Logan glared at the smirking Alan. “The second I step out of this bed you’ll find yourself in it.”
Alan laughed, coming closer and giving him a quick manly hug. “I missed you manh!” Although Alan tried to act indifferent, his voice clogged as he said those words to his best friend. He really did miss him, even if he kept denying it to us.
I nodded, smiling at Logan. “We all did.”
He grinned. “Aww you guys are so helpless without me.”
I rolled my eyes and punched his arm softly. “Thanks.” I expressed, “You shouldn’t have done that but then you do stupid stuff all the time.”
Logan smiled up at me. “I had promised to protect you and I never break promises.”
I swallowed my tears. “I am so glad you are awake and fine.” I said, meaning every word, if anything had happened to him I would have never forgiven myself.
“It wouldn’t have been your mistake Joey.” Logan assured, patting my hand. “It was my own idea and I don’t regret it one bit. Though I have to use a wheelchair for some days.”
Alan laughed hard, donut crumbs falling from his mouth. “Yes! I get to ride you.” He then paused while we laughed. “Eww not in that way you dirty minded creatures. I meant drive you on wheelchair.”
Logan scowled. “I can help myself thank you very much.”
“Alan stop talking with your mouth full.” Brittany scolded at the same time.
Alan grunted in response. “Yes Mother.” He mocked making sure she saw his donut filled mouth.
“Thanks for saving my sis dude.” Connor said awkwardly but the gratefulness was naked in his eyes.
“Buy me a specialized wheelchair.” Logan joked.
Connor grinned. “Yeah one which skids a lot.”
Logan scowled but didn’t reply.
“So when do you leave?” Max asked, sitting on the floor besides Ian.
Logan shrugged. “As soon as all the papers are cleared and all. Please tell me you all didn’t inform my parents about this.”
“The girls wanted to but luckily your parents are out of town so we couldn’t reach them.” Dylan answered and Logan sighed in relief.
“If they come to know about this I am never leaving my room again. My father would simply cuff me to the bed and home-school me.”
Alan snorted. “Kinky.”
“I can’t wait to walk again and kick your butt.” Logan snarled, almost getting out of the bed.
“Let him be Logan.” I said, shaking my head. “He was crying like a baby during your operation.”
“I was not!”
“Please tell me you recorded it!”
Both exclaimed at the same time making us laugh. “We were all crying and if not crying we were too miserable to think of taking videos.” Janice said.
Logan blushed like literally blushed and that was one of the cutest things I had ever seen. “Aww.” I pinched his cheek. “Yeah we all love you.” And he blushed even more, his cheeks turning pink.
Alicia smiled, sensing his discomfort. “I have settled the bill, my dad’s going to pay.”
“Uh no that’s great but-” Logan started.
“Nah it’s okay, this is the least I can do for you all. Take care Logan, let me know if you need something for me.” She said and with one last smile and wave she walked out of the door.
“Well looks like the python turned into a butterfly.” Alan remarked, staring at the door she just walked through.
Logan threw an empty glass at him. “At least she’s doing something for me.”
“Babe, I promise I’ll hold your willy while you pee.” Alan cooed.
“Fuck you.” Logan spat. “And what was with you and that gang? How the hell where you into them?” he demanded, narrowing his eyes at Alan.
Alan let out a nervous chuckle. “Yeah so I need extra donuts, I’ll just go get some.”
“Nu-uh.” Bryan held his collar securely, making him sit on the chair. “Explain, now.”
“Yeah so I was bored.” Alan started, squirming under our intense and curious gazes. “Can you all stop looking at me like I am the fucking Joker right now?”
We blinked and averted our eyes, well except for Logan and Bryan. “Alan cut the shit okay.” Logan ordered.
Alan sighed. “I was bored and I decided to go to this shit party my cousin had told me about. It was for college people and I knew you all wouldn’t come so I went without telling you all. This was about seven months back. During that party I understood it wasn’t just any party but a gang drug party. All were drinking and doing drugs there. The house owner, some guy named Carlos had a sister.” He paused. “Her name was Celia, the junior.”
We gasped. “She is in all this?”
Alan shook his head hard. “No! I met her and we clicked off. I wanted to leave the party but Carlos had already seen me so he thought I was a part of his gang and he took me to their den and showed me all the drugs and illegal stuff. He was way too drunk. The second I got a chance to escape from that awful place I called my cousin and shouted at him for giving me that address. He said he actually wanted me to go because he was some secret agent of some secret group and had to find out the secrets of this gang. He persuaded me to join them and act like their member.”
“Did your cousin by any chance have hand in why the police didn’t investigate much on us when we called and gave them the slip?” Bryan inquired.
Alan nodded. “Yeah I knew it, Joanna had told me and I had told my cousin. He has some crazy ass connection with the police and government.”
“Did Celia know all this?” I piped in.
“Yeah that’s what we talked about all the time when we met. Anyways I joined the group and passed on their secrets to my cousin. This continued and I was pretty much enjoying being a secret agent until they said they were going to abduct you and kill Bryan. I couldn’t let them know I was on your side so I had go on with the plan.” He looked at me sincerely. “I am so sorry Joanna. You know I would never hurt you deliberately.”
I grinned at him. “I know Alan, its okay. It’s over now.”
“Stupid asshole. The next time you do something so exciting you better include me in it.” Logan rebuked angrily. “I can’t believe I could have been a secret agent and you deprived me of that title.”
Alan rolled his eyes. “Bitch please you would have pissed your pants the first day itself.”
“I swear to fucking god, the second I am well you are so dead.” Logan growled, throwing another mug at him.
Alan skillfully dodged it laughing his head off. “Going to use the wheelchair to hit me?”
“Get me some more glasses, preferably glass ones filled with stones.” Logan commanded, pushing off his sheet to punch Alan.
“Alan!” Brittany exclaimed. “Stop acting like a prick.”
Alan held his hands up, smirking at Logan. “Sure, so when are we going for the wheelchair ride?”
“Forget the glasses just get me some bricks.”
We laughed and in that moment it felt so surreal. Like Anastasia had never happened and we all were just at the cottage having our usual arguments. I looked around the people I loved so much. Logan fighting with Bryan and Dylan to get off the bed, Brittany and Janice scolding a guffawing Alan, Max and Ian just sitting and shaking their heads with huge grins on their faces. Connor eating a donut enjoying the show. And I felt so blessed to have such lovely friends.
Friends are people who make you smile at the worst of your days. They make you laugh when you want to cry. They make you trust them with your deepest secrets. They love you even when you are as annoying as soggy fries. They have your back even you are crazy as a shithouse rat. They don’t judge you and will do everything for you- and some friends- they can even take a bullet for you.