Chapter 2: Oh, it's gonna be a big night

After an hour of talking to fans, we all climbed back into the car. Logan and Kendall were talking about a couple of girls in the crowd, and James was yawning and leaning his head against the window. I closed my eyes and thought about James. I still felt bad, but I think it was good for him and Brooke to break up. I could tell he wasn't that into her. Sure, on the phone and on Skype he was all lovey-dovey. I even heard them having phone sex before. But in person, whenever she touched him, he would unconsciously shy away from it. I've never even seen him kiss her. To be honest, I think James should take a break from girls for a while. Maybe experiment a little…

Yeah right. James would never go gay. Or even bi. I couldn't help that I think of him in a sexual way sometimes, but I don't even consider myself gay. James sat up straight and leaned his head back. He put his arm around my shoulder, and I could feel my heart start beating faster. My palms began to sweat and I told myself to get over it. It's just around my shoulder; I should stop getting so worked up over nothing. It was really tempting to lean my head on his chest though. Very tempting.

When we stopped at a diner, I leaned away, to see if James was asleep. He was looking up at the roof, and I nudged him. I wonder what he was thinking so hard about. Brooke, no doubt. He looked over at me, and out the window. "Wow, we're here already?" He said.

"Yeah right, took us long enough," Kendall said, hopping out of the car. We all followed him out and into the diner. It was a small place, and not too busy, which was perfect. We all sat in a booth, Kendall and Logan on one side, and James and I on the other. I pictured myself being here alone, with just James. We wouldn't both sit on one side, like those cheesy couples. We would face each other and hold hands. Share a milkshake.

"Carlos!" Logan's voice snapped me out of it.

"What?"

"Dude, what's wrong with you?" he asked.

I felt James looking at me and I blushed. "Nothing," I mumbled, looking down.

"Anyways, what did you think of that damn interview?"

"Annoying, hot, and long as hell," I replied.

"My thoughts exactly," Kendall said.

"Yeah, but I can't ignore everything that's wrong and be friendly like you, Kendall."

He laughed, and I said, "I'm being serious! I was about ten minutes away from running out of the room."

Everyone laughed, and Kendall laughed harder than before. I finally smiled, and laughed along.

After dinner, Kendall reminded us that we had a guest appearance on a TV show tomorrow night. I had completely forgotten about that. Apparently, it was some late night TV show and we were supposed to go on and play truth or dare or something like that. I was actually looking forward to it.

"Wait a minute, where is it?" I asked.

"Here," Kendall said, "Like a few miles away."

"Okay good. I really don't feel like driving anywhere. Or flying."

"Well, you know we have to fly to New Jersey in two days, right?" Logan asked.

"Yep, for the concert." James said.

"Why do I always forget the schedule?" I asked, exasperated.

"Because you're silly," James said pushing my shoulder and smiling. I was stunned by his smile for a second, before I could smile back.

We all went back to the car to go to the hotel. I was ready to crash.

After the short drive, I was expecting to go right to our rooms. But we got held back. Apparently, they had forgotten to book our rooms. I sighed and plopped down in one of the couches in the lobby.

"How could you forget to book rooms?" I asked James, who had sat down next to me.

"I don't know, it's stupid. I'm so damn tired, too," he replied. I looked over at him. His hair was pushed out of his face, and wavy because of the heat. He had bags under his eyes, and you could tell he was exhausted. I probably looked the same.

I watched across the room as our manager argued with the front desk person. I couldn't tell what they were saying, but by our manager's expression, it wasn't good news.

When she walked over, she explained to us that she could only book one room for all four of us, and that we would have to share the two king beds.

"That's fine," James said, "As long as I get to sleep."

"I don't mind, I'm about to pass out from lack of sleep," I added.

"I call sleeping with Carlos though," James said. "He snores the least," he added, looking over at me. I smiled and looked down, feeling my face heat up.

We all walked up to our room, and Kendall unlocked the door and stepped in. We followed after, and stopped short.

"You have got to be kidding me," Logan said.

We looked at the two twin beds pushed together.

"What the hell?" Kendall said.

After much debate, we decided to separate the beds and try our best to go to sleep. James laid down first. He took up the whole bed without even trying. I took off my pants and realized I had forgotten my pajamas in the car, with my other suitcase.

"James, do you mind if I sleep in my boxers? I forgot my shorts."

"Mhmmm, it's fine," he said into the pillow. I changed shirts and walked over to the bed.

"Move over man," I said, yawning. He turned on his side, and moved over a little. I looked at the impossibly tiny space that he made. Well this is going to be great.

After arguing about the blanket, Kendall and Logan finally shut up. I laid down with my back against James' back. I could feel the warmth of his skin, the vibrations his snoring sent through his body. We both had our legs pulled up, and I could feel his ass against mine. It kind of turned me on. I tried to clear my head and fall asleep, but all I could think about was James' ass.

I stayed still as James jerked awake, and rolled onto his back. He tried pushing me over, but I pushed back, mumbling. He rolled onto his left side, and I could feel his breath against the back of my neck. I got goosebumps along my neck and back, and I started shivering. James pulled the blanket over me, then put his arm over my body. My semi turned into a full on boner, but I still pretended to be asleep. I was getting hot under James' arm, but I wasn't about to move it.

I don't remember drifting off, but suddenly I was dreaming.

"Mmmm, baby…" I heard him say, panting softly.

I looked around for him, spinning in a hundred directions. I couldn't find him anywhere.

"Follow me…follow my voice baby"

I ran, trying to find him. Where are you? I wanted to shout. I couldn't speak. I started to cry.

"Right here…I'm right here." I looked up and saw James. He was shirtless, and only had on boxers.

He hugged me and I cried harder. "I couldn't find you…"

"I know, but I'm here now," he pulled me back and looked at my face. Then he kissed me. I pushed against his lips, feeling the perfect curve of them. I moved my lips with his, running my hands through the hair at the nape of his neck. He pulled me against his body, rubbing me all over. I started breathing heavily, pushing up against him.

"Carlos…Carlos…"

"Yes?"

"Carlos…Carlos!"

I jerked awake. I looked up to see Logan standing over me. I shut my eyes and willed the images to come back.

"Carlos man, wake up. And wake up James. He's a rock."

I turned and looked over my shoulder at James. He laid on his stomach, his face turned toward me. As I sat up, I felt his hand slide off my back. I stared at him, his peaceful face. His eyebrows pushed together, and he started scowling. Was he dreaming? Or just waking up?

I got off the bed and pulled my pants from yesterday on. I put on a t-shirt and walked over to the bed. I pushed at James' shoulder, but that did nothing. I ended up jumping on the bed yelling at James to get up. I jumped and landed with one foot on either side of his body. I leaned down over his face. He glared up at me.

"Wake up!" I stage-whispered.

"I'm up," he said, grumbling. He closed his eyes again.

I dropped down onto my knees so that I was straddling him. "Are you really up?" I asked.

He looked at me and said, "No. Now let me sleep."

"I can't do that, sorry," I said, and starting tapping his cheeks. Every tap I said 'get' then 'up'. He just kept his eyes closed so I got off of him, and walked into the bathroom. Logan was on the toilet, and Kendall was finishing up shaving.

"I can't get him up," I reported, moving towards the sink.

"I'll try," Kendall said, throwing his brush into his bag and walking out.

I went to the sink and started brushing my teeth. Logan and I started talking about how cramped we were, from sharing beds, when we heard Kendall swear and a thud. I walked out to see Kendall rubbing his arm, and James getting up from the floor.

"Wha happen?" I asked, my toothbrush still in my mouth.

"He punched me so I pulled him off the bed," Kendall replied.

"Ugh, why can't you guys let me sleep?" James asked, sitting on the edge of the bed, rubbing his eyes.

"Because we gotta go soon, man. Now, c'mon get up and get ready."