Only one

The perfect +1

After another intense day of rehearsals, the band was winding down, lounging around the studio as they caught their breath. The upcoming Asia tour was fast approaching, and the days were long, but the camaraderie between them made it bearable.

As James and Carlos debated over what to get for dinner, Kendall seemed a bit preoccupied, lost in his thoughts. Logan noticed immediately, his observant eyes catching the slight furrow in Kendall's brow and the way he kept fiddling with his phone.

"Hey, you okay?" Logan asked softly, nudging Kendall's arm as they sat side by side on the worn leather couch.

Kendall glanced up, giving a small smile. "Yeah, just... thinking."

James, catching the end of their conversation, looked over with curiosity. "Thinking about what?"

Kendall hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath. "I got invited to this benefit event next weekend. It's for the mental health awareness cause I've been an ambassador for. They asked if I wanted to bring a plus one."

Carlos, always the first to be supportive, grinned. "That's awesome, dude! You should definitely go. And take someone with you. It's a great cause."

James nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you've been passionate about that for years. It'll be good for you to be there."

Kendall smiled at their encouragement, but his eyes drifted back to Logan. He fidgeted for a second, his fingers tapping nervously on his knee. "Logie, um... I was kind of hoping you might... want to come with me. I mean, as my plus one."

Logan's heart warmed at Kendall's shy, almost bashful request. There was something incredibly sweet about how Kendall, despite all their history, still seemed a little nervous asking him out. But Logan could see there was more to it than just nerves-there was real concern in Kendall's eyes.

Logan reached out, gently resting his hand on top of Kendall's. "Kendall, I'd love to go with you. And not just because you asked. Mental health awareness is important to me, too. You know that."

Kendall's face softened, relief and gratitude mingling in his expression. "I know. I just... I didn't want to make you feel like you had to. I mean, with everything we've been dealing with lately... I wasn't sure if this would be too much."

Logan squeezed Kendall's hand, his touch warm and reassuring. "You never have to worry about that with me. I want to be there for you, and for the cause. We'll go together, not just because it's important to you, but because it's important to both of us. And if things get overwhelming, we'll handle it-together."

Kendall's smile grew, but Logan could see that the anxiety hadn't completely left his eyes. "I'm just a little worried, you know? This would be our first public event together, and I know we've been easing into things, dropping hints... but this feels big. What if it's too much too soon?"

Logan nodded, understanding the weight of what Kendall was feeling. "It is a big step, and it's okay to feel anxious about it. But we'll be careful. We can keep it subtle-nothing too obvious. We'll go as a team, and if things get overwhelming, we'll have each other to lean on."

Kendall sighed, his shoulders relaxing a bit at Logan's words. "Yeah, I guess you're right. I just... I don't want to rush anything or make things harder for us. But at the same time, I don't want to keep hiding either. It's tough to find that balance."

"We'll find it," Logan assured him. "This is important to both of us, and we'll go at our own pace. If we need to, we can make it low-key, but we can also show up together and be there for the cause. It doesn't have to be all or nothing."

Carlos, sensing the seriousness of the conversation, chimed in with his usual optimism. "You guys got this. Whatever you decide, just know we've got your backs. If anyone says anything, they'll have to answer to us."

James nodded in agreement, adding with a grin, "And if you want to blend in, just stand next to Carlos and me-we'll draw all the attention away from you two."

Kendall chuckled, the anxiety that had been weighing on him starting to lift. "Thanks, James. And thank you, Logan. I really, really want you there with me. I just... didn't want to push too hard."

"You're not pushing me," Logan replied firmly. "We're a team, remember? We'll take this one step at a time, and if it gets to be too much, we'll figure it out together."

Kendall's smile grew, a warmth spreading through him at Logan's words. "Okay. Then it's settled. You'll be my plus one."

Logan nodded, his own smile bright and reassuring. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

Carlos, ever the optimist, clapped his hands together. "Alright, that's decided then. Now, can we finally figure out what we're doing for dinner? I'm starving."

The group laughed, the tension from earlier dissipating as they returned to the easy camaraderie they were so used to. As they debated over where to eat, Kendall felt a sense of peace settle over him.

He knew the benefit event would be a big step, but with Logan by his side, he felt ready to take it. Whatever came next, they would face it together, just like they always had.