Author's note: why did this chapter take so long? Because I had writer's block (and am studying for exams) but I'm mostly over that (well not exams those are approaching fast D:) Anyway enjoy.
"Now I'm about to give you my heart but remember just one thing I've never been in love before so you gotta go easy on me."
Jo threw her iPod at the wall and it made a sad depressed sound before it faded to black. She was going to regret that on the impending plane ride, but right now nothing was more satisfying to see.
Now if only Kendall's voice wasn't echoing in her head.
"I heard love is dangerous, and once you fall you never get enough. But the thought of you leaving ain't so easy for me."
Jo sat down at her dresser; the stupid vanity mirror ensured that staring at herself was unavoidable. She could hear her big sister's voice in her head "always look your best when your breaking someone's heart- let them know what they're going to miss." Jo would never usually listen to her twice divorcée sister about romance or well... anything. But she could help but at least put a little effort in.
She was going to crush Kendall.
Her phone rang breaking the cold suffocating self imposed silence Jo had been trying to suffocate herself with.
She was grateful she had changed her old 'Big Time Rush' ring tone to a band Mercedes enjoyed in an effort to bond with her. Leaving Kendall was hard enough as it was without the constant audial reminders of him. It was the reason she had been avoiding the radio for the time being.
She watched her phone vibrate angrily, reaching closer and closer to the edge of her vanity table. Threatening at any second to suicide dive off and shatter into a million pieces. Jo picked up the phone, because after all. She had already needless destroyed her iPod.
"Jo" and alarmed voice filled the room, she knew that voice anywhere and it oddly calming to hear a voice she wasn't going to miss. "Is it true you're quitting New Town High?"
"It's still up in the air right now Jett- but yeah it looks that way," she looked once more in the mirror, and it felt a little easier this time. It was easier when she remembered all the great, wonderful reasons HAD to do this, not all the heart breaking, scary reasons that made her want to stay.
She could picture Jett's face, picture perfect but scrunched up in that unreadable expression he sometimes shot her with. His voice had a different quality than usual that she couldn't quite place but she didn't want to waste her time figuring out the inner most workings of Jett Stenson. I mean- who did?
"How did you even get out of your contract?" he demanded, he actually sounded a little distressed but Jo figured it was because if she left mid season all his storylines would need to be retooled. "I haven't yet- but there's a clause-" she could practically hear the underused gears in Jett's brain working- that poor little hamster in it's wheel must be working over time…
"That if you get a part in a major motion picture… you're released from your contract…"
"You read my contract?" she asked not sure whether to be outraged or not "oh please." he let out one of his airier laughs. "I read ALL my co-stars contracts… that's how I know which co-star to date!"
"Goodbye Jett" she sighed "WAIT!" he yelled panicky "what I called to ask was why you hadn't already quit- I know the Magic Gallows is practically in pre-production, you should already be on location not in some hotel in California?"
"I know, I know" she hated talking to Jett, just when she thought she had him nailed down- he'd act like a completely different person. Almost like a break in character. "So what is it then? Family? Friends? The guy who's WAY less attractive than me?"
Jo coughed and he laughed at her, it was infuriating trying to have a conversation with that boy. "I'm not laughing at you Jo- just… let me give you some friendly advice" he told her, his voice slippery like oil "Don't compromise yourself for someone else." The words were oddly sincere "sometimes it feels like your giving up a lot… just make sure everything balances out. So that you're not giving up more than your getting."
"But what do I know" he jumped back into his snotty Jett-esk voice "it's not like I'VE ever had to decide between a big eye browed boy bander or my career." Jo's eyes narrowed "though if I had been in your situation I would never have picked someone from a boy band- maybe a handsome co-star…"
"So you're thinking of dating a male co-star, Jett?" She asked sarcastically "it's about time you came out of the closet- all those looks you've been giving my boyfriend… well I know it must have been tearing you up inside."
"JETT STENSON IS NOT GAY! AND IF HE WAS HE WOUD NEVER SINK SO LOW TO HAVE SOME KIND OF ATTRACTION TO A PUCK SLINGING NEANDERTHAL LIKE KENDALL KNIGH-"
"I'm hanging up on you Jett."
"WHAT? No one hangs up on Jett Stenso-" Jo snapped her phone shut with a satisfied smile on her face and a new outlook on life. And to think Jett Stenson had helped clear everything up for her! Usually the most Jett Stenson gave anyone was a night they'd want to forget and a future appointment to the free clinic.
She punched in her speed dial, she had been putting this off long enough.
"Hey Kendall, it's Jo. Could you meet me down in the lobby, there's something I need to talk to you about."
******BTR******
"Door troll- you're in my way" Camille declared pointing her finger in Derek's face. "Well Camille that's certainly not how you ask for someone to move," he told her in amusement (he did after all work for the Griffin's- so he was technically used to being spoken to in this manner.)
"Yes, but I have been standing here for ten minuets" she tapped her foot impatiently, "and no matter how nice I am to you, you refuse to let me in." She crosses her arms and stares longingly at Mercedes' pink bedazzled door- her plan to talk to Mercedes was not going to plan seeing as she couldn't get passed the front door.
"You're not on the list" he waved a clipboard in her face and she snatched it deftly from his hands. "This just says you, me and daddy on it" she exclaimed he snatched the clipboard back. "No" he said defensively "she also doodled some flowers in the corner here" he pointed to the elaborate pink flowers in corner of the paper. He flipped the sheet over "and the help" he added in annoyance.
"You're not the help?" Camille asked curiously, "I think she means hotel staff and NO! I am not 'the help' thank you very much." He crossed his arms taking his previous 'gaurdy' stance and Camille flounced off. She didn't care Mercedes was in one of her moods- Camille needed someone to talk to, and currently Mercedes was the only option.
Camille reappeared moments later in a maid outfit and a short black wig "room service?" she said with a smile, Derek laughed "and you just happened to have a maid costume on hand?" she gave him a grin "I'm an actress Derek- always be prepared to slip into a role… also my anniversary is coming up soon…"
"Nice" he snorted "I still can't let you in." she sighed "very well" she smacked him in the face with her tray and kicked him in the shin causing him to collapse to the floor, allowing her to slip into the apartment he had been guarding.
"Room service" she sang out and Mercedes appeared into view in pajama bottoms holding a tub of ice cream. Her eyes narrow "you're not room service" Camille put her hands on her hips, "I could be."
"But you're not" Mercedes gestured with her spoon violently and sunk into the couch, "please don't tell me my bodyguard is so incompetent he actually thought you were a maid" she rolled her eyes, implying exactly how incompetent she thought he was.
"Nah- I kicked him in the shins" Camille sniggered, Mercedes snorted "idiot."
There was a thump from outside the apartment and the door opened a crack "In the shin Mercedes!" Derek called out in obvious pain, "get back to work" she snapped and the door closed quietly.
"So what has brought on this sulk? Does it have something to do with you breaking off your friendship with Logan by text?" Camille inquired "oh and text? Really? Isn't that a little mean?"
"I am a little mean," Mercedes said sourly pulling a pillow into her lap "no you're not" Camille said easily. "A mean girl would have taken advantage of my freak out to make a move on my boyfriend" Mercedes' eyes widened "and so I realised your not much of a mean girl at all."
Mercedes laughed "I'll have you know I graduated 'most likely to be a massive bitch' in high school." Camille snorted "not untrue- but hey, this isn't high school… or at least it isn't for you."
"You haven't been acting like this is high school" she flopped down on the couch next to her friend, "so neither will I- frankly I can't really afford to loose another friend right now, so I'm willing to over look your crush for however long it takes you to get over it."
Mercedes stares at her like she's grown two heads, "really?" she asked suspiciously, "really, really" she confirmed lightly.
Mercedes grinned, it had all been a lot easier than she thought "wait a minuet… what do you mean loose ANOTHER friend?" Mercedes asked curiously, "Jo's got some movie deal- moving to New Zealand for a while I think… I donno… we'll skype or something I guess… I don't think she's really concerned with MY opinion right now."
Mercedes took in a sharp intake of breath and handed Camille the tube ice cream "this still has to suck for you" she wrapped her arm around her friend and everything felt a little better. Or at least it didn't feel any worse. "Thank you for not hating me" Mercedes muttered and Camille laughed softly and toed off her shoes so she could prop her feet on the table in front of the couch.
"Thank you for not doing anything that would make me want to hate you… just don't blow off Logan cause your scared, I promise I wont get jealous… and your clearly miserable without having him to talk to."
"Well… he is my only guy friend… maybe I've just been romanticizing him in my head" she sighed and Camille giggled "oh been there- he was the first relationship you had that felt real… you and I have that in common."
"Just remember not to steal my man," she added as an after thought.
Mercedes dropped her head to Camille's shoulder, "trust me- I wont forget… okay let's get off this depressing subject." Camille clucked her tongue and tapped her fingers against the couch- what was the proper Segway into talking about yourself?
"I got a leading role in 'steel butterfly'- I got the call back a few days ago."
That probably wasn't the correct way to Segway, but it seemed to had gotten the job done.
Mercedes jumped up pulling Camille with her, "well what are we doing here" she pushed Camille into her room. "We have to go out and celebrate!"
"Are you sure that's a good idea- remember the last time…" Camille hesitated "it's different this time" Mercedes assured and seemed to have perked up considerably.
"Besides this is HUGE! I want to hear all about it!"
Mercedes pushed Camille through to her room, doubtlessly to start dressing her up in clothes again. Camille let her, after all in a few short days she would have costume designers all over her, doing the same thing.
******BTR******
"And it will be shooting in New Zealand" she bit her lip, trying to gauge Kendall's reaction. He seemed to have gone stiff as a board "um Kendall" she snapped her fingers and he didn't even flinch "KENNNDDOOOL."
She tapped his chest lightly and much to her surprise he fell flat onto his back.
Logan and James appeared out of nowhere at either side of him. "He's okay, he's okay" the told her hoisting Kendall up from under his arms and depositing him face down on the couch.
Logan looked around "that's odd" he muttered and James nodded. "What's odd?" Jo asked fearfully "Carlos isn't here..."
"Why is that odd?" Jo asked, the boys shrugged "well... we're usually all conveniently in one place when one of us faints..." Logan said in a concerned tone "Kendall calls it a cosmic event" James said proudly and then snickers "Logan calls it his spidy sense- but his works for all sorts of other events than just shock."
Logan nodded sagely "someone has to keep you lot in line- anyway I think Carlos is out with Jennifer." James made a face "Jennifer" he mimicked in an annoyed tone, "seems like all he ever does is hang out with Jennifer- God why does everyone have a girlfriend but me."
"Because we're not emotionally and romantically stunted like you are" Logan quipped easily and he shakes Kendall's shoulder, surprised when the boy doesn't rouse. "Wow he's REALLY out of it… what did you say to him?"
"I told him I was offered the role of Hermea in the movie Chauncey Jackson & the Magic Gallows," she told them.
James and Logan's mouths hang open and they stood dumb for a second as well. Jo clucked her tongue in fear- those rabid BTR fans would never forgive her if she broke not one, not two but THREE of the band members! She edged forward and poked Logan lightly on the chest. Just like magic they both sprang back to life.
And came charging straight towards her for a hug her.
They settle for circling her, arms connected and moving like an odd game of ring-around-the-rosie. "Congratulations Jo" Logan cheered "yeah" James added enthusiastically "we're SO proud of you!"
To say Jo was blown away would be an understatement, she couldn't think of an instance where she felt to genuinely touched by someone's praise. So this was when she had to tell them:
"It's a three movie deal."
James actually grabbed her by the waist and spun her around "this is AHMAZING news! The Chancy Jackson movies are like ridiculously popular!" he grinned and sang "you're gonna be faammmoouuus."
"It's being shot in New Zealand."
James dropped her and she fell hard to the ground. "Oh no" Logan paled and then crouched down so he was face to face with the still unmoving Kendall. "Kendall… buddy?" he said in a small voice, running his fingers through the blonde's hair "speak to me, will ya?"
"You're really leaving?" James asked in concern (she knew it was concern for Kendall rather than the thought of her leaving, but she still felt a little touched they both looked so miserable.)
"No actually, I turned the role down… I… couldn't get out of my 'New Town High' contract."
Kendall jumped up and knocked Logan flat on his back, "why didn't you say so?" he picked her up and spun her around "I'm SO sorry you couldn't get out of your contract" he hugged her. She smiled, well aware he was doing his 'happy dance thing' behind her back.
James helped Logan up off the floor; the taller boy dusted him off like a concerned mother hen until Logan grabbed his arm to still him. "You really couldn't get out of your contract?" Logan asked skeptically and Jo froze, if Logan worked out she was lying he would tell Kendall. And Kendall would ABSOLUTLY tell her to put her career before him…
Because that's the kind of guy he was.
Curse you Logan Mitchell.
"Oh um ya uh," she said vaguely "oh look at the time" she looked at her wrist- which was unfortunately wrist watch free (because who wore watches now that everyone had phones anyway?)
"Gotta run!"
She sped off and left a very confused boyfriend behind, but she trusted his boys could take care of him. She was confident Kendall would never know what she was sacrificing for their relationship- after all it's not like he knew anything about the movie business.
What she didn't know was that a smaller, more industry savvy Knight had heard the whole exchange.
******BTR******
Things were not going well for Stephanie.
Stephanie had planned everything out perfectly (well Mercedes had stopped moping about Logan temporarily to plan- Stephanie was a little bit shit at planning.)
She had pre-booked time with Carlos THREE days in advance so they could hang out and not clash with Jennifer's needy, annoying dating schedule.
It was her plan to show Carlos a good, stress free relaxing time out and hopefully he would realise what a good perspective girlfriend she could be. Mercedes admitted that this wasn't her most schemeous of schemes but she was in a funk so Stephanie would just have to deal (that and give her half hourly text updates on how the non-date was going- because Mercedes was nothing if not a good friend.)
Stephanie had even factored in bumps along the way- Carlos WAS dating a Jennifer after all. What she had not expected was actual gate crashing.
"Ew- do they really expect us to sit in those things?" Blonde Jennifer said in disgust, making a face at the go-cart. "I assume you would know Jennifer" she said threw gritted teeth "I mean you and your gal pal got a hankering for go-carting I'm assuming you know how to play."
She looked over longingly at the next two person go-cart where Carlos was talking enthusiastically to his girlfriend. "Oh god no- I'm just here because Jenny was concerned about you trying to steal her man."
Stephanie's head snapped up "what that ridiculous!" her voice went high and squeaky. "That's what I said" she agreed, sitting gingerly on one half of the cart "I mean you're not even pretty."
Stephanie sat down hard into the cart, jostling the blonde. "Erg" the blonde sighed "and you clearly have the grace of a baby elephant- don't you dumbo?"
Stephanie jerked the cart into motion, and the mean girl jerked with it. Her face collided into the pole. "Gee- sorry" Stephanie told her insincerely "no problem" the girl hissed back.
It turned out the blonde girl was competitive in the way her similarly name counterpart was not and they immediately began ramming into Carlos and Jennifer with little remorse. "Turn left! Turn left!" the girl commanded and Stephanie snorted, "I heard you" and then immediately turned right just to irritate her.
"So where is the other one?" Stephanie asked curiously, looking around for the missing Jennifer. "Learning lines or something- she was trying to hunt Camille down so they could work out character dynamics or something- I don't know I wasn't paying attention."
"Lines with Camille?" Stephanie asked curiously, Jennifer raised an eyebrow at her "hasn't she told you-" Stephanie's phone beeped.
Just got some HUGE news from Camille- after your done meet us at Café Kiki le' Fleur were gonna grab some food and chat.
"No" she admitted and snapped her phone shut "but I guess I will soon…"
Jennifer rolled her eyes "Camille got a role on that silly sci-fi show," she told Stephanie. "WHAT?" she shrieked excitedly, and let go of the steering wheel, crashing them into a stack of tires. "OW! God will you watch it!" The blonde shrieked, not that Stephanie was listening she was to busy texting incomprehensible congratulations to Camille.
"Do you know what role she got? I thought she said Kataline was the only female character worth a damn in the book!"
"She was" Jennifer explained, "which was totally sexist so the producers demanded they change one of the leading roles to a female character. So in what their calling a bold move, the son of the captain Chel- the one who was the charismatic leader and eventually hooked up with Kataline is now Rachel; the captain's DAUGHTER."
"So… is that still other stuff still going to happen?" Stephanie asked, she didn't think Camille would be terribly phased playing a lesbian… playing a lesbian opposite a Jennifer however was a completely different matter… "No I think they're switching the relationships- apparently Chel had this really intense friendship with his best friend Yon. So now Chel is going to have the romantic relationship with him and the intense friendship with Kataline."
"How do you know all this?" Stephanie asked curiously "cause Jennifer wont shut up about it! Apparently they've had to insert major character development into Kataline because she's no longer the 'love interest' they've had to flesh out her character. They're going for multitalented nerdy extrovert- She's going to have more to do with the sci-fi stuff now I guess, they turned her into the ship's doctor or something. I tend to zone out when she starts talking about her character."
A bumper car rams into them and they both look up to see Jennifer and Carlos innocently looking back. "Not our fault" Carlos jeered "yeah" Jennifer agreed, "you guys haven't moved in ages."
Stephanie sighed as her 'bumper car buddy' got that completive look in her eye again.
Her phone beeped again, this time a message from Logan.
Are you at the Palmwoods right now?
She quickly typed 'no y?' before Jennifer had them speeding off again, her phone beeped back almost immediately but she couldn't check as her attention needed to be on the road again.
"So you don't sound to happy for your friend" Stephanie decided to try and strike up a conversation again. "It's not that- but they'll be shooting in the desert you know- I guess I don't want to get excited for something that's gonna take my best friend away."
Stephanie spared a quick look at the blonde before focusing back on the road, it was weird seeing Jennifer as human- and not just a blob of evilness around to ruin things and look awesome while doing it. Well not completely awesome… she had some white feathers stuck in her hair, which seemed a bit messy.
"Plus- she has to play this super smart character who is all awkward and gun shy but still has to be an action character. I mean where is she even going to find inspiration for that character?" Jennifer complained, Stephanie laughed "sounds a bit like Logan" she thought of his random message- she was dying to know what he'd texted her about.
"Ergh Logan Mitchell?" She asked in a disgusted tone, Stephanie cocked her head "you don't like Logan?" She asked curiously, she remembered not liking Logan all that much when they first got to know each other. But she couldn't wrap her head around the genuine dislike in the blonde girl's tone. Jennifer made a face "I don't have an opinion about him one way or the other" in a voice that clearly suggested she did.
Stephanie pulled over the cart, their session ended. Carlos bounded over and hugged her; she wanted it to feel great. The boy she liked was hugging her, but it felt hollow with his girlfriend two steps behind him.
Maybe she should just give up on Carlos…
"This was really fun Steph!" he swung her around "thank you SO much for convincing me to come!" then he whispered, "though I wished you and me could have hung out some more."
"Why don't we all grab some food?" Jennifer suggested, but Stephanie shook her head "I have to meet up with Camille and Mercedes- we're going to celebrate her landing that role… thanks anyway."
The brunette Jennifer cocked her head and flipped her hair releasing something white into the air (there were those damn feathers again, was she missing some kind of weird trend?) "Are you sure you can't come Stephanie?" The blonde Jennifer cleared her throat and glared at her friend "of course she can't come Jenny didn't you hear her? I've got to go as well- so it'll just be you two."
"Oh… okay" Carlos said looking put out and grabbed his girlfriend's hand "see ya around then Stephanie?" Stephanie smiled and nodded; maybe she and Mercedes should have a sleepover so they could talk about how they were TOTALLY over their crushes from Big Time Rush.
She walked away and flipped her phone on; at least she could see why Logan had texted her- though from the look of it, the first text had been addressed to everybody.
'The masked assailant struck again- they broke into my apartment.'
Stephanie bit her lip, this whole this with someone messing with Logan was getting way out of hand. It didn't seem like they were doing it for any particular reason either. She typed back 'that sucks! What'd they do?'
Almost an instant reply.
'Just messed up Kendall and my room- used our pillows and had some kind of pillow fight… I'm going to be cleaning up feathers for hours '
Son of a bitch.
Stephanie fumbled with her phone, punching in a number angrily waiting for the answer.
"Hello?"
"Hey it's me" Stephanie replied clipped "just out of curiosity- how good are you at forming plans and manipulating people?"
"Only totally awesome why?
"I think I have a project for you."
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