Here's the next chapter. Same Disclaimer as always.

"You've got me, what do you want?" Kylie asked Wednesday afternoon.

"You. Studio. Now!" Gustavo said from the other end of the phone line.

"And I want a puppy but I'm not getting one now am I?" Kylie said.

"Your song is done, get in here." Gustavo said. "Otherwise Griffin has threatened to cancel the BTR tour."

"Coming. You know all you had to do was say please." Kylie said. Instead of saying anything else Kylie hung up and rushed to the studio. There Gustavo only handed her the music sheets. Kylie hung her head but entered the booth. Inside she put the headphones around her neck and held one up to her ear. After listening to the song a couple times to get the beat and music down she sang it as Gustavo recorded. He made her sing it twice more before stopping her.

"You're done. That does it." Gustavo said.

Kylie walked out of the booth and looked at him. "Gustavo this song, the music you added it rocks. Then again I expected that because you are the most amazing producer." Kylie said.

"What do you want?" Gustavo asked suspiciously.

"Nothing sir. My—" Kylie stopped, collecting her emotions for a moment. "My dad taught me manners and I thought you'd like working with someone who knows how to use them. You get enough backtalk from the boys. I guess you expect that from all your acts but I'm not really like that. I'm sorry for not giving you more attitude. I'll leave now." Kylie headed for the control room door.

"Say something." Kelly hissed under her breath. "Something nice."

"Freeze," Gustavo sighed.

Kylie stopped and looked at him fearfully.

Gustavo swallowed knowing that something was seriously wrong with her and that maybe he shouldn't be so hard on her. "The lyrics weren't that bad either. You'd do well as a song writer."

"Thank you. Is that all?" Kylie asked biting her lip.

"Yeah go ahead." Gustavo said.

Kylie left the control room and literally ran straight into the Carlos who wrapped her in hug to keep her from falling to the floor. When he stood her back up she placed a hand over her heart.

"Are you ok?" Carlos asked seeing the terrified look on her face.

Kylie looked at him then wrapped her arms around him and buried her face against his chest. Carlos swallowed but held her. He wasn't completely sure how to cheer her up or what was wrong but knew that sometimes a girl just needed a hug and some comforting words.

"It's alright, whatever happened it's over and they're not going to hurt you." Carlos said softly.

Kylie took a few deep breaths then pulled back. Trying to change the subject and get his mind off her strange behavior Kylie asked about him. "What are you doing here?" Kylie asked.

"The boys are out front and wanted to know if you wanted to play some hockey." Carlos said.

"I'm not feeling up for hockey." Kylie said heading for the front doors not knowing that the statement wouldn't throw him off. Carlos caught up with her and slung an arm around her neck. "Why don't you guys go ahead?"

"Come on Ky, you love hockey. What's wrong?" That's when he knew something was deeply wrong.

"I just ... I don't feel like hockey is all."

"You always feel like hockey. We used to be unable to get you off the ice." Carlos started.

"There's a difference between then and now." Kylie said.

"Well that and you just hugged me like you were upset. I may not be as smart as Logan but I know when something's wrong with you. At least give me that much credit." Carlos said. At the car Carlos turned to look at her. "Was it Gustavo? Did he say something to you?"

Logan turned down the music and the three boys in the car looked at her.

"Kylie?" Kendall asked. Though Kylie looked normal and not at all upset Kendall could tell she had been.

Kylie looked from Carlos to Kendall, James, and Logan then she hung her head not knowing how to explain what was bugging her. So she did the best she could. "I was ... I don't know what I did wrong. I was doing everything he wanted when he asked. I wasn't even talking back to him like you boys do. I was using my manners too. He still snapped at me. It was like he expected me to be this huge drama queen or diva or something. Then again maybe he expects me to be like you boys and be all rude and stuff."

"We're not rude we're just stubborn and hardheaded and Kendall here has a problem with letting people walk all over him." Logan said.

"Hey," Kendall said though Kylie couldn't tell if what Logan said had offended him or if he was trying to get Kylie's attention. She looked up at him. "Don't let him get to you. He's a grumpy man who doesn't like people. I guarantee he's not like Dad."

"I think deep down I know that, I just—" Kylie sighed and looked back at Carlos but James's touch on her arm made her look back at him.

"You're not used to having someone yell at you and not mean anything by it." James said. "You know what will cheer you up? Hockey." James smiled his slow, seductive grin which was slowly chipping away at Kylie's resolve to just go home and cry.

"Thanks guys but I'm just not feeling it." Kylie said. She tried to grin but it came out more as a grimace as James, Logan, and Kendall gasped in unison. "Don't look at me like that. I can have those moments." Kylie said frowning.

"Carlos," Kendall said.

Carlos turned to Kylie and gave her his best puppy dog pout.

"Carlos, I taught you that look when you were nine and you wanted that huge blowout for your birthday but Mami didn't think it was safe. You know what?" Kylie shook her head. "I don't feel like arguing with you."

"Sweet, get in the car." Kendall opened his door and pulled the back part of his seat forward. Kylie and Carlos climbed in the back seat and Logan drove off to the rink.

Halfway there Kylie turned to Kendall. "Wait a minute you're supposed to be on couch rest for three more days at least."

"I promised Mom I wouldn't skate but I needed the cold air at the rink. You're right some time the heat is too much."

"Kendall." Kylie glared.

"Don't worry I swear I'm not going to skate. I just want to spend some time with my friends. You can even make sure I won't."

"Whatever." Kylie sighed and leaned against James.

The next day Doc Burnett talked to Kylie about what had happened with Gustavo and told her to keep a log of how often Gustavo snapped at her and if anything came of it. Then Doc Burnett turned her attention to Kylie's other friends.

"Logan, Carlos, and Kendall, you talk about them a lot." Doc said.

"Do I?" Kylie asked.

"You do. You know James and Katie seemed to be ok with joining you in one of these sessions so why not the other guys?"

"I can't promise ya they'll come in. Carlos, I could probably sweet talk him and Logan will see reason but Kendall, I don't know."

"Don't promise me anything. Just work on them. I think it'll help if I could see you interacting with your friends. It might even strengthen the bond you have with Carlos and Logan if they got a better understanding of what you're going through." Doc said.

"I see, thanks Doc." Kylie said.

Finally on Friday Kylie bothered Kendall for a few hours about what he wanted for his birthday but he would only say that he wanted to spend the day with her then turned it around. "What about you? What do you want for your birthday?"

"A small party with good friends, great family, and chocolate cake."

"Come on Kylie; don't make this hard on me." Kendall said.

"If you insist I'm going to have to get back to you on that."

"You mean you don't know?" Kendall asked.

"I haven't thought about it." Kylie spent the rest of the morning thinking then finally came up with it as she sat by the pool. Unfortunately as she rushed inside to tell Kendall she came across Logan first.

"Wait." Logan said stopping her in the lobby. "What do you want for your birthday?"

"You don't have to get me anything." Kylie said giving him a small smile.

"You're family Kylie, even if we don't always get along I still consider you family. So what do you want?"

Kylie froze and thought hard. "The video camera that was in Carlos's hands when you and James threw him in the pool the other day, I want it replaced. If you have to get me something you can get that." Kylie said.

"A barrel camcorder, I can do that." Logan said.

Kylie grinned and skipped away. When the doors opened to the elevator Carlos stepped out. "Hi Carlos," Kylie said taking a step back out of the way.

"What do you want for your birthday?" Carlos asked blocking her from entering the elevator.

"You've known me since Kindergarten and you're still asking me what I want for my birthday?" Kylie asked in disbelief.

"I just want to make sure I don't get you the wrong thing." Carlos said.

"Carlos, you've never gotten me the wrong thing. No matter what it is I'll love it because it comes from you. If you really insist," Kylie paused and Carlos nodded, "then get me a date with the cutest guy at the Palm Woods. If you can't do that then I've always loved stuffed puppies." Kylie said.

"Who's the guy?" Carlos asked.

"You're smart, figure it out." Kylie said.

"Come on Kylie please." Carlos begged.

Kylie sighed. "Ask Logan or Kendall, they'll know. Speaking of my brother, is he upstairs?"

"Yeah, in the crib," Carlos said as Kylie hit the up button on the elevator.

"I don't know why you guys call it that. It reminds me of a baby crib."

"Kylie." Carlos said.

"It just does," Kylie said.

Carlos shook his head. "Are you sure what happened two days ago isn't still bothering you?"

"It does a little but my doc is teaching me how to handle it. Speaking of the doc, why don't you come with me sometime? She's not as evil as Kendall makes her out to be and—"

"Hey, if you want me to come then sure I'll be there. Just let me know when." Carlos said.

"That easy?"

"This is important to you Kylie. That's good enough reason for me."

"Thanks Carlos, later." Kylie entered the elevator and Carlos shook his head. She rode it up and was stopped by James in the hallway outside the apartment. "Let me guess, you want to know what I want for my birthday because even as my best friend you can't remember what I like or you're afraid to get me the wrong thing."

"It's not that because I have an idea, I just want to make sure that there isn't something else you really wanted that I could get you. So if you could have anything, anything in this world what would it be?" James asked.

"Roses. It's probably going to be the best thing you can actually remember to get me. A George Strait concert is beyond your power and you probably don't remember my favorite flower. Just get me roses, that will work." Kylie smiled then stepped around him and walked into the apartment.

"Favorite flower?" James asked the air. He looked around then grinned and called his mom.

"Kendall!" Kylie called entering the apartment.

"What's up?" Kendall asked from the couch.

"I came up with what I want for my birthday but then I ran into your friends and I've forgotten."

"Are you sure it wasn't your short attention span that made you forget?"

"What were we talking about?" Kylie asked feigning seriousness.

"Funny."

"Did I tell you I want a small party? I don't want a huge red carpet event. Just friends and family."

"Yes, you told me that." Kendall said.

"What about ... Oh you can get me the same thing you've gotten me every year except last year."

"That's a given and never a present."

Kylie stared him down. "Now I remember. I was walking past Max's Place the other day—"

"That sports store just down from Rocque Records?"

"Yes. They have this autographed Mitch Gilligan Jersey and poster. One of the two would be great."

"He plays center for Detroit right?"

"Yep," Kylie said leaning against the kitchen table.

"And the Ducks are your second favorite team after Detroit?"

"Yes, you know that. Oh and if Carlos asks James is." Kylie said.

"James is what?"

"Carlos will explain if he asks you; just know that the answer to what I told him to ask you is James."

"Ok," Kendall said rolling his eyes at his crazy sister.

"Kylie, Kendall, good you're both here." Kylie heard as the door shut. She closed her eyes and sighed as Katie asked "what do you want for your birthdays?"

Kylie turned to her sister. "Not you too. Ask Carlos or Logan if you can help them but that's all I really need."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"What about you Kendall?" Katie asked.

"To spend the day with my family and three best friends," Kendall answered.

"Give me something Kendall." Katie begged.

"Sorry Katie, I don't really need anything."

"Stubborn boy," Katie muttered.

That's when Kylie got a brilliant idea. She grabbed her sister's arm and dragged her down the hall into their shared bedroom. "What if you do a video montage? Like taking pictures of him from birth to right now and do a slideshow with messages from his friends saying happy birthday and stuff like that. Like a ... a ..." Kylie trailed off not knowing what to call it.

"Video scrapbook. Sweet, you're a genius. Now what are you getting him?"

"Jo's flying into town to do some promo work for the first film. I've managed to convince her to stop by but now I'm not 100% sure that was a smart idea with the way things are going."

"He'll love to see her again."

"But it'll break his heart when she has to leave again."

"He'll be fine. He's strong. Have you heard about Griffin's Halloween Bash?" Katie asked.

"Heard about it but don't know details. I'm hoping for tomorrow night and not Halloween."

"You wanna be famous? You wanna be the one that's living the dream," blared from Kylie's cell phone.

"There's Kelly now." Kylie said. She answered it and Kelly told Kylie that the bash was Monday night and Griffin wanted her dressed as something sweet, like a cowgirl or princess or something. After hanging up Kylie looked at Katie.

"You have one of the boys' ringtones?"

"Three actually," Kylie said. "Kelly: Famous, Gustavo: the boys sang The Giant Turd song, and Griffin: This is Our Someday. It was Kendall's idea. What's Monday? The date?"

"Halloween."

The moment Katie spoke it Kylie's heart sank. She rushed out of the bedroom and skidded to a stop in the dining room leaving Katie momentarily wondering what was wrong.

"Where's Mom?" Kylie asked staring at her brother who still had his foot propped on the table.

"Behind you," Kendall said.

"What's wrong?" Mrs. Knight asked.

Kylie spun around and seeing her mom so close she jumped backwards suddenly finding herself landing in a crouched position on the swirly slide. "Don't do that."

"Sorry sweetheart. I forgot how jumpy you can get." Mrs. Knight said.

"What's got you so—" Kendall started.

"Worried?" Mrs. Knight finished for her son to keep him from saying freaked.

Kylie climbed down from the slide and looked at her mom not moving any closer. "We have a problem. Griffin's Halloween Bash is on Halloween night."

"Typically the point of a Halloween Bash; to have it on Halloween," Kendall said.

"And the problem is...?" Mrs. Knight said.

"The one night of the year I can't control my fairy. He wants me to sing live that night."

"Oh I see."

"Don't you have a potion or spell to make me normal or at least sing like a normal?"

"I'll see what I can find but you know if I do I can't test it until Halloween night to make sure it works." Mrs. Knight said.

"Thanks Mom." Kylie bolted for the door but Mrs. Knight stopped her.

"Freeze."

"Please don't ask me what I want for my birthday. I love you Momma but I've got everything I need." The way Kylie's voice choked on Momma, Mrs. Knight knew something she could get for her daughter.

"Alright," Mrs. Knight said. "Where are you off to?"

"The rink," Kylie said not looking at her brother though she could feel his heart sink. It didn't matter that he had just been at the rink two days prior she knew it hurt him that he was still banned from skating.

"It's 70 degrees outside." Mrs. Knight said.

"And it should be freezing." Kylie answered. "It's the end of October and I should be freezing my butt off. This heat is driving me nuts."

"Let her go Mom, it's not hurt fault I got hurt. In fact she's the one that kept me from getting more hurt." Kendall said.

"Alright go ahead, just be home for dinner." Mrs. Knight said.

Kylie nodded and went to the rink.

Once Kylie was outside the apartment Mrs. Knight grabbed her cell phone. "What are you doing Mom?" Kendall asked.

"Making your sister happy for once." Mrs. Knight answered hitting the send button. "Hey Brooke it's Jenn ... I'm fine and so is James, he's not why I'm calling. I know you're busy but I'm calling about our other child. ... No Brooke Kylie's fine, for the most part. I was wondering what you're doing on Thursday ... Oh, no investors I understand-It's just-"

Kendall frowned as the hope deflated from his mother's voice.

"Look Thursday is Kylie's birthday, you know that and I understand investors are key to keeping your company running but this is your surrogate daughter we are talking about. She misses you and sometimes phone calls aren't enough ... Brooke enough is enough. If it was any other birthday I would not push so hard but this is her 18th ... Then some other day? ... Well then I guess tomorrow will work. Thanks Brooke, you don't know how much this will mean to Kylie." Mrs. Knight said then she hung up.

"What did she say?" Kendall asked.

"She'll meet Kylie tomorrow at the Sea Side Café on fifth for lunch. I'm sure Kylie will love it."

"I know she will and she'll love you for doing it." Kendall said.

Sure enough the next day Mrs. Knight found an excuse to send Kylie to the Café for lunch. "This seat taken?" Someone asked.

Kylie looked up and squealed. "Mama Brooke." Kylie stood and hugged her. Brooke returned it then they sat and talked until a waiter stepped up.

"What can I get for you lovely ladies today?" The waiter asked grinning slyly at Kylie.

"Sorry I'm late, I was helping Carlos." James said sliding into the third chair. He leaned over and kissed his mother's cheek before turning his attention to Kylie and the waiter standing there. Then he frowned. They ordered and James reached over and touched Kylie's hand.

"Don't even." Kylie said pulling her hand from his. "You have no control over who I date."

"Sweetheart." James started.

"Don't do this in front of your mother."

"Enough." Brooke said. Both Kylie and James looked at the table ashamed. "Thank you."

"What are you doing here Mom?" James asked.

"Jenn called." Brooke admitted.

"She asked you to come out here for my birthday but you had something better to do that day."

"Not better sweetheart. This investors meeting has been planned for months."

"And I've only had a birthday on the same day for the past 18 years." Kylie glared at Brooke for a moment then rolled her eyes. "Forget it, you're here now I guess that's all that matters."

"Kylie I'm sorry, I really didn't want to work but it's only day I can get these investors involved."

"I said it's ok didn't I? I get to have a nice lunch with my surrogate mother and my—"

"Boyfriend." James cut her off.

Seeing the waiter come back Kylie smirked. "Best friend. Ignore him, he's not right in the head." Kylie smiled at the waiter who nodded and dropped off their refills. When he walked away Kylie turned her sights on James and glared. "You don't get to do this. You can't stand up to my brother when it counts you don't get to play the boyfriend card now."

"But—"

"No. He's too old anyway." Kylie sighed.

"Could we at least get through lunch without you two fighting?" Brooke asked.

"Yes ma'am." Both James and Kylie answered.

"So tell me how you like California." Brooke said. As James enthusiastically talked to his mom Kylie sat quiet thinking. "Kylie hon, you ok?" James stopped and looked at Kylie.

"Yeah, I love recording and meeting the fans but this heat is too much sometimes."

"You know I always have an open bed for you."

"I know and I'm grateful for that. Don't worry I'll figure it out." Kylie smiled. After doing some shopping after lunch Brooke handed Kylie a small box from her purse. "Thanks."

"Don't open it until your birthday."

"Yes Ma'am." Kylie answered. James and Kyle both said goodbye to Mama Brooke then headed back for the apartment.

Thanks to my reviewer and readers. You guys rock. Interesting thought about what she was threatening him about but it'll be a while before she actually mentions what exactly it was.

So Kylie's still got her issues but what do you think of Gustavo's reaction. It wasn't too out of character was it? Wonder what James and Carlos are getting Kylie for her birthday. Will Carlos just get her a puppy or can he pull off a date with James without Kendall finding out? What about James will he remember her favorite flower and do you think he'd actually manage to pull off a George Strait concert? What does Kendall get her every year that isn't really a present?

Tune in next time to find out what happens at the Halloween Bash; see the return of a few old characters and Kylie may get jealous. Let me know your thoughts. Later.