To: Logan
From: James
might wanna get K he's at the movies
James sighed as he slipped his phone back into his skinny jean's pocket, eyes moving from a blonde boy in the distance downwards in a sort of angry thoughtfulness. He always knew he was being a sucker, going after a straight boy with a girlfriend. But now…
Now, he was a fucking chump.
Because he was going after a straight boy with a girlfriend who was also fucking another boy for some side action—the total package, right? The kind you take home to mother. It was obvious why James was head over heels for him, right?
Yeah… no.
Right now, James didn't even know why. He deserved better. (And when he remembered that Kendall was, currently, still dating Jo, he thought she deserved better, too.) Hell, even Jett deserved better! (And that was saying something.)
James took one last look back—the blonde was still standing there, like a lost puppy waiting for someone to take it home, staring straight ahead—and shook his head.
"We all deserve better than you."
James wasn't the brightest crayon in the 64-pack, but as he model-walked away to the parking lot, the pretty boy knew that one sentence was the smartest thing he had ever said in his life.
"How was your date?" Carlos asked as soon as he walked through the door. James could tell just by the suggestive tone that Carlos was smirking, maybe even winking as he said it. He assumed by that that Logan had told the Latino about James' little secret crush.
"Your mom." And really, James wanted to say something meaner, something that summed up how he felt inside, something that if broadcasted on national T.V., you wouldn't be able to tell what he was saying there'd be so many censors. But he refrained 'cause cursing at Carlos was like kicking a puppy. You just didn't do it.
Carlos' big eyes were on him in a second, looking up at him with concern and wonder. "What happened?"
"Already told you, your mom," was James' brilliant response. At the hurt gleam that started shining in those brown eyes, James sighed, dropping down on the orange couch and letting his head fall back against the headrest. After the pause, he answered honestly, "Bad."
He spared Carlos all the ugly, rated M details, just finishing with, "Worst day since The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air ended."
It was a very dark day in Diamond history, indeed.
It wasn't their fault, James knew, and they were only trying to help, but he just couldn't take it, anymore! He was tired of the concerned, I'm-sorry-the-guy-you-love-is-an-asshole looks Logan would give him every time he was within a three feet radius. He was sick of the small, not nearly as happy as they should be, smiles from Carlos every time he dared to meet those big, brown eyes.
He just couldn't take their sympathy.
James Diamond didn't need anyone's pity.
He didn't need it when his parents divorced or when he got a killer paper cut and had to go to the hospital; not even, when Jenny Tinkler blew every lock of his precious hair off with some dangerous chemical, did he need anyone feeling sorry about him.
He just didn't need or want it. From anyone. …Well, actually, there was one person he let some show empathy whenever he was sick or needed something, but that was only—
"Ugh!" James groaned loudly, turning over in bed to bury his face in his pillow.
Couldn't he go three seconds without thinking about Kendall?
He scowled angrily at himself, at Logan and Carlos, at Kendall, at everything, throwing the covers over himself. He was already warm with long, blue pajama bottoms and a white wife-beater, but the soft fabric caressing all his uncovered skin helped comfort him.
Not by much, of course, but a little bit.
"Jamie bear," a soft voice said, bringing the sheets up and tucking them in around the small eight-year-old, "time for bed. Are you ready to sleep?"
Little Jamie grinned. "No, I'm ready for pie!" A small giggle escaped his lips at his mom's mock-surprised expression.
"Jamie bear, you already had two slices of pie!" She leaned down to kiss the tanned skin of her son's cheek. "Have too much pie and you might turn into a blueberry!"
"Blueberries are pretty!" James exclaimed, and even though Brooke Diamond had no idea how a piece of fruit could be attractive, she just smiled and laughed. "I want to be a blueberry!"
The memory curled James' lips into a small smile. He stood up—not even bothering to look in the mirror when he passed—and walked out to the kitchen, opened the refrigerator door, and peered inside. His tongue peeked out to the corner of his mouth as he searched. Where are you, pie?
"Yes!" He grinned, pulling out the creamy custard treat. He placed it gently down to get a plate and some metal utensils like a knife and a fork, but paused.
And that's when he noticed the bouquet of flowers sitting innocently on the counter. Yellow in color with small dots of pink pigments sprinkling the petals, something like a tulip, maybe? A chrysanthemum? James couldn't really tell the difference.
But they were sweet smelling and pretty. James appreciated all things beautiful, so he slowly put down his dishes and walked over to the flowers to get a closer look. When he did, he noticed a small white card sticking out from the blossoms.
Kendall—
James eyes first widened then narrowed. They were probably from Jo, Kendall's loving girlfriend who he was cheating on with a boy. He felt bad for her, but he couldn't stop himself from continuing, reading every small, cursive letter until a growl reverberated in his throat.
—I think of you all of the time. (More than I think about myself!) Pretty sure that means we have something special. Like almost as special as my perfect hair or my flawless skin, and that's pretty damn special. I could write out my feelings for you for an eternity, but my hand's already getting tired and I can't risk breaking it.
Love, Jett.
…Love?
What did that pompous, arrogant asshole know about love? Did he ever stay up all night, waiting for Kendall to come home just because he was worried? Has he ever held Kendall on the anniversary of his father's death while the blonde cried into the crook of his neck? Has Jett ever made Kendall laugh, or even freaking smile?
James' would bet that he didn't even know Kendall's favorite color.
If James was being honest, he'd admit that he understood (partly) when Kendall picked Jo; she was nice enough, not too hard on the eyes, and she actually cared about something other than herself, like other people and saving tigers (they were endangered, right?)
But, come on! Jett Stetson? How could Kendall pick Jett over him? Anger and betrayal coursed through the pretty boy's veins.
"James—" It was Kendall, standing by the counter, looking down and twiddling with his thumbs. Apparently, in his rage, James hadn't even noticed the sound of his footsteps or the loud pounding of the blonde's heart. "—I just wanted to say—"
The brunette cut him off. "Your little boyfriend sent this," he sneered, throwing the white card down at Kendall's feet. He would've thrown the flowers, but he didn't want to seriously injure the boy… much.
Kendall frowned. "He's not my boyfriend."
"No, he's just your bitch. Or is the other way around? Maybe you're the one taking it up your ass." He didn't even know where all this was coming from, but he was pissed and even if he didn't mean what he said or wanted to take it back, James wouldn't apologize. Not just like that.
Kendall's eyes hardened, his jaw set, but he still tried to control himself. In a forcedly calm voice, he continued, "James, just let me talk."
"No." The word was definite, almost echoing in the small kitchen. "Why should I? So you can tell me more lies? So you can lead me on then run around like a slut? No. I don't want to hear it. Fuck you, Kendall… Oh, wait, that's Jett's job, isn't it?"
The floor could almost melt with the amount of acid pouring out of James' mouth, the air almost un-breathe-able since most of the oxygen was replaced with tension. When Kendall replied, though, it was like a volcano, threatening to burn anything in its path.
"You know what, James, fine! I will!" Kendall shouted. He stomped over to the door, pulled it open. Looking over his shoulder with blazing green eyes, he snapped, "I'd rather fuck with Jett than be with you, anyway."
And then he was gone.