Lethal Friends

Pull Apart

I sighed sitting in chemistry class, for once not wanting the Friday fourth period bell to ring. All that meant was detention and detention meant Logan. I was still mad at him. It didn't matter that we were at war- the whole event had been a little much. Even after changing I still felt like 25 guys were watching me with just a towel on. It was like the feeling of a bug crawling on your neck that you swear you killed but it was still there wrecking havoc.

Ryan sat beside me and was mumbling the equation to himself, squinting his eyes and scribbiling hurriedly. I looked down and saw my own notebook completely empty and only filled with a very small list of possible revenge tactics. All of them sucked. Compared to Logan's, I was very unimaginative. Which reminded me, the dummy had skipped all three  detentions and school days so far, and not one teacher had called him out on it too scared of his father to do anything about it.

That made me so irritated. That he could get away with so many things just because his daddy was in charge was hella annoying. Today though, I knew he would be at detention. I knew because I had seen him earlier in the cafeteria making out with a random redhead. Just the thought made me sick. Their tongue down each other's throats- gahh. Needless to say I hadn't been able to finish my pasta and now my stomach complained grumbling loudly.

I bit my pencil nervously staring at the clock, five minutes. Logan sat near the front texting someone on his phone. Did he ever delete that picture of me? I wondered. Or was that one of his back up battle moves?

As if he could feel my eyes on him he turned around and stared at me. Neither of us moved, just looked. It was strange but not bad. I finally had the chance to appreciate his big brown doe like eyes, and gorgeous black wavy hair. I could see now why so many girls feel for him. I hoped I wouldn't fall into that category. It's not like it would happen anyways, we were at war which meant we hated each other's guts. Right?

Logan soon broke whatever it was and smirked. He went back to his phone and texted me, 'Like what you see?'

I laughed a little, and texted back,'I could find better at a run down Goodwill store.' His smirked disappeared and he turned around again to pout at me. He gestured at himself and texted, 'How could you possibly resist this?'

'Oh believe me it's easy enough,' I replied.

'That's not what the redhead at lunch thought,' now it was my turn for my smile to fade. Really? I hated that so many girls were drawn to him and he just used them and threw them away like dirty kleenex's. It was awful to see so many girls crying in the halls just because of a one night stand. And I hadn't been here that long to see all of them. A few girls had found out about our war and told me, "Crush him, kill him, London. He deserves to be smashed like a bug whose guts are spilled across the floor," They weren't bitter towards him at all. Nope.

He texted me again, 'Ready for detention?'

I didn't bother to reply as the bell rung and I scrambled as fast as I could out of my seat like the many other teenagers ready to get out of here. I followed Logan hoping he knew where he was going. He seemed tense which was odd. He usually portrayed an either arrogant or neutral look. We walked in the opposite direction than the rest of the crowd of people, heading for an old classroom that looked like it hadn't been used in a few years. Made sense that the detention room would be in the creepy dusty unused room full of spiders. Most definitely.

Logan walked in briskly and I stepped in too taken aback when the door was slammed shut behind me. I heard the click of a lock and suddenly I wasn't so sure this was the detention room. The room in front of me was empty and turning around half way to look out the door window I saw the hallway empty too. Who had trapped me in here? Was it a murderer? Was I going to be alright? Was my phone fully charged? I could call someone. Yes that was a good idea, the best one yet.

I reached into my school pant pocket and started to pull out my phone when someone grabbed my arms and spinning me around pinned me up against the wall. Logan.

His eyes weren't so happy as they were in chemistry. In fact they looked tormented. What was going on?

"Logan...." I started. He shook his head, his wavy hair more ruffled than usual, and looked down. If he moved an inch forward I would be eating a mouthful of black hair for snack.

"No, London. What did Autumn tell you?" He looked frantic a little crazy even. If I hadn't seen him five minutes ago laughing and smiling I would have thought he was off his rocker.

"What? I don't know what you're talking about."

"Look, I know Autumn tried out for the swim team and you did too. I saw you guys talking. What did she tell you about Elliott? Why would you ask me about Conner if you didn't know about Elliott?" His grip on my arms tightened and I cried out in slight pain.

"I dont know what you're talking about. Who the heck is Elliott? And let go of me you i***t, I'm losing blood circulation in my arms, there about to fall off," his eyes looked instantly sorry and letting out a short breath he let go.

"I'm sorry, London, so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt hurt you. I'm such a dumbass," his hands slid to cover his face in remorse and slid up to his hair where they tugged painfully at the ends.

This was the first hour in which he had been nice and completely crazy to me. He had even said sorry. That was definitely a first. I reached out my hand tentatively and touched his shoulder. He pulled away instantly as if I had burned him.

"Calm down Logan. Now tell me what's going on." I tried to be as relaxing as possible so that he might follow suit. I leaned back against the wall for support.

"It's just.... you know what forget I even said anything. I saw you following me thinking I was going to detention and I had to know..." He shook his head again. " It's fine I over reacted. Let's just go to detention. I'll show you where it is, for real this time." He didn't think I was just going to let this go did he?

"No you have to explain yourself. You can't just pin me to a wall and ask crazy questions and expect me to walk away." His eyebrows furrowed, and he rubbed his forehead.

"I can't..." He sighed again and backed away further.

"Look Logan, you said you wanted to be frenemies? This is me trying to play the friend part of that and trying to help you. I don't even know why I'm doing it after what you did to me after the swim tryouts." I tried again.

"Can you act the part of the friend by agreeing to not pry into something I want to keep private? I can easily pin you up on that wall again you know." He said roughly but his eyes didn't match up with it.

"Alright fine, just take me to detention. The real detention." We were actually being civilized, I was proud yet annoyed.

We silently left the room, walking close to each other, it was odd that neither was shouting sarcastic remarks. It was a little bit of a relief to be honest.

"You made the team by the way," Logan mumbled looking away.

"What?" I asked.

"The swim team you made the swim team, Autumn told me."

"Oh, cool." I didn't know what else to say and the tingling feeling that shot up my arm every time he bumped my shoulder was distracting me. I was just weirded out by his recent change in attitude towards me that was all.

"You'll probably do good," he squinted as if looking into the sun and then turned his head away from me so I couldn't see his face. His neck was strained facing the other way and I could see his curly tattoo.  I had to resist the urge to reach out and touch it. I shook my head what was with me?

"Thanks," I whispered drawing myself back to our conversation. I felt like this was an important moment and I didn't want to ruin it. He nodded and we didn't speak for the next few minutes.

"This is it," he said and lead me into a newer room in the south wing, a teacher sat at the front desk. He ticked off our attendance on a little sheet and told us to sit down. Logan of course sat right beside me.

Please let him be as nice during detention as he was on the way here. I prayed.

*********

I laughed hard at Logans most recent joke, even though it wasn't that funny. We were having an actually nice time, and after the teacher fell asleep we started talking and hadn't stopped. Logan was surprisingly keeping up the nice attitude and I wasn't going to waste it because I knew it wouldn't last.

Logan suddenly looked at the clock.

"Hey, it's been an hour that means we can go," I didn't know if that was entirely true but I didn't want to wait anymore so I nodded and picked up my bag. I hoped Jordon had got my text and was on his way to pick me up. I had told my aunt and uncle and Adam that I had gotten detention for not finishing a super important homework assignment. They had no idea about Logan and I wanted to keep it that way.

"You should talk to Autumn more, I have a feeling you guys would get along really well." He said pushing the door open and heading down the hall.

I nodded again and opened my mouth to reply when someone cut me off

"London, what the hell?" My head whipped around to spot Adam dressed in his Wallagher Academy outfit, fists clenched and throwing murderous glares at Logan.

"Why are you talking to him? I told you he's a only jerk who will only tear you apart and leave you to rot. You should stay away."

"Really Adam that's what you told her about me? I thought you were better than spreading lies about an old friend." Logan's own fists were automatically clenching themselves.

"I know you only want the best for me, Adam, but I can talk to whoever I please. Don't you trust my judgement?" I said eyes shining. No one said I was going to try date the guy- I knew better. I knew that Adam didn't know, but we were at war, so nothing was going to happen.

"You forget, London, that I was friends with him. I saw the hundreds of girls he picked up and threw away not ten seconds later. Nothing's changed since then anyways."

"One hell of a friend you were," Logan mumbled rolling his eyes. Oh no that was only asking for trouble. I inched away ever so slowly. If things were going the way I thought they were...

"Do you want to go over this again? You know you were always wrong, if not why don't you come and prove it," Adam taunted.

"I think I will," Logan growled and stalked closer to Adam closing the distance between them in seconds.

Adam threw the first punch before I could say anything, landing a weak blow to Logan's jaw.

"I thought you could've done much better, considering your amazing performance a year ago." Logan taunted and I felt my face wrinkle in confusion. Since when had Adam ever been a fighter?

"Guys stop before one of you kills the other," I cried. But it was like they were in their own little bubble for neither turned my way or paid attention to my words. If they wouldn't listen to my words how was I supposed to stop this?

Logan waited taunting Adam by circling him and playing the defense. He easily ducked out of the way as Adam attempted another hit to his face. Again and again Adam missed and Logan smirked. Logan was tiring him out. If Adam ever had been a fighter he was way out of practice. He wasn't going to win, only get beaten to a pulp. He was going to get crushed, there was no question about that.

"STOP!! PLEASE STOP!" My lips were bleeding where I had gnawed at them in worry and my scalp felt tingly and painful from my hands knoted through the strands and from pulling at the roots.

I ran at Adam in desperation knowing he was more reasonable than Logan. But he pushed me aside before I could get close. He was still blinded by his year long build up of hatred, resentment, and anger.

"Logan," I tried turning to him, "just because you're my enemy doesn't mean Adam has to be too." Adam glanced my way at my use of words, 'Logan' and 'enemy' in the same sentence.

That was bad mistake as it let Logan sweep in and knock him squarely in the nose. Adam fell back on to the floor groaning and holding his nose that was bleeding like a water faucet.

Logan spared me one look saying,"I was his enemy long before you got here sweetheart," then he went to town hitting Adam in the gut and then the shoulder and chest. And then it was the cheek and chest that I swore was going to leave a bruise.

I was Adam's only chance if he didn't want to be seriously injured but what could I really do? I wanted to scream and it felt like my heart was going to explode and splatter the wall with my blood that bled emotions of hurt, fear, and frustration.

The feeling of knowing what I had to do welled up inside me and shutting my eyes tight I barreled into the two boys.

I shoved my tiny body in between Logan's fist and Adam's body and felt his hit immediately on my cheek. Oh did that hurt like the Dickens. I sucked in a sharp breathe between my teeth feeling the searing sting of pain and then the warm rush of blood rising in my cheeks.

"Sh*t, London," Logan cried scrambling back and looking horrified. I looked at him with woeful eyes. Adam was still my family I would still protect him over my 'frenemy'.

I stood up slowly turning towards Adam while Logan stood motionless still in shock. He had cracked his eyes open and held a hand to his nose trying to stop the bleeding. Seeing the bruise starting to form on my face his eyes changed to an even more deadly look- if that was possible.

"You a*s, Logan. She's going to end up just like Elliott, won't she?" It wasn't a question.

But his words made me want to rip the hair off my head in frustration. Who in everything found above and below the blue sea was Elliott? Obviously something bad had to have happened with this Elliott person. But what?

"Don't. You don't know what you're talking about. You have no idea, and it won't be like that. It won't, I won't let it," Logan answered his voice shaking. He pinched the bridge of his nose. He looked at me and the raw emotion displayed there caught me off guard. Elliott was someone important but the memory of them, they hurt Logan- and bad.

Logan closed his eyes briefly and when they fluttered back open he walked away leaving Adam in a small pool of blood and I in shocked silence.

Adam's own expression towards me was sorry but I didn't want to hear it. So when he started to talk I cut him off.

"Do you not think I haven't heard of him or his reputation? Do think I'm stupid, Adam? Why on earth or ever in a billion years would you think that I would throw myself at him? This is Logan Hunt we're talking about. The guy who sleeps with almost every girl, the guy who gets in trouble almost every day and doesn't show up for the other ones. He gets in fights constantly and shows up to school with red eyes and on a motorcycle. So, no, I am not stipud enough to even think about going after him. I will not end up like all the other girls who you see crying in the halls because he threw them away like trash. I thought you trusted my judgement more." I wished Adam trusted me enough to talk to the boy. I knew better than to want to fall for him. But do you have good judgement? My inner thoughts bubbled to the surface. Even though you say you'd never think about liking him you still do things to stay by him. Why keep up this war? You know it's not just to prove you can keep up or for 'fun'. How did you know he was gone for three days and missed detentions if you weren't looking for him? I stuffed the thoughts deep down back into the bolted off sections of my brain

"Just take me home like you were supposed to do in the first place." I said not looking at him.

"Alright," Adam agreed and pushed himself off the floor leaving little drops of blood behind as he headed for the exit. That scence before me was just how I felt: like little bits of me were left behind after ever encounter with Logan. Whether it was for Logan to pick up and find or just because he was changing me into someone else I didn't know. And whether it was bad from being beat up or good because I was healing I didn't know either.

I didn't know if I would ever find out.