Only one

Exposed

Kendall and Logan had decided to take a day off, away from the hustle of the city. They were spending the day at a secluded beach, one of their favorite spots, where the waves were gentle, and the world seemed to slow down. It was their sanctuary, a place where they could just be themselves, away from prying eyes.

The sun was beginning its slow descent, casting a warm, golden glow over everything. Logan was lying on a towel, eyes closed, basking in the sunlight, while Kendall sat beside him, absentmindedly drawing patterns in the sand. It was peaceful, and for a while, it felt like nothing else mattered.

But that peace was shattered when Kendall's phone, which had been left in their beach bag, began to buzz incessantly. Both of them ignored it at first, figuring it was just another group chat blowing up with random memes or someone looking to plan the next hangout. But the buzzing didn't stop.

Finally, Logan groaned, sitting up and reaching for the bag. "You'd think people would know how to take a hint," he muttered, fishing out the phone.

He glanced at the screen and saw that James was calling. "It's James," Logan said, his brow furrowing. "Why's he calling?"

Kendall sat up too, the relaxed atmosphere suddenly tense. "I don't know. Answer it."

Logan swiped to answer and put the phone on speaker. "Hey, James. What's up?"

James' voice came through the line, tense and rushed. "Guys, where are you right now?"

Kendall exchanged a concerned glance with Logan. "We're at the beach, why?"

There was a brief pause on the other end before James spoke again, his tone more serious. "Okay, don't freak out, but... some pictures of you two just got leaked."

Logan's heart dropped. "What do you mean, leaked?"

"I mean someone must've snapped them while you weren't paying attention," James said. "They're all over social media right now. People are talking, speculating if it's real."

Kendall felt a wave of nausea wash over him. They'd been so careful, keeping their relationship private until they were ready to go public on their own terms. But now, it seemed that choice had been ripped away from them.

"What kind of pictures?" Kendall asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

"There's a few of you guys holding hands, another one of you hugging... and one of you kissing," James explained, his tone apologetic. "They're not super clear, but it's enough that people are putting the pieces together."

Logan ran a hand through his hair, anxiety spiking. "What are people saying?"

James hesitated. "It's a mix. Some people are saying it's just a close friendship, but others... they're convinced it's real. And, of course, there are the usual trolls saying stupid stuff."

Kendall's chest tightened. He'd expected this reaction at some point, but not like this, not before they were ready. "This is bad, isn't it?"

James sighed. "It's not great, but we can manage it. The question is, what do you guys want to do? You could say the photos are taken out of context, or you could... you know, own it."

Logan looked at Kendall, searching his eyes for what he was feeling. Kendall's jaw was tight, his mind racing with what this could mean for both of them. "I don't know," Kendall finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know if we're ready for this."

Logan's heart ached seeing Kendall like this. He reached out, taking his hand, not caring if anyone else saw. "We don't have to decide anything right now," Logan said gently. "We'll figure it out, together."

James' voice came through the phone again, softer this time. "Whatever you decide, we're here for you. Carlos and I, we've got your backs, okay? Just... don't let this ruin what you have."

Kendall swallowed hard, nodding even though James couldn't see him. "Thanks, James. We'll talk soon, okay?"

"Yeah, take your time," James replied. "And stay off social media for a while, trust me. It's a mess right now."

Logan ended the call and set the phone down in the sand, a heavy silence settling between them. The sound of the waves seemed distant, muted by the whirlwind of thoughts in both of their heads.

"What are we going to do?" Kendall finally asked, his voice cracking slightly.

Logan squeezed his hand, his own fears bubbling to the surface, but he tried to stay strong for Kendall. "I don't know, but we'll figure it out. Maybe we just need to take a step back, think about what we really want."

Kendall nodded, though his mind was spinning. "I just... I wanted this to be on our terms, you know? I didn't want to be forced into anything."

"I know," Logan said, pulling Kendall into a hug. "I know. But maybe... maybe this is a sign. Maybe it's time we stop hiding and just be who we are, no matter what anyone says."

Kendall clung to Logan, his heart aching with the unfairness of it all. He knew Logan was right, but that didn't make it any easier. "I'm scared," he admitted, his voice barely a whisper.

Logan held him tighter. "Me too. But we've faced worse, right? We can get through this."

Kendall nodded, taking comfort in Logan's presence. They stayed like that for a while, just holding each other as the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows on the sand. The world outside was spinning out of control, but here, in this moment, they had each other. And that was the only thing that felt real.