A/N: Okay, so y'all flipped your shit over the last chapter, and I kinda loved it XD This chapter is kinda gonna explain the situation, but it'll probably just confuse you even more heheheh. It's quite fun to confuse y'all. You're interesting when confused. But yea, this chapter skips around a lot between the setting and the people and whatnot. I'm sorry that it'll be so confusing in that sense as well, but I had to do it. Oh, and it's mostly dialogue, which isn't my strong suit. I dunno. This chapter is kinda just a filler which is why it's also so short. But anyways, enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything recognizable.
"Still won't listen?" Kendall questioned, watching as a dejected James trudged onto the bus and fell onto the couch beside him.
"He refuses."
"M'sorry, man. Have you tried talking to Ryan or Alex?"
"Of course I have," he said as he walked to the mini-fridge," but neither of them have really talked to Carlos for anything other than business." He grabbed a water bottle, draining it as Logan joined them in the back lounge, Dustin not far behind. Logan looked from James to Kendall, assessing the situation before glancing at Dustin hopefully. The oldest of the group sighed, throwing up his hands.
"Fine! I'll talk to him." With that, he left the room. James sighed, tossing the empty bottle in the trash.
"I'm gonna head back too. G'night, guys." Kendall and Logan silently waved as James left. His departure was followed by a text message from Alex that surprised and confused the remaining habitants of the bus.
We're gonna fix this.
Alex grinned at his phone screen before double checking the information on his laptop. When he was satisfied that he had the screen memorized, he shut the laptop and ran out of his room.
"Hey, Ry!" he called out to the brunette standing in his kitchen.
"Hmm, yea?"
"I was thinking," he began, leaning across the counter at which she was standing. "Instead of going to Tahoe for my birthday, why don't we go for yours?" She raised an eyebrow while handing him one of the two sandwiches she had prepared.
"Why? That's so soon. Can we really be ready by then?" she asked doubtfully.
"We can leave in a week and stay until the end of the month. Plus, it'll get you out of thanksgiving with the 'rents," he suggested, smiling cheekily and wiggling his eyebrows. After a moment of thought, she nodded, laughing.
"Alright, let's do it." She smiled before walking out of the kitchen and into the bathroom. As soon as she left his sight, Alex pulled out his phone, grinning at the picture he had received from Logan.
"Wha ha huck?! Hoguh, Kendah, I go-ha ki you!" Carlos threatened incoherently through the scarf tied through his mouth. He struggled against the ropes holding him to the chair as Logan and Kendall continued laughing hysterically at their friend's situation. No one had noticed James and Dustin's sudden presence until Dustin let out a whoop of laughter. Logan calmed himself to a chuckle and took in the amusingly confused expression that had graced James's face the second he had stepped foot on the tour bus.
"The hell is going on..." His voice trailed off as he glanced at Logan for an answer and avoided eye contact with the fuming man tied to the chair.
"He's all yours. We have to leave in an hour, so make it fast and fix this shit." With that, Logan stepped off of the bus, dragging the two still laughing and almost crying men behind him to give James and Carlos enough privacy to talk. When he heard the door shut, James snuck a glance at the finally still and silent Carlos who glared at him with what seemed to be a burning hatred.
"I feel like I just walked into a gay porno," James cracked, hoping to lighten the mood, but he only received an over-enthusiastic eye-roll which he then reciprocated. "But while you're here, let me explain what did and did not happen."
"That's it...?" Carlos's voice trailed off as James reluctantly untied him from the chair.
"Yes. That's it, dipshit," James smirked, freeing Carlos's arms.
"Oh." He twisted his wrists, wincing in both pain and regret. "I'm uh... I'm s-sorry, man. I don't really know why-"
"Bullshit," James interjected, untying Carlos's legs and pulling the shorter man off of the chair.
"How so?" Carlos questioned, one eyebrow raised in false confusion. James simply scoffed, rolling his eyes.
"Don't even try that," James commanded. Carlos was flustered, but he was saved from having to respond when Logan, Kendall, and D-Wrek entered the bus. D-Wrek, entirely lost, was informed of the situation by Dustin.
"... So we left them here for the past hour, and?" He looked to James and Carlos who shrugged before exchanging glances.
"We're good," James assured with a nod. Kendall let out a sign of relief, and Logan a chuckle.
"Great, okay, now, off of our bus. We pull out in ten." With that comment from Dustin, the moment ended as well as any tension within the group. Laughing, D-Wrek, Logan, and Kendall followed Dustin to their bunks to retire for the night, waving over their shoulders. The two remaining men exited the bus to join their trainers Alec and Eric on their own bus for the first peaceful night of the tour.
"Ryan," Alex gently shook the brunette's shoulder with a smirk. "Ry?" he tried, but to no avail. He sighed, shouting at last resort. "Ryan!"
"Ow, son of a bitch, what?!" she slurred sleepily, massaging her temple and making no effort to leave her bed.
"We need to leave in an hour, get up." She groaned in response.
"You always gotta get the early flights. Fuck, what time is it?"
"Early flights give us time to settle in. And the flight is at 8:20, so we need to leave at 6. It's 5 right now." He yanked the blanket away from her as he spoke, earning a weak whine of protest.
"Motherfucker, the sun isn't even awake yet. Bitch." With that, she turned back onto her side, curling up in a ball and pulling up the remaining sheets. Alex laughed, debating the idea of taking a picture before leaving the room.
"Ten minutes!" he shouted over his shoulder before exiting the room.
Fifteen minutes and many curses later, Ryan stood at the counter of her small kitchen in the sweats she planned to wear to the airport. Leaning backwards against the counter, she scrolled through her Twitter feed, sighing as she read over a tweet from Carlos.
"Hey," Alex spoke, interrupting her thoughts as he stepped out of the bathroom. "You ready?"
"Alex, it's 5:20. Why the hell do you want to leave now?!"
"Well, I want to check in on Ramone at the store. He said he'd be in early."
"Fine, fine," Ryan sighed, "but I still can't believe that we're leaving Ramone in charge of the store."
"He has worked there the longest besides me, and he's the only employee that Los really knows."
"He also has anxiety issues, and the store is getting busier and busier."
"Well would you rather stay?" Alex crossed his arms as Ryan rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"Just shut up and help me with the luggage."
"I still don't get why you won't tell me," Carlos practically hollered as he followed a very irritated James around the venue.
"Because," James shouted as he finally turned to face the Latino, "it's not my place. It's been over a week, give it up."
"I know," Carlos sighed, "but... W-why wouldn't she tell me? I've known her for two months, but dammit, you had only known her for two days!" James sighed, not waiting to say what he had really been thinking.
"I don't know, man."
"Are you positive about this?" Logan spoke into the phone, pacing around his dressing room at the venue.
"I know this girl inside-out. Trust me, alright?" Alex replied. "We just landed in Reno, so we should be in Tahoe in an hour or two. Just keep Carlos distracted until the end of the week."
"Whatever you say, man." Having said that, the phone call ended just as Kendall entered the room. He took in Logan's thoughtful demeanor and understood.
"Everything set?" he asked hopefully, feeling satisfied when Logan nodded.
"Now it's just up to them."
A/N: I hope you are all nice and confused. This chapter was all over the place, but it leads into the next one pretty well. I know you guys still don't really know what happened between Ryan and James and what she told him, but it'll be revealed eventually hehehehe. Anyways, it's exam week, so I'm tired as fuck, so... FOLLOW/FAVORITE/REVIEW! G'NIGHT Y'ALL!