Author Note: Thank you to everyone who reads/reviews/follows/favorites! Sorry for the long waits for updates, but I'm back to work now, but this fic is almost complete. Only a few more chapters left :)

Chapter 23: Do It All Again

James laid flat against the slop of the garage roof staring up at the stars; his feet pressed up against the siding where the garage met the wall of his bedroom to stop him from sliding. His window was wide opened, curtains blowing in the cool night breeze from where he crawled out onto the small ledge like he had done any night he needed to think since his parents had gotten a divorce when he was ten. No one bothered him out here. Camille was too afraid to come out herself and his mother never knew he went there. The only one who had ever joined him on the roof was Logan that one time when they were thirteen and James practically had to drag him out.

James found it to be peaceful and relaxing. He could be alone and think. It was impossible to think inside. Even in his bedroom. The house was too big for three people, yet it was chaotic. With his mother's business there were always clients and workers coming in and out and when she was home she was always on the phone. Camille seemed to have friends over twenty-four seven, which was the reason why James was out on the roof tonight. He was avoiding Jo who had managed to weasel her way into a sleep over tonight. She claimed she was too depressed to go home after having such a horrible date. James couldn't help, but laugh aloud when she walked through the door. First of all, he was an amazing date, not to mention she got to enjoy the company of both him and Carlos. She was the luckiest girl in town and now she was complaining about him to his sister when he was in the room right across the hall? How stupid is she?

Carlos. James sighed. Ok, so maybe he was the real reason James was out on the roof in the middle of the night staring at the stars trying to avoid the cell phone in his hands that had the Latino's picture and contact information on its screen, screaming at James to press 'talk'. The brunette bit his cheek, refusing to give into temptation. He knew he screwed up by bringing Jo, but he tried to fix. He tried to talk to Carlos, but it was Carlos who screwed up in the end. It was Carlos who wouldn't leave. It was Carlos who chose to stay and screw around with some ticket boy instead of talking to James so James had every right to be pissed off at him, right?

Besides, James got what he wanted anyway. He's not gay. He doesn't want to be gay. He wants to be normal. He wants to date girls. He doesn't want to be different. He doesn't want to be an outcast like Kendall and Carlos. He doesn't want to be treated differently like Logan for just being seen talking to them. This is high school. Image is everything. James is popular. He's invited to all the best parties. He's part of the in crowds. He has the hottest girls throwing themselves at him. Guys want to be him. Nothing is worth throwing all that away for just a few booty calls.

He bit his lip looking down at the picture as the sound of girlish squeals filtered out from somewhere deep inside the old Victorian home. "He's worth it," he whispered making up his mind. He closed his eyes knowing it was late, but opened them to press the talk button, but before he could, it started to ring. He stared at it for a moment, an unknown number. He was about to ignore it, but hoping it could be Carlos using someone else's phone, he quickly answered it.

"Hello?"

"James?"

"Kendall?"

"Hey man, you home?"

"Yea. Everything alright?" James asked picking up on the strain in his voice.

"Yea. I just need a place to crash tonight."

"Sure. Do you know where I live?"

"Yea. I'm walking up to your house now."

James didn't bother to say goodbye before he hung up and looked over the edge of the roof just as the blonde was walking up the front walkway, "Dude, you look like shit!" he called down, causing the blond to look up curiously.

"Me? I'm not the one on the roof."

"Touché!" he shrugged. "I'll be right down."

XxXxXx

"Do we have to do this now? It's late," said Logan rubbing his eyes. He attempted to lie back down, but the Latino pulled him back up.

"Kendall's right, you do avoid confrontations."

Logan glared at him, sitting back up. "There's nothing to confront."

"Bull shit, Logan! What happened tonight? And don't you dare say nothing," Carlos said before Logan could open his mouth. "Something obviously happened for Kendall to react the way he did."

Logan's eyes widened. "Is he alright?"

"Depends on your definition of 'alright'. Physically he's fine. Mentally, he's a fucking wreck!"

The brunette bowed his head. "I screwed up, Ok? I know that. I've been waiting up for him to come home so I can apologize, but obviously that hasn't happened."

"Why did you do it?"

Logan looked up at him. There was fear in his eyes. "I- um- I got caught up in the moment." His voice was so low Carlos had to strain his ears just to hear.

" So you kiss him and take it back?"

"Everyone was watching and looking at us like they were expecting it." Logan wasn't sure where that came from. To be honest, as far as he was concern, he and Kendall were the only two there. No one else existed at that moment.

"So you were giving the people what they wanted? A fight?"

"A fight?" Now he was confused. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about you kissing my best friend then fucking around with him by saying it meant nothing!"

"It doesn't matter anyway! I'm leaving." Logan snapped not wanting to deal with this stupid argument any longer. He was right. He hated confrontations.

"You're what?"

"I'm leaving," said Logan quieter this time. "I'm moving in with Kelly."

"When?"

Logan shrugged. "Tomorrow."

XxXxXx

"What is this stuff?" Kendall grimaced as he took a swig straight from the bottle before passing it back to the brunette.

James laughed as he took a drink, spilling it down his chin only making both of them laugh even harder. "I don't know. Some expensive shit one of my mother's clients gave her."

They were on the roof again. This time the blond was lying beside the brunette as they shared sips from the bottle. "Want to know what's even funnier?" the blond asked.

"What's that Ken doll?" James snorted. "I just called you Ken doll!"

Kendall laughed at the lame joke. "I know! Kendall. Ken doll. It rhymes!"

"It does!" James laughed before turning serious tapping the blond on the shoulder. "Now what did you want to tell me?"

"Oh, right." He had to think for a moment. "Oh, I don't drink."

"You don't?" Kames raised an eyebrow before bursting out laughing, the blond joining in. "I do!"

"I know! You're a total drunk!"

"Not completely," he said defended himself.

"James, hun, you were drunk when we met."

"I was, wasn't I? The night my best friend got wasted and we had to carry him down the stairs."

"And then you let my best friend suck you off."

"While you took care of my best friend while he puked his brains out."

It was silent, as the air grew tense around them from just thinking of the two absent teens. The blond took a swig from the bottle before breaking the silence. "Yea, well those two could go fuck each other," Kendall spit out, the alcohol dripping down his chin as he jugged the last few drops before tossing the empty bottle onto the walkway below. It landed with an ear splintering shatter. He looked over at James waiting for him to agree, but he found hazel eyes glaring back at him. "Oh, that's right. I forgot. you want to fuck to Carlos. Go ahead. He doesn't want me anyway. Logan doesn't want me and I'm sure you don't want me seems how you're only gay for Carlos! So, how I save us both the trouble and just go sleep in my car for the night?"

The blond went to stand, stumbling a little, but James caught him before he could slip. "Kendall, sit you're drunk ass down. What the hell are you talking about?"

"You don't want to hear about my gay ass problems."

"I'll hear about your gay ass problems if you hear about my gay ass problems."

Kendall stared at him for a moment. "Did you just admit you were gay?"

James rolled his eyes, sighing in defeat. "Like you said before, I'm only gay for Carlos." The blond grinned only to frown seconds later. James saw this and started to freak. "What? Something wrong? I screwed up really bad didn't I? He doesn't want me anymore, does he?"

"No, you didn't screw up. I did!" Kendall admitted. He cringed, holding up an arm as he confessed. "Don't hit me, but I really upset earlier and I had little breakdown and I kissed him."

"You kissed Carlos?" James felt a twist of jealousy in his gut. He really did want to hit the blond, but he could see the regret in written on his face as he coward away.

"Like I said, I was in the middle of a mental breakdown. I got into a fight with Logan and I went to Carlos' house and his Dad said something to us and it made me think that maybe I was wrong about Logan this whole time and that maybe I should have given Carlos a chance so I kissed him."

"And?"

"And what?"

James wasn't sure he wanted to know, but something told him he needed to know. "What happened?"

Kendal shrugged. "It was great. It was better than I thought it would be," he admitted. "It started getting heated and I tried to take it a little further, but then he stopped me."

"He what?"

"Yea, my man whore of a best friend who has begged me millions of times to fool around with him, actually stopped me." Kendall rubbed his face in hands as James stared at him in disbelief. "He was thinking of you, damn it. You are all he talks about, James. He has never been this way. You're the first guy he's actually brought home to meet his Dad and his Dad actually likes you. He was even asking about you tonight."

"Really?" James couldn't hide the smile and neither could Kendall.

"I know he's not the most subtle person, but maybe if the two of you talk about it, you can work something out. The whole world doesn't have to know about you two, as long as he knows, he'll be happy."

James nodded. He never thought of it that way. "Thanks, Kendall. You really are a cool guy, you know?"

"Thanks?"

James laughed. "Now, what's this gay ass problem you're having?"

Kendall sighed. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and squinted his eyes to read the text through his drunken haze. His green eyes widened the third time they scanned the words and they were finally able tin fully sink in.

"Kendall? What's wrong?" the brunette asked grabbing hold of Kendall, keeping him steady as the blond stumbled to his feet.

"That was Carlos. He said Logan's moving out."

James jumped to his feet to follow the blond back in through the bedroom window. "Where are you going? It's three-thirty in the morning!"

"I got to stop him!"

Author Note: This fic is coming to an end. Only a few chapters left, but I have plenty of other fics I'm still working on. The Clique (Kenlos/Jagan, Sci-fi), You're Not Alone (Kames/Cargan, Mpreg), Undercover Prince (Jagan/Kenlos, modern Fairytale)

and a brand new fic...

A Second Chance Jarlos/Kenlos possible Kogan. A/U It's been 5 years since James has seen or spoken to his high school love Carlos, when he receives a phone call from the Latino who acts as if not a day has gone by. Carlos is in the hospital and has lost the last 7 years of his memory and the only person he wants to see is James. Can James forget about the last 5 years and be there for Carlos?