What next, ooh? The light flicked on...? and...?

Kendall and Logan are standing there silently, shock evident on their faces. Logan suddenly turns to Kendall, his expression smug as he holds his hand out, palm towards the sky.

Kendall keeps his wide eyes on us as he slips a hundred dollar bill into Logan's awaiting hand.

James removes his hands from my back and steps away. I look at his face as he touches his lips lightly, eyes round and surprised. I blush ferociously- what just happened?

I step forward and begin cautiously, "I can explain-"

"HOLY CRAP!"

I spin on my heels at this, and see Carlos standing in the kitchen, first-aid kit in his hands and band-aids all over his face. I sigh as I remember that I'm not supposed to leave him alone with sticky things.

"Atta girl, Katie!" he exclaims and walks over to me. He holds up a hand for a high-five and I look at him like he's stupid.

"What?" he asks defensively.

James finally speaks, muttering, "You just kissed me."

"This is awkward," Logan says, looking at Kendall.

"You just kissed me," James mumbles again.

Kendall rolls his eyes. "Yes, James, we've already established this."

James looks straight at me for the first time. "Y-You just…kissed me." I step toward him, and he steps back.

"James," I say quietly. "I'm sorry. I just…"

I just what? Couldn't help grabbing him and kissing him? Running my hands through his silky hair?

I decide it's best not to answer, and let that hang in the air.

James stands there as the others file out of the room; soon enough it's just the two of us.

I haven't been alone with him for days. Not since the night when he found out that I'm in love with him.

We stand there awkwardly. Neither one of us speaks.

Until-

"Every time we finally make it right," he begins softly, "one of us makes it weird."

I chuckle deprecatingly. "By 'one of us', you mean me, right?"

"Pretty much," he says more loudly, nodding his head and shoving his hands in his pockets.

"I'm sorry," I say. "For kissing you, I mean."

"Don't worry about it," he says. "Let's just be normal."

"Deal." I hold out my hand, and we shake on it. He pulls me into a one-armed hug, squeezing my shoulders. Is this truce for real?

As I walk to my room after bidding him goodnight, I think, I just kissed him. I finally know what it's like to kiss James Diamond.

Oh, yes, I know what it's like.

And it was totally worth the awkwardness.

Awh, I loved this, personally. A little lip to lip contact ;)

But NO sex, remember?