Author Note: I hope the updates arn't taking forever. This is the first fic I posted on here which I am writing from scratch, but I'm trying to get at least one chapter out per week. Possibly more if I feel inspired!

Thank you guys so much for reading/reviewing/follows/favorites! Enjoy!

Chapter 4: First Encounter

"And my room mate is a total pot head!" James was saying as he sat down on a bench just outside the café beside his boyfriend. "There's no way I'm going to be able to study with him there. The entire room was filled with smoke. I'm surprised he didn't set off the fire alarms. I don't know how I'm going to survive the semester with him. Jett? What are you doing?"

The brunette looked over at James with a disgusted look on his face as he showed him his shoes, "That asshole at the café ruined my new shoes. Look at these coffee stains," Jett was saying as he took off one of the shoes and shoved it into James' face. "These were two hundred dollar shoes and now they're ruined!"

"You were the one who ran into him," James pointed out receiving a cold stare. "Let's just forget about the shoes. I have a bigger dilemma! What am I going to do about my room mate? Should I turn him in?"

"What's wrong with your room mate?" Jett questioned.

"Have you heard anything I have been saying for the last five minutes?"

"Of course I have," Jett insisted, his attention back on his shoes as he laced them back up, "Wait! I know what you could do!"

"Really? What?"

"I got these at your dad's department store! Think you can call him up and get me another pair?"

James' shoulders slumped at the mention of his father, "Jett, I told you already, I don't want any favors from my parents. I'm on my own now."

"But can't you do me this one little favor? Please? You're my diamond in the ruff," Jett batted his eye lashes before placing a chaste kiss to his boyfriend's rosy cheek.

James melted at the gesture, "I'll call him later and see if I could at least get you some kind of discount on a new pair," he gave in earning him a quick peck on the lips. He couldn't help but smile. This was the first time his boyfriend had ever kissed him in public. Even if it was small and quick. "I love you," James sighed resting his head on his boyfriend's shoulder.

"Me too," Jett replied as he pulled out his cell phone and began playing around with it.

"Hey, I have an idea!' James said suddenly, his eyes lighting up at the thought, "Maybe we can get an apartment together off campus?"

"Why would we do that?"

"So that I can get away from my room mate and we can be together."

"Then we wouldn't be on campus."

"What am I supposed to do about my room mate then?"

"What's wrong with your room mate?"

"Seriously Jett?"

"Look, if it's that much of a problem then go to housing and see if you can get a new one."

"I can do that?" James questioned which Jett nodded, his eyes still trained on his phone. The hazel eyed teen beamed with happiness over the solution as he pulled his boyfriend in for a kiss. Before he could deepen the contact, Jett pulled away and scanned the area around him, "Something wrong, Hun?"

"James, we need to keep all this on the down low for a while."

"The down low? But you promised that once we got to college we wouldn't have to hide our relationship anymore."

"I know and I'm sorry, Babe, but I was talking to my room mate and they talked me into joining a fraternity with them. It won't be forever, just until Rush week is over. Not all guys are cool with- this sort of thing, but I promise as soon as it's over, it's all about you and me. Alright?"

James sighed. It was like high school all over again, "You promise?"

"Promise," Jett gave him an award winning smile with a wink before getting up from the bench. "I still got some unpacking to do. I'll stop by your dorm later and we can christen your new place?"

James blushed at the not so subtle suggestion, "I'll have to make sure my room mate is gone."

"Just tell him to wear head phones or something. Catch you later."

"Love you!"

"Me too!"

"Was that your boyfriend?" a quiet voice asked from behind him, causing James to jump at the sudden interruption as he watched Jett disappear into the crowd. He turned around to see the brunette from the coffee shop.

"Yes," James smiled biting his lower lip as a blush crept over his cheeks. He had never gotten to admit to it anyone before no matter how much he wanted to.

"I'm terribly sorry about the coffee incident. I'm afraid my mind was elsewhere at the moment and I failed to see him," the brunette took a tentative step forward. James only nodded as he looked up at the brunette who was now standing a few feet away from him bouncing nervously on the balls of his feet. After an uncomfortable moment of silence, the brunette finally looked away, "Well, I just wanted to apologize so if you would not mind passing along my apology I'd appreciate it," he said as he turned and began to walk away.

James finally found his voice as he jumped up from the bench and started after him, "It wasn't your fault," he said as he caught up to the brunette. "He was the one who ran into you. I'm sorry he acted that way. He's just a little on edge about the whole college thing."

The brunette halted his retreat causing James to stop as well, "I'm Logan Mitchell," he announced holding out a hand.

James took it into his own, "James. James Diamond."

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Diamond."

"It's just James," he corrected him. "You're not from around here are you?" he added noticing the foreign accent.

"No, I'm from London."

"London? Wow. What the hell are you doing here in Minnesota?"

"I'm studying to be a doctor."

"That's ambitious. I'm a music major."

"Oh? Do you play an instrument?"

James smiled at his interest. He had never been able to talk to anyone about his music before other than teachers and other adults, "Yea, I play piano, guitar and a little bit of drums, though I'm not so great at those. I also sing!"

"Well if your voice is this lovely just listening to you talk, it must be beautiful when you sing."

James blushed at the unexpected compliment, "I -um- well- thank you," he stuttered not knowing what else to say. "What dorm are you staying at? I'm in Griffin Hall."

"Oh, actually I'm staying at the Palm Woods just off campus. The dorms were full by the time I applied for housing."

"The Palm Woods?" James' eyes widened. "I heard that is the best place off campus and that they have an amazing pool! A bit too expensive for my price range, I'm afraid. You wouldn't be looking for a room mate, would you?"

"I'm afraid not," Logan chuckled, "But if you ever want to come and-" Logan paused searching for the term that Carlos had taught him, "chillax, I'm down with that!"

James chuckled at his use of American slang that sounded even more ridiculous with his accent, "Sounds like fun. I'll give you my number and we can chillax," he said pulling out his cell phone and handing it to Logan. The brunette looked at it for a moment before reaching into his back pocket and pulling out his own. James took it and added his number to the contact list before noticing the lack of numbers, "You only have two contacts?" he questioned handing back the phone."

Logan's eyes widened as he shoved it back into his pocket trying to think of an explanation, "It's a new phone," it wasn't a lie. General Taylor had given him the phone upon his arrival. "My previous mobile did not work in the States. I've only had time to put in the important numbers."

James nodded before biting his lip, "So who's Carlos? Is that your boyfriend?"

"Carlos is just my best friend from back home," Logan explained. "We are not romantically involved. He's like my brother."

"Right," James silently cursed him self for his stupidity. "I guess I shouldn't have assumed you were gay. I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry," Logan insisted. "I am attracted to men."

James found himself smiling, "Well, Logan, I have to head over to housing and see if I can get my room switched. I'll see you around?"

"Right. Yes. I'll see you around," Logan tried to hide the disappointment in his voice, "It was a pleasure to meet you, James."

"Pleasure to meet you too, Logan," James smiled back before pulling a map out of his back pocket. He located his destination before placing it back into his pocket. With one last glance back at the brunette, he waved with a smile, before turning away and heading in the opposite direction.

"How is London?" Kendall asked, his phone pressed to his ear, sipping on his latte as he walked away from the café. He smiled as Jo babbled on and on about the amazing city she had always wanted to visit since they were kids. He nodded his head as she gushed over her new apartment and he even let out a little chuckle as she mentioned how crazy her room mate was. "Sound like you're having a blast."

"I am, but I miss you so much, Baby. I wish you could have came with me."

"Me too," Kendall responded, "But my job is here and you couldn't pass up such an amazing opportunity. It's only for a few more months and we have Skype."

"I know," she sighed into the phone.

"Just think of it as you being the one on deployment while I'm stuck here waiting for you."

"Yea, well at least I'm not in a war zone so you don't have to go all crazy worrying about whether I'm alive or not."

"True," Kendall laughed as he looked at his watch. "It's getting late there," he noted the time difference, "You should probably get some sleep so you're not jetlagged before you start your classes tomorrow."

"I suppose you're right," she agreed. "I love you."

"I love you too," Kendall sent an exaggerated kiss over the phone. "Good night, Jo.'

"Night Kendall."

Kendall hung up the phone and tucked into his pocket.

"Could you be anymore of a sap?"

Kendall didn't even flinch at the sudden voice that sounded from his left side.

"I thought you had paratrooper training today," he said turning to look at his best friend.

Dak just shrugged, "Taylor would understand. It's for the mission."

"Oh? You weren't hitting on the prince, were you?" Kendall raised his over sized eyebrows.

Dak laughed, "You of all people know I would never swing that way," he insisted. "Actually I was eavesdropping on a conversation he was having with that guy he was staring at in the café."

"The geek with the glasses from the corner?" he stopped walking to give Dak his full attention. "What did he say?"

"Well, I was busy chatting up this blond," he held up a piece of paper that contained a number on it written inside a heart with the name Jennifer on top, "so I didn't catch the whole conversation, but from the sounds of it, they were totally flirting."

"Flirting?"

"Yup! Looks like you got yourself some competition, bro!"

Kendall rolled his eyes, "So what else happened? Any useful information?"

"Let's see… he's in pre-med," Dak laughed at the expression on Kendall's face.

"That explains all of those impossible classes I'm being forced to take."

"Just think… if this whole army career doesn't work out, you can become the real life Dr. McDreamy."

"Me? A Doctor?"

"Right, like that'll happen," Dak laughed.

"What else did you hear," Kendall urged him knowing full well how easily off track his second in command could become.

"Umm… he lives at the Palm Woods, which he invited your competition to come 'chillax'," he mocked, "They even exchanged numbers. He admitted he was gay and oh, mentioned someone by the name of Carlos?"

Kendall nodded, "Yea, he was in the files. He's a kitchen boy who the Prince is close too. Hortense wanted him to come to the States with him, but Taylor was afraid that he would only get in the way of the mission and had his green card denied. Was there anything else?"

"Only that your competition lives in the same dorms as you and he's trying to get a new room mate."

"That's it!" Kendall exclaimed pointing a finger at Dak, "You, my friend, are a genius!"

Author Note: Any ideas on what Kendall has in mind? The next chapter will be James and Kendall's first interaction of the fic, but it wont be their first meeting ;) Please tell me what you think! I hope it's still interesting.