A/N—The song James sings is the rest of what he mentioned earlier in the story, it's "Wait" by White Lion. It is a heavy rock song but there is also an acoustic version of it, and that's the version James would be singing if this story was real life.

I just want to take a second to thank everyone who read this story. Whether you reviewed or not, thank you for taking the time to make it this far and stick with it to the end. I hope you enjoyed it, and will give my next story a chance as well. I should be posting the first chapter soon. :)

This is the final chapter.

The individual performances had been slated for the second half of the concert, theirs scheduled as the first following intermission. Logan thought that worked out well, because after finishing the accompaniment of the choir, he could slip out and never have to witness James doing the thing that brought him alive—the thing Logan could spend the rest of his life watching without ever tiring of.

Well-dressed students milled around the backstage area in chaos before the show was to begin. Logan focused on readying himself for the songs he was due to play, keeping his head down to avoid sighting James. But James didn't show until just before he was needed, and Logan heard him before he saw him.

"Sorry, Mr. Parsons, I had to run home and change. I was rehearsing all afternoon."

"It's fine, James, just get up there on the platform with everyone else. George, you're in the wrong row! Move up!"

Tense from the second James' voice had washed over him, Logan flexed his fingers over the keys and tried to relax. That went to hell when a hand fell onto his left shoulder and a soft voice spoke just outside his right ear.

"You look incredible, Logan."

Fighting against the heat shooting through his body, Logan tried not to react but knew James wouldn't miss the shiver that ran up his torso.

"Good luck tonight."

Now lips were on his neck, too brief for Logan to move away but leaving an echo of the touch long after James had taken his place amid the choir students.

It was easy to keep his eyes off James during the performance, Logan instead focusing on the music and allowing himself one roaming glance of the audience. Light green eyes smiled at him from next to Carlos, who gave a catcall that was completely out of place in the auditorium but caused Logan to chuckle anyway. When the choir's segment was finished, it was Kendall and Carlos who applauded the loudest.

Once the curtain had come down for intermission, Logan wasted no time. He checked in with Mr. Parsons, who gave him reluctant permission to leave, then rushed toward his belongings in a hurry to escape before James took the stage. A flash of crimson stopped him in his tracks, Logan groaning as he approached.

Pinned to his backpack was a single red rose and a note, which was of course in James' handwriting. And how had he never noticed before that James and "Jack" had the same handwriting?

This makes #9. You'll get another next year, and every year after that we're together.

"No no no, stop it! Stop it!"

But he gently removed the flower and note, dropping them both in his pack and hoping the petals wouldn't fall off before he could get home.

"At least stay for my song."

Logan continued to pack up, the voice not slowing him down. "No. But I'm sure you're nervous, so...good luck."

"Can you at least look at me?"

"Nope. Have a nice life."

Logan was almost to the stairs leading off the stage when James called out, "Did you like the rose?"

"I'm burning it when I get home!"

"No you're not, you'll set it on your desk and stare at it all night. Come on, Logan, just-"

"Stop!" Logan yelled suddenly, anger bubbling over. "Just stop it, because I'm done, I'm not doing this with you anymore, I'm-" Without thinking he spun around to continue his tirade, and that was a mistake. His words cut off the moment he actually looked at James because his breath was taken away.

James was dressed like Logan, like all of the students, but James made the clothing look like it belonged on a runway. His shoes were shiny and black, pants black as well but molded to him perfectly. Even the plain white long-sleeved button-up seemed sophisticated when paired with a dark tie that set off James' eyes. But what caught Logan's attention so that he couldn't look away was the hair; last time he'd seen James the hair had been long enough to brush against James' shoulders, a length Logan loved to sink his fingers into. Now the back barely brushed James' collar and the sides were short enough to reveal most of his ears.

"You cut your hair," Logan murmured.

James shrugged, hands in his pockets. "I thought it was time to grow up a little bit."

"No no no, James, why? Not your hair." Without planning to, Logan crossed the space between them to lift his fingers to tug on the shorter strands. "Your hair," he whined, as if in mourning.

"It'll grow back," James said softly, one hand freeing itself to slide an arm around Logan's waist. "I thought I'd like it better, but...I don't know. I miss it."

"But your haaaaair," Logan moaned. "Why?"

"Come back to me and I'll never cut it again." James bent his head so that their noses brushed together, Logan's mouth moving to close the circuit before his brain snapped down into place.

"No!" he yelled, backing away fast. "I see what you're doing! It's not gonna work!"

"Logan, please, just-"

"Don't ever touch me again!"

"Logan, wait!"

But Logan was done waiting. He took the steps two at a time until he could rush up the left aisle of the auditorium toward the exit. Halfway there two bodies jumped up from the seats to block his path.

"Hey, Logan, that was great! You're so good on the piano!"

"Thanks, Carlos, but I need to get going. We'll talk tomorrow, okay?"

Kendall patted Logan's shoulder. "He's right, dude, maybe you really should consider that as a career instead of the medical thing. You definitely have a future in music."

"Fine, I'll be a doctor who moonlights as a lounge performer. Thanks, guys, but I really need to go."

"Logan, wait," Carlos blurted, moving to the left to block Logan's progress. "I have this question on my math homework that I'm stuck on, and Kendall said I should ask you for help before the test tomorrow."

Grasping for patience, Logan replied, "That's fine, call me when you get home and we'll talk about it."

"I won't have time when I get home. My mom doesn't let me stay up past nine anymore."

"Since when?" Logan questioned, but didn't wait for an answer. "Fine, we can meet up before school tomorrow. Just text me later and tell me what time to meet you in the library."

"I can't get here early," Carlos complained. "My mom has to drop off my little sister at school first, then she takes my baby brother to daycare, and then barely has time to get me to school before first period. I guess I could go with Kendall, but then I still wouldn't have time because-"

"Carlos!" Logan snapped. "I don't have time for this! See if Shannon's willing to help you, she's right over in the next section. I'm sorry, but I have to go."

Kendall took a step toward Logan. "Hey, you don't have to be rude about it. Carlos is asking for help and he never does, I told him you'd be nice about it but you're acting like a dick and I'm sure it has everything to do with James, but that's not Carlos' fault. The least you could do is-"

"Fine," Logan sighed, patience a taut wire as he gave Carlos his attention. "What's the problem?"

"Okay." Happy now, Carlos began, "So if there's an airplane taking off from JFK at 7:18 P.M. but it's snowing outside, and if the traffic controller had a lot of caffeine the night before so he's waving his arms too fast, but he normally waves them at a speed of ten miles per second, how long does-"

"That's impossible."

"What?"

"That doesn't even make sense, Carlos. Even if you could somehow measure the speed of that, it couldn't be ten miles per second. Are you sure you're remembering the problem right?"

"I think so. It said ten miles per second."

"Maybe it was the plane that moves at ten miles per second. Though that doesn't sound right, either." Shaking his head in exasperation, Logan asked, "What is it you're supposed to figure out? How long does it take for what?"

"Oh! So if it takes off at 7:25 P.M., but-"

"18."

"What?" Carlos asked again.

"You said 7:18 P.M. Not 25."

"Did I?"

Temper about to snap, Logan rubbed his forehead. "Carlos, you're not even making sense. If you want me to help you, find a way to meet me in the library tomorrow morning or call me tonight. Otherwise Shannon's your best bet. I'm out of here."

Logan attempted to step past Carlos but found his path blocked yet again. He'd opened his mouth to yell when Kendall suddenly said, "It's fine now, Carlos." He gestured toward the stage, and Carlos looked over Logan's shoulder with a grin.

Realizing too late what he should have known from the start, Logan closed his eyes and said through gritted teeth, "I hate both of you. Neither of you is my friend anymore."

"Shh," Kendall winked, sinking into a seat and dragging Carlos down next to him. "The show's about to start."

Around them people were rushing to their seats. Logan wasted no more time in heading toward the exit, walking so fast he was almost jogging by the time he reached the last row of the auditorium, but he still needed to skirt those seats in order to make it to the safety of the double doors located at the end of the middle aisle.

"Hi, I'm James Diamond."

Logan kept going, trying to block out the voice that was magnified by a microphone.

"This is a song I started writing back when I was in junior high. I worked on it a little a few weeks ago, when I moved here from California, and finished it last night."

He was almost there, halfway across the back of the last row of seats.

"In truth this song was eight years in the making, and it's dedicated to the love of my life. I hope he's able to hear it, wherever he is. This is called 'Wait'."

Logan's steps faltered, but then picked up again at a steady pace. He just had to make it to the doors before James started singing and he was home free. His hand was reaching out to push on one of the doors when a clear, strong voice full of feeling filled the auditorium.

Wait! Wait!

The door opened an inch and hesitated, Logan unable to defy the command as James continued to sing.

I never had a chance to love you

Now I only want to say I love you one more time

It was perhaps not the words that made him turn back so much as the sound of a guitar playing along with them. Who was playing for James?

Logan craned his head back to see James alone on the stage and holding an acoustic guitar. James knew how to play the guitar? Why hadn't he ever told Logan that?

He still wore his dress clothes, but had added the black leather jacket that he knew made Logan crazy.

He was beautiful.

The hall was completely silent as the audience waited for the next line. Had Logan been among them, he would have been on the edge of his seat as well. When James began to sing again, Logan watched him play a simple but beautiful melody on the guitar.

Wait just a moment before our love will die

Cause I must know the reason why we say goodbye

Wait just a moment and tell me why

Cause I can show you lovin' that you won't deny

That was true enough, Logan thought as his breath left him and his body felt the magnetic pull toward the stage. He remained rooted to the spot, though, James' gaze burning a hole into his head and heart as he picked up the next line.

I said wait, and show your lovin' like it was before

Cause I won't let that feeling walk out through the door

I said wait, just a moment and try once more

Cause babe, I need to hold you like I did before

Each word was sung with such passion that the audience was enthralled even though James didn't seem to be paying them any attention. All of his focus was on Logan.

He's manipulating me again, Logan thought. He knows this is what gets to me, he knows this is my weakness and he's using it against me. Go go go run run run.

Logan turned away to do just that but the next line stopped him, one hand on the door again and his back to the stage. As always, James knew exactly what to say—or sing—at the right moment.

So if you go away, I know that I will follow

Cause there's a place inside my heart that tells me

Hold out, hold out, hold out, oh baby

Angry at James for knowing him so well, Logan spun toward the stage again and glared at him, but James only continued to play and sing with desperation in every word.

Wait, wait, I never had a chance to love you

Wait, wait, if only our love could show you

Wait, wait, I never wanna be without you

Wait, wait, no I never had a chance to love you

Now I only want to say I love you one more time

The glare softened with each line until Logan's heart showed plainly in his eyes, the need to run back to James and forget the pain, forget the betrayal, to just blindly trust—whatever it took to have those arms around him again and that voice whispering his name in the dark. The guitar fell silent for a moment and the crowd was unsure if the song had ended. By that time, though, most of them were aware that the song was meant for the young man at the back of the room, and gazes swiveled back and forth between them waiting to see what the outcome would be.

Logan's heart went into survival mode then, the wall rising around it as his brain reminded him of all the reasons he needed to run from James. Using every ounce of strength he possessed, Logan forced himself to once again turn away from the stage, away from the pleading eyes he knew he would see in his dreams for the rest of his life.

But then, of course, James began to sing again.

So if you go away, I know that I will follow

Cause there's a place inside my heart that tells me

Hold out, hold out, hold out, oh baby

Wait, wait, I never had a chance to love you

Wait, wait, if only our love could show you

Wait, wait, I never wanna be without you

Wait, wait, no I never had a chance to love you

Now I only want to say I love you

When Logan turned one last time to the stage, it was to find James on his knees at the edge of it and reaching out with one hand while holding the mic in the other. The guitar hung from him unnoticed and he sang the last two lines into dead silence, so much emotion in the words that he might as well have been sobbing.

Baby, I'm begging you wait

No I never had a chance to love you

This time it was obvious the song was over because James was working to extricate himself from the guitar strap while sliding around until his legs were hanging off the stage. He pierced Logan with a gaze that was both predatory and pleading at the same time, and Logan knew that if he didn't run then, he'd never get away.

The audience erupted into applause suddenly as Logan broke through the doors, one thought on his mind—to run as fast as he could, because if James caught him now it was over.

"Logan, wait!"

Instead of obeying, Logan's feet picked up to carry him rapidly through the lobby of the hall. If he could just make it to the main exit, he could hide somewhere or...

Footsteps that were too close and coming too fast spurred him to run even faster, but of course his shorter legs were no match for James' and just as Logan was about to burst through the front doors of the main lobby he was swept off his feet and shoved up against the nearest wall, James' mouth hot on his and James' body crushing him to the hard surface as his backpack fell to the floor.

With a whine and a shudder that was so violent it wracked his entire body, Logan opened his mouth to the attack and used his hands to grip James roughly and pull him closer. "Mine," James halted the kiss to pant, and then his tongue was in Logan's mouth again and Logan slid his arms around James' shoulders to clutch him tightly as they kissed. When James used his body to pin Logan to the wall, Logan moaned and lifted his legs until they were wrapped around James' hips, James the only thing keeping him afloat and if that wasn't a symbol of what James was in his life, Logan didn't know what could be.

From what seemed miles away, Logan vaguely heard a voice say, "Damn. I'd say the song worked."

The answering chuckle belonged to Kendall. "Knew it would."

"I love you," James gasped, only stopping the attack on Logan's lips to speak in between kisses. "I can't live without you. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, please take me back, please I'll do anything, I can't live without you."

Logan silenced James with shushing sounds and more kisses.

"I'm sorry," James managed again.

"It's..." Logan was about to say it was okay, but that would be a lie. It really wasn't; what James had done was wrong. However, the fact that James had done it out of desperation to get to Logan went a long way toward healing the wound. "I can't live without you, either." And that, at least, was the truth.

"You can run to the other side of the world and you'd still love me, Logan. You know it. I'd follow you there and force you to face it."

"I know," Logan replied, breath coming in heavy pants. "I love you. It would be so much easier if I didn't."

"Then give in. Let yourself be happy. Let us be happy. Don't we deserve that, after all this time?"

"I'm so messed up I don't even know what's right or wrong anymore," Logan admitted. "I just know that I need you."

"What's right is this." He leaned in to kiss Logan softly, even that gentle act soothing to Logan's soul. "Quit denying both of us what we need to be happy."

Logan's eyes skimmed over James' face before his hands slid up into James' hair. "I need your old hair back to be happy."

"Done," James chuckled. "I'll grow it all the way down to my ass if that's what it takes to get you back. Be mine again."

"I never stopped," Logan whispered, and this time when James kissed him he allowed his legs to slide to the floor so he was supporting himself.

"So...are they back together or not?" Carlos asked quietly from where he stood watching with Kendall.

"Oh yeah," Kendall smiled. "They'll get married someday."

"Yeah? Think we can be in the wedding?"

"We'd better be. We're their best friends."

"That would be nice," Carlos grinned. "I bet you look hot in a tux."

"Just wait for prom," Kendall promised. "We'll be the hottest couple in the room."

"You haven't even asked me yet. What if I say no?"

"Carlos, you're not going to say no."

"How do you know if you don't ask?"

"Fine. Carlos, will you go to prom with me?"

"You can't ask me now, it's still a year away!"

"You know, you're extremely aggravating. Why am I dating you again?"

"Because I give amazing blowjobs," Carlos reminded him.

Kendall laughed, hugging Carlos back against him. "Sure. That's it."

From the side of the stage, Logan watched Mr. Parsons address the crowd with gratitude for attending the concert and thank everyone who participated. When he reminded the audience there would be a winter concert in just a few short months, James bent his head to speak into Logan's ear. "What song should we do for that?"

"Whatever song describes what we're feeling then, I guess. We'll find something."

James smiled and kissed Logan's neck. "You sure you want to do this?"

"Might as well. Otherwise all our practicing was a waste of time."

"Time spent with you is never a waste. And we discovered you have a great voice!"

"Why didn't you tell me you play guitar?"

Logan felt James shrug behind him. "Didn't think about it. I like you playing for me, so there was no reason to play for myself outside of songwriting."

"In case I didn't tell you, I love the song."

James grinned and hugged Logan closer. "I figured that out when you attacked me in the main hall."

"Excuse me? Who attacked who?"

"Please, you were all over me."

"You started it."

"You continued it. Can I stay at your house tonight so we can finish it?"

"Mom may not allow that, but I'll beg."

"She likes me; I'll beg, too. Did you tell her what-"

"Come on, that's our cue!" Logan hissed.

They walked onto the stage hand in hand, only parting when Logan took his place behind the piano and James picked up the microphone. Logan waited for James to nod at him, and then he played the intro to their song "All Over Again" while James sang random sounds that would never fail to set Logan on fire. But this time rather than distract him, James' voice centered him instead and helped him focus, and when James launched into the first verse, Logan was smiling at him.

Still got the same look that sets me off

Guess there's just something about you

I got these feelings can't let 'em show

Cause I went and let you go

I shouldn't have let you go

You asked me for closure before and girl I told you

It's over, it's over, it's not over

So here we go again, yeah

Logan joined in for the chorus, the two of them staring at each other rather than the audience when they sang together.

It's like I'm falling in love all over again

For the first time, and I know that it feels right

I think I'm falling in love all over again

Love at first sight, do you know how I feel?

To the left, left, left

On the right, right, right

To the back, back, back

On the side, side, side

To the left, left, left

On the right, right, right

To the back, back, back

On the side, side, side tonight

James kicked off the next verse, taking the first half before Logan picked up the second. Each word Logan sang was the truth, but he was no longer afraid of it. James was there to hold him and keep him safe and though he'd made mistakes along the way, he'd proved time and again that he would be at Logan's side.

And really, that's all Logan had ever wanted in a boyfriend, along with moonlight kisses and walks on the sand, but James had promised those, too-only under a different name.

What Logan had come to accept was that the name James used didn't matter. What did was the face it came from, the lips that spoke the words, the eyes that said them with such sincerity, and the voice that sang from the heart that had fallen in love with him the day he'd performed an eight-year-old's version of CPR under a blue sky.

In a way, they'd saved each others' lives that day.

Logan took the bridge, as James had urged him to do only the day before, and his eyes reflected the words he believed so strongly in.

By the time they'd made it through the last chorus, James was standing behind Logan and bent so that he could hug him from behind while Logan leaned back against him. Surprising even himself, Logan launched into a heartfelt wail at the end, James singing the song's title against it but the two parts worked perfectly together. They repeated it again, their voices fading out to leave only the piano playing as James sang softly, "All over again."

It was the perfect way to end that chapter of their lives, and an even better way to begin the next.