Chapter 2: Welcome Back to the Palm Woods
Logan smiled as he got off the tour bus with the guys. They were back at the Palmwwods after four months of almost nonstop shows all over the world. It had been grueling and exhausting most of the time, but it was worth it. They got to meet so many fans and put on an amazing show. Gustavo might be loud and annoying at times, but damn did he know how to put a show together.
However, it was now time for some downtime. Gustavo had even said that his dogs earned it. They had been going nonstop. It was time for some rest and relaxation at the Palmwoods.
"Relaxing for the next few days is gonna be fun," Kendall said, rubbing his hands together. He was ready to just go crash in his own bed for once.
Logan nodded his head in agreement. He was ready to sleep for a week straight.
"I am looking forward to pool time," James said dreamily.
"Yeah, but our cred will be gone again," Carlos sighed.
"Oh yeah," James said, "just gonna have to start over again."
"Challenge accepted," Carlos said, holding a hand out to James. James smirked as he took his hand.
"I am looking forward to no more fans right now. Like I love them, but it's exhausting," Logan said as they started for the entrance of the Palm Woods.
The four entered the Palmwoods, ready to sneak past everyone and head home. No one would probably even notice they were back. To their surprise, they were greeted by their friends holding a banner and screaming, "Welcome back!"
"Maybe things will be different this time," James said. They walked over to their friends and gave them hugs.
"Logan," Camille said, smiling at the brunette. She ran over to him and practically tackled him. Logan caught her and managed to stay standing.
"You'd think I'd be used to this by now," Logan said as he set Camille down with a laugh.
Ever since their official break up, they had become best friends. Camille was one of his greatest confidants. Someone he could go to when he needed advice his three knuckleheads couldn't give him.
"You'd also think I wouldn't get jealous," Kendall said with a frown.
"Oh, knock it off," Camille said, laughing. "I don't like him like that anymore," she said, smiling.
"Same, I'm strictly dickly these days," Logan joked.
"I know, but that doesn't mean I like you tackling my boyfriend," Kendall said, ignoring Logan's comment as his cheeks heated up. Logan laughed and nudged the blonde lightly.
"Boyfriend?"
Kendall's eyes went wide as he turned to see Jo Taylor standing a few feet away. Her eyes were wide and her jaw was slack as she looked over the two boys before her.
"Jo," Logan said, shocked. He pushed Kendall's arm off his shoulders.
Jo turned and ran. Kendall stood there looking at Logan and where she had run off to. He was like a deer caught in the headlight.
"Logie," he said.
"Go talk to her," Logan said, giving him a shove in her direction.
"And fast," Camille said.
Kendall took off after her. He caught her in a cabana near the pool. He entered, startling her. He looked down at the other chair. He arched a brow at her. She nodded her head. He sat down across from her.
"Jo," Kendall sighed.
"Was I foolish to think we could pick up right where we left off?" Jo asked, looking down at the table she was sitting next to. "I mean, I knew things might've changed and that you might have moved on. I figured I'd see a headline if you were dating someone, so when I didn't…it made me hopeful," she added.
"Getting over you was so hard," Kendall replied. He reached out for her hand but paused. He withdrew his hand.
"You think it was easy leaving you, especially after you ran through an airport to give me a goodbye kiss," Jo said.
"I know, but you were gone, and I needed to move on with my life, and Logan helped with that," Kendall said.
"Logan swooped in once I left?" Jo asked, confused.
"No, he was a good friend. He helped me get back on track, and I saw heartbreak once more before I found love with him. I don't know. It was like we finally opened our eyes and saw what was always there," Kendall said.
"I know. I guess you two were always a bit touchy-feely, more so than with the other two," Jo said, looking up at Kendall.
"Why does everybody say that," Kendall asked, "did everyone know we were in love before we did?"
"Kendall, you were so obvious that you liked Logan, but I had hoped that it was all brotherly, but now I see I was wrong," Jo sighed.
"So, can we still be friends?" Kendall asked, reaching out a hand again.
"Of course," Jo said, smiling at the blonde. She stood up and pulled Kendall up as well. She pulled him into a hug.
Kendall exited the cabana with her. He looked around the busy pool. James and Carlos were across the way, flirting with new girls. He spotted Logan and Camille sitting at a table together, talking and laughing. Kendall led her over to them.
"Hey Jo," Camille said, jumping up. She practically tackled her in a hug. Jo laughed and held her tight.
"Hey," Logan said shyly as Kendall sat down next to him.
"Hey Logan, he's all yours," Jo said.
"You're ok with this?" Logan asked slowly. He restrained himself from touching Kendall. He didn't want to rub it in her face.
"Not just yet, but I will be," Jo said, "Like I was just telling Kendall, it makes sense."
"Everyone says that," Logan said, smiling as Kendall placed his arm around Logan.
"It's because we were blind, and everyone could see that we were in love before we did," Kendall replied.
"We got you guys' smoothies," Camille said, pointing to the two extra smoothies, one pink and one blue. Kendall grabbed the pink one as Jo grabbed the blue one.
"So, how was the tour?" Jo asked.
Kendall and Logan launched into tour stories. They told the girls about all the international hijinks they had managed to get into. They were all laughing when James and Carlos ran up to them proudly, holding up some papers.
"Dude, I just got like six new girl's numbers, and-Jo?" Carlos said.
"What are you doing here? I thought you were in New Zealand," James said.
"Yeah, about that, the test audience didn't like the movie. They said it was too far from the original, and they rioted and burned the place down. It was…well, let's just say the movies have been canceled," Jo said.
"Oh, well, welcome back," Carlos said, looking over at Kendall.
"She already knows," Kendall replied.
"Oh good, this could've gotten really awkward," James said.
He pulled up a chair next to Camille, and Carlos slid on up between him and Jo. They then joined in on the tour stories.
-Nightmare at the Palm Woods-
Kendall sat up in a panic. His breathing was labored as if he had been running. Sure he had been running in his dream, but that was his dream. He looked over at Logan, who was still sleeping beside him.
Kendall slid out of bed. He made his way out to the kitchen to get some water. He needed to clear his head. That dream had been so real. He had dreamt about Freddy again. He hadn't had that dream since they were in Ohio. He wasn't sure what had triggered it tonight.
He paused when he saw James sitting at the counter with his own glass of water. He arched a brow at the pretty boy. James pulled out the stool beside him. Kendall sat down next to him.
"Can't sleep?" Kendall asked.
"No, I…I have a problem," James said slowly.
"Is this about your crush on Camille?" Kendall asked knowingly.
"What?" James asked his eyes gping wide.
"Come on James, do I look blind, you were sitting with ehr all afternoon and trying so hard to impress her," Kendall laughed, "Logan sees it too and he's cool with it if that's what you're scared of."
"Really?" James asked timidly.
"Yeah, we were talking about it while we got ready for bed," Kendall chuckled.
"Oh," James said, "Do you think she would turn me down? Given our complicated history and things with Logan?"
"Those two are like brother and sister now," Kendall said, "like it's weird, but I am not threatened by Camille much anymore. I know Logan isn't attracted to her anymore."
"I should probably talk to him first though, huh?" James asked.
"Oh definitely," Kendall replied.
"Thanks Ken," James said smiling at the blonde. "What's got you up so late?"
"Oh, just couldn't sleep, I had a nightmare," Kendall said slowly, "I don't really remember it though."
"I hate those kinds of dreams where you can't remember them afterward," James said.
"Yeah," Kendall said bobbing his head. It was a lie. A lie that he hoped James wouldn't notice.
-Nightmare at the Palm Woods-
Logan was sitting at the pool with Camille. They were watching Carlos try and fail to impress a bunch of new girls. They were giggling at his antics. He seemed to have caught one of their attention. Camille was making comments about how he could win this girl over if he was careful.
Logan's attention was drawn over to the Jennifers. They were sitting at their table talking. He heard mentions of nightmares. He sat up and leaned over trying to listen in. Camille didn't even seem to notice he was distracted.
"It was so strange. This man was chansing me through the park."
"It was so creepy."
"Mine too, there was this weird guy. He wore an ugly sweater that was so eighties."
"Oh my god, same and a that brown hat."
"Like so old school. In such a bad way."
"Did you have the same dream as me?"
"Apparently."
"That's it girls, no more horror movie scripts before bed."
Brunette Jennifer jumped up and left the table. The other two shared a look before leaving a s welll.
Logan sat back watching where they had left. They were having nightmare too? He shook hie head, there was no way. That was just a concidendce. Maybe it was for a new movie they were planning to audition for. That had to be it. That was the only logical answer.
-Nightmare at the Palm Woods-
Logan was in the boiler room again. He didn't understand why he was here. He had left Springwood. Logan started down the narrow passage. He needed to find a way out of this place. He heard the screech of metal on concrete.
Logan whipped around. Standing there at the end of the passage was Freddy. Logan's eyes went wide in shock. He wasn't supposed to be here. According to grandma Maggie Freddy couldn't leave Springwood.
Logan turned and ran down the passage and turned the corner. He wanted to get as much distance between them as possible. He turned a corner and looked over his shoulder. He wished he hadn't, though. Freddy was right behind him. Logan looked ahead and turned down the next hallway, and ran into a dead end. Logan turned around and saw Freddy's shadow coming closer. Logan swallowed his fear as Freddy appeared in front of him.
"Krueger," Logan said.
"Hey there, little piggy, it's been quite a while," Freddy said as he started moving closer to Logan.
"You're not real," Logan said firmly. Freddy just laughed and threw his head back. "You're supposed to be in Springwood," Logan said, backing into the wall as far as he could. He just pressed himself into the wall. The pipes beside him were letting off steam.
Logan looked around. He needed to wake up. He brought his arm up as Freddy swung his clawed hand down. Logan cried out in pain as he made contact.
Logan shot up in his bed, screaming. He thrashed a bit before he felt a pair of arms wrap around him. He froze, thinking it was Freddy and he was over. This was it. This was the end.
"Logan."
Logan looked over his shoulder at Kendall. Kendall let him go as he calmed down. Logan then threw himself into the blonde's arms, his tears coming fast.
"It was just a dream, Logie," Kendall said.
The door burst open and James and Carlos ran into the room, holding hockey sticks.
Mrs. Knight and Katie entered behind them in a panic. They all paused when they saw the two before them.
"What's going on?" James asked.
"We thought someone was attacking you guys," Carlos said not lowering his hockey stick.
"What's wrong?" Mrs. Knight asked.
"Logie had a nightmare," Kendall said.
Logan sat up, looking at the others in the room. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," he waved a hand at them. He suddenly felt embarrassed. Mrs. Knight grabbed his hand pulling his arm out to look at it. It was then Logan saw the blood.
"What did you do?" Kendall and Logan asked at the same time.
"Boys," Mrs. Knight said.
"Logan had a nightmare and he was thrashing around," Kendall said.
"Maybe I scratched myself or maybe you did accidentally," Logan said looking at his arm.
He knew who had done it, but he wasn't about to say it out loud. No one would believe it was Freddy's doing. Kendall would think he was crazy. It was crazy though. Freddy wasn't real. He was just a childhood boogeyman his grandma used to scare him.
"It's ok, but we need to clean that cut," Mrs. Knight said. "everyone else back to bed," she said. James, Carlos, and Katie made their way back to their rooms.
Logan and Kendall followed Mrs. Knight out to the kitchen. Mrs. Knight got the first aid kit out. Logan sat down at the table looking at his arm. He was trying to make this all make sense. There was no way Freddy did this. It was four long slashes though as if it was claw marks. It looked too perfect to have been scratched by a hand.
"What happened, boys?" She asked, looking at them.
"Logan was moving around in his sleep and I tried to wake him. He panicked and maybe I scratched him," Kendall said slowly as he too looked at the cuts confused. He seemed to be having the same thought as Logan.
"It was an accident," Logan said, "I'm fine."
Mrs. Knight seemed to take that answer. She started to clean and bandage the cut for Logan. He was grateful for her being a mom right now. Once she was done she sent them back to bed, their own beds. Kendall nodded his head avoiding her gaze.
Logan sat down on the edge of his bed. His mind was on his dream. It had been so real. How was he having nightmares of Freddy here. This wasn't happening. It was supposed to end once he left Ohio.
"Want to talk about it?" Kendall asked.
"Not really," Logan said.
"Let's go to sleep then," Kendall said. Logan nodded his head. He laid down and Kendall moved to get up. Logan grabbed his arm.
"Lay with me?" Logan asked.
"Of course," Kendall said, smiling at the brunette.
He laid down beside the small boy, wrapping him in his hold. Logan quickly rolled over and cuddled into Kendall. Kendall kissed the top of Logan's head.
-Nightmare at the Palm Woods-
Brunette Jennifer walked down the hallway of the Palm Woods alone. Blonde Jennifer and Curly haired Jennifer were off in their own apartments, as it was past ten o'clock at night and they needed sleep. She had just wanted to go to the lobby to get something to snack on, but the trip to the elevator was taking longer than she remembered.
Brunette Jennifer knew if the other Jennifers knew about this they would be upset with her. They had all agreed to never eat after nine at night. It was a part of their diet and exercise routine. if they wanted more movie roles they had a image to keep up. However, a snack here and there wouldn't hurt. She was only human and had to eat sometimes.
She eventually reached the lobby and made her way to the vending machine. She pulled some money out of her pocket as she looked into the vending machine trying to decide on what she wanted. There was so many options, but only one that looked good. Fruit smackers. They just hit the spot when she had a junk food craving.
She head a loud screeching noise, almost like nails on a chalk board. She turned around and didn't see anyone at all. She shook it off as it being late and her mind playing tricks on her. She turned back to the vending machine. She put the money into the vending machine and it rejected her dollar. She frowned and grabbed her dollar.
She heard movement behind her. She turned around and saw she was alone. She shook her head and turned back around and tried once again to get her dollar into the machine. She heard movement again, only this time it was closer.
She turned around. "Ok who's there?" she called out. She got no response. She heard something down the hall to her right. She moved to look down the hall and again so no one. "Ok who's out there? Camille is that you? This isn't funny!" she hollered. She got no response. She turned back to the vending machine and tried her dollar again. It took the dollar this time.
She looked over her shoulder making sure no one was watching her. She turned and pressed the number of her treat. She looked over her shoulder once more. She didn't see anyone. She crouched down to grab her snack while still looking over her shoulder. She reached into the vending machine without looking and searched around. She felt something brush her hand and turned around. There in the machine was a man. He was horribly burned and wore an ugly red and green sweater.
She jumped back as the mad seemed to step through the glass. She froze as she watched him advance on her.
"What's a pretty girl like you doing eating this late at night," the man asked. She just stood there in pure shock. "What's the matter cat got you're tongue?" he asked.
She snapped back to reality. She bolted for the stairs. She had to make it to her apartment. She cursed herself for leaving her phone up there. She just ran, ignoring the tightness in her chest that was building. She didn't look back to see if she as being followed or not. She just knew that she had to get away from this man. She felt a hand grab her and pulled her back. She slipped and fell down the stairs.
She heard footsteps coming down towards her. She looked up and saw the man walking down the stairs. Jennifer tried to stand up but felt a pain in her leg and looked at it. She saw it was broken and saw blood. She scooted away from the man.
"Who are you? What do you want with me?" sher asked.
"The names Freddy, and I just your soul," the man replied.
It was then she noticed his clawed hand. She watched in as he advanced on her. She started scooting back towards the stairs, her eyes never leaving Freddy. Her hand hit the top of the next flight of stairs and slipped. She slid down the stairs her head hitting the pavement.
She groaned in pain. She clenched her eyes shut trying to ignore it. This wasn't real. This was the man from her nightmare last night. This was another nightmare. That's all.
"This isn't real," she told herself.
"Oh I'm real," Freddy said.
Her eyes snapped open. He was standing before her. He grabbed her by the hair lifting her from the ground. She screamed in pain as she was lifted to her feet. This pain was too real to be a dream.
"You kids these days make this too easy," Freddy said as he brought his gloved hand up. He slashed at her stomach. She screamed again, maybe someone would come help. "Scream all you want, no one is coming."
-Nightmare at the Palm Woods-
Logan followed the guys out of the elevator. The stairs had been taped off this morning. They had head rumors of a crime scene, but didn't believe it at first. Now as they saw a bodybag being taken away it was real. Kendall led them over to two of the Jennifers and Camille. She seemed to be trying to comfort her.
"What happened?" Kendall asked lowly, trying not to draw attention to them.
"Jennifer is dead," blonde Jennifer said tears in her eyes.
"They are saying she fell down the stairs and bled out but she had too many cuts to have just fallen," Curly haired Jennifer said.
"Cuts?" Logan asked confused. Both Jennifers nodded their heads. Logan looked at the body bag as it was rolled away.
"Yeah, it was pretty gruesome," Camille said her eyes wide.
"We were just taking the stairs down to the lobby and we found her," Blonde Jennifer said shaking her head.
"You three found her?" James asked, stepping up beside Camille. Camille nodded her head. "Are you ok?" he asked her. He then looked to the jennifers as well.
"Whoever did this was psychotic," curly haired Jennifer said. "The cuts were always in groups of four, almost like claw marks," she said.
"The police are investigating it as a homicide until they can prove otherwise," blonde Jennifer said. The guys nodded their heads.
"Oh my god what happened here?" Lucy asked as she and Jo stepped off the elevator together.
"Jennifer was killed last night," Carlos said slowly. The other two nodded their heads confused. Lucy walked up to the girls giving them both hugs. Both Jennifer's started crying.
"Ok, will you all move on there is nothing to see here," Mr. Bitters said walking out of his office. He wanted people out of the lobby so the police and corner could do their jobs. He paused by the Jennifer's. "I'm sorry for the loss of your friend, if you need anything the decetvice gave me this, for a grief cnoselor."
"Thanks," Blonde jennfier said taking the card.
"You too, Miss Roberts, it's my understanding you were the first to find her," he said. Camille nodded her head.
Kendall and James ushered everyone out of the lobby. They all settled on Lucy's apartment. Once there Lucy got everyone something to drink. She sat down next to blonde Jennifer.
"I don't know what to say," Lucy said slowly.
Everyone looked around at one another. The tension in the air was palpable. No one really knew what to say. They were all still processing what had happened.
"This is just so odd," curly haired Jennifer said, "I mean first the nightmare and then this,"
"Nightmare?" Logan asked.
"Yeah she had nightmares taht someone was following her. I bet it was because someone was following her," blonde Jennifer said.
"It was no big deal," curly haired Jennifer said waving her hand.
Logan kept his mouth shut. He didn't want to say anything and freak anyone out. He felt a hand on his knee. He looked up at Kendall who was giving him a confused look. Leave it to Kendall to be preceptive. He just shook his head. He knew what Kendall wanted to ask, but he wasn't ready to answer. It was just a coincidence. Freddy wasn't real.