Author's Note: Wow, I want to give a BIG THANKS to all of you that reviewed, because they made my day. I really an glad that all of you enjoyed it, expessially since this was just a random idea that knacked at my brain for so long i had to give in. So, a personal thanks back to all of you, and I tried to reply to all of your review, and if i didn't i'm SO sorry.
A few of you might be wondering about why the guys -other than Kendall- stopped texting and calling. With the tour and the album getting released, they had nearly no time left for themselves. They didnt forget about her, they just never had the time to call. (Kendall having given up some of his pool time to talk to her.)
Lastly, I just wanted to tell you that i wrote this chapter before Welcome Back Big Time and only guessed at what would happen between Jo and Kendall. In this story, she just went off to do the movie, but is now dating her costar. Thought I might want to put it out there, so you wouldnt be confused.
Disclaimer: I do not own Big Time Rush, though i wish i do. Nor do i own the lyrics to 'Believe in Me' or 'Big Time Rush' the single. However, i do own Bella Diamond.
Shot in the Dark
Chapter 2:
Bella ran out the front door. Her house was only a few blocks from where Guestavo was doing auditions, and she could probably run there. She had played hockey with boys her entire life, and hung out with Carlos, Kendall, James, and Logan. She had learned to run fast, or get tackled.
As she ran, she kept asking herself, Why do you even want to go? You don't even sing? That's James' dream –the boys dream. She corrected.
She frowned a bit, thinking of them. That's why you want to go. You want to see the boys again. And getting to work for Guestavo you would. She paused her thinking, but he'll never pick you. All you do is write the songs, not sing them.
Ever since she and James were little, he would sing. Anything from the ABC's to songs on the radio. And, after a while she started to pick up the music, and she had started to write songs. Of course, no one knew that, not even James. She always hid her guitar under the bed, and put the sheet music in a folder, which stayed between the matress'.
She kept running, nearly slipping on a patch of ice. She felt that small part of her heart just hanging by a thread. She'd wanted to see and talk to all of the guys for so long, ever since they left. And after they stopped messaging, it only made her want to go more. Kendall would always asure her that they all missed her, and they would find a way to come back home to see her. But they never did.
Finally reaching the building, she was out of breath. She took a few deep breaths, not only to calm herself, but to get some air in her lungs. Sighing, she opened the door, and faced the fact that she couldn't back down now.
The front lobby was empty, and when she called, "Hello!" No one answered.
She started to hear voices yelling, and she quickly flittered over to the door, creaking it open. She saw two people arguing. One was very big, and he wore bug eyed sunglass, and glared at everything. The other person was a olive tonned female that seemed to be nicer, and was trying to calm him down. This must be Guestavo. Bella thought.
Guestavo roared, "I've been auditioning all night, and there is NO TALENT here!" He screamed so loud that she cringed, "I told you listening to a pack of dogs was a stupid idea."
Who could have only been his assistant said, "Guestavo, you found the boys here, and they said that the chances of finding someone else good would be best here." She reasoned. "Besides, sign up ends at 6:00, and it's… 6:05."
He started to get up, "I don't care. Griffin wants someone else too, and it's obvious that this town doesn't have that person." He glareed at his assistant, "Let's go."
"Five more minutes, I'm sure that someone will show up." She begged, nearly getting onto her knees with desperation.
"NO!" Guestavo yelled, getting out of his seat, and standing up. "We're going somewhere else, because this place is just a bunch of low lives who can't sing."
Bella felt her eyes glare at him –he had found the boys here, provinging that this town had talent. And they were already known worldwide as BTR, and nearly every teen had their songs on their ipod –she had their songs on her ipod. She stepped forward out of the shadows, "I'd like to audition." She responded coyly, giving a small smirk.
Guestavo put his gaze onto her, "You." He repeated, "You think you're any good? Hah, I bet my cat could sing better than you." He shot back, sounding just as bitter.
She just shrugged, "Don't judge a book by its cover... If people did, then no one would be here auditioning would they?" She said smugly.
That set him off. He started to try and climb over the desk, trying to get to her. The look in his eyes made her think that he wanted to strangle her. His assistant grabbed him, holding him back before looking to Bella, "What's your name?"
"Bella." She replied, deciding that saying she was related to James wasn't the best idea. From what Kendall had told her, Guestavo couldn't stand James.
"Go ahead and try." The woman said, still trying to hold Guestavo back.
Bella took another deep breath. She walked onto the stage, seeing a single microphone in the center of it. It seemed like an eternity to walk to it, her fear knotting her stomach together. She gulped.
What have I got to loose? She thought, leaning into the microphone. She took one last breath, before finally starting to sing;
I'm loosing myself
Trying to compete with everyone else
Instead of just being me
Don't know where to turn
I've been stuck in this routine
I need to change my ways
Instead of always being weak
I don't wanna be afraid
I wanna wake up feeling beautiful, today
And know that I'm okay
Cause everyone's perfect in an unusual way
So you see
I just wanna Believe In Me
La, la, la, laa
La, la, la, laa
The mirror can lie
It doesn't show you what's inside
And it, it can tell you you're full of life
It's amazing what you can hide
Just by putting on a smile
I don't wanna be afraid
I wanna wake up feeling beautiful, today
And know that I'm okay
Cause everyone's perfect in an unusual way
So you see
I just wanna Believe In Me
I'm quickly finding out
I'm not about to break down
not today
I guess I always knew
That I had all the strength to make it through
Not gonna be afraid
I'm gonna wake up feeling beautiful, today
And know that I'm okay
Cause everyone's perfect in an unusual way
You see
Now I Believe In Me
Now I Believe In Me
She finished, a little surprised that Guestavo hadnt stopped her before she got to the end of the song. Guestavo got a look on his face, which she couldn't quite tell if it was a good look or a bad one. His assistant had her mouth open slightly, whether it was for good or bad she couldn't tell either.
Bella looked at them, "Um…" She started, but then got a little too scared to ask if it was decent. She just peeked out from under her lashes, looking to the two.
Guestavo, "Berinice-"
"It''s Bella." She corrected, starting to not like him more and more by the second.
He just waved her off, "Like I care." He paused, "How'd you like to come to Hollywood?"
She shrugged, "Sure."
Guestavo gave her a look, "You came to audition, and you don't even know if you want to be famous." He got up, "This is why I don't want to have to take another dog/dogett to L.A. I already have to deal with a pack of dogs now." He grumpled to his assistant.
Bella raised her hand a bit, giving him a look, "Hello, I'm standing right here." He glared at her, and she continued, "Either call next or start yelling." She prompted, leaning to the side.
He turned to her, his eyes glaring and very dangerous looking, "What makes you think you can come in here and talk to me like that."
She merely shrugged, "I'm just here to audition." She said innocently.
That earned her another look, "Listen, dogett" she gave him a look, "I need a new talent, and you are the only thing in the state that is better than a dog." Guestavo said menicinly.
"I think Kendall was right about you. You are a giant turd." She smilled, before starting to softly sing;
Oh, Your such a turd
Oh yeah, a giant turd
And you look like a turd
And you smell like turd
Oh, your such a turd
oh yeah a giant turd
And you look like a turd and you
Smeeeeeel like a tuurd!
Guestavo looked to his assistant, "This is why I didn't want to come here. I don't want anyone of the dog's friends."
The assistant just looked at Bella, "Welcome to Hollywood." She announced.
Wow, I can't believe that worked. She thought as she got off the stage. Who'd think a song about a turd would make five people go to Hollywood?
The woman held her hand out, "I'm Kelly Wainwright, and that's Guestavo Rocque." She motioned to her boss, "And we think you have the talent to be part of Rocque Records."
Bella's eyes got a little wider, "You want to take me to L.A?" She asked dumbfounded, "So the giant turd song really does work." She mumbled.
Guestavo scowled, "Sing that song again, and I'll make you stay here in your sorry little town, and waste into nothing." He paused, "Keep quiet and you'll go to L.A." Gosh, is it worth it to go see the boys? If I have to work with him, I'm not sure. But another part of her said, The boys deal with him. And this is your chance to finally see them.
She smilled, "Alright, no turd song." She agreed, thinking, That you can hear. She added mentally.
Kelly looked at her, "Bella…" She trailed off, her eyebrows scrunched as she noticed the girl hadnt introducted herself by her full name. "Um… what's you last name?"
Bella felt the corners of her mouth turn into what seemed like a small frown. "Bella, Bella Diamond –I'm James sister." She confirmed, laughing a bit at the reaction on Guestavo's face.
First it started to get pink, then red, slowly rising to purple, and almost hitting off to the point of him being blue. He suddenly let out a large scream, "AHHHH!"
The next day, Kelly, Guestavo, and Bella boarded the private plane back to L.A. Guestavo still seemed upset that she had been Jame's sister –she could tell that from his face. And, judging by what Kendall said, he hated James.
Kelly walked into the plane, revealing a large first class lounge. "Go ahead and make yourself at home, the flight will take a few hours." She said, sittiing down across from Guestavo in one of the big white chairs.
Bella went across from them, putting her guitar into the overhead compartment, along with the folder she kept her songs in. Lounging back into the amazingly comfy seat, she plugged in her ipod, letting the four voices that she had missed so much sing into her eardrums:
Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh
Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh
Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh
Make it count
Play it straight
Don't look back
Don't hesitate
When you go
Big time
Whatcha want
Watcha feel
Never quit
And make it real
When you roll
Big time
(Oh, Oh) Hey, hey
Listen to your heart now
Hey, Hey
Don't you feel the rush?
Hey, Hey
Better take your shot now
Oh, Oh, Oh, Ohhh
Come on shake it up
Whatcha gotta loose?
Go and make your luck
With the life you choose
If you want it all
Lay it on the line
It's the only life you got
So, you Gotta live it big time
Ahh, ahh, ahh, ohh (x2)
Step it up
Get in gear
Go for broke
And make it clear
Gotta go big time (hey, hey)
Make it work
Get it right
Change the world
Overnight
Gotta dream big time
Ohh, ohh, hey, hey
Give it all you got now
Hey, hey
Isnt it a rush
Hey, hey
Finish what you start now
Ohh, ohh, ohh, ohhhh
Come on shake it up
Whatcha gotta loose?
Go and make your luck
With the life you choose
If you want it all
Lay it on the line
It's the only life you got
So you gotta live it
Big time
Look around
Every light is shinning now
It's brighter somehow
Look around
Nothings really as it seems
Nothing by dreams
You and i
Gonna make a brand new sound
Like we own this town (town)
We can fly
Now our feet are off the ground
Never look down
Welcome to the big time
All the pretty people see you
Walking in the sunshine
Welcome to the good times
Life will never be the same
Come on shake it up
Whatcha gotta loose
Go and make your luck
With the life you choose (ohh, ohh)
If you want it all
Lay it on the line
It's the only life you got
So you gotta live it big time
Ohh, ohh, ohh, ohh
Ohh, ohh, ohh, ohh
If you want it all
Lay it on the line
It's the only life you got
So you gotta live it big time
Though she hadnt much realised, she had been singing along quietly, and she didn't see the looks that Kelly and Guestavo gave her either. She ripped the earbuds from her ears, putting the ipod back into her purse. God, everytime that she heard them, she just missed them more. Yet, she had to know they were still out there –that they hadnt just vanished. That they were still four hockey players from Minnesota and not some stuck up popstars.
Bella sighed, and reached to look at one of the magazines that were in the seat infront of her. Pop Tiger. She frowned a bit, which had been James favorite magazine, though she would always tease him that it was for girls.
She missed them so much. She missed Logan, with him always being the smart little nerd that he was. Whenever you need an answer –unless under pressure- Logan was your guy, He was also probably the most sensitive of the group, one that girls related to more than others. He was the brain in their body.
Carlos, oh that was a different story. She missed his crazy stunts, how he had gotten them banned from two Walmarts since they had met, almost another on too. He always knew how to make anyone laugh. He was the daredevil, and if he didn't have that helmet, than he'd be in the emergancy room every day. He was the laughing box of the group, something that even a bystander could tell.
James, she missed him even more than those two. He was her big brother, and he may be stuck up person in front of others, he still had the other brother protection over her that all brothers did. He was very much the soul of the group, the persistance. He had his one dream, and nothing would stop him and his friends from getting it.
Kendall, he was the hardest to explain. He was the glue that kept them all together. Without him, the group wouldn't exist. They were all opposites, and he was the force that brought him togheter. He was the consince of the group. Trying to keep them out of trouble, and fixing it if it happened. And, for some reason, Bella's hearts strings pulled when she thought of him.
Bella, she didn't know what she was to the group. When hse first joined them, she was James twin sister that would hang around and play hockey. But, she never seemed to find herself the place in the group. The only thing she could think that she was the heart. The one that brought them together in crisses. When she had been in the hospital that had to have been the most bonding that they all had ever had, all over her.
"Bella! Bella!" Someone called, getting her out of her thoughts. She snapped to attention, looking over to Kelly. "Sorry, I was just wondering one thing."
"Sure." She mumbled back, rubbing her eyes in tiredness.
Kelly paused, "The song you sang, we wanted to know how you found it. I loved it, and I thought that we could contact them and see if they have any other songs that you could sing." She replied, looking Bella in the eyes.
Shifting her eyes down, she frowned a bit, "Um, I wrote the song." Kelly's mouth dropped open, "That's the whole reason for the guitar." She pointed out, giving a small laugh.
Nodding, Kelly asked, "Do you have any other songs that we could use too. I loved it, and Griffin'll want to hear demos soon." She quirked an eyebrow, "Griffin is Guestavo's boss." Kelly explained.
Bella bit her lip a bit, "One or two, but they arent finished yet." She stood up and grabbed the sheet lyrics from the overehead compartment. "Some of those are really bad though." She added, giving the folder of to Kelly.
Kelly merely shrugged, "Guestavo doesn't know how to write a girl song." Guestavo looked at her, glarring, "I mean… he… girl songs." She stuttered, trying to lie. Bella had to bite back the laugh that tried to escape her.
She heard the familiar ringtone go off on her phone. She quickly dug through her purse, trying to find it. After the second ring, she finally grasped the blackberry, rushing to click the accept button. Then she held it to her ear.
"Hey Kendall." She said, lying back into her seat, feeling more at ease.
She heard the phone cracking a bit, and then Kendall's voice come on, "Hey Bella, I tried calling like five times, but you didn't answer."
Checking, she saw on the top of her phone it said, 6 missed calls. She frowned, "Sorry, I just turned it on before you called." She appologised, "So, how are you guys doing?"
"Good." He paused, "Guestavo went off in search of another singer for Griffin, so we got the week off." She started to think about telling him that she was the singer Guestavo had found.
Surprise them. None of them have ever even heard you sing. She thought, responding, "Yeah, there was a commercial for it on the TV."
Kendall laughed, "Yeah, we told him to go back to Minnesota –you should have seen his face. I don't even think he went there. He probably just went New York and got someone… I really hope he takes some time finding someone, we all are really tired of him."
Bella laughed, sighing, "He's a monster –from what you've told me." She corrected, "So, how are the others doing? Any new stories?" She joked.
"Carlos drove a luggage cart into the pool –Bitters wanted to kill him. Logan spent the day at the library, researching something I think. James was hitting on a girl by the pool for most of the afternoon –though most of them wont talk to him since the school dance incident." Bella laughed.
She noticed he didn't say anything about himself, "How about you?"
His voice changed, "I'm good, nothing new."
Her eyebrows knitted together in frustration, "Kendall Knight, you may lie good, but I've known you my whole life, and I can tell just by your voice that you're not telling me the truth." She added, "So, what happened."
Kendall heaved a sigh, "You remember Jo, my…" She felt something when he was about to say, 'girlfriend.' But she dismissed it, "Well, when we got back from the tour, I saw some guy with her, and they kissed... Then later I broke up with her, and she's doing some movie with him." He explained quickly.
Bella's mouth formed an 'O'. "Oh, sorry I asked." She paused, "Well, if she would do that to you, then she doesn't deserve you." She tried to cheer him up.
He gave a nervous laugh, "Yeah, I guess." He paused, "So, what about you? Anything new? No broken bones?" He teased, and she laughed a bit.
"Not this time. I don't break bones without Carlos causing it." She felt a little piece of her telling her to just tell him, but she ignored it, "Nothing else –unless you count the cafeteria having tater tots."
He chuckled, "Wow, that is big news." He teased back, and then they both laughed.
Kelly called from her seat, "Bella, we're about to get off!"
She felt herself scowl at Kelly for a second, but then heard Kendall ask, "Who was that?"
Panicking, she blurted out, "Jenny Tinkler…" pausing to think up a story, "We're about to get off the bus, so I gotta go."
"Talk to you later?"
She laughed, "Yeah, bye Kendall."
"Bye Bella." He replied, and she hit the end call button. Sighing, she pushed the phone back into her purse, seeing Kelly and Guestavo start to get up, wondering how she had been able to not notice the bumpy landing of the plane.
"Get up Dogett." Guestavo snapped, and she rolled her eyes. She grabbed her purse, and the guitar case from the overhead, and frowned when she didn't see her music. Then remembered she had given it to Kelly for her to look over.
Getting into the terminal, Kelly handed her back the folder, "These are really good –later you can show them to Guestavo when we're at the studio."
Bella asked, "Where will I be staying?" Please be the Palm Woods, Please be the Palm Woods She chanted to herself, crossing her fingers mentally.
"You said your James' sister right?." Kelly asked, and she nodded, "Well, we reserved a room next to theirs for you –at the Palm Woods." She added.
With that, they were all inside the Limo, on their way to the Palm Woods.
Bella walked inside, her hand gripping the handle of the guitar case a little harder in nervousness. The lobby of the Palm Woods was spotless, and she could see the pool through the back doors, practically begging her to jump in. That's when she saw the four of them.
James was sitting in a lounge chair, his hair combed like usual. He was reading this weeks issue of Pop Tiger, with Justin Bieber on the cover. He had a smile on his face, showing off his unnaturally white teeth. He turned to the others asking something.
Logan had his head buried in a Algebra book, writing something on his paper. He smilled his own boyish smile, writing out the numbers on the paper. His dark hair still had the same cut, and she couldn't tell any difference between him and the boy that left Minnesota.
Carlos was inside the pool, fully dressed, wearing his usual hockey helmet. He had a water gun in his hand, squirting everyone in a three foot radius. He was smirking, laughing like he was a five year old at Disney World.
Kendall sat, reading a Hockey magazine. Guess he still loves Hockey just as much She thought. His blond hair in his face, a small smile on his lips. He hadnt changed either. The only thing that each of them had different, was their clothes. All of them wore a swimsuit –which it was rare to see someone in back home- and not the usual four layers of coats.
Bella started towards the front desk, seeing a man eating a donut, asuming that he must have been Mr. Bitters. She said, "I'm Bella Diamond, Kelly Wainwright booked a room for me."
He looked up, a bit of powder on his face. He pushed his snack from veiw, looking at the computer, "Alright, I'm Mr. Bitters." He introduced, "You'll be in room 2K" He said in a monotone, giving her a bored look.
She gave him the same look back, "You wouldn't happen to know what room the Knights' are in?" She asked, quirking an eyebrow.
Bitters scowled, "Hockey players?" She nodded, smilling, "2J."
Accepting the key that he gave her, she replied, "Thanks."
As she turned to the elevators, she heard him call in a fake cheery voice, "Have a Palm Woods day." Snickering, she got inside the elevator, dragging her suitcase behind her, and pressing the 2 button.
The elevator 'dinged' as she reached the second floor. She walked down, her eyes looking at the letters for 2K, before inserting her card into the door, letting it creak open.
Unlike the room Kendall described that they had before the makeover, it was amazing! It had a large white couch, and a flat screen TV. The kitchen was all stainless steel, and spotless. She looked in a bedroom, which had a large white bed, with dark furniture to go with it. Together, there were three bathrooms, and four bedrooms.
Her mouth hanging open a little bit, she picked the first bedroom, unpacking her things quickly, placing her guitar and music on the chair that was in the corner of the room.
After what seemed like hours, she finished unloading her suitcase, and found herself outside 2J, not able to pluck up the courage to knock on the door.
Finally, she knocked quietly, one part of her hoping no one was there, another wanting to see all the boys again. After a few seconds, the door opened, and revealed Mrs. Knight. Her mouth dropped open, "Bella? Bella Diamond?" She asked, and Bella nodded.
"Hey Mrs. Knight. Are the boys here?" She asked.
Frowning, Mrs. Knight shook her head, "No, sorry. They were at the pool, but they should be up soon." She opened the door wider, "Come on in, it's been a while since they've seen you, they'll all be excited."
The room was better than Kendall described. A large orange sofa, a plasma TV, A lot of game systems, and most of all, a bright yellow swirly slide. Her mouth dropped a bit.
Mrs. Knight asked, "You wouldn't mind if I went to grab Katie? She's trying to play poker with the employes again."
Bella laughed, sitting onto the large couch, "Of course not Mama Knight." She replied, using the boys old nickname for her.
She left, and Bella heard the faint sounds of the door open a few minutes later. The boys walked in, and they spotted her on the sofa, "Hey Bella." They said, like it was any other day.
Nonchalantly, she said, "Hey guys."
Suddenly they all snapped to their senses, and in sync said, "Bella?"
Author's Note: Chapter ends, with my attempt of a cliffhanger. The chapters are going to be long -around the same length with over 4,000 words a piece -trust me, that's not a peice of cake to write, but you guys gave me the muse to do it- so updates will be every few days if things go accordingly.
Please review like you did for the last chapter, because they really do make me want to write even more!
