You know how it is when you have a new story. :P
Ideas keep poppin' up! Yeah... I'm halfway done with typing the next chappy for 'Misguided Ghosts' but I'm not completely satisfied with where it's going.
And 'Is This Real?' is being a total prick and just not cooperating with me, so enjoy this one.

It was 10 AM and the dear birthday boy was spending the entire morning with his head in the shitter.

"I can't believe you ordered five drinks in the span of like, fifteen minutes," I sighed, rubbing circles soothingly on my best friend's back.

Carlos groaned into the open toilet. "Shut up."

"What the hell were you thinking?" I lectured, handing him a paper towel to wipe his mouth.

"I was thinking I could impress him," he said, hugging his knees as he leaned against the wall. "I have never experienced such a bad hangover."

I chuckled. "No kidding. And you didn't even get his number?"

The sick Latino managed to grin, fumbling for something in his back pocket and pulling out a piece of folded up paper.

"No way," I breathed, laughing and snatching it from his fingers.

I unfolded it. Yup, all ten digits there.

"Well congrats."

He shot me a weak smile before leaning over to the toilet again to empty his stomach. I sighed and went back to patting his back gently.

"So why'd you pull me out of there so fast?" Carlos finally asked.

I rolled my eyes as I recalled last night's scenario.

"I was getting hit on by some dude," I said.

"…Was he cute?"

I sent him a weird look before curling my lips into a small smile. "I don't know, I couldn't really see. But he was gross."

The smaller boy chuckled faintly before retching.

"God dammit! How can I possibly puke this much?" he wailed to the ceiling.

I laughed.

I eventually got bored and decided to play some 'Angry Birds.' Carlos wouldn't let me leave his side so I might as well drown out the disgusting sloshing of his puke with some catchy background music. I reached for right front pocket, but it wasn't there. I checked the left one. Nope. Back two? Nada. What the hell? Did I honestly lose it?

"Crap," I muttered under my breath. "See Kendall? That's what happens when you go to clubs."

"Are you talking to yourself?"

I looked at Carlos. "Yeah, sorry. I lost my phone at the club I think. I swore I had it on me the entire time…"

The brunette frowned. "That sucks. I'm sure it'll turn up somewhere."

"I hope."

I was sitting in my room on my laptop updating my Tumblr when I heard a light knock on my half-opened door. I shifted my eyes to the doorway.

"Kendall?"

I smiled and motioned for my roommate to come in.

"Hey Carlos, what's up?" I asked, shutting my laptop and setting it aside.

The small boy climbed onto my bed and sat criss-cross apple sauce. (1)

"So I called Logan," he told me with a big grin spread on his face.

"And did you set up a date?" I inquired, interested.

He nodded. "He wants to double date! He said he has a friend he wants you to meet."

I exhaled slowly and my smile began to fade. "Um, Carlos, I don't know how to say this but I don't think I'm ready to start dating."

He gave me a whack on the arm and huffed. "Kendall, it's been a year since that jackass Jett dumped you. Please get over him."

I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah, if it were only that easy," I retorted. "And besides, I don't even know who this guy is and what he looks like."

"Then you'll find out!"

I quirked a thick eyebrow and shook my head. "No way."

Carlos pushed his lower lip out and clasped his hands together, putting it below his chin.

Damn him and his puppy dog face! I cursed inwardly.

"No, Carlos," I repeated, carefully enunciating each syllable.

"Kendall, you made me leave early last night. You cut into my Logan flirting time," he reminded, putting a hand on his hip.

I scoffed. "Oh please, Carlos. One more sip of that cocktail and it would've been 'puking on Logan' time. You should be glad."

His face incarnadined. "Well still! Please, for me?"

I stared at him. He seriously wasn't going to give up was he?

"It's just one daaaaaaate!" he sang, batting his eyelashes.

I snickered and threw my pillow at him. He caught it and chucked it back my way.

"Is that a yes?" he eagerly asked.

"Yes," I reluctantly confirmed.

I cringed when he let out a high-pitched squeal slash scream.

"Hold up, let me go call Logie back!" he exclaimed, hopping off my bed and running out.

"My date better be fucking gorgeous!" I called to him, joking.

Carlos and I sat in the booth, waiting patiently for our dates to arrive. My friend was sweating bullets as he frequently checked his cell phone for the time. I would've, but I lost it.

He pulled his phone out for the nth time in ten minutes, so I snatched it from his small hands.

"Kendall!" he snapped, dark eyebrows furrowed in frustration.

"Checking the damn time won't make it go faster," I sighed, rolling my eyes. "Calm the hell down."

The Latino shifted uneasily in his sit and wiped his damn palms on the sides of his denim. He swallowed thickly and nodded briskly.

"You're right," he choked out. "Be calm. I can do that."

From a distance, the bells attached to the restaurant doors rang, making our heads turn. I noticed Carlos tense up when he realized it was Logan and a tall guy wearing shades and a cap. Hm, not bad… I thought to myself. But it wasn't the time to check out my date. I needed to get Carlos to relax.

I forcefully turned his head so his face was facing me.

"Listen Carlos, just be yourself and have a good time," I lectured, looking him directly in his brown eyes that held fear. "You'll do great, and Logan will love you."

As if on cue, Logan and his buddy (my date) slid into the seats across from us.

"Hey, you found us," Carlos nervously said, trying to break the ice. "How awesome."

I stifled a giggle. He was trying so hard to rid the air of any awkwardness. Carlos must've heard me, because he kicked my leg and sent me a death glare.

"Ow!" I mouthed, glaring back.

Logan chuckled and turned to me.

"Hi, you're Kendall. I think I saw you last night."

He stuck out his hand, and I grabbed it and shook it.

"Yeah, you did. I'm sorry about pulling Carlos out of the bar so early," I said. "But I think if he ordered one more drink, he would've just passed out."

The tan-skinned boy next to me blushed and attempted to hide behind his menu as Logan laughed a charming laugh.

"Oh excuse me, this is James. James, this is Kendall."

I smiled at the guy behind the shades and hat, extending my hand.

"Hey, it's nice to meet you," I greeted.

"And it's very nice to meet you," the guy purred.

Where have I heard that voice before?

I let out an uneasy laugh. "I'm sorry, you sound kind of familiar. Do I know you from somewhere?"

The tall brunette removed his shades and hat. "Possibly. Now do you know who I am?"

I squinted as I tried to recollect my thoughts. He for sure looked damn familiar, but I wasn't sure…

"Um, not really. Can you help me out?" I admitted, shooting him an apologetic look.

My date smirked. "I'm James Diamond. Do you know me now?"

I coughed and my heart almost stopped. Oh Lord! I moaned to myself.

"Whoa, you okay there buddy?" Carlos asked, concerned.

I bit my lip.

"I'm sorry, excuse me. I have to go to the restroom," I quickly blurted and leapt from my seat.

I barged into the men's restroom at full speed and splashed cold water onto my face as I wondered why God was playing me. Have I sinned recently or something? What did I do exactly to make me deserve putting up with a sleazy guy who also happened to be my best friend's crush? This was all way too much. I gripped the sink tightly in anger, knuckles turning white.

"You okay there, sexy?"

I slowly turned around to see James standing there with a huge smile on his face. I glowered at him and turned back to face to the mirror, letting out a contained breath.

"Don't call me that," I muttered, reaching for the pile of paper towels next to me. "You planned this didn't you?"

He tapped his foot and put on a thinking face. "Hm, more or less."

"Why?" I desperately asked, whirling around to face him. "Do you enjoy putting me through tormenting situations like these?"

"I just want you to give me a chance."

I closed my eyes and passed my hand through my blonde hair. "For what? A quick fuck? I'm sorry, but I'm not like that."

The taller shrugged. "Well, I could go for a quick fuck. But that's not entirely what I meant. Maybe we can be more."

I let out a sound of disgust. "You're repulsive, you know that? There's no way I'm going to spend an hour or two with you. I'm leaving."

As I was opening the door, a strong force pushed it shut again.

"Now you don't want to do that," the brunette said.

I spun around to face him, impatient. "And why wouldn't I?"

"Because I'm Logan's friend and the little Latino boy is infatuated with him," he explained.

I raised an eyebrow, as if saying "so what?"

"So if you don't like me, Logan won't date Carlos. He's super into the whole 'bros before hoes' type of shit. And if I tell him how about you hate me, poor little Carlos won't have a boyfriend," he finished, clearly proud of his thinking.

I gasped in horror. "You wouldn't."

He laughed. "I think you both know I would."

I wanted to slap him so hard that he'd change races, but I couldn't. I couldn't let this bastard ruin Carlos' relationship. Logan was good for my immature friend, and Carlos usually doesn't do well with dates. Why was Logan friends with this douchebag anyway?

I swallowed before softly answering, "Fine, I'll do this."

He reached into his pocket and handed me the object. "You'll probably need this."

"…Is that my phone?"

"Yup."

"What the hell?" I snapped. "You stole my fucking phone?"

"I had to. I needed your number," James flippantly said.

I stared at him like he was crazy. "And what the hell did you tell Logan?"

"I said you dropped it."

I couldn't even begin to fathom why he would do such a thing.

He gestured for me to exit the bathroom and I complied. I'm like a damn dog now, listening to whatever this fucker told me to. I can't believe my best friend's boyfriend's best friend is blackmailing me right now. I took a seat in the booth again.

"Hey Kendall, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I glumly murmured back to my pal as I scanned down the menu for the tenth time.

Our waiter for the night brought us our water and scribbled down our orders before running off to send them to the kitchen.

"So Kendall, how long have you known Carlos?" Logan asked me, smiling.

I racked my brain for the exact date. "Um, five years, two months, and sixteen days."

Logan and James sat there gaping at me.

I shrugged and took a sip from my soda. "I remember dates really well."

"Well aren't you the little freak?" James hummed, sending me a wink my way.

I wanted to puke out my organs. That was just revolting. I glared at him and growled deep in my throat.

"James," Logan sighed, rolling his eyes. "Don't say that."

"Thank you," I said.

He shot me a knowing glance and a small smile before he turned to Carlos.

"So Carlos, what do you do?"

"My dream is to be the coach for a hockey team, but as for right now, I'm a high school coach," he chirped, proud of his achievements.

A grin started to grow on his date's face. "That's really awesome! I bet it's a tedious job."

The Latino shrugged. "I guess, but it's worth it. How about you James?"

"I don't work," James laughed. "I have an inheritance. My parents died when I was 16."

For a moment, everyone was silent, eyes darting around for something to speculate. The brunette rolled his hazel eyes.

"So how about you Kendall?" James asked.

I shot him a skeptical look. Does everything that comes out of this guy's mouth sound cynical?

"I'm a talent scout for Rocque Records," I replied blithely.

James raised his eyebrows and leaned in. "Really? Can you sing?"

"I'm a talent scout, you retar—"

I stopped myself before I could finish. I looked around to see my friend and his date staring at me with confused looks.

"…You ridiculously cute thing," I stuttered, trying to save myself. "Not a singer. A talent. Scout. Get it?"

"Jeez, I'm not an idiot. I was just asking," James retorted.

I called the waiter over.

"Can I have a beer?"

"Sure," he said.

This was going to be a long night.

Whoa, James is an asshole! :)
I had stupid Internet issues for the longest time, which sort of explains the lack of updates.
I have the next chapter already typed out, so I'll be posting it maybe at the end of the week?
In the meantime, I have SATs to study for and my math placement test, so updates will be coming a LOT slower.
I'm really sorry, I wish I could kick SATs in the nuts.
Hope you enjoyed it~.
And tell me what you think about James blackmailing, and what you think is going to happen!