Of The Dead

Chapter Two

LOGAN

1

Logan liked to think he had known Charlie the best. Simon had probably seen more of him, and known him longer, but Logan knew a side of him no one else had. Or at least, he hoped no one else knew.

Charlie wasn't as pristine as people portrayed him post mortem. That was what Logan had liked about him. He wasn't perfect. He would've understood if Logan had decided to be more honest with him...

"So glad you've got a date with Mara," his mom said from across the dinner table. "I'm sure that Charlie is smiling from above. He wants you both to be happy."

Logan thought that if anything, Charlie was laughing. "Yeah. He's, uh, in a better place." Logan took a big bite of a roll, not wanting to talk.

In all honesty, he didn't want to speak to Mara, let alone go to the Summer Solstice with her. She freaked him out. He didn't have a choice in the matter, though. If his mother wanted him to go, he would. He had to.

"Do you like her?"

Logan glanced at Teddy, his younger brother. "Sure," he replied.

"You don't look like you do."

"Well, sorry, then." He set down his fork a bit too forcefully, and grimaced. "I need to go, me and Simon were gonna go to the rink."

His mom sighed and narrowed her eyes, as if leaving dinner early was the greatest disrespect to exist. Logan just stood up anyways.

He put his plate in the sink and left. His hockey bag was already in his car.

He and Simon practiced a few nights a week at the indoor rink. It was all they really saw of each other, which was unfortunate. But Charlie's death was still fresh, and Simon had taken it worse than anyone. It was too soon for Logan to complain.

The rink was just a few minutes away, and he got there before Simon.

Logan laced up his skates, put on a hoodie, and skated around as he waited.

He didn't like hockey as much as he used to, although he was good at it. He'd been playing his whole life. Although he truly loved the sport, it wasn't the same without Charlie. Nothing was.

"Sorry I'm late," Simon said as he walked in.

They were the only ones there. Logan preferred it that way. "No worries."

Logan watched Simon get his skates on. Simon was good looking, but Logan didn't think that gave him permission to see numerous girls at once. It was mean. Logan had asked him about it before, trying to get him to understand that girls like Lorelai didn't show up every day. Simon was a little messed up at the moment, though, so Logan had stopped trying to talk to him.

For a moment Logan just stared at him as he tied his skates. He liked how Simon looked when he played hockey. He looked relaxed and more himself then he ever was those days. And since it was summer, he wasn't so wrapped up in being captain. It was almost like he enjoyed the sport again.

Logan realized he'd been staring too long, and looked away.

"Okay," Simon said, joining him on the ice. "Do you want to work on anything particular?"

Logan shrugged. "We could just play for fun. There's still the rest of the summer to improve."

"Sure, fine with me." Simon bounced the puck up and down on his stick for a moment.

"How's," Logan paused, wondering if this was one of those times to just not bother. But he was angry, and couldn't help himself. "How's Lorelai?"

Simon stopped, letting the puck hit the ice. "She's fine."