This will be kind of short. So will the next; I'm trying to build up excitement.
Kendall jumps up and stands in front of me protectively. I am shocked at this; usually he is on James' side, in any fight.
"What the hell were you thinking, man?" Kendall asks. "You break my baby sister's heart in front of a crowd of people?"
"Kendall-" James begins, stepping into the room. Kendall holds up a hand, palm turned to James.
"Save it," he says. "I can't believe you. Even if you don't love her like she wants, you still don't have to embarrass her in front of fifty people!" Kendall is angry, very angry. He has always been protective of me- but he's never had to protect me from one of his best friends.
James shuffles his feet. "I'm sorry." His voice is so miserably repentant that I want to forgive him. But I can't do that, not after I saw the look on his face when he told me I was a little girl and that he'd never love me.
"Sorry, huh?" Jo asks suddenly. I forgot she is even here. She is as angry as Kendall, maybe more so.
"Yeah!" he says, actually raising his eyes from the floor. "I'm sorry!"
My voice barely rises above a whisper. "Sorry isn't enough."
Everyone looks at me.
"I'm sorry," he pleads for the third time. I just look away, and his voice rises. "What do you guys expect me to do? What can I do? I'm not gonna grab her up in my arms and suddenly love her!"
My face flushes and I look at the floor.
He walks closer to me. "Is that what you expected? Huh?"
"You bastard," Jo says. "Don't even begin-"
"Begin to what?" he exclaims. "I-I-I-I don't even know what to do!" He pauses, pulling at his hair. "Suddenly my best friend's little sister says she loves me, and I have absolutely no idea what I'm supposed to do!"
My head is so confused right now I can't even remember to breathe. What is happening? Why is this happening?
I walk toward him, and put my hands on my hips. "Let's just pretend it never happened."
"I don't think I can do that."
"You're ridiculous!" I explode at this. "I'm still the same person, James! I still scheme and plot from time to time. I still loathe pink. Just because I love you doesn't mean that I'm suddenly a different girl!" I turn away from him, and hold back tears. They aren't tears of sadness, but of outrageous frustration.
"But you are different, Katie," he says quietly. "You aren't twelve anymore." He smiles a bit. "And now it just seems more real."
"Well, then how about we pretend it's not?" I ask. "Pretend it never happened."
"I just-"
"If you say 'I don't know' again, James, I swear I will slap you…again."
He bites his lip. "Fine."
"Good," I say. "Now that that's settled…Jo, Carlos, come on guys. I'm tired. As you know, I got in a catfight with Hollywood's biggest whore today, and that strains your joints quite a bit. Let us lay ourselves down to sleep." And with that, I skip merrily to my room, leaving the rest of them out there wondering what just happened.
Once again, I know it's short. But the next one is better :)