A/N:Happy Saturday everyone! Before we go any further, I'd like to thank winterschild11 for reviewing last chapter! Not much to say except that I think that all you Ryder fans will be happy to know that he's back this chapter and the next chapter will be the long awaited chapter in his POV so I hope you enjoy it ;)

As promised, here's the new chapter! Enjoy!

Stay Stay Stay

I let out a sigh as I made my way to the Palm Woods, ignoring the dull ache in my chest in the process.

It was a pain I had gotten to know all too well in the past month. It was the pain of being separated from Kendall. But it was also a pain that I had learned how to manage. Mostly…

I felt a somewhat warm and comfortable feeling wash over me as I walked through Palm Woods Pool to get inside.

"What's with the bags?" A familiar voice asked, breaking me out of my thoughts in the process.

I turned around, immediately spotting Jett standing behind me.

"Uh… I just got back from Minnesota. Visited Kendall and the guys." I said, not really sure why it mattered to him.

"Huh… I didn't even notice you were gone." He said, making me roll my eyes before turning around, fully planning on heading up to my apartment. But it was his next few words that made me stop.

"You're not still going out with Kendork are you?" He asked, his question immediately provoking my curiosity.

"Actually, I am. Why?" I asked somewhat defensively.

"Because everyone knows that long distance relationships don't work." He said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Oh really? What would you know about long distance relationships?" I asked, slightly regretting it when something that looked alot like hurt flashed in his eyes.

"Because I've been in one before." He said, getting ready to continue before I put my hand up to stop him.

"Look, I'm pretty sure I know where you're going with this. I'm sorry that things didn't work out for you. But with me and Kendall… it's different." I said, trusting that things would work out for the two of us.

"Yeah, that's what I thought when I first went into my relationship." He muttered bitterly before giving me a look that I couldn't quite place. "The relationship starts off great. You'll be going strong for a month or two, more if you're lucky." He said, with me not missing the way his eyes slightly glazed over.

"Jett…" I said softly.

"But things start to go downhill from there." He said, continuing as if I hadn't said anything at all. "It starts with missed phone calls. You don't think it'd be a big deal but it is. Eventually, missed phone calls turn into missed web chat dates, the visits become less frequent, then you're not bothering to contact each other at all." He finished before seemingly snapping out of whatever trance he seemed to be in.

"I know that I'm probably the last person to be giving you advice, especially seeing as how we're not exactly friends. But I'm only telling you this because I don't want you to go through the same pain that I went through. Just… trust me on this." He added, his voice thick with emotion.

I stared at him in shock for a moment, mostly because I had never seen this side of Jett. Most of the time he just kinda seemed like an arrogant asshole. But seeing him now… I just couldn't help but feel a little bad for judging him like that.

"Jett… I'm really sorry that things didn't work out for you, and I really appreciate you looking out for me like this. But I trust Kendall. I have faith in our relationship. And I honestly don't know how, but I just know that we're going to make it through this." I said firmly, watching as a small smile formed on Jett's face.

"I hope you're right." He said softly, slowly backing away in the process. "I'll see you later I guess." He said, giving me a little wave before walking off.

I stayed standing there for a few seconds before deciding to head inside.

I couldn't help but wonder who it was that Jett had a long distance relationship with, who it was that had hurt him so badly. I thought that he was just messing with me, trying to get me to second guess my relationship with Kendall, but there was no faking that kinda of pain. Maybe that was why he acted the way he did. Maybe it was all just an act to cover up the pain that he had endured.

I was brought out of my thoughts as I stepped into the lobby, immediately spotting Ryder… who had too many bags to simply be going on vacation.

"Ry?" I questioned as I hesitantly made my way over to him.

He looked up at me, making me wince slightly as I saw his eyes. His eyes, eyes that were usually bright and full of life, were now dull and lifeless.

'What happened while I was gone?' I asked myself.

"Hey James." He said softly, his voice lacking its usual enthusiasm.

"What's going on?" I asked, motioning to the numerous packed bags he had around him in the process.

"Well… there are new up and coming stars moving in, but there's not enough room for all of them." He started, with me quickly realizing where he was going with this, mostly because the guys and I had been through it already. "So according to Bitters, the people who are no longer 'up and comers' have to move out." He finished.

It was at that moment that I realized that it wasn't just Ryder, but a good handful of people were leaving, moving out.

"You can't move out…" I said softly to no one in particular.

"James…" Ryder started, but I just shook my head.

"No. You're not moving out." I said sternly before making my way over to the front desk, ignoring Ryder's calls coming from behind me.

"Bitters!" I yelled once I reached his desk, immediately getting his attention.

"What do you want hockey head?" He asked bitterly.

"We need to talk. In private." I said while walking around and pushing him into his office, ignoring his objections and closing the door so that we would have some privacy.

"What's your problem?!" He exclaimed, looking a little nervous. But at the moment, I didn't care.

"Ryder can't move out." I said bluntly, knowing from experience that beating around the bush would get me nowhere with him.

"Who's Ryder?" He asked with both his nose and forehead scrunched up in confusion, only making me roll my eyes.

"He's one of the people you're kicking out to make more room." I said, even though I knew that description wouldn't help him any.

"I'm sorry, but it's policy. You know that better than anyone! The only reason you're still here is because the money was too good to pass up!" He exclaimed, making me let out a groan of frustration.

I knew that I couldn't ask Gustavo or Kelly to pay for Ryder to stay, especially since they didn't know him and were already paying to keep me here. I only knew of one way to convince Bitters to let Ryder stay, and that was honesty.

"Look, I know it's policy. But Ryder's one of my closest friends. He's as important to me as the guys. And ever since Kendall and the guys left, he's kind of been my rock. I don't feel so alone when he's around. And if he leaves…" I trailed off, noticing how Bitter's look softened a little at my confession.

"I'm really sorry James, but we need the room. Unless you can think of a way for Ryder to stay here without taking up space…" He said, a solution quickly forming in my head as the last few words left his mouth.

"He can stay with me!" I exclaimed. "It's perfect! I have a huge apartment with plenty of space for him! He can stay with me without taking up space from anyone else!" I added, probably feeling a little more excitement than I should at the thought of Ryder not having to move out.

"I guess that would work. As long as it's okay with you and he's fine with it." He said with a thoughtful look on his face.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I exclaimed as I gave him a hug, a hug that he awkwardly returned.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. But don't mention this to anyone else!" He said before giving me a gentle shove.

"Got it." I said before going to leave the room.

I quickly made my way over to Ryder, who had an anxious look on his face.

"Hey roommate." I said quietly once I had made it over to the blonde, smiling as his eyes lit up a little.

"Roommate? Are you saying what I think you're saying?" He asked, to which I immediately nodded my head.

"Yep. I kinda talked Bitters into letting you move into my apartment since there's plenty of space there for you." I said, returning the bright smile that he was giving me with one of my own.

"James… you didn't have to do that." He said softly, but I just put my hand up.

"Yes, I did. More than you know." I said before turning my attention to his bags. "So let's get you moved in." I said, quickly changing the subject before he had a chance to question me on what I had just said seconds before.

He gave me a look that I couldn't quite place before nodding his head.

I grabbed my bags before grabbing a couple of his, motioning for him to follow me once he had gathered the rest of his bags.

"Thanks James. For everything." He said once the two of us made it into the elevator. I could that despite the smile on his face, there was more that he wanted to say.

"No problem Ry. What are friends for?" I said not missing the way his smile faltered slightly.

"Yeah..."

That was all he said as he quickly averted his gaze away from me, leaving the two of us to wait for the elevator to reach our floor in silence.

Done! So yeah... looks like James and Ryder are officially roommates! And Jett also made an appearance! Jett will reappear a little later in the story, and you'll get a little of his backstory :)

Again, next chapter will be in Ryder's POV, then we'll check in with Kendall and the guys!

I hope you all enjoyed the chapter and I'd love to hear your thoughts! Especially your thoughts on Jett, and on James' new living arrangement with Ryder!

Next chapter probably won't be up until next weekend since I'll be working on some of my other stories, as well as a new Kames story!

Until next time!

-Epically Obsessed