The Fine Print
Summary: James has issues (according to Katie). And it's a big time affair for Kendall's wedding which will either push them together... or apart.
"You need help. As soon as this is all over I'm going to get you into rehab for date-a-holics."
Ever since Katie had come barging with that little piece of paper which said that she was to be his solo manager, she'd been pretty easy on James Diamond. But she had her part in making him a success and this was just too much.
"What? I need a date for the wedding and I should hold a contest for who gets to have all their dreams come true to fill that spot."
Eighteen year old Katie Knight rolled her eyes. She had been working with James since BTR split two years ago – meanwhile finishing her high school diploma and beginning another in management. She multi-tasked really well but handling James sometimes took more effort than he should have required.
There was no denying that he was as talented and good looking as ever – but he had the dumbest suggestions at times. "If you're going to repeatedly hold contests to find a date, word is going to get out that you can't get one on your own. You become less elusive and your popularity drops. It's not rocket science James."
"Ah, I see what's going on here." He raised one of those perfectly manicured eyebrows. "You just want me all to yourself. You still have a crush on me."
It wasn't the first time that year he had made that accusation. It came up whenever James was feeling particularly cocky or trying to recoil back from a snappy comment from his manager. Katie had stopped scoffing or laughing off the accusation, now all she did was point upward to the framed version of the contract she had drawn up and tricked James into signing when she was eleven. "The fine print. I have not, nor ever had a crush on you, James Diamond."
"Then why won't you let me bring a dateeeee," he whined, maturity out the window.
"Because Carlos won't be bringing a date either and it means that you two can continue your rivalry with picking up girls at the wedding."
Apparently that was all he needed to hear. He stuck a finger up in the air dramatically. "I will beat Carlos, once and for all."
"You do that. Meanwhile I need to work out my own date arrangements."
His face fell. "You get to bring a date?"
"I do get a plus one, yes."
"But, but…"
"It's sweet you care but but we've been through this. You know I date, even though I don't get much time for it. If it ever gets serious enough, I'll have him meet the family, including you guys. There's really nothing to worry about."
Nothing to worry about was precisely what was going to get James Diamond worked up and worried. He got used to the idea of Katie dating for a little while when she dabbled in the last few years… but he was worried, worried that someone serious about her would come along… and there would be plenty of guys to fill that role.
Katie had been denying any attraction to him since she was a pre-teen. He never believed it but what could he do? You didn't mess with the way things were and he wasn't going to mess with the status quo during her brother's wedding. She was his manager. There was too much to lose.
Being a date-a-holic worked for him and it was going to be a long, long weekend to go cold turkey from dating, especially when it would give him nothing else to do but to stalk Katie's date-of-the-moment and intervene like he did at that awards show a year ago.
A/N. OK, I'm still having BTR withdrawals and have started on another idea. Any other pairings you want to see? Just let me know by review.