Title: Count On You

Summary: James never felt this way about anyone before, let alone a guy...a guy that also happened to be his best friend.

Chapter One: Blushing

Pairings: One-sided Carlos/James

Disclaimer: I don't own Big Time Rush :'(

James Diamond propped his head up on his arm. He stared across the room at the cutest boy on Earth, Carlos Garcia. James had just recently figured out that he liked Carlos that way. He remembered the first second he had felt those butterflies.

James cut his finger while trying to open a stupid carton of ice cream. "Ouch!"

Carlos ran out of the kitchen, then came back in with a band-aid. He wrapped the band-aid around James's finger carefully. Carlos smiled at James. "All better. You okay?"

"Yeah. I'm good," James assured.

"Okay," said Carlos. He walked past James and put his hand on James's shoulder. That's when James felt it. The butterflies in his stomach, the beating of his heart against his chest, the warmth of his face as he blushed.

James figured out that the reason he'd liked Carlos touching his shoulder was because he liked Carlos. He, James Diamond, was gay, and he had a crush on his best friend. James laughed a little as Carlos fidgeted in his sleep, causing his blanket to fall off of him.

James stopped laughing once his eyes connected with Carlos's open chest. It was so tan and muscular and...inviting. James would bet anything that Carlos's skin was as warm as a Los Angeles summer. It was probably also softer than anything. James felt the butterflies return. He could feel his heart beating in his ears.

Carlos rolled up into a little ball. James thought that he must have been cold. James, always a good friend, picked Carlos's blanket up from the floor and threw it back over him. Not able to resist it, James kissed Carlos's forehead. Carlos was a heavy sleeper, so a kiss to the forehead wasn't going to wake him up. James felt the heat pouring off Carlos's body and desired a hug from him suddenly. That would have to wait until tomorrow, unfortunately.

James laid back down in his bed.

When he opened his eyes, James saw that Carlos was standing over him. Carlos laughed. "That's so freaky! I was just about to wake you up! Good think Gustavo and Kelly are in New York for the week, or else you would've missed rehearsal!"

James sat up quickly. He looked around. "What time is it?"

"Two-thirty in the afternoon," answered Carlos. Carlos smiled down at James.

James suddenly noticed that Carlos wasn't wearing a shirt. He felt the butterflies return again. "Carlos, where's your shirt?"

Carlos looked down at his bare chest. He then smiled at James again. "Logan, Kendall, and I just got back from the pool. Bitters made us get out 'cause I guess there's something wrong with the filter or something."

"Oh," said James shortly. He stood up beside Carlos. Carlos grabbed a shirt from the end of his bed and pulled it on. He and James then went into the living room. Carlos presented James to Kendall and Logan. "Look who's alive."

"Good. We were just about to start making funeral plans," joked Kendall.

James faked a laugh. "Ha ha. Very funny, guys. Just kidding. I don't know why, but I was super tired last night."

James wasn't going to tell them that he was actually awake and staring at Carlos throughout the entire night. It sounded stalkerish even in James's head. That was definitely a bad thing. No, James wouldn't tell them, not until he was sure they would take it well.

"We know." Carlos leaned forward and gave James a quick, one-armed hug. James hugged Carlos with both arms, holding onto the warmth that was Carlos. James's face suddenly became super hot. He let go of Carlos.

"Woah!" exclaimed all three of the others together. Logan and Kendall burst into laughter. Carlos smiled and stared at James. "Uh, James, you're blushing a little."

James pulled a mirror out of one of the kitchen drawers and looked at his face. He wasn't blushing a little, he was blushing a lot. James's face was redder than Logan's when the latter had fallen asleep whilst sunbathing. James looked at Carlos, who now looked confused. James shrugged. He pulled at his shirt uncomfortably. "It's just a little warm in here is all. That's why it looks like I'm blushing. My face is red because I'm warm."

"Okay. I believe you," said Carlos. He smiled, got the orange juice out of the fridge, and poured himself a glass. Carlos sipped from his glass while Logan and Kendall rolled around on the floor laughing.

Later that afternoon, James and Kendall sat alone in the apartment. Carlos and Logan had gone across the street to get some coffee and donuts for the four of them. Kendall shifted uncomfortably on the couch. "So, you blushed when Carlos hugged you."

"So? What about it?" asked James loudly and forcefully.

Kendall smiled. "So...do you like Carlos...like...that?"

James's heart pounded in his ears. He swallowed. James knew there was no way out of this. If he lied to Kendall, Kendall would know he was lying, because James was a bad liar. James sighed. "Is it really that obvious?"

"Yeah. It is. Sorry, dude," said Kendall. He stood up. "So what are you gonna do when Carlos gets back?"

"I'm going to act like nothing happened, and that I'm not gay," said James. He stood up too. "Kendall, if you tell Carlos or Logan or anyone else what we just talked about, you're dead. You got that?"

Kendall nodded quickly. "Yup. I got it."

Over at the coffee shop, Carlos and Logan stood in line. Logan looked around. "So...James blushed when you hugged him?"

"So? What about it?" asked Carlos in a bored voice, basically sounding like he wasn't concerned with the subject at all.

"So do you think James likes you...like that?" asked Logan.

Carlos looked around the coffee shop. He thought about all the times he had hugged James. James had never blushed before. If James did like Carlos like that, it was fairly new. Carlos saw James's face in his mind. James was the pretty one of Big Time Rush. Carlos had heard somewhere that all the prettiest guys were gay. James was very handsome, though, and he did have a nice set of arms, and really chiseled abs and pecks, and great hair.

Carlos finally remembered Logan's question. He looked up at Logan and nodded his head. "Yeah. Yeah, I do think he likes me like that."

"So what are you gonna do when we get back to the apartment?" Logan asked.

Carlos thought for a moment. He looked at Logan and smiled. "I'm going to ask him about it."

Later, Carlos and Logan walked into the apartment. Carlos set the four coffee cups down on the coffee table and grabbed one. He handed one to James. "James, can I please talk to you in our room for a sec?"

James had to physically and mentally keep himself from blushing like a nervous schoolgirl. "Uh, yeah."

James and Carlos went into their room. They both sat on Carlos's bed. Carlos looked over at James. He opened his mouth, and then closed it. Carlos thought of the right words to say. "Um...James. I noticed that you blushed when I hugged you, and I know it wasn't because it's hot in the apartment. Logan and I had a nice long talk while we were getting the coffee, and we suspect something. We both suspect that you might...like me...like that."

James fidgeted. He couldn't stop himself from blushing this time. Pink flooded his face faster than a lake with a broken dam flooded a city. James felt his face with the back of his hand. "Damn it. I'm blushing again. Carlos...I don't know how to say this, but...yeah. I do like you like that. It's a recent thing, but I know that I'm gay and that I have a crush on my best friend. I know it's awkward, and I know you'd never like me back, but I have to tell you that I'm never going to stop liking you."

Carlos nodded slowly. "You know, when I thought about you in the coffee shop, I realized just how handsome you are, James. I mean, your face, your hair, your arms, your abs. It's all so perfect. So, I'm thinking that maybe-if I put all of me and a little more into it-maybe I could learn to like you like that too. I'm just not sure if I can do the whole guy-on-guy relationship thing. It seems a little awkward to me. Can you give me some time to process all this?"

James nodded. "I'll give you all the time you need. Thank you for at least trying to understand, Carlos, and thank you for not freaking out. Can I hug you?"

"Yeah," said Carlos quietly. He leaned forward and hugged James with both arms, as supposed to the usual one-armed hug. James hugged him back, resting his head on Carlos's shoulder. Carlos put his chin on James's shoulder. He smiled as he felt James breathing lightly on his neck. Maybe this guy-on-guy relationship would be easier than he thought. A lot easier.

TO BE CONTINUED...