Disclaimer: I do not own Victorious or Big Time Rush. They belong to Dan Schneider and Scott Fellows respectively.

Author's Note: Here we are with the ninth chapter. It starts and kind of ends on a dramatic note, but it's all good. You see more of the developed "friendship" Jade and Kendall have. You also discover a few more things about one of them. I won't tell you who, that's for you to read and find out all on your own. This is probably one of my favorite chapters so far. I hope you like it. Also, I refer to something about Jade towards the end and I mean no harm whatsoever by it, so don't feel insulted or anything. It's completely for story purposes only. Enjoy!

Eventually Kendall comes out of his room, deciding that he made the right decision about Jo. As much as he loved her, he wasn't willing to take that chance of getting hurt all over again. He also comes out because he needs to apologize to Jade for being so snippy with her earlier.

He walks into the living room, but he doesn't see Jade. He hears shuffling in the kitchen and makes his way in there. Jade's taking things out of the refrigerator, preparing to make a sandwich from what Kendall could tell, and ignoring the fact that Kendall's there. He knows she knows he's there, but chooses until she turns around to actually say something.

"I'm sorry." he tells her.

"Sing me a new tune." she replies with an eye roll.

"I really am. I know you were just trying to help."

"Whatever."

"I do appreciate that you cared. I know that's not like you. I was just frustrated; I didn't know what to do about Jo and I wasn't sure if I made the right decision."

Jade grabs the bread and begins making her sandwich. "I don't care."

"Jade," he sighs. "I'm sorry. I really and truly am sorry."

"Don't care. You said you were a big boy and didn't need me to care. Well, guess what, Knight? I don't."

"I know I said that. I didn't mean it, though."

Jade scoffs. "Sure sounded like you did."

"I've decided that Jo and I remaining broken up is the best idea."

"And I've decided I'm gonna go eat this sandwich and not give a damn." she tells him, but before she can get to the door, Kendall blocks her. "Move."

"Not until you listen to me."

"I told you I wasn't going to and I meant that."

"Please," he begs. "I know I shouldn't have said that. I just really need to talk to somebody."

"Then call your mom or your sister or Camille or anyone else who would care about you."

"You care about me."

"I cared about you at that moment. Now? Now I wish you would get the fuck out of my way and leave me alone."

Kendall reluctantly steps aside. "Go ahead."

Jade walks past him without a word and Kendall watches her walk away with a sigh as the door swings back closed.

Fifteen minutes later, Jade walks back into the kitchen and grabs a can of soda out of the refrigerator. She turns around to see Kendall sitting at the island, staring at her with puppy-dog eyes.

She takes a sip of her soda. "Stop staring at me."

"Then forgive me."

"I'm going to my room." she responds and walks out of the kitchen.

"Jade," he groans.

"What?"

"I just want to talk."

"I told you who to call. If you need to talk, call them!" she yells.

Kendall sighs and yells back, "I don't want to talk to them! I need you." he doesn't care if he sounds like a little child right this moment, he just feels the need to be honest.

Jade stops at her place in the living room and turns around slowly before walking back into the kitchen. "Why do you need me?"

"Because everyone else loves me too much. I need someone to tell me if I make the right decision and not care if they hurt my feelings. You give good advice. I need you."

"I already told you to break up with her. You did. What more do you need?"

"Even after making the decision, I still don't feel like it's the right one."

Jade walks out of the kitchen, but comes back shortly after with a notepad and pen in her hand and sets them in front of Kendall. "Here,"

"What?"

"You're gonna make a pros and cons chart."

"Really?" he asks in disbelief.

"You're the one who wanted my help."

"Okay, okay."

"This'll help you really decide if you and Jo should start things over."

"Are you sure this will actually help?"

"It works for me."

"Okay," he nods and picks up the pen. "Pros."

Kendall spends nearly an hour on the pros and cons list, eventually coming up with more pros than cons. Even though there are fewer cons, the ones that are listed are enough for Kendall to know he and Jo really don't belong together.

He gets up from his place at the island and walks out of the kitchen and makes his way to Jade's room where she's playing her keyboard.

She glances up at him. "What?"

"Your idea was a good one."

"I know."

"My decision was a good one. Jo and I really don't need to be back together."

"Did you have more cons than pros?"

"No," he responds and walks completely into her room, flopping down on the bed. "There were more pros, but the cons were a bunch of things I don't wanna have to deal with again."

"Good for you, Blondie." she tells him sarcastically. "Get outta my room. I'm busy."

"I'm just lying here."

"And breathing my air."

Kendall sits up. "That's just stupid."

"So, now I'm stupid?"

"I wasn't calling you stupid, I was calling what you said stupid."

"Same thing."

Kendall chooses not to make any further remark, he just changes the subject. "Still working on that song?"

"A new one."

"Can I hear it?"

"You're not completely in the clear, Knight. I'm still pissed at you. Which means, no, you can't hear it."

"After what I did for you earlier: covering for you at work, bringing you things to make you feel better, holding your hair back as you threw up, offering you to join me and Camille for dinner. After all that you can't look past one thing that I said?"

Jade frowns and lets out a long sigh as she turns around to face him. "I hate you so much right now."

He chuckles. "Does that mean I'm forgiven?"

"Fine. You're forgiven."

"Now can I hear the song?"

"No."

"Why not? You forgave me."

"I want this one to remain a surprise."

Kendall nods understandingly. "Okay."

"Get out of my room."

"We never hang out in here."

"We never hang out at all."

"We do, but not a lot. That needs to change."

"No, it doesn't."

"Why can't we do things that normal roommates do?"

"Because I'm not a normal roommate, Knight."

"At times you are."

"Whatever." they say simultaneously.

"You think you're so damn funny when you do that."

"I do." he says with a chuckle.

"I really don't like you."

"Of course you don't like me, you love me."

"I only love myself, my mom, and at times Cat."

"Well, I love you."

"I don't know why. You hardly know me."

"I like to think I know you well enough." he tells her as he lies back down on the bed. "Even though you're not that nice, I still love you."

"You're such a Hallmark gift card."

"I love everybody." he says. "It's not a bad thing."

"Well, I don't. I tolerate them. If I love you, you should definitely feel lucky."

"You told me you loved me."

"I was drunk."

"You said you cared about me."

"That's completely diff-" she cuts off suddenly. "Knight, get out!"

Kendall sits back up with a smirk on his face. "Fine, I'll leave. You don't have to be so hostile about it. Damn."

"Out!" Jade yells, getting up and grabbing Kendall by the wrist. She pulls him up and off her bed and pushes him out the door.

"Love you," he singsongs before Jade slams the door in his face. "That was rude!" he yells.

"That was the point!"

The next morning, Kendall decided to drag Jade out of the house for the day and go out for breakfast. Jade, of course, didn't make an effort of getting ready quick enough, so by the time she was dressed, it was lunch time. Kendall drove to a little restaurant in uptown LA. Once they were seated and had their menus, Jade decided to start the conversation for a change.

"Where are we going after this?"

"Not sure. We'll think of somewhere."

"Dude, I know this sick basketball court that's hardly ever used, feel like playing?"

"Sure. Just know that you're gonna lose."

"I'll let you think that. We'll have to go back to our apartment and change, though."

Kendall nods. "Finally calling it our apartment, huh?"

"Did I? Didn't realize it."

"Of course you didn't, West. Of course you didn't."

After lunch, they go back to the apartment to change into some clothes appropriate for playing basketball and drive to the basketball court Jade was talking about.

"Okay, Knight. Prepare to lose."

"I'm pretty sure I've got this all under control."

Jade smirks. "Keep thinking that, but we both know I'm gonna win. I think we should place a wager."

"How about this: loser has to pay for everything for the next month."

"Perfect; that's money saved for me."

"Or me."

"Yeah, don't see that happening."

"Let's stop the talking and get on with the game."

"You've got it."

They play for more than half an hour in the Los Angeles heat before they make it to the last shot of the game.

"This is it, Jade. We're tied. Whoever makes this next shot wins."

"I'm not worried." she responds, dribbling the ball.

Kendall attempts to steal the ball from her, but Jade fakes a turn and when she does that she cries out in pain.

"Jade," Kendall starts worriedly. "Are you okay?"

"My ankle." Jade responds, holding the basketball underneath her arm.

"Does it feel sprained?"

"No, it feels like..." she starts before turning around and shooting the ball in the hoop. "It feels like I just won the game."

Kendall gapes. "I can't believe it."

"Woo! I won!"

"You cheated."

"Did I?" she asks sarcastically. "I don't think so."

"I can't believe I fell for that."

"Believe it, Kendall. You lost to a girl."

Kendall shakes his head. "Oh, you're paying for that."

Jade's eyes bug out for a moment before she takes off, she doesn't get too far before Kendall is grabbing her, picking her up in the process, and spinning her around. To his surprise, Jade doesn't get mad or irritated, she actually laughs.

"Kendall?" they hear a voice call out.

He turns around and sees Camille. "Oh," he says as he places Jade down. "Hi, Camille."

"Hey. Hi, Jade."

"Hey," she greets and pushes a piece of hair out of her face.

"What are you doing here?" he asks.

"I'm meeting my dad for lunch across the street. I saw your car and heard your voice, so I thought I'd come say hello."

Kendall nods. "We were just playing a little bit of basketball."

"I see. Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Yeah," Kendall excuses himself from Jade and follows Camille over near the other side of the court. "What's up?"

"So, you're not interested in her?" she asks with a smirk.

"We were just playing a friendly game of basketball."

"I walk over here to see her in your arms and hear you both laughing. I didn't even know she was capable of laughter."

"It's nothing, Camille."

"Why were you holding her anyways?"

Kendall sighs. "She tricked me into thinking she hurt herself before she shot the winning basket, I chased after her and happen to pick her up when I caught her. It's not a big deal."

"Kendall. I know you, okay? I can tell that you like her."

"I don't. Not in that way."

"You do. You're just oblivious and what the hell happened to your hair?"

"Jade offered to cut it for me, so I let her."

"Oh, you definitely like her. You hate other people cutting your hair."

He rolls his eyes. "I don't like, Jade. Don't you have to meet your dad?"

"I'm going, I'm going. I'll let you get back to playing with your girlfriend."

"She's not my girlfriend."

"Sure, she isn't."

"Goodbye, Camille."

"Bye," she smiles and leaves.

He shakes his head and goes over to sit next to Jade. "I have to admit, you played a good game."

"I know. You did, too."

"I would've won if you didn't lie."

Jade chuckles and takes a sip of her water. "I highly doubt that."

"I would've," he comments and takes the bottle from her, taking a sip as well.

"I told you to bring your own."

Kendall shrugs. "Well, I didn't."

"Play again?"

"No, you'll just cheat. Plus, I wanna take a shower."

"Yeah, I'm with you on that." she stands up and grabs the basketball and begins to walk to the entrance of the gate. "Come on, Kendall!" she yells back.

He sits there for a moment, thinking about what Camille said. He does like being around Jade, he likes her being upfront, he likes her personality — or at least most of it, he also likes her eyes and smile, especially her laugh when it's genuine. He likes listening to her sing and watching her play her keyboard. He likes how she gets when she feels like being nice to him. Even though he hasn't known her that long, he can't seem to deny it this time. He likes Jade.

"Holy shit," he whispers, coming to the realization. "I like Jade."

The drive back to the apartment is filled with awkward silence; Kendall can't seem to bring himself to start a conversation. Jade wonders why, but doesn't say anything, she simply turns on the radio and focuses her attention on the music.

They separate when they walk through the door, each to go take a shower and when Kendall gets out, he immediately grabs his phone and calls Camille.

"Hello?"

"You jinxed me."

Camille laughs. "What're you talking about?"

"About Jade. I thought about it and you wanna know what I realized?"

"What?"

"I like her."

"Kendall, that's great!"

"How? How is me liking Jade a good thing?"

"I think she's good for you. There's something about you when you talk about her and when you're around her that I never saw between you and Jo. Something that's good."

"Jade and I are complete opposites, we don't belong together."

"Haven't you heard that opposites attract?"

"How am I supposed to hang out with her now?"

"The exact same way. You like her. So what? Nothing should change unless you tell her."

He puts Camille on speaker phone as he goes to put his boxers and jeans on. "Things already changed, the car ride home was nothing but awkward silence."

"And whose fault is that?"

He sighs. "Mine, but that's only because I realized my feelings for her just moments before."

"Are you gonna ask her out?"

"I-" he cuts off when Jade appears in his doorway. "Hang on, Camille." he tells her before turning back to Jade. "What's up?"

"I wanna take you somewhere if you're up to it."

Kendall can tell by her voice that something's wrong. "Okay," he picks his phone back up. "Camille, I'll call you back later." he waits for her to hang up before he turns his attention back to Jade. "Are you okay?"

Jade blinks a few times before saying, "I'm fine. Just finish getting dressed, okay?"

"Yeah. I'll be out there in a few."

Jade drives them to some ally downtown. She parks the car and gets out and walks down the ally. She keeps walking until she gets to where she wants to be and stops and stares at the brick wall in front of her. Kendall stands next to her and looks at the wall as well. He sees a bunch of graffiti on the wall; judging by the style, he assumes it's done by the same person over and over again.

There are words like, "help" and "lonely" spray painted. There are also phrases like, "nobody loves me" and "I wish I was never born". There's a girl that's been spray painted with tears on her face and a knife in her hand like she's gonna stab herself. He stares at the girl and then looks at Jade.

"Did you do this?"

Jade nods and sighs.

"Why?"

"I wanted to kill myself a few years ago." she whispers. "I hated my life. I felt like nobody wanted me. My dad hated me and all he did was put me down and make me feel worse about myself every single day. I just wanted to escape it all."

"You talked to him again today, didn't you?"

Jade nods again as a tear falls from her eye and she wipes it away angrily. "I don't understand why he hates me so much. I don't know why he calls me just to tell me how much he's ashamed of me. More importantly, I don't know why I keep answering expecting he's going to change." she tells him before completely breaking down.

Kendall pulls her into his arms and rubs her back soothingly, resting his chin on her head. "You don't need him. You're so much better than what he tells you. You don't need that kind of person in your life."

"He's right, though. No one really likes me. The only person who does is my mom."

"Cat likes you."

"Cat tolerates me. I can tell sometimes that I'm not her favorite person to be around. I'm always surprised when she wants to hang out with me."

"I like you." he tells her and those words have never been more true.

He feels Jade shake her head. "You have to say that. You're my roommate."

"If I didn't like you, I would walk away right now. I wouldn't put up with the attitude you have sometimes. I wouldn't have offered you a job at the café or help you learn how to play the guitar." he gently pushes Jade back. "You're dad is a fucking idiot. You are amazing."

"Maybe if I didn't act like such a bitch, he would care about me."

"You're not a bitch."

"Come on, Kendall. You even called me one."

Kendall cringes at the memory. "I know, but I only said it in the heat of the moment. I assure you I didn't mean it. You've actually been really nice lately."

Jade sniffs. "I just want someone besides my mom to care about me."

"I care about you. I've told you that. You know that I do. Whether this roommate thing works out or not, I'll always care about you, Jade."

Jade smiles a little. "Thank you," she tells him. What she does next really takes him by surprise. She actually gives him a hug.

"Mind if I take a photo of this? I never thought you would actually hug me."

She laughs and pushes him away. "Not a chance."

"It was worth a shot." he shrugs with a smile. "Come on, let's go do something less depressing."

"Sounds good to me."