Worldwide
Chapter 03: Bailamos (We Dance)
I hope you guys like this chapter! So I hope you guys don't get mad at me, but that suicide note at the end...was not meant for this story. I'm sorry if it ruined any plot lines you guys had thought of, but it was just a byproduct of me rushing. I'm really sorry! But I also really want to take this opportunity to thank the cool Crazyleex, the nifty NEP Tunes Out, the lovable Lovin' Big Time Rush, the stupendous Sir RCCS, the terrific Tidus GT, the fantastic False Pretense, and the kind Kogan4Ever for their continuous support! I would also like to thank abcnaley, jamesmaslowlover, rosaxD114, and TheClaire24! This was written in July 2011
After wolfing down a countless number of perro calientes in harina de maíz, or as Katie referred to them as 'corn-dogs', Carlos finally felt full. He grinned to Sra. Knight, who smiled and let out a small chuckle. Katie had quickly excused herself, the words 'online poker' being muttered under her breath. While Sra. Knight cleaned the dishes, Kendall sent a disdainful look toward Carlos, who remained idle in his chair. Kendall had gotten up to help clean the dishes, and while Carlos wanted to help, he felt awkward and rude to simply ask to clean the dishes. However, he cleared his throats and prepared himself for some complex grammatical sentences.
"Sra. Knight, may I help you and Kendall clean the dishes?" Carlos asked, smiling. Kendall's face was surprised, while Sra. Knight had a smug smirk on her face, which she discreetly sent toward Kendall. Carlos was not sure why, several minutes later, Kendall slipped a five dollar American bill toward Sra. Knight. When she noticed that Carlos had seen her transaction, she winked.
"Kendall had placed a wager, or a bet on me, to see if you would clean the dishes." Sra. Knight's cheeks flushed slightly, as she realized the crudeness of her actions. However, Carlos found it amusing. He was already beginning to enjoy this family more and more. His next step was to placate Kendall and make his next few months as a foster brother easier. He already knew that Kendall liked hockey, and he guessed he would start from there. After wiping the last plate, Carlos politely excused himself to Kendall's room, where Kendall sat, staring at some portrait on the wall. Carlos walked in, and plopped himself on the bed, smiling. Kendall raised one of his obnoxiously large eyebrows at Carlos, before turning back to face the portrait. Carlos squinted, and noticed the man looked an awful lot like Kendall.
"Who is that?" Carlos asked, his fingers twisting the comfortable bedsheets Sra. Knight had provided Carlos. Kendall let out a low grunt, before turning his sideways-inclined body toward Carlos.
"Listen Carlos," Kendall spoke in a wavering voice, "you don't have to act like you actually care. We can just ignore each other, and act like friends at dinner." Kendall spoke solemnly, his eyes yearning to see Carlos's reaction. Carlos fumbled a bit with his words, unsure as to what he could say in order to reach Kendall. If Kendall had been so vehemently against Carlos even being here, then why was he invited to stay at this family's house?
Carlos decided to get up without saying a word, although his decision never came to fruition. He noticed a trophy on Kendall's nightstand, and immediately whispered "Hockey." Kendall's eyes followed Carlos's line of vision, and he noticed Carlos's reaction upon seeing the trophy.
"Is there something you want to say?" Kendall asked, obviously annoyed. Carlos fumbled again with words, twisted the bedsheets even more. He then looked at Kendall and gave a bright smile despite his hurt demeanor.
"When I heard you were my host brother, I was excited. I found a picture of you online with your team and you looked so strong and proud. Do you like hockey?" Carlos asked innocently, as Kendall found himself at a loss for words. After receiving a curt nod from Kendall, Carlos took another yawn. He was suffering from jet-lag, and technically, he would have been asleep by now. But he was bursting with energy for some reason, perhaps at this exciting venue of life. He then cleared his throat once more, wincing slightly as Kendall sent a glare toward him.
"Can I use your computadora?" Carlos asked, forgetting the word for computer. After he remembered it, he mumbled it under his breath, as Kendall let out another exasperated sigh.
"It's in the study room. Katie may be in there." Kendall said flatly, as he glanced toward the door. Carlos, although inept at American colloquialisms, figured Kendall wanted to be left alone. Nodding his head slightly in gratitude, Carlos walked over to the hallway, faced with a few doors. He was unsure as to which room was the study room, but before he could ask, Kendall had already slammed the door. Sighing, Carlos walked aimlessly down the hall, although a few noises helped him. He heard a few words come out from a sweet innocent voice that caused his eyes to widen. He found the source of the noise, and he found Katie clicking obsessively with her mouse-pad. Carlos waved, as Katie sent a precarious wave toward Carlos. Suddenly, the awkwardness was back, although it was nowhere near as hostile as Kendall's attitude. Upon coming closer, Carlos looked into the computer screen and saw Katie playing a game of poker. In Spain, it was referred to as póquer but Carlos knew a bit about the game from traveling with Marisol. Suddenly, a jolt infected Carlos as he bit his lip.
"Katie, can I use the computer?" Carlos asked as politely as he could, and immediately Katie let out a frustrated huff. However, she turned sweetly and smiled to Carlos.
"Sure, I just finished my game anyways." Katie shrugged, as she scooted off the computer seat and headed out the door. As Carlos took the seat gingerly, he quickly turned his head and called for Katie. She turned around and walked back, slightly suspicious.
"Wait, I have a question Katie." Carlos said, keeping his voice low. Katie raised an eyebrow in suspicion, although by the glint in her eye, Carlos knew she had already predicted what several questions Carlos could possibly ask.
"Why does Kendall hate me?" Carlos spoke sadly, as suddenly Katie's eyes widened. Obviously, she had not been prepared for such a question. She began to immediately play with the loose ends of her long hair, and looked down for a few minutes. Finally, as if she had reached some internal resolute decision, she grabbed another chair that had wheels and rolled over to Carlos, sitting close to him.
"Kendall doesn't hate you," Katie enunciated the hate, although she felt looked down again, continuously playing with her hair, "but he's not too fond of anyone right now." Katie said hesitantly, as if afraid to continue. Carlos eyes wavered slightly, but he decided not to pursue the topic anymore, as Katie was obviously uncomfortable.
Taking the silence as a ticket out of the uncomfortable thicket, Katie immediately hopped off the chair, and ran out the door, presumably to count her savings. Carlos had to admit; for a ten-year old girl, she was far more intelligent than her years suggested. Carlos then turned to the computer screen, and quickly opened an internet browser, typing in his email website. Logging in, he slowly wrote Marisol's email address and began to compose a message to her.
The message began casually, asking Marisol how she was, how Jose was, and how his parents were. He also asked about Sr. Martinez. Then, he began to explain his experiences so far in America. He explained the wonder that were corn-dogs. He talked about how nice Sra. Knight was, and how wise Katie was. He began to linger, wondering if he should include Kendall. He mentioned that Kendall was very straightforward and mysterious at the same time, which slightly intrigued Carlos. After that, he began a new paragraph, in which he began to ask questions to Marisol, asking if she still remembered their kiss. While he typed that, he flushed, wondering if it was even appropriate for him to ask such a thing. However, he gained some confidence and decided to send the message, hoping Marisol would not be offended. He had stupidly forgotten to ask for Jose's email address, and he made a note to ask Marisol for it the next time he got a chance to reply to her.
Suddenly, Carlos heard the doorbell ring. Instinctively, he walked outside the study room quietly, as Kendall grabbed his shoes and ran down the steps to open the door. Carlos squinted from the upper depths of the modest Knight household, and was shocked to see two faces that were oddly familiar. It was Hortense and James! The two men that Carlos had seen in the hockey picture. Hortense was in a buttoned up shirt with a fresh pair of jeans on, along with a light vest. James was wearing a brand-name T-Shirt, which oddly stuck to his body. His jeans were also tight, but overall, Carlos could tell that James was far more fashionable than Hortense.
"Mom! I'm going out!" Kendall yelled, as he prepared to leave the house. James laughed at something, while Hortense had already stepped outside of the house. Carlos suddenly felt hurt, and felt isolated. Kendall had completely forgotten about him. However, a shining light soon lit its beacon for Carlos. Sra. Knight appeared from the kitchen and held her hands on her lips. While Carlos couldn't read the lips moving from her mouth in the lowered tone, from Kendall's exasperated sigh, he suddenly knew he was being talked about between the two Knights. He suddenly felt awkward and shy, especially when he heard Kendall's trudging footsteps.
"Carlos," Kendall sighed, as his eyes held little sheen in them, "do you want to accompany my friends and I?" Kendall asked the question stiffly, as if he was a little kid being forced to speak. Carlos wanted to say yes, but the look on Kendall's eyes made him feel bad for even being acknowledged. However, when Sra. Knight appeared behind Kendall and tapped Kendall's shoulder, Carlos suddenly felt brighter. He figured that while Kendall may have something against him, he could not have done anything wrong to Hortense or James. Nodding his head excitedly, he ignored Kendall's gritted teeth grin and walked downstairs to greet James and Hortense.
"Hi! I'm Carlos! You must be James," Carlos smiled as James beamed, flipping back some of his impeccably styled hair. He stood proudly and confidently, something Carlos already found himself admiring. Then he turned to the shorter boy. "You must be Hortense!" Carlos grinned, as suddenly Kendall and James roared in hysteric laughter. Logan's cheeks flushed a pungent red, as he tried to gather words.
"I'm Logan Mitchell. Nice to meet you too Carlos." Logan put on a smile, although he was extremely red at this point. Carlos shook his hand, being aware of customs in America. Kendall led the way outside, leading to a white car. It was small, and slightly hunched, but it was polite and docile. Carlos immediately guessed that Hor-Logan had driven this car.
"Nice car Logan!" Carlos grinned, as he walked closer to it. He noticed Logan walking beside him, slightly beaming.
"Thanks Carlos! It's nice that someone sees the car for how great it is!" Logan wittingly replied, hinting toward the snickering James and Kendall. Carlos was surprised. Kendall seemed so vibrant and happy outside of his house. When he was inside, he was dismal and depressed. Something was happening with Kendall Knight, and Carlos was curious to know. He was intrigued by Kendall Knight, and why exactly he had two fronts to his face.
"Where are we going?" Carlos asked. He was in the backseat with James, who had volunteered to sit in the back with Carlos. Logan, obviously the one with the license, was driving. Kendall sat upfront, still fiddling with the play-list on the music device connected to the car. Sighing frustratedly, he turned the music off and immediately began to hit the radio.
"Just hanging out at this really cool place. It's a smoothie shop." James grinned, his white teeth dazzling Carlos. Suddenly, Kendall began to adjust the knob of the radio, and a song began to play:
Don't let the world in outside.
Don't let a moment go by.
Nothing can stop us tonight!
It was a song by Enrique Iglesias, a singer Carlos was familiar with from his various parties. Carlos immediately began to sing along, loving the song. It was called Bailamos, and it was a song Carlos enjoyed to sing along with Jose as they walked toward the school. Marisol would roll her eyes and call them idiotas but walk with them anyways.
"Bailamos! We dance! Let the rhythm take you over!" Carlos began to sing, almost dramatically. Logan almost stopped the car, although a honk from behind him kept the drive going, both literally and figuratively. James glanced at Carlos in amusement, and Kendall let out another low-sounding grunt. Carlos didn't mind singing, as he often did it under his breath, but he suddenly stopped, noticing James's widened eyes on him.
"You sing good Carlos! Did you sing in Spain? Have you heard of Selana?" James asked, grinning again. Carlos nodded; Selana was a famous Latin American singer, and while James was technically politically incorrect, Carlos didn't bother correcting him. He heard of Selana, and she was truly something.
"Why would you sing along to Enrique Iglesias?" Kendall mumbled under his breath. Logan immediately hit the left-turn signal, turning his car slowly but steadily. "Are you gay Carlos?" Kendall then sneered at Carlos, who sat wide-eyed. Once again, Logan jutted the break pedal, although he immediately resumed his driving in silence. Even James was glancing curiously at Carlos.
"I am gay for singing to Enrique Iglesias?" Carlos suddenly felt himself flaring up. He was not mad at Kendall, but something about the comment the boy made felt very ignorant. He knew a homosexual kid in his class, and the kid was perfectly normal. In fact, Spain was one of the ten countries around the world that allowed same-sex marriages, and had progressive laws. Carlos knew two men who had adopted a child, and raised him lovingly. Spain provided one of the highest degrees of liberty in the world for Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, and Transgendered. "Why am I gay for singing to an artist who has sold fifty five million albums worldwide? Just because I sing a song by a male, does not make me gay. And even if I was gay, what would be wrong with it?" Carlos felt his anger dissipating and his concern flooding into his body once more. He noticed Kendall looking away from Carlos, looking down. Logan continued to concentrate on the road, but James gave Carlos an incredulous look.
Silence ebbed into the car, until Kendall immediately began to play some music. Finally, the quartet had reached a comfortable looking shop, where several other kids that looked around Kendall's age sat. Kendall was the first to get out of the car, alongside Logan. James sent a look toward Carlos, before stepping out of the car, and Carlos was the last to depart from the car. He was surprised to see three girls immediately walked up to the four guys.
The first girl Carlos noticed was a smiling blonde, whose hair was far more bleached than Kendall's blonde hair. She had a piercing look to her face. Next to her was a girl with chocolate brown hair and similar skin to the blonde girl. She had a much more defined and sharper face, but she had a friendly tinge to her body. The last girl was to the left of the blonde; she seemed to be Hispanic, or at least not Caucasian. Her tan complexion and voluptuous figure slightly enthralled Carlos, although he personally found the blonde to be the most attractive.
I guess I was right about hitting on American Girls... Carlos thought, although he almost did a double-take. Ever since he had landed in America a few hours before, he had almost undergone a transformation. While his English was nowhere near the level of fluency that his Spanish was, he was somehow able to comprehend things in English. It made him shiver.
"Girls, this is Carlos, Kendall's exchange student!" James gallantly introduced Carlos to the girls, who all customarily giggled. The blonde, obviously the Kendall counter-part of the trio, stood forward and smiled politely. She held out her hand, which Carlos graciously shook, afraid of being called a 'Casanova' again by Kendall. However, by the glint of anger present in Kendall's eyes, Carlos was slightly afraid that he had done something wrong again.
"That's Joanne Taylor, or better yet known as Jo. She likes ice dancing, bubble tea, romantic vampire novels, ballet dancing, and the fine arts. She is currently single," James announced, as if he was the host of a game show. "Then we have Camille Roberts," James held up an imaginary microphone in his hand, as he scooted slightly to hold his hand in front of the brunette. Camille let out a small smile and wave at Carlos, which he graciously returned. "She likes acting, movies, and designing clothes. Currently, she has designed her own costumes as a princess, cheerleader, witch, astronaut, set-designer, masseur, ninja, Indian Princess, and her own prom dress." James concluded, taking a comedic deep breath. Carlos noticed that Logan had a slight tinge to his face when Camille giggled. Before Carlos could delve deeper, he noticed James scoot forward to the final girl.
"This is Stephanie King," James lowered his voice comically, even earning a smirk from Kendall. "She loves creating no-budget horror movies, cute boys, and dancing." James finished dramatically, earning a gracious applause from the three girls. Logan laughed alongside with them, while Kendall gently tapped his other hand stoically. Carlos laughed loudly, finally enjoying the sunny warmth that California offered him in terms of people.
"So is he going to be hanging with us for the next couple of months?" Stephanie asked, grinning wildly. Carlos felt his heart fleeting, although an image of Marisol popped into his head. He suddenly felt bad for already finding another girl far more attractive than Marisol, and while he knew Marisol would most likely never find out about it, he just felt bad about it. His mother always called him 'dulce' or sweet. He hated admitting it, but after seeing Alejandro Barcena sleep with countless girls at school and dump them the following evening, he found himself at a distance with tears. They were his eternal weakness; he could not handle them, and he would travel the world to wipe the tears off of someone.
"It seems so! He got into the coolest crew at Palm Woods High," James grinned again. Carlos already began to notice a dynamic between the six people. Among the boys, James was surely the social and talkative one. He gleamed and exuded a sense of glamor fit for a male. Then, Logan stood stoutly and smiling. He always had a calculating look to his face, as if he could read someone's mind. He was the type of person Carlos found to be a genius at academics, although a bit socially awkward. Then, there was Kendall. While he surely did not talk as much as James did, he had that leader aura around him that basically commanded attention. He seemed as if he had the power to lead both Logan and James to drop everything and follow him, while simultaneously retaining a sense of responsibility and maturity. Carlos dared to say 'father-like', but to an extent, he found Kendall to act like the mature complement to Logan's socially awkward intelligence and James's social expertise.
Then, there were Jo, Camille, and Stephanie. Jo was obviously the leader of the girls, from the way she stood out from them. However, unlike Kendall's sense of authority, Carlos noticed that Jo was much more open and talkative; it was a shared balance of power among the girls. Carlos found both ways of power to work; he figured that both James and Logan preferred to have someone like Kendall reel them in when they went too far, and that Camille and Stephanie enjoyed being on equal footing to someone. It felt a bit odd to analyze the friendships of these people, but Carlos found it intriguing. The only question that begged was where he fit. He was the new kid, almost. He had no experience, and while he was fairly popular in his school in Spain, he was at a disadvantage here already because of his language barriers.
Breaking Carlos's thoughts, James led the group over to the line, where they each ordered a smoothie. At first, when Carlos had heard the word 'Smoothie' he had thought of the saying his mother told him; individuo de mucha labia, de modales muy pulidos y muy atildado en el vestir. In certain areas of Spain, a smoothie was referred as someone who was slick, and who had polished manners and a very dapper manner of dressing .Surprisingly, the word smoothie seemed to resonate around James. James was very slick in the way he addressed and introduced people, and the way he even seemed to know the girl serving their smoothies, Carlos was impressed. James was something he had never seen before in Spain. He had seen the Logan archetype, the Kendall archetype, and surely the trinity of Jo, Camille, and Stephanie, but James was something unique. It tantalized Carlos to know more about the boy, but it made him feel almost insecure around him. It was an odd feeling.
However, when Carlos received his very first 'brain-freeze' of America, he somehow knew this land would surely be magical, and who better to experience it with than Kendall, Logan, James, Jo, Stephanie, and Camille. He suddenly found himself to be the seventh color of this rainbow of friendship, and true to this image, Carlos found it entertaining to see that Kendall was sipping on a racy red cheery smoothie, Jo was barely drinking her orange smoothie, while James was eagerly drinking his yellow mango drink. Stephanie had a lime green drink, that reminded Carlos of a lime drink he had once from a vendor in Spain, and Camille had her blue raspberry smoothie. Logan was drinking an indigo colored 'mystery flavor' smoothie, while Carlos was content with his violet grape smoothie.
It was a beautiful rainbow, of which Carlos was glad to be a color. America was suddenly becoming brighter and more colorful as the hours went onward.