Alice: Here's the next chapter.

Emily: Enjoy!

Alice: Thanks for all the reviews and support.

Emily: This chapter is short, I'll admit that.

Alice: The next chapter will be a lot longer.

Emily: This is kind of a transitioning chapter to the second part of the story.

Evening 13

There was dead silence. Logan was holding his ground, tears rolling down his very pale cheeks. He refused to sob or indicate that he was weak. Camille and Jo glanced at each other wearily. The truth was officially out. Now they were just concerned with how things would progress from here. Lucy felt no satisfaction towards Logan's confession. Instead she just felt a hole in her stomach. Hearing it from Jo had been hard enough. A small sliver of her hoped maybe it wasn't as bad as Jo explained. God, she was wrong.

The three boys just stood there. Kendall was frozen, his green eyes wide with realization and shock. Carlos opened his mouth and closed it a couple times, wondering how he was supposed to react. Was he supposed to be mad? Sad? Heartbroken? Because right now his whole body was numb. He could hear his heart beat pulsing in his veins. And he had no idea what to think or feel. James' had the most visibly reaction. His brown eyes revealed shock, remorse, and then pure hatred. His tan fists were clenched as he gritted his teeth together. Anger radiated from him and anyone could tell.

"I was going to buy a hockey keychain for Kendall," Logan confessed in a whisper. "Alex worked there, and he figured out I was buying something for my boyfriend. He said they had more options in the back, and I followed him. He locked the door, and… I told him I didn't want it. The moment he kissed me I tried to leave. He didn't let me though."

Kendall swallowed. Logan stared down at the floor. "I always imagined my first time being with Kendall. It would be romantic or something, you know? He'd say he loved me or that I was beautiful or… well something."

And he would have. Kendall wanted to make love to the boy. When Logan wanted to, Kendall would have kissed him deeply and carefully. He would have waited for Logan to adjust to the new feelings and would have been careful. Whispers of I love you's and compliments on his body would have filled the room. It would have been perfect.

"Instead my first time was in the back of a store," Logan choked on a sob. "He wasn't careful or anything. He kept… he kept calling me a slut and a whore. He said how no one would want me now and… it was just so wrong. It hurt too. God, it hurt so much. When he finished up, he just said I was a good fuck and hoped to run into me again. I ran off and found Kendall."

This time Logan managed to meet Kendall's eyes. "I wanted to tell you," Logan whispered. "I wanted to just run into your arms and tell you everything. But I couldn't. I was used goods now and I was dirty and naïve and I knew you wouldn't want me. You needed someone better than a slut who was fucked in the back of a store. So I broke up with you."

Kendall wanted to protest. He wanted to scream how Logan was not used goods. He just couldn't find the words. "He didn't fuck you," James snarled. Everyone turned to the seething teenager.

"Yeah he did," Logan laughed humorlessly. "James, I was there. He fucked me-"

"Dammit Logan!" James cursed out. "He didn't fuck you! He raped you!"

Logan flinched. "He found me. I just… I was too scared to really say anything at first. And then he threatened me. I had to stay with him because I didn't want him to hurt anyone. He hits me and still fucks-"

"Rapes," James contradicted with a growl. Logan frowned but said nothing.

"Why did you tell Camille?" Carlos whispered. "You should have told us..."

"I don't know," Logan shrugged. "I just felt like I had to tell someone. I couldn't tell Kendall. I mean, what would he think of me? I didn't want him to know. You two would have told him or forced me to. Camille just seemed like my only option. I made her promise not to tell anyone. Alex was flirting with Jo though, so she had to tell her in order to keep her safe."

Logan glanced at the silent Lucy. "I should have known you two would have done something about it."

Camille laughed bitterly. "That's because we're good friends."

Logan didn't even smile. "I'm going to kill him," James all but snarled. "I'm going to fucking kill him!"

He turned around, as though destined to go and follow through with his threat. "James," Logan pleaded.

"He raped you! And he hit you and… dammit Logan! It was right in front of me!" James screamed. "I saw that bruise and the way you flinched and what do I do? I called you a whore and… I have to kill him!"

In the group, Kendall was the clear leader. He came up with the plans and the schemes. He seemed to be very protective of his friends. What most people didn't know was just how much more protective James was. If anyone hurt Logan, Carlos, or even Kendall, James reacted the most furiously. This was no exception. Kendall and Carlos, once they recovered from their shock, would probably go along with James and attack him. "No, you don't," Logan cried out.

"He deserves it," Carlos mumbled, emotions swirling in his body. "He deserves it, Logie!"

"Can't argue with that," Jo grumbled, hoping someone would go and at least rough up the boy that dared to hurt Logan.

"I'm so sorry…" Kendall mumbled. His voice was void of emotion. Everyone turned to him. "I should have noticed something or done something. I didn't… God. This is all my fault, isn't it?"

"Kendall," Logan whispered.

"It was more my fault," James laughed bitterly. "I was being horrible to you and calling you horrible names when you were going through that."

"I didn't stop any of the bullying either," Carlos' eyes softened. "I should have stood up for you when people called you bad names and pushed you in pools."

"WHAT?" Kendall and Lucy exclaimed. Jo and Camille flinched.

Kendall sharply turned to James and Carlos. "They were bullying him? And you guys did nothing?"

"I thought he deserved it," James whispered sadly.

"Guys!" Logan exclaimed. "It's no one's fault! If anything, it's mine. I should have been stronger or not gone in the back with him or something!"

James, Carlos, and Kendall looked into his eyes. All of his sadness and self-hatred shined through in this own particular moment. None of them really noticed just how torn up and broken Logan was. Now it was presented to them in all its glory. Kendall slowly walked up to him and reached out to hug him or touch him or something. Seeing Logan cringe as though Kendall would hit him, he drew back his hand. Seeing Kendall's soft, loving eyes, Logan partly just wanted to cry.

"I still love you," Logan whispered so softly Kendall thought he imagined it at first. Kendall felt like laughing at the irony of the situation. This whole time those were the words he was dying for Logan to say to him. Now he just wanted to help him or make him better. He didn't care if Logan had a new boyfriend at this point. As long as that boyfriend treated him right he would have been fine.

"Me too," Kendall laughed sadly. "Me too."

Lucy scanned the two boys' body language and quickly shot a look at Jo and Camille. Both girls nodded and stood up. Camille went to James while Jo went to Carlos. "Let's give them a second," Camille whispered. Lucy directed them out of the room.

They were alone and they had no idea what to say to each other. "You're going to break up with him," Kendall finally decided. Logan shook his head, his eyes filling with fear. "I'll be there when you do. Or I'll tell him. Either way, you're moving back in. I'm going to get your stuff and make sure he never comes anywhere near you."

"Kendall-" Logan said softly.

He didn't let him finish. "We could press charges too! And maybe we can-"

"I don't want to press charges," Logan interrupted. He sighed. "Kendall, we're in a boy band. A very famous boy band. Remember all the attention we had when we got together? I don't want the whole world knowing about… this. I didn't even want you guys to know. If we press charges, everyone will know. I don't want that."

Kendall frowned but knew he couldn't argue. Especially not with that reasoning. Logan was always the smart one. "I still want you to move back in," Kendall whispered. "I won't be able to sleep knowing you're not safe with him."

Logan nodded slowly. It was silent for a few seconds. "Why did you try so hard?"

"Why did I try so hard to what?" Kendall's eyebrows furrowed.

"To get me back," Logan whispered. "I mean, you thought I cheated on you and dumped you for another guy. I don't see how I'm so special you'd want me back that badly."

"Logan," Kendall moved forward, cupping Logan's cheek with his hand. Logan didn't flinch away which Kendall guessed was progress. "I love you way too much to give up that easily."

"I'm not even worth it," Logan mumbled. Kendall bent down and kissed his forehead lightly.

"You're worth everything to me," Kendall whispered. At hearing those words, soft comforting words that Logan had been longing to hear since being raped, he broke down. He clutched Kendall's shirt and sobbed. Kendall soothingly rubbed his back and whispered words of endearment.

"I love you, Kendall," Logan cried out, his whole body shaking with sobs. "I love you so much. I never stopped."

"Me too," Kendall hugged him, feeling tears of his own coming to his eyes. "I love you too."

Logan eventually cried himself to sleep in Kendall's arms. He stared down at Logan, who was peacefully asleep. Kendall wondered how many peaceful nights Logan would be granted at Alex's apartment. He flinched to think of Alex beating or raping Logan. Soon his feelings of sadness and guilt began to fade, overshadowed by a new emotion. Pure loathing for Alex overcame him. His green eyes narrowed.

Nothing was going to stop him from killing Alex.

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Alice: Thanks for reading!