Hey There,
Welcome back lovely, readers! I hope that these words are reaching you all very well. And that since my last post, you've all had a very merry Christmas (if you celebrate). And a very happy NEW YEAR! This is my first post of 2024! I know it's totally odd to be surrounded in Christmas wonder and writing Halloween plots this heavy… but when you know me, it's not all that strange since I'm kinda a little Halloween year-round kinda person. I think this odd push came from two of my Christmas gifts being action figures of Frankenstein and his Bride….. Color me MAD INSPIRED! Something about the very SIGHT of those monsters just always makes this happen. But enough of my yammering, let's get to it!
Thank you so much to any readers who have placed their story on their favorites list or Author's alert page. Also Special thanks to anyone who placed me on their favorite author page or author's alert page. That is high praise and I hope you're still enjoying
Special thanks to my reviewers: AwkwardGirl05 (Thank you for reviewing a third time! We all never can forget those fandoms that started it all, can we? And the beauty of fanfiction is everyone's paths are so different. I'm glad Wednesday was able to bring you back to reading fanfic [I love anything having to do with the Addams Family too! Wednesday's series is the only Addams thing in existence that I haven't seen yet. I'm definitely checking it out though.] and that also led you back to Quogan as well. Like you, Life got in my way for many years as well. I ended up becoming a caretaker for my grandmother, dad and mom. I even helped out with elderly neighbors and great aunts and uncles I was lose with. All people very dear to me and I lost all of them but one. My Mom, she was the only one to fully recover from her down time. So it's just Mom, me, and my younger sis {little sis inspired me to write for Quogan}. After taking care of everyone else I fell very ill myself and it took me some time to recover…I even ended up in a wheelchair for a full year. But I'm back now, it took time, blood, sweat, and tears. But I was able to bounce back and I even ditched the chair and can walk again. Quogan was such a huge part of ALL of that time. I owed it to them to comeback and finish my first fic 'The Collective Trials of a Quinnventor… and Logan' and now that story is nearly complete! I even have plans to keep going beyond the series after it finishes. Even gift readers a 'Summer vacay story" and a full "Senior Year!" Fic... That this story is sort of a teaser to. But my point is that if I can come back from all of that. And find my way back here again through all of those hardships…Anyone can. And it sounds like your own comeback is still happening. I'm so thrilled that it all led you here. Back to Quogan and to this story. Bless you! And I agree, 'The Curse of PCA' is one of the all time best episodes EVER for this lover of creepy things too. It truly is amazing to go back, and watch the series again. And seeing just how much they were flirting and stuff LONG before they were together. Both Matt and Erin have confessed to it too, that they're totally was more happening earlier on too. I - LOVE - THEM - FOR - THAT! And countless other things before and SINCE Zoey 102. They're just the gift that keeps on giving to fans. I have been enjoying re-watching. As well as all of the gifts we got from Zoey 102. Thank you for writing in with all of these lovely comments. And sharing your personal journey so bravely too. I hope this is all reaching you VERY well! Hopefully you're still reading and enjoying this tale… Even in January! And it's still Spootacular, even though where I'm sitting is currently lit up with Christmas lights! LoL! Happy New Year! Take Care and Much Love!), [my friend and another big part of my personal comeback.] Rose-Aki (Girl, you know me! I couldn't make it too easy on the boy. I had to make him work a little bit to earn back Quinn's love, respect, and trust. He already knows too many short cuts and things that impress her too. So he's even finding all these loop holes in my plots. I'm so glad that you liked that idea too, of not making it a cakewalk. Logan has changed a lot because of these friends and Quinn has easily had the BIGGEST impact of all. But you know me, I gotta throw everyone in there and they're ALL important somewhere, somehow. I wanted to showcase some of that a little and I'm glad it showed. I didn't like writing that Brooke and Mark had still hurt Quinn. But it was such a huge part of making Logan's mission that much harder. She's had to go through YEARS with a broken and hopeless outlook on Love after them. He couldn't be there to help her like he was in realty. So he gets to be there for her now, and it's so much fun showing his progress. It's amazing how much easier her whole recovery is becoming too. The moment the right person is helping her too. I will confess I have been having way too much fun with Logan noticing EVERYTHING she wears. But I reason that for him, it's like always seeing her trying on different costumes. Which I can tell you first hand for ANY Halloween enthusiast is a dream come true. In any mate! THANK YOU for saying those intrusions of Quinn's voice and his peek into reality were on point as well. I was seriously concerned about that! I didn't know if it made sense, seemed important enough, or didn't steal too much story momentum. Same with the monster games really, Even though that had been in the chapter title. But I did it anyway, bless you for saying it worked out well. I had to get them dancing too… it's me… I couldn't help it. I also wanted just a touch of James' dedication to Lydia in there. Before everything went so fruity in the loops at the end. I always write the Sci-Club evil… don't I? LoL! Reading your kind review gave me so much peace of mind going into this chapter. I can't thank you enough for that. God bless you! Hpe you're having a great day, with plenty of sunshine! Take Care and Much Love!), and AnneCpc (Thank you so much for giving this fic a chance. I'm so thrilled that you enjoyed it. Come on! This is Logan we're talking about here! He's gonna get it done! LoL! Just Quinn [and me, winkwink] aren't gonna make it easy on him! I hope you're still reading and enjoying! Hope you're having a great day! And hope that your hoildays have been lovely [if you celebrate]. Your New Year's already off to GREAT start! Take Care and Much Love!).
Standard disclaimers apply - I don't own Zoey 101, Zoey 102, Nickelodeon, MTV or any of the other trademarked things mentioned. I don't own any of the Halloween specials or mainstays mentioned either. I am merely borrowing all of these things for my own amusement. Most will be returned unharmed.
Dedicated to Penny Monster, for never being shy about her inner beast... ever.
Enjoy!
"Monster Movie Mayhem"
Chapter 3 - What REALLY Happened?
((REAL Quinn's Perspective))
I knew that those guys were playing around with bombs again. Wayne (Firewire) had let it slip when I was helping him transport some portables the other day. From lab to lab, full of their experimental works, covered in sheets and suspicions. I have a working nose on my face, it was hard to miss that specific mix of toxins and chemicals even if a sheet obscures my vision.
I'd tried to warn our teacher about the dangers beforehand. He was new this year and wasn't familiar with the Sci-clubs colorful history with stink bombings all throughout their student careers. Even if most famously their strikeback when Vince Blake returned last year. Where they bombarded PCA with a variety of messed up stink bombings or knock-out gas bombings as well (even if that turned out to be happy accident, or that's what they'd pled to the authorities at the time). That had shaken up our entire campus during our junior year. We'd even had to go into lockdown and missed a full school day. Before the culprits were apprehended by my forensic lab works in my own on-campus lab.
Yes Rebecca (Chase's ex) had some involvement in this scheme as well. And she'd been expelled for her role in it all. But I had helped the Sci-Club plea for leniency at the time. A deed I find myself regretting so much right now. But this new instructor had refused to listen… he was too arrogant, too smug and too much of a snob to accept any insight from anyone different from him. So being female canceled out every word before I'd said it. He was a hero to the Sci-Club, they were practically building a statue in his honor with lego blocks. Over the hole left from my failed banapple tree. (I still haven't given up on that dream, don't worry. I'm ever working with a few world-class botinists now in England. But the sight of that particular hole on campus still makes me sad and reminds me of some of my failures. And now it's got this chauvinist teacher's face on it too… Just… Twist the knife!)
How happy most of campus was. Jeremiah Trottman reported it on the PCA newsfeed (does he HAVE a life?). The Sci-Club was planning a 'pizza social.' Just because someone had finally told 'crazy Quinn' off and that she wasn't the smartest person in the world.
And what happened?
Just EVERY single THING I'd FEARED!
That's what HAPPENED!
I'm not the kind of person to think I know everything. Or to always boast 'I told you so,' even when I'm right either. That's just not the kinda person I would ever want to be. But I had nearly done everything I COULD have DONE to prevent this. Yet it still OCCURRED!
Just when James, Lydia, and I had gotten elbow-deep into our project.
I heard it!
That bone-chilling, POP! From the Sci-Club's station behind us. Where one of the idiots had knocked loose a tube of chemical toxins that had fermented the air VERY quickly because one of the ninnies had a fan going. I thought I heard panic, as well as arguing from my self-proclaimed rivals, and the scuffle of running feet in all of the commotion. When they'd tried to run and pin it all on me…
Yeah! Really! They never learn.
But by the time I turned around to look at what was happening. The whole room was full of smoke, and no one was moving. Besides Lydia, James, and me; EVERY one else was knocked out. Even Mark and Stacey who had been in the other corner of the room. And trying to put masks on, but they'd been too late. The fan had been oscillating the smoke too quickly. Anyone not wearing a mask already was pretty much done for.
The Sci-Club had all been standing around their latest attempt at some smoking knock-out bomb. It must have been knockout gas, even though I knew they promised to never tamper with such things again. So not only are they scummy liars but they have absolutely no integrity… I really shouldn't be that surprised at this point. But I always try to hope for the best in people… even these no good, creditless POSERS!
Thank GOD I was prepared for this even when my teacher refused to listen. And thank heaven even more, that I had prepared James and Lydia for the worst-case scenarios. In case this occurred, and I wasn't present. They leaped into action with me, reaching under our station and pulling out doomsday masks for everyone. Maybe our educator was okay with putting our lives on the line to prove his point. But I was NOT!
Nearly everyone had slumped at their desks, but the Sci-club had been standing when it blew. Or running when it had taken effect, so now, they were all lying on the ground. Gilbert had even face-planted right by the classroom door. He'd almost made it out the slippery little SNAKE! Lydia worked on masking Stacey, Mark and Dustin. Before she got to work on masking the Sci-Club (even though she was the first to say they didn't deserve our help). The smoke had set off alarms fairly quickly, the loud noise made it way harder to communicate with each other. But we kept our heads down and got it done. The first person I ran to and masked HAD to be Logan, he had to come first. The way James HAD to get masks on Vince, Zoey, Michael and Lisa quickly. I got Chase's mask on next (he had been right in front of Logan) and Lola's after that (she'd been sitting in front of Chase). Dustin's two accomplices sitting with him I masked one while James got the other. Before masking our so-called educator lastly of everyone else in the room. A few REAL teachers peeked in the window on the door and when they saw me in my masks they smartly left the doors closed. And hurried their students in the alternative direction. Just in case, wisely!
We didn't stop till everyone was wearing a mask.
Then came the toughest part… leaving.
James, Lydia and I had to open the door and close it as quickly as possible. Thankfully the hallways were cleared, so no one else went down. We had to race outside and we had to let Dean Rivers know what happened. So they can properly coordinate the next steps of getting everyone out of there. It had to be done just right, by professionals. I knew that in my mind, but I still had to be held back from rushing back in to help. So did Lydia and James…
Leaving so many friends and the person I LOVE in that room… It nearly tore me to shreds. Even knowing it was the best thing we could do for them. I had to pry both Lydia and James outta there when the time came too.
I felt so awful for leaving ANY of them behind. James and Lydia were both emotional wrecks too by the time we were all outside. But we all knew it was the ONLY solution, the people outside needed to know this wasn't a false alarm. Our friends needed help and more help than we could manage alone.
I still feel terrible, but it was one of those moments, you know?
The building was evacuated without any more people fainting or getting sick. All remaining activities in that area were canceled for the day. A whole section of campus had to be blocked off with police cautionary crime scene tape. Even the areas were the fumes were being propelled outta the building had to be blocked off for safety sake.
As this all was happening. It wasn't lost on Dean Rivers that this all could have been easily prevented. If he'd taken better care in the punishments he'd dealt the Sci-Club last year. If he'd kept a better eye on them, and their aspirations. If he'd been more aware of the sexist way his championed new teacher had actually been treating ALL the female students at PCA. Not just me. Also if ANYONE had LISTENED to ME! NONE of this would have HAPPENED at ALL!
He championed our bravery before he formally apologized. To James, Lydia and me, for there even being a reason we needed to be so brave. I told him, "With all due respect, sir, it's a little late for that."
All of our friends (+ the sci-club and that person dressed like a teacher) were transported to the infirmary. By a group of Firefighters all in masks. So it was all done with impressive speed, but even hours later, none of our friends were waking up. And I felt myself wishing I could somehow split myself between all of my friends. That I could somehow sit with all of them and hold all of their hands. Maybe then I could have somehow given myself less guilt about not leaving Logan. Not even for a second during this time. It helped that Lydia and James were walking around to everyone. And I had done the same before I planted myself here… But once I felt his fingers grip mine… I was rooted to this spot till he opens his eyes. Or SOMEONE opens their eyes.
The monster movies he was so excited about were starting right now. He'd been so happy earlier talking about them… Thinking about him having to miss it all now, made me want to cry. Can you miss someone when they're right in front of you? Is that possible?
Everyone's parents were called, about this too. So instead of calling the Dean for more info, a lot of those parents had called me. Dean Rivers must have mentioned I was there and okay in the message. They all somehow knew to call me (a much more reliable source). I have no idea how I remained cool throughout all of that. Apologizing for not being able to do more. Logan's Dad had been the last one to call for the night, he'd gotten the message pretty late. So I had to re-explain what went down all over again to him and Chauncy. Who asked me to call the moment Logan woke up. No matter when that was, minutes from now, an hour, 2am, 5am… I had to call and let them know that he was alright.
Malcolm called Logan's grandparents while I was still on the line and made it a conference call so I could explain it all over again to them. I'd spent time with them over the summer and gotten to know both of them a little. His grandparents were even talking about coming here in the morning. Just to see him (and I think Malcolm's schedule was too crazy for him to be here. I think they were doing it for him as much as themselves). I was asked to call them as soon as he woke up too.
The reason they were all so concerned, was because I explained to them in great detail just what had happened. What had gone wrong with this particular bomb that was making it hard for everyone to wake up. The firefighters had a wonderful little meter that tested the air quality, and it had been abysmal in that classroom. They'd taken samples, so had the police and they'd let me test some of the extra samples they'd taken from the wreckage left over from the blast. So I could make my own assumptions. But as I consulted the police officers and fire marshalls I'd been speaking with later. Our results had all been the same, this was a military-grade knock-out gas that had gone ALL wrong in a dangerous way.
I had been able to run a few tests in my spare time before I'd planted myself here with my baby. When I was waiting outside of the science building for all of my friends to get out safely. And NEEDED distraction as I was waiting for EVERYONE (and Logan had been seated at the back of the room so he was nearly last, while the firefighters left the teacher for absolutely last… they're a good bunch of guys weren't they?)
The Firefighters have even been hanging around between calls. Waiting for someone to wake up…No wonder Vince has such respect for these guys. I think most of them are doing it for Vince, they already consider him one of them. But it's been so sweet how they're all concerned for everyone… I guess Vince talks about us all a lot. They seem to know everyone, without needing help. And sadly they all know me pretty well from all of the times they've been called to school when on of my Quinnventions blew up enough to set off alarms. Vince isn't a official firefighter yet, but it looks like he's got a great bunch of guys who are dedicated to helping him achieve that dream.
But back to the crux of this whole problem… It was ALL in the chemicals used to concoct this thing, they were all kinds of wrong. They were the wrong choices, wrong quantities, and wrong consistencies AND not handled properly in any fashion. Logan's Grandfather confirmed all of that when he'd said, "Their very lucky they didn't kill themselves or anybody else with those kinds of miscalculations." I could hear him scribbling down formulas as we were still talking over the phone.
I concurred the posers who think their scientists had sworn to never toy with such things EVER again. If they'd kept that promise there wouldn't be uniformed officers waiting for all of them to awaken. And they wouldn't be handcuffed to their beds along with our teacher. They so easily forget that this promise wasn't just to me in the end, but it was to the Dean, to PCA and local authorities as well.
They completely botched nearly every step of their process, so instead of making a normal 'knockout' solution. That is only supposed to last a few minutes or a couple of hours at best, they made a reaction of chemicals nicknamed "Sleeping Death." Because it's extremely hard to bounce back from being knocked out by this stuff. It not only last longer, but it also lingers heavily in the breather's system, LONG after clean air returns. This was military-grade stuff, it's so strong, it's even been lethal in some cases… mostly with babies, small children, older people, or persons with weak constitutions.
Even though I know how healthy and vibrant all of my friends are. I was TERRIFIED out of my MIND for EVERYONE! And I wasn't alone, all of the parents I spoke to. Lydia and James were just as scared.
I just KNEW something like this could happen again. The moment those posers started tinkering with these bombs again. I'd pleaded with the teacher earlier in the day to be more cautious. Even though the newsfeed had made me sound even more like I was on a witch hunt or something. Now that teacher may have lost consciousness, his job, and when he awakens there are police standing by waiting for him too. He may get put away for child endangerment, negligence, and child abuse charges since we're all still mostly minors. And Malcolm was already getting his ace legal team on it. Not to mention attempted murder charges for all of the Sci-Club and a promise on a piece of paper wasn't gonna help them this time. Because this had happened too often already, I couldn't even begin to argue for them anymore. Like I had before, I was too livid and worried for all of the people their FICTIONAL Science had hurt!
I wish I could have somehow gotten everyone to wear masks sooner. Before anyone had to breathe in anything. That we really had gotten to go to the movies and just be teenagers tonight. Instead of having to face such a scary scene, where I'm hoping nearly all of my friends live (Thank goodness James and Lydia are okay, but I need EVERYONE to be okay). If this doesn't put things more in perspective for all of my friends. The ones who have been screaming at one another all day long. I don't know what will…
This isn't a time for fighting and arguing, this is a time for fun. We should all be enjoying what time we have left. All together, and not be so focused on the negatives that could be ahead. Things that are too far off to worry about yet. They'll get here soon enough without anyone's help.
James and Lydia kept talking to everyone, convinced they could hear us on some level. So when it all got to be too much and I couldn't hold it in anymore, I slipped my hand out of Logan's and it hadn't been easy. He hadn't wanted to let go of me either.
But I did manage to get away, and outside to have a good cry. It was all the pent-up anger and fear still ruling every aspect of this turn of events. Re-experiencing it for every concerned parent of each friend. Even if all connections with Logan had been the hardest… they had to be. His people were like family to me these days. I've kept up talking with them since I met them even more than my own family. Not to mention the crushing pressure of something possibly going more wrong than it already has felt like it could kill me. My overly logical mind was already going there with every horrible possibility… Losing any one of those people affected by this. And I was so terrified of losing any of them… Even if admittedly Logan would be the worst of all. Because I'm in love with him, of course.
But…I - LOVE - EVERY - ONE - OF - THEM! Losing ANYONE was unacceptable.
Yes! My boyfriend's family had been the toughest to face emotionally. But none of those other families were a cake a walk either. I love ALL of the people their connected to as well. It was SUCH a HORRIBLE day. And the worst part of it all is I know exactly what could have prevented this outcome… Getting everyone in those masks the second the Sci-Club had started their work. EVEN if it was suggested by a lowly female student.
I know all that had caused this mini-breakdown turned full-blown anxiety attack. But knowing what caused the crush of emotions doesn't make this outburst short or end. Not till James and Lydia found me… and they were JUST as wrecked emotionally.
James came outside and found me, in tears of his own and Lydia was right behind him. We ended up all crying in a heap on the sandy ground together. Just to get some of that tension out of our systems.
Two boxes of tissues later between the three of us. It's not easy being the only ones spared. When I could talk, I told them both. "We need to get back in there. I just didn't want anyone to hear me upset." Especially Logan, he'd hate it to know I was crying like this.
James admitted, "Me too, and I really think they can hear us."
Lydia admitted, "I think so too, I've seen too much proof in there tonight. We should get back. But if there's no change soon, we should probably grab something to eat and come back."
James agreed, but I told them to just bring me something back with them. I couldn't leave Logan again, or anyone else. The two times I'd just had to do that had nearly broken me. Technically the second time I did breakdown. And being away only made me feel more panicked, and anxious. About what could be happening while I'm gone. I was gonna be camped until he opened those brown eyes again.
When I came back and retook his hand, he immediately and visible relaxed. As he intertwined our fingers. But he still couldn't wake up… The doctors who had been sent over to help, (along with tons of oxygen tanks) kept assuring me it was perfectly normal given the concoction they all breathed in. But I was still so paniced, that no one was waking up. Not a single person.
I leaned into Logan and said, "...Logan… I don't know if you can hear me… or what you could be dreaming about right now. The persons who have experienced what you're going through were very vague. The side effects warn that you could be given vivid dreams or nightmares, even night terrors. Where you could even sleep walk and act strange. I hope that isn't the case. But I'm hoping that you're dreaming, that you're safe, and happy. I have to tell you, I'm sorry this happened, sorry I could not protect you better and I should have armed you ALL with masks first thing. Said to Hell with whatever our teacher said. I should have fought better for all of your safety. But whatever you're fighting right now. Don't give up, you have to beat it. I know you can beat it. You can do anything! And you have to come back to us, your Dad, your grandparents… to me, and the rest of your family, our friends… and please don't forget…we love you… that I love you…"
I had to tell him, incase he forgot, I repeated, "I love you." And I prayed he heard that, if nothing else. And knew I was here, and wasn't going anywhere. Not if I could help it.
James peeked around the curtain at me to tell me Lydia and him were going to grab some dinner. I asked them to bring something back for me, and it felt like they had just left and they were back. Time was just flying by with no hold on me anymore. I ate still never letting go of his hand.
I couldn't tell you how, but at some point during the night. I must have fallen asleep, Because when I woke up it was my alarm on my zap watch set to wake me up for class. Not that I was going today. Nope, not no way, not no how!
Logan's Grandparents arrived not being able to stay away when they hadn't heard anything from me about him ever waking up. They'd put together it hadn't happened yet, they knew I would have called the moment I knew anything. But EVERYONE was still out and ALL of us waiting around were restless.
When they arrived, they tried to let me sleep, but Rowan (Logan's Grandpa). Swore that Logan cracked his eyes at me and tried to pull me into his bed with him. So he'd helped Logan lift me into the hospital bed with him. When I tried to climb out and back to my seat beside the bed though. Logan's arms came around me with surprising strength and refused to let me go.
His grandmother had hugged me the best she could while her grandson wouldn't let go. She told me. "You've been here all night long, haven't you, dear?"
I told her the truth, "I couldn't think of leaving him again. After having to do it to get help-"
"We're so grateful you did, and it took guts to do that, Quinn." She said giving me a second squeeze with one arm around my shoulders. It was all she could manage because of her grandson's still unrelenting grip.
I squeezed her back and said, "It was scary, and not just for him but all of my friends. Have any of them woke up while I was asleep?"
"Not really, There's been some sleep-walkering, some night terrors-"
"Sleep walkers? Who? How long ago?" I flipped out.
She shushed me and told me, "Rowan's checking again now, but there was no changes when we walked in. Everyone's still out, even that awful teacher. A few parents arriving after us have had to be restrained from ringing his scrawny neck. Even though he's still out."
I had to admit, "I would have liked to have seen that."
"Me too." She agreed before telling me. "You should just rest while you can. And I think the best way to do that is to stay right where you are. When you stayed with us this summer, Logan always seemed to get anxious when he didn't know where you were. So why don't you just let him keep hanging on to you for now? That way you can both rest a little easier."
I can't believe this is the same woman who had been watching us like a hawk at the start of last summer. I wasn't even very sure she'd liked me very much at first. But Malcolm had warned, Logan's a lot like his grandma, her walls don't come down easily either… and he wasn't kidding.
That was when Logan's Grandpa reappeared and pulled me away from Logan just enough to hug me. The first thing he told me was, "Thank you so much for everything you did. It looks like you saved a whole lot more than just our grandson, Q. I'm so glad you're safe."
And I had to really fight not to cry. Which got worse when sound asleep Logan pulled me back to him even tighter. And he sat in the chair I'd been occupying all night, preciously pulling his wife across his lap… they're older people and they're still that touchy-feely with each other… amazing.
While his grandma kept trying to make him 'be more quiet' so that 'I could rest.' We both started to talk science and she quickly lost patience with us both.
Then Rowan had been kind enough to explain just how I'd gotten here in more detail. Along with some of those sleepwalking incidents Logan's grandmother had mentioned.
Apparently, Michael had started the weirdness by getting outta bed to dance around never opening his eyes and kept calling himself 'The Pumpkin King.'
Chase had gotten up next, in that same eye-closed fashion. Wrapped himself in a full roll of toilet tissue and laid right back down still wearing it. Looking like he was in a full body cast the way he was bundled.
Zoey had been trying to climb her privacy curtains and hang from them in her sleep. Lola had put on a full face of makeup on and looked horrible. Cause she'd still been asleep, Lisa had been trying to sow something into her sheets in her sleep. Mark had tried to strip several times and Stacey had been walking around and banging into walls swearing she should just pass through them….
The doctors all swore it was normal behavior… but I'd never seen ANY of my friends do anything like that before.
Each member of The Sci-Club had conducted experiments, with imaginary equipment. Pouring from imaginary beakers and test tubes. Before passing back out and the Teacher had been trying to write on chalk chalkboard that wasn't there, with imaginary chalk. I joked seriously, "But is that really all that different for them? Then the way they normally fake it till they make it?" Rowan had laughed at that while Lillian (Logan's grandma) looked like she felt as ill as I did, when the truth was so obvious.
Rowan finished with explaining how he'd helped Logan put me beside him. Saying, "But when I'd tried to keep Logan awake. He'd fallen right back to sleep." He'd deduced, "I think he used all of his strength, not even meaning to. He's never been the kinda guy to think even for a second… maybe I shouldn't do that, or maybe I don't have the strength. He goes for it."
(His Grandma) Lillan said ruefully, "No he certainly is not?" Then she asked her husband. "Do you recall that wrestler man parading as a boy who Logan told off in the school parking lot? For beating up his sole girl teammate?"
I spoke up saying, "Yeah, he defended Zoey, it was worse if you were here to see that one. Even if it had been defending our friend. And we weren't dating yet."
"I imagine so!" Lillian reasoned. "You may not have been dating yet. But you were still friends and he was quite upset about the brute breaking your glasses that day too. Long before you were dating, if I recall."
I had to smile and say, "Yeah, that sounds like him."
Rowan rubbed his wife's back as he said, "There are so many times that Lillian and I look at you two. And it really is like looking into a mirror, Q."
I said, "Mr Reese is always saying that about us too. But he never quite explains why?"
Lillan spoke satirically again as she said, "Because Malcolm is a completely different story. He's never been able to hang on to any one woman for very long at all. Even Logan's mother was a whirlwind event. Here today gone tomorrow somehow crazier only leaving destruction in her path. We fell for each other in middle school. But didn't tell each other till High school-"
This was a compelling distraction, that I didn't want to end. So I'd asked, as I lay my head down. "If you knew you liked each other why did it take so long to say anything?"
"We were tentative friends in the beginning. Just like you two." Rowan smirked.
I asked, "You guys fought like us? I can't picture that."
"Oh yes!" Lillan swore. "This one was such an insufferable know-it-all! I was the only one who could ever convince him he was wrong… and that was only sometimes."
Rowan described, "I was the biggest... I guess today I would be labeled a 'nerd' in school, I always had my homework done on time and perfect. I looked foward to challenges of tests, exams, and projects. I made excellent grades and I was beat up all the time. The lovely lady seated on my lap wasn't just 'Lil Logan's Grandma,' back then, you know. She was Antoinette Lillan Logan… Her initials weren't A.L.L. by mistake. She was ALL of it, believe me. She danced, sang, acted in all the school plays, wrote for the school newspaper, she was the best track runner, the best swimmer, tennis player, she could even outgolf the golf team. She was the most beautiful, popular girl in school, and when the cheerleaders didn't accept her. She was so much more popular than every one of them that she formed our school's first 'Dance Team' and out-danced them every game for all four years of High School."
Rowan chuckled merrily while Lillan told him, "You knew the day you met me the very first time. I wasn't the kind of person who liked to hear someone else tell me I could or couldn't do something."
"Yep, I did." He grinned and they both looked years younger for a blink. Before they got back to their own story. "But she was so untouchably popular… and I was the opposite. I never thought she'd even looked at me. As anything more than a very smart person who had the same friends as her. Then I got hurt real bad when one of my experiments went terribly wrong and blew up right in my face in the labs one day. Even though I had been wearing goggles, and all of the protective gear I could... my eyes got damaged when the goggles shattered and I could see for a little while. I really was afraid I'd never see again for a little bit there. When that happened, Lil dropped everything that she was doing and helped me, until my sight was back. She'd helped me tie my tie each day. She'd hold my hand and guide me class to class. Even walked me to the classes that she wasn't in. She'd even hugged me and told me everything was gonna be alright. When I'd finally broken down with fear."
Lil laughed and said, "And I've been taking care of him ever since."
He even pointed to some scars on his face that he still had from that accident. I had to ask, "You said Lillan's full maiden name was Antoinette Lillian Logan…Which is a beautiful name, by the way."
"Thank you." Lillan nodded with pride reminding me too much of Logan.
"Is that why Malcolm named my boyfriend Logan? Because it was once Lil's surname?"
"Yep," Rowan confirmed. "Malcolm knew his mom felt bad about her branch of her family tree not being able to carry on. It ended when she married into the Reese name. So he named our grandson 'Logan' so it could find a new life, and boy has he been that. For all of us. And did you know his middle name is Rowan?"
"Yes I did." I laughed, as Lil smacked him. I never knew his name meant so much before. I had to kiss Logan's forehead since I'd just learned something else. That had made me love him a little more.
Then that got them back to stories about Logan the early years. Some of his early-day shenanigans were still stories being told. Like how he had been caught several times kissing girls in kindergarten. Or the bully he catapulted off of a seesaw when he was small.
Rowan elbowed me and said, "Wish you'd been there Q! That little fat boy went SAILING! HAhaHAha! He never messed with our guy again either. You can't tell me starting his simple physics lessons back then WASN'T a good idea-"
Lillian insisted un-impressed, "Yes, I can, when that was his only take away from your classes. How to stir up even more trouble than before."
But Rowan went on to explain to me on the sly in a hushed tone. "He knew exactly when to strike, he waited for his prey to sit on the right side of the perfect seesaw. He knew when he wouldn't get hurt or hurt anyone else but that portly puss!"
But Mrs Lillan wasn't having it sighing loudly, fussing over Logan and me both. She told her husband. "This isn't the proper time to champion his fight or fly instincts, Ro-Wan."
"My point, ladies is that Logan is a fighter, through and through. He can beat this like he's beaten so many other things already. We've just gotta give him the time and our patience."
But that has never been something I have been so good at… patience.
After hearing all of my friends' crazy night terror tales. It worried me that Logan's only slightly similar story had been pulling me to him… that's all he had done. Besides pull me or hold on to me. Dean Rivers came in an tried to talk James, Lydia and me into going to class after that. Saying that, "Since the three of us were perfectly fine we should set an example to the rest of our class."
Not only did I have to site the three of us as 'emotionally compromised.' To get him off of our backs, but Logan's grandparents had stepped up for all three of us. Even rallied the other parents present. Even though the three of us didn't belong biologically to any of these people. This is why our friends are so great though, these are the kind of people they come from. Good ones who know when to speak up.
After Dean Rivers was gone, no changes had still happened and no one was awake yet. Rowana and Lil walked me back to Logan and helped tuck us both in and promised they would wake me if anything happened. But suggested that in the meantime I should try to get some sleep. While I can…
Having no fight left in me, I listened to them and let Logan pull me close. As my world finally went into a dreamless blackness. Hoping for better circumstances when I open my eyes again.
That's all folks!
Well for this entry anyways. But don't fret, the next chapter where we get to go back to Logan's black-and-white world will be posting soon. I just really felt that Real Quinn's perspective was important to cover first. Before I can get into what happened next, you'll see what I mean when we get back to Logan's black-and-white dreams in the next chapter. That maybe more than he is seeing these dreams too. AM I right? Chase was my favorite night terror story, though Zoey hanging from the privacy curtains was pretty wicked too. And Stacey walking into walls can you just hear her doing that and exclaiming 'Eeeh!'... 'Eeeh!' 'I'm supposed to go THROUGH!'… LoL! Please write in if you can! I would love to hear from you. I hope you're having a great day! Take Care and Much Love!
~DarcyBeDippy85