," she got up from the plastic chair of the visiting room feeling the ever present throbbing behind her increase. "I have to go now."
Turning away from her father, she missed his expression crumbling into a mixture of regret and sadness as she pushed open the door to make her way down the long hallway, finally by herself a sense of relief washed over her.
'Well, at least now you don't have to worry about him anymore,' Elektra sighed draping her arm over Alana's shoulder. 'Now you can focus on your darling Carlos.'
"Shut up!" she hissed clutching her head when a sharp pain squeeze a nerve behind her eyes. When the pain dulled, she looked up to see that she was alone in the hallway.
Alana sat in her usual seat in group therapy next to Carlos, her fingers automatically twisting with his. A smile drew itself onto her face as her boyfriend's warmth washed over her like a gentle ocean breeze. She scooted her seat closer to him as they focused on each other ignoring the curious glances of the other patients filling to the room.
"Alright, well I know some of you had visitors today, who would like to talk about their visitor?" Kelly asked her smile wide as she warmly looked at the teenagers seated in the room.
"My dad came to visit me," Jo, a pretty brown eyed blonde said bravely, Alana had been informed by Carlos and Kendall that she was a bulimic who had nightmares the same (almost) as Logan. "He wants to bring me brownies…"
'That's sweet, her daddy bakes, it's just too bad that those lovely brownies will end up in the toilet after she eats them,' Elektra whispered rolling her eyes making Alana flinch inwardly at her appearance.
"Is he going to bring you some?" Kelly inquired sweetly while heather stood to the side silently probing the bulimic with her eyes.
Feeling a sense of shame, Jo looked to her lap while shaking her head quickly. Her shoulders tensed noticeably as the brunette girl next to her rubbed her back consolingly. Alana could see that the two of them obviously shared a war against the same demons.
'Birds of a feather, obviously,' Elektra rolled her eyes at the two girls. 'Just like those three skinny girls that always stick together.'
Unintentionally her green eyes looked to the Jennifers who huddled together giving anyone who looked their way fierce glares.
'Personally, I'd like to break their little necks,' Elektra hissed giving the anorexics her own glare.
Shivering slightly Alana closer into the boy next to her while still trying to ignore the pounding headache that never seemed to go away.
"Logan, you seem fidgety today, it there something you'd like to say?" Heather stared down the face skinned boy who immediately looked to his sneaked in what the over zealous counselor took as shyness.
"I- I don't- I d- I don't think my medications work anymore," he muttered he felt his heart rate quicken with the feel of everyone's eyes focused heavily on him.
"And why do you think that? Are you taking them?" Kelly gave the other woman a warning glance that went ignored as she bulleted the panicking teen with questions.
"Th-They don't K-Keep him away," he rocked himself in the plastic chair, his knuckles turning white as he squeezed onto the chair.
"Logie… are you okay?" Kendall softly asked setting his hand gently in hope to snap his friend back to reality, instead the shorter flinched from under the blonde's hand.
Sweat beaded along his brow, his breathing became shallow as the images of his nightmares replayed even more vividly in front of his brown eyes. His body shook, his skin pricking at the feel of those claws digging into his flesh.
"Go away! Stop touching me! No! Leave me alone!" he screamed throwing himself to the floor; he clawed at his scalp and body frantically.
The other teens watched in terrified fascination some of them had witnessed Logan's panic attacks before, but they'd never seen him thrashing around in mental agony on this scale. And they all could see that he was fighting a losing battle against his own demon.
With wide eyes Kelly called for the orderlies who rushed into the room, lifted the still thrashing boy and carted him off to the infirmary to be sedated.
"Um, does anyone else have something they'd like to share," Kelly awkward questioned as a thick blanket of tension fell over the patients, all were a little shake by Logan's episode.
"Jesus Christ, this is why no one ever wants to talk, stupid Heather's always badgering people," James loudly said glaring at the woman as he crossed his arms over his chest, all in the room nodded and muttered their agreement while the woman only shrugged.
'I'm proud of you, sitting with your boyfriend instead of all by yourself,' Elektra smiled as Alana sat next to Carlos at the boys' usual table in the cafeteria for dinner.
"Logan, are you feeling better?" she asked noticing that the raven haired boy was staring blankly at his tray of food.
"Oh, I'm fine, thank you" he mumbled glancing at her before picking up the plastic utensils they were all given.
"You're welcome," she replied looking down at her own food, James sat down on the other side of her; he sighed staring hatefully at the food.
"Why do they expect me to eat all this?" the lean boy grumbled as he meticulously separated his food by color and size.
'He's either OCD or he's anorexic,' Alana mused to herself as she watched James cut his steak in half then quarters, and then eighths. "James… what are you doing?"
"Making sure I don't eat too much of this, they're trying to make me fat," he whispered to her, his hazel eyes darting to the nurses that watched him, and the Jennifers to make sure they didn't try to throw away their food.
"Oh," she awkwardly shifted in her seat; she didn't exactly know if she should tell him that he was silly to think he'd ever be over weight, rather she went back to eating her chicken.
"Hey, um… Alana, I was thinking that maybe you could come to music with me and James," Kendall swallowed the food in his mouth as he looked to the girl sitting across from him, his green eyes staring intently into hers.
"Sure, I'd love to, that way I don't have to go to gym after therapy," she smiled at the blonde who smiled back at her.
'Aww, this is so cute, you're making friends now,' Elektra patted her on the head as she ate her dinner and made more conversation with the boys around her.
The news her father had given her was far away from her, that is until she went to bed that night.
So leave a review with you comments, concerns, and critiques. An update will come soon. xoxo