Charlie stepped out into the sun eagerly.
Laila followed as quickly as she could, but as usual the brunette had over packed.
Charlie rolled her lone suitcase to the curb and waved for a cab, before turning to help her friend.
When Charlie turned around there was a strange man picking up her suitcase
"Whoa! What the hell do you think your doing asshole. That's my fucking bag!" she exclaimed, shoving the man away and snatching her bag.
The man looked shocked and tried to insist he was a cab driver and he was only trying to load her bag into his cab. But Charlie shook her head.
"We'll wait for another cab, maybe one that isn't driven by a thief." Charlie said gruffly.
"I thought you said Mama Knight was picking us up." Laila said slowly.
But then realization dawned on her.
"None of them know we're coming do they?" Laila demanded.
Grabbing her friends arm roughly.
"You SWORE that they were expecting us… that it was Okay that we were visiting." Laila said, growing louder by the second.
Charlie sighed heavily. "Pause, Lai." She pleaded.
When Laila clenched her jaw, but fell silent, Charlie stuck two fingers in her mouth and whistled loudly. Waving one arm high above her head, hailing a taxi.
When the bright yellow taxi pulled up, Charlie loaded hers, and Laila's things into the trunk, and let Laila get in before her.
She gave the cab driver the address, before turning to her best friend.
"aaaand…play." She said calmly.
"you promised Charlie, you promised that there were no tricks involved. And that everything was planned out and that you weren't going to pull another one of your stupid schemes and leave me to clean up afterwards" Laila said in a frighteningly calm, but angry tone.
Charlie rolled her eyes " my schemes are NOT stupid. And I find that very offensive."
Laila shook her head. "I cannot believe you." She said quietly.
"after all these years, you still cant believe I would pull something like this? You really are a slow learner lai." Charlie teased good-naturedly.
Laila swatted charlies arm angrily.
Charlie gasped and slapped lailas leg.
Their slap fight escaladed until they were interrupted by the cab driver
"Palm Woods… don't hesitate to tip ladies." he announced loudly.
He seemed eager to get the loud young ladies out of his taxi.
Charlie handed him the fare and a little extra for a tip.
She unloaded their bags from the trunk herself.
And stood on the curb for a moment to take in the view.
"Shibby." Charlie said breathlessly.
Laila sighed heavily and rolled her suitcase towards the front desk.
Charlie tugged her phone from her pocket and sent a quick text, before hurrying after Laila, towards the front desk.
A large man with a scowl on his face looked at them expectantly.
Charlie rested her elbows on the counter top.
She glanced at the nameplate and let out a quiet laugh.
"Bitters, is it? We're looking for Ms. Knight." Charlie said with a smile.
"oh great. Your friends of big time rush too?" he said with no enthusiasm.
Charlie shrugged. " we're friends of Kendall, Logan, Carlos and James's" she said pointedly.
"as in, Pre- Fame and Fortune." she clarified.
"good for you." He said sarcastically. "2J… have a great day" he said, before shuffling back into his office.
"see that lai. No problems." Charlie insisted. Her hands on her hips.
"I think someone owes me an apology." She said teasingly.
"don't hold your breath" a familiar voice said with a laugh.
Charlie didn't even have to turn around to know who it was.
"Kenny!" she exclaimed, spinning around and throwing her arms around his neck.
Kendall chuckled and wrapped his long arms around her waist.
" Mom just got your text. She sent me down here to help you guys get your stuff up to our room" he said, reluctantly letting go of her.
Charlie smiled. "I told you so" she said to Laila, sticking out her tongue.
Kendall laughed and grabbed their suitcases, struggling to situate them in a way that he could carry all of them.
Charlie chuckled and removed her suitcase from his arms.
"I can carry mine." She insisted.
Kendall rolled his eyes but knew better than to argue.
He led the way to the apartment.
He kicked open the door and immediately stepped back.
Charlie eyed him curiously "Kendall- what are you-"
She was cut off as the 3 other boys she was proud to call her best friends all came running at the two girls, arms wide open.
The girls found themselves in a giant group hug.
"Carlitos. I cannot breath" Charlie said, squirming to get out of the tight grasp that the enthusiastic boys had them in.
"Sorry. We just missed you guys. That's all." Logan apologized for them all.
Charlie noticed Logan's hand lingered on Laila's a moment longer then it should have.
And Charlie knew she wouldn't hear much more complaining from her friend about the trip.
Ms. Knight poked her head around the corner warily "Is it safe to hug my favorite girls yet?" she asked cautiously.
Charlie nodded happily as the woman she regarded as a second mother embraced the two girls, much more gently then the boys had.
When she released them, she smiled at them " you look beautiful girls. Are you hungry? How was your flight? Are you tired? " she bombarded them with motherly questions.
Charlie shrunk behind Kendall and squinted up at him. "can you please tell ma that we're fine." She pleaded.
Kendall smirked " mom! They're fine. I'm going to get them settled in my room. I'll take the couch." Kendall insisted, Grabbing Charlie's bag and taking it into his room.
Laila rolled her eyes. " I think I'll let them catch up before I go get unpacked."
"that's a good idea." Logan said softly. "he really misses her." He added wistfully.
" she misses him too." Laila said knowingly..