CHAPTER 9.

Faulty

Logan.

I find myself in a street that seems to have no end, I walk and walk trying to reach the end. I see nothing.

—Logan ... —I hear a voice call my name.

—Are you Logan?

The voice is familiar to me, I run and run until I reach it and when I achieve it my breath shortens, my legs ache from running so much, falling to the ground on my knees.

Tears start to fall from my face for no reason. Suddenly I hear a crash behind me, I look at what it is and I see a car ...

My parents' car is on fire, I hear screams and groans until the fire is extinguished and nothing is heard.

I am standing in the middle of nowhere, it takes time to realize that I am stained with blood, my hands are red hot. Whose blood is this?

—Remember that you did this to him ... —a voice whispers in my ear.

What?

—I do not...

—This was done by you ...

I turn around to find a man in a suit a few feet behind me, Sean.

—You did this to him, you did this to him, you did this —he repeats over and over again.

I shake my head, I didn't do this.

—No!

—This was chosen by your Logan. —He adjusts his suit and leaves, disappears.

I run to catch up with him but it's too late, he's gone.

—Logan ...

—Let me!

—Logan wake up.

It takes me several seconds to open my eyes, I don't want to open them.

—Are you OK? —Lexie whispers in front of me, I find myself by the pool with my pajamas on.

Her look is sweet.

—Logan? —She asks worriedly.

I hug her, I surround her so tightly supporting my head on her chest, it is warm, she takes a long time to react but when she directs her hands to my hair and caresses it I feel that they burn. I leave

I look at my hands and clothes, not a trace of blood.

I meet her gaze, her eyes are gray almost similar to mine but hers are bright. Her eyes are not gray, her eyes are brown like her brother's, I must still be asleep

—Hey —she rests her hand on my cheek.

I go quickly to the room where my things are, leaving her alone. Did I walk asleep? She shit. What time is it? Seven twenty, I have to shower and go up to breakfast. Today I know the university and I do not want to miss any class this year.

**

I'm eating my jelly toast when I see Lexie walk in with Liam in the back. They both wear gray joggers with white T-shirts. Did they dress the same? I think I underestimated the relationship they have.

But what the fuck.

They've been hitting each other down the hall to here.

—Good morning family —Liam says, walking to get the cereal.

I avoid Lexie's gaze, because of our encounter with her a while ago so she doesn't ask me questions.

—Ready to get off to a good start? —She asks happily, handing me the cereals to put away.

I am about to get up and put the cereal in the drawer when I bump into Lexie.

—I-I'm sorry —she apologizes as she steps aside. He closed the drawer and met her expectant gaze.

Her gray eyes were the same ones I thought I saw this morning, but I'm pretty sure they were brown like Liam's, were they really brown?

—What the fuck —I break outputting my hands on both sides of her face, blinking trying to get my eyes to see well but they're still gray.

He tries to remove my hands from her face but I stop him by making her frown.

—Logan, can you let me go? —She speaks in a harsh voice.

—I could swear I saw you with a different color before —I say.

I heard a laugh behind me and I notice that Liam is red as a tomato clutching his stomach with both hands.

—What is so funny? —I ask confused, he laughs even louder.

I let go of my grip on Lexie's face letting her walk behind me toward the fridge.

—Logan, I probably never told you but Lexie came out flawed —he chuckles, wiping the water from her eyes.

—Hey?

—Liam stop laughing or you're going to return the cereal —Lexie chokes back.

She skilfully wanders around the kitchen scooping eggs and making pancakes ignoring the fact that I don't get shit.

—Are any of you going to explain to me? —Or is it that I'm hallucinating —she complained.

—Liam, do the honors —she grunts like someone who doesn't want it.

—It's simple, Lexie has different colored eyes —she shrugs, stealing one of my toasts. I look at him expectantly— Lex, show him.

She turns around with an annoyed face as she runs her index finger across her left eye pulling off a contact lens.

And I see them ...

She has different colored eyes, gray and brown, I can't believe it. Is that possible? When I see them, I realize that I don't know a single part of her about her and everything about her is interesting to me, like a magnet that attracts me to find out her darkest secrets and her qualities.

I am intrigued to know more.

—Amazing, right? —Liam says.

—Yes...

We eat the rest of our breakfast in silence while I debate whether to talk to her later about what happened earlier or not.

Lexie.

We are on our way in Liam's car, my stomach hurts with nerves, I always dreamed of coming to this University with my brother, all the great things that I have heard about this place attracted me.

And more than the welcome that the fraternities give to the new students, I am excited, I hope to make some friends. The truth is that I no longer want to be made fun of for hanging out with the boys, even if I don't say so, it is not pleasant to be treated like a whore.

Today I put on a pretty old t-shirt and asked Liam for one of his jogging so as not to get my clothes dirty. We agreed not to tell Logan anything about what happened today to see his reaction.

Logan ...

God as I was scared by his screaming this morning, he was screaming looking for someone and his expression was one of fear and anguish. He looked ... like he was suffering from something. I managed to stop him before he fell into the pool. But I was intrigued to know what it was that made this so.

We parked in the only place that was free, luckily it was not that far from the entrance. I walk with my brother sharing knowing giggles as we watched Logan in his white T-shirt and black pants smoking a cigarette.

I made out the huge letters in the distance and I picked up the pace followed by Liam, in front of it we stopped and looked up. Logan was looking at us strangely.

He did not know what he expected.

—Lex ...

—Liam ...

—Weist University! —We yelled in unison, grabbing our victory dance, bumped breasts, and waited ...

I felt the cold liquid cover my face and my clothes, I gave a gasp of astonishment as Liam took my hand.

—Welcome to Weist bastards! —They yelled behind us.

It was what we had always been waiting for when the fraternity would throw paint on our bodies to distinguish us from the other old students. Being us the new ones. I looked at Liam who was covered in yellow paint, we high-fived and he scooped me around.

—But what ... shit! —Logan yelled clearly angry. He had thrown blue paint on it and he was looking at us angrily, the notebook he was carrying had got a little stained and the cigarette fell to the ground.

It was something to see.

—Hey, guys! —They look like smurfs.— Liam laughed loudly, I imitated him.

I looked like a cross between a Smurf and a Simpsons character, I had blue and yellow all over my body.

—I'm going to kill them —Logan growled.

I shared a knowing look with Liam and motioned for him to explain.

—You see, Logan, I think I missed a part of the welcome they would give us today —he explained.

He looked at him about to shoot enzyme.

—Shit, Liam —he said, wiping his face a little with the back of his hand.

I laughed loudly, drawing his attention.

—And what the fuck are you laughing at? —He scolds me, I replied laughing louder.

—We'd better go in, Logan —Liam chuckled, glancing at his watch.

I am going to my first class, which is Criminological Psychology in classroom ten, I got lost in the course but I stopped a brunette girl asking for directions, she studied me from top to bottom as she found some fault and she indicated that it was a few more classrooms to the right.

God what a rude girl, if they are all like that here, it would cost me a world to make a friend.

I walked into the classroom and sat in the second row in front of the teacher's desk, who introduced himself as Henry Davis, a plump man in a suit and glasses, long Afro hair that reminded me of HAGRID from Harry Potter.

I took notes like crazy while paying attention to what the teacher was saying. I did not realize that the hour had passed and the teacher was already putting away his things.

—I see you were engrossed in writing —Henry says as he clutches his belly.

—Yes, I think this will be one of my favorite classes. —He smiled, gathering my things.

—I'm glad to have a student who is interested in my class —he says sincerely.

—Lexie Anderson sir —I say.

—Bye Lexie.

I hang my bag over my shoulder and walk out the door, I fancy a soda, I think I'll go to the business in the south wing and make it to my literature class on time.

Tipo on my cell phone a message for Liam saying: "See you in the cafeteria :)" but before I hit the send button, a hot liquid spilled over my chest causing it to burn.

—Fuck is hot! —He complained.

—Wow, I'm sorry Lexie, I didn't see you —speaks a voice that I recognize instantly.

America, he looks at me with his snake smile with a glass of coffee in his right hand.

—I'll clean you —she approaches making the coffee glass fall down my back.

Oops, he does it with intention.

—Oops —she laughs— calm down, sure your new prey will clean this for you. —She looks me up and down.

She means Logan I'm sure.

He glared at her. Is that she deserves a few punches to erase that mocking smile, she takes a few steps, touching my shoulders, and hits her lips on my ear.

—Although I don't think you can clean up what a whore you are —she whispered and then kissed my cheek.

She is a viper.

—Get your disgusting hands off me, viper —she pushed with both hands, which she did not expect, she looks at me with her eyes as saucers planted in the place. If she thinks that she will let me intimidate as she did before, she is very wrong, I am no longer the same girl that she was a year ago, and I will not hesitate to give her the punches that she deserves from her.

I walk past her, sneaking into the small circle that formed around her, and head in the opposite direction to where she was heading before. I didn't want a soda.

I find room twenty-three right next to some stairs and a vending machine. Since I have this class twice a week it is a shame not to enjoy the machine as it deserves, for now, it is the only one I have caught, it is my savior on hunger days.

The classroom is empty except for a few boys at the end of it, and the boy who seems to be into a video game on his cell phone. It will cost me more than I thought to find a friend.

When I am about to give up and have decided to sit at the table in front of the teacher's, a redhead a little shorter than I enters, we share a look at what she deflects instantly, she looks shy although her clothes prove otherwise. She is dressed in black up to her neck, if it weren't for her long orange hair I would say that she is a bit of an emo girl.

I could say that she is the prettiest, darkest, smallest girl I have ever seen, all in one snap.

She goes to the table near the boy with the mobile.

Will they come together? I immediately dismiss it since she walks past him and sits two seats behind him.

I adjust my bag on my shoulder and decide to sit with her.

—Hi —I greet as I take the chair next to her.

She looks up shy and somewhat sulky.

—What are you doing?

—Isn't it obvious? I sit next to you. —I give him a friendly smile.

—No one sits there —she warns.

I jump up. Maybe this girl doesn't want me around her, maybe she has a secret life and she's warning me that she wants to suck my blood dry.

—I-I'm sorry ... I'll go if you want —I'm about to take my bag when her hand on my arm stops me.

—No! Don't go —I speak so loudly that the girls who were coming through the door directed their gaze here— you can sit down, it's just ...

I doubt it a bit but she looked cool to me as she wrinkled her forehead at hers, and she bit her lip trying to find the words. Her gaze goes to the group of girls near the door and her gaze is focused on one in particular. She was a girl with almost white hair, she was looking over here with her arms crossed over her chest, her gaze fixed on the redhead.

—It's just that no one ever sits with me.

I smiled. He wasn't a vampire, he was just a shy girl like me.

—Well, from now on I'll sit with you.

—You do not have to do it...

I knew he would reject me again, I hurried up and told him.

—Look, I'm new and I saw you, I came closer because you made me an interesting girl, I don't know what it's like to have a friend ... but I assure you that I won't speak during class or make my mouth sound when I think.

She slowly closed her eyes and sighed.

—I know you are new.

—As you know?

She gave a little laugh.

—You're covered in paint and ... —I sniff at myself— Is that coffee?"

—Some stupid thing threw me hot enzyme coffee.

She smiled even more as if she was glad of the simple fact of smiling.

—I'm Ainhoa —she said.

—I'm Lexie.

And so began our beautiful friendship, a friendship that lasted two hours, since it was the only class we shared. She got loose a bit more during literature class, we shared notes and agreed to go to the cafeteria together.

Logan.

Class six was about to start when I walked through the door, the soccer team was gathered near it and there it was.

The boy Lexie was in love with.

I really don't know what she saw in him, he's really bland and her aura doesn't convince me.

Anyway, her problems, I would not get involved.

I passed by her and I felt the boys following me.

—This idiot is the one you say he's with Lexie —one of them said.— Logan Weisser, are you now demoting yourself to a public university?

I decided to go my way ignoring the taunts of these guys. If I really wanted to, I could kill each one of them. Samuel bumps his shoulder with mine on purpose, I look at him daring him to speak. I take a step closer that he backed away intimidated. The idiot had better not mess with me.

I left them behind with a triumphant smile and sat down at one of the tables.

—First day and you've already won the entire team as an enemy —the boy who was sitting two seats back mocked.

—And what do you care, uncle? —Buff.

—See the shaved guy? —I point with his razor, I went around the classroom looking for him and found the boy who had spoken to me a while ago.

—So what? —I answered irritably.

—I earned a good spanking for sleeping with his girlfriend —he shook his head— I didn't see how unfair he was, he really deserved it.

—How did you get out of there alive? —I laughed.

Laughing jumping over the tables to the table next to mine, he sat down.

—In the ambulance, two days in the hospital —she continued playing with his razor— the girl probably yelled more with me in one night than with him in all his courtship.

I held my belly with one hand trying to stop laughing, as I watched the shaved guy look at us.

—I'm Adair, by the way —he introduced himself.

—Me...

—Logan, I saw your file —he agreed.

—What the fuck —he replied.

—I worked during the summer filing the files of the new ones —he commented.

I smiled at the idea that he came to mind.

—You're going to be of great use to me, Adair. —I stretched out my fist.

—Anytime friend Logan.

We bump fists as the professor entered.

Lexie.

—I really don't know if he should go ...

—Where else would you go? —I asked confused.

I doubt.

—To eat in my room ..."

—God! That sounds lonely, come on, I'll introduce you to my brother. —He took her by the arm before she reproached him.

The cafeteria was full of people but I could distinguish between the tables a mass of black hair combined with blue paint, I headed there dragging Noah with me.

—Lollipop! —Zac screamed so loudly hugging me and turning with me in his arms.

I got a glare from the Smurf.

—God Zac! —loosen your grip you'll make me vomit— I said with a laugh.

—This idiot —I hit with an open palm on Liam's head, with the impact I know that what he had in his mouth fell— you wake up and I'm the last to know.

—I called you the next day you bastard —Liam said.

—You should have called me right away, I'm not hitting you because there are ladies present —he teased, hitting him.

—You don't hit me because you know I'll beat you.

—Taste me.

Liam stood ready to give him what he deserved, but I stopped him earlier by making him fall in his position.

—Okay guys, save that for later.

—Who is this pretty girl? —I ask, tugging at a lock of Noah's hair.

I looked at him trying to tell him to leave her alone, he raised both hands in surrender. Zac was an expert at bagging girls, and he didn't want me to do it with my new friend ...

Well, the only one.

—Guys this is Ainhoa, Ainhoa they are Zac, Logan —I listed them as they nodded with kind smiles on their face —and my brother Liam.

I pointed him out, he hadn't looked up but when he hit him to be polite, a smirk showed on his face.

—You —he said, tilting his head to the side.

—You...

The moment was weird for a few seconds until Liam pulled away and sat in the seat next to him for Noah to sit down.

Logan and Liam dropped me off at the house before going to Logan's apartment, they handed him the final papers after school so he had to go clean and drop off his bags.

Although I spent two nights here, the first one I arrived and the one yesterday, I still felt a little sad about his departure, we had not articulated a word why he behaved like a damn stranger, he did not look at me, he did not speak to me, it is as if had a sexually transmitted disease that he would not want to hit.

I was distracted playing with the ends of my hair still a little damp when there was a knock on the door.

—Hey What are you doing? —Asked a familiar voice.

—I'm jerking off to pass the time —she said bored.

—Ewww don't tell me those things Lex —she sat on the bed.

—Don't ask obvious questions. —I sat next to him.

—Help Logan with some things in his apartment —I comment— you should see him, he's the last in the building and has a mini terrace for animals.

—Guay.

Answer without enthusiasm.

—You saw it? I ask how who does not want the thing.

—No, I think he was avoiding me, and if I ran into Meri — swallowed bitterly— he threw me an enzyme coffee.

—There are two of us —she smiled.

—What?

—Nothing goes to sleep, I love you, little sister.

She closed the door behind him.

—And I love you, little brother.

I covered myself with the bedspread up to my neck, clinging to the sheets as if they could soothe the pain I feel, the tightness in my chest, and the thousand and one questions in my head. Fate is kicking me like I'm his punching bag.

Will, you always be the girl, you never had and will always want? When, when will I be good enough to have a person who loves me?

With those thoughts I unburden myself, I cry everything that I have not cried, I cry because I no longer have it, I cry because I never had it and why I never will.