Thanks to:
EvilMonkeyBabyD-Aha, I'm so sorry! Please spare my life. All will be revealed very very soon! There's a reason for all of this, I promise! I know, I know it's Kendall/OC… I think you'll hate me for this chapter, so spare my life, again please? Thanks for the review and not killing me… yet : )
Anonymous Skrtle- I'm sorry, I really am! I hate them too! Hopefully this chapter will make you understand a little more? Thanks for the review : )
vampirelover14- All will be revealed in this chapter, thanks for the review! : )
WantToBeSomebody- Echo's reaction is surprising actually in this, but don't worry, I'll let her get revenge. Um, about Jo, I'm not sure, I mean everyone hates her and with what I'm thinking with possibly doing a sequel maybe she'll come into that? I'm still thinking though, thanks for the review : )
Carla- He's gonna get it, just not in this chapter. AHA! That actually made me laugh! Well monkeys can be vicious… a piano on Jennifer's head? Fucking hell you're hilarious! Thanks for the lovely amusing review! And for not letting a monkey or a piano cause me any damage rather than Kendall or Blondie : )
ally0101- Hello there, thank you very much. Wow, that's really ironic, I just picked it randomly! Aha, thank you again; hopefully this chapter makes you happy and not as frustrated as I'm getting with writing it, thank you for the lovely review. : )
sexy ninja penguin- I guess it's good you didn't expect it? And yeah… she does have James… possibly ; ) thanks for the review! : )
Deedee- If he was dating Jennifer Echo would throw him in front of a plane ; ) Jennifer and Kendall aren't dating just that Jennifer is Kendall's date ; ) thanks for the review! : )
child who is cool- Thank you! Thanks for the review : )
CamiTheatreGeek- Aha, I'm glad you love it. You may not love it as much after this chapter though… thanks for the review! : )
Ano-nee-mus- Aha, I think you have. It doesn't matter though; I'll put down whatever your name is. I try to add a little humor, or as much as possible that is actually funny and not fake in a way. Well, there's something in here I'm sure will make you happy. I think you'll like a lot of this chapter. I could, I might! But I may write my upcoming fic on James. Only time will tell. Thanks for the support with Jecho : )
BigTimeFan50- Unfortunately, yeahh, Jennifer. He'll be fixing it alright, but things are starting to get a whole lot more complicated from now on… Thanks for the review : )
TheCooliest- Kendall's definitely doing something! Aha, thank you, I'm glad you found it funny. Well, I hope you're still alive to read this chapter and I hope you won't die from this one either! Everything is coming out now. Don't worry, it's still understandable and thanks for the review : )
socoolio- Thanks! The twists coming into this story aren't gonna be little anymore. Thank you again, I'm happy I've still got your interest after 37 chapters worth of drama. Thanks for the review : )
whatIfeel- I'm sorry I kept you in suspense. I'm happy your saw the little hint of the whole Jennifer/Kendall thing, few have noticed it. That has actually thrown a lot of people off guard and I bet some of this story will throw you off even more. There actually isn't much Kendall in this one. Which is weird cause he's normally always in it. And yes it is and always will be a Kendall/OC fic unless everybody turned around and asked me to put it as a James/OC fic. And yeah, it shouldn't of happened in the first place, I want to explain to you everything and say why it's happening so badly, I just want to announce it, but then that's just ruining where I want to take this story completely. Oh God, I love Kendall's covers on youtube. I love the dynamics and tone of his voice; especially when he does songs that I love. He's so talented it's untrue. Thanks for the lovely review : )
StuckAt9.99- Aha, don't worry, I don't do anything stalk-worthy anyway! I'm really happy someone is as passionate as this story as I am. I try to add curveballs and pretty much everything from here is going to be a whirlwind of…events I guess. I hope you're mind is still intact after that and won't blow up too much in this chapter ; ) I like making stuff unpredictable, it gets me on a hype for the reviews, I want to see how everyone has taken it. I don't like Stephanie, but I personally don't hate her either. I mean, I think it's just her character that annoys me and I don't mean to be mean but it's her voice. It's really masculine and annoying… gosh, I feel like a bitch now. Thanks for the review : )
TheClaire24- Thanks, I try to make everyone as into character as possible well, apart from Kendall, he's just too easy to make a pervert. All will be revealed soon, I promise! Please don't kill someone, or me! Just breathe, breathe! I hope this chapter kinda-ish clears up some stuff for you. Don't worry, everything is going to change. I can't help but thing all review responses I make are so cryptic… anyway, thanks for the review : )
Green-NaNa-Neko89- I've actually come to anticipate your reviews! I love hearing from you. And once again, I can't believe you! It's like your reading my mind! It's so confusing, I mean I don't even know what's going on until I can understand what I've written! I hope this chapter makes your wish come true. Don't worry, all will be revealed, my friend! Aha, you make me feel so fuzzy inside with all these compliments! I hope this chapter excites you enough. Actually, I've only ever got one bad-ish review for this, just someone explaining how that I'm writing too many episodes into it and it's close to how it's scripted. So I had to explain how I listen to my reviewers and do what they want, for example, this chapter is what you want, I'm sure ; ) thanks again for the epic, epic, epic review! (By the way, there's pretty much no Kendall in this chapter, so enjoy all that is in it ; ) )
Hansrach- Everything happens for a reason! This story is full of it and so is this chapter. Jeez, it's like all my reviewers say something they wanna hear and I already have it planned! Don't worry, I'm itiching to say what is going to happen, but I don't want to ruin it… so everything will happen, soon. I fully pledge a promise that it will be soon! Thanks for the review : )
Anonymous Reviewer/Gigi- Hello there. I feel bad that I've taken 24 hours of your life away, I'm sorry! And yeah, Jennifer, don't worry all will be revealed soon. And I can't say! All I can say is all will be revealed soon! Thank you, I do plan to do more episodes further into the future, thank you for the compliment, I appreciate it! I'll start working on other stories when I finish this one, because I try to make my Oc's different and when I try to write my other story with my other OC I write it like Echo is in the story. So I'm determined to write this story first, have a little break where I can plot what's going to go on in my next story and then start writing again. Thanks for the review Gigi : )
Kuu-chan07- Thank you. I'm glad I had an edge on where you didn't expect that twist to come. I hope this clears up the cliffhanger appropriately. Really? I'd love to know what you're thinking on why he asked Jennifer, maybe leave it in your review or something? Thanks for the review : )
Anon T- Sorry! Please don't kill me. Stuff is going to go down but it's not going to go down with Echo being on Kendall's case. I hope you haven't lost too much sleep from the last chapter and I'm sorry again! Thanks for the review! : )
BTRisAMAZING- I hope this chapter is worth your wait. Thanks for the review : )
I'm havin' nightmares from sleepin' with the enemy, (enemy) (no no)
How do we reverse the chemistry? (chemistry)
I don't want us to be the end of me
This love is takin' all of my energy, (energy)
Energy, (energy)
My energy, (energy)
Takin' all of my energy, (energy)
Energy, (energy)
My energy, (energy)
Takin' all of (my energy)
Keri Hilson- Energy
Thanks to Green-NaNa-Neko89 and whatIfeel for amazing reviews this chapter!
And yes, this is a very quick upload because I can't keep you guys in the dark!
I JUST HAD TO UPLOAD!
If you want to get into the mood of this chapter, go on youtube and have Keri Hilson's song, Energy ready to play, I'll put a note to tell you when to play it, don't be tempted, it's after Echo leaves the dance!
And Prom King and Queen, even though it's far away I want to know who you want to be crowned, cause you have the power!
It can be anyone you want. Echo and Kendall. Echo and James. Kendall and Camille. Carlos and Camille. Carlos and Echo. Logan and Camille. Logan and Echo. James and Camille. Or just throw Steve in there (Camille's date for the prom on the episode.) Whoever has the most votes will be crowned. It doesn't necessarily have to be a couple. Just who you want!
And, I just want my lovely readers to know that when you review I actually take in what you ask and say when I'm writing the next chapter, sometimes quite literally and others it builds up. So if you review what you want to happen it will be incorporated into the story.
Epic warning: By the end of this story please do not attempt to commit murder! This chapter is taking frustration to a new level.
As music began to pump through the speakers Stephanie jumped up next to Camille and Camille looked shocked, she turned to me before speaking.
"Well… you promised. He's trying to make you jealous. Make him jealous." Camille shrugged though you could still see she hadn't fully understood what was going on yet.
What the hell is she talking about?
Does she not know how much of a whore Blondie is?
Who the hell can I use to make him jealous?
Wait, I'm beyond making him jealous, I just want a good time… Kendall's fucking draining all my energy. Do I really want to embarrasses myself in public and then be targeted by Curly and Bitchy as well as Blondie?
And who have I got?
I mean, Camille does use epic slaps –especially on Kendall- but I wouldn't want to drag her into this fucked up situation, plus if I fight the way I want to fight with Blondie I'm pretty sure Miss. Minnesota will see and I'll be doomed.
…So I'll just be not looking at Kendall and having a good time, and then take the pleasure in hurting him when this is over.
Yeah, I'll fucking bust Kendall's nuts later.
I turned and smiled at Camille nodding as I smiled genuinely after my mental monologue, beginning to dance.
There are so many things
That I never ever get to say
'Cause I'm always tongue-tied
With my words getting in the way
What words Kendall? Cause there's plenty I want to scream at you right now. What about that you may be possibly breaking up with me or that your tongues tied to fucking Blondie's?
If you could read my mind
I'd be scarred for life
Then all your doubts would be left behind
And every little thing
Would be falling into place
Is it me or is this song amazingly ironic for my situation right now?
James' eyes caught mine as he danced with the others. As he sang the last part of his little two line solo he smiled at me, that smile said a lot of things. 'Don't worry.' 'I'm sorry my best friend is an idiot.' 'It will be okay.' 'Just ignore it.' 'Be happy.'
Was it weird I could draw up those things from just his smile?
I'm not going to lie, I know I have some sort of connection with James but it wasn't the same connection that I have with Kendall.
With Kendall it felt like an unbreakable bond –until now- and with James, it felt like... I don't know, just different. In a weird way, I feel like after I opened up to him, he's always going to be there for me, no matter what.
Trust.
I trust him a lot more than I have trusted anyone else in my life.
Opening up to him was something big for me, but it seems like I made the right decision and I'm proud I haven't done something I haven't so quickly and easily regretted when placing my trust.
...Did I trust him more than Kendall?
I would scream to the world
They would see you're my girl
But I just keep getting stuck, stuck
But I'm never giving up, up
In the middle of a perfect day, I'm tripping over words to say
'Cause I don't want to keep you guessing
But I always end up getting stuck, stuck
But I'm never giving up, up
The way Kendall is staring into the crowd at Jennifer is hurtful, extremely hurtful.
Even freaking Carlos understands that Jennifer shouldn't be Kendall's date for tonight.
In fact, all of the guys seemed a little weird with each other.
Well, Kendall seemed fine but the other guys seemed to be anxious, I've heard them and watched them enough to know.
It's the way that I feel
When you say what you say to me
That keeps you running through my mind
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Ah, they think I'm going to freak out as soon as they've finished the song.
I have more dignity then that, even if the nature of me is itching to just strangle that fucking bushy eyed idiot right now.
And if you've got the time
Stick around and you'll realize
That it's worth every minute that it takes
Just wait and see
Jesus, with the way Logan and Carlos were sending me looks you would think I'm fucking Godzilla or King Kong.
I would scream to the world
They would see you're my girl
But I just keep getting stuck, stuck
But I'm never giving up, up
And now Camille's joined in with the staring game, often giving me sidelong worried glances.
The only one not treating me like a fragile object is James... and Kendall.
In the middle of a perfect day, I'm tripping over words to say
'Cause I don't want to keep you guessing
But I always end up getting stuck, stuck
But I'm never giving up, up
I'm over the chances wasted
Tell me, it's not too late
It's only the nervous times
That keep me bottled up inside
I needed to stop freaking being so prissy and bitchy about this.
Just calm.
Just enjoy the way James' body moves on-
What the hell am I thinking?
Wait, Kendall's got a date so I can think half innocent thoughts about James and the way his shirt would hitch up slightly when he jumped or raised his arms, revealing a strip of his toned stomach and the little line of hair that sunk underneath his belt.
Keep getting stuck, stuck
But I'm never giving up, up
In the middle of a perfect day, I'm tripping over words to say
'Cause I don't want to keep you guessing
But I always end up getting stuck, stuck
But I'm never giving up, up
So if Kendall's date is Jennifer, I'm allowed to get a date right?
Wait, who else is going to be fucking single tonight that I can be comfortable around, get Kendall possibly jealous but most of all, have a good time with?
'Cause I don't want to keep you guessing
But I always end up getting stuck, stuck
But I'm never giving up, up
As the guys dance and sang the song I began to feel more relaxed, settling for images in my head of what I was going to do to Kendall later.
When they finished the crowd whooped and cheered for them all. The guys fist bumped each other and grinned at the crowd though the smiles on their faces seemed to be just a little stretched and unnatural for the normally smiley and peppy guys.
As the crowd died down, party music flared through the speakers and people began to dance. Kendall made his way over to Jennifer –as much as it hurt to watch- Logan made his was over to Camille –which made me happier when I saw the massive beam on Camille's face when Logan reached her, his cheeks tinted as he looked at her shyly- Carlos made his way over to Stephanie while I went to stand next to James.
"Well, it looks like they got their happy ending." I said to him, smiling at how happy Camille seemed, busting out some pretty intense dance moves next to Logan. James nodded smiling down to me as I stood at his side and we glanced at Camille, Logan, Carlos and Stephanie both happy in their separate situations
"Except, I spent so much time helping Logan, I never got the chance to ask anyone to the dance." James said frowning slightly as the genuine smile earlier on his face disappeared.
"Ahh, no, you asked me." A tall-ish girl walked up to us in a maroon dress and tightly curled hair with a bright smile on her face.
Who's that?
...Not that I'm jealous or anything.
Wait... am I?
I can't be. I'm more angry and upset at Kendall.
Fucking hell, I'm a walking mess.
"Uh, no, he asked me." A short girl came to stand next to the taller girl. She had dark skin, a yellow dress and her hair was tight in a bun.
Busted.
"No, he hit me with a flying dance disk." Another darker skin girl said, standing next to the other two.
Wait... I thought James didn't help Logan with the whole disk thing...
"No, he asked me!" A blonde girl said standing next to the others. All the girls looked ferociously at James.
Jesus Christ James! How many girls do you want to ask?
I looked up at him; the confused yet sheepish look said it all.
He didn't do it consciously; it must have been while he was helping Logan.
So this is why James doesn't help a lot of people. Because he get's mobbed by a pack of girls? Because the looks on their faces tells me that he's definitely in a lot of trouble.
"Oh, maybe I did ask a few girls out." James muttered to me as he shoved both of his hands in his pocket, smiling sheepishly as he looked up to the girls. The girls on the other hand just folded their arms and stared at James continuously.
Wait... this is perfect!
"Actually ladies, he asked me first." I said to them. James looked at me with disbelief as I spoke out, pulled his arm out of his pocket and held onto his hand pulling him away from the mini crowd of girls, a guilty smile on my face.
"Echo, what are you doing?" James asked me as I pulled him away from the angry pack of girls and into a corner of the room, at the edge of the dancing crowd.
"First, I want to know why Kendall's got Jennifer as a date." I said to him seriously, dropping his hand and folding my arms.
"I'm not sure because I was helping Logan for the whole day, but I'm pretty sure she has one over on him so he has to act like her boyfriend for the night."
What?
"So, does that include touching each other up?" I asked nodding my head over to the couple. They were shrouded in darkness, Jennifer was whispering in his ear and Kendall had his arms around her. Jealousy surged through my body.
Oh, he's so dead.
It's taking all my willpower not to march over there and rip Jennifer's hair out and then rip Kendall's balls of and set both on fire.
"I guess, but he owes her a lot."
"What did she do for him?"
"I really don't know." James told me honestly.
"Well then, they can have their fun." I said, my eyes still lingering on Kendall. "But, he'll be lucky if he'll see broad daylight after I've got a hold of him." James chuckled.
"I bet. Thanks for helping me see broad daylight." He said to me, smiling.
"I didn't help you. I'm just not letting those girls get on my date." I said suggestively. It took a few moments for James to realize what I said, but when he did he smiled again.
"Well, I don't believe I asked you properly. Echo, will you be my date for tonight?" James asked, holding out his palm in the space between us.
"I shall."I said to him, grinning as I placed my hand on his. He held my hand, moving slowly into the crowd, keeping his eyes locked on mine as we began to submerge with them.
"You look gorgeous tonight." James twirled me around slowly as he spoke and I grinned at him.
"You don't look half bad yourself."
"I'm James Diamond, I always look good. You should know better." James teased as he pulled me to Logan and Camille –who was doing some Beyonce 'booty shake'- to Logan who was attempting to move normally next to her.
"What's with Kendall?" Camille asked me as we reached her, still dancing.
"Don't know. Don't care." I announced.
"How come?" She asked.
"Cause I have a date tonight and I plan to have fun." Camille looked around me, oblivious to the fact that James was right next to me and holding my hand... seemingly.
"Who?" She asked.
"Me." James said, pointing to himself, shocked that Camille hadn't noticed him.
Her face was blank for a moment until she laughed so hard she almost started crying. Instead, she stopped dancing and leaned against Logan for support as she gasped for breath.
"Him?" She managed gasped out.
"She's laughing. I must be way outta your league." James whispered in my ear.
"No, you're not playing pretty boy tonight. Just be James." I said to him, looking up into his eyes. "And for your information, I'm not even in a league. I don't need one." I grinned at James who just raised his eyebrows.
"Pretty boy? I'm James Diamond."
"Who nearly got mauled by a group of girls." I told him, smugly watching his face drop.
"Touché." He muttered.
"See, don't you just love me?" I joked.
"You have no idea." Logan suddenly said. James' eyes went wide when Logan spoke and punched Logan on his shoulder. "Ow! James!"
"You had a fly on your shoulder there, Logan. Be more careful next time." James told him, staring at him half menacingly as he laughed awkwardly. "C'mon, Echo. Let's get you to the punch." James pulled me away from Camille and Logan over to the tables at the side of the rooms.
"Why do you act like such a pretty boy?" I asked James seriously as we reached the punch.
"What do you mean?" James asked generally confused.
"Well, you act all girly, body conscious and fake and I know that's not who you are." James seemed to mull it over for a few seconds.
"I'm not that boy conscious."
"You carry a comb around with you."
"Hey! Leave my lucky comb out of this!"
"My point exactly." I said to James, folding my arms.
"Well who do you think I am?" James challenged.
"A sensitive guy that puts up a facade."
"I'm not the only one."
"What?"
"I'm not the only one who puts up a barrier. You do, too."
"No I don't."
"Echo you act like nothing affects you. You think you can burden the weight of the world on your shoulders yet days ago, you were crying your eyes out to me because your mother abused you."
"Can we not talk about this right now?" I said quietly, scared that anyone would have heard him even though the room was filled with laughs, chatter and booming music.
"Well, when is there a good time to talk about it, Echo? You can't stay distant forever!" James said, his voice rising slightly much to my distaste.
"I'm not distant!" I answered heatedly.
"Echo, since you've got here all you've been is distant!" He retorted just as heatedly.
"I'm not distant, damn it!" I said glaring.
"It's in your fucking eyes and body language. You move away from people when they move towards you, you dodge any personal questions and you never open up." James pointed to me as he spoke in an angry and exasperated tone.
"I opened up to you!" I told him.
"Because Kendall wasn't there to fucking talk to you!" James growled.
Does he not know that I trust him?
"Jesus! What is your fucking problem?" I asked, not wanting to tell James that the way he was talking was actually hurting in a way, he's a close friend and I trust him and telling him that now may make him think that I'm saying it for the sake of it.
"You! You say you can't fucking act, Echo yet every single day of your life you act like nothing is important to you and you can't get fucking hurt!"
What was he talking about?
"No I don't!"
"Yes you do! You're fucking afraid you're vulnerable!"
"Why are you saying this?"
"Because, I want to help you!"
"Well this isn't fucking helping me!"
"Really? And anyone else in this room is?"
"..." My jaw clenched.
I fucking hate it when he's right, especially at times like this when he has to belittle me to prove he's right.
"Exactly! Why don't you talk to someone- anyone? Why don't you talk to Griffin-"
"BECAUSE I'M SCARED, OKAY?" I shouted to him, oblivious that one tear crept out of my eye.
I couldn't take it anymore, what's with all the violent verbal attacks?
I can only take so much until I just have to show my emotions –mostly by shouting or arguing- the whole Kendall and Blondie thing wasn't making any of this any better!
"Well done." James voice suddenly softened and he smiled at me.
"What?"
Is he drugged or something?
"You just opened up to me."
You know what? I don't fucking need this. I can't just stand here and argue with James and watch Kendall get with another girl.
I don't even want to fucking be here anymore!
"...Is this some sick joke or something, James? I may act distant but at least I fucking know I'm dysfunctional." I growled at him, walking around him towards the hall of Rocque Records. Only to have James' hand latch onto my arm.
"You want to know why I act like a fucking pretty boy? My dad died when I was 5. He was a drug addict. Since then my mother threw herself into her work. She became a lot like you. Cold, distant, witty, always on her feet, secretive and stubborn. She always had a pretty face; she works in the beauty industry and I don't see her much. Some days I would wake up and she'd have a bruise or a scrape. My father was abusive and she did nothing about it. Never told anyone until I figured it out and spoke to her in my early teens. We ended up arguing and then she cried in my arms. All she wanted was for me to think we were a happy family. You're not the only one with issues, Echo. But you know what the worse thing was? That if she had said something earlier, or I had worked it out younger, she would have never of had to go through the painful things she went through and my father wouldn't have died in vain. Story sound slightly familiar?"
No fucking way.
My mouth dried up as I opened my mouth to try to say something, anything to James.
He was more alike me then I thought.
He really does care.
Him out of all people, though. I would've never guessed or imagined.
He always acted so differently...
"James..." I finally managed to murmur out; our confrontation being noticed by no one as dancing bodies filled the room with happy faces.
"Don't pity me." He told me evenly with a deadly serious face.
"Because pity makes you feel inferior." I said knowingly.
"What?" He asked.
"Pity makes you feel like you are lower than someone else in status or ability." I turned around fully now and James' hand dropped from my arm.
James really isn't just a pretty boy.
He's a guy with a broken childhood.
"Thank you." I told him solemnly, entwining my hand with his as a sign or comfort and gratitude. James nodded once, his steely eyes finally returning back to normal.
"Now that that's out of the way, shall we enjoy the rest of the night?" James asked. The look in his eyes simply said that he didn't want to push any further.
Neither of us did.
"Indeed we shall." I said my voice still a little feeble as the atmosphere around us returned to a friendly one.
"Want some punch?" James asked with a charming grin.
"Please." I asked smiling back.
And suddenly, it was like the conversation had never happened. I still had trouble coming to terms with what had gone on as James poured the punch.
"Here." His grin was still on his face when he passed me the small cup. I nodded in thanks as he took my hand and pulled me onto the dance floor as another song came on.
Damn, this punch is good.
"So, the prom next week." I told him, continuously sipping the punch as James and I half danced –me failing miserably at dancing- half spoke.
"Yeah..."
"Got a date?" I asked him. James raised his eyebrows suspiciously.
"Are you trying to ask me to the prom?" As James asked I laughed lightly, shaking my head.
"No, you idiot. I'm just making a conversation. You deserve more than just another airhead."
"And you deserve more than that." James said in an unfortunately hard tone, pointing his thumb over his shoulder to where Kendall and Jennifer were.
I didn't even spare a glance or look at them.
I didn't want this night to be ruined; I've already promised to myself I'll get him later.
"James, its fine. I'll rip his balls out tomorrow." I said with a smirk.
"I can already see it." He said with a light tone. I laughed, gulping down the last of my punch. "Want another cup?"
"I can go get it."
"No, I will."
Another three punch fruity drinks and a toilet break later James and I finally returned to the dance floor as a slow song came on.
"Dance with me." I said instantly looking up into James eyes. He was hesitant but finally gave into me as I grabbed onto his hand and pulled him into the sea of people.
"I thought you're not a dancer." James said as my arms wrapped round his neck and his arms slid around my waist.
"I'm not. That's why the pretty boy is dancing with me so they're distracted by you to even look at me." I said smiling as we stood closer together.
"I knew you thought I was handsome." James told me.
"I said pretty, not handsome."
"Don't ruin the moment."
"So we're having a moment now are we?"
"Well, we were."
"We're slow dancing together, does that not count?"
"Everything counts." James said, reaching up to move some hair that had fallen in my face. Even though it didn't seem it, I had the feeling James was talking about both of our childhood lives, in some way. Even though we were getting to cheesy for my liking I found myself not really wanting to contest it, so instead I just nodded, letting my arm slip down to his shoulders as I lay my head on his chest, listening to the steady count of his heartbeat.
"The past two and a half months have changed my life." I muttered mostly to myself.
"And mine." James' chest vibrated with his voice.
"Definitely for the better, though." I said into his chest. As the song went on a warmth spread through my body and a feeling of serenity hit my mind gradually until it had plagued my head entirely. My body began to feel heavy and I began giggling uncontrollably.
"What are you laughing at?" James asked in a teasing tone at my laughter.
Something changed.
The world seemed brighter, happier, perfect.
"Everything is just great!" I exclaimed with a cheeky grin on my face.
"Echo your words are merging together."
"Are they?"
"You're slurring."
"Am I?"
"Wait... How much punch did you have?" James asked me suspiciously. I looked up at him and beamed.
"A happy amount." I said, oblivious to the fact that I was now putting most of my weight on James.
"...Echo... are you drunk?" James asked.
"No! I had punch, silly! Not alcohol!"
"What did you do with your punch when you went into the toilet?"
"I left it on the shiny sink."
"Fuck." James muttered. "Someone must have spiked your drink." James groaned.
"No! no one came near me." I said giddily.
"No one has to come near you to spike your drink."
"My drinks not spiked!"
"Echo, you're swaying from side to side, staring at the ceiling and giggling constantly. You never do that."
"Maybe I'm just happy!"
"Yeah… because that happens often. Well you can be happy back at the apartment, we're going home."
"What? Whyy? Can't we stay James, pleasee?" I begged my words dragging slightly as James wrapped his arm around my waist walking over to Logan and Camille.
"Echo's drink has been spiked; I'm taking her back to the apartment." James told Logan.
"My drink wasn't spiked. I'm fine- hey, since when did Logan become so sexy?" I giggled at Logan as he looked at me, reaching out with my hand to tap on his cheek multiple times.
"O-kay." Logan said shrinking away from me as Camille began to laugh uncontrollably.
"Night, Echo." Camille said between fits of laughter.
"Make sure to tell Carlos we're going back."
"What about Kendall?" Logan asked.
"Logann! You're voice is so nice and your eyes are so… nice!" I giggled again.
"Tell him if you want. I'll keep an eye on her tonight; she clearly can't handle drink whatsoever."
"Hey, I swear to drunk I'm not God!" I protested which caused Camille to howl with laughter.
"Alright then…" James said, clearly amused. "Stand on your own then." As his hand moved away my body flailed, instantly moving towards Logan.
"Mmm, Logie! I knew you'd catch me!" I giggled running my hands through his hair. He looked like he had just seen a ghost and like he didn't know what to do with me.
"Alright, Echo. You can molester Logan tomorrow." James said, wrapping his arm back around me and pulling me off of Logan.
"Bye!" I called out to them waving as James assisted me out of the room and into the elevators of Rocque Records.
/
"For the last time, I'm not God!" I mumbled as James unlocked the door to 2J and hauled me inside.
"Don't worry, Echo. I know you've been repeating it over and over." James said as he flicked the light on and helped me walk through the apartment. "You're sleeping in my room tonight."
"Why?"
"Because I don't think Kendall will be too pleased to see his bed covered in vomit tomorrow morning."
"But what if I throw up in your bed?"
"I'll clean it up… or I'll get Logan to."
"Aww, Thanks James!" I giggled as he opened his bedroom door and closed it behind him sitting me down gently at the edge of his bed.
"You're welcome." He chuckled rolling his eyes as he walked over to his windows and shut the blinds, pulling off his shoes and walking back over to me. He crouched down in front of me and pulled my shoes off and then stood up, placing them next to his shoes.
As he reached me again and peeled back his covers I looked up at him.
"James."
"Yeah?"
"Come here." He walked around the bed to face me.
"Want me to go get you some clothes from your room?" I shook my head. "Do you need the toilet?" I shook my head again. "Well, what do you want?"
"Can I tell you a secret?" I asked him smiling. He nodded hesitantly. "Come closer." I told him, cupping my mouth with my hand like we were playing Chinese Whispers.
(Start playing the song around about now.)
And then, as James' face moved closer to mine, instead of my lips meeting his ear, my lips met his lips.
Maybe it is safe to say, I am a little drunk.
James froze instantly as his lips met mine. I just wrapped my arms around his neck and moved mine against his, coaxing him to follow. He eventually did when I ran my hands through his hair and bit on his bottom lip. A haze covered my mind as James crawled on top of me. I shivered in delight as James' tongue swiped along my bottom lip and then into my mouth. His hot hands were over my body and feeling my curves as mine were unbuttoning his black shirt. Our dance of tongue ceased when I finished unbuttoning James' shirt and we ran out of breath. My hands were met with warm, taut skin of James' torso and chest. James' lips travelled down the side of my neck, leaving goosebumps in his wake as my skin caught fire when his hands ghosted up the outside of my my bare legs.
"James, let's have sex." I half whispered half giggled, grabbing onto his belt buckle. He seemed to realize what was going on as he became rigid. His hands froze on my skin before he jumped away from me like I was diseased.
"Shit." He muttered hopelessly as I sat up on the bed, frowning.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"We're not having sex." James told me evenly making me shudder when he looked at me dead in the eye.
"What? Why not?" I asked exasperatedly, standing up and walking towards him in more of a zig-zag than a straight line. "Do you not want me?" I asked deliriously as I placed my hand on his arm –mostly because I needed to steady myself and that I craved his touch- and looked up at him in the eyes, still painfully aware his shirt was gaping open revealing his delicious torso.
"Of course I fucking want you! That's the problem!" He burst out jumping away from my touch to the other side of the room and putting some distance between us. I blinked rapidly, attempting to get my head and mind back, trying to get the thick haze to disappear.
"The problem is that you want me?" I asked cocking my head to the side. James just pinched the bridge of his nose briefly before running his hand recklessly through his hair making it look kinda messy for the first time.
"Yes! Echo, you're dating Kendall. I shouldn't want you." He said with thick emotion.
"But you do." I said truthfully to him, moving closer to him until we were face to face.
"Unfortunately for me." He said. My head was slowly but surely regaining a normal or half a normal mind so I could actually register and respond properly to what was going on.
"Well it's not my fault Kendall's getting off with another girl!" I said hysterically, my insecurities getting the better of me as I swayed from side to side slightly.
"Even if he is, don't lower yourself to that level. You're beautiful; Echo and Kendall should be fighting the world to prove himself to you." He told me solemnly, reaching out a hand to steady me. I looked down at the way his tanned hand wrapped around my arm and then up to him slowly as I spoke.
"But what if someone was and it isn't Kendall?" I whispered to him as our faces were less than three feet away from each other.
"You should know that it's not fair to cheat on someone, no matter what. Look at your parents." As James spoke of Griffin and Lisa a cold flush ran through my body violently and I realized I was turning into Lisa. My lust turned to anger.
He had to bring up that subject.
"Don't you fucking dare compare me to Lisa." I said and for the first time, my voice sounded like me and my mind was clear.
"Well how can I not when you're about to cheat on Kendall?" James told me with a clenched jaw.
"He's going to cheat on me!" I shouted pathetically as I my emotions hit me hard when I came to the cold hard conclusion that James was right.
"Just because he's with a girl, doesn't mean he's having sex with her."
"Well when they are whispering into each other's ears and pressing against each other, it kind of makes you think. But you wouldn't know that feeling James, would you? Because you're the one who's doing that in front of another girl."
"I have nothing to do with this."
"Oh, now it's about James he suddenly doesn't want to talk about cheating!"
"I have never cheated on someone in my life."
"Well neither have I!"
"You were."
"No I wasn't!"
"Let's face it, there's one known fact. Like mother, like daughter." By this time James and I had gotten further and further apart, I had gotten redder and redder in the face with frustration, bordering hysterical while James was getting more aggressive in his tone of voice.
Ouch.
Though when he said that, nothing that anybody else had said to me had hurt so much. Maybe it was because how much faith and trust I have in him as it was like a bitter blow to my stomach, my breath hitched and I felt like I had just been winded. I hated Lisa with such a passion that nobody else could compare. Not even Jennifer and Kendall combined. Yet, hearing that from James, who I considered an immensely close friend and someone of such trust –and trust is a rare thing for me- almost like a brother my eyes went wide and I became cold.
"You did not just say that." I whispered out in a deadly tone, my eyes welling up with anger.
"You can't blame me for your actions, Echo! It's only a matter of time till you seduce another guy."
"Seduce? Seduce? How in fuck did I seduce you?" I all but screamed at him.
"Don't you get it? You made me fucking love you!" He shouted back. He raised his hand like he was going to hit me and my eyes widened even more. "James Diamond doesn't love!" His hand stayed in the air for a few moments before dropping hopelessly back to his side.
He was going to hit me! Even though I was about five meters away from him.
"No, he doesn't." I whispered out, shaking my head. "Because he's only in love with himself."
"At least I'm not a fucking whore!"
"I'm not a whore." My words were coming out in frail whispers. James had stripped me of my defenses and was freely hitting me with everything he had said.
"You act all fucking sweet and innocent, Echo. Yet you're a slut! You couldn't wait to jump me because Kendall isn't here. Just because he was with a girl at a dance you thought it was okay to fucking cheat on him? You're so much like your mother it's untrue, though I guess she lead with example."
Double ouch.
My hands balled up as I shook my head over and over again, trying to block out the words James was saying. My lip was trembling violently as he took another low blow with speaking about Lisa.
"She's not my mother." I muttered.
"Then why do you act like her daughter?" James shouted. I shook my head frailly once more making my way towards James' bedroom door. "You going to go cry to Griffin now?" James asked cruelly, I shook my head once again, smiling humorlessly.
"You know what they say. Like father like son." I whispered though the whisper dealt what pain I wanted it to deal. James' face transformed from anger to conflicting pain instantly when he realized what I meant and I closed his door behind me, not wanting to receive another round of painful insults.
I scrambled out of 2J, my head suddenly not an alcohol haze but still somewhat of a haze of dizziness.
"Oh, Echo! How was the dance?" As I burst through 2K Debra's peppy voice reached my ears. She was sitting on the couch reading a book quietly. Though, when her eyes looked up to mine and she saw I was on the verge of tears her body language changed dramatically.
My response was to just shake my head, once again trying to shake away the voice and run to my room, slamming my door behind me.
As soon as I ran in I collapsed on the floor, in the middle of my room, mentally and physically spent of trying to stay strong for the day.
For once, I had acknowledged the actual strain of my life changing so drastically in the past few months.
The stress.
The joy.
The despair.
The love.
The hurt.
The feeling of finally being completed after 17 years.
And the feeling of being broken within seconds. By anyone who told me something I didn't want to hear.
After each day, I would secretly become more insecure with myself, sought out more comfort and distraction; get angry over petty little things because I had seen the same people, day in day out. Click in and out of emotions because I expected to hear and see what was in my head.
The cracks were finally beginning to show.
And I was hopelessly falling in them.
A knock on my door shook me out of my deep thoughts and my head snapped to the left to the sound.
"Echo, honey, are you okay?" Debra asked her voice full of worry and concern.
"Fine. Absolutely fine." And there I went again, brushing the subject away.
Because for once, all I really wanted to do was acknowledge the pain, the strain, the despair, the anger and cry.
"I'm out here if you want to talk or need me." Debra called hesitating behind my door before her footsteps indicated she had walked away from my door.
And that's what I did. Suddenly, tears were gushing out because I couldn't bottle up all the negative stuff anymore. It hurt too much.
As tears began to flow down my cheeks viciously and I cried silently, I curled up on the floor, laying my head on the carpet.
I felt violated.
All I know that James didn't just break the trust we shared.
I had just hit rock bottom.
And I wasn't sure how much more of this I could take.
Seems only like yesterday, (day)
Not even gravity could keep your feet off the ground when you're with me, (you're with me)
How can two be as one? have become so divided now?
There's no use hidin' from misery, (no).
Keri Hilson- Energy
So, Kecho fans, PLEASE DON'T HURT ME!
And Jecho fans, PLEASE DON'T HURT ME!
I feel so bad for writing that and it hurt to upload it.
Review your thoughts and leads from what's going to happen now?
I nearly broke my fingers from typing so much… I've actually strained them (Cause I'm a hardcore athlete when it comes to writing) So please show me some love and review. More reviews and the longer and quicker the next update will be!