Hey, hey, hey. How are y'all? Omg I sound southern. My science teacher says y'all even though we're in Jersey. Okaaaay. Anyways, that was off topic. I hope you like this chapter.

A/N: I don't anything but the plot and the character I have created.

Her dark eyes were watching my every move. They never left me and honestly, it made me more than a little uncomfortable. It was like she was waiting for me to screw up just so she could tell me what a failure I was. I think that's why I was trying especially hard today. Logan Mitchell always gives a hundred perfect but right now, I was giving a hundred and ten. It wasn't that I didn't want to hear her nag or even the fact that I wanted to please her because I didn't really care. What she thought of me didn't really matter because I knew I was doing a good job. But having her watch me made me push harder to achieve my goal. Not to please her like I said before, but to prove that she was wrong. Wrong about her thinking that I couldn't sing, that I couldn't dance, that I couldn't do anything. The worst thing I could do was give in. And I had to prove her wrong- I wasn't a failure and I was on the same level as everyone else. Maybe even higher.

It was then I realized the confidence Hollywood had given me. In the third grade, I met my best friends and while they managed to break me out of my shell a little, L.A. had done what they hadn't been able to do. I was no longer the scrawny little kid who hid in the corner when someone bigger or tougher walked by. I wasn't scared anymore- to be myself, do things per my wish, to stand out. I finally had a place where I could call home and not worry. That is, until Mom showed up. Quite honestly, she was the only person that I was actually scared of.

Nevertheless, proving her wrong sparked something inside of me. For once, I would be right and she would be wrong and that sent a thrill through my body.

So I pushed myself no matter how tired I was and no matter how much I wanted to just collapse in the middle of the dance floor. The recording of our latest song was perfect and even Gustavo had nothing to say against it. Though looking into my mom's hard, cold eyes, I knew she did.

We were practicing dance moves and sweat dribbled down all our foreheads and soaked our shirts. Namely, mine. Back flip after back flip followed by the hardest dance moves we've done so far- it was safe to say we were all exhausted. So when Kelly finally called time, we sighed out of relief and began packing up our stuff.

"Dog! I mean… Logan… You did um… a really great job today. Keep it up," Gustavo tells me, stammering over half the words. He shifted uncomfortably, obviously not in the habit of praising others.

I beamed because my hard work had indeed paid off. "Thank Gustavo. I will." I had to admit it was strange to see the Gustavo Rocque talking well of anyone but deep down, I was sure he had a heart of gold.

"I hope your mommy enjoyed it. Picking up your game to impress Mommy, huh?" he asks. He was joking mostly, I knew, but a tight smile appears on my face.

"Something like that."

Then I turn and catch up with my friends because I'm sure we're walking and we're letting my mom take the limo to her hotel. None of us wanted to be around her anyway. But at rehearsal, Mom's eyes weren't the only ones watching me. There were three other pairs too- belonging to Kendall, James and Carlos. Their eyes were heavy with concern, even now, though my mom was long gone.

I think it was only Carlos who bothered to make contact with me when he wrapped his arm around my shoulder. James and Kendall knew how to let their anger get to them and sometimes, they were blinded by it. Maybe it was a bit of annoyance too but they wanted to help in ways I didn't want them to. But Carlos was different. He never held grudges against ones he loved and he was understanding. We grew up together as the "little brothers" and in some ways that made us a bit closer when Kendall and James were off "protecting" us.

"It's going to be okay, Logan," he reassures me. Whether he's talking about Kendall and James or Mom, I find comfort in his words.

"I know, Carlos. Thanks."

His arm around me tightens and suddenly I feel like the youngest out of them all. "They're all just a little hard headed- they'll get some sense knocked into them when they realize they need to be here for you rather than just think about revenge or what not."

I nod, "Kendall and James have the tendency to do that a lot but they'll come around."

The both of them were far ahead of us by now and we'd slowed our pace.

"I think they think they know what's best for you but…" he trails off.

"But they don't. I mean they kind of do but they're thinking of this situation in their own way and in their head, it's action. That's not the way I want to put a stop to this. I need to do it in my own way, at my own time."

"I know, Logie. And we'll be there for you every step of the way."

He pats my back and I hug him close for a few brief seconds before pulling away so the both of us can catch up to Kendall and James.

But after going home, I didn't feel like Kendall and James' eyes watching me so instead I showered and changed and said goodbye to Carlos and continued down the hallway until I got to Camille's apartment. I didn't have to knock, I never did, and I used my copy of her key to let myself in. I found her snuggled up on the couch in her living room watching a movie.

She notices me and pats the seat down next to her on the couch. It's almost as if she could read my mind because she somehow knew instantly why I was there. "So talk to me," she turns on the couch and smiles warmly. She props her elbows up on her knees as she crosses her legs.

"I just wanted to come see you," I say shrugging my shoulders. It wasn't the entire truth but I really did want to see her.

"Sure you did," she teases.

I hold my hands up in surrender, "Well I did want to see you since I haven't all day but I also didn't want to face James and Kendall again. Or at least not until tomorrow."

"They're only doing it because they care about you, you know. But I know what you mean… they can let it get a little out of hand."

I feel a buzzing in my pocket and pulled out my phone.

Your boss is crazy. He's a untalented loser especially for thinking that you, of all people, did a good job.

I go to my texts and immediately delete it. I'd let her break me a million times but I wasn't about to let her break me a million and one.

I don't reply, I rarely do, because it gives her satisfaction and that's the last thing I wanted.

"That was your mom, wasn't it?" Camille asks softly. She surprises me at how much she knows me and how she knows what happened before I have the chance to say anything.

I smile at her, looking up at her. "Yeah."

"And you're not upset…" she says slowly. She looks at me confusedly, a small smile tugging on the corners of her lips.

"I know I did a good job at rehearsal today so I'm just not going to let it get to me. I'm a little upset but it doesn't even matter right now."

"You know I'm really proud of you, Logan. You've grown so much stronger in these past few months. I honestly think you know how to handle this and have this under control," she tells me. She wrings her hands together, swaying back and forth on the couch.

My heart swells at her words. She believed in me. Even when my best friends since the third grade didn't. "Thank you Camille, really."

Some strange confidence that I've never known before is building and before I can stop myself, I lean in and tenderly kiss her cheek before standing up. "I um… should get going. See you soon, Cam."

Then I turn and leave, cringing at what I'd just done. Stupid, stupid Logan. But I couldn't say that I regretted it entirely because it was nice.

By the time I reach 2J, all the lights are out and everyone's asleep. I trudge upstairs to Kendall and my shared room and collapse on the bed. Tomorrow was going to be a long day, I knew, because any day with Mom was a day to be dreaded.

A/N: I threw a little Cargan in there! Woot! I'm kinda switching out the boys and I figured Carlos would be the cool-headed one while James and Kendall would be hard- headed. Okay. I hope you liked this chapter and I'm beyond excited for the next chapter! YAYY!

So... review?