Take My Hand

chapter six

 a/n: hope you're liking the story so far ! we love all the reads, keep 'em coming !

CHAPTERSIX

 

PHOENIX

            "He's been gone for three hours, Tanner!"

            I called everyone else and no one answered. I sure wasn't calling Ashton and Levi. They would make jokes about it. About us. Tanner was the only one who answered.

            "Just don't worry about it, Phoenix. I'm sure he's fine." Tanner said. "Do you want me to wait for you at the store?"

            "No, not tonight. I have to make sure Logan gets home."

            I hear a loud crash in the living room, and then followed by a lot of cussing.

            "Hey Tanner?"

            No answer.

            "Did you just fucking hang up on me?!"

            I walk out slowly into the dark room. I hear crazy laughter and see Logan sitting on the couch. I put down the book in my hand (I know, a stupid excuse for a weapon). "God damn it, you fucking scared me! Where have—'' I stop talking when I see the beer bottle in his hand and his red, puffy eyes.

            "What happened to you?" I whisper, kneeling down in front of him. I have never seen my best friend look this bad. Not even when he came to move in with me back in eighth grade.

            I only had gotten home five minutes ago. I was drinking a cup of warm hot cocoa when the doorbell rang. I already knew it was him before I opened the door. We weren't that close of friend then. More like enemies.

            "What do you want?" I snap, as I opened the door.

            The idiot smirks. "Jeez, why so angry?"

            I squint. "I'm giving you a minute."

            He looks down and sighs. "Okay, I really need a place to stay for a while, and you were the first person I thought of."

            I take a sip of my cocoa. "I was the first? Aww...I'm flattered...And why should I help you? You've never done anything for me."

            Logan sighs again and leans against the wall. "You're right. Look, my family...it's tough over there right now. And—I..."

            I had never noticed how miserable he had looked. He needed someone, and he was asking me.

            "Fine, but we have some rules to go over."

            I helped him out for a month. Now, I have no clue what to say. "It's about your family isn't it?" I ask.

            He throws the bottle onto the floor. The glass shatters and the smell of beer fills the air. "Damn right it's about my family!" Logan yells.

            He gets up and I grab his arm for support. This time, he refuses my help and pushes me. I fall backwards, and my arm scrapes against the glass on the floor. I could feel the blood running down my arm but I pay no attention to it. I spend all night trying to calm Logan down.

LEVI

            Sleep was off the to-do list. My mom was going to die. That thought sung in my head like a dramatic melody. When I left Ashton's house (feeling incredibly awkward) yesterday, I felt like there was this weird current running through me. I decided not to worry about it.