CHAPTER 6- THE DIAMOND CHARM

"Hey Kit-Kat," he said with that electrifying smile showing. I used to love that. Now I cringe at the thought of it.

"What...what are you doing here?" I stammered.

"My buddy told me about this great club with an awesome bartender named Caleb Winters...I figured you'd be here."

I swallowed my fear. "So you came here to find me," I finished for him.

"Exactly." He delivered that sickly sweet grin again. "I miss you," he told me.

My heart started beating faster. "I...I, um..."

"I see you're speechless," he sneered.

I felt a hand on my arm and looked up, surprised to see Logan. Coolly, he responded, "No, she just doesn't want to waste her breath on a stupid fucker like you."

Travis raised his eyebrows. "Oh, so you're the new boyfriend?"

A strong arm gripped my waist and pulled me close. I didn't even have to look up. Just by his smell and the strong arm around me, I could tell it was James.

James stared down at Travis, who was a good six inches shorter than him. "No, I am," he said in a gruff voice. If I wasn't freaking out inside, that would've been incredibly sexy.

"Dating the Diamond, huh Kate? Deep down, I always knew you were a little slut." He slinked away, back into the crowd.

James turned me around to face him and pulled me close, our bodies pressed together. "Don't listen to him, sweetheart. You're not. He's just mad that he lost you."

I nodded, taking note and smiling a little inside that James hadn't corrected Travis about being his girlfriend. "Thank you guys, for coming. I kind of froze."

Logan smiled and gave me a hug. "No problem. I'll just uh, leave you two alone to...yeah." He walked back to their table where I saw Kendall and Carlos waving. I smiled and waved back.

"You ok?" Concern was evident in James' eyes.

"Yeah I just really wanna go home now. I'll go tell Caleb. But seriously James, thank you. You have no idea how much that meant to me."

He kissed my forehead. "I'll always be here for you."

I walked back to the bar to find Caleb, wondering how in just a couple days I got to know this amazing man. I thought he wouldn't even look at me before.

"Caleb?" He looked up. "Can I take the car back home?" He asked me what happened and I explained. I heard him mutter, "I'll kill that son of a bitch." Anger was written all over his face.

I came back to my original question. "So, can I take the car?"

"But Katie, how am I going to get home then?" he asked gently.

"Oh yeah. Right."

James came up to the bar. "Caleb, I'll take her home, if you're alright with that."

Caleb nodded and gave him a small smile. "Thanks, man."

I gave Caleb a hug and left the club with James. "Thanks again," I told him.

He laughed. "How many times do I have to tell you I'll do anything for you?"

It felt good to hear that. Travis had never said that to me throughout the year we were together. Not once.

I gave James the address and we were both silent on the way there. It wasn't really an awkward silence; it was more like a content one.

As we neared my house, my breath hitched in my throat and my heart started beating faster. "Keep driving," I told him.

He looked at me, confusion evident in his eyes, but he passed the house. "I thought that was your house?"

"Travis is there."

His eyes widened. "You sure?"

I nodded. "Sadly, I'd know his car anywhere. I can't believe he still remembers where I live," I said with a sigh.

"But isn't your mom home?"

I shook my head with a small smile. "She's on another one of her 'business trips'. They come every couple of days. She's barely home, so it's just me and Caleb. But we think there's more business than trip, If you know what I mean."

James stared at me, processing, and suddenly nodded. "Gotcha." For some reason, I feel like I can trust him with everything. I'm usually not so open with people, but I just feel good around James.

"So where should we go?" he asked me.

I shrugged. "Dunno. Where do you want to go? We could like, go get a coffee or something."

He laughed. "Kate, it's like midnight."

"Oh. So...where do we go?"

"We could head back to my place. He'd never expect you there."

"But he knows we're together now."

"Yeah, but I'm pretty sure he won't go all fangirl on me and search where I live."

I giggled. "Ok, point taken. But what about your mom?"

He smiled sheepishly. "I uh...might have told her you're living with me. She's staying at a friend's place."

"James!" I laughed. "Why didn't you let her stay with you?"

"Cause she'd completely freak out over my house still not being fixed up. I'd come home one day and everything would be...pink!"

"What? You're too manly for a little pink?"

He laughed. "I'm partial to green and blue, but if anything, I'd stick with purple."

I nodded. "Good choice. It's my favorite color."

James smiled at me and pulled into his driveway. He came around to the passenger side and opened the door for me, putting his hand out. I grasped it and felt a shock at the touch. He continued to hold my hand as he unlocked the door. "Welcome to Casa de Diamond!" he announced.

"Wow...it's beautiful. But you really do have to unpack!" I laughed.

He chuckled. "Well, in my defense, it's only been a couple months since me and the guys moved into our own places. Plus we've been crazy busy."

I nodded and felt a wet nose on my leg. I gasped and jumped. He laughed out, "Sorry, that's my dog. Fox, introduce yourself."

The little guy sat down and lifted his left paw. My heart melted. I bent down on the floor and scooped him up into a hug. "You are too precious!" I cooed to the little one. He licked my nose.

"Aw yeah, lap it up while you still can, little buddy. She's mine!"

I stuck my tongue out at him, "Not officially," I teased.

He pulled me up. "Should I make it official?"

My arms felt like they were on fire from where his hands were. "Oh I...um, well honestly...Yes!"

He laughed. "Ok then, Kate Winters, will you be my girlfriend?"

I wrapped my arms around his neck to kiss him and he put his hands on my waist, pulling me towards him to deepen the kiss. We finally let go, breathless.

"So...is that a yes?"

I rolled my eyes and kissed him again. "Yes, you idiot."

He smirked at me. "And the Diamond charm works again," he said with a wink.

I laughed. Well, isn't my prince just charming?