Lethal Friends

Eliot (II)

Logan pulled up in a small black car just as the rain started to pour down. It took me a few minutes to even realize it was him at all. He normally drove a motorcycle so I was glad that when he stuck his head out through window and yelled to get in he was the driver of a car.

"Took you long enough," I grumbled not wanting to think about the glaring fact that I had needed him.

"The only reason I'm picking you up is because we live a good twenty minutes away from school. You're very welcome to hop back out of this car and walk that skinny little a*s of yours the rest of the way back home."  He knew I hated this and he was just going to flaunt it.

"I would if it wasn't raining," I said and he scoffed. We both knew that wasn't entirely true.

"This is not going to become a habit though, okay? I don't want to have to pick you up all the time,"

"Wow, Geez didn't you hear my explanation? I only asked you because no one else could pick me up." He thought I wanted to be here in this car with him? I mean I didn't mind the view but all the sh*t that came out of his mouth- his a*s must be jealous.

He smirked. And nodded as is if to say, 'Sure you did,'

I rolled my eyes and looked out the window watching the little droplets race down the window. Then I realized the amazing scent that was filling the car. It was like a woodsy smell with a hint of vanilla. It was what his room had smelled like the one time I had been in there. It was Logan's smell. Mmmm. I pressed my hands to my eyes and rubbed forcefully. I had to shake myself out of this. A good scent couldn't do much to hide his awful and rude attitude. But he's only like that because of Elliott- isn't that what Autumn said? I thought.

"Logan," I asked softly catching his attention at my strange attitude and voice.

"What, London? Why are saying my name like that?" His eyes were on the road but they had widen. What?

"Like what?" I asked momentarily distracted.

"Like... like nevermind, what do you want?" He rubbed his mouth with one hand and let the other rest on the steering wheel.

"What is the event with Elliott- AHHH!" I screamed at the end of my sentence and grabbed whatever I could find to hold on as Logan swerved the car into the other lane where a truck was headed straight for us. It's lights were flashing and it was laying on the horn. He yanked the steering wheel back over, and I sighed in relief- we were out of danger.

"What the hell Logan?" Why had he done that?

His face was twisted, conflicted, but I could see the anger boiling right underneath the surface.

He pulled the car off to the side of the road and set it in neutral, idling right beside an nearly empty field. He sighed and rolled down the window breathing in deeply the sweet smelling air. He covered his eyes with a hand and leaned against the side of the door.

"Didn't I ask you not to pry into my private life?" He growled quietly.

I gulped, "Well I met Adrian today and Autumn and I- we started to talk about him and you. She said that the Elliott event had changed you. She thought I knew." Please don't be mad at me, I begged silently. I didn't know how he would react in a small place like this with me only a few feet away.

He groaned quietly and shifted to face me, the movement causing his scent to wash over me. I tried my best not to breathe it in.

"Look Elliott.... he's a really hard topic for me to talk about." So it was a boy, not an old girlfriend. Unless he was gay.... no he had slept with half the girls in the school.

"And I know we're giving the whole friend part of this a go, but I can't forget your my enemy to. You might take this and shove it back in my face. And that'll hurt, London, hurt like hell."

"Logan, where on earth would you get the idea that I would use your personal problems as a gain for myself to get the upper hand in the war? Do you really think I'm that kind of person? I would never do something like that. Sure I might play pranks on you, but that's all they are- pranks. And I have only ever done physical pranks nothing that would hurt you emotionally." Wow I was deep. Logan thought about it looking out the window over my shoulder.

"That's not exactly what I meant, London," he sighed, "This isn't something I broadcast to the whole school population or anybody who asks. Almost no one knows exactly what happened and that's the way I want it to be. So telling you, someone who's still fairly new in my life, I don't know yet."

So he didn't trust me. That was the issue. And I totally understood. Sure I had hoped he would but really there had only been a few circumstances where he and I had gotten along. So why would he tell me?

Turning back to the front he shifted the gear and started to drive again. We were thankfully only three minutes away now. Then I could be free.

He smiled and I pulled back slightly. What was going on in that fine head of his?

"So I was right than. You and Autumn. You guys get along well don't you?"

I tried my hardest to deny it and keep the smile at bay but I weakened and lost. "Yeah you were right."

"Ladies and gentlemen we shall always remeber this day. We shall write it in the history books to be recalled of as possible as often. The day London Brighten finally came to the realization that I, Logan, am right! I just love the sound of you being wrong." He was going to be bragging about this alot wasn't he? I smiled anyways. Seeing him so excited compared to a neutral face was a nice change.

"Oh all bow down to the king. I'd kiss your hand in reverance but unfortunately sh*t stains."

"Oh how funny. But tell me this sweetheart- were you born on a highway? Because that's where most accidents happen."  OH. HE. DID. NOT. Trying to beat me at my own game was he?

"I would love to insult you, but it looks like I wouldn't do as well as nature already did," I responded sassily. 

He just shook his head and laughed at me. I was shook. He wasn't going to try to top me or my comment?

He drove into my driveway and paused staring at me for a moment.

I gave him my best 'what do you want - speak now or expect me to never hold my peace' look.

"Meet me at our windows in twenty minutes okay?" That was all he said before he leaned over getting closer to me by the second. WHAT. THE. FLYING. SEAHORSES. I felt the familiar heat of a blush underneath my freckled cheeks. No! He is your  (mostly) enemy.

He smirked seeing the affect he had on me and took off my seat belt with a small click. Then he grabbed the door handle and pushed it open for me. If that wasn't sending an obvious signal I didn't know what was. So I nodded and got out promising him I'd meet him in twenty minutes.

I rushed upstairs fidgeting with my hands nervously. Was he actually going to tell me about Elliott or something else or what? I double checked the house to find I was by myself and so went back to my room. I alternated between staring at my phone to staring out the window. Eventually focusing on only my phone.

I had nearly jumped five feet in the air when I heard something hit my window and I saw Logan waiting patiently at his ledge.

I then waited patiently for him to speak and his first words were not what I had expected at all.

A big breathe was taken in as if he was preparing himself, " I had a brother,"

Had.

He had had a brother.

****

And that was how I had ended up here, staring at his tattoo that read Elliott, my legs slowly stopping their swinging motion and coming to a halt and becoming as still as Logan.

Elliott had been his brother. The boy in the picture beside his bed? Then what about him if he had been? And that picture looked at least two years old then....

"His name was Elliott, and he was my only brother. I loved him. More than I have for anyone else. He had jet black hair kinda like mine but different, and green eyes the kind that make you do almost anything for and he had this laugh, you know the kind that makes you laugh because of their laugh. And he looked up to me. Did everything I did thought I did everything perfect- even though I was far from it." He paused for a moment looking back down at his hands.

I was dying to ask a million questions but I kept my mouth shut afraid he would stop as soon as I pushed too far. He was in as delicate position too, I could tell.

"And... well. I'm sorry I can't," it was all just too much. He slide off the window's ledge and back inside. He looked broken, and I so badly wanted to fix him. But I couldn't.

He couldn't look up and I felt like he was afraid to show me the deep emotion that creased his face. I was alright with that. He had obviously dealt with this for a long time and still struggled. He didn't need a fretting mother-like teenage girl getting in the way of his problems. But, it seemed like he wasn't going to tell me anything more- and there was obviously more- and I wanted to know all of it.

I hope he knows that I won't be a jerk about whatever he tells me, it won't change our relationship of frenemies either way. It'd have to be close to murder for that.

I wasn't going to throw this back in his face. Ever. No matter what he did to me, this was a tough thing for him. Since he had been gracious enough to prove he wasn't heartless, I wouldn't pollute it. That was a promise.

"It's alright Logan. I understand. You don't need to tell me now. When you're ready, okay? Whether that's tomorrow or in five years, that's okay."

His eyes stared fiercely back into mine I could almost feel the silent thank you that was radiating off of him. He brought a hand up to his hair and brushed it back, holding it in place. I knew that this way my cue to leave- before it got awkward.

"Well, I think Jordon just texted me. I'd better figure where the douche bag was, when he was supposed to be picking me up. He has some explaining to do. See you around?" I laughed lightly hoping to make things not so serious.

"Yeah see you around, sweetheart," he said quietly back and for the first time I think he actually meant the nickname for what it meant.

I smiled to myself and turned around pulling out my phone.

'Yeah so kinda forgot I had to pick you up and my phone died sorry...'

'Well you're not at home so where are you?' I texted back, but not really caring or looking for an answer. My mind was too preoccupied with Logan.

Would I ever stop thinking about that boy? Every time I tried to stop another reason presented itself for why I should keep him at the front of my mind.

Don't you mean excuses? Ugghhh I hated myself sometimes.

I flopped back on to my bed and sighed sleepily. Even though it was only 7, I felt like an exhausted grandpa. 

Please let's have no more drama for awhile, I just want to have a calm existence. Ha! like that's even a thing.

Oh shut up, I told myself. And then my eyes shut closed against their own will and I was asleep.