Logan's POV

I was really excited as the lady over the intercom announced that we had touched down at LAX airport in California. Mom was looking out the window, and I could tell she was excited, too.

Kendall, however, was sitting nervously at my other side, chewing his fingernails. He wouldn't admit it, but he was dreading the day after tomorrow, when he had to go back to Minnesota, leaving me behind. He was kind of emotional about it.

We got up and exited the airplane and I felt like just running to the meeting area, knowing James was waiting there for me. I really tried to keep it a secret- I wanted to do something romantic, like show up at his work and surprise him. But he was onto me, thinking I was seeing someone else because I was preoccupied and sometimes too busy to call him. So I had to tell him. He offered to have us at his apartment for as long as we needed, and that was convenient- my dorm wouldn't be ready for a while. Mom had her own apartment, which was ready to be moved into now.

But as we were walking down the little hallway to get to the rest of the airport, an old lady in front of us fell down, so of course being the strong young men we are, Kendall and I had to help her.

"Go find your man," Kendall whispered to me over her head, helping her walk. I smiled gratefully and hurried off, Mom taking my place at the lady's side.

I don't know what I was expecting. Maybe James standing there, looking all handsome with a bundle of flowers, waiting to sweep me off my feet in a hug or something. But when he wasn't standing there, I looked around. Maybe he was sitting down and didn't notice us coming out.

Finally I found him in a row of chairs in front of the wrong gate. No wonder he had no idea I was there.

I started to go over to him excitedly, but then I noticed he was having a conversation with some hipster-looking guy, who was looking at him with the dreamiest expression. He kept laughing at everything James said, and James seemed uncomfortable, if you want to know the truth.

He had a cardboard cup of coffee and was sitting with his legs spread wide, looking as uninterested as possible. Then the guy took out a marker and started to write on James's arm.

Well, I had to rescue him. Maybe more for myself than for him. Of course I didn't like seeing other guys hit on my man.

"Hey, you," I said as I approached, sitting beside him and kissing his cheek. He jumped, not expecting that, and turned to me. Then a dazzling grin spread across his face and he shoved his coffee in his admirer's hand and pulled me to my feet, crushing me in a hug.

I snuck a peek at the hipster guy and he huffed, looking impatient. I chuckled and pulled away, pulling James's face down to kiss him. I hoped the stupid guy would get the message.

"I'm so excited!" James squealed, eyes alight. I grinned, because I was excited, too. Excited to be staying with James for a while, at that moment.

"I know you're giving me blue balls and everything, but you don't need to sleep on the couch," James said as I looked for blankets and pillows for my little bed on the couch. "There's nothing wrong with just sleeping together."

He was right behind me, and I turned and put a hand on his hard stomach, looking up seriously at him.

"Sleeping together is like the most romantic thing you can do with a person," I said. "It'll lead to other things, and we both know it."

"What's wrong with that?"

I gave him a look, moving past him to keep up my search for blankets.

"You're in California now, Loge. You have to learn to let go and have fun," he said persuasively. "I'm not just saying this because I missed you and I'm completely horny right now. I'm saying it because it's for your own good."

To both of our surprises, I chuckled and turned to him again. I pinched his chin and shook my head.

"You're cute," I said. He groaned and pouted to me and I giggled.

Mom was about settled into her new place- me, Kendall, James, and Carlos all spent the day there setting things up and making sure she was comfortable there. It was one of those apartments that came pre-furnished, so that was convenient to not have to ship furniture here.

Now Kendall and Carlos were off to some "rockin' party", and I was at James's, where I would be staying until my dorm was ready in a few days.

"I'll be a perfect gentleman," he reasoned.

"You always are."

"We don't even have to cuddle if you don't want."

"What's the use in that?"

"Looooge," James then caught me by the waist and carried me to the bedroom, making me laugh as he threw me on the bed.

When I tried to get up, he pinned me with an arm on either side of me as he climbed on the bed, kissing my cheek playfully. I knew he wasn't trying to force me into something he thought I didn't want to do.

"Why can't you can't take 'no' for an answer?" I smirked as he kissed me on the lips, laying me down.

"Because I know you don't mean it," he said lowly, kissing me again. Ok, he had me there. I knew I couldn't resist him for long, but I planned on playing hard to get tonight. "You're teasing me."

We stopped kissing and I looked up at him, reaching up to stroke the back of his neck affectionately.

James's POV

I was so in love. Just looking into Logan's dark eyes, knowing that he's starting to trust me again and that he feels the same about me… It's enough to make me cry, I think.

I opened my lips to finally just tell him I love him. I had planned to do it at the beach tomorrow, but I couldn't wait. I had to get it out. But… I was nervous. He knew Logan wasn't on the same level as me and didn't love me yet… It could be awkward.

But nothing would come out. Logan smiled a little and cocked his head in a cute way, question on his face. I let out an embarrassed little laugh and cleared my throat. Okay, maybe it wasn't time yet.

"What?" Logan chuckled in amusement.

"I… I have to pee first," I said, standing up. I went to the bathroom and sighed angrily at myself. In my head telling Logan I love him was so much easier.

Logan's POV

As soon as he was gone I scrambled up and to the body mirror against the wall. I picked at my hair and made sure there was nothing in my teeth, then I smelled my breath. Not bad, but I wished I could brush my teeth first. I unbuttoned a few of my top buttons to see if I looked any sexier, but decided I should leave most of them buttoned just to taunt James more when he's trying to get me out of my clothes quickly.

I was excited. Ever since we got back together I had been daydreaming about sex with James.

Before I could position myself on the bed, there was a knock on the door.

"James? Someone's at the door!" I called, peaking out of the bedroom to the apartment door.

"It's probably just Los and Kendall," James called back. "Go open it, please?"

I went to the door, noticing that it was locked. James had been planning this the whole time, huh?

When I opened it, I was sure I was in a nightmare.

Mercedes started to walk in but stopped in her tracks. Her mouth was open in a way that showed that she was about to say something, but didn't expect it to be me. She was wearing something sparkly and expensive and had a big purse hanging from her forearm.

I had also dreamed about Mercedes, but that was a different kind of dream that my dreams about James. I had that face and that voice burned into my brain, and now I was about to throw up.

No, I wasn't about to punch her or anything, because I realize that I was the monster here, not her. She was in a "happy" relationship with James and was about to marry him when I came along and ruined everything for her. Maybe I'd pity her if she wasn't staring at me like I shouldn't be here. I had the right to be here at least- James chose me.

She pushed past me, shoulder-checking me on the way.

"Um, excuse me," I retorted, still trying to be polite. I took her fiancé, for God's sake. "Can I help you?"

"Where's Jamie?" she demanded, looking around.

"James is in the bathroom," I said simply. "Why are you here? Are you still seeing him?"

Mercedes scoffed and rolled her eyes.

"Yeah right," she growled. I never really thought James would still be seeing Mercedes until she showed up so casually… Then I was really worried. But her saying that was a relief. "He refuses to even acknowledge me since I caught you naked in his bed."

I was silent, although I was getting sick of her. James came out looking the same as he had before, which made me wonder what he was doing in the bathroom for so long.

"Mercedes," James sighed, sounding upset or something I couldn't put my finger on. "I told you to stay away."

"What is he doing here?" Mercedes asked, but it wasn't in a rude way. It was in a panicked way. Like she was afraid of the answer.

"He's my boyfriend," James said like he had told her a thousand times. All this seeming familiarness between them scared me. How often did they talk? "He moved here to Cali."

Mercedes's eyes dropped and she glanced over at me.

"I'll be right back, Loge, and we'll pick up right where we left off," James said, taking Mercedes by the shoulders and leading her to the door. He winked at me reassuringly as they went out into the apartment building hallway.

James's POV

Mercedes had shown up to my place several times since we broke up, and I keep telling her that under no circumstances will I take her back. She can't get it in her head that she won't get what she wants this time, like she usually does. Can't accept that a man can resist her so easily.

"Mercedes, you have to stop this," I said, leaning against the door. She stood there looking at me innocently. "Logan and I are getting serious and if he even trusts me anymore now, he won't be able to if you keep coming."

"How serious?" she demanded.

"He's the love of my life," I said with a shrug. "I'm gonna marry him."

"Well… You said that about me, too," she said passively. "That you were going to marry me."

"I love him, Mercedes. Which means it's too late for you," I said. Her eyes climbed up to mine in surprise. "That's right. I love him."

To my surprise, her brows bunched and she looked to the door across from mine, tears seeming to fill her eyes.

"I'm sorry that you thought we could be something," I said softly. "But this is how it is."

Logan's POV

"I love him, Mercedes."

I didn't really mean to overhear, but I was pacing around in front of the door and it happened. Hearing those words, though, made me stop in my tracks.

It was quiet for a while and I wondered what was going on out there. My ears seemed to be ringing and my heart pounded in my ears- I was freaking out about James using the L-word.

The door opened and James entered, looking exhausted, and closed the door. I found myself standing there gaping at him in panic.

"You heard?" he asked, staying at the door. I swallowed and licked my lips, feeling embarrassed that he caught me listening in on his conversation. James cleared his throat and smoothed down his hear as he looked around. He was just as scared as I was. Finally he walked around me to the kitchen.

After a second I followed him, finding him putting popcorn in the microwave.

"That isn't how I wanted to tell you," he said, hearing me approaching.

"How were you planning?"

He pressed some buttons and turned after the microwave was going. He grabbed my fingers and pulled me gently to him, meticulously smoothing my hair.

"I was going to make love to you," he said quietly. "And even though after that you would know, I'd wait until we were finished and lying there together and I'd touch your face-" his thumbs brushed my cheekbones gingerly. "And I'd look into your eyes, and I'd say it."

I was practically drooling now, staring up at him like I was hypnotized.

"We can still do that," I said, dazed. James's laughter shook me from the trance and he pressed his forehead to my temple.

"Alright," James grinned, kissing my cheek. "I love you, Logan."

I was silent, not knowing what to do. I knew I couldn't say it back. I wasn't ready. Mercedes just showed up and opened my wound and reminded me why I wasn't ready to say that I love James, too. I did know that I trust him again- he didn't know I was listening to them and he was pretty harsh on her.

Before things could get awkward, he smothered me with a sweet kiss, showing me he understood.

We locked the apartment door with a sock on the handle, telling Kendall and Carlos to beat it, we needed to be alone for the night. James assumed they ended up staying at Carlos's place, but they could have never even made it home from the parties.

Saying goodbye to Kendall was hard.

I tried to get him to hurry and get on the plane, but he wasn't buying it.

"You have to hug me at least," Kendall whined. "I'm not asking for a kiss for Christ sake."

Kendall understood that I didn't like putting myself in sad situations. I really like to run from my feelings or hide them.

He engulfed me in a hug around my neck, and I had to hug him back. I could already feel myself fighting tears, but Kendall was already sniffling.

"Call me when you get home," I said after a while and he let go of me. He nodded, chuckling a little and casually wiping his eyes.

"I'll call you every night and text you all day long," he said. I laughed a little and rolled my eyes at him, glad for the change in mood.

Kendall turned and did a little secret handshake with Carlos and gave him a "bro-hug" as his flight was called. Finally he paused and held his hand out for James. Wearily, James took it and they shook hands.

"Take care of Logie," Kendall said sternly. "If you hurt him, I'm taking the first flight down here to beat your ass."

James chuckled and slapped Kendall's shoulder as their hands parted.

Kendall started to walk backward toward his gate.

"Love you Loge," he sang. When I just waved, his expression changed jokingly. "Say it back, Logan!"

"Love you, too, Kendall," I sighed, embarrassed. He started to grin, but then he bumped into a girl. He turned and said something and she grinned, then they shook hands and started walking together. Kendall turned slyly to me and winked, and I had to chuckle at his girl-craziness.

That's when I started to cry. I'd really miss that guy.

I felt an arm slip around my waist and another over my shoulders. Carlos and James were trying to comfort me, but all I wanted to do was chase Kendall down and cling to him.

"I know what'll make you feel better," James said, squeezing my shoulders. "How about a fish taco?"

I grinned and he kissed a tear away, but Carlos was already trying to pull us away to go eat.