Chapter 3: Baby, I'm counting on you

When we were all ready, we headed out to breakfast. We had one small concert to do around 2, then we had to go get prepared for the TV show.

"Man, I can't wait until we start filming again," Logan said.

"I know, it's gonna be great," Kendall added.

"About 2 more weeks! I can't wait either. I'm so pumped," I said. I looked over at James, who was eating his pancakes in silence. I nudged him with my foot but he didn't look up. I decided to leave him be, until I could talk to him in private.

When everyone was almost finished, I pulled James outside with me.

"James man, what's up? Is something wrong?"

"No. I don't want to talk about it."

My face fell. I guess James really doesn't have feelings for me, if he won't even talk to me. I felt stupid for even thinking that he did.

I turned to go back inside, when he grabbed my arm and pulled me back.

"Wait," he whispered.

I looked up at him. He had a pained expression on his face. I waited patiently.

"I just…I'm kinda hurting right now. Obviously because of Brooke, but…there's someone else."

I decided that I could help him through his relationship problems. Don't people deal with this everyday? You fall in love with your best friend and end up giving them love advice.

"Someone else, as in someone you like?" I asked.

"Well yeah…" He said, dropping his gaze. He blushed and my heart yearned for him to be blushing because of me.

"Who is it?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

He looked down at me, saying, "That's the problem."

"Why?"

"Because I don't know if they like me back," he admitted.

"Well it's not that hard to find out. Just ask them. Be honest."

"Yeah, okay."

I got him to meet my eyes and said, "Wait until the moment is right, and ask them. Admit that you have feelings for them, and ask them how they feel about you. If they turn you down, my shoulder is always open to cry on." I tried to smile for him.

"Thanks man." He pulled me in for a hug, and I tried to savor it.

"Course." I whispered.

We went back to the hotel to get ready for the concert. Packing away all the equipment, I heard James on the phone, arguing. I thought about asking him about it, but decided he would tell me if he wanted to.

On our way to the venue, James was texting furiously the whole ride. I was desperately curious as to what was going on, but I wasn't going to push him. Once we got there, James went inside right away, and I followed after him, claiming to have to use the bathroom.

I met up with him in the bathroom, with his phone finally away.

"Hey," I said.

"Sup."

"Nothing…I couldn't help but notice your bad mood."

He sighed and said, "It's not my fault. Brooke's being difficult."

"Wow, that sucks. Why can't you just cut her off?"

"She won't listen to me! And she won't stop calling me or texting me. It's so damn annoying."

Just now, I heard his phone go off. Damn, she's annoying.

"Want me to talk to her?"

He hesitated, then said, "Sure. Give it a shot."

He tossed me his phone and I answered the incoming call.

"Hello?"

"James?"

"No, this is Carlos."

"Where's James? Is he okay?"

"He's fine."

"Why are you calling me?"

I sighed. This girl.

"You called him. Listen, why do you keep bugging him? He has a show to do soon."

"I know, but he's not doing it now, is he?" She snapped.

"No, he isn't. But he needs to get ready. And that's hard to do if his ex-girlfriend wont leave him alone for 5 seconds."

James raised his eyebrows.

"I just want to talk to him-"

"No, you want to annoy him, don't you? Cause that's what you're doing. Now, listen to me. Don't call him again until tomorrow. Don't text him, don't e-mail him, don't even tweet him. He's busy, doing his job. And what are you doing? Sitting there, distracting him. He needs to focus. And he can't do that with his phone going off because some desperate girl wants to shack up with him."

James stood there with his mouth open. There was silence on the other end. I hung up stepped up to him. I smiled at him, and he smiled back.

"I can't believe you said that!"

"I meant it, too. She's annoying as hell," I said, sliding his phone into his pocket.

"Yeah, I'm definitely done with her," He said. I started to walk away, but he said," Listen Carlos…something I've been meaning to ask you."

I stopped and turned back around. My heart started beating faster, but I ignored it.

"Yes?"

"About our talk earlier… i-it's kinda weird. I don't even want to say it."

"C'mon, you know you can talk to me. I won't judge you, no matter what."

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "I was talking about you."

I blinked. Was I hearing right? Did James just say that he has feelings for me?

"See, I told you it was weird. And you don't even have to say anything about it because I know you don't feel the same, but I hope it doesn't get awkward for you because you know now but-"

"James hush."

He looked over at me. "Why?"

"Because. I have feelings for you, too. I was too afraid to tell you."

"Carlos…" James whispered.

"It's true. I like you, James. Ever since I first saw you, I knew you were special," I said, moving towards him. "I knew we were going to click, but I also felt something. Everything you do, it makes me crazy. Sleeping with you last night was really hard." I added.

He put his arms on my shoulders. "I know. Why do you think I wanted to sleep with you?" He asked, winking at me.

"You tease."

He smiled, and I looked at his lips. I leaned forward, going on my toes. My arms wrapped around him, and he pulled my face to his. He pressed his lips softly to mine, and I pushed back, harder. He pulled back and smiled at me.

"I've been wanting to do that for so long."