Chapter One: Jealousy Never Solves Anything
James Diamond brushed through his hair about one hundred times with his lucky comb. Today wasn't really anything special, just rehearsals and maybe grabbing dinner with the guys but he had to look pretty. Most likely, Jo Taylor would be tagging along. Just the thought made James' usually confident smile turn into a self conscious smirk. Jo was openly dating frontman Kendall Knight who James, ever since they had moved away from Minnesota, had a crush on. He had nothing against Jo nor Kendall, just their relationship. It made James' stomach churn furiously. The relationship was too...lovey dovey as the energetic Latino Carlos Garcia would put it. Brainiac Logan Mitchell would describe it as true love. However James was always the one to put it bluntly.
"Their relationship makes me sick," he had spilled to only Carlos when everyone else was gone. The short dark haired boy was the only one he trusted with his secret.
But James would never tell Kendall how he really felt. He'd never say that he had a crush on him, that he despises his and Jo's relationship, how he wished that he and Kendall could share a relationship greater than Jo's with Kendall. But no. Kendall only looked to James as his best friend and nothing more.
James brushed one final stroke through his hair before smiling to his reflection and walking out of the bathroom.
"Bout time," Kendall jokingly scoffs.
"It takes time to look this good. Live and learn, Ken," James retorted, opening the fridge and grabbing a vitamin water.
"Yeah, like I really need beauty lessons," Kendall half chuckled, taking a bite of the cereal he had in front of him. James whipped around, his brown locks falling perfectly back into place.
"That's just your jealousy talking," Kendall burst out laughing. The brunette kept his watchful eyes on the blonde. How he slightly threw his head back when he laughed, how his dimples really shined through when he smiled. James shook his head, as if reacting to Kendall's childish antics, when really he was trying to shake the image of beauty from his head.
"Where's Carlos and Logan?" Kendall asked, after calming down.
"Logan mentioned something about visiting Camille before we left and Carlos is up on the balcony looking for his helmet," James replied.
"Oh that reminds me, I have to go tell Jo where to meet us today! Be right back," Kendall scooted out from underneath his seat at the table and raced out the door of Apartment 2J. James' expression instantly darkened at the mention of her name. She's always more important than me, James angrily said to his conscious.
"I found it!" A more than chipper Carlos shouted from the balcony. His short stature appeared at the foot of the swirly slide, helmet in tow. "It was right where I left it last night!"
"Good," James uttered, still trying to shake Jo's name from his brain.
"What's wrong?" Carlos asked, cocking his head to the side like a little lost puppy.
"Kendall left again," James answered and Carlos instantly grew quiet.
"Oh I see," he said, walking over to the sulking brunette to put a hand on his shoulder. "I'm always here if you need me."
"Thanks man," James said, high fiving the little Latino boy. Carlos smiled brightly, walking into the kitchen and ransacking through the fridge until he found what he wanted; a bag of apples and peanut butter. He viciously ripped open the bag and started in eagerly in the snack. James watched as the boy smiled each time he put an apple slice in his mouth. Carlos just really loved food. A few minutes later, Logan came walking in through the door.
"Where's Kendall?"
"Where do you think?" Carlos replied, mouth full of red apple and peanut butter.
"With Jo? Because she just left with Jett Stetson a few minutes ago. Something about filming a scene for New Town High," Logan said, scratching his head trying to remember what Camille had told him. James' expression turned from a sulk to a devilish grin. If Jo went off with Jett, Kendall would be alone for lunch. But James would never make a move, not until he was entirely ready. However, even the slightest mention of Jo with Jett made Kendall's blood boil. Sure enough, an angry yet confused Kendall burst back into the apartment.
"She..wasn't there," Kendall announced, eyes fixated on the solid wood floor.
"You know how busy it gets on set," Logan tried to reassure the blonde. Kendall just kept walking forward until he was face down on the bright orange couch.
"She's always with him!" He cried, the sound barely audible from his position on the couch.
"It's okay, Kendall. Maybe you could find someone to make her jealous," James suggested through gritted teeth. It made him sick that Kendall cared this much for Jo. Obviously, Jo was cheating on Kendall with Jett. How would James know such a thing? New Town High never films on Monday afternoons. He read it in her contract that he had purposely stolen from Katie's room for 'research'.
"No! I want her!" Kendall cried again from the couch. James rolled his eyes. Carlos slowly finished off his snack. Logan walked over to the couch to comfort the depressed boy.
"Oh look, it's noon! Didn't Gustavo want us at the studio by one?" James announced, directing everyone's attention away from Kendall's girl issues.
"Yeah we better get going," Carlos agreed, catching on to James' little game. Logan curiously looked over at the clock, eyes widening as he did.
"Yeah, we don't wanna be late again," Logan said, patting Kendall on the back to get him up. He took his time rising from the couch before Logan tugged on his hand to get him up faster. The four boys bounded out of the apartment and went on their way to Rocque Records. James couldn't help but notice Logan was constantly at Kendall's side. 'That should be me' his conscious rang through his head. Carlos noticed James' solemn expression and patted him on the shoulder.
"It's okay."