Happy Wednesday Rushers. Welcome back and thank you for the feedback on chapter 12. This one follows Kendall and Elle filming their music video. I enjoyed this one quite a bit, I hope you do too. There's an important note at the end. Enjoy and please review.

As we worked our way north, the tension between Kendall and I continued to grow. Our game was in full swing and by my count, I was winning. But Kendall still had his moments when he'd catch me off guard.

In St. Louis he had leaned into my ear after we performed. It was an outdoor venue and we were both warm and sweaty.

"I can see everything in that little outfit." He whispered into my ear, running his fingertips down my spine. "How great would it feel if I took it off of you? You must be so hot."

When he blew into my ear, cooling my hot skin I shuddered but just grit my teeth. "You wish."

Kendall won that round because I had been too flustered to say anything. But I got my revenge just a day later in Iowa, there was an advantage to striking when we weren't onstage. I could be bolder in my payback because there wasn't an audience to notice what we were doing. I was in the shower letting the water pour over my skin, waiting until I heard footsteps. Kendall was always the last one to go to bed so I knew it would be him. I opened the bathroom door and ran straight into him.

"Oh! Sorry, Kendall." I apologized, tightening the towel wrapped around my body.

My body was still wet from the shower and I did my best to let my chest show. Kendall noticed immediately and he smirked and leaned against the wall.

"I don't mind." He clearly thought he would win this round because he looked smug. "Too bad I couldn't join you."

I just faked an innocent expression as a bead of water rolled down my neck. "I'm just so wet."

He sputtered a bit and blinked hard. "Are you?"

The space between the bathroom door and the wall across from it was narrow. I pressed myself against Kendall, pretending that I was trying to pass him. My hand brushed over the front of his pants and I smirked to myself, he was definitely enjoying what he saw. His eyes wandered down to my breasts and he cleared his throat.

"Kendall?" I breathed into his ear.

"Hmm?"

"I win this round."

He got back at me for that in Kansas City. We were sitting in the front section of the bus, the guys were all in their bunks when Kendall sighed dramatically. I didn't react at first, pretending to be more interested in the show I was watching than him. But out of the corner of my eye, I could see him looking at me. He sighed again.

"What?" I snapped.

"Just thinking about how long it's been since I fooled around." He shrugged, carefully watching my reaction. "How great it would be to just get to wasted then roll around the sheets, make someone scream my name."

I rolled my eyes but shifted a bit, I hadn't had sex since Jett. Making out with the guys had been great but not quite enough, I cleared my throat and tried to keep my tone even.

"I'm sure Jo must appreciate that." As much of an asshole as Kendall was, he didn't seem like the type to cheat.

"Jo is an ocean away in Europe, she gets that tour is lonely." He didn't skip a beat, a sly grin slid up his face. "Besides, it would be fun."

"I don't know, are you even that good?"

Kendall smirked before moving to sit next to me. He laughed into my ear, his breath was warm and he smelled like the shitty cigarettes he smoked.

"Better than my friends for sure. And I can tell you're thinking about it now."

"I am not." I huffed.

His hand trailed up my arm. "Oh yeah? Because I saw how big your eyes got when I mentioned it. You're really not thinking about how great it would be if I took you back to my bunk right now? How much fun we would have? How great it would feel if I kissed your neck and your lips and took off this shirt. I'm pretty great."

I bit my lip, stared at him. My stomach twisted nervously and I rolled my eyes. "Don't be so cocky, er, smug."

He laughed at this. "I am smug, but I assure you, I'm cocky too."

I pushed myself up from the couch, scowling as I walked to my bunk. "Goodnight."

"Night, oh and Elle?"

I turned and he had stretched out on the couch, smirking. "I win."

That was three nights ago and today we were in Chicago for the second day. It was an especially important day because I was filming a video for 'Night Like This' and I loved the concept. It took place on a rainy night in the city and Kendall and I would be sharing a cab and it would show us getting close and shots of us singing outside. We had filmed the performances with the band yesterday before our concert, tonight was the cab scene and the flirting. We didn't have a show tonight so we could film in the dark. We were in a studio lot and a rain machine had been set up. Everything should have been exciting but Kendall and I had been at each other's throats all day.

"You're pitchy." Kendall had sneered. "Do you need someone to teach you warm ups?"

I laughed. "I'm not pitchy, you're flat. The note is higher than that."

We had a radio performance earlier in the day and had been warming up. Both of our throats were sore from the weather and traveling. His voice was raspy and deeper than normal.

He rolled his eyes. "Shut up."

"Make me." I had challenged.

When stepped up to me, his eyes lingered on my lips. "Maybe I will."

Part of me wondered if it was sexual tension but I couldn't be sure. Because right now he was just downright annoying.

"Do you have to do that?" I implored, folding my arms.

He looked up from where he was hitting a hockey puck against the wall. "Do you have to be annoying?"

"I'm not annoying, you're annoying."

Kendall rolled his eyes. "Jesus, whatever, fine."

He stormed off out of the hair and makeup room we had been in. The guys didn't have to film anything for the video but were hanging out anyways. I was grateful for the distraction. Anything to get my mind off of having to make out with Kendall in just a bit would be welcomed. I wasn't opposed to it for the video but on a personal level, I didn't want to. I was trying not to let it get me down though, this was a personal victory for me. Since the beginning of my career, all my videos' plots had been picked out by the studio. But for this one, it was mostly my idea and the direction I wanted to take it in. I had been wary when Liz suggested the kissing scenes. But I knew that it made sense for it to happen, so I would be mature and get through it.

But not that mature because I would win this next round.

"Hey Elle, looking good." I turned and smiled when Liz walked into the room. "The makeup artist did a good job."

I thanked her and glanced in the mirror. My eye makeup was dark and smudgy and my hair was curled but looked like I had been in the rain. Kendall looked similar minus the eye makeup.

"So are you excited to film?"

"For sure, just nervous about the whole making out with Kendall thing." I tried to play it off. "He's a dick."

Liz sipped her drink and avoided my eye. "I don't know you should see how he looks at you sometimes."

I took the cup from her hand and stole a sip, desperate for a distraction. "God, do you want some coffee with your sugar?"

"I'll have you know a sugar high plus a caffeine buzz is how I get through the day. But don't avoid the subject, he stares at you all the time."

I rolled my eyes. "One, he has a girlfriend. Two, he's an asshole. Three, ew now I'll be able to feel his eyes burning a hole in the back of my head."

"Well, it's not your head he's looking at." She scoffed, smirking a bit. "And you know the making out will look good for the video. And at least he's not Jett."

My teeth tugged at my bottom lip as I swallowed hard. It wasn't often Liz and I talked about guys or Jett, it was kind of an unspoken rule. Since his attack, she had been more defensive of me and carefully kept an eye on any guys I hung out with. Not that I had been that social, being a pariah tended to make people uninterested. She had deemed Carlos, James, and Logan safe to chill with, which was why I was on tour.

"I'm sorry, are you okay?"

"Fine." I forced a smile on my face. "Just dreading Kendall's mouth on mine. Do me a favor and make sure he has a mint."

She clapped me on the back. "Sure, see you on set."

Once she was gone I stood up and fluffed my hair a bit. Jett didn't matter, that was the past and I couldn't be bothered anymore. I had to get my head in the game if I wanted to win this round. My outfit was a trenchcoat that came down to the tops of my knees and a black dress underneath. It was sexy but not too revealing which was a great change. And as much as I hated to admit Kendall looked good in the jacket and green shirt he was wearing. It brought out his eyes. I fixed my hair once more and checked my phone, trying to prolong me having to go on set. But eventually, I knew I had to get out there so I popped in a mint and walked out. Just as I got to the door though, I paused.

"Dude you get to kiss her, are you nervous?" It was Logan, he sounded amused.

There was a dry laugh. "Nah, but I figure I'll be better than you guys were."

"There's been so much tension between you guys at least you get to break it. We all see how you look at each other, is this still the bet you told us about?" James' voice was low. "Because we still think it's fucking shitty and gross."

I pressed my ear to the door, Kendall was quiet for a moment before speaking. "No like I said, we have our own game going. Elle's cool."

"Good because you were being an ass," Carlos said. "Good luck."

"I won't need it." I could hear the smirk in his voice.

I lingered by the door for a moment or two before walking out. I stepped out the next set of doors into the cool night air, a few yards away the set was finished. A building had been made to look like the front steps of an apartment building and another one looked like a club. A rain machine drenched the area.

"Elle, Olivia wants to go over some stuff for tonight." Liz began.

"Of course," I shook her hand, she had directed some of my earlier videos and what we had shot yesterday.

"I love the concept for this. It's sexy but not too sexy."

I laughed. "That was the idea. What are you doing first?"

"I was thinking we should get the cab scenes done first that way if we need to reshoot your hair won't be as wet." She looked over a clipboard. "And you and Kendall know the drill just lip-sync and go for it."

I glanced to where the makeup artist was touching up his powder. "Ha, yeah, go for it."

"If you want to get in the cab we'll check the lighting."

Liz caught my arm. "I gave him a mint."

I swatted her arm. "Stop, it'll be fine."

When I got to where Kendall was he gave me a grin. "So, you, me, a cab? Anything could happen."

"Ugh, come on." I grabbed his arm and we climbed into the back seat.

Kendall scooted next to me and fixed his hair in the rearview mirror. I rolled my eyes and scoffed at him.

"What? I want to look good for my leading lady. I even ate a whole pack of mints and used extra lip balm."

"My hero." I deadpanned.

He smirked and elbowed my ribs. "Come on, you're not even a little bit excited to make out with me? It could be a repeat of the hotel room."

"I am definitely not even a little bit excited about making out with you," I answered. "This is for work and I don't have time for games."

He raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so you won't be trying to win this round?"

"I never said that. I just said this isn't the first thing I'd be doing tonight, given the choice."

He hummed in acknowledgment. "Whatever you say, Len."

"Len?" I asked.

"Everyone calls you Elle, I want to be different."

I tried not to dwell on the fact that the last person to call me something other than Elle was Jett. He called me Len too and look how that ended. I looked up at him out of the corner of my eye. I hated to admit it but he looked good, hot even. Once the lighting was set up and the cameras were in place, I got into the zone. I took on the persona of someone who was into Kendall.

"Okay just go for it. You're into each other and want to hook up." Olivia directed from outside the car. "And action!"

The song played and Kendall ran his hand up my thigh, teasingly. He looked up and gave a wicked grin and laughed a little.

"You like that?"

I leaned into his ear and began to kiss his neck. We stared at each other, our noses brushing together. Over the speakers, the song played. I heard myself sing about feeling the weight of a kiss on my lips. Apprehensively, I brushed my lips against Kendall's. He kissed me back, hard and his hand went into my damp hair. He leaned over me and I almost ended up on my back. I braced myself against the window and pulled him down with my other hand.

"You like that?" I mimicked.

He smirked and pulled me onto his lap and I could feel how he was getting turned on. I wrapped my arms around his neck and let his tongue explore my mouth. Our legs tangled up in the cramped backseat and my heart pounded much like the song explained. It didn't feel like acting or revenge it felt right and when Olivia called cut it took me a second to realize it.

"Okay, that looked good, but for this next take can you be a little more longing? You guys just met, you're a bit nervous but it feels right. Ready and action!"

Kendall cleared his throat at Olivia's words. I wondered if they seemed to explain our situation to Kendall too. Olivia was spot on.

The song picked back up and this time Kendall took his time running his hand up my leg. I wasn't shy about resting my hand on his knee and giving a flirty smile. His eyes lingered on my mouth and he smirked.

The song got to the line about how our hands fit together the right way. Kendall held his hand up to mine and we slowly intertwined our fingers and he ran his thumb across my bottom lip.

"Tried of this game Len." He said quietly.

"Do something about it then." I challenged.

He grinned, held my face in his hands and kissed me deeply. He made out for a bit and he undid my trench coat, revealing my tight dress. My hand found his crotch and brushed against it.

"Now flirt!" Olivia called out.

"Too bad were filming." He whispered into my ear. "Want to actually do something about how hot you are."

I laughed for the sake of the video and hit him on the chest. He laughed back, his green eyes bright and free from their usual judgment.

"Now get out of the cab Elle."

I patted his cheek and climbed out of the car. I turned over my shoulder and kissed him once more before going up the front stairs of my fake apartment. We reset and I climbed back in.

"You're a terrible actress." He snorted.

"Fuck you, no I'm not."

"An actress wouldn't actually get turned on."

I pointed to his lap. "If anyone was turned on it was definitely you."

He smirked. "It's biology babe I can't help it."

I smacked him and watched as he reapplied chapstick. "I'm winning the game by the way."

"You're cute we'll see about that."

We filmed a few shots of us lip syncing especially the climax of the song where it slowed down. As we sang the actually feeling of anticipation built. Kendall brushed his thumb over my lip and I held my breath.

"I can feel the anticipation in my veins." He sang slowly, before leaning in to kiss me softly.

We filmed a rougher version of the makeout scene. Olivia wanted to have plenty of options to edit with and personally, I didn't mind.

"Whatever it takes to get Elle the best video possible." Kendall batted his lashes.

"Shut up, I'm going to win."

"Okay, steamier but not 50 shades of grey," Olivia ordered through her megaphone. "We're rolling and action."

The music started so we wouldn't be too off beat when the actual song was played over top of the footage. I climbed on to Kendall's lap and he wrapped his arms around my waist and I kissed his neck leaving a lipstick stain. When he pushed his hips into mine I was taken aback and moaned.

"That feel good?" He laughed against my lips and continued to rock his hips into mine. "You want some more?"

My hands found his hair and he groped my chest. I kissed him and lost myself in the moment. Shortly, after Olivia called cut and said we had enough footage.

She was watching the monitor and smiled to herself. "You two have chemistry for just kissing for the first time."

I nearly died of embarrassment right then and there. Kendall just gave me a shy look and shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

"Guys, you're doing great. Now I emailed you both the picture of you two in the cab. Gustavo's instructions were to post the picture and imply it's a sneak peek." Kelly explained to us, as she came out of the studio. "And then you have that interview with a local magazine."

Kendall pulled up the email and smirked. We both looked at the photo, his lips were pressed against mine and my hands were in his hair. We almost looked like a couple. The two of us shared a nervous glance before Kendall walked off.

I pulled up the picture and looked it at for a moment before coming up with a caption.

I can almost feel the weight your kiss on my lips. You'll all have to 'weight' for the rest, stay tuned!

After hitting the post button, I put my phone away. I didn't want to see it anymore. The only thing left to film was us actually getting into the cab. There was some short dialogue, my throat was still sore and I wasn't looking forward to standing in the rain.

"So, that was something to witness." Liz teased as my makeup was touched up. "And you say he hates you."

I couldn't roll my eyes but I gave her the finger. "I said he doesn't like me."

She tilted her head towards the craft service table. "I beg to differ. Don't forget you have a short interview in a few minutes."

"I won't, now go tell Gustavo if I have to sing another duet it won't be with Kendall."

Liz just jerked her thumb towards him and answered her phone. I turned just in time to see him balancing two paper cups.

"Is your throat killing you too?" He asked, taking a drink. "Here."

I raised an eyebrow. "What's this?"

"Tea, ice water and honey right?"

Dubiously, I sniffed it and took a sip. "How did you know?"

"You make it every night. I still think cold water defeats the purpose but whatever." He said, avoiding my eye.

"Yours is too hot to drink whereas mine is perfect. Thank you though." I waved, walking off to where the food was. "Hey, guys."

James waved, looking up from his phone. "So, you and Kendall looked pretty...comfortable."

"Comfortable?" I laughed. "What does that mean?"

Logan looked down at his cup. "Just that you, uh."

"What they're trying to say is it seems like you didn't mind making out." Carlos finally said. "And they aren't wrong. If people hadn't been watching you probably would have fucked."

There was no way Kendall would have mentioned us kissing. They would never have let him hear the end of it, but they did know about our game, so I shrugged. "I can't have a shitty video."

"Is it the game you're playing? You know the weird flirty one?"

This made me roll my eyes. "It's not weird, he doesn't insult me every other word. So it's working. We have an interview come on."

The interview was with a local magazine, it was exactly like every other one so far on tour. But when the writer nodded to the guys and asked her next question I almost died.

"So you've made out with every guy in BTR. Who would you say is the best kisser on tour?"

I coughed, choking on some tea. Kendall turned his head so fast I thought he had whiplash. "What?"

"Well, the four of you had your party a few weeks back. Now you and Kendall kissed tonight, right?" She held up pictures of us on snapchat and then a picture from tonight's shoot. "One of them was for a video but still we're dying to know. Who's the best kisser on tour?"

Kendall and I shared a look, relieved that she hadn't said what we both thought. It was obvious neither of us was thinking of the video shoot but the angry backstage kiss and the night in my hotel room. It hadn't occurred to me that I had kissed all four members of the band. Who was the best kisser was obvious but it made me sick to think about it. It was Kendall without a doubt. But I would rather die before I let him know that. Without thinking I blurted out my answer.

"Well, I am of course." I grinned, good-naturedly. "But these four aren't too bad. Kendall was just for work and nothing else."

James made a face at me, confused by my reaction. "I beg to differ but I'll be a gentleman."

I forced out a laugh and shoved him. "How kind of you."

We finished the interview by giving a behind the scenes look at the set. Then, thankfully it was time to wrap up the video. The rain blasted onto the fake street. I stood under an awning pretending to shiver. I groaned when a cab drove past us.

"Why is it so hard to get a cab this late?" I asked.

Kendall leaned against the wall. "It's midnight, on Friday. Where you headed?"

I gave him a smile and let my eyes wander over his body just like the script called for. "Downtown."

The smirk he gave was almost real. "So am I, stand right here, it's dry."

I sauntered over to him and pulled my trenchcoat tighter around me. "Thanks."

We pretended to shyly avoid eye contact, when we looked at each other I tried to look nervous. Kendall cleared his throat and ran a hand through his hair.

"Well, if you're going my way-" He started, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Maybe we could share a ride?" I suggested.

He gave me a grin and stepped closer to me, draping an arm over my shoulders. The camera followed us as we stepped into the street and he pretended to hail a cab. He opened the door for me and I grabbed his hand, pulling him with me. He let his hand creep up my leg. He made some joke and I laughed without really hearing it. He smiled down at me, his green eyes bright. I reached out to touch his face and moved to kiss him-

"That's a wrap!" Olivia called out.

And just like that, the magic had faded. Kendall cleared his throat and I dropped my hands from his face. He pushed himself off of me and helped me out of the cab. When we emerged we were no longer in our little world. All of the crew members applauded as we celebrated the successful end of our video. And I had to admit there was a swell of pride in my chest. I had come up with the video idea, wrote the song and had a say in what happened. This was all I could have hoped for when I decided to make a comeback.

"Congratulations Len." Kendall pulled me into a hug. "I'm proud of you."

His smile was genuine. "Thank you."

The guys hugged me as well and I let the warm and happy feeling in my chest carry me back to the makeup department. I set to work taking off all the makeup that had been applied for tonight's video. As I wiped my face with a towel I scrolled through my notifications and smiled. Fans were already excited about the photo of Kendall and me.

"Shit, I ship this too now. #Keleanor?"

"My queen has risen and she looks good!"

"If Elle could stop having chemistry with every guy from BTR that'd be great. I dunno who to ship. #Ellos #Ellegan #Jelle #KenLen."

Tons of the replies were full of heart eye emojis and crying emojis. Apparently, people were planning their funerals because this picture alone had killed them. They were so enthusiastic so I liked as many replies as I could. And thankfully, Kendall's post was respectful. He had posted the same picture and captioned it:

Anything can happen in the back of a cab. Check out Elle Harper's new video coming soon!

Even though Kendall and I reconciled a little, he was still a bit of a wildcard. I was glad his comment wasn't too suggestive. The replies to his post were just as excited, I was relieved his fans weren't as angry as they had been when they found out I'd be joining the tour.

"Oh, whoa, oh." I hummed under my breath as I took off my makeup. "Anything can happen, oh, whoa, oh."

I leaned into the mirror to get a better look at the eyeliner I was currently scrubbing off. I was cold and ready to climb onto the warm bus. My head was in the clouds as I continued humming to myself. It was when I caught a glimpse of blonde hair in the mirror did I focus. I could see Kendall's reflection as he leaned against the door. A smirk hung on his lips as he stared at my backside as I bent over in the mirror. His eyes wandered up to my body until they met mine in the mirror.

"It's rude to stare Kendall." I teased.

His smirk fell and he rolled his eyes. "You're hogging the mirror."

"Yeah sure. That's what you were doing, not looking at my ass."

A red flush colored his cheeks and he shook his head. "Why would I want to look at your ass?"

"Because it's great." I turned to face him. I was still in the trenchcoat and my dress clung to my body. "Kendall?"

His eyes had been focused on my legs, all the way up to my chest. He blinked when I called his name and he scratched his jaw. He drew in a breath before his eyes met mine.

"Hmm?"

My voice was low. "You're staring."

"Am not." He countered, "I was just looking at, at. Shut up."

I laughed a little and walked over to him and patted his cheek. "Such a one-track mind. You can have the mirror or whatever your excuse was."

Once on the bus, I was grateful to be warm and changed into pajamas. I was laying in my bunk, watching a movie on my laptop. My phone buzzed next to me and I was surprised to see Kendall's name. I pulled out my earbuds and opened his text.

I was looking at you and thinking about what was under that coat.

Oh. This was unexpected and bold, especially for Kendall.

I could tell. I responded.

Without my headphones in I could hear his phone chime as he got my text. His reply came quickly.

Oh yeah?

I smirked a little. Yeah, one look at your pants it was pretty obvious. Even with your tiny boner.

Nothing tiny about anything. You looked good, liked what I saw it's simple.

You stared long enough. I retorted, my fingers flew over the screen. This was a new kind of flirting we had only text each other once or twice before this. My phone buzzed once more.

So did you apparently you noticed my pants.

So I did. I wrote back. It was obvious like I said.

From further back in the bus, I heard his phone chime once more. I watched as the three dots the meant he was typing popped up. When his text came I nearly dropped my phone at how blunt he was.

Well it's even bigger and better up close. ;)

"Ugh," I muttered, wrinkling my nose. "Please don't send a dick pic."

Luckily he didn't and I smirked, for someone who didn't like me he certainly wasn't shy.

Whatever you say. Goodnight, Kendall.

And then after that, I smirked. I saw my chance to claim my victory and I sent a second message.

PS: I win this round.

AN: Elle and Kendall finally got to work out some tension and their game is getting more intense. I enjoy writing the flirting and steamier chapters. I hope you enjoy reading them. Please check out the note below and let me know what you thought of this update. Where do you think Kendall and Elle will take things next? I appreciate you all and hope you review. Thank you.

An important note about chapter 14: I wrote almost half of this fic before publishing it so I have quite a few chapters prewritten. Unfortunately, chapter 14 was deleted by mistake from my computer. I have to rewrite it. I just want to give you all a heads up that chapter 14 might be up the week after next. I apologize but I want to make sure it's well written. It will be published on May 16th or May 23rd.

Stayed tuned Rushers.