Chapter 4

Kendall's POV

I had told the guys I was going on a date.

"With who?" James asked.

"A girl… who I met… at… the… bookstore," I lied.

"Which bookstore?" Logan wondered.

"Although I love the questions, if I don't leave now I'm gonna be late. So, bye," I dismissed, rushing out of the apartment.

"We are making some demos and then if Griffin, the CEO, likes them then we get to stay and record our album," I informed Marina, sitting opposite her at her dining table.

"You think you're good?" she asked.

"Well, I don't think we're bad. We're getting better," I admitted.

"Sing for me," she requested.

"Sing for you?" I clarified.

"Yeah, sing for me. I have a guitar. Do you play?" she asked.

"A little-"

"Then sing for me. I mean, if you want to, of course," Marina said.

"Sure," I agreed.

"Guitar's in my bedroom," she told me.

I stood up and walked to her bedroom, the yellow sunflowers slightly wilted, resting on her dresser. The guitar was in the corner, dark blue, cheap acoustic with a Fleetwood Mac sticker peeling off at the sides.

"When'd you get this?" I asked Marina as I carried it back out into the kitchen.

"When I was fourteen," she answered. "I needed a hobby and it just felt like the best fit."

"Is this what you would be doing had it not been for your… arrangement?"

"It's what I'm trying to get to, but the people currently controlling my every action say it's not in my image. But enough about me. Sing!" she urged.

"Well, there's this new song that we're working on, but Gustavo hasn't quite figured it out yet," I informed.

"Play it for me," she requested.

"Okay." I began to strum the guitar. "Here I am. There you are. Why does it seem so far?" I sang.

The rest of the song went by fine, occasional stalling as I figured out the awkward, tacky cheapness of the guitar. Marina smiled to me, giggling in between the pauses.

"And this is where Logan sings, Yes, I will! Yes, I will!" Marina laughed her hardest there. Making her laugh brought a brightness to my heart that was unexplainable.

Finishing off the last chords of the song, Marina looked back to me, her eyes holy as they reflected the romantic lighting of her living room.

"What?" I asked her, breaking the comfortable silence that had rested between us.

"I've been here for less than a year and have already seen so many people pass through with shattered dreams. But you have nothing to worry about," Marina assured. "You're gonna make it."

I smiled.

"You really care about this, don't you?" she asked.

"I didn't at first. It was James who wanted to be a singer. All four of us went to the audition and Gustavo agreed to make us a band," I explained.

"And I used to think that that man had no taste. Clearly I was wrong," Marina said.

"You know Gustavo?" I asked.

"A little. I met him briefly at an awards show…"

"With Reynaldo?"

"With Reynaldo," Marina confirmed. "He's just a personality that I don't get along with."

"Gustavo or Reynaldo?" I asked.

"Yeah," Marina said. "I'm sorry for dragging you into this. This is against my contract. You shouldn't be here-"

"No, no, I want to be here," I reassured. "I mean, as long as no one finds out you can't get in trouble, right?"

"There's just too much riding on this. I think you should go. Sorry," Marina dismissed, standing up and holding the door open.

I set the guitar against the table and stood up angrily, meandering outside of Marina's apartment.

"Kendall!" Marina called.

I turned around to face her.

"I am sorry. You know that, don't you?" Marina apologized.

I nodded, turning back and walking off.

Once reaching the crib I was greeted by Katie.

"Why the long face, big brother?" she asked.

"Date didn't go well," I answered honestly, walking over to the kitchen and pulling out a juice box.

"With Marina?" Katie questioned.

"It was not with Marina," I lied. "She has a boyfriend. I already told you. My date was with a girl I met at the bookstore."

"What bookstore?" Katie asked.

"Don't remember," I said.

"Convenient. What was her name?"

"Emily," I responded.

"Hair color?" Katie interrogated.

"Brown. Now, if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to stop thinking about her and the date and all that, because there's not gonna be another one," I said.

"What did you do?"

"I didn't do anything," I huffed. "I'm going to bed."

"Not even a little gossip? Gosh, the secrets in this town!" Katie groaned, as I stomped to my bedroom, juice box in hand.

Marina and I didn't talk to each other for the next couple days. Occasionally we would bump into each other in the lobby, but Marina quickly shook me off and headed in the other direction. I knew she was trying to forget me, but I knew I couldn't forget her. Yes, our moments were fleeting together. And yes, technically she has a boyfriend. But that moment in the closet those few days ago certainly didn't feel like the last time I would be kissing her lips.

It wasn't until one day at the pool. We were both sitting on opposite sides of the area. I was trying with all my might to avoid her gaze, but every so often she would pull me in. She was a siren and I was her sailor.

'What?' I mouthed to her.

She stood up and beckoned me with her fingers, strutting into the lobby.

Although all I wanted to do was continue reading my hockey magazine and feel the nice breeze on my face, I followed her. She led me into the closet once more, pulling me at the wrist, turning on the light, and closing the door before releasing me.

"What do you want?" I angrily asked.

"I forgot to remind you not to tell anyone about what I told you and what happened between us," Marina began.

"Nothing happened between us," I said.

"Exactly. But really, I mean it, don't tell anyone," Marina warned.

"I haven't told anyone and I won't later. I promise. I'm not one to snitch out of spite," I replied.

"Really?" Marina asked.

"What does that mean?"

"All I'm saying is that you're a testosterone filled, hockey head, who moved to LA to start a boy band. I don't think you're exactly thinking through all of your decisions," Marina sassed.

"I thought you said I was gonna make it," I reminded.

"That was before I realized that boy bands have been dead for over a decade," Marina insulted.

"Well, we're gonna bring it back," I said.

"Prove it," Marina requested, stepping closer to me. I was momentarily lost in her dark brown eyes.

"Gladly," I said, my voice shaky.

"You're gonna make teen girls feel as though you're the hottest thing since JT?" Marina questioned, walking closer to me.

"Once the album releases."

"How about right now?" And my prediction came true as Marina kissed me on the lips, before pulling away and immediately becoming tense.

"I suppose I should go now?" I asked.

"I'm sorry," Marina apologized. "I never act like this around anyone. I can control myself. Really. I just need to get it together."

"No, I get it. I'm irresistible," I responded, smiling.

"You wish," Marina joked.

I opened the door of the supply closet and gestured for Marina to leave. "I'll follow in a minute."

"Thank you," Marina appreciated. She then snuck out of the closet, her blue dress wisping out of sight.