The rest of James and Katie's date went pretty well. They finished their smoothies by the pool, then went to the park to enjoy the nice afternoon. Although, halfway through it, James received a text from Kendall, saying that the band had to go to the studio. Apparently Gustavo had to talk to them about something.

"I'm sorry." James said apologetically.

"It's fine. Go and record and I'll see you later." She smiled at him.

He returned the smile and looked at her. "You have to be the coolest girl in the world."

"Yeah, and don't you forget it!" she giggled. He chuckled, kissed her, got up, and left. She stared after him, a goofy smile playing on her lips. She then stood up as well and walked back to the Palm Woods lobby.

As soon as she entered, she saw two people coming her way. It turned out to be Kyle and a girl that Katie didn't know.

"Katie, I just wanted you to meet Heather." Kyle smirked as the redhead held onto his arm, flashing very white teeth.

Katie just stared at them. She knew that he was only introducing Heather to make her jealous. And that was a new low, even for Kyle.

"Hello Heather. You two have fun!" Katie said, waving them off as she walked toward the elevators.

She looked back to see Kyle looking disappointed. His plan didn't work at all. She didn't feel an ounce of jealousy because she knew that she was happy with James, and no one, not even an ex-boyfriend, could stop her feelings toward him.

At Roque Records

"Okay, let's run "Halfway There" and call it a day!" Gustavo shouted, looking at the four boys in the recording booth. He pushed a button and the beginning notes of the song began to play.

Kendall stepped up to his mic and started.

When the chips are down

back against the wall

Got no more to give

'cause we gave it all

Seems like going the distance is unrealistic

But we're too far from the start!

Carlos then chimed in.

So we take what comes and we keep on going

Leaning on each other's shoulders

Then we turn around

and see we've come so far somehow

Everyone looked at James. He was supposed to sing the next part of the song, but they saw that he was staring off into space, a dreamy look in his eyes.

The music stopped and Gustavo yelled in anger, snapping James back to reality. He looked around and said, "Oh, hey guys."

The rest of the band, their producer, and Kelly stared at him in disbelief. Gustavo then burst through the door and went up to him.

"Why didn't you sing?" he shouted right in James' face.

"Uh, well I uh…" James stuttered, not really knowing what to say.

"I know why!" Kendall said. They all looked at him. "He wasn't paying attention because he was probably thinking about Katie!"

James swallowed and looked down nervously. Gustavo turned back to him and said, "Okay, we all know about you're new relationship. But, pay attention, or you will be on the next flight back to Minnesota!" He definetly yelled the last part.

James nodded and the stressed out producer left, leaving only the band and Kelly behind. "Don't worry, he won't fire you. He's just had a long day. But try to focus, okay? If your new relationship with Katie interrupts your career, there will be problems." She said before looking down at her phone and exiting the booth.

He sighed and then realized that his friends were staring at him.

"What?"

"Nothing." The three boys said nonchalantly as they passed him. James sighed and followed them out of the studio. They drove back to the Palm Woods, ready to pretty much pass out in their living room.

They all made their way to apartment 2J, but along the way Logan got stopped by Camille. He walked off with her, hand in hand. The other guys went to the apartment and sat down on the couch.

"Man, why does Gustavo have to be so harsh?" James asked.

"Because he's Gustavo. And he kind of had a reason." Kendall replied.

"Oh come on! So I was a little distracted, no big deal!"

"What's no big deal?" The guys all turned to see Katie walking up to them. She sat down on James' lap and waited for an answer.

"Oh nothing. Just-" James began.

"Just James couldn't stop thinking about you! So he couldn't focus." Carlos said with a smirk.

Katie looked down at her boyfriend. "You couldn't focus because you were too busy thinking of me?" He nodded and she smiled. "James! That's so sweet!"

She leaned in and kissed him, causing groans to come from Kendall and Carlos. They pulled away from each other and laughed, when they heard a cough come from the kitchen. They looked over to see Mrs. Knight.

"Hey mom." Kendall said as Carlos picked up the remote and turned on the TV. Although Katie kept staring at her mother.

"Umm, hey guys? Could you excuse us for a minute?" she asked.

"What? No, this is my favorite show! It has corndogs and hockey!" Carlos complained.

"Now." She said with a sharp look pointed at the boy with a helmet on. He sighed and stood up, Kendall and James following suit.

"See me before you go to bed." James said before kissing her. He knew that she was going to talk to her mom about them, she told him so on their date.

Flashback

Katie laughed at something James had just said, but then she stared down into her almost empty smoothie cup.

James noticed and asked, "Babe, what's wrong?"

She looked back up at him and showed a smile. "Nothing. Wow, this smoothie is good!"

He continued to look at her, raising an eyebrow.

She sighed. "Alright. It's my mom. I can tell that she's uneasy about this." She motioned to the two of them and James nodded his head. He scooted closer to her on the blanket they were sitting on and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer.

"Katie, she's your mom. I'm sure she's fine with us."

"James, you don't know her like I do. I think she's uncomfortable because you're so much older than me. And because we've known each other for so long. I mean, you're both like family to me. And I don't want to lose either one of you."

"Katie, I'm not going anywhere. Please know that." He smiled.

She smiled too and said, "Alright. But I still don't know what I'm going to do about mom."

He stared down at the grass, thinking. "Well, then I think you should talk to her."

"Really?" she asked, looking at him.

"Yeah. If she's the same mom that she was when we first moved here, then she will understand when you tell her how you feel."

She thought for a moment before saying, "I think I will. The next time I see her."

"Good. Now, I'm gonna get back to enjoying this beautiful evening, sitting with a beautiful girl beside me. Join me if you want." He smiled.

She just rolled her eyes and kissed him.

She smiled and nodded, and then the boys were gone.

Katie walked over to her mom. "Mom? Can we talk?"

"Sure." Mrs. Knight said, but not her usual cheery way.

Katie sighed and said, "Okay. I know how you don't really…approve of my new relationship with James."

Mrs. Knight just took another sip of her coffee and turned the page in the magazine she was reading. Katie looked at her with her eyebrows scrunched together.

"And, I want you to know that your opinion matters to me."

At this her mom looked up at her. "It does." Mrs. Knight said disbelievingly.

"Of course. I mean, you're my mom. And I want you to like who I date."

"Honey." Her mom said with a small smile.

"If you really don't like me with James, just say so and I'll end it." Mrs. Knight opened her mouth to say something but Katie cut her off. "But before you say anything, you should know that James makes me really happy. I mean, when I'm with him, it's like all of my worries drift away, leaving just us. No guy has ever made me feel that way, not even Kyle."

"I know." Mrs. Knight said in a caring way.

"And I've known him since…pretty much forever. He has always been there for me, and I know I can trust him. You should be happy that I'm with him, and not some jerk. So I'm confused at why you don't like me being his girlfriend."

"Katie, I never said that I didn't like you two together."

"Then why have you been acting the way you have?"

Her mom thought for a minute before saying, "I guess because…it's weird. I mean, he has always been like a big brother to you, or so I thought. And it's strange to see you two being romantic." Katie nodded, understanding what she meant. "But, I guess it will just have to take some getting used to."

Katie's eyes then got bigger. "Wait, does that mean…that you will let me go out with James?" she asked hopefully.

"Yes." Her mom smiled.

A huge smile broke out on Katie's face as she threw her arms around her mom. "Oh thank you, thank you! I'm so happy that you're happy!" she laughed.

Mrs. Knight laughed too and they pulled away. "And I'm sorry that I've been giving you the cold shoulder these past few days."

"That's okay! I love you mom." Katie smiled. She kissed her mom on the cheek and then headed off to her boyfriend's room to tell him the good news.