I own nothing.
PART ONE: Chapter 3
(one year ago, August)
James…
"I wanna be a billionaire, So frickin bad,
buy all of the things I've never had,
"I wanna be on the cover of Forbes magazine,
smiling next to Oprah and the Queen
"Oooh, every time I close my eyes,
"I see my name in shining lights,
a different city every night,
"OOhh I, I swear, the world better prepare for when I'm a billionaire!"
"Would you ever let the Queen touch your hair?"
"Ah!" James let out a girly scream.
He quickly jumped off the living room table—or more 'tumbled' off it—and spun for a couch pillow to cover his nether regions even though they were already somewhat covered.
It was extremely embarrassing getting caught singing and dancing on a table in his briefs.
Katie started laughing and clapping her hands.
"What are you doing here!"
"I live here!" Katie said around her giggles. "And Bruno Mars, huh? Even being a millionaire didn't stop him from snorting coke, so that much money can't be all that great."
"No one is supposed to be home!" James complained, standing awkwardly, trying to figure out how to get around Katie without dropping the pillow.
"Well," Katie shrugged, "I'm here. And I never would have taken you for a tighty-whitey."
She laughed, "Don't you look cute trying to hide behind that pillow! Seriously, James, it's not like you're naked. I've seen guys in briefs before."
"Really?" he stood up straighter, eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Where?"
She rolled her eyes, "Male models? In magazines? Ever heard of them?"
"Oh," he said. He cleared his throat. "There's nothing wrong with briefs." He defended.
She laughed. "Guess its better than letting it all hang out like Logan."
"Uh…what?" James squinted.
She snickered. "Maybe he just needs more space." She started walking away.
"What's that supposed to mean!" She was obviously confused. Most guys who wore briefs needed more support.
She shook her head, still laughing.
He dropped the pillow and raced over to her. "How would you know if Logan wears boxers or briefs anyway?"
"Please," she shook her head. "Every time he performs without jeans all his fans rejoice. And especially when his pants are really tight—there's a huge debate online on whether he just goes commando for those. And have you seen those Danger Boy photos?"
"Ugh," James covered his ears. "Did not need to hear that."
"You asked," she shrugged. She smirked before turning with a flick of hair and striding down the hall.
She had definitely grown up in the past three years. At fifteen, she had already started filling out nicely. She had shot up in height too.
James stood at the end of the hall while she walked away, watching the sway of her hips for a minute before realizing whose butt he was checking out.
"Aw, man!" he said. Turning his head, he fixed his bangs while trying to forget the major bad thing he'd done by checking Katie out.
"By the way," she said, poking her head back into the hall. "Kendall and Carlos?"
"Yeah?" he asked, wondering if she had a message from them or something.
"Boxer-briefs!" she exclaimed.
"Ah!" he cringed, grabbing his ears. "Ear muffs!"
(one month later, September)
"Why do I always find you at your most embarrassing moment?"
"I have no idea," came the muffled response.
Katie pulled the bandana out of his mouth.
"Need a hand?"
"Please."
Katie started clapping.
"Not funny!" James said. "For real, just remove the straps, will you?"
The annual king of pranks day was coming and as a warm up Carlos had gotten James good. He strapped James into his bed like an insane asylum patient while he was sleeping. His hands were even tied together across his chest, making it impossible for him to get free.
The other guys had asked where he was before leaving for the studio. James could hear Carlos in the hall explaining that James was having a bad hair day and would follow them later. He was pretty sure Katie only came to his room because she could hear the muffled shouts around the gag.
"Why should I?" she asked sweetly.
"Because I asked nicely," James explained.
"Not good enough," she said devilishly.
"I'll give you a shiny nickel!" he joked.
"Right, that will work," she smirked.
"Come on, you know you want to help your celebrity crush," James winked.
Katie cleared her throat.
"It's been three years! Even if you didn't have a crush back then, you so do now!" James egged her on privately hoping what he said was true.
Ever since their 'brief' run-in, he'd been finding it harder and harder to stop checking her out whenever he saw her. And even though she was just as sassy as she had always been, he found it way more appealing now than he did when she was twelve and he was fifteen.
"Do you honestly think saying that will make me want to help you?" she arched an eyebrow.
"Fine," he gave up. "What will it take for you to help?"
She grinned.
Uh oh…
"Jeez, James, why are you so jumpy?" Carlos asked, peering at his best friend from his lounge chair.
James was usually lying out and relaxing, instead he was sitting up in his chair on a constant look out, scared of his own shadow.
"This is all your fault!" James exclaimed.
"What I do?" Carlos was confused.
"That prank you pulled!" James glared.
"Oh, yeah," Carlos laughed.
"Katie let me out, but not without consequences," James looked around again.
"Which are?"
"She wanted to touch my hair!" James squeaked.
"Did you let her?" Carlos laughed. "Guess that means she really does have a crush on you."
James yelped. "Not even! She said she reserved the right to put her hand through my hair one time, but the time and place would be of her choosing and she wouldn't tell me when and where so now… she could pop up out of nowhere to do it!"
Carlos started laughing.
"She's not crushing on me!" James exclaimed. "She's trying to crush me!"
Kendall and Logan joined them then.
"What's up guys?" Kendall asked.
Carlos explained.
"And my genius baby sister strikes again," Kendall laughed, as did Logan.
James grumbled.
"Now all you do is think about when she's going to strike," Logan said. "She pranked you worse than Carlos by messing with your head. You should have given her a time frame. Or who knows how long she will drag this out."
James swallowed.
"Well, I think you can relax for now, she's leaving the pool," Carlos pointed. "Probably going to change. That will give you at least five minutes to relax."
"You know," James said, "You're absolutely correct Logan. And I'm going to tell her right now that she only has a free pass until tonight! After that, I will not be a victim!"
"Go get 'em, tiger," Logan cheered.
James followed Katie through the lobby, ignoring his friends' laughter behind him.
He raced up the stairs and was standing next to her bedroom door before her elevator even arrived on the floor.
"We need to talk," he said, glaring.
"Why, James?" she grinned sweetly while towel drying her hair. Her simple green one piece suit was still wet, but she didn't seem to mind standing there in it and talking to him. "Something bothering you?"
"Will you just do it," he said, pointing at his head, "and get it over with? I can't take it anymore!"
"Fine," she said, huffing, she tossed the towel in her room and turned back to him.
She reached up toward his head, he leaned forward, wincing slightly but relieved he was in the apartment so he could go fix his hair right after.
He couldn't deny that he couldn't wait for her to touch him either. Knowing that it was going to happen made him a little excited. What would her fingers feel like?
"Sike!" she tore her hand back and ran into her room, slamming the door behind her, locking it.
"That's it!" he yelled. "You have until tonight! After that, you can forget about touching this head of perfect hair!"
"You can't change the rules!" came her reply through the door.
"I just did!"
She opened the door and smirked. "Maybe I will wait until tomorrow... or the next day... or the next...maybe I'll do it next week! You never know when I'll strike. Before an interview, at the pool, in public! Everywhere you look, all you'll think about is 'where's Katie?'."
"I know where Katie is," he said. "She's right here!" He attacked the door.
She squealed and tried to push the door shut. "No!"
"Just touch it! Touch it!" he kept pushing on the door, finally getting it open because she was no match for him.
"Never!" she screamed and ran around the other side of her bed.
He chased after her. She jumped and scampered across the mattress to the other side of the room.
He went back around the bed, trying to grab hold of her.
She started climbing back over the mattress, but he followed her this time, grabbing her from behind. He fell against her, his arms wrapping around her body to keep her from getting away again. They landed on the mattress and she tried to get away to no avail.
"You're making me get my bed wet!" she exclaimed, smacking his arm repeatedly. "Let go, James!"
"Not until you do it!"
"I won't!" she said and started squirming and twisting, fighting to break loose.
"Then I won't let you go!" He struggled with her, not wanting to give an inch.
They continued fighting until they were both out of breath. She had managed to wiggle around so she was now facing him.
"You know you want to touch it," he said. "So just do it, c'mon, do it." He looked at her and realized they were very close... maybe a little too close.
It didn't help that her semi-nude body was pressed up against his. He felt a little hitch in his breathing and his heart started racing.
"I will not," she murmured.
He realized she was staring straight into his eyes. And somehow, against his better judgment, his lips found hers.
She reacted almost instantly, melting into his embrace and returning the kiss.
All thoughts escaped as he dived in, exploring her mouth, not seeming able to get enough of the taste of her.
Her hands broke free from his restraints, but just went up to the side of his face and around his neck. He felt her fingers slide to the back of his neck, trying to drag him closer.
He pressed her more fully into the mattress, his mouth running down to her neck, licking and nipping gently. He grinned when he heard her moan. He made his way back up to her mouth.
Reality was starting to return and he knew he had to stop. It was wrong on so many levels.
He smiled into her mouth when he realized where her fingers were. It was incentive enough to make him stop this sweet torment without things being too awkward.
He pulled back.
"You touched it!" he teased.
She looked confused for a moment, still in a haze from the kisses. Realization came over her features, along with anger. She clenched her fingers where they were resting in his hair and pulled hard.
"Ow, ow, ow," he hollered, trying to get away. "Stop! You'll ruin it!"
"That's not all I'm going to do," she said, reaching up and grabbing hold of another cluster of hair with her other hand.
He tickled her side.
"Ah!" she squealed, finally letting go. "Not fair!"
"All's fair in... something," he said, not remembering the exact quote.
"Love and war!" she cried before smacking him hard upside the head with one of her huge stuffed animals.
"Hey!"
She jumped up and ran for her private bathroom, slamming the door shut and locking it behind her.
"This isn't over!" she squealed through the door.
"Yes, it is!" he said.
Then he left her room quickly. Even though it had been fun—and very hot—there were some serious thoughts pressing on his mind.
First and foremost, what the hell did he just do?
He returned to the pool, so absorbed in his thoughts that it took him a full minute to realize all of the guys were laughing at him. Again.
"What now?" he asked.
"Oh, nothing," Logan said, snickering. "So I guess she decided to put you out of your misery?"
"Hmm?" he said, not following, still a little shell shocked by what happened moments ago. He thought maybe he shouldn't have left without talking to her first, but she had been the one to lock her self in the bathroom. He didn't know what he would say anyway, so it was probably a good thing he hadn't stayed.
"Your hair," Carlos pointed and laughed.
Crap! He put his hands up to his head, trying to smooth it down. He knew that wasn't going to work, so he grabbed Carlos' helmet off his head and pushed it firmly over his own messy hair.
He looked around to see if anyone else had noticed. Since no one was pointing and laughing, he let out a sigh of relief.
"She's crazy!" he exclaimed.
"How'd she get you?" Carlos asked.
"Just, you know, grabbed and pulled," he said, deciding not to go into anymore details.
"Niiice," Carlos said, smiling.
"So, what we doing?" James asked, wondering what the guys had been talking about after he left.
"What do you think?" Carlos said, nodding toward Logan.
"Not this again," James groaned, as if he didn't already have enough on his mind.
"Guys, seriously," Logan said. "The Palm Woods is the home for the future famous. We already are famous. We need to move out."
"And I told you," James said. "You aren't really famous until your picture is on the cover of Rolling Stone."
"Dude, this is like home now," Carlos insisted.
"You guys, we're working on our third album!" Logan pointed out. "It's only a matter of time before the future famous start attacking us like crazed fans! We get recognized all the time already!"
"Usually only when we're all together," Carlos pointed out. "I've never been noticed when I'm not with you 'dawgs'." Carlos laughed at his own Gustavo impression.
"He's got a point," Kendall said.
James and Carlos let out a "Ha!" at Logan. Everyone knew that if Kendall didn't agree with something it didn't happen.
"So you don't agree with me either?" Logan asked Kendall, looking like his balloon had been deflated.
Kendall sighed. "Logan, its not that I don't think we should move…eventually… I'm just…" he trailed off.
"Yes?" the guys leaned in, urging him to continue.
"I'm worried about Katie… and my mom… but mostly Katie," Kendall finished.
"What about her?" James asked quickly. Anything about Katie was on his radar today.
"If she's not at the Palm Woods, then what?" Kendall asked. "She goes to a real L.A. school? I don't know if she can handle that. Well, she probably could, but I don't want her handling that. And what if she and Mom head back to Minnesota? Do you know how many times we've been home in the past three years? I can't be away from them that long. I still don't know how you guys manage it."
"Well, she and Mama Knight don't have to leave," Logan explained. "She still goes to those auditions every once in a while. They can stay; we will just get our own place."
"Do you really think she's going to want to stay here and keep going to auditions if we're not here?" Kendall said. "And I'm not sure I want her here by herself."
"What do you mean?" James asked.
"It's the same reason I don't want her going to a normal L.A. school," Kendall explained. "The people in this world aren't like the people back home. Everyone here is selfish and only looking to get ahead. They have no compassion. You've seen it, I've seen it. I don't want anyone taking advantage of her. And I don't want them to change who she is."
"She's tough though," James insisted. "I don't think it's possible for someone to take advantage of her. She can handle herself."
"Until some guy comes along that I won't be able to protect her from," Kendall said. "Katie deserves way more than the guys this town offers. I'd rather she go back to Minnesota than stay here and get hurt by some famous-wannabe who worries more about his hair, clothes, and next audition than her."
James shifted uncomfortably. That description sounded familiar. But he wasn't shallow and lacking in compassion…was he?
"But you can't protect her every minute of every day," Logan argued. "At some point, you gotta let 'em go."
"That's why I'm glad I have you guys," Kendall said, smiling at his best friends. "I know all three of you will protect her when I can't be there."
"Yeah," Carlos chimed in. "It's like she has four brothers, not just one!"
James agreed because he knew he should, but he started to feel very guilty.
He was supposed to be one of Katie's protectors, and what had he done? Made out with her!
He was going to hell.
"And if we leave the Palm Woods," Kendall explained, "she won't have any of us."
"What about when we're on tour?" Logan asked, still trying to convince Kendall though he seemed less gung-ho about his argument now. "We aren't there every day then. See? You can't protect her all the time."
"Maybe we should ask them to come on tour the next time?" Kendall said. "If Mom agrees, Katie can keep up with her classes online like we did. And it'll be good for her to get to see the world a little—or at least the good ole' us of 'a'."
"Man, do you really want your mom on tour with us?" Carlos asked.
"Katie's going to be sixteen in a few months. Do you know what could happen at her age?" Kendall explained. "We had each other, but who does she have? I mean, really? I just want to protect her."
The guys all nodded.
James fidgeted for his phone. He sent a quick text to Katie, telling her they needed to talk. He was going to have to put a stop to whatever was going on before Kendall got wind of it.
A second later she texted "tonight."
Moments passed, the boys resting comfortably and enjoying the warm sun.
"So…" Carlos began, sounding confused.
"Yes, Carlos?" the other three asked simultaneously.
"Does this mean we're moving if we get on the cover of Rolling Stone?"
The guys groaned.
"Katie," he whispered. His fingers tapped the wood lightly, barely making a sound. "Katie!" he whispered again.
"What are you doing?"
He jumped and spun around.
"What does it look like I'm doing," he whispered back sarcastically in the dark hallway.
"Trying to wake up everyone?" Katie said, holding a glass of juice in one hand, her other resting on her hip.
It was after midnight and he had been waiting all night for the chance to talk to her alone but everywhere he went one or more of the guys seemed to follow. He finally waited until all three were knocked out before sneaking from the room he shared with Carlos to talk to her.
"Can we just talk now, please?" James insisted.
She rolled her eyes and motioned with her hand toward her bedroom door.
He opened it quickly and let her walk in first, following behind and shutting the door as quickly and quietly as possible.
"You don't have to be so stealthy," Katie said, not whispering this time as she placed her glass on her desk. "A bomb going off couldn't wake those guys...or my mom for that matter."
"So why were you whispering in the hall," he said only slightly louder, still afraid of being caught.
"I was humoring you," she smirked before sitting on the edge of her bed.
"So what did you want to talk about?" she asked innocently.
"Uh, duh?" James rolled his eyes and held up his hands expectantly.
"You're really going to have to explain, James, cause I don't know what you're talking about," she teased.
"That!" he insisted, making a sweeping gesture at her bed.
"What about it?"
He was getting annoyed at the glint in her eye that indicated she was amused.
"It shouldn't have happened and can't happen again!" he blurted before he began pacing.
"I disagree," she said, leaning back to rest on her elbows.
He didn't like the way she was sitting. He was pretty sure she hadn't intended to, but she looked almost erotic if not for her 'Hello Kitty' pajamas.
Then he realized what she said. He stopped pacing.
"What!" he almost yelled but remembered to bring his voice down at the last second.
"I disagree," she said.
"You mean…" James shook his head. "No, absolutely not." He started pacing again.
"Why not?" she asked.
"Because! You're Kendall's little sister! You're like a little sister to me!" he insisted.
"You do that with all your sisters?" she raised an eyebrow, indicating the bed.
"No!" James blurted. "I don't have any sisters. I mean, you are… I mean…ugh!" He grabbed his head in his hands. "What am I saying?"
"I think," she said, standing up, "you were giving a whole lot of excuses. But the truth is, you liked it."
"No!" he denied. "No, I didn't. Absolutely no liking!"
"Liar," she said. She took a step forward, challenging him with her words and eyes.
He stepped back.
"Katie, it doesn't matter if I liked it or not," he said, trying to reason with her. "I can't be with you. I won't chance my friendship with Kendall. He's done too much for me. And he will never approve of me and you."
She thought about his words for a long minute. He held his breath, praying she would just agree and then he could leave and they could just put it behind them as one of those crazy things that 'just happen' and never should be spoken of again.
"Kendall doesn't have to know," she whispered, stepping toward him again to make up for the space he had made with his back step. Her eyes were on his lips.
Unwillingly, his eyes moved to her lips too. "I'm too old for you," he whispered in a last ditch attempt to convince her.
"No…" she took another step toward him, bringing her body up against his, "you're not."
"This will never work," he whispered.
"I know," she said before her mouth settled on his.
And with a sigh he wrapped his arms around her, his mouth melting into hers.
Yep, he was sooo going to hell.
(four months later, beginning of January)
"No."
"But…"
"No 'buts' Katie," James insisted. He was usually a push over. And when it came to this, he didn't usually need much convincing. But this time was different. "It's not going to happen."
"But why? We love each other," Katie insisted. "You know I love you."
"And I love you, but you are sixteen years old and, oh yeah, my best friend's little sister!" James explained. "I am not having sex with you!"
"James, we have done everything but in the past four months!" Katie pointed out. "Don't you want me?"
She had grown increasingly vulnerable with him, letting down her sassy guard and opening up over their time together. He knew that was the only reason she would ask something like that.
"It's not about the wanting," James said, man, was it not about the wanting! "I just think it's way too soon."
"But you're going away now! And then you're going on tour for six months! And right now the guys are hardly ever home, Mom's in Minnesota with Aunt Dottie, and Kendall isn't even in this state," Katie said. "It's the perfect time! Who knows when we'll be able to be together again!"
"You're going on tour with us," he pointed out. "Remember? We'll see each other tons!"
"Yeah, where I will only see glimpses of you and never alone," she exclaimed. "Then I get to watch you sign autographs and flirt with all your fans! And let's not forget the fact that I get to watch you pretend to be interested in other girls because you don't want the guys to suspect anything!"
"That's how it has to be," he said.
"Not if you would just tell Kendall about us," she snapped.
It was the first time she had ever said that to him. He felt like his perfectly constructed house of cards was about to fall.
"That's how we agreed it would be," he said sharply, reminding her of her words months ago.
The past four months had been so amazing—and stressful. James had tried unsuccessfully to end things with Katie on numerous occasions since that first month back in September, but his willpower never seemed to hold out. Eventually he gave in and got used to the sneaking around. They had been extremely successful too because no one had any idea that their trips to the mall or store were actually excuses to spend alone time together. And no one knew that after the lights went out he would sneak into her room—though he tried to cut it down to only once or twice a week. Anymore might have given them away.
And she was right, they had done almost everything 'but'. He made certain to keep everything PG-13. He wasn't ready to take that final step. As much as he already knew he was going to hell, he couldn't do that and live with himself.
"I can't tell Kendall," he said firmly.
"Well, maybe I should!" she exclaimed.
He stilled; his expression like stone. She had gone too far.
"Do that, and we're over," he said in a deadly calm voice.
She paused, eyes going wide.
"Just like that?" she asked, clearly stunned.
"Just like that," he answered; his face serious.
"I think you're making too big of a deal about this," she said. "You've been one of his best friend's forever. Why would he have a problem with you dating me? He knows you. He knows you would never do anything to hurt me!"
Except Kendall didn't know that. Kendall knew the James who practically stole Logan's girlfriend years ago. Kendall knew the James who lost his virginity before all the other guys. Kendall knew the James who had a date with a different girl almost every week. And, as far as Kendall knew, James still had a date with a different girl almost every week.
Even after he started seeing Katie, he would lie about meeting up with different girls just to maintain his cover. As far as Kendall was concerned, James was as big a player as he'd ever been.
James knew there was no way Kendall would be okay with him seeing Katie. Kendall wanted better for her. And James knew he was no where near good enough to be with her.
Plus, James felt guilty for being the one to drag Kendall and Katie into this life… the one that Kendall thought was uncompassionate and selfish.
Kendall had been the one to make his dreams come true. If it hadn't been for Kendall, James would still be stuck in Minnesota trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life.
James owed Kendall everything. So, no, he wasn't going to admit he'd been messing around with his sister behind his back.
"You said it yourself," he finally said, throwing her words back at her. "Kendall doesn't have to know."
"So… what?" she said, flabbergasted. "We sneak around for the rest of our lives? What sort of future is that?"
"Its not," he said simply. "But it's all I can offer now."
"This is so pointless," she said. "You either want to be with me, or you don't. And if you do, then we should just tell Kendall. Get it out of the way so we can actually have fun together on this tour instead of sneaking around."
"Katie," he began, a warning in his voice.
"Well? Do you, or don't you?" she voiced the ultimatum.
"Don't ask me that," he said. She really shouldn't put it that way. Because given a choice between Katie or Kendall…
"I just did, now answer," she insisted, glaring.
"Then…" he sighed, "I don't."
She gasped.
"That's not a fair question!" he quickly tried to fix it. "I want to be with you! I just don't want Kendall to know! You know that!"
"So you choose Kendall over me?" she asked.
"Well…" he couldn't finish that sentence.
"Fine!" Katie almost growled. "It's over! I hope you and Kendall have a long and happy life together! Without me!"
What just happened?
(begnining of February, three weeks later)
James stepped off the plane at LAX feeling more revitalized than any other time in his life.
He had nailed his audition and he was well on his way to playing a major action hero in a movie about a guy racing against the clock to save the country, and his damsel in distress. It had a Jack Bauer feel to it, only it would be on the big screen and the lead would be much younger. He couldn't wait for his training to begin!
But the best part about going away for a while without any of his friends around meant that he could really really think about the situation he was in with Katie.
And he had come to the conclusion that… he missed her. He really did love her, and if it took the rest of his life… he would convince Kendall to forgive him.
But first he had to go home, find her, and tell her about his epiphany. He needed to make it up to her. Make her understand how sorry he was for not seeing the light before now.
And hopefully she would take him back just in time for Kendall to arrive back home. Then he could tell his friend about his feelings, admit to all the horrible things he had done in the past four months, and then maybe, just maybe, he and Katie could finally be happy together…and public.
"James!"
He looked around and followed the voice to the person who had agreed to pick him up from the airport. He hurried forward and clapped his friend on the shoulder.
"Thanks, Logan," he said gratefully.
"No problem, man," Logan said, hands still in his pockets.
Was it his imagination, or did Logan seem really down about something?
"You okay, dude?" James asked.
"Oh, yeah," Logan nodded. He forced a smile. "Welcome home! How'd it go?"
"I got the part," he announced, unable to contain his beaming smile.
"That's awesome!" Logan said, seemingly shaking off whatever was bothering him and giving a hearty congratulations.
"Just wait until you see all these gadgets and gizmos they want me to learn to use," he said excitedly.
"Like?"
"Crossbow!"
"Lord, help us," Logan groaned.
"Where'd Logan run off to?" James asked after settling his stuff in his room and heading back to the kitchen.
"Interview," Carlos mumbled around his corn dog.
"Logan?" James said, surprised. "Alone?"
"Yea," Carlos said while chewing. "He's been doing a lot lately."
"Why?"
Carlos shrugged. "Guess he's just bored." He took another bite.
"Haven't you two hung out any?" James asked.
"Nope," he swallowed. "All my time is for my little Rosie."
James rolled his eyes. "You're still seeing her?"
"Why not? She's perfect!" Carlos got all huffy.
"Calm down," James said. "I'm just playing." No, he wasn't.
"So…" he finally got to the question he really meant to ask, "Where's Katie?"
Carlos shrugged. "Around."
"Okay…" Well, that didn't work.
"Gotta go," Carlos finished his corn dog and tossed the stick in the trash. "See ya tonight…maybe." He winked and rollerbladed out of the apartment.
James sighed. Welcome home, James.
James had just settled down to start watching a movie when he heard the front door. He turned in time to see a blur of clothes and hair as Katie went racing for her room, not pausing to even look in his direction.
He guessed he had his work cut out for him.
He went to stand up, figuring this would be as good a time as any to tell her what was on his mind, but stopped when he heard the door again.
Logan came in slowly, looking extremely tired. He closed the door, looking around the room…for what, James wasn't sure.
Evidently not finding what he was looking for, he walked over to the big orange couch and collapsed next to James.
"Sup?" James asked.
Logan gave a sound that was more of a grunt.
"That good, huh?"
"You don't even know," Logan murmured.
James would have continued asking questions but Logan stood up then.
"I'm tired, I'll be in my room the rest of the night," he explained.
"Okay…" James trailed off. What was up with him?
"Katie," he whispered, his fingers tapped gently on her door.
He was having a feeling of déjà vu and turned around quickly to see if Katie had walked up behind him.
There was no one there and a split second later Katie opened her door and peered out.
"What?" she said, looking up and down the hallway, making sure the coast was clear. Then she glared at him.
"Welcome home, James," James said sarcastically. "So great to see you, James. How was your trip, James? Were you just going to keep ignoring me?"
"Pretty much," she whispered.
"Why are you whispering?" he asked.
"I don't want anyone to hear," she whispered back.
That made no sense to James. After their first clandestine meeting he never had whispered discussions with her. The boys really could sleep through a bomb going off.
"Okay…" he whispered, confused.
"Logan's been staying up late," she whispered, not quite meeting his eyes.
"We need to talk," he stated. "When's good for you?"
"I don't really think we have anything else to say," she whispered, eyes darting down the hall again.
"I do," he said. "And unless you want to have this discussion out here or in there right now, you'll agree to meet."
She worried her bottom lip with her teeth before nodding. "I'll text you tomorrow."
She closed the door quickly before he had time to say anything else.
He sucked in a deep breath and slowly let it out. He walked down the corridor to his room, pausing in front of Logan and Kendall's room. He could see a slight glow coming through the bottom of the door indicating that Logan was indeed awake and probably on his laptop or reading by his desk lamp. If Logan was so exhausted, why wasn't he sleeping?
He would have to talk to Logan in the morning.
When morning came, James walked into the living room and nearly stumbled over a big blue suitcase.
He looked around, confused.
He heard a rustling behind him and turned to find Logan walking quickly down the hall with a carry-on and some papers.
"Logan?" he asked.
"Tag," Logan said, quickly touching James' shoulder, "you're it." He kept walking to the living room.
"Huh?"
"Now that you're here, you can keep an eye on Katie so I can go to New York for the week... or maybe longer," Logan explained quickly, going through his list one more time to make sure he had packed everything he needed. "I would have left sooner but since Carlos is barely here, I figured I'd wait till you got back so someone can keep an eye on her."
"What's in New York?" James asked, perplexed.
"Oh, Gustavo wants me to attend some events, do some red carpet interviews, that sort of thing," Logan replied, talking a mile a minute.
"And he didn't want all of us to go?" James asked.
"Na, you guys were all busy," Logan shrugged. "Besides, I volunteered."
"You?" James said, not with a little disbelief.
Logan shrugged again. He finished with his check list and started toward the door, his suitcase on wheels following him.
"Don't worry, I'll be back before March," Logan said. "Bye, James!"
And with a wave, he was gone.
What in the world?
"Where's Logan?" Carlos asked, plopping down next to James and grabbing the second game controller.
"New York," James said, moving his thumbs vigorously, trying to stay alive in the game.
He heard a clatter in the kitchen, but barely glanced up.
"When'd he leave?" Carlos asked.
"This morning," James replied. "He say anything to you about it?"
"Nope," Carlos shook his head as he started to play on the second player. "Katie, he say anything to you?" he called toward the kitchen.
"No," came her quick reply.
"Weird," Carlos said.
"Wonder what's bugging him," James said, thumbs still moving.
"Who knows?"
After losing control of his car, James decided to focus on the game and put all troublesome thoughts about Logan on hold. He'd let them know what was bothering him sooner or later.
And James would feel better if he could just find a moment alone to speak to Katie without Carlos bothering him, but it seemed that Carlos was either growing tired of Rosie—finally!—or the poor guy had just really missed spending time with his best friend. Carlos did tend to spend more of his time with James than any of the other guys. Probably because Logan and Kendall had always been closer to each other.
Katie texted James a couple of times trying to set up the meeting that he had wanted so badly, though she was insistent that he didn't come to her room at night anymore. Each time James was unable to get away because Carlos seemed to follow him wherever he went.
"Carlos, what's up with Rosie?" he finally asked, desperate for a minute alone with Katie.
"Oh, uh," Carlos gave a small shrug, "we're just... taking a small break."
Any other time James would have rejoiced, but not today. Today he wished Carlos was still being delusional about her perfection.
"What happened?"
"What always happens," Carlos shrugged. "When you got back from Canada, I spent too much of my time hanging with you and she got mad. So I told her maybe we needed a break. I don't think she liked that very much." His eyes were wide.
"What makes you say that?"
"She started throwing olives at me."
"Black or green?"
"Green!" he exclaimed.
"Ew."
"Exactly!"
"Are you sure she's still mad? Maybe you should talk to her? I've been back a couple days now. I won't be mad if you want to spend the day with her," James really didn't like the girl and felt badly about pushing Carlos in her direction again, but he really needed to tell Katie how he felt about her…and he was going to need plenty of alone time to do it.
"Maybe I will go see her," Carlos said, nodding his head, suddenly acting like that was the best idea in the world. "Thanks, James!" And he ran off to call his 'little Rosie'.
Guilty! James winced, but wasted no time in texting Katie the good news. Well, it was good news to him.
"I'm here," Katie said as she walked into the apartment, tossing her purse on the counter. "What is this thing you need to talk about so badly!"
"Not out here," he said. "Let's go to your room."
"No one's home to hear! Just come out with it!" Katie insisted.
"But Carlos could come back if Rosie won't forgive him," he pointed out.
"Then…" she seemed nervous about something, "your room."
James raised an eyebrow. "Where do you think Carlos will go when he comes home?"
"Then lock the door!" she snapped.
What was with her? And why couldn't they just go to her room? They always had before. They would stay up late talking and cuddling on her bedspread. It was one of his most favorite places in the world. Which was probably why she didn't want him there.
"Fine," he said with a sigh. He let out a breath of relief when she followed him to his room.
She walked in and stood in the middle of the room while he closed the door and locked it with an exaggerated turn.
She rolled her eyes. Her arms were crossed in front of her and a toe was tapping the floor.
He cleared his throat and finally…
"I love you," James began. "I didn't mean what I said..."
The toe tapping stopped.
"I missed you so much," he continued. "I don't know how things got so messed up before I left… but I know I still want to be with you. And I'd choose you over Kendall in a heartbeat."
Her eyes were so big, he felt like he could fall into them if he took even one tiny step.
"James…" she whispered.
He started to worry when he realized her eyes looked a little glassy.
"Please don't cry," he said, rushing up to her. "I don't want to hurt you anymore. I'm so sorry. Please forgive me?"
She stared up at him before laying her face against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and held her as tightly as he could. He felt badly when she started crying, but at least she wrapped her arms around him too. She may not have been happy with him, but she seemed to be forgiving him.
He thought she might stop soon, but she didn't. If anything, her sobs grew louder. And then she was leaning so much against him, he started losing his balance. He managed to maneuver them so they were sitting at the foot of his bed. They readjusted and she kept crying into his chest.
He really must have destroyed her when they broke up. He never should have told her that Kendall was more important to him. He never should have snuck around with her to begin with. He should have been upfront about it. He should have done everything he could to be with her.
"I'm sorry," he murmured again.
She shook her head and a louder sob came out at his words before returning to her original volume.
Maybe he shouldn't say anything else until she settled down.
Some time later she seemed to finally calm down to the occasional hiccup. He couldn't believe she had that much in her.
She eventually looked up at him. She seemed to be embarrassed at her outburst.
He smiled reassuringly. He wanted, no needed, her to know how truly sorry he was. How much he was ready to do anything just to make her happy.
"I want you, Katie," he whispered. "Only you."
His lips met hers before she could say anything else. She seemed a little hesitant at first, but eventually gave in to his gentle kisses.
He went slowly, kissing her and running his fingers through her hair. He would have continued that way, but she seemed to get a burst of energy from somewhere.
Suddenly she was sliding her tongue into his mouth. Suddenly she was desperately attacking him with her lips and body. Suddenly she was pulling him down with her to the mattress. Suddenly she was taking control.
He guessed he was forgiven.
Or not.
He couldn't believe they had finally done it. But, man was he happy.
Everything about her made him happy. From the way she laughed, got snippy with him, put her hand on her hip when annoyed, constantly had something devious going on in that mind of hers, to the way she giggled when he did something silly, kissed him like he was the only person in the world, and gave everything she had to give to him without a second thought.
He was so glad he didn't hurt her too much when he finally slid inside of her. He knew it was her first time, so he tried to make it easy. He didn't have to worry because instead of pain, she just seemed to enjoy the entire experience… very much.
That was why, when he found himself lying on his bed holding her tightly, she completely glued against him, both of them still recovering from what transpired moments ago, that he couldn't hold back his final gift to her and whispered:
"I'm going to tell Kendall."
She stiffened against him.
"I meant it when I said I want to be with you," he whispered. "No more lying. No more sneaking around. Everyone will know that James Diamond is hopelessly in love with Katie Knight. I promise." He shifted, reaching for a tissue.
She turned in his arms, looking at him with those huge eyes again.
"What's wrong?" he asked. Was she going to cry again? He slid the tissue under his sheets, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible.
She shook her head. "Please, don't."
He frowned and he stopped his movements. "Don't, what?"
"Tell Kendall," she whispered.
He stared at her in disbelief.
"But…"
"Please, James," she begged. "Please don't tell Kendall."
"I don't get you," he said, pulling away. He lifted the blanket and finally used the tissue to pull off the condom he hadn't even gotten the chance to remove yet. He vaguely noticed that it might have leaked a little, but he was too frustrated at what he was hearing for that information to register in his mind.
He tossed it in the trash can next to his bed before grabbing his jeans and pulling them on without bothering with underclothing. He was getting a little angry.
"I thought that was what you wanted," he said, completely flabbergasted.
"I… I did," she explained. "But now I don't."
"So, what?" he asked. "You expect me to just keep everything a secret? Katie, I don't want to sleep with you behind Kendall's back! Its one thing to talk and kiss, but we just had sex!"
"I know," she whispered sadly.
Sadly? What was she so sad about?
"Don't tell me you regret doing it," James said in disbelief.
"I don't regret it," she said.
"Then start making sense! Stop changing your mind! You're driving me crazy!" James couldn't believe this. She knew he didn't want to sleep with her when they were sneaking behind Kendall's back. She had been the one to insist that they tell Kendall so that they could be together. He was giving her what she wanted. And now she wanted to change the rules? Why was she doing this to him? Didn't she understand that things just couldn't go on this way?
James gave up, giving in to the craziness and anger he was feeling. He threw his hands in the air.
"I can't take any more of this! How about you figure out exactly what you want from me and then let me know," James exclaimed. "And I'll let you know if I can live with it!"
"James…" she said. Her eyes were wide again.
"Not like this, Katie," he said as he grabbed his shirt. "Just…no."
And then he left.
He thought she would come to him soon after their argument.
But she didn't.
He decided that she would definitely come to him before Kendall got back from South Carolina.
But she didn't.
Logan had extended his stay in New York for almost the entire month of February. He told the guys that he was having fun in the city, visiting the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Ground Zero, Rockefeller Center, Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame, Madame Tussauds'—even sending a picture on his phone to all the guys of him posing with Albert Einstein. Logan was always playing the 'tourist' so none of the other guys thought his behavior was weird except James who had witnessed his uncharacteristic behavior before he left. Logan kept to his word, though, and returned from his trip a mere two days before they had to load up the tour bus. James thought Katie would come to him before Logan came back, or before they left for tour.
But she didn't.
James went through the motions that first month on tour. Every day he worked with the band and he worked on his training for the new movie. He did all he could to avoid Katie but inside he kept hoping she would just get over whatever her problem was and come talk to him.
But she didn't.
When Logan blew up at Gustavo one day because the man had extended the tour to mid-September, booking at least ten extra shows, James thought he finally knew what had been bugging Logan. After all, Logan was the one who wanted to leave the Palm Woods. James just figured Logan had been looking forward to living in one of the dorms on campus. But with most of September booked, Logan was being forced to give that up and his new class schedule for the fall—he had to rush around putting together an online only schedule at the last minute. Logan's contract was up at the end of the year, so unless Gustavo stopped messing with him, James had a sneaking suspicion that Logan wouldn't be renewing…or, at the very least, changing the terms of his contract drastically.
And Katie still didn't come to him.
March passed in a blur of activity. No one really noticed that Logan and James didn't seem to be having as much fun on this tour. They made all their marks, never missed a note, but neither of them shined like they always had before.
Mid-April, around the time normal high school students would be on spring break, Mrs. Knight and Katie dropped a bombshell.
Katie was tired of being on the road. She had talked to her mother about going back to Minnesota to stay with her father.
Kendall was upset, but after Katie explained that she missed being a normal teen, he came around. Not that he thought it would be a good idea for her to stay with their father, but he wanted her to be happy.
Mrs. Knight seemed like she didn't completely agree with Katie's decision. Everyone got the feeling that she would rather be with Katie than on tour with them. But Katie was insistent that she stay and take care of the boys. She said she would be fine. She wanted a chance to reconnect with the father she had barely seen in the last ten years.
James tried to talk to her, not wanting her to leave without settling things between them, but she just shook her head sadly, not allowing him time alone with her and not responding to any of his text messages.
He watched her go. Then he threw himself even more headlong into his work. Trying everything he could to put her out of his mind, he still wrestled with the thought that he would track her down after the tour and get to the bottom of things.
Then, in mid-August, he finally received a text from her. She wanted to meet him after the tour. He tried to convince her to let him see her then—even going as far to say he would hop a plane and be there the next day. She told him not to do that. She wanted to wait until tour was over.
He was so relieved. He attacked his next performance two days later with the same shining joy he had always felt before his recent troubles.
He felt as though his joy was infectious because even Logan seemed to be in better spirits, doing extra flips and whooping whenever he got the chance.
He got off stage feeling better about him self than he had in the past seven months.
…
Then Kelly arrived with papers and a message.
And everything seemed to spiral out of control from there.
And now, as he sat, staring in horror between his two best friends—the one he had betrayed, and the one who had betrayed him—he felt like his world was caving in.
The scream came.
That was when Kendall finally lost it.
To be continued…
Next: Part I: Chapter 4 –Exciting conclusion to Part I of Big Time Demise.