A/N: Hi All! So I tried to upload this a couple of days ago, but fanfiction wouldn't let me log in, boo! But now, here is last chapter's part II, so to speak! And just in time for the launch of the BetterWithU Tour!
Again, thank you all for leaving reviews and putting this story on your favourite and alert lists, it really means a lot!
[Newbie]: Six hours? Wow, thank you for the dedication to this story!
Disclaimer: Still don't own the band or the show.
Katie and Kendall spent the morning at the arcade before having lunch at one of the local restaurants. Kendall had forced Katie to eat a chicken salad, making her grumble through their whole meal, as she eyed his burger and fries. They also caught a glimpse of Sandy, the girl who forced herself on Kendall during their first trip to Malibu. Now toting along two children, she seemed maniacal in much different matter. Katie had a good laugh as her brother convinced himself that it was best that he walk around in a brown wig for the afternoon so that Sandy wouldn't have to chance to recognize him. Katie gave into Kendall's demands to spend some time on the beach, during which Camille also sent them a text to remind them that the restaurant required formalwear, something that both Knights dreaded. Katie had tried to dispel his interest to hang out on the beach by reminding him of his wig, but Kendall was insistent on soaking up all that he can while in Malibu.
They came back to the mansion late in the afternoon, only to find Cam running around hysterically, looking for her shoes, with her hair still in curlers. Katie sighed, and went to calm down her friend by seating her on a kitchen stool.
"Where have you guys been, do you know how long it's going to take us to get ready? Kendall, did you bring your tux?" Kendall enlarged his eyes, giving his sister a desperate look.
"A suit will do. Cam, you need to calm down. Where's Logan?" Katie asked, reaching up and pulling the curlers out of Camille's hair. Kendall used the opportunity to hightail out of the kitchen and head upstairs.
"Carlos' tie didn't match his shirt, so I sent them to go buy another one," Cam replied, now trying to apply mascara, while avoiding Katie's arms.
"You're going to need a mirror for that," Katie said, shaking her head at her friend's attempt to beautify herself without poking her eye out. Camille stopped her brushing and looked up at Katie, causing Katie to raise an eyebrow. "What?"
"I met Beverly, earlier."
Katie bit her tongue and interested herself with Camille's hair again. "Oh."
"Yeah," Cam paused, "she looks a lot like you."
"What?"
Camille scoffed, "Oh please, don't tell me you didn't notice, she's willowy, has brown hair−"
"Wait, where are James and Beverly, now?" Katie asked abruptly.
"Upstairs-yow!" Camille yelped, as Katie dug her nails into her arm and dragged her into Katie's room. Katie slammed the door shut as soon as they entered. "Was that really necessary?" Cam groaned, rubbing her arm.
"Yes! How could you start that conversation in the kitchen? They could have walked in at any time," Katie started pacing back and forth, causing Camille to worry. She had hardly ever seen the brunette agonize to this extent.
"Katie...why are you so worked up?"
Katie looked at her friend, who was currently sitting on her bed. "I am not worked up. I don't get worked up, especially over a boy."
Camille remained silent, then proceeded to pull Katie to sit next to her. "You really like him, huh?"
Katie flopped back onto the bed, splaying her arms, "I didn't want this to happen." She crossed an arm over her face, "It's James! How could I possibly fall this hard for James! He's the antithesis of everything I want in a man. And I tried to get over him, by reminding myself that we're better off as friends, that I shouldn't want him, but then, the jerk, he constantly does these amazingly sweet or funny things that just makes me melt. He's making it really hard to get over him!" Katie yelled, sitting up.
Camille smirked, "Maybe, it's a sign that you shouldn't give up on him."
"Cam, he has a girlfriend."
"Exactly, a girlfriend, it's not like he's married to her," she got up and seated herself at the vanity. "Besides, he's only dating her because she looks like you, only with blue eyes, and don't tell me that's not true, even Logan agrees with me."
Katie looked up, alarmed, "What? Logan knows about my...feelings?" She remembered what her brother had said earlier about Logan being unable to keep secrets.
Camille scoffed, while applying another layer of mascara to her lashes, "No. He's not that perceptive. I meant, even he saw the uncanny similarity between you and Beverly."
Katie frowned, "Well, he was the only other person who saw signs of a relationship between Gustavo and Kelly. The other guys had absolutely no idea."
Camille turned around to look at Katie, "Trust me, he doesn't know. Now," she stood up, "what are you wearing tonight?" She began to rifle through Katie's outfits in the closet. Her eyes sparkled when she spotted the one she wanted Katie to wear. "This is perfect!"
Katie groaned and flopped back down, again.
Katie cautiously made her way down the hallway that led to the open area of the mansion where the living room met the kitchen. She spotted the guys all gussied up in their suits, chatting amongst themselves. Camille had changed into a black, sparkly, body-hugging dress that ended at her feet, the long slit up the side of her leg gave the dress an edgier appeal. She smirked when she caught sight of Katie's entrance. Carlos was the next person to see her enter the room and promptly gasped.
"Wow, Katie, you look beautiful."
Katie watched as James turned around to look at her, she inhaled sharply when she met his hazel eyes. Katie took a step forward, careful not to trip over the hem of her ivory gown that swished slightly with every step she took. The gown was a favourite piece from a photo shoot that she had done with Tony and Daniella. Knowing how much Katie adored the boatneck, backless dress, they immediately called her when the piece was miraculously up for sale. It was one of the only splurges that Katie had made in terms of her wardrobe.
Kendall came over and gave his sister a loving kiss on her temple, "You look lovely, baby sister."
Logan smiled at her, adoringly, with Camille hanging onto his arm, refraining from launching herself at Katie.
She once again caught James' eye and waited for his verdict. He stood before her, and was about to say something when Beverly appeared by his side.
"Katie, you look stunning. I feel so underdressed, compared to you," the veterinarian said, gesturing to her simple, yet elegant, gown of navy blue.
Katie smiled politely at the newcomer, "You look gorgeous, Bev."
"Thank you."
Carlos cleared his throat and gestured to the door, "Shall we get going?"
Katie giggled and clamped onto his arm, pulling her brother along so that they formed a three-person chain, heading out the door.
The gang met up with Gustavo and Kelly who were dressed to the tens, at the restaurant. The record producer greeted his old band with some affection, after persuasion from his wife, who had also apparently badgered Gustavo to take her to dinner without the kids. Carlos made sure to sit beside Kelly at the table, to have the opportunity to catch up over the years; Katie knew that he missed Kelly incredibly.
As they waited for the appetizers to arrive, Katie observed the various conversations around the table, Gustavo was in a heated debate with Kendall over the type of music they played during hockey games. Gustavo was convinced that playing pop music was a surefire way to increase audience numbers, while Kendall was trying to explain to him that people came to watch the game, and not to listen to what was playing over the stereo. Katie only smirked, knowing that both men missed riling each other up.
Carlos, meanwhile, was telling Kelly about his escapades in Egypt. Katie listened as he animatedly told his story that seemed to come right out of an Indiana Drones screenplay. Kelly listened with wide eyes, skeptical of the truth, remembering that Carlos had the tendency to create mountains out of molehills. Katie watched as Kelly quickly sent a text message, through Carlos' story, presumably to the nanny, to check up on the children. Carlos was too engrossed in his storytelling to even notice.
Katie turned her ear to catch bits of the conversation between Logan, Camille and Beverly. Logan was bringing up factors that doctors had to deal with in cases of deaths on the operating table, Beverly countered with the fact that vets didn't have it easy, as some of her patients' owners were extremely attached to their pets and physically attacked the doctors if something went wrong in the operating room. Camille who was sitting next to Katie, had little input over the morbid discussion, and quietly sipped her wine, waiting for her moment to change the topic. She let the two doctors continue their discussion, and turned to whisper to Katie.
"You know, James hasn't been able to keep his eyes off you, all night."
Katie was glad that the lighting in the restaurant was dim, so that Camille couldn't see the faint colouring that came to her cheeks. Katie had noticed that the tall man kept flickering his eyes to her, but she assumed that he too, was listening to the various conversations taking place.
"Cam, don't. I told you, he has a girlfriend, who just happens to be talking with your boyfriend, two seats away from you," Katie admonished.
"These two are so wrapped up in their discussion, they wouldn't notice if there was an earthquake," she leaned in closely. "I told you, you would knock James off his feet with this dress. I must admit, even I'm envious of you."
"Cam, you have to stop," Katie couldn't help but add, "and take it easy on the wine. You have to go to set tomorrow."
Camille pouted, "Party pooper."
Katie managed to stray Camille's attention from her love life for the rest of the dinner. The smaller conversations eventually turned into one large reminiscent discussion over the whole table. Everyone laughed, thinking back to the various troubles the band would get into, back in the day.
"As if you were any better, Katie," Carlos piped up, when Katie shook her head, laughing, "don't you remember that time that you boycotted Griffin's foam cup production? You affected the whole economy with that one."
"Excuse me, I was bettering the Earth, by being environmentally conscience," Katie countered, "if some people lost millions that day, it was for the good of mankind."
Gustavo smirked, "It may have started out as a mission to make the company greener, but, admit, you just wanted to bring Griffin to his knees," he flicked a finger towards Katie. "You're the only one at this table who rivals me in my deviousness." Kendall and his friends immediately bristled.
"Hey, our plans were awesome," Kendall remarked.
Logan made a face, "Yeah, you have to admit, Kendall, something always went wrong with our plans. Our plans usually succeed only with the help of your sister or Gustavo."
Carlos and James immediately came to Kendall's defence, "They were still awesome." Their offended exclamatory caused the table to burst into laughter.
Camille interrupted the joy, by placing a hand on Logan's arm, "Oh, look, people are dancing. Let's go," she quickly dragged him to the dance floor, before he could even make a comment. Kelly, again had to nudge Gustavo into asking her to dance, which he did so grudgingly.
Katie watched as Beverly looked expectantly at James, waiting for him to ask her to dance. However, Carlos stood up and held out his hand to the veterinarian, shocking all occupants at the table. "Would you like to dance, milady?"
Beverly giggled, amused by Carlos' chivalry. She looked at James, who gave a slight nod of approval. Carlos grinned at his dance companion, but quickly gave Katie an unexpected wink, unseen by James and Kendall, causing her to flush.
"Well, baby sister, would it be too embarrassing for you to dance with your older brother?"
James cleared his throat, "Actually, Kendall, that would be pretty embarrassing," he leaned in and focused on Katie, "Katie, would you like to dance?"
Katie's pulse sped up, she shot her brother an apologetic glance, "Sorry, big bro, I think I'm going to have to go with James on this one," she smirked as she saw movement behind her brother, "but, I don't think you'd mind too much. Remember to avoid stepping on your partner's toes," she advised her brother, standing up. Kendall furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, but was distracted by the presence of a blond woman who had tapped him on the shoulder.
James held out his hand, and led Katie to the dance floor. The band had started up a bluesy tune. Katie willed her heartbeat to slow down when James placed one of her small hands into his much larger one and placed a hand on her waist. The two danced in silence, looking at the other dancing couples.
James cleared his throat again, "I didn't get to tell you, earlier, but you look breathtaking, tonight, Katherine."
Katie looked up at him through her lashes, "Thank you," she whispered. A couple of beats passed before Katie realized what James had called her. "You remembered my name."
James smiled sheepishly, "Actually, I had to ask Kendall."
Katie returned his smile, "So, what? Are you just going to call me that now, because you know it?"
"Well, you haven't shut it down like all the other names I've tried to call you, so maybe," James grinned, twirling her around.
Katie giggled, "You come up with awful nicknames, but since you're so insistent on having one for me, I think this one will do, and frankly, no one ever uses it, so really, it'll be your own."
James pulled Katie in a little closer, still swaying to the beat. "Ah, success at last."
Katie laughed, but quieted when she spot Beverly dancing with Carlos on the far side of the dance floor. "Your girlfriend looks beautiful; the colour of the dress really brings out her eyes."
Katie felt James' hand clench slightly, but didn't elaborate on Katie's thought, instead he steered the conversation back to Katie, "I remember this dress, it was from one of the photo shoots that you did."
"I'm surprised you remember," Katie said honestly.
James took a breath before answering, "It was my favourite."
Katie mulled over his answer for a little while, unaware that the song had changed and that they had danced their way into a corner of the dance floor. "Why did you keep the photo album?" Katie whispered, unknowingly leaning in towards him.
James inhaled sharply, when he realized how close their faces were. His hazel eyes bore into her chocolate ones. He stroked a hand down Katie's cheek. "You have no idea how beautiful you are, do you?" He leaned in even further, brushing their lips together.
Katie closed her eyes, and breathed out, "James, we shouldn't−"
"Just once, Katherine. Just let me kiss you once..." James trailed off as he finally kissed her. Both immediately reached their arms around each other, trying to close the gap between them. The sexual tension that had been mounting in between them was released in this one kiss. And like two pieces of a puzzle, their lips danced in perfect harmony.
After a moment of pure bliss, Katie broke off the kiss, suddenly, and backed away, her feelings in turmoil. She placed a hand over her kissed-swollen lips, her eyes wide with shock, "I have to go," she whispered, before walking hurriedly back to the table to grab her clutch, passing a still dancing Camille and Logan, leaving James standing speechless in her wake.
Cam raced after Katie, "Katie, what's wrong?"
Katie looked back at her friend, "I'm sorry, I just...I have to go. Tell everyone I'm sorry." She didn't wait for her friend to reply, and quickly left the restaurant.
As Katie sat in the cab, heading back to mansion, she gasped, realizing that for the first time in her life, she was shedding tears for a man.
A/N: Don't hate me for making Katie run, she has her reasons! lol
Well, I certainly hope that the kiss (finally!) warrants a review!
Love,
D
P.S. I think I have Jatie on the brain! I read a little too much into the All Over Again music video scene where they panned to Katie right after showing James, and we got the love interest hints, right? (I'm choosing to ignore the randoms that hold up the 'Hi, James!' signs) Tell me, it's not just me pretending that the producers at Nickelodeon are appeasing Jatie fans. lol