"We apologize, Logan," Tanya, Damien, and Ryan express.
"Thank you," Logan replies.
Later on, Jett finds himself in serious trouble with Tommy's parents, who have made it clear that he is to stay away from their son. The tension hangs in the air as he reflects on the consequences of his actions.
As the afternoon sun streamed through the windows of Apartment 2J, the atmosphere buzzed with excitement and uncertainty.
"Jo and I finally picked the activity we can all go to this weekend," Camille announced, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. Logan, momentarily distracted from his online solitaire game, looked up with curiosity.
"That's great, Cami. What is it?" he asked, genuinely intrigued. "A poetry slam," Camille replied, her voice filled with anticipation. Logan's brow furrowed in confusion, prompting James and Carlos to pause their video game, equally puzzled, while Kendall glanced up from his hockey magazine, mirroring their bewilderment.
"It's going to be so much fun! Camille is one of the poetry readers," Jo chimed in, her excitement infectious.
"That's so great, Cami," Logan said, attempting to muster enthusiasm for his girlfriend's passion. But when Camille added, "Thanks, I signed you up for it too," his heart sank at the thought of facing an audience.
"That's great, Cami," he replied, his voice lacking the earlier excitement. Katie, sensing his discomfort, interjected, "You signed him up without his permission? Why would you do that?"
Camille, feeling the weight of her choice, defended herself, "I had to. He would have said no if I asked him to sign himself up." The tension in the room shifted, as Logan wrestled with his feelings while the others exchanged glances, caught between support for Camille and concern for Logan.
Logan raises an eyebrow, his expression one of disbelief. "What do you mean you had to?"
Camille, with a hint of concern, replies, "During your science project presentation earlier, you seemed to struggle with your words."
Logan exhales sharply, the memory of that embarrassing moment still fresh. "Yes, I remember all too well. Tanya, Damien, and Ryan made sure to mock me for it. You were there, so you know how much I dread speaking in front of others. So why on earth would you sign me up for a poetry slam without asking me first?" He crosses his arms defiantly.
With a soft sigh, Camille offers him a sympathetic glance. "I truly apologize, Logan. I believed that confronting your fear of public speaking would help you overcome your anxiety. The venue is intimate, and since it's not a school environment, I thought it might ease your discomfort."
"Camille, that's utterly absurd! I have no experience with poetry. I don't keep a journal filled with my innermost thoughts like you do. How could you put me in this position? I refuse to participate in the poetry slam. I'll be there to cheer you on, but I won't take part. You must inform the organizers that I'm withdrawing." Logan's irritation is palpable.
"Fine, Logan. I'll remove your name from the signup sheet," Camille reluctantly agrees.
"Good," Logan responds. "Just don't go around signing me up for things without asking first. That wasn't cool, Cami."
"Alright, I promise not to do it again," Camille assures.
Jo interjects, "Camille and I have something else fun planned for the weekend."
"What is it?" Kendall inquires.
"A couples dance class," Jo reveals.
"A couples dance class? You mean you, me, Logan, and Camille?" Kendall questions.
"Yeah," Jo confirms.
"But Logan and I already know how to dance for Gustavo," Kendall points out.
"I know, but this is a ballroom couples dance class. We'll be learning the tango, the most romantic of Latin ballroom dances," Jo explains.
"Romantic? Why do we need to learn a romantic dance?" Kendall wonders.
"Because it's a beautiful dance to master," Camille chimes in.
"The tango isn't really our cup of tea, for me or Logan," Kendall mused. "I'm not sure if I want to give it a shot, Jo."
"I think it could be a fun new experience for both of you," Jo suggested confidently.
Kendall hesitated. "Do we have to wear fancy clothes for this tango thing?"
Jo reassured him, "Nope, wear whatever makes you comfortable."
After a moment of consideration, Kendall finally agreed. "Alright, I'll give it a go. Just one class, Jo. That's all."
Jo chuckled. "You're so stubborn, but okay, deal."
Camille turned to Logan and asked mischievously, "What about you, Logan? Feeling up for a challenge?"
Logan flashed a grin. "Sure, I'll give it a shot. Who knows, I might actually enjoy it. You might too, Kenny."
Kendall rolled his eyes. "Not likely."
"Earlier today at school, I observed something intriguing during your science project presentation, Logan. Just before you began, you retrieved BuddyBot from your pocket. The moment you glanced at him, your nerves seemed to dissipate. Was he a source of comfort for you?" Carlos inquired.
"Indeed, Carlos. Holding BuddyBot truly eased my anxiety," Logan replied. "I didn't realize you noticed me discreetly taking him out. I suppose I've adopted a self-soothing technique from you."
"A self-soothing technique?" Carlos asked, a hint of confusion in his voice. "What does that mean?"
"It's a way people cope with distress," Logan explained. "For instance, young children often suck their thumbs when they're upset. Some individuals bite their nails or twirl their hair when feeling anxious. Others might close their eyes and count to ten to manage their breathing during moments of panic. There are numerous strategies people employ. Your approach is to clutch your Donatello action figure whenever you're particularly troubled. You mentioned that it helps you find your calm."
"Wow, Logan, it's impressive how well-versed you are in self-soothing techniques," Carlos remarked.
Jo and Camille head back to their apartments, keen to stay within the bounds of curfew.
On Saturday morning, Andy and Steven arrive with Aiden and Alana in tow.
"If we can't track them down, don't get too bummed out. BTR isn't always around, especially on weekends. They might be off having fun elsewhere," Andy advises.
As the guys stroll through the lobby, they catch sight of the kids.
"Hey there, little dudes! You must be the children of your mom's co-worker," Logan greets them.
"Yep, that's right! Meet Aiden and Alana," Andy introduces.
"So, everything smoothed over after that awkward first meeting?" Carlos inquires.
"He mentioned that to you?" Aiden replies, taken aback.
"Absolutely, he filled us in on the whole story," Carlos confirms. "We don't stand for bullying."
"We've moved past that. Our first encounter didn't go as we hoped, but we genuinely want to be friends with Andy and Steven," Alana explains.
"Why did you doubt him when he said he and Steven knew us?" James asks.
"It just seemed too far-fetched; it sounded like something someone would say to show off. We thought he was boasting," Aiden admits. "We realize now we should have trusted him more."
"We're really excited to meet all of you! We're big fans of your music," Alana adds enthusiastically.
"Thanks! That means a lot to us," Kendall responds with a smile.
Aiden inquires, "What's on your agenda for today?"
Kendall replies with a hint of reluctance, "Jo and Camille signed Logan and me up for a couples dance class. We're supposed to learn the tango." He lets out a sigh, clearly unimpressed.
"Yay," Kendall adds sarcastically.
Alana chimes in, "The tango is such a romantic and stunning dance to watch."
"I get that, but it's just not my thing. I'm not into all that mushy stuff, and neither is Logan," Kendall retorts.
Logan chuckles, trying to lighten the mood. "We'll manage, Kenny. The class is at the community center, and we can skateboard there."
"Alright," Kendall concedes. "But I have a feeling this is going to be incredibly dull."
"Are you two joining them, James and Carlos?" Andy asks.
"Absolutely! We can't wait to see them trip over their own feet," James laughs, picturing the scene.
"Come on, James, we should be cheering them on, not making fun of them," Carlos interjects.
"I know Carlos well. I'm just having a bit of fun. I really hope Logan and Kendall pick up the tango as effortlessly as you did," James remarks.
"Logan, you mentioned a poetry slam. What's Camille's interest in that? It sounds dull," Andy comments.
"She's incredibly creative and isn't shy about expressing herself. Writing poetry is her passion," Logan replies.
The group arrives at the community center and steps into the room where the tango class is in session.
"Kendall, what's with the outfit?" Jo inquires.
"You mean my hockey jersey? I like it," Kendall responds.
"It looks so oversized and loose," Jo points out.
"Just yesterday, you said I could wear anything I wanted. Now you're upset with my choice? I knew joining this class was a bad idea," Kendall retorts.
"Come on, everyone, this isn't the time for a spat, especially not in front of others," Logan interjects, trying to diffuse the situation.
"You're right, Logan," Kendall concedes.
"Jo, I honestly don't see an issue with Kendall's outfit. Is it really bothering you that much?" Camille asks.
"No, I overreacted. I'm sorry, Kendall," Jo admits.
"It's all good. Let's just get through this tango lesson," Kendall says.
After the tango class wraps up, Kendall, Logan, Jo, and Camille gather to reflect on their dancing skills.
"That was quite the experience, but I don't think I'll be signing up for more classes anytime soon," Kendall admits.
"Could it have anything to do with all the times you accidentally stepped on my feet?" Jo teases.
"Maybe a little, but overall I just don't see myself doing this on the regular. What about you, Logan?" Kendall inquires.
"It was definitely a unique challenge for mind and body, but I think one tango class is plenty for me," Logan replies.
"Well, I appreciate you giving it a shot, Logan," Camille chimes in.
"Since you guys were good sports and tried it out, Kendall and Logan, why don't you pick the activity for next weekend?" Jo suggests.
"Thanks, Jo. I already have a few ideas in mind," Kendall replies with a smile.
As the sun dips below the horizon, Aiden, Alana, Andy, and Steven make their way home.
At a local cafe, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingles with the sound of light chatter and clinking dishes. Logan, leaning back in his chair, takes a hearty bite of his grilled cheese sandwich, his eyes lighting up with curiosity. "Where is the poetry slam, Camille?" he asks, his mouth full, clearly eager to know more about the event that has captured her attention.
Camille, her enthusiasm palpable, takes a moment to savor her wild berry smoothie before responding. "It's at the Youth Los Angeles Performing Arts Center. It's an open mic night, and I'm so excited to participate!" Her eyes sparkle with anticipation, reflecting her passion for poetry and performance. Carlos, sitting across from them, raises an eyebrow, intrigued yet slightly apprehensive about the whole idea. "Are you nervous?" he inquires, genuinely curious about her confidence.
Camille shakes her head, a grin spreading across her face. "No, I'm not nervous at all. I'm confident I'll do well." Logan chuckles, shaking his head in admiration. "You're braver than I am. I'm glad it's you and not me who's doing it. You did get my name off the participation list as I asked you to, right?"
Camille nods, her smile unwavering. "Yes, Logan. I got it off the list. It was a bit of a challenge, but I explained your reasons, and don't worry, you're off the list."
Relieved, Logan leans back, "Good, thanks." The conversation continues, filled with laughter and camaraderie, as the cafe buzzes around them.
