A/N: Hello again everyone! I figured since everyone is curious about the double date, I won't torture you by making you wait forever! :P

But before we get to that, I would like to give a huge thank you to Side1ways, RainbowDiamonds, winterschild11, Guest, and spookje10 for reviewing!

I hope you all enjoy!


Lucy soaked up his idea.

Katie needed a little greasing.

Her bedroom was a case study in black-and-white for orientation purposes. Tonight, Katie lay on her bed listening to a book.

Kendall set a box of chocolates next to her, swinging onto the bed as she paused her story.

She popped a chocolate in her mouth. "What do you want?"

"You to be happy."

Her brows shot to her hairline. "You suck at lying."

"But I do want you to be happy."

"Yes, but that's not why you came in here."

"Skating." He blurted. His hands were clammy and his heartbeat doubled.

"Skating?" She cocked her head. "You've caught my interest."

He waited until she started nibbling on a chocolate truffle. "Thought you might like to go Friday night."

"I knew you were buttering me up." She shook her head. "I'm not going on your date."

Kendall crossed his arms and slouched back into the fluffy checkered pillow. "Tyler manages a small rink, and he owes me. He's keeping it open for us ten to midnight after it's officially closed. I want you there. Lucy does too."

She stopped, a chocolate truffle touching her lip. "You asked Lucy and she didn't mind?"

"I suggested you and James come for that part of the evening. She was super easy going."

"Me and James." She repeated, then bit her lip. "Has he agreed to this?"

"Not yet, but he will."

Her brows scrunched together like she didn't believe it.

Kendall would make sure James came. "You know how much you love the thrill of skating."

Katie set the box of chocolates on her lap, tugging them away from Kendall when he tried to snag another one.

"I'll come if James does."

XxX

Kendall took a cup of berry tea to James' bedroom where he was working. James typed, deleted, then bounced his finger off the side of the desk when he figured out the perfect phrasing and typed again.

Kendall set the cup down on the side of the desk. "Cup of tea for you there." Kendall said after a minute. Usually he didn't say anything, but tonight he wanted his attention.

But clearly, stating the obvious wasn't cutting it. James didn't so much as glance Kendall's way.

"Not even a thank you? Or, how'd you read my mind? Or, you're the best?"

James nodded.

Kendall sat on the edge of the desk, tempted to flick James in the ear. "You have no idea what I said, do you?"

James' fingers paused on the keyboard and he slowly lifted that startling hazel gaze. "Something about me being the best. But I already got that memo."

Kendall swatted the back of James' head. The tea between Kendall and the laptop almost spilled over the edge, so James moved the cup to a coaster on the bookshelves that lined the wall to the en suite bathroom door.

Because of course that's what his first response would be.

James leaned back. "Two minutes. What's up, Kendall?"

Kendall scowled. "Fine, all you have to say is yes, anyway."

"Yes?"

Kendall jumped off James' desk. "See? How easy was that?"

He made to leave the room but James grabbed his arm. His chair swiveled a bit so they were facing each other. James rested his head back as he looked up and waited.

"You're coming tomorrow," Kendall started. "On my date with Lucy."

"No."

Kendall had expected James to frown but he was not expecting vehement rejection.

"You wouldn't be crashing it. I want you there."

"When will you start making sense?"

"Let me try again. We have an entire roller skating rink to ourselves tomorrow night. With a little guidance, Katie loves the intense thrill of skating and it would be weird if it were just Lucy, Katie, and me. If you came along, it would even things up and be more fun." Kendall stared at James' full lips. It'd be fun and James would finally smile.

"No." James said again.

"What? Why not? Can you not skate or something?"

"That's not the reason."

"What is then?"

"You'll be getting close to a woman. That's not exactly something I want to see."

Kendall cocked his head. "I didn't peg you for prudish."

James tugged Kendall so sharply, Kendall buckled and fell half onto James' lap. One knee slipped between James' thighs and he had to brace his other hand on James' shoulder or else they'd have smacked heads. James squeezed his thighs against his leg. "I am not prudish."

Between James' strong grip, his steady stare, the heat radiating from him where he pressed against Kendall's thigh, the sudden and soft swipe of his thumb over the hairs of Kendall's forearm...the deep shiver was difficult to quash.

Kendall felt his breath bounce off James' stubble and fan back over his lips. "Prove it then. Come along tomorrow."

"You're impossible."

James let go of his arm and Kendall, a little disoriented, pushed to his feet. He blinked at James once, twice before shaking it off. "Is that a yes?"

"Katie is going?"

"Of course."

James looked at his watch. He stood and moved to his door. It was already half open, but James widened it and gestured for Kendall to come.

Kendall followed him outside his room.

"So you'll come then?"

"I shouldn't."

Kendall liked the sound of that and grinned. "Shouldn't, but will? Because you're my best friend and that's what best friends do?"

James stepped back into the doorway and stared at him. "Your two minutes are up." He shut the door in Kendall's face.

XxX

Lucy was all smiles when Kendall met her at the pizza parlor next door to the skating rink. The place was thriving with customers, and the stone-baked pizzas smelled amazing.

They had thirty minutes to eat before Katie and James arrived for some skating action. They sat in a window booth and ordered one large pizza.

She was easy to chat with, and he liked that she didn't give a shit about stuffing her face with cheesy meat madness. Kendall liked her.

He did.

Kendall leaned an elbow on the table, fist under his jaw, other hand playing with the straw in his Coke. "Did you vote in the last election?"

"Do you ask all your dates that question?" She asked, laughing.

Kendall smiled. "It's been a while since I've dated, but yes. This is a stock question."

"I guess it would quickly assess our compatibility."

The word compatibility made him think of his horoscope. Aries. He shifted in his seat. "Are you stalling, Ms. Stone?"

"I voted. You want to know who I voted?"

"Nope. I just need to know you did."

"My turn."

Kendall slurped his Coke and eyed her as she tucked her hair behind her ears.

"What's your favorite book, and please don't let it be Catcher in the Rye."

"Why the hell not?" Kendall asked.

"Because that would mean you haven't picked up a book of your own accord since high school."

Kendall shook his head. "I haven't picked up a book of my own accord since high school."

"You're kidding."

"I'm not." He grinned. "But I do read all the books Katie tells me to. My favorite? Almost anything by Margaret Atwood, but I'm especially a fan of Oryx and Crake and The Year of the Flood. I am adding this question to my stock, by the way. Now fess up, your favorite book is Anne Of Green Gables, isn't it?"

Lucy punched his shoulder. "Just because I have red in my hair and I like to read?"

"And your strong personality."

"I take it you've read the books then?"

"Blame it on Katie." He'd read them aloud to her after her sight began to worsen.

"I do love the series." Lucy admitted. "But my absolute favorite book is-"

A familiar car pulling into the parking lot stole Kendall's attention. It was dark outside except for a few rows of lamps along the path, but enough light pooled over the side of James' car that Kendall could see James as he climbed out. He opened the door for Katie and offered his shoulder.

Katie said something to him and grinned. James just looked up toward the skating rink in response to whatever she said and rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand.

"...because of the character development and romance."

Kendall refocused on Lucy and nodded. "Nice."

"Have you read it?"

"Can't say I've had the pleasure."

He inclined his head toward the window. "Romeo and Juliet have arrived."

They shuffled out of their booth, dumping their trash in the bins on the way out. Lucy thanked him for dinner and called out Katie's name as they hit the sidewalk around the parking lot.

Katie and James halted ten yards away.

Lucy raced ahead, warning Katie she was going in for a hug, and James stepped back as Lucy's arms flung out. He watched Lucy for a few moments as if trying to figure something out. The flashing neon lights may have skewed Kendall's perspective, but Kendall thought he saw James' jaw twitch.

Surely the guy wasn't that possessive? Especially since he hadn't staked his claim.

Kendall winked when James peeked over the girls' heads at him. James frowned and looked away.

"I'm amused so far." Lucy said. "Let's see how good he can skate."

"I can skate circles around you." Kendall said, sauntering past them as he walked toward a guy in a bright orange cap standing outside the skating rink.

Kendall bumped fists with Tyler and followed him inside. "Thanks for this." Kendall said as they moved to a counter with rentable skates, the others trailing behind.

"No problem. Thanks for building my website. Interest in my work has already doubled." Tyler smiled before ducking behind the counter. "I'm going to get intimate with this overdue essay until you're done." He hooked his thumb toward a double set of doors where Kendall knew the rink and surrounding benches were. "Do you have the music you want me to put on for you? I left the lights and the floor is in good shape."

Lucy, Katie, and James walked to the counter. Katie smiled broadly. "Did someone say something about music?"

"I made us a playlist." Kendall said, handing over a USB stick.

Tyler took it and set it on the counter. "Sweet. What sizes are you?"

After they were each handed a pair of skates, knee pads, wrist guards and helmet, Kendall beckoned them through the double doors to the rink.

A blast of neon lighting and the sweet scent of popcorn greeted them. Lucy sat down on one of the benches at the side of the rink. Kendall followed and sat next to her. They toed off their shoes and put on their gear. James and Katie sat at the other end of the bench and did the same.

A minute later, music blared from the speakers, filling the rink with pulse and expectation.

Katie squealed when she heard AC/DC's Thunderstruck, which also slammed energy into Kendall. Katie enthusiastically yelled to the music, Lucy tucked her hair under her helmet looking toward the rink with purpose, and James was still removing his shoes. Slowpoke.

Kendall rolled toward the rink entrance, almost forgetting to take Lucy with him. He grabbed her hand and set off, glancing again at James.

As soon as his wheels hit the smooth wooden floors, he and Lucy broke apart and skated in earnest. Kendall glided across the spacious floors. The second time he hit the oval curve, Van Halen's Jump came on, he hopped around and skated backward.

He stopped with a confident thrust in front of the benches where Katie was still waiting on James, who was watching Kendall instead of lacing up his skates.

"I know, right?" Kendall said in response to James' staring. "I can really move." He moved off the rink to to his sister. "One round with me while James figures out how to tie his laces?"

James leveled him with a look that promised to make Kendall pay for that.

Katie accepted Kendall's hand, and he skated with her, slower this time.

"We haven't done this in ages. I forgot how much of a rush it is. How's Lucy?"

Lucy was confident on the rink. She didn't know how to skate backward and had slowed to watch him as he had shown off, but she was more than steady on her feet.

He looked across the rink at Lucy elegantly cutting a corner. "Lucy is great." Kendall said.

And yet…

"She passed your stock-exam, then?" His sister asked.

"Very funny. But yes, she passed."

"That sounded unsure."

He agreed, but he just couldn't pinpoint why.

"Can I ask a question?" Katie said. "Are you still comparing everyone you meet to Jo?"

Kendall slowed slightly. Actually, he hadn't once thought of Jo at all tonight. "No, I...no."

Katie smiled. "Maybe you'll end up dancing with your date and not caring about the wedding after all."

Lucy skated by, flashing him a smile. He forced one back, swallowing hard as he said to Katie, "I guess. You'll be lucky too. Trust me, I'm working on it." Kendall gently squeezed her hand as they rounded a curve. "Now let me deliver you to James and get back to my date."

He almost came to a halt as he caught sight of James at the edge of the rink.

"We're gliding to a stop now." He told Katie, fighting the urge to laugh so he didn't throw them off balance.

James' jeans were tucked into his skates. He wore knee pads, wrist guards, and the helmet. But it was the way he pressed his lips in a flat, determined line as he stared at the shiny wooden floors, white-knuckling the rail that curved around the rink wall for dear life that got Kendall.

Kendall tossed up a laugh-groan. "You don't know how to skate, do you?"

James responded tightly. "I'm sure it can't be too hard."

"I wondered if that was why you didn't want to come."

"It was a reason, but not the reason."

Kendall cocked his head. The frustration peeking through the gaps of James' cool made Kendall want to crack a smile.

He planned to milk the moment. Bathe in its rarity. "So this is what Mr. James Diamond at a loss looks like."

"Gloating does not look good on you." He said. Then amended tightly. "At least it doesn't get me on the rink."

James step-rolled onto the wooden floor, buckling in half as he tried to get some balance. He braced himself with a palm to the floor.

Kendall chuckled. He led an amused Katie to the wall and moved in front of James, who had pushed himself upright but was bent awkwardly at the knees like he was on a surfboard.

Kendall grabbed his forearms, shifting his wheels to share his balance.

Lucy rolled up to them. "I'm guessing this hiccup wasn't part of your plan, Kendall?"

"Plan?" James asked.

No, it wasn't part of his plan. He'd imagined James dominating the rink like he did the badminton court. He'd thought James would be having the time of his life while cozying up to Katie on his arm. "No way am I having Bambi here leading the blind."

Katie pouted. "The night's already over?"

James tried to straighten, but one leg zipped forward and it took all of Kendall's poise and strength to correct him before he fell on his ass.

"I can sit out." James offered, and Kendall tightened his grip on him.

"I don't want to be the third wheel." Katie said. "Or, wheels, in this case."

"How about Katie and me skate," Lucy suggested. "While Kendall shows James a few moves? We can switch it up in a bit."

Katie stretched out an arm and waited for Lucy to take her hand, and with that settled, the girls were off.

"I suppose I deserve that smirk." James muttered.

Kendall slid his fingers down James' arm to clutch his warm hand. James gripped him like a lifesaver, wrist guards tapping together.

Kendall pulled James into the middle of the rink.

"If you tug me any more, I'm going to do the splits. I can't guarantee I'm that flexible."

"Stop, please." Kendall said on the tail end of a snicker. "Or I'm gonna piss my pants."

"Feel free. It might make us even on the humiliation scale."

Kendall enjoyed taking over the role of teacher, showing James how to use the stoppers on his skates and warning him that it was easier to keep moving than stay still. "Push one skate out and lean with the force, then push the other. Make sure your feet move at an angle like this."

Kendall circled around slowly for him to watch, then he finished with a cocky little back glide, spinning to a stop an inch from James. "Your turn."

James' gaze slowly swept down him to his skates."You look...very good at that."

"And you look fucking adorable trying not to topple over." Kendall said, grinning. "Now get moving."

James knocked on his helmet for luck and got moving. It took three Michael Jackson songs, two Prince songs, two Bon Jovi songs-and one spectacular slide on his ass-before James stopped grumbling about how skating ranked up there with his distaste of headless mannequins.

Lucy and Katie skated around them with Lucy occasionally throwing them a tip. She seemed happy chatting with his sister, which is why Kendall encouraged her to keep skating with Katie when she offered to take over guiding James.

Over the last few chords of "Beat It" Kendall said to Lucy and Katie, "He's not a lost cause. It'll only take a couple more songs."

"A couple." Lucy said slowly. "Right."

James tracked Lucy as she steered Katie across the floor, holding himself stiffer. He opened his mouth to speak, but Kendall had started skating backward, beckoning James to follow.

"I can guarantee after these songs," Kendall said. "You'll be semi-proficient at skating."

"My not-bruised ass cheek fears otherwise."

"Tell it to trust me."

James shook his head. "What's the game?"

"Tag me by the end of the next song and I'll cook us dinner tomorrow night. Like, peeling potatoes, boiling, and mashing them. Without anyone's help."

That caught James' attention. He increased his speed and focus. Kendall skated out of his reach, forcing him to try harder.

"What if I manage it by the end of whatever this is that's playing?"

"Let's keep it real."

"Let's just say I do, what do I get then?"

"What do you want?"

"I don't know yet. A free truth or dare I can use at any time?"

"Next you'll be telling me we should play Spin the Bottle."

James toppled forward, correcting himself before he fell.

"Considering your lack of chances…" Kendall chuckled. "I should warn you. Fail to tag me on this song and I get the free truth or dare. Fail on the second, you scrub those potatoes."

"Like I wouldn't anyway. But okay, let's do this."

Kendall scanned the rink for Lucy and Katie to know where he should be extra careful.

James skated steadily toward him. "They're at the benches watching us."

Good. Better, even. "Hope you don't get performance anxiety."

James' eyes practically became slits as he lunged at him but Kendall scooted out of the way.

James changed tactics, keeping a modest pace. "How do you think your date is going?"

"Fine."

"Are you sure about that? You've been helping me for most of it."

"Lucy seems happy chatting with Katie. She's cool."

James' lurch and outstretched arm Kendall predicted, not so much his next question. "Do you like her?"

"She nice."

"Nice? Just nice, Kendall?"

James was trying to make him lose his concentration. It slowed him down a fraction, but James would have to work harder than that.

"I asked her a bunch of compatibility questions over dinner."

"Do you do that with all your dates?"

Another swipe too far to the left.

Kendall grinned. "And prospective friends."

That piqued James' interest. "What are the questions?"

"Why, do you want to play?"

"I'm already your friend, according to one particular paper cup. The questions don't really apply to me."

"They do, but asking would be like double-checking sheep have wool."

"You know there are breeds of sheep that grow hair instead of wool, right?"

"Fine. I see what you're saying. Have you ever voted?"

"Yes."

"See, I knew that."

"How did you know that?"

"Because I respect you too much for you not to have voted."

James' glide slowed for a moment before he picked up his pace again. "Next question."

"Really, Mr. James Diamond, there's no point."

Kendall knew James grew up with a brother, and that their dog passed away the day after his sixteenth birthday, which was the reason he cancelled his party at the last minute. He knew James' dream job would be working as an economics journalist doing podcasts such as Freakonomics but wouldn't mind becoming an economics professor.

He knew James kicked ass on the badminton court and liked hiking but not running, and was more of a drama-comedy television person than an action movie guy. He knew James liked music but except for a select few, could never remember the titles or artists. If James could only eat one thing for the rest of his life it would be salad sandwiches.

Kendall knew James' fake pet peeve was when Kendall propped his feet up. James loved to drink coffee when he was out and in the morning but fruity teas at home. Kendall knew James grew up next door to Dak and that they were still best friends.

"What's that look for?" James asked, almost tagging him this time as Kendall snapped out of his thoughts.

The first song began fading out.

Kendall anticipated James' last-ditch attempt at grabbing him, scowl morphing into a grin. "That's a free truth-or-dare card for me. How much do you want to see me sweat potatoes?"

Blondie's One Way or Another played, and Kendall laughed at the way James literally embodied the song, skating faster and lunging in time to the beat. His intense gaze screamed how much he wanted to tag him.

Kendall curled his finger, taunting him. "Come on. Show me what you're made of."

Another ill-timed lunge, but James cleanly readjusted.

"Gonna have to come at me harder than that."

James pushed toward him, gliding on his skates.

"Faster."

James thrust forward and this time it was close. Kendall jerked in response. "Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. Again."

James came at him, harder and faster until he was grunting with effort. Kendall felt it too, in his tight limbs and shaky breath.

The song was winding up to its end.

James might not have tagged him, but he was finally getting the hang of skating. So smooth and confident, turning corners with the right amount of thrust.

"Kendall!" James called out.

Kendall stopped skating and turned around at his name being called and James came out of nowhere, tackling him, body crashing against his. They collapsed to the floor, the wind escaping Kendall's lungs. James lay on top of him chest to chest, with James' thigh close to Kendall's crotch and James' hands on either side of his head.

They were nose to nose, helmets almost touching. "You must really want to see me peel potatoes." Kendall scanned James' face, lingering on his mouth, searching for a hint of a smile. "You called out my name." His voice caught and he cleared his throat, wishing his heart would stop beating so freaking fast.

"It got me what I wanted."

"I can't promise dinner will taste any good."

"I bet it'll taste amazing."

"Amazing enough to get you on your knees and sing my praises?"

James' expression shuttered and he pushed up on his arms. Kendall wasn't ready for him to get up, though. His hands shot up, one balling James' T-shirt and the other covering his mouth, the hard shell of his wrist guard against the stubble at James' cheek.

James stilled, hazel eyes meeting his, imploring.

"This. I want more of this."

Then, muffled, "What do you mean?"

"This is why I wanted you here tonight. You've been acting off all week, but tonight is the first time you seem yourself again."

James seemed to search Kendall's face for something. Sincerity, maybe? If so, he'd find it.

Kendall pressed his fingers against James' lips. "You haven't smiled yet, though. I'm going to need you to do that."

The answer came hot on his fingers as Kendall felt James' lips twitch. He couldn't see the smile under his hand, but it was there in the sudden deepening of James eyes, some of the light that had been missing the past week returning, the slight crinkle at their edges, the stray lash on his cheekbone lifting.

"A+, Mr. James Diamond."

James shifted, and that marginal shift against his crotch had Kendall releasing James. "You'd better get off me or Lucy will get jealous, if you know what I mean."

James pushed to his skates and steadied himself with his stopper. It took a few deep breaths before Kendall did the same.

Out of the corner of his eye, Kendall saw Lucy gliding over the rink toward them. "Lucy." He said, saying her name with as much cheer as he could. "Shall we make a few rounds? James, check on Katie, yeah? You should be good enough to skate a slow lap with her."

James skated over in search of Katie and didn't look back.

Kendall snagged Lucy's hand and held it especially tight, as if it would stop the tremble of his body.

It had just been a while since he'd gotten laid, was all.

Anything rubbing up against him like that would have triggered the same response.

They made one round without speaking. On the second, when a new song started, he smiled at her. "I put this song on for you."

She scrunched up her face as she listened. "You want money?"

"This is by the Flying Lizards."

A small smile lit her face. "Cute, Kendall."

They skated another song before Lucy stopped in the middle of the rink in the same spot James had landed on him. Lucy smiled up at him, quick and pitiful. Kendall braced himself for bad news. "Look, I had fun tonight."

He laughed. "But…" He prompted, knowing it was coming.

"But I don't think we should go out again."

There it was. He sucked in a breath, his pride hurt. Lucy glanced at Katie and James, bit her lip, and shrugged. "You don't seem that into me and I want someone that is."

Kendall stuffed his hands into his pockets. "This was my first real date in a while. Guess I'm rusty."

"You're way better at it than you think. Just…" She gestured between them. "I don't think it should be us dating." She said, glancing once more in Katie and James' direction.

Kendall didn't know what to say. The spark that should have been there was definitely missing despite the fact that he genuinely liked her. "I hope you find that perfect someone. You're pretty great."

Lucy lifted onto her stoppers and kissed his cheek. "Right back at you, Ken."


Done! So yeah, the double date happened. And it seems that literally EVERYONE is noticing what's blatantly obvious except for the one person that needs to!

As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the chapter as well as if you had a favorite part/moment!

Next chapter will most likely be up within the next few days since I've already started it, so be on the lookout for that towards the middle of the week!

Until next time!

-Epically Obsessed