Third person's POV [Logan's POV]

Logan thought he saw Joy for a moment and he half stood up, narrowing his eyes at the waiter beside the pillar. She had been right there. Her wisps of feathery short blonde hair and her thin shape- he had seen it all hurrying outside.

"Everything okay man?" Jack peered at him curiously.

He tore his eyes away from that spot where Joy had been just a minute ago. "I thought I saw someone."

"We all keep seeing things. Once at the supermarket, I followed my mama but by the exit, I realized she wasn't my mama but a fat lady in a red coat," Dev narrated and chuckled at his own joke. Nobody laughed. So he added quickly and foolishly, "My mama was wearing a red coat."

"We get that dipstick." Jack slapped Dev's head who winced. "Sit down Logan. We know you aren't full of shit to see things, but this pinhead might be right yeah."

"Asshole."

Jack ignored Dev. "Sit down, you probably mistook someone for someone else." Logan still stood there, conflicted. Jack pulled him down. "Sit down yeah, we're not losing you after so many years."

"Damn right," Luke piped in, he had been silently eating all this while. He nudged Peter, another guy who had been busy texting his girlfriend continuously because he had missed going to the movies with her. Luke elbowed him hard- hard enough for him to yelp and look up from his phone.

"Fuck you Luke," Peter spat and then glanced at Logan, his tone changing. "You should stay bro, really."

Logan sighed and finally sat down. He was so deeply in love with Joy that he must have definitely imagined her. Besides, she didn't really wear those kind of clothes and what was she doing in the next town? It wasn't her, he convinced himself feeling deranged. All his friends started hooting wildly, pleased that he didn't go.

"Lose that phone pussy," Jack suddenly remarked and reached out to snatch Peter's phone from him.

Peter quickly stretched his hand, but Luke grabbed his phone from the other side. "Fuck you Luke, give it back!"

Luke simply waggled his eyebrows and carelessly tossed the phone to Dev who fumbled with it.

"Careful shithead, that's my fucking phone!" Dev pretended to drop it and Peter lost his temper even more. "Give it back you moron!"

Dev threw the phone across to Jack who caught it and started to read his text messages loudly, "Oh baby Jess, what are you doing? I'm so sorry I missed the movies babe---" Jack got up swiftly, dodging Peter. "---once I'm back home, I'll make it up to too. Just you and me- our way."

"Oooh petey petey petey," Luke taunted and all of them burst out laughing.

Peter tried to reach for his phone, but got shoved by Jack again. "Fuck you Luke! And give it back Jack, I swear to . . . "

Jack threw the phone and it went flying to Logan. Logan caught it just in time and smiled. He missed his friends, surely they had all changed than how they were in middle school, but the immaturity was still there. Also the name calling. And Logan found himself liking it.

There was still this huge gap in him that he knew no one could fill- only a certain pale, blue-eyed beauty.

* * *

Joy's POV

I watched the waves stand up proudly, curl slowly and eventually collapse into milky white, shapeless water. The waves seemed to dance under the moonlight in it's full glory as if the moon shone for it. The ebony sky had few scintillating stars scattered like colourful sprinkles on a cupcake.

"We gonna talk?" Jamal asked which made me break into a small smile.

In spite of our dispute earlier, Jamal had come within ten minutes when I called him.

"Yeah," I breathed, enjoying the breeze that swept over us. "Yeah."

"I'm not here for sight seeing---"

"Hush . . . Hush now . . . "

We spent another ten minutes strolling on the promenade until I halted at the spot where the beach became rocky and we could see the abandoned lighthouse.

Jamal said impatiently, "Can we talk now yo? I'm not interested in romantic walks with you."

"Neither am I Jamie, I just needed time to think."

"Speak up, we aren't in the White house."

"Alright." I took a deep breath, my gaze fixed on the ocean. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for always threatening you to stay away from Gem. I was trying to protect her- we both know you won't be the best boyfriend."

"Ouch girl."

"But I'm sorry, I should have never did that. She seems happy with you and you haven't done anything to break her heart-yet."

"Are you apologising or roasting me?"

"I don't know," I said with an impish grin. He shot me a mock hurtful look. "The point is, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for pushing Gem away . . . It's that every time maa scolds her for the tiniest things, I rush to defend her. It became a habit and I was afraid that once I'm gone it'll be only her and maa at home. There'll be no one to speak up for her and I have to make sure that she learns how to do it."

"By kicking her away?" Jamal looked amused.

I shook my head. "Those were never my intentions and I realized how stupid I behaved. I also realized that I should stop worrying about everyone's future. I can't control anything, so what's the use? Plus everyone's capable of doing their own thing."

"Better late than never," he said deliberately loud enough so I could hear. I punched his arm playfully. "You don't have to worry about your sis Blondie, I'll be there for her."

"Really?" Something shifted inside me uneasily when I could see the sincerity glinting in his chocolate coloured eyes. It was a rare sight to notice such a spark in him. I had misjudged him about Gemma all this while and I felt guilt gnawing at my insides. "Oh God, we're making my maa sound like such a devil. She's Gem's maa too after all and she loves her as much as she loves me. She won't hurt her."

"I'll be there for her if anything happens."

"Maa hates you anyway," I brushed him off.

He clutched his heart. "Double ouch girl."

"Don't act like you don't know."

"Blondie . . . " he trailed off, shuffling uncomfortably. "I'm sorry too yo, for bitch slapping you with reality right after your brawl with lover boy."

"You're forgiven." I smirked. "She's only fifteen, you're seventeen. I just want you both to take your relationship slow."

"Woah, woah." His eyes widened. "We're not in a relationship."

"You're not? Does Gem know that?"

"Of course she knows. We're mature enough to not start dating before you're gone. I couldn't risk getting my balls chopped off by you."

I laughed sardonically. "Oh Jamie, who would have thought that you're scared by me- a dying girl?"

"Your lot are the scariest one. You'll simply commit a crime like murdering my ass and then die. You won't go to jail, it's me who'll have to deal with my broken ass for the rest of my life," he dead-panned.

"Ha, ha now that you have told me, I'll make sure my ghost haunts you once you lay your hands on Gem."

"Oh dear God, noooooooo!"

We were both shrieking with laughter by now. My ribs started to hurt more as I clutched it. Jamal quirked an eyebrow in question and I rolled my eyes. "Long story."

"Come here girl." Jamal pulled me gently as I wrapped my arms around him, snuggling closer to him.

I teased, "Be good to my sister Jamie and I won't trouble you. You'll also get my Katy Perry signed sweater as promised."

His body vibrated as he exclaimed delightfully, "Hell yes! Now I really should be a gentleman to your sis."

"You better," I warned, poking his chest sharply.

I felt him exhale as he tightened his arms around me and mumbled against my hair, "You do know I love you more than Katy Perry?"

"Really? I'm honoured."

"You should be Blondie, but I still want that sweater."