CHAPTER 22

"I hate him. Except for all the places where I love him half to death.”
Charlotte Stein

For once in my life I believed in someone more than life itself. I pulled Alexander Evans closer by the collar, our lips moving in perfect melody, our heartbeats rapid and heat coming off from the electricity between us. I've only heard about world's colliding, and now I've felt it.

As we pulled away, I refused to look anywhere other than Evans' face, I refused to regret my step, and I refused to worry about his rejection. Because I know, this is my moment. I know what I deserve and I have no time for self pity.

I almost grinned as Evans recovered from shock and his eyes danced in excitement. But of course, Evans smirked. "Damn." Then Evans fell back on to the bed beside me, mumbling something, 'should've kissed ... long ago ... crazy ... shit exploding...'

He took a deep breath and pulled on my arm, making me fall right beside him. "Y'know maybe we should do another test run, practice makes perfect."

"Nah, I think it was pretty perfect." I replied cheekily.

"Then let's be better than perfect." He leaned in, not waiting for another reply.

♡♡♡

The sunlight poured through the window and woke me up. I found myself tangled with Evans, who was still sleeping. I smiled thinking this was the first morning I'd woken up happy in a long time. I carefully tried to get my leg off of his legs and slid off the bed.

Evans' eyes cracked open slowly, and he breathed in deeply. "Mornin' Hazel."

I don't know when the nickname stuck. But I loved it. "Hey."

"Y'know, there's something special about this morning..." Evans said with a little mischievous smile.

"Yeah?" I asked, unsure of what else to say.

"Mhmm."

"What's that?" I asked, daring to keep up the playful mood.

"Mom's cookin' pancakes! I can smell it."

The flirtatious mood immediately dropped and I almost frowned, instead laughter bubbled up my throat. Evans started laughing too.

"You're an idiot."

"A cute idiot. Wait no- I'm your cute idiot."

I snorted in response and started walking to the bathroom.

"Too soon?"

Quickly washing up, I walked back to the room, where I was met by his painted walls. But no Evans. Waiting for a few minutes, I walked out, following the noise of chatter, down to the living room.

"...was here all night? What are you playing at Evans?" It was Logan.

"What am I playing at? Where the hell did you run off to last night at the hospital?"

"I went to have a talk with David Hale."

"I don't need you to come sort my shit out for me, Logan." I interrupted their conversation, Logan looked at me with a pitiful expression.

"Shit that I got you in to, Scarlie."

"What do you mean? And don't call me Scarlie." I hissed at him, Scarlie made me sound like a 4 year old.

"No matter how... emotionally messed up I was, I would never leave you without knowing you were safe. I talked Brianna Hale as soon as I left the house."

"You..."

"She was the only one that came to my mind that was closest to our home and family," he said.

Just then, Evans' mother came in, tying her hair up in to her bun. "Scarlett." She nodded at me, "nice to see you again, dear. Your brother here is quite the gentleman as well."

Logan smiled, "thank you Mrs. Evans."

"It's Louise, or if you'd really like Ms. Alderson. I go by my maiden name." She smiled warmly. "Formalities aside, all of you to the breakfast table, now."

"Mom, we'll be there-" Evans started.

"Now, Alex." She said with a tone of finality.

"Yes, Ma." He grumbled. Louise walked out and Logan followed her.

"Awww! Mama's boy, aren't you?" I teased.

"Zip it, Devereaux."

♡♡♡

Helping Evans with the dishes took a lot of convincing, because Louise was adamant on letting him do it alone. Logan and Louise cut out some cake slices, while discussing something discreetly. I had a feeling they were talking about my parents. Yes, cake right after breakfast, because Louise thought we looked down and should start our day with something sweet. Reminded me of mom.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Yes, it's huge." He smirked. My mouth dropped open, shocked he would even say something like that. I smacked the sponge on his face, my cheeks getting red. Evans laughed, yelling slightly when I rubbed the soapy yellow sponge over his face. Logan looked up at us, his face unreadable, then went back to chatting with Louise.

"I. Can. Not. Believe. You." I hissed at him. I threw my hands up.

"I'm sorry. Sorry, I had to." He laughed harder, which raised some eyebrows behind us, but they went back to talking right away.

"I hate you!" Maybe.

"Okay. Okay. What was your question?"

"Um. Just wondering about your father." I asked quietly, afraid of offending him. Afraid of hurting him. "Where..."

Evans was silent for a bit with pursed lips. He then said, "He left. Or more like we kicked him out."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to pry."

"S'alright. He was an alcoholic, a useless person. Didn't deserve us. Didn't deserve her love." He looked up to his mother with soft eyes, and I could see a loving, protective son.

I squeezed his hand in comfort, he gazed at me and gripped my hand too. Someone cleared their throat and we snapped out of our moment. Louise twirled her fork, raising her eyebrows. "Cake?"

♡♡♡

"So... you and Evans?" Logan asked backing out of the Evans' driveway. I decided that I was being a little childish avoiding Evans and agreed to be dropped off to school by him.

"I don't know yet, to be honest." He didn't reply and furrowed his eyebrows. I felt a little guilty for some reason, but also angry. "Logan, I spent a year. Regretting. Pitying. Hating myself. I spent it alone. If it weren't for Zoey, I'd have gone mad."

"I know. You deserve to be happy. And I know leaving was the most immature thing I could've done."

"Then why'd you do it?"

"I don't know. Scarlett. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left you alone. I shouldn't have blamed you. I was just confused and angry. Everything changed in one phone call and I just- I wasn't thinking clearly. And I clearly made a mistake leaving you with the Hales."

"Do you... miss them?" We pulled in to the school parking lot, and Logan stopped in front of the gates.

"Everyday. I went to see them a few times, but I went last week and i swear this time I heard them. Scolding me... for abandoning you."

Logan sighed and I opened the door, stepping out and Logan did the same.

"You know, the date's near." I said as Logan walked around the car towards me.

"Yes. It's mostly why I came back. I wanted to visit them. With you. I missed you too you know."

I stayed silent. I hadn't visited them. I think avoiding everything was my problem. Maybe that was Logan's too. He was like me, and he ran away. Just as I was about to ask if he was about to walk me to class like a kindergartner, he spoke.

"Please forgive me." He said.

"Are you serious? I've always wondered if you'd forgive me."

"Forgiveness is given to those who repent for their wrongdoings, Scarlett. And you haven't done anything wrong. You were only a kid."

"And you were too. Don't say sorry, Logan. Just-" I pulled him in to a hug, and he enveloped me immediately. And all of the bad feelings melted away. Sort of.

"Why not earlier? Why'd you come so late?"

"Fashionably late, dear 'sis. Fashionably late."

I scoffed loudly and in return he hugged me tighter, I squealed out an 'ew'. "You need a shower, stinky."

"Have you- I think you've gotten even shorter, eh?"

"Shut up."

"You started it."

"Grow up."

I really shouldn't have said that, because next thing you know he was singing at the top of his lungs. "I'll never grow up, never grow up, never grow up! Not me, Not I-"

A few students going in started laughing.

"Oh my God, good bye Logan." I slapped my hand over his mouth to shut him up, then ran inside embarrassed and laughing.

♡♡♡

A/N
AREN'T YOU HAPPY LOGAN'S BACK, I LOVE HIM.