We Are

Summary-Kendall, James, Carlos, and Logan decide to end Big Time Rush. [Set after Big Time Dreams]

There's Nothing Wrong With Taking Chances:

Kendall

Kendall stared down at the letter in his hands. His hands shook as his eyes darted back and forth across the paper reading it for the tenth time.

Dear Mr. Kendall Knight,

We are pleased to be able to invite you to attend a training camp for the Minnesota Magicians held at Richfield, Minnesota to be eligible to take part as a member of the junior hockey team as part of the American Hockey League.

The Minnesota Magicians assessment will take place at:

Venue: Richfield Ice Arena in Richfield, MI

Date: Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Young players with potential have been invited to attend this assessment opportunity. Remember that junior hockey is for young men between 16 and 20 years old. This means that some of these roster spots will be filled quickly be returning veterans in their second or third year of juniors.

The American Hockey League is one of the many junior leagues which serve to train and develop the skills of the young hockey players who wish to pursue careers in the National Hockey League (NHL). The 2013 Calder Cup Playoff Finals will take place June 8th-18th in Syracuse, New York, with regular season running from October to mid-April.

Registration form for the camp is attached. In order to participate in the camp you MUST register. The assessment session(s) are free of charge.

He folded the letter carefully and tucked it into the pocket of his flannel shirt before leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees, putting his hands in his chin. He couldn't believe he had been accepted into the assessment round at all. The last time he thought he would've had a chance was when the St. Paul All Stars had wanted him to try out for the team.

That was almost three years ago, back when he thought his music career was a bust. He was all set for living a life filled with nothing but hockey, just like he had originally set out to do, but the minute he had gotten word that Gustavo had managed to scrape up enough money to buy the rights to Big Time Rush back from Griffin, he knew he was being given a second chance and the he should take it. He had said it himself, "opportunities like that only come once in a life time." So did second chances.

He had sent out the letter for the league o keep him in mind just as a safety net, just in case things didn't work out well. Three albums, and a Tween Choice Award later, and he could say that things turned out great. He had a girlfriend whom he loved very much—enough to move into an apartment with—his mom had a solid career as the band's manager, his sister, Katie had a boyfriend and was enjoying her time out in LA, and he still had the same friends he started out with, and had made more along the way.

He couldn't be happier.

At the same time, he couldn't be more worried.

Hockey had always been his dream, and his passion, but over time, music had become that as well. It was something he could do while he waited for his life to return to normal. Only, now this ended up being normal for him. He couldn't imagine a day where he didn't wake up in sunny Los Angeles and wonder what new songs they would be tackling that day, or what dance moves he'd struggle with, or what crazy antics he and his friends would get into.

Now, his past dream was coming to meet him and he knew that this was one of the last few chances he had at making it into the NHL. If he didn't take it this year, he had one more year left, and even then, there'd be more second and third year veterans that had a better shot at making the team then he did. It was very rare for any hockey playing hopeful to make it into the NHL without attending a camp or participating in the juniors.

He had to make a choice: Big Time Rush or his big time dream.

"For as long as I've known you, I don't think you've ever been this quiet, Hockey-Head," an Australian voice reached his ears, light with amusement. Kendall shifted his green eyes towards his girlfriend, Riley Jackson-McGuire. She was leaning in the doorway for their room, arms crossed over her chest, ankles crossed, red streaked black hair hanging down to her shoulders. He was still getting used to seeing her hair down rather than, what he considered, her trademark pig tails. "I mean, apart from when Gustavo wrote that Rainbow of Love song."

"Very funny, Ruby," Kendall replied, using his nickname for her. He then held his hand out towards her and she pushed off the door frame taking his hand. He pulled her onto his lap before reaching for his flannel pocket and handed her the letter.

"What's this?" she asked.

"Read it," Kendall replied. Riley looped an arm around his shoulders and he turned his head to kiss her wrist before she unfolded the letter and started to silently read it. He watched as curiosity, surprise, wonder, excitement, then worry flashed through her yes like a slot machine before she looked at him. "Mhm."

"Kendall, mate, this is amazing," Riley said, a smile coming to her face before she bent her head to kiss him. She pulled back, but Kendall looped an arm around her waist, kissing her back. Her eyes flashed mischievously as she pulled back. "So was that."

Kendall's lips angled upwards into a smirk before he ran a hand over his face. "Yeahhh, but I don't know what I'm going to do," he replied, suddenly sounding tired. "This is one of the last shots, if not the last shot I have at this. I mean, I turn 19 just a few days before the camp starts…but, this is James's dream."

"You've been out here for four years now, you've released three albums, and you've won a Tween Choice Award," Riley said to him, "I think James may have lived his dream by now." She pressed her forehead against his. "Besides, you know him, he's always wanted a solo career."

"Carlos and Logan?" Kendall asked.

"Doctor," Riley said and Kendall nodded his head, "and…super hero?"

"Actually, lately, he's been talking about being a stunt man or a spy, or whatever," Kendall said, his eyes narrowing slightly before he pursed his lips. "All it's doing is giving Steph a heart attack. That'd really give him a reason for needing the hockey helmet." Riley let out a laugh and Kendall smiled at the noise.

"So, you see?" Riley asked, reaching a hand up to adjust the beanie on his head. "They'll be fine. The question is, what about us?" Kendall's smile faded.

She had just gotten back into the studio after taking a year off with her music, and in that time they had grown closer than he could've ever imagined. They were not just boyfriend and girlfriend but they were best friends, well he was his best girl friend, anyway. James made it a point to remind him of that, complete with his creepy, unblinking stare. Kendall made sure not to make that mistake more than once.

"What about us?" he repeated, his voice cracking slightly.

"Kendall," Riley said and she instantly had his attention, much like she always did whenever she called him by his first name. "You know I want you to be able to do anything you want to. I know hockey has always been your dream, you talk about it enough." Kendall's lips curled up into a half smile."We've been through so much and I still can't get rid of you."

"You're just not trying hard enough," Kendall joked, a dimple appearing in his cheek as he laughed. Riley put a hand to his forehead, pushing his head back.

"Shut up, Kendork," she said with a roll of her eyes before continuing her thought. She slid a hand up his back and used her nails to scratch at the back of his neck, sending shivers down his spine. Kendall groaned as he closed his eyes. "What makes you think something like this will?"

Kendall stayed silent for a long moment before wrapping his arms around her, pulling her into his chest, laying back down onto their bed. Riley let out a shriek of surprise before snuggling into his side, resting her head down onto his chest.

"Look on the bright side," she commented, and Kendall angled his head to see a hint of a teasing smile on her face. "At least you'll finally stop sticking out like a sore thumb with all the beanies and flannel you wear around here." Kendall's chest shook with a silent chuckle. "Maybe you'll leave one behind for me? Preferably a green one?"

Kendall slowly let out a breath of air through his nose. He reached up a hand and slid his fingers through her silky, raven hair. "Of course," he replied. His chest swelled as he sucked in a deep breath of air before he let it out. "I just can't believe I'm going to do this. It's been my dream for so long."

"Well then, you should grab onto that dream with both hands, and go big time," Riley replied. A thoughtful look crossed her face. "Or at least, that's what I think someone like you would say."

Kendall gave a short laugh. How am I going to tell them?

A/N: I started writing this out as a one-shot, and then I remembered it was going to be a short fic. Anyway, I've really been thinking about how this was going to go for a while, listening to We Are on repeat. This is a five-part short fic.

-Rhuben