The Logan Brothers

Chapter 8 - Drama in the Friend Department

Chapter 8 - Drama in the Friend Department

My nerves were fried. I felt like someone had plucked them one at a time from my body until I was stripped of everything. Grayson, of all people, had stolen my first kiss. Not taken, stolen, because I had not given it to him willingly. He had forced himself on me; there was nothing I could've done to control it.

At least, that's what I told myself. I wanted so badly to believe there was nothing I could have done to stop it, that I hated every second of it and still wished he would die in a hole. But the truth was I could've pushed him off of me - and flipped him off - easily. It's not like he held me in place firmly, the kiss was gentle, not forceful.

And, if I'm really being honest, there was a part deep down inside of me that liked the idea of Grayson being my first kiss. When I wasn't being overly cautious with my emotions, my stomach would clench slightly - and not in a bad way.

I didn't sleep at all that night. I tried - believe me, I tried - but no matter what I did I couldn't fall asleep. As I said, my nerves were shot, and apparently, I had lost the ability to close my eyes. I just laid on my back all night, staring at the ceiling, waiting for the sun to come up so I could get out of bed.

Finally, for lack of something better to do, I crawled out of bed when I heard my mom in the shower. She worked so hard almost every day that I figured I might as well make her breakfast. Every day when I was younger she would make me pancakes, even though she didn't like them, it was time to return the favor.

So, I made her waffles. For some reason she loved them, they were one of her favorite foods on the planet. Coincidentally, I couldn't stand the taste. Waffles made me want to throw up, but it was something nice to do for my mom who was probably barely awake. My dinner fiasco had kept her up late; it was four in the morning and she was getting ready for work. Talk about exhausting.

And I had been right. When my mom stumbled down the stairs I hardly recognized her. Her hair was still sopping wet, she wasn't wearing any makeup, and she had forgotten to put a shoe on her right foot. At first, she didn't even notice me, but when she looked up she saw me standing in the doorway, she jumped slightly. "Jesus, Imogen. What are you doing up so early?"

"I made you breakfast," I said, eyeing her, "Are you sure you want to go to work today? You look like you need some sleep."

Quickly, she shook her head, "I can't, that b***h Paula is about to take my spot in the damn intern program, I can't let her pass me up while I'm sleeping." Paula was my moms biggest competition in the medical field, they had been fighting each other since med school.

Rolling my eyes, I turned and walked back into the kitchen, "Okay, well I made you breakfast. Oh, and you're missing a shoe."

"s**t," She hissed and ran back up the stairs at the speed of light. I knew her well enough to know exactly what she was doing. She was trying to get to the hospital extra early so she could get the best rounds of the day. Smart, unless she fell asleep on the job. I was really starting to worry about her.

But how could I chastise her when she was doing this all for me? Every time I tried to get her to take a break, I would get the same old lecture. A stern, motherly look, and, “I’m not doing this for me, Imogen. This is all for you. Not only will I keep a roof over your head, but I will show you that you don’t need a man in your life to succeed. Look at me! Your father left, and I still managed to get through med school and raise you at the same time.”

Talk about a guilt trip. That didn’t stop me from keeping a close eye on her, though. I watched her like a hawk, and if I saw her getting too run down, I snuck a couple of extra sleeping pills in her coffee just to make sure she got enough rest.

She came running back downstairs just as I scooped a waffle onto a plate. As she poured a heaping puddle of syrup on top, I turned around and grabbed a banana from their place by the refrigerator. “Here, something healthy.”

“Oh please, I’m the doctor in this house, remember?” My mom scoffed, rolling her eyes. Her mouth was stuffed full, and as she spoke little flakes came spewing from her mouth. I dodged them skilfully and turned back to the waffle iron to finish the batch. “Oh, these are so good.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle, “See, I can cook.” She was always teasing me about my cooking abilities - or lack thereof. But when I really tried, I could squeeze out something decent.

“I’ll never doubt you again.” She swore, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. I leaned against the counter and watched as she shoved the banana into the pocket of her scrubs. When I gave her a warning glance, she said, “I’ll eat it later! Right now, I have to go.”

“I just don’t want you passing out, mom.” I wined, sticking out my bottom lip. With a sigh, she came around the island and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek.

“I won’t, you know I’m careful. I’ll see you tonight.” And with that, she rushed from the kitchen. Seconds later, I heard the front door slam and her car start up in the driveway. Once again, I was alone in my house.

“Not nearly careful enough,” I muttered darkly to myself, pulling the last waffle from the iron and setting the empty batter bowl in the sink. It’s not that I didn’t trust her to take care of herself, it’s that I didn’t think she knew her limits. She was headstrong; she didn’t realize when she was run down or hungry. All that mattered was that she clawed her way to the top, just like she did in high school.

Stop it, Imogen, she’s a grown woman. She can take care of herself. I told myself, shaking my head. After unplugging the waffle iron, I trotted upstairs, stripping from my pajama top. I needed to take my mind off of things - Grayson, Wesley, my mom, everything - and there was a book, just laying in the backyard, with my name on it.

†

Thankfully, all the spiders had decided to vacate the premises. They had probably made taken up residence in my house, but for the time being, I was just happy they were no longer crawling over my book.

The air was warm even at four thirty in the morning; the sun was just beginning to rise over the horizon, light rays sending streaks of pink and orange across the vast expanse. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, and I had a feeling it would turn out to be a really nice day.

For the next six hours, I laid there, sprawled out in my bikini, nose buried in the book. Every so often I glanced at the Logan’s house; not because I wanted to, but because I just couldn’t help it. Once I even thought I saw Wes looking at me from his window, but when I squinted to get a better look, the shadow was gone.

At ten o’clock exactly, my phone buzzed. Of course, I rushed to get it, heart racing wildly. Imagine my disappointment when the name that popped up on my screen didn’t start with a G or an L.

Elsie.

Hey girl, so you never responded to my text yesterday...Is this the right number? Anyway, a bunch of my friends and I are driving down to the coast today. You wanna come with?

My first instinct was to shut off the phone - maybe even to text back and say she had the wrong number. But then I paused, biting my lip. I was on the last pages of my book, my only distraction from the problems of my life, and I had no plans for the day. I needed to do something to get my mind off things, right?

Umm...Maybe. Can I bring a friend?

My response did not confirm that I was going, nor did it deny it. It gave me a way out if I changed my mind, but left the door open. I didn’t really want to make new friends or go to the beach, but maybe it was time to shed my introverted skin and move on to greener pastures.

Of course! We only have one other spot in the car, though, so no more than one, m’kay?

I let out a breath and stood up, stretching my back. Sitting in the same position had made me achy. Alright, I said quickly and dialed Leah’s number. It rang a few times before her cheery, perky voice answered.

“Hey, Imogen. I’m sorry we haven’t been talking lately,” She sounded genuinely remorseful, which made me feel slightly better. We had both been neglecting the other, it was time we spent some time together and tried to reconnect. Everything I knew in my life was going to hell, I couldn’t afford to lose my best friend.

“It’s alright, it’s my fault too,” I said, swinging the door shut behind me. The air inside the house was significantly cooler, causing me to shiver and little goosebumps pop up on my arms.

“So how’s life, Im? What have you been up to?”

“Oh my god, we have so much to talk about,” I gasped, thinking over the events of last night. When she found out Grayson had kissed me, she would lose it. “But not now. Elsie - you know Elsie from school, right? - she invited me to the beach today, and I’m allowed to bring a friend.”

“Oh, hell yes!” She exclaimed enthusiastically, “I desperately need some sun, I swear my stomach is whiter than an albino.”

Giggling, I put the phone on speaker and set it on my dresser. “You just don’t like the outdoors, you’re never in the sun, to begin with."

“Shut up,” Leah muttered bitterly.

“Anyway, I’ll text you the deets. Be ready soon, though. Elsie made it sound like we were leaving within an hour.”

“Okay, I’ll be at your house in ten.” And with that, my phone beeped off. I pulled a t-shirt over my head to cover the bikini I was wearing and slipped into a pair of running shorts. I burned way too easily because of my fair complexion, so I made sure to stick a bottle of sunscreen into my beach bag before trotting down the stairs.

“I am here!” Leah announced, barging her way through the front door. She squealed as she came around the corner and wrapped her arms tightly around my shoulders. “I’ve missed you, my girl!”

“Missed you too,” I chuckled, smiling to myself. Leah was my friend because of her peppiness; without her, I would surely have been depressed for most of my life. When I didn’t see her for a few days, I was quick to forget.

“So, who exactly is this Elsie chick?” Leah asked, leaning back against the kitchen island. I was busy making toast since I hadn’t eaten anything yet.

I frowned, “She’s in our English class, I think. Red hair, really big eyes..” I shrugged, “You’ll recognize her when you see her.”

She nodded, accepting my vague answer without a second thought, “And there will be other girls, yes? I’m assuming they’ll be in our grade.”

“Oh, I’m sure,” Mingling with kids who weren’t in your grade - especially younger kids - was a big no-no in our school. It would send you into a nosedive to the bottom of the social ladder faster than you could blink. Not that we were that high up, to begin with, anyway, but we weren’t the bottom of the food chain.

“Mm, mama’s hoping for some delicious man candy,” Her eyes narrowed creepily as she licked her lips, raising her eyebrows suggestively. I couldn’t help it, I burst out laughing - really loudly.

“Oh, my god,” I gasped, officially losing way too much oxygen. “Never again, Leah. Never again.” She was laughing along with me; obviously, she had been joking. Although, I didn’t doubt she would be looking for all the cute guys.

“Anyway, we have time. What is it you need to tell me?” I was just about to take a bite of my toast, but when she asked, I froze. Was I ready to tell Leah? She probably wouldn’t keep it to herself, and I didn’t want the whole world knowing.

“Um,” I hesitated, trying to make up my mind. It was a horrible feeling - not knowing if you could trust your best friend. It was like we were playing tug of war, and I was the rope.

This got her attention. She quirked an eyebrow, “So big you have to decide whether or not you can trust me, huh?” I nodded silently. “Well, I promise that this time I’ll keep my big mouth shut.” When I gave her a pointed look, she added sheepishly, “Well, I’ll try.”

“Fine,” I huffed, giving in. Now that she knew it was serious, there was no way she would let it go. “So, uh...Graysonsortakissedme.” It came out in a rush, like vomit. And after I said it, I felt like I would lose whatever was in my stomach.

I hadn’t said it out loud before. For some reason, voicing it to the world made it seem so much more real.

Leah gave me a blank look, “Honey if you want me to understand you need to slow the hell down.”

Deep breaths, Imogen, I told myself, placing my hands on the edge of the cold counter to steady myself. “Last night, the Logan’s came over for dinner,” I explained, having to physically force myself to speak slowly. “I talked with Wes-”

“Oh my god, did you guys fix your issues? Are you a couple now, is that what you’re so worried about telling me?!”

“No!” I exclaimed quickly, lurching forward. If anything, we were the complete opposite. I wasn’t even sure if we were still friends. “No, what I was going to say is he basically told me Grayson’s had a crush on me all these years. Can you believe that?!”

She snorted, “Of course, Imogen. We all knew that.”

It was like a punch to the face. Leah, my best friend, had known this whole time, and she hadn’t thought it was important enough to let me know?!

Seeing my reaction, her face dropped. “You seriously didn’t know?”

“Am I really that naive?” I screeched, wiping a hand over my face in frustration. There was nothing like realizing you weren’t as smart as you thought you were. Leah gave me a pitying look and patted my shoulder for comfort. “Maybe that’s why Grayson kissed me,” I muttered under my breath.

Leah jumped back like I had slapped her, “Whoa, hold up! Grayson did what to you?!” Eyes widening, I took a step away from my friend. She had those crazy eyes on; there was no reasoning with her when she was like this.

“Nothing,” I tried, forcing a fake smile, “Absolutely nothing. He was just here for dinner!”

“Don’t bullshit me, Imogen,” She hissed through gritted teeth. Her hands were clenched by her sides. “If that bastard laid a f*****g hand on you, I’ll chop his f*****g ba-”

“Okay!” I yelled, cutting her off. There was no reason to finish that incredibly violent sentence. “Take a deep breath and calm down.”

“I will not calm down,” She responded, outraged. Leah’s nostrils were flaring, something that only happened when she was suppressing violent urges. “I’m going to march right over there and knock some sense into the son of a bitch.”

It took me a full five seconds to process what was happening. Leah was marching towards the back door, a very determined look plastered on her face. As she passed the counter, she reached into a drawer and pulled out a large meat cleaver. That was enough to get my blood pumping again.

“Leah, freeze!” I threw myself in front of the door, just seconds before she ripped it off the hinges. There was fury in her eyes, and I was throwing myself in the line of fire. What the hell was wrong with me?

“He took your innocence, Imogen! You can’t just let him get away with it.”

“It’s not like he raped me or something!” I exclaimed, getting frustrated. “Besides, I even kinda liked it!”

Whoa.

That was not supposed to happen.

In shock, the knife she had been holding slipped from her fingers. Her jaw hung open, eyes wide as could be. Then, shock morphed into anger. “You what?” She breathed; it was barely audible.

I was shaking, “I said, I kinda liked it. It felt...I don’t know, good?” It had made my stomach clench and heart race. I had never felt like that before, and maybe it was the excitement - and fear - of getting my first kiss, but it sure as hell wasn’t normal.

“You can’t,” She whispered, “He-He tortures you! And he stole your first kiss! That’s supposed to be a special moment, something you’ll remember for the rest of your life-”

“I will remember it for the rest of my life!” I argued, knowing for a fact that it was absolutely true. Even if Grayson never kissed me again, I would always remember the one time. It was special to me, and that’s all that mattered.

“He probably gave you herpes or something! Who knows how many girls he’s been with!” She argued right back, throwing her hands in the air. I let out an angry huff, narrowing my eyebrows. Sure, she had the right to be a little upset, but we were supposed to be squealing about how my lips weren’t virgins anymore. It didn’t matter who took that from me! Especially since it probably didn’t mean anything to him.

Or maybe it had since apparently, he had some sort of secret crush on me.

“Stop talking about him like that! He’s really sweet!” Her insults felt personal, I felt the overwhelming urge to defend him just as I had at dinner. Grayson was the subject of so much verbal abuse it was ridiculous. No one should have to go through that. Why had it taken me so long to realize it?

Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore, “You know what? Fine. Go have hot, wild s*x with him and get knocked up, but don’t come crawling to me to fix everything!” And with that she stormed from my house, slamming the door from behind her.

What the f**k just happened?

I slid to the floor, back against the wall, trembling. Tears built up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Taking deep, shaky breaths, I willed myself to calm down. My heart was beating frantically, pounding.

And suddenly, the back door burst open, pushing me forward and making me scream. A tall, towering figure loomed over me, eyes lit up fiercely.

Grayson.