"You really think I got a chance?" Asked a bubbly and awake Logan.
The tunnels into the apartment echo with his joyful tone. Up ahead is the scent of Tyde and snuggle fabric softener with the sounds of heavily shaking laundry machines. Apartment 2B has a built in washer and dryer unit but other tenants aren't so lucky. Kendall smiles at the cheerful disposition of his friend. Life still happens, people can still experience joy, even while awful, terrible things are happening down the road or even under the same roof. It doesn't make Logan a bad person that he's not more sympathetic to Carlos, or because he's not crying over the things happening at Compstance. Logan isn't aware of certain things and Kendall can appreciate that because when your life is despairing you need people who can remind you the sun is going to come up tomorrow.
So Kendall nods, "If you have a chance with me, I'm sure you've got a chance with Chaz Parlulten."
Confusion registers on Logan's face as the step into the light of the laundry room's open archway. There, dressed in booty shorts, tank tops, and cut jackets, are Lucy and Jo. The apartment has a lot of rumors about them but the boys see them as good people and the girls respect the kindness of the boys as Kendall, Logan, James, nor Carlos have ever looked at them like they're trash the way the other tenants do.
An annoyed Jo ends her phone conversation and takes a drag of her cigarette. Then she shouts, "You."
Kendall catches her glare directed at him and he comes up short causing Logan to stop too. Logan's smile doesn't fade as he turns into the room with him. Several machines are in use but no one is in here except the girls.
"You got away from Dan today, he doesn't like that." She said sternly, her black painted fingernails catching the dim light of the room as they tap over her interlaced arms.
Kendall pauses. He takes a breath. Allows for the air to go still and then speaks in a monotone, "No, I don't think that's what happened. We had a scheduled interview, he took over four hours to finally meet with me and it cost me other interviews for the day. He'll have to reschedule if he wants an interview."
"Dan does things his own way, on his own time." She tells him, her blonde hair matted to her face where dark make up lines her eyes and lips.
Kendall puffs out his chest but asks sweetly as he gestures Logan to move along without him, "Are you one of his things?"
Jo cranes her neck in disbelief, "What did you just say."
Lucy Stone has a conscience. She's quick to grab hold of Jo's arm with her fishnet covered hand. There are no words that come from Lucy's actions but those actions have a deep warning about them and Jo straightens her spine.
"I apologize." She says as she swallows hard afraid of something that isn't Kendall, "You don't deserve my cruelty just because of a scheduling complication. We miss Carlos at the studio. He's very kind."
Kendall looks down the hallway to make sure Logan is gone before he leans forward to tell them, "Something happened to Carlos there. Something terrible. If either of you know anything please, now would be the time to speak."
Jo just shakes her head and gets back to folding her towels after ashing her cigarette in a galaxy trey. Lucy steps forward, "We care about Carlos. I promise, we do. But we've signed an NDA. Do what you have to do but legally we are silenced."
He knows exactly what that means and he also knows what he needs to do next. Bringing Logan back to the room wasn't just about Logan. There are rules a journalist must follow. Rules, while difficult to follow, are entirely necessary. He's only a child, you see. Children can not handle the weight of the world alone.
"I'd move heaven and earth for him. For any one of them." He says and he's off down the hallway in the direction of the lobby.
Beep... boop... beep... *dial tone*. Ring, ring... ring. Click!
"Los Angeles SVU, this is detective Optix. How can I help?" Asks the woman on the other side of the line.
Kendall talks as he walks past the leather couches to the left, slips through a door, and climbs the staircase to the second floor. He says, "Hello I'm Kendall Knight and I write for the L.A. 1800. I've been working on a story for an article this week and I've discovered some uncomfortable things, it's required of me to submit my information to the proper people before I can continue my work."
"It's especially difficult because it involves one of my friends. He revealed to me things I don't feel should be shared over the phone. How soon can you get a squad car out to Palm Springs resort? Apartment 2B." He finishes as he comes up on the landing for the second floor.
She responds, "Mr. Knight I cannot imagine how you must be feeling. That's awfully terrifying. I just have a couple questions as I send out disbatch. Firstly how old is the victim?"
"Seventeen. We're both just... seventeen." He breathes.
She pauses for a moment and then pushes through whatever feelings she just had bubble up, "Seventeen and already working for a major illustration. Good for you, Mr. Knight. How long ago was the assault?"
"Anywhere between three weeks ago to three months ago. He didn't tell me much." He confesses.
She lets out a small sound and then continues, "It didn't occur today. Okay. Disbatch is on their way. One last question Kendall."
He turns his face and the red light from the EXIT sign catches his face. His hand perches on the metal of the door latch and he waits.
"How close would you say you are to the victim?" He cringes at her choice of word.
She's said it twice now and it's leaving a sour taste in his mouth. He furrows his brow and lifts his hand to press his fingers into the bridge of his nose. With the softest gasp he tells her, "I believe I'm in love with him."
Kendall pushes open the door to apartment 2B and hangs up the phone. Logan stands there with the pink shirt in his hand, an angry look on his face. He shuffles his feet and says, "Are you gonna tell me what that call was about?"
"Logan. I-I'm sorry I didn't want you finding out this way?" Kendall sighs tossing his cell onto the kitchen bar top looking over at his mom who sits silently on the couch watching her episode of Criminal minds.
"Who are you in love with? Is it me? Are you setting me up with Chaz when you're in love with me?" Genuine fear envelopes Logan's face those deep brown eyes swelling with tears of anxiety, "D-do you have feelings for me?"
Carlos steps into the elevator. Wheels squeal in his ear and he turns to see Lucy and Jo stepping in after him with their carts of laundry. They live on level five.
"Didn't imagine we'd see you out and about Carlos. We heard you were in the hospital today." Says Lucy.
James comes running around the corner in the lobby and slips into the elevator just as the doors began to close. He promised. He's not going to let Carlos wonder off anywhere alone.
"Oh my god! Why can't you all just leave me alone?" He snaps, "My life is starting to feel like a Lana Del Rey music video. It's driving me crazy."
The door opens on the second floor and he rushes down the hallway fishing out his key. He ignores the argument coming from inside and the voices of the girls calling out to him. He struggles with the lock and his anxiety builds. James snakes up behind him and eases the key into the lock for him. It twists with an ease and the two of them walk into the apartment together.
"It wasn't my choice!" Yells Kendall.
Logan shakes, "Why because you're in love with Carlos? That is his decision to make!"
Carlos is a deer and three muskets surround him. His stomach hurts. Everyone is staring at him. It's 10:57 P.M. and all he wants is to go to sleep but he knows it'll suck because Ms. Knight took all the tequila. Only way he'll be able to get drunk now is if he goes back to the party.
He goes to leave but James steps into his way, "You can't Carlos."
"Why not!" He sneers.
James throws his hands up in surrender, "Because we all know Kendall and I'm willing to bet he called the police about what we just talked about at the cabana. Just like I'm willing to bet he didn't come up empty handed either. He's been missing all day at that place and I'm sure he's omitted some information from the rest of us and if I want to hear it I know you do. Why don't we all sit down and wait for the detectives to show."
"Detectives?" Says Ms. Knight, "Police. Okay."
She stands up and corks her wine bottle. She walks briskly to the fridge and puts her alcohol away, pouring the rest of her glass down the sink. She instructs the boys to all take a seat. Carlos and James sit on the stools at the island while Logan and Kendall sit on the red couch. Ms. Knight stands there organizing her thought after drinking half the bottle.
She presses her fingers to the bridge of her nose and furrows her brow the way Kendall does, "You boys are supposed to trust me enough to tell me when somethings wrong. Why am I always the last one to know everything? Where's Katie?"
"Safe." Kendall tells her, "With some friends."
She nods, "Good. Carlos, whatever you decide to do I'll support."
Knock! Knock! Knock!