And now the continuation. As a forewarning, I have not met Hunter Hayes or George Strait so everything you read about them in this chapter is complete fiction and totally how I think they would respond. Disclaimer remains the same.
"James, do you think we'll make it?" Kylie asked looking up at James through her lashes.
"If you're always honest with me and I try not to be so jealous, I'm sure we can." James answered stroking his thumb across the back of her hand.
"No matter what the press says?"
"Absolutely."
"I promise I'll try not to talk about other cute guys and lead you to think I don't like you as much."
"Then I think we'll be just fine."
"If I get star struck tonight—"
"I don't think you will be but I will cover if you do. Now come on the boys are watching Youngblood." James said.
Kylie smiled and allowed James to pull her back to the boys' room. Bacon followed and once inside she jumped up on the bed Carlos was laying on and curled up on his chest. "You'll look after her, right?" Kylie asked.
"Of course," Carlos answered scratching the dog's ears.
"Good."
Kylie loved every minute of the Hunter Hayes concert later that night and was super stoked to go backstage and meet him. She was at the end of a line of about 20 people or so she pulled out her phone as the security guards had told them no actual video cameras. "Hey guys, Kylie here. I am about to meet Hunter Hayes for the first time ever. Check it out there he is." Kylie turned the phone towards Hunter who was about 8 people ahead of her. "I am freaking out and kinda in shock at the same time. Is that even possible? Oh well I am. My good friend James here," Kylie turned the phone towards him and he waved before going back to the game he was playing on his z-pod, "promised he'd film at least part of it on his phone as mine is about dead from all the photos of the concert. I'll post that vid tomorrow so you guys can see it. Also if you didn't catch it, he's the same James that was worried Hunter is cuter than he is which you guys disagreed with, about two out of three. Thanks for helping me out with that. Anyway he's almost here so I have to go. Later guys. Wish me luck." Kylie shut off the video, saved it to her phone then posted it before turning her phone off to save the rest of the battery.
Hunter had spent three or four minutes with each group before moving on. Finally he reached Kylie and James and grinned. James pulled out his phone to capture Kylie's reaction. "Hey I'm Hunter." He said.
"Kylie." She squeaked.
"I'm James." James said looking between Kylie and Hunter.
"I know you." Hunter said. He thought for a moment and then it came to him. "You're the one that was worried I'm cuter than he is."
"How'd you know that?" James asked.
"She dropped two albums in one year. That's rare to do your first year signed. Everyone in country music is keeping an eye on her. Not to mention she's up for a couple awards." Hunter said. "You're also in the band she's opening for. Big Time Rush."
"Yeah. James Diamond. And I'm definitely more attractive than you."
"Maybe," Hunter shrugged.
"I don't believe it. You've made her star struck. My confident, little, sassy, sarcastic Kylie Knight is star struck. Every artist she's met before this has failed to do that." James said.
Hunter smiled and the boys continued to talk music a while longer then Kylie heard Hunter mention he had open for Rascal Flatts.
"You've opened for Rascal Flatts?" Kylie asked.
"So she can talk." Hunter smiled.
"Don't make fun of me." Kylie pouted. "Just answer the question."
"A couple of shows yeah," Hunter shrugged.
"What was it like? Are they as cool in person as they appear to be in interviews and such?"
"She's never met them but is dying to." James said.
"Even more so," Hunter answered Kylie's question.
"Aside from The Charlie Daniels Band, Rascal Flatts is Kylie's favorite band. We rank number three." James said.
"I'm only slightly obsessed." Kylie said. James only rolled his eyes opting not to correct her.
"I didn't expect someone so young to be a fan of Charlie Daniels." Hunter said.
"You're only two years older than me." Kylie said.
"There's no way you're more than 16."
"You were born September of '91, I was born November of '93. Two years but thanks."
Hunter nodded and they talked a little while longer before Hunter asked a really random question. "Can I get your opinion on a song I've been working on?" Hunter asked.
"I'm not a songwriter," Kylie said stunned, "but I've been a fan of yours since you hit the big times so sure."
"Great."
"Do you mind if I film it? Just to prove something to her?" James asked.
"I don't mind." Hunter said. Kylie nodded and James tucked his phone away and pulled out the video camcorder.
Hunter played her the song. It was only the first lyric and the chorus but it was a start. "So what do you think?" Hunter asked.
"Can I use this?" Kylie asked pointing to the bass guitar at her feet.
"Sure." Hunter agreed.
Kylie played a few notes to test the guitar then played the song with Hunter. "You know even with the bass line something still sounds off." Kylie said.
"Why don't you sing it with him?" James asked.
The pair sang it together and a few lines into it Hunter stopped and Kylie continued. When she finished she looked up at the blond boy. "You want my honest opinion?"
"It's what I asked for." Hunter said.
"I'm a huge fan of yours. Skuttle-Butter, Shoob Tube, your website, I check them as often as I can and I own your cd. This song however doesn't scream Hunter Hayes to me. I feel bad saying this but it sounds more like a Taylor Swift song. No offense meant but it doesn't sound like a guy song." Kylie frowned and looked down at the bass. "Let me play it for you this way." Kylie sang the song as a girl singing it to a guy instead of the other way around. "Now doesn't that sound more like a Taylor song?"
Hunter nodded in agreement but James shook his head. "I disagree." James said.
"You think the song was better the original way?" Kylie asked.
"No. I don't really like country music, you know that, but from the Taylor Swift music I have heard she's written about one song that I've heard where she was mad at the guy and that isn't a love song. You on the other hand well just take My Brother for example. You were apologizing to Kendall. This song is a lot like that." James said.
"I can actually see this song becoming a Kylie Knight song." Hunter said. "Will you let me write it for you?"
"If you can finish it in the next twenty minutes. If you can do that I'd sing it at my Maine concert and try to get my producer to put it on the album." Kylie said.
"Deal," Hunter said.
"You can't be serious."
"Why not?"
"I can't let you write me a song. Why would you want to?"
"You're cute." Hunter said. Kylie blushed and smiled as she looked away. "And like the two of you just said this isn't really a Hunter Hayes song. Given a couple months I could make it work but I loved the way you sang it and did I mention you're really cute?" Hunter tucked a stray hair behind Kylie's ear and she blushed again.
"I still can't let you write me a song. It's too romantic and kinda weird." Kylie said.
"You have a boyfriend, don't you?" Hunter said.
"Promise you won't tell anyone who he is?" Kylie whispered. Hunter nodded. "You're making him very angry." Kylie glanced from Hunter to James.
Hunter peaked over his shoulder to James and smirked at the look on James's face. "If you won't let me write it for you then you write it with me. My Brother is an amazing song and I loved it. Help me write this song."
"Fine," Kylie sighed. Nearly 20 minutes later she and Hunter sang through the final version one last time. "It's perfect. One final thing. I want your signature right here." Kylie said pointing to the bottom of the lyric sheet. Hunter signed it and her back stage pass, got Kylie to sign a ball cap then she and James left. "Are you mad?" Kylie asked as they rode back to the hotel.
"Not at you I suppose." James answered.
"At him flirting with me?" Kylie asked.
"A little."
"James ... you and I both know that I'm a pretty girl. Me being in the spotlight is going to make all kinds of guys flirt with me. A girl loves hearing guys think she's beautiful. You don't see me complaining that you can make thousands of girls scream your name just by walking into a room." Kylie said.
"This isn't about me." James said.
"No, this is about your jealousy, again." Kylie rolled her eyes. "I don't care that thousands of girls scream for you when you walk in a room. What I really care about is when you boys pull a girl out of the crowd and up on stage with you and sing her Worldwide. That's what really hurts."
"That's why Carlos switched Superstar and All Over Again. Because you asked him too," James said stunned.
"Yes, because it hurts. I don't know why and I do know I'm being irrational about it but the way you look at the girl, the way you sing to her ... It just feels like you feel she's more special than I am." Kylie said.
"I don't look at them any different than I do the rest of the girls I meet." James said.
Kylie took James's phone and pulled up the video from Cincinnati, Ohio. She cued it up to the close up of James watching the girl and turned it to him so he could see. "Look at that look James. How can you say—?"
"Even if I am, I don't think I am, I'm not actually signing to her. Not at all. It appears that way but when I sing that song, my mind is on you. Just like Kendall still thinks about Jo, my mind is on you. The way you prance around in a tight pair of jeans or some old sweats, the way you look at me half-asleep after I wake you up from a nap, that beautiful look you give Bacon when you realize how much love she gives you, that's all I care about. It doesn't matter how many thousands of girls I meet that scream my name or how many I sing to, none of them mean a thing when you have my heart."
"How I can I believe that?" Kylie asked.
James took the phone and shut off the video. Then he slid it back in his jacket pocket before taking Kylie's hands giving her his most seductive grin. "Because if I get my way, I'll spend every day proving the way I feel for you is different and stronger than anything else."
"And that's not just another line to get me to shut up is it?"
"Of course not."
"Would you tell me if it was?"
"Maybe, but remember you're a beautiful and caring girl and I'm lucky to have someone like you." James said. Then as if to emphasize his point he leaned over and kissed her gently.
"James." Kylie sighed.
"What?" James asked.
"Nothing I suppose."
"You're mad at me because you think I'm giving you a line. Trust me Kylie, this isn't a line. I really like you and I want you to know how I feel. I really could quote thousands of love songs and hundreds of poems but nothing would make you believe."
"You do have a point." Kylie sighed. "You know I am kind of jealous of you."
"Jealous of me? Why?"
"Look at your concerts, you walk out on stage and thousands of girls scream. I'm lucky to get 10 guys coming to my show because they want to and not because their girl drags them."
"Come on Kylie, you know—" James started.
Kylie shook her head and cut him off. "Can we just, like, not talk?" She suggested. Seeing the glare aimed his way James shut up and they spent the rest of the drive to the hotel in silence.
The next morning everyone met in the lobby. "Dogs," Gustavo said. "I'm trusting you to fly back to Virginia with your band and Freight Train. Any trouble at all and you're on lock down for the rest of tour."
The boys looked at each other then swallowed. "No trouble, we promise." Kendall said.
"Have we ever let you down?" James asked.
"We not going with them?" Kylie asked.
"Griffin wants us back in L.A. with your band to record a new song for the third album with a very special guest. Then we will fly to Virginia before your next show."
"Who's this very special guest?" Kylie asked.
"You'll find out when we get to the studio." Gustavo answered.
An hour later in L.A. Kylie walked in the studio to see Griffin talking to a man in a cowboy hat. "Morning Mr. Griffin," Kylie said trying not to yawn.
"Good Morning Kylie. Nice of you to join us this morning," Griffin answered.
"Plane just landed 20 minutes ago and you know L.A. traffic." Kylie groaned. A hand held a tall cup just over her shoulder and Kylie smiled before downing about a quarter of the cup of hot apple cider.
"Are you awake yet?" Griffin asked.
"Much more so."
"I believe you know George Straight." Griffin said motioning to the man in the cowboy hat.
"I do. And what brings you here?" Kylie asked.
"Mr. Strait has agreed to a duet with you for your new album." Griffin said.
"That's very generous but you shouldn't have asked." Kylie said softly.
"He didn't, I requested it." George said.
"But, why? You're like amazing and I'm just ... just Kylie." Kylie said.
"Because I know you have potential and the artists of this genre have formed a family that you are now part of."
"Thank you."
"This is the song." Griffin said handing her the lyrics and handing music sheets to the band. The band took them and headed for Studio A.
"Are you sure you want to do this song?" Kylie asked reading through the lines. "I know that it can be a sensitive topic."
"As long as you're ok with it," George said.
"My daddy is a cop. That man was never my dad. He was my father. My daddy taught me to snowboard, to stand up for what's right, to give it my all, and to never give up. He even called me on my birthday after having to work the night shift for the past three days. As long as I think about him I'll be ok." A few hours later the song was recorded. "I can't thank you enough for giving me this opportunity."
"That's what family does."
"Did I tell you you're my favorite artist?" Kylie asked.
"Thank you. You call me if you need anything."
"Will do," Kylie said. They said their goodbyes then Kylie turned to Griffin and Gustavo. "The video for You're the Reason has been out for two months. It's time for a new one. Particularly for My Brother." Kylie walked over to the computer and plugged in her USB drive. "I put this video together over the past couple of days. I want it released for this song. Please. I got the idea from a couple dedication videos I've seen." Kylie played the video that showed pictures of her and Kendall growing up or her, Katie, and Kendall, and a few Kylie and the other boys.
"It's a nice video for an amateur." Gustavo said.
"Mr. Griffin, I've given you complete control of nearly every aspect of my career. I'm just asking for a little control." Kylie said.
"I don't think it's a good idea." Griffin said.
"Why not?" Kylie said.
"Like Gustavo said it's amateur." Griffin said.
"It's also amazing. If you don't release it I will. Sometimes the most amateur things are the most popular. Look at the video of James singing that country song. It received over a million hits in two days. Either you release it as the official video or I'll release it on my Shoob Tube page. You have ... Four days." Kylie said giving him a plausible time line. Then she smirked and walked out of the office and headed for the parking lot followed by Honey Bear.
"Now how much do you really like that song?" Honey Bear asked as the plane took off for Virginia.
"I love that song." Kylie answered.
"Because you got to sing with George Strait or because it's a really good song?" Sticks asked.
"Recording with George was ah-mazing but this song, it really touched my heart. It's just too bad I don't have a copy to send to my daddy."
"Daddy's girl through and through?" Lefty asked.
"Just because that was the name of the song doesn't mean you have to keep referencing it for the next two days." Kylie said.
"Even though—" Lefty started.
"You weren't thinking about your dad when you recorded it were you?" Cowboy asked.
"Not my father, of course not. I was thinking about my papi and Al. About how I wish I had a dad like them and like the one in the song." Kylie explained glad Cowboy had made Lefty shut up.
"But both Al and Mr. Garcia treat you like a daughter." Sticks said.
"Al always wanted a daughter and Carlos and I have been friends since Kindergarten." Kylie said.
"Speaking of Carlos, is he and are the rest of the boys ok with you and James?" Lefty asked.
"What's there to be ok with?" Kylie asked her eyes darting to Gustavo.
"But you told his mom—" Lefty started.
Kylie cut him off by signing Shut Up. Then she smiled. "I told his mom that we are just friends and that the other guys are more than supportive about it." Kylie said. She motioned to Gustavo then signed doesn't know.
Lefty signed back Sorry, forgot.
"What about you and James? And I told you not to sign in front of me." Gustavo said.
"We're just friends. We got into a fight but we made up last night. Lefty wanted to know if the boys were ok with what happened and if they knew that we had made up."
Nice save. Sticks signed then out loud he apologized. "Sorry G-man."
Soon they landed in Virginia and were picked up at the airport by the band bus that was currently empty as the Big Time Rush band was already at the arena.
And there you have chapter 49. Drop me a line. Thanks.
