Alice: This should be a long chapter filled with flashbacks.

Emily: The italics are the memories and such.

Alice: Sarah and Logan also meet in this chapter.

Emily: Thanks for supporting this story. I love you guys!

Alice: If you want, I am taking prompts and publishing them in a story called Prompts.

Emily: Enjoy! There will be some references to the previous chapters in this story.

Day 17

Alex snickered happily, listening to something on his phone. Logan frowned, curiosity shining in his brown eyes, but he didn't say anything. All he wanted was to go back to the crib and lay down. At this point in time, Logan did not live with Alex. In fact, this was only the third day since the breakup… since the rape. Alex was still a whole new territory for Logan, and he didn't know what pushed his buttons yet. The blonde boy must have noticed Logan's staring. His smirk grew as he slowly approached him. Logan flinched as Alex sat down right next to him. "Watch this," Alex shoved the phone into his hands, rewinding the video to the beginning. As soon as Logan pressed play, Alex pressed his lips to Logan's pale neck.

Logan let out a gasp and shut his eyes tightly. "No," Alex whispered in his ear hauntingly. "Watch the video."

A hand slipped into the front of his pants. Logan shuddered at the unwanted touch and unwanted pleasure that came with it. But the threatening stare Alex gave him made him gulp and watch the video.

God, when did he become so pathetic?

In the video, a girl was sitting on a bench, singing happily with a blonde boy. Kendall, Logan's eyes went wide in recognition. They were both singing Edge of Desire… their song. Hatred swelled up for this girl only to be quickly forgotten as Alex kissed Logan's neck. "Stop," Logan whimpered.

Alex laughed. "Nope."

He continued without permission as the taunting singing of this girl and Kendall filled his ears. It wasn't until the video ended and Logan came that Alex let him leave. Logan hastily ran out and back to the apartment where he overheard James and Kendall talking. Biting his lip, he snuck up behind them. "Then why are you singing with her? Especially that song?" James wriggled his eyebrows suggestively, clearly not noticing Logan. "It was yours and Logan's song. You must be interested in her if you're singing that song with her. And that means you're one step closer to getting over Logan."

Logan flinched. Yes, Kendall deserved better and should move on. But he didn't want that. He didn't want Kendall to love someone else. But at least it was a nice looking girl.

"I'm not even close to getting over Logan," Logan perked up. Kendall wasn't over him? Happiness bubbled inside of him only to be buried deep by guilt. What kind of person was he? Kendall needed someone better to love, someone not tainted like him. Selfish desires and "common sense" fought deep inside Logan as the conversation continued. As this internal fight continued, James and Kendall argued. But one word caught his attention.

"He's... he's a whore, okay?" James was the one who said it. That stung. Part of him hoped that maybe James and Carlos wouldn't get involved, wouldn't hate him. But it was clear that they would. James continued to list the reasons on why Logan was undeserving of Kendall, on why he was a whore. "Who cheats on their boyfriend on their anniversary? Whores do. Who sleeps with guys they literally just meet when they have a boyfriend? Whores do! Kendall, Logan isn't worth it. He doesn't deserve you at all."

"James-" Kendall began. Logan shut his eyes tightly. Kendall shouldn't be defending him. He shouldn't be heartbroken. "Common sense" won the battle. Kendall needed to move on, to love someone else. And Logan had to help him see that.

"He's right." He hoped his voice gave away none of his sadness.

Both boys gasped and turned to him. "W-what do you mean?"

"Ask her out," a fake grin. "She's really cute! Let's face it, she sang that song way better than us singing it." At their confused looks, Logan playfully rolled his eyes. "Alex showed me the video. But you two do look really cute together. You really should ask her out! Oh, and introduce us too. She seems really nice.

Each word killed him.

"But-" Dammit, was Kendall really going to debate this?

"Come on Kendall," Logan tried again. "You deserve someone like her."

"I don't want her," Kendall's eyes darkened. Logan gulped, recognizing that look. Kendall usually wore it when someone made him really angry. "I want you. Logan, I don't think you understand. I love you. You're all I've ever wanted. You're all I'll ever want. I just... you cheated, but if you're willing to get back together, I'll learn to forgive you. It hurts now but at least we can work it out instead of ending it. Maybe we can even figure out why you felt the need to cheat."

And he thought James calling him a whore hurt. No, this took the cake. Why did Kendall have to be like this? Why couldn't he just see that he wasn't worth it? That everything James said was true? "Kendall-"

"What did I do wrong?" Kendall pleaded. Logan actually flinched. He flinched like Alex was touching him. "I mean, I thought I-"

He never got to finish. Camille stormed in, shouting his name and even informed him that Carlos was stalking Alex. Logan ran out after that, not wanting Carlos to be hurt by his boyfriend like he was.

This particular memory flooded through Logan's head as Kendall lead him to the park. Earlier Kendall insisted on meeting a girl named Sarah, the one who helped him out through the whole situation. Stories spilled out of Kendall's mouth on the advice Sarah gave or how often they would talk and hang out. All in all, she sounded like a nice girl. But Logan still hated her. It was immature really. He couldn't help it though. His pale skin crawled with the thought of smiling at her and introducing himself. Besides, the last time he heard her voice, Alex's hand was down his pants.

"Sarah!" Kendall called out with a giant grin that reached his green eyes. Logan stared up at that happy face with nostalgia. He remembered that same grin, that same expression. It used to be reserved for him. But now it belonged to Sarah.

"Kendall!" Sarah grinned, skipping over to the two boys. Her eyes went from Kendall to Logan and narrowed very, very slightly. The brunette returned this look with a tiny, almost invisible smirk. A message flashed between the two very suddenly. So suddenly that Kendall didn't even notice these little changes in the two. Both broke out into happy smiles.

"I'm Logan," he grinned happily, offering his hand to Sarah, who shook it gladly.

"Sarah," she giggled, smiling back with the same amount of energy. Kendall watched this scene with proud eyes. To think Logan was so hesitant to meet Sarah before! Now they were talking and giggling like long lost friends. He figured Sarah helped him so much through these past couple of days that she could help Logan as well. This happy moment was soon interrupted by a phone call.

Kendall groaned when he saw the name on the caller ID. "It's Gustavo," Kendall rolled his eyes. "I have to take this. Will you two be okay by yourselves?"

Logan teased, "We're not five, Kendall."

"Go talk to your boss," Sarah agreed. Kendall apologized as he walked away from the two. They got along pretty well, so he doubted anything bad would happen if he left them alone for two minutes. The very moment Kendall was out of earshot, Logan and Sarah's expressions changed drastically. Welcoming grins turned into hate-filled scowls. The mood of the air surrounding them twisted into something cold and tense.

"So you're the one who's been hanging around Kendall so much."

"Yeah," Sarah smirked. "I figured he would need some consulting after his slutty ex-boyfriend cheated on him. Tore him up emotionally, you know. All because you couldn't decide on what you wanted. First it's Kendall but then you cheated on him with some guy. Oh, and if that's not enough! You cheat on that guy by kissing Kendall. The moment it's over though you go back to that guy and start groping each other right in front of Kendall!"

He remembered that.

A panic attack. He just had a panic attack in front of the whole lobby. That was embarrassing. Someone must have told them all to leave because they did. But Kendall kissed him, and Logan foolishly kissed back. Alex chose that moment to walk into the room. Kendall lied to save Logan's ass without knowing what he was saving him from. Alex believed him, but he wasn't done yet. He slammed him into a wall, touching him. Right in front of Kendall.

Even worse, he demanded that Logan tell his friends he was willing, that he always wanted what Alex forced on him. He submitted, saying that yes he did. Alex dragged him off in the hall, leaving behind the stunned group of teenagers. "You little fucker," Alex hissed when they were alone. All Logan felt was pain after that. Punches, kicks, and God knows what else hit him with full force. "You think I like doing this to you? I don't. I really don't, Logie. But you need to learn."

"I'm sorry," Logan choked out.

"I know," Alex whispered, his voice turning soft. "But you still need to learn."

Logan grunted in pain at the rest of the hits. Grabbing him by his hair, practically ripping it out of his scalp, Alex dragged him into their apartment. It was just Logan's luck that no one walked down at the same time. Throwing him into the apartment, Alex pounced. Physically and sexually attacks had befallen on Logan that night. All because his friends knew too much.

All because of one little kiss.

"But you don't know what you want so breaking up with that guy to get Kendall back must have sounded so appealing. Can't you make up your damn mind?" Sarah ranted. Logan blinked, fighting down a smile. She didn't know the details. Good. Out of the whole world, she was the only one who didn't know. He figured if people like Jett knew the details then the whole world did. But no. She didn't. That made him feel much better about this conversation. She wouldn't hold back; she would call him all the names he wanted to hear.

"I will when you will," Logan spoke. "Kendall's told me stories about you and your advice. Half the time you tell him to get over me and that once a cheater always a cheater."

"That's true," Sarah chimed in.

"But the other half of the time you're encouraging him to get back together with this slut," Logan sneered. "Why not make up your mind? Maybe the reason he's still sticking by me is because of your shitty advice."

She flushed with anger and humiliation. "I only encouraged him to get back with you because that's what he wanted to hear," Sarah lied. "It wasn't true. He should get over you and find someone else."

"Or," Logan grinned evilly, recalling one particular detail Kendall shared with him on the way here. "Maybe it's because of your ex-boyfriend? Kendall told me about it. You had a boyfriend who cheated on you. Maybe when you were telling him once a cheater always a cheater, you were telling yourself that. You were trying to convince yourself to not go back to him. But when he sweetened you up, when you really thought maybe you guys could get together again, you told Kendall not to give up on me. Biased much?"

She gasped. "What do you-"

"That's really unfair," Logan faked an overly innocent voice. "You're messing with his head, projecting your own emotions and your own feelings onto him. If you can't decide whether or not your boyfriend should be forgiven, who are you to tell Kendall what to do?"

"At least I'm not some dirty little whore who will sleep with anyone!" Sarah clenched her fists. Logan smirked. If there was anything useful he learned from Alex, it was to hit people where it hurt. And this clearly struck a nerve for Sarah.

"And proud of it," Logan put his hands on his hips. "Maybe instead of crying in a corner about this guy, you should go out and do something with your life. It'd be much less pathetic."

That last bit was directed at himself. Sarah opened her mouth, about to contradict when-

"Hey guys!" Kendall popped back into the group. Smiles replaced their hatred instantly as Kendall glanced down at the two of them. The tension dissolved. "What happened while I was gone?"

"Logan is so funny!" Sarah burst into fits of giggles, playfully punching Logan's arm. Kendall's eyes darkened at the action but seeing no harm on Logan made him relax.

"Oh come on," Logan laughed. "I only mentioned Kendall's eyebrows!"

"Hey!" Kendall protested, his fingers flying to his eyebrows. Sarah laughed. "Oh well. I'm glad you guys get along."

Sarah and Logan glanced at each other. Hatred flashed in their expressions and their eyes. But it was so fast and was so quickly replaced with friendship that Kendall didn't notice. "Yeah," Logan clenched his fists.

"I'm glad too," Sarah's body slightly tensed.

Jo discovered her new-found respect for Mr. Bitters. Apparently he was now in the loop of Logan's abuse along with many of the Palm Woods residents. With so many people knowledgeable of the true relationship between Alex and Logan, Mr. Bitters set out a new goal: keep this information hidden from the press. He hired the Jenifers, who gladly accepted this new job. They claimed they "owed" Logan for bullying him when he was going through such a horrible time. Guitar Dude, though never really bullying Logan, joined as well.

So they each went around making sure rumors didn't start or didn't reach the press. At some point, Lucy and Camille joined them. Jo was too exhausted to really join them, but she respected each one. "Jo!" a voice hollered. Jett. Of course.

"What?" Jo sighed, turning towards the boy.

"What? Not happy to see my beautiful face?" Jett teased. Somehow it actually made Jo giggle.

"Always a pleasure," Jo laughed. Jett smirked and sat down on one of the couches in the lobby.

"I talked to Logan," Jett admitted. "I kind of told him what you told me. But I said that you were saying he was a girl and that I figured out it was him on my own!"

Jo frowned. "Oh… how did that go?"

"Good… I hope," Jett admitted. "He's going through a dark time. He lied to his friends. It wasn't even a small lie like he was fine. He told me that the thought of suicide did come up a couple times but then said he never considered it to the other guys. And they believed him."

Jo's eyes watered. "Dammit. Why don't you tell them then?"

"Because I haven't changed a bit," Jett grumbled. "I'm still that same scared little boy that didn't tell any adults my friend was being abused because she asked me to. Only this time it's Logan."

"You've changed," Jo protested. "You confronted him about it, right? Would you have done that?"

"Kind of," Jett shrugged. "Not as direct as I was with Logan. So I guess I'm a little braver. I just… that's why I'm so confident. I like to think that if I act confident, I'll be braver… more confident. It's not working that much. I come off as… how would you say it?"

"Self-centered," Jo blurted out.

He chuckled. "That, yeah."

"You're actually admitting you are self-centered?" Jo giggled. "What happened to the Jett I know and love?"

"Still here," Jett smirked, "but he's being sentimental right now."

"I like your sentimental side," Jo smiled. "You're saying how you feel guilty for not helping Logan but… you're helping me."

"I am?"

"I've been so stressed lately," Jo nodded. "With the whole Logan and Alex thing, Lucy being back, and my career. It's nice to have you stop and talk to me, show me the real you under all that confidence you fake. It helps me, and I need that help."

She had to blink to realize what happened next. Jett stood up, smiling so gratefully and so innocently at her. He swept down and kissed her. As soon as his lips made contact, they were gone. "Thank you," Jett sounded close to tears. "You have no idea how much that means to me… thank you."

Jo blushed, slowly standing up. "No," she whispered. "Thank you, Jett."

Logan walked into the crib alone. Kendall walked him to the Palm Woods before saying he had a meeting with Gustavo and running off. Logan stared off at him, so many emotions swirling within him that he just couldn't think straight. As he walked in, he took in the sight of his home. The place he's known and loved for so long.

Self-loathing. Anger. Jealousy. Hatred. These feelings and more battled so fiercely, overcoming his whole being. He screamed. He screamed until his throat was sore. His shaking hands found something, anything. This instance happened to be a lamp. He hurled it at the wall, watching it smash into pieces and fall to the floor. More screams. More broken objects. Tears violently escaped his shut eyelids as he punched the wall. The pain he was used to. The pain he could deal with. His shouts grew louder.

"LOGAN!" a voice screeched in fear. Logan didn't care. He continued his fit of rage. He cried and screamed and broke. A tight hand wrapped around his wrist. He gasped as it tugged him towards the body which engulfed him in a loving hug. The screams ceased. His whole body trembled and he still cried. But he wasn't acting out violently. He recognized this embrace. He moved slightly and buried his head into their shoulder, sobbing. "It's okay," the voice whispered soothingly. "It's okay. I'm here. I'm here."

The body lead him to the couch, sitting him down without loosening the hug. Logan wailed into the shoulder of Jennifer Knight.

"Oh Logan," she whispered, rubbing circles in his back. "I'm here. It's all going to be okay. I'm here."

Alice: Hope you liked that.

Emily: Thanks for reading!

Alice: Love you guys!