A/N: Hello everyone! You guys rawwk :) Thanks for the reviews, follows, and favorites. I'm really grateful and very happy you all find this interesting. Did I mention you guys rawwk?
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Chapter 2: Blowing Chunks...and Other Things
Kendall Knight walked into the Palm Woods pool area, iPhone in hand. He sat down in the lawn chair next to his bandmate and one of his best friends, James Diamond.
"Guess who I just got off the phone with?" he asked to no one in particular.
Lucy Stone, who happened to be walking by, answered, "Jay-Z?" She had a smirk on her face and her sarcasm was apparent. Kendall rolled his eyes as she took the seat next to him, spreading her body out on the chair.
"I wish," Kendall muttered, staring at his phone. He looked up again and squinted at the fiery sun. "It was Kelly. She told me that Gustavo found someone that could potentially start recording with us at Rocque Records. They might be staying here at the Palm Woods." James perked up immediately.
"Is she hot?" Lucy wrinkled her nose at him, shaking her head. If she was a girl, James would be first to hit on her. He pretty much made a pass at anything in a skirt.
Kendall looked amused. "What makes you think it's gonna be a girl?"
"Intuition, my friend," James explained, placing a pair aviators over his eyes. "You'll see." Lucy raised an eyebrow, snorting.
"Hopefully, she's not another pop princess. We've already got too many of those here," Lucy stated. "Maybe I'll finally have someone I can discuss my music with."
Kendall stared at the rocker thoughtfully, cocking his head to the side. Her eyes were closed and her expression was unreadable. Lucy fascinated him, and he knew it wasn't because of the age difference. She challenged him and it drew him to her.
"What's going on here?" Kendall peered up to see Camille Roberts smiling down at him. Her boyfriend, Logan Mitchell, was standing by. His hand was in hers.
"We were just talking about the new talent moving in soon," Lucy replied, her bright brown eyes popping open. She crossed her legs and tucked her combat boots underneath her. "You may just have a new coworker at Rocque Records." Logan eyes widened slightly and he leaned in, clearly interested.
"Gustavo found someone worthy enough to work with him?" All heads turned to where Carlos had just surfaced from the chlorinated pool water. He was floating next to Stephanie King, who was resting on a polka-dotted inner tube. He glanced at her with a goofy grin. She pushed him back underwater, laughing.
"We'll find out soon enough," Kendall answered.
BTRBTRBTRBTRBTR
"I'm glad you chose to come work with my daddy. You're gonna be amazing." Scarlett chuckled and she shook her head. Even though she'd explained several times that she was just auditioning, Mercedes couldn't get it through her head.
She was sitting in the posh private jet Arthur Griffin had gifted his daughter for one of her birthdays. The exterior was a shocking hot pink and the inside was an exact replica of Mercedes' bedroom. Scarlett found it oddly comforting.
"She is gonna rock," Nova agreed, grinning, "Let's just hope your dad and Mr. Rocque like her new sound. And thank you again for taking the jewelry out of your face, hon'." Nova smiled at her niece. Scarlett bit her lip and turned to the window. She still wasn't certain she wanted to be a client at Rocque Records. Simply coming to Hollywood was causing her some major anxiety. She was stronger and could deal with the people, but that didn't mean she wanted to to.
There was definitely one person she really didn't want to see, at least that day. That person was her ex-boyfriend, Logan Mitchell. Scarlett was fairly sure she was over him, but he still infuriated her. His life was in a world-famous pop group, he was in a relationship with the girl of his dreams, and worst of all, he was...happy. That was one thing Scarlett hadn't truly been for a long time.
Ironically, Big Time Rush's new hit single Windows Down started blaring through the plane's speakers. Scarlett peered out the window again, seeing that they were nearing the ground. She tightened her seat belt and braced herself for the landing. Here we go...
BTRBTRBTRBTRBTR
"This girl's voice is sick," Kendall murmured in appreciation. He and the three other members of BTR were sidled up against the recording studio door, straining their ears to listen in on the mystery singer. Kelly had ordered that the boys stay outside during the audition, convinced that something would go wrong. "I wonder what she looks like."
"Hopefully she's as hot as her voice is," James whispered, pressing his ear to the wooden door.
"If she is, I call dibs," Carlos stated. James faced his helmeted friend in disbelief.
"What?! No fair? We haven't even seen her yet!"
"No way I'm giving you the chance to call dibs on her before me! You always get the girl!"
James and Carlos promptly engaged in a slap fight, complete with bickering. Logan shut his eyes and squeezed the bridge of his nose in exasperation.
"Would you two shut up?!" he whisper-yelled. The two boys separated immediately, but Carlos made sure he got in the last slap.
"He started it," Carlos mumbled. Kendall rolled his eyes and sighed. They all went back to listening in on the audition.
The girl's voice was gritty, like she'd awoken with a mild case of laryngitis. It was sultry and low and the slightest bit breathy. Her voice was intoxicatingly irresistible. It wasn't exactly suited for the party pop of music Gustavo produced, but it was nice.
"Is anyone else having déjà vu?" Logan asked quietly. "Doesn't she sound kind of...familiar?" He pressed up against the door and tried to make out the words to the song the girl was singing.
"There is no upper hand, I'm giving you mine
It doesn't have to end up wasting your time
There's things that I could say, but here in my way
I wanna let you know that it's all okay..."
"God, I swear I've heard this song before," Logan said.
Kendall frowned and listened harder. "I don't think so. But the girl's voice does remind me of someone."
"Right?!" Logan agreed. He thought hard about the lyrics and her voice and tried to put them together, but he couldn't figure it out. He tried turning the doorknob, but with no success. "Can someone get this open? And Carlos, put your hand down, 'cause I don't need anyone breaking in with a sledgehammer."
Carlos slowly lowered his hand and stared dejectedly at his shoes. James pulled a small object out of his hair and kneeled down next to the doorknob. Kendall bent down beside him, zeroing in on the thing in his hand.
"Oh my God," Kendall snickered, his eyes aglitter, "Is that...is that a bobby pin in your hand? You know, I suspected you might have been born a girl, but I hadn't been sure. Thanks so much for clearing that up."
"Burn!" Carlos laughed, high-fiving Kendall.
James smacked the back of his friend's head. "Shut up. And look, it comes in handy 'cause..." James turned the knob, hearing the satisfying click. "Who would like to do the honors?" He stepped out of the way, presenting the door like Vanna White.
Logan stepped forward and pushed the door open. He and his three best friends stepped inside and collectively gasped.
Inside were some of the usual: Gustavo, Griffin Kelly. And then there was the unusual: Mercedes and Nova Spade. But the most surprising face was one none of the guys thought they'd ever see again.
When the girl at the piano saw the guys at the door, her fingers froze over the keys. Everything stopped. A pair of big green eyes locked with Logan's and he felt her name crawling up her throat.
"Scarlett," he murmured, breaking the silence. Even though it had only been a year, she looked a lot older and she had definitely matured. Her dark-rimmed wayfarer glasses were perched on her nose. She was taller, curvier, and sexier. Her hair was shorter, straightened, and even more blonde. She was gorgeous.
Scarlett suddenly felt sick. It didn't feel good seeing Logan, or any of the boys for that matter. Bad memories resurfaced and she felt her stomach turn.
She needed to get out of there. And fast.
"Are you gonna be okay?" Nova asked, rubbing her niece's back. The red in her cheeks had faded, having been replaced by a sickly green. No one waited for her to respond.
"You guys need to get out," Kelly demanded, stepping towards the boys. Not one of them moved.
"What's Scarlett doing here?" Carlos asked, pulling impatiently at one of his helmet straps. Gustavo raised his voice and Griffin tried shouting over him. His daughter joined into the arguing, and soon, no one was silent. That is, except for Scarlett.
"I...excuse me...," Scarlett choked out. But it was too late. She could feel the unpleasant salty taste at the back of her throat. She tried to move, but her feet were pinned to the ground. Scarlett lurched forward and spewed all over the ground. Projectile vomiting was not fun.
"Ew!" James shrieked, springing away.
"Is that oatmeal?" Carlos asked, squinting at the pukey mess.
Scarlett wiped her mouth on the sleeve of her brown leather jacket. She'd wanted to make a good impression. It hadn't worked out as planned. "Oh God. I'm so sorry-"
Gustavo was shaking like a Polaroid picture. "My PIANO!" The once beautiful black Steinway was covered in vomit.
"My shoes!" Mercedes wailed. "My Emilio Pucci shoes are covered in puke!"
Before she could do any more damage, Scarlett raced out of the studio, accidentally shoving Logan in the shoulder. He had the sudden urge to race after her, but he stayed put. Scarlett was like a hurricane: wild and a little bit dangerous. Trouble seemed to follow that girl wherever she went.
A/N: Yeah...vomiting at an audition usually isn't the best way to go. I think we're off to a good start, by the way. Prepare for the unexpected :)