A/N: Hey All! So here's the update! I don't think it's the greatest chapter, but it is necessary in the scheme of things.
Again thank you so much for the positive reviews, 41 to date, I can't believe it! Hopefully, we'll reach 50 soon!
[marykateluvsu]: Very perceptive of you to notice that. Trust me when I say that it was intentional, I don't want to give away too much ;)
Disclaimer: Big Time Rush characters are not mine.
"So you wanna come over later with Carlos and Logan? We can order a pizza with anchovies and watch Logan scream with terror when he eats it." Katie asked as they got off the elevator.
James grimaced, "Katie, I don't think that's a good idea."
Katie nodded. "I understand. Why don't you take the rest of the day off and I'll let Gustavo know that you're coming for rehearsal tomorrow," she offered, allowing time for the two to avoid each other.
James looked at her, gratefully. "Thanks Katie."
"Can you tell Carlos to come over, later? I want to take him to the studio."
"Sure," James agreed. He slowly started to make his way to his car, and Katie to hers, when he turned around and jogged to Katie's side.
"Hey Katie?"
"Yes, James?" Katie questioned, as she unlocked her door.
James looked down at Katie, seemingly getting closer. Katie held her breath in anticipation, as her eyes started to unconsciously close.
James pulled back suddenly, a sense of disappointment washed over the two of them. "Don't um, don't forget to eat. I'd rather you not end up in the hospital again."
"I will. Don't worry, I'm thinking of ways not to overwork myself again," she said, referring to Kendall's suggestion of hiring another manager for her company.
"Alright," James headed towards his car, but turned around again. "Just so you know, I would have dropped everything to make sure you were okay." His eyes and toned reflected the sincerity that Katie thought he no longer possessed.
"I know," Katie opened the door to her car, ready to leave, but called out to his retreating back. "Hey, James?"
He turned to look at her again, "Yeah?"
She gave him a small smile, "It goes both ways."
Katie returned home and as promised to James, ate a bowl of canned soup, before heading into her study to address various work issues, including checking up on the paparazzi front on Camille's story. She also took this time to confirm an audition for Carlos and asked Magdalene to start a search for potential managers that could join her company. She had to remember to thank her brother for that idea. Kendall had apparently taken off, after waking up, Katie appreciated the fact that her brother could keep himself busy, while she had to work.
After an hour, she heard a knock at her door, followed by a progression of rapid knocks. She grinned as she opened the door. "Hey, Carlos."
"Hey Katie-cakes, ready to go? I practiced my lines and everything; James helped me." Carlos grinned as he bounded into the condo.
Katie closed the door behind him, giggling, "Give me a minute, I just have to grab my things and we can head to the studio and make you a star."
"Wanna grab some corn-dogs on the way there?" Carlos asked as Katie grabbed her phone off her desk in her study.
Katie sighed as she leaned against her study door. "Really? You travelled the world and you still think that corn-dogs are amazing?"
"It reminds me of home!" Carlos defended.
"Come on. We have to leave now, if we want to make it to your audition and get your corn-dogs." Katie grinned.
Carlos lifted Katie and spun her around in glee, "This is why you are my favourite girl." He put her back on the ground and patted her on the head, affectionately. He walked towards the door, ready to leave.
"Hmm, I wish I could say the same," Katie said as she locked the door to the condo.
"What does that mean?" Carlos pouted.
Katie playfully punched him in the shoulder, as they made their way to the elevators. "You weren't supposed to tell Kendall about my high school crush on James. Do you realize how embarrassing it is to have your brother know that you liked one of his best friends?"
"Hey, I'm like a brother to you, and I don't think it's embarrassing. I think it's kind of cute." Carlos gently tweaked her nose.
Katie swatted his hand away, "Yes, but you're you. You think everything is cute." She and Carlos stepped onto the elevator and headed down to the parking lot.
"Not true, and what does it matter? It was like, seven years ago, why should it affect you now?"
"Because Kendall thinks that I still like him." Katie pointed out.
"Well, do you?" Carlos asked as they reached the parking lot.
"No," Katie said, making her way to her car, "well..." Katie stopped talking and looked over to the passenger side, where Carlos stood.
Carlos waited for Katie to continue, but gasped when he correctly read her expression. He quickly pointed his finger at her, "You like James!"
Katie unlocked the doors and both of them got into the car. "It's not as simple as a 'yes/no' question. It's James, we're talking about; he's not normally the kind of guy I fall for." En route to the studio, while making a pitstop at a restaurant for gourmet corn-dogs, Katie told Carlos everything that happened between her and James in the last couple of days. She excluded the part about her being in the hospital, because even though Carlos didn't react like her brother about relationships, Carlos would certainly worry about her health.
They made it to the studio with time to spare. "So, James likes you, too? I always thought he saw you like a sister. That's so weird," Carlos exclaimed as he got out of the car.
Katie shook her head, "I don't think he likes me," she too, stepped out of the car. "I mean, I think it's more of a physical thing," Katie thought back to Britney and reconsidered what she just said, "or maybe it's because he's comfortable around me." Katie sighed, "I honestly don't know, but whatever it is, we both agreed that our careers and you guys are too important to make any irrational decisions."
"What do you mean by that?" Carlos asked in confusion.
Katie shrugged, as they walked through the studio doors, "Carlos, do you really think that James or myself for that matter, can last in a serious long-term relationship? We'd probably break-up within a year, if that long at all. James would have to find a new manager and you guys would have to pick sides. All of our relationships would be destroyed and not just mine and James'."
"You do make a good point." Carlos rubbed his chin, deep in thought.
"Kate! There you are, I've been waiting for what seems like hours." A petite redhead called out, from the waiting room.
Carlos looked around, before leaning to whisper in Katie's ear, "Who's Kate?"
Katie rolled her eyes, "That's me, idiot. It's what people call me now, besides you guys," she greeted the woman, who had reached the two. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, the studio called and said that they wanted me here to read lines with some people auditioning. I guess to feel the chemistry or something," Marka explained to Katie. She looked over at Carlos in confusion.
"My bad, Marka, this is Carlos. Carlos, meet Marka, the co-star of the film you'll be auditioning for." Katie introduced the two.
Carlos gave a look of confusion, "What kind of name is Marka?"
Marka returned a look of her own, narrowing her eyes, "What kind of name is Carlos?"
"A normal one!"
"Well, in Hollywood, normal isn't going to cut it," Marka retorted, stepping closer to Carlos.
Carlos looked down at the menacing woman, "Lots of celebrities have normal names, it's only their kids that have the weird ones."
Marka took a step back, fuming at the lack of comeback. She turned to Katie and stated haughtily, "I refuse to do the movie if he's going to be in it!"
Katie sighed in frustration, wanting to hit her head against something, but remained diplomatic. "Marka, this role is made for you. The director loves you and you know that the audience will love it too. Carlos, here, is perfect for your co-star. Trust me," Katie put her arm around Carlos' waist, "I've known him my whole life."
Carlos wrapped his arm around Katie as well, "Yeah."
Marka huffed, crossing her arms, "Fine, we'll do the audition, it'll most likely go so badly that the director won't even want him." She turned to take a seat in the waiting room.
Katie groaned, knowing that Marka had a point. If the director called her in for the first audition, that meant that they placed a great value on the chemistry between the two actors. She looked over at Carlos who had taken a seat, as far as possible from Marka, but that didn't stop the two from glaring at each other.
Katie mumbled to herself, as she went to register Carlos, "Of all girls that Carlos isn't attracted to, why did it have to be her?" Katie shook her head, as she filled in the form. As long as the two got through the audition, that's all she could hope for.
"They loved it!" Carlos cried, as he returned from the audition room.
"What?" Katie gasped, in shock.
"Yeah, they think I did really well and that I should expect a callback."
"Carlos, that's wonderful." Katie reached over to hug him. "But, I don't understand, I mean you and Marka, you guys hate each other."
"Yeah, they said something about us having the right kind of chemistry. Who knows what that means and who cares? I nailed it." Carlos gave himself a pat on the back.
Katie giggled, before looking over his shoulder. "Where's Marka?"
"Oh, she has to stay to run lines with other guys trying out." Carlos leaned in and mockingly whispered to Katie, "Which is completely fine by me, I can't stand her." He straightened up, "Now let's go celebrate with some corn-dogs."
"We just had corn-dogs!" Katie exclaimed as Carlos took her hand and dragged her towards the door.
"We can never have enough!"
Katie laughed as she followed her friend out the door.
A/N: I love the bond that Carlos and Katie have and hopefully I did it justice here.
Just wanted to state that while this chapter is mostly filler, it is important to recognize that Katie isn't head-over-heels in love with James.
Well, I hope you guys liked it anyhow! Please leave a review, I think I might faint if we reach 50 before the next post.
-D