I am beyond stressed. I really needed a distraction.

I probably should have clarified this from the beginning but james and logan drag race, not street race.

Street racing and drag racing mean the exact same thing; it's legal.

It's only illegal street racing that's well, not legal.

But for my story, I made both of them illegal; only when they drag race they have rules, there are certain limits. When they decide to street race, they aren't granted any rules and could very well die while on the street. You find out how it works throughout the chapters.

Cookie Monster Giggles, kenneth has a lot of workers, jett, marc, and (now) carlos included. and all shall be unraveled (;

James was not looking forward to going home. Ever since Kenneth turned Logan down, Logan's been antsy, irritated and downright annoying. James didn't understand what Logan's deal was. He should be happy Kenneth didn't make him join again. He can finally do the one thing he'd always wanted to do; further his education. It made no sense and Logan's bad mood was putting James on edge. He sighed as he walked into the loft.

"Have you seen Carlos?" Was the first thing Logan asked.

He had seen Carlos but James did not want to get into this conversation so he just shook his head. He dropped his keys onto the counter and threw his jacket onto the couch. He took out a bottle of water and plopped himself down on the couch, about to turn the TV on when Logan didn't let him.

"I think he's working for Kenneth."

James sighed. "Let it go, Logan."

"Let it go?!" Logan snapped. "I'm not gonna let it go. His life is in danger!"

James stood up and yelled. "And yours will be in danger if you work for him again! He won't let you off the hook so easy this time!"

"I don't care! Carlos' life is more important."

"I know you're practically in love with the Mexican, but he made his choice. There's a reason wh-"

"I'm not in love with Carlos." Logan sputtered out, looking taken aback.

James rolled his eyes. "Yeah, and I don't masturbate."

Logan shot him a disgusted look.

"Logan, you gotta let it go. Carlos did what he wanted to do, you can't stop it. Especially now."

"Would you let it go if Kendall was working for his brother?" Logan shot.

"Why would I care what Kendall does?" James asked.

Logan snorted. "Please, I've seen the way you look at him."

James didn't know what to say. He didn't want to admit it but Logan was right. Kendall and James had somehow become friends. And Kendall always annoying James and showing up on James' doorstep made James fall for the blonde. He didn't want to like Kendall, god knows he didn't but he couldn't help it. He liked that Kendall was stubborn and stood up for himself, that he had guts. It also didn't help that Kendall's hypnotizing green eyes would light up every time he saw James. And Kendall's smile, don't even get James started on his smile. He couldn't get enough of it. It was like racing. It made his heart beat faster and his blood pump loudly in his ears. He needed Kendall's smile, he craved it.

He craved Kendall.

But he was too proud to admit that.

"So, he's hot." James shrugged.

Logan raised his eyebrows and scoffed. "I'm gonna go find Carlos."

He had to brush past James to get to the door so once he made his way toward it James grabbed his arm.

"Can you just think this through?!" James snapped.

Logan yanked his arm out of James' grip and frowned. "I have thought it through!"

"Not rationally."

"Very rationally. Get outta my way."

James blocked the door with his arms crossed over his chest. "No."

"Stop being a prick." Logan shot.

"Stop being stupid." James retaliated.

Logan pursed his lips. He hated when people called him stupid. It went with the stereotype: racers are stupid, or well, majority of them are. That's the first thing people think when they see Logan driving his Ashton Martin in a wife beater and jeans. It's either he's too stupid to do anything but race or he's stupid because he's rich. They automatically assume and it pisses Logan off. James knows that. James knows exactly how pissed off Logan becomes when someone calls him stupid but James also knows that it makes him stop and think.

"I am not being stupid." Logan gritted out.

"Yes, you are. You know what's gonna happen to you."

"What's gonna happen to me?" Logan yelled. "I'm just gonna be racing for Kenneth. It's not the first time, James."

"No shit. But you know that he's gonna make you race against everyone who's older than you and who don't play by the rules."

"Since when do we play by the rules?"

James scoffed, looking offended. "We always play by the rules. We drag race, illegally. They street race. The guys Ken will make you race against will leave you bloody and bruised. And you'll be damn fucking lucky if you don't die from one of the races. Did you seriously forget all this?"

"No, I didn't forget all this! I grew up on streets, just like you remember. But this is what Carlos is getting himself into! I can't have Carlos dying."

"Carlos is a beginner. You know he's not gonna force him to street race."

"He's not gonna be a beginner forever."

"He can leave once he's done with Ken." James shrugged.

"No, he can't!" Logan shouted. "The only reason he let us off easy was because we gave him enough money so he could replace us. Even then he didn't want to let us go."

"Exactly! We're fucking lucky! You can't go back."

Logan shook his head. "He won't let Carlos go. He's gonna kill him if he tries to leave."

"He can leave the country."

"Why are you playing dumb?" Logan asked. "You know Ken has more people than Obama. He practically has more power than Obama and his people are scattered everywhere. If Carlos fucking flees, they're gonna shoot him the second they see him."

"No, you know what?! This is all your fault. If you hadn't fucking given Carlos a goddamn key and become his friend, we would not be having this fucking conversation."

"So let me fix it!" Logan was getting tired of this.

He wanted to push James out of the way but James was much bigger and much stronger.

"You getting yourself killed isn't gonna fix anything!" James retorted.

James let out a frustrated sigh and ran his hands through his hair. Kendall and Carlos coming into their fucked up lives just fucked it up even more. They were doing fine. Kenneth didn't try to get them back and Jett left them alone, for the most part, though it was always James bothering Jett. He can't stand that little fucker. He was always up to something and it always managed to get Logan and James into shit. Now that Kendall and Carlos were with them, it was going to make Jett more twisted than he already was. Being born into this lifestyle and still living with it didn't make either of them think just how fucked it really was. It was never this bad when they were growing up. Their parents had never gotten into shit like this. They were squeaky clean. All they did was race and get money, that was it. No one got killed, no one got threatened.

Looking at Logan going through an internal struggle made James wish he had listened to his parents. They didn't want him racing. They told him that it was going to get dangerous up to the point where they could get killed. He didn't believe them so he scoffed in their faces. If it wasn't dangerous when he was with them, why would it change? Little did he know that his parents had power over almost everyone and that is why no one tried to hurt them. But once they cut off all ties with their families, everyone turned up on their doorstep. They all wanted a piece of Logan and James, especially James. He was the legend after all. He shook his head. God, if only he had listened to his fucking parents.

"James, please let me go. Carlos means more to me than anyone." Logan said quietly, not meeting James' eyes.

He sighed, defeated. He couldn't stand seeing his best friend like this. Logan was absolutely miserable and it was affecting James. He couldn't bear Logan's sad face. His sad face was like watching a puppy get hit by an 8-wheeler and driven over. It made you sick. But he also couldn't bear losing Logan. Logan was all James had now. They were brothers. They were family.

"Can we just wait for Kendall?" James said. "He's at Ken's place, trying to make a deal."

Logan looked up at him and wanted to argue. He needed to set Carlos straight, to make him think but the look on James' face made him bite his tongue. It was killing James just as much as it was killing him.

"Fine. Until Kendall gets here." Logan finally said.

James shot him a grateful smile but he didn't unblock the door.

Kendall walked up the steps of the mansion, Kenneth's mansion. It was surrounded by bodyguards and it was hard getting past them but once he managed to convince them that he was Kenneth's brother they let him through, 2 hours after arguing with him. He reached up to knock but the door opened for him. It was Jett. He wanted to punch the asshole in the face and break his face but he kept his composure and followed him into the living room, where Carlos and Kenneth were sitting.

"Welcome, Kendall." Kenneth smiled.

Kendall saw Carlos stiffen but he didn't turn his head. Jett went over to the couch and sat down. Kenneth motioned for him to join them but Kendall only took a few steps. He didn't sit down.

"I have a proposition." Kendall said.

Kenneth nodded, mentioning for him to continue.

"I race for you, I make you money, I do whatever you want but you have to leave Carlos, James, and Logan alone."

Carlos finally turned around. His brown eyes boring into Kendall's.

"You in exchange for them?" Kenneth asked.

Kendall nodded.

"He is better than James Maslow." Jett stated. "He would also make you more money than the 3 of them combined."

Kenneth took a sip of his scotch and leaned back into the couch. "I don't understand. You never wanted to race, why the sudden change of heart?"

Kendall shrugged. "Carlos doesn't need to be in this type of scene. He doesn't need to get himself killed. And James and Logan already left you once."

Kenneth's eyes darkened and his body went stiff. Kendall froze, swallowing. That probably wasn't the best thing to say.

"How about I keep both of you?" Kenneth asked calmly.

Kendall shook his head. "If you want me, you let Carlos go."

Kenneth laughed, his eyes glimmering with amusement. "Look at you, tryna compromise." He stood up and got into Kendall's face, the amusement and laughter instantly gone. "Don't come into my house and try to use your stubborn ways with me. It won't work. Carlos has potential. I'm almost 100% sure that when he has learned everything he will be better than you are."

Kendall's jaw clenched and his hands formed into fists.

Kenneth smirked. "I either get both of you or I get Carlos. I'm letting you choose."

"Will we have to street race?" He asked calmly.

"Well, you ain't no beginner little brother, so you will be street racing." He paused to let it sink in for Kendall before speaking again. "So, what will it be? I get both of you or just Carlos?"

Kendall took deep breaths. There's no way in hell he's letting Carlos stay here but then again he doesn't want to be racing for his 'brother'. The hell kinda brother was he anyway? He was making his life and his friends' life miserable. Couldn't he find other people? Kendall sighed. He didn't know what to do. He wished James was here. He would know exactly what do to and exactly what to say. He ran a hand through his hair. What did he get Carlos into? This was all his fault. If it weren't for him they wouldn't be here right now. Carlos' life wouldn't be in danger, neither would James' or Logan's. He wanted to go back to Nevada and live his old life. Why did they have to move here? Why did his life have to suck so bad? Sure there was one good thing here but it's not like he had any feelings toward the blonde.

Kendall looked up, meeting Kenneth's blue eyes. "You take us both."

This was basically an info chapter. you kinda get to see just how dangerous kenneth really is. he didn't even let his own brother try to make peace.

oh and i wont be updating for the next 3 weeks.

what with all the essays and exams i have to do.