"Brianna?" Mrs. Pena said opening the door. "Hi Mrs. Pena" She smiled.
"Oh Brianna!" She exclaimed hugging her. "Look at you! Your so beautiful."Brianna blushed. "Why thank you."
"Oh dear why don't you come in." She said ushering her in the door. She walked into the living room with her and then Brianna's heart sunk. Sitting on the couch was Carlos and Samantha. "Look who came to visit!" Mrs. Pena said excitedly.
"Brianna," Mr. Pena said. "You look beautiful as ever, all grown up and what not. I'm so proud of you." He said pulling her into a hug.
Carlos then stood up and gave her a huge hug. He was ecstatic to see her. "Gah I missed you so much."
"Me too." She managed to smile even though she was still really heartbroken.
"Sam, this is Brianna." Carlos said introducing the two.
"Nice to meet you." Sam said to Brianna.
"You too.""Carlos and Brianna grew up together." Mr. Pena said.
"They didn't just grow up together, they did everything together." Mrs. Pena smiled.
"What brings you to Cali?" Mr. Pena asked.
"Well as you know I finally graduated college and I got an intern job at Columbia Records.""Oh that's great!" Mrs. Pena exclaimed."Isn't that your label?" Sam asked Carlos."Sure is.""Well then I'm sure you two will be seeing each other a lot." Mr. Pena said.
"Maybe." Brianna said.
"Hopefully you two can rekindle the friendship. You guys were so close." Mrs. Pena said with hope.
"That was until Hollywood pulled him away." She smiled.
"Well we are so happy for you." Mr. Pena said.
"Thank you. Well I didn't mean to interrupt anything, I just wanted to say hello and let you guys know I'm in town now so I can see you more often."
"Don't you dare be a stranger." Mrs. Pena said hugging her again.
"I wont."
Brianna waved by two Carlos Sr. & Jr. and Sam and headed for the door. As soon as she closed the door her heart sunk even more. The reality of them, sitting on the couch, hand in hand. That should be her. If she wouldn't have broken up with him he was bound to end up cheating on her, weather or not he meant too. Samantha just had that way with people. Before she could make it to the car Carlos chased her out. "Wait." He called.
"What?""How…? I'm so confused.""Why?""Well you break up with me, 2 years later move to LA and the first people you think to visit is my family.""Look their like my family too and I don't know anyone here. I'm sorry, I didn't think you would be here.""Don't be sorry, I just don't get it.""Your mom and dad are practically my second parents, they have been with me and supporting me my whole life.""So have I""You did until a few years ago. Then it turned into me being the only supportive one.""You knew that Hollywood was going to do that to us.""I know, and I'm still ok with it.""Look. Since you decided not to answer my calls or texts when you broke up with me I just need you to know, I didn't want to let you go."
"I know but it was the only choice I had. If I wouldn't have done it you would have just ended up cheating on me.""I would never.""Carlos I saw the pictures. I saw the way she affected you, weather or not you wanted or intended too, it was going to happen."
"Can we be best friends again?""I don't know. I mean I still love you and I always will. Its hard to think about you being with her and hanging out with you guys. Its not gonna be ok with me."
"I will do anything, please Brianna. I really miss you."She sighed. "We can try." He hugged her tight. "Thank you. Is your number still the same?""Of course.""Ill call you later.""Alright.""Oh nice ride by the way." He commented on her brand new car."Thanks. Gradation present.""Wow."
Months passed and slowly Brianna began to heal actually spending time with Carlos and Sam. Brianna started hanging around the other BTR guys so much and getting to know them. Of course they loved her the first time they met her. The boys had left for the Better With U Tour 10 days ago. While they were gone Brianna would see Sam out and about but today was the day she almost hit her. Brianna was walking out of Columbia Records when out of the corner of her eye she saw Sam holding hands with some other guy. Brianna was shocked but wasn't going to let it go. She followed of course. If she was cheating on Carlos, Brianna indented have the proof she needed. She managed to snap a few pictures on the hand holding, the occasional kiss on the cheeks between the two. Then into a hotel where Brianna hid behind some banisters so Sam didn't see her. Carlos was Brianna's, he always had been. Maybe now that she was in Cali, they could make it work. Only she had to get rid of this cheating girl. Brianna leaned out a little to see Sam and this other guy completely making out in the lobby. A few pictures later and Brianna was satisfied with the proof she had. She looked around the lobby to make sure there weren't production camera's, thinking maybe this was just a gig, but no such luck, she was really cheating on him and Brianna wasn't going to stand for it. Brianna went straight home and saved the pictures to her computer, she wasn't doing anything with them until Carlos got home from tour.
Carlos was finally back, Brianna had everything planned out on how to break the news to him. She waited a few hours to go see him but once she did, even she could feel the heartbreak that was going to come with this visit. Brianna walked through the front door and was immediately greeted by Sydney who jumped up on her. "Hey girl." She said in that playful voice. "I missed you, yes I did.""Bet you I can tell you someone who missed you more." Carlos said coming around the corner.
Brianna smiled and walked to give him a hug. "How was tour?""It was amazing.""If it was anything like the show that was here, I bet it was.""Absolutely."
"So we need to talk." She pulled him into the kitchen and they sat down at the bar. Brianna pulled her computer out of her bag. "Ok so the other day, well 11 days ago to be exact, I was leaving work and I saw something that was quite interesting.""What was that?"Brianna opened the first file of Sam and the other guy holding hands. "This." She said sadly.
"Is that Sam?""Yeah." "It couldn't be.""That's what I thought.." But she continued through a few more pictures. "Carlos, I didn't want to tell you but when your best friend sees your girlfriend doing this, it feels like an obligation to that person.""So these are real?""As real as they get.""Why didn't you tell me the day you found them?""Because you were on tour and I just didn't want to ruin that for you. You were having so much fun. I was going to tell you but my sub conscious kicked in and said 'don't you dare ruin this tour for him', so I wanted to wait till you got home, and as much as I didn't want to do it the day you got back, I figured if I waited any longer to tell you, you would be mad at me.""I couldn't be mad at you.""So you're not mad about this?"He put his head in his hands. "No, I'd rather hear it from you that someone else or read it online. Speaking of which, you didn't post those anywhere, right?""No way. I dislike her for what she did to you but I would never hurt her like that. I mean I thought of doing that and telling you I just randomly found them but I wanted to be the bigger, good best friend here and tell you. So no, the only place they are, is on my computer.""Good." He stood up and walked toward the living room. Brianna followed. "Are you ok?" She asked sadly."No. Damn now I know how you felt when you saw those pictures of me and her.""Sucks huh?""Yea. I'm really sorry." He said with tears running down his face.
Brianna felt bad but she knew it was the right thing to do. She pulled him into her side holding him tight. "Hush little baby, don't you cry. Yeah I know she hurt you but it ain't the end of your life. 'Cause I'm right here waiting, with open arms. I know you might feel shattered but love should never bring you harm." Brianna sang lightly.
"Brianna." He said sitting up.
"Yeah?""Really sing that song to me.""How do you mean?""I want you in the studio, recording it. Just for me.""Can I do that?""We can. Lets go."
Carlos took her Columbia to do a mini recording session.
"Its simple. I'm going to play the song through the headphones and you just sing it, like you used to always do in your car.""Sounds easy enough.""Ok. Get in there." He said urging her into the booth.
Brianna closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She had always dreamed of being a singer but never had the guts to pursue it. As badly as she wanted it though. Now she was in a real recording studio, about to record her first song, even though it wasn't one of her own.
"Hush little baby, don't you cry. Yeah I know she hurt you, but it aint the of your life. Cause I'm right here waiting, with open arms, I know you might feel shattered but love should never bring you harm. So consider this a moment, that's defining who you are." She opened her eyes and looked at Carlos. "And I can fix what's broken and here's how I'll start. Just come with your heart and leave the rest to me and I promise that we'll be, and ill be the cure. Show me where it hurts" Carlos put his hand on his heart and Brianna couldn't help but smiled because she knew that's where it hurt. "and I know that I can be, the medicine you need, baby ill be your cure, your cure, yeah, yeah, yeah." Carlos then mouthed 'I Love You' to her. "I can see she left you, with your heart wide open but I can be your shelter when the wind starts blowing. So don't be afraid of what's in front of you, cause I know I'm strong enough to carry us through. So consider this a moment, that's defining who you are and I can fix what's broken and here's how ill start."
"Carlos, there you are." Sam said walking into the room."What are you doing here?""I've been looking for you."Carlos looked at Brianna "Keep singing." he turned back to Sam. "Just let her finish this song."
Brianna closed her eyes. Having Sam there just wouldn't make it the same. So she pictured the good old days when they were little. "Just come with your heart and leave the rest to me and I promise that we'll be and ill be the cure. Show me where it hurts and I know that I can be, the medicine you need, baby ill be your cure, ill be the cure. Ill be your cure, ill be the cure. Ill be your healer, in my shining armor, just let me protect you, that's what I'm here for. My love is a healer, if you let me near, reach out and touch me, just let me restore." She repeated the course twice, belting out every note in perfect tone, pitch and quality, just letting her feelings out. "My love is strong enough, ill be the cure. Whenever you call, ill be the cure. I am the cure." She held that note out for a few seconds and once the music ended she opened her eyes. Carlos was sitting in the chair staring at her and Sam was right behind him, hands on his shoulders.
"Damn, I didn't know she could sing like that." Sam said in shock.
"She's always had the most beautiful voice I've ever heard."
Brianna walked out of the booth. "So…?""That was amazing." Carlos said standing up to hug her.
"Thanks." She said shyly.
"Bri, that was so good!" Sam exclaimed running to hug her. "I had no idea you could sing like that."
"Thanks Sam.""Why were you singing that particular song though?" She asked curiously eyeballing Brianna. Sam knew Carlos & Brianna's past, she didn't like the two being alone.
Brianna looked at Carlos who immediately looked at Sam who then looked back and forth at Brianna and Carlos. Carlo handed Brianna the keys. "Go wait in the car."
"What's going on?" Sam asked as Brianna left.
"Sam we are done. So over.""What! Why!""Because I know about you and your other little boyfriend.""What other boyfriend!" She yelled."The one you were with while I was on tour.""I wasn't with anyone.""So now your going to lie about it. Just tell me the truth.""I really wasn't. I don't know what your talking about.""Yeah well I do. Brianna saw you with him.""Oh really? Do you not see what she is doing?""What is she doing?""Trying to break us up so she can have you back. Its so obvious.""No, first off she left me.""Yeah and now she's regretting it.""Look I'm done fighting with you. She took pictures, lot of them.""And you believe her.""Of course, pictures prove everything.""No they don't.""Yes they do.""Carlos, look ok so I was with another guy but…""No buts. You cheated on me and that is not ok. Now I know exactly how poor Brianna felt when she saw all those pictures of us start to surface before we broke up."
"Carlos I…""Save it. Don't call, don't text, don't come over. Its over. For good this time."
Carlos walked away from Sam that day not hurting anymore. He realized Brianna was always his only one, Sam was just there to fill the void in his heart Brianna had left. Now that Brianna didn't hate him anymore and they were friends again, he would do anything and everything he could to make her love him the same way, there was no denying his feelings for her, he was head over heels in love with his best friend since forever.
"How did it go?" Bri asked as Carlos got in the car."Fine. She denied it but I told her you took the pictures and I saw them so there was no lying.""And you ended it right?""Of course." He turned to her and looked her dead in those big beautiful blue eyes. "Look I just wanna say I am so, so sorry for the way things turned out between us. I didn't realize the way it would hurt you seeing those pictures of Sam and I a few years ago. I feel horrible but I just need you to know I really am truly sorry.""Carlos, it's ok. I mean even though I never got over you. I spent so much time keeping tabs on you and BTR. You were my first love Carlos, that is something that will never change. Ill love you forever, even if we don't end up spending it together.""You always say the most amazing things to make someone feel better, you know that?""Well I try."
-3 months later-
"Are you ready?" Brianna's best friend Megan asked.
"As ready as I'll ever be." She took a deep breath and looked in the mirror.
Megan and Brianna had met a long time ago. When Megan found out Brianna used to be best friends with Carlos, the two had realized they had so much more in common. Brianna called her Mojo and Megan called Brianna Pixie. They were basically inseparable from the start. Although wanting to move to Cali with Brianna, things just didn't work out with it. But this day, Mojo wouldn't miss for the world. "Gah Pixie you look absolutely amazing"
"Thank you Mojo." She said hugging her. "It means so much that you're here for this.""I wouldn't have it any other way." She smiled.
"Oh look at my little girl." Cyndie said walking through the door. She gave her a huge hug. "I'm so proud of you.""Ugh mom, your squishing me." Brianna said struggling to push her mom away."I'm sorry, its just. I cant believe your finally doing this.""Me either."
Logan opened the door. "It's time Brianna."
Her mom squealed and grabbed Mojo's hand. "Were gonna go get in our seats."
"Are you ready for this?" James asked as she walked out of the room with Kendall and Logan behind her."So ready. I've been waiting for this moment for life.""Go get em kid. Its your time to shine." James smiled and hugged her.
"Thanks."