AN: hi everyone! picking up where we left off! setting us up for the ending. Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed! Hope you enjoy! :)
Chapter 13

The boys were told to stay away from the studio for the weekend—a relief for Kendall and James who were feeling the effect of the night before—and that they'd provide additional security for Roque Records once they came back.

The two boys were sat on the sidewalk outside their house sipping coffee and nibbling carefully into their breakfast sandwiches. Their sunglasses shielded them from the cruel sun.

"Did I give a drag queen a piggy back ride?" Kendall asked as fuzzy visions of their outing came back to him.

"Yup," James replied flatly. "And you tried to dance on the platform with one of the go go boys."

"Nice," He said As a shadow appeared before them. Kendall looked up to find an older man.

"Hello, boys," the stranger said, his volume a little too loud for them at the moment.

"Hi," the two said in unison.

"You two have been causing quite the buzz in the media, huh?"

Who was this man, and why was he so bold to bring up their media frenzy right to them?

"Forgive me," he said, assuming a spot next to them on the sidewalk. "Name's Donnie, I live next door."

"Jame's. And this is my boyfriend, Kendall." Kendall's head jerked towards the brunette. It was the First time he heard James title him that way. And though James had already professed his love for Kendall, the blonde couldn't help the tender warmth rising in him.

"I know who you are,'" Donnie said, giving James a playful shove. "And I've been following this little drama you two got going on. I haven't seen this much buzz about a celebrity coming out since Lance Bass."

"We didn't come out," Kendall said, bitter about the fact itself and that he was now made to address it with this Donnie character. "We were outed."

"I'm sorry," he responded. "I know that road. I got caught by my roommate one time, next day the whole school knew." He shook his head. "Of course, I was studying musical theater so the rumors were there."

James giggled at that.

"Anyhow, I wanted to say I'm rooting for you," Donnie continued, getting up and making his way to his house. "Feel free to come over for a drink if you'd like."

"Different," Kendall said once Donnie was inside.

"He seemed sweet," James countered.

By Monday, they were back in the studio, they're protesters were still out. They were no higher in numbers than before, but remained loud. But what made no one happy was the surprise visit from Griffin.

"I am not happy," Griffin said, scanning the conference room. "Now you know how we are for you all but I have to care for my business. And these protesters are not good for it."

"There's hardly even 20," Gustavo argued. Kendall took a deep breath, appreciating the jump to defense.

"It's 20 people outside. And thousands around the nation refusing to buy RCM CBT Globalnet Sanyoid product and refusing to let their kids listen to Big Time Rush. Media Coverage everywhere, and you want me to allow you to produce another album that once it comes out all of this will be brought back up? I really have half a mind to cancel this last project."

"Griffin you don't understand," James injected with a touch of desperation. "This is this best music we've worked on."

"The public gets excited for us when they see us together," Kendall added.

"I'm telling you, Griffin, the good outweighs the bad here," Logan asserted.

"But I shouldn't have to deal with any amount of bad. So you're going to streamline this album. I want it done in three months."

"Three months?" Gustavo said. "That's insane."

"I don't care. Plenty of groups have done it before. I need something I can sell that can get the people focused on what you guys are here for. Music. And if the new music can't outweigh this mess that has been created, best believe this thing we all have is coming to an end. Now, I'm going pony shopping. That sounds like a good idea."

Griffin left with no interest in the retaliation the team was ready to give.

"So what do we do now?" Carlos asked.

"We make an album," Gustavo said plainly.