AN: It's my favorite day of the week! Thank you for reading and reviewing last time and welcome back! This chapter is by far my favorite so far. There's a change in the game between Kendall and Elle. This chapter is short and sweet. I hope you enjoy and let me know what your favorite part was. Thanks!

To most people, touring must look glamorous. There was something intriguing and romantic about being in a different city each night. And traveling and getting paid to do what you loved was a blessing, it really was. But the side most people never saw was the sheer boredom. On most tours, it was safe to bet on the fact that you'd spend more time on a bus than on a stage. So everyone had their own hobby to stay sane.

James worked out like he was getting ready to go to war. Logan read thick novels and worked on his dance moves. Carlos filmed everything and anyone. And from the way he was always fiddling with a guitar, I guessed Kendall wrote songs. As for me, I liked playing tourist. Most days between soundchecks and interviews there would be time for a brief adventure. So I'd look up places near the venue and being a musician I was stoked to be in Nashville. There was a famous music shop just down the street and Liz promised me I could check it out. But for now, I lounged on the bus, drinking my coffee and reading the Rolling Stone article that had just come out. We had been interviewed back in Ohio and the article was printed a few days later. A copy had been sent to each of us. It was all positive and the pictures turned out well. Reading it made me want to buy a ticket to the tour even though I was the performer. It hyped up the tour and it praised all of us for our showmanship and songs. Articles about me hadn't been positive in the past so this one was nice to read. It was only when I turned the page did my face go red.

Elle seems to exude a quiet, friendly energy wherever she goes. Despite everything she's been through she is nothing but positive backstage and onstage. Her banter with her tour mates come easy and she can charm everyone in the room instantly. Her wild child days seemed to be behind her as she joked with Logan and Carlos and declined a pre-show shot. Elle's friendship with the guys of Big Time Rush goes deeper than co-workers or good publicity. They all seem to really care for each other. But it's her friendship with Kendall that seems the most genuine.

On the page, there was a picture of Kendall making me laugh in the hallway after the interview. I hadn't realized someone had been taking pictures. Unlike the last time I was filmed without my knowledge, this was a good surprise. Kendall leaned into my ear and I had a smirk on my face. He had told me I'd look great wearing nothing at all which caused me to laugh. It was surprising to read about Kendall and me.

Both Big Time Rush and Elle support each other on and off stage, it's obvious they all get along. James was there before the show rubbing her shoulders like a boxer about to go in the ring, Carlos broke the tension with a joke and Logan gave her reassuring words. However, it's the quiet way Kendall watched from the side of the stage that was most touching.

There was a picture of Kendall leaning against the wall with his arms folded, in the distance I saw myself onstage. He had a smile on his face, his real one, not the one he used for the crowds. Based on my outfit it was near the end of my set, after our duet, I hadn't even known he was there. He never watched my set after our duet he always went to prep for his show. Or at least I thought he did.

"I think watching her perform is incredible. You'd think after seeing her every night it would get boring but it's not. She has this personality that is meant for people to see." Knight, gushes as we watch her perform. When Elle hits a high note he claps loudly. "I mean did you see that? She's so talented. We're lucky to have her on this tour."

Kendall went onto tell me one of his favorite songs to perform is their duet 'Night Like This'. And he's not wrong to say that, earlier in the night their chemistry had been enough to set the arena on fire. They knew just when to smile and when to reach out to each other. Watching them is like watching the sun, and the planets revolve around it. Always in sync.

The rest of the article gave me enough time to get the blush on my face under control. I read where I had been quoted talking about the guys and our albums. But it was the part about Kendall and I that my mind kept wandering back to. Did we really have chemistry? Everything we did on stage was scripted because he was an asshole who couldn't be trusted. That night Gustavo and Liz had instructed us to flirt, that had to be it. Kendall probably stood by the stage to get more quotes and pictures on himself in the magazine. That was it. Or so I thought because when I walked to the front of the bus Kendall went red and James laughed.

"Oh look it's the sun." He joked pointing at me.

Kendall huffed at this and rolled his eyes. "Why am I the planets?"

"Because you're too gloomy to be the sun and it's my set she was writing about not yours," I explained, hitting him with my copy of the magazine. "And I just do my own thing out there, the rest was up to you."

"It was a good article, it made both of the albums sound really exciting. I checked this morning and the preorders doubled." Logan reported, scooting over so I could sit. "Now we just have to write them."

A nervous laugh forced its way out of me. My album was coming along slowly but surely but it was still stressful to not be even halfway done. 'Hopefully, something will inspire me. Gustavo is writing a song or two for me but all I have are songs about Jett."

"Write about me, apparently I revolve around you," Kendall suggested. "I've never had a song about me."

"Bullshit." I shot back. "Lucy wrote You Dumped Me For Her about you."

He scowled at this, clearly embarrassed. "You seriously wouldn't write a song about me?"

"Maybe Kendork," I smirked a bit. "Give me something to sing about."

"You're on."

Nashville was hot and humid and the rain came down in random bursts. The guys had tagged along with me to the music shop when I set out an hour ago. But the rain could be heard from inside the building and the thunder was loud. When there was a pause in the storm James was quick to his feet.

"Alright, this was fun but I'm leaving before it starts raining again. Have to keep the hair dry after all."

"I think we should go too, Carlos wants to check out this barbeque place and I wanted to pick up some new video games for the bus." Logan agreed stretching a bit. "And it's hot in here."

I shook my head. "You guys are babies. But fine, leave me here alone."

"Kendall's around here somewhere I'm sure you'll be fine," Carlos promised as they made their way to the front of the store. "I'll grab you some food to make up for it."

"Gee, thanks," I muttered sarcastically.

For the past few days, Kendall and I had seemed to call a truce to our game. We still flirted onstage and during shows but he seemed to ignore me the rest of the time. He had also been up Jo's ass more often. They were always Facetiming or texting. And at night, I could hear him whispering sickeningly sweet things to her on the phone. A small part of me, a part I hated, felt a tinge of jealousy. But a larger part of me thought that was nonsense. I wasn't jealous it was just irritating and interrupted my sleep.

"You'll be fine," James promised.

The guys had ducked out into the rainy weather and I wandered to the back of the store. There were rows of sheet music, walls lined with guitars and every instrument someone could want. I spent time debating if I should buy a new guitar when I heard an all too familiar scoff. I was surprised when it wasn't for me.

"Babe listen, it's just for exposure." Kendall rolled his eyes as he held up his phone. "I swear."

Ducking behind a rack of drumsticks, I watched Kendall on Facetime. I couldn't see her but I could hear that Jo was pissed. This was different than their past conversations, Kendork was visibly annoyed. And instead of having hearts in his eyes there was anger.

"Watching them is like watching the sun, and the planets revolve around it. Always in sync." She quoted, her voice was strained. "What the fuck is that? Jett says she'll try to fuck you, she fucks everyone. He didn't even want to hook up in the bathroom that night, it was her. Apparently, she was begging for it."

My stomach was in knots. Is this really what Jett told people about that night? He could look someone in the eyes and lie straight to their face about what he did. The only begging I did that night was for him to stop. Kendall rolled his eyes at Jo's words.

"It's just an article for a magazine. Nothing will happen between us, we're just friends. That interview was done the day her video came out. Gustavo wanted us to play it up a bit more than usual." Kendall explained, he sounded annoyed with her. "As for Jett, I trust you around him, trust me around her."

"As you should, Jett's like a brother at this point. He's gross and a dick but we've never made out with each other. You and Elle looked like a bad 50 Shades of Grey knockoff. I saw the video, Kendall. You looked into it, everyone says it seemed like it was more than acting." Jo sounded uneasy and I wondered what she'd say if she knew Kendall and I made out a few weeks back. "It seemed like you wanted to kiss her and you're always flirting on stage."

Kendall shook his head and bit his lip. "Listen, I love you, not her."

The way he avoided her concern was obvious. "I love you too, but I'm just worried. She's trouble, I never liked her."

My teeth were gritted as Jo spoke, she had taken Jett's side after the incident even though he was a creep to her. If anything she should have been an ally. Jett had never assaulted her but he had boundary issues.

"What am I supposed to do? We have to flirt onstage, you pretend to date Jett on TV. It's no different."

"Stop being so touchy, it's hard to watch. It seems like you like her, I know you, Kendall."

He let out a long breath and smirked. "She's a bitch, trust me there's nothing to like. And even if I did the guys are all over her. Trust me there's nothing there. She means nothing to me."

Even though he had a girlfriend and we had our issues this still stung. I thought we had reached a point of understanding. But his voice was harsh as he reassured Jo.

"Fine, just tone it down. I have to get to set, love you."

"Love you too."

When they hung up I dashed to the back of the store, hearing how Jett lied about that night made me feel physically ill. My stomach churned in a familiar way. I sat at a piano and tried to catch my breath. I hated him and the power he had over me. When I went to therapy after the incident it had been suggested that I channeled all my pain into something productive. Naturally, it ended up being music. Something else I had to do in therapy was to write a letter to Jett and never send it, I had adapted it into lyrics. When things got to be too much they stopped the spinning in my head.

"This is a story that I have never told. I've got to get this off my chest to let it go. I have to take back the light inside that you stole. You're a criminal and you steal like you're a pro."

I sang quietly to myself, I had never played this outside of my apartment As I did I thought of Jett and his smug fucking face. For a long time I had been broken and sometimes I still was. He had taken so much from me that night and to know that he still lied about it made me angry. He had never been charged with anything and was still free to talk shit about me.

"All the pain and the truth, I wear like a battle wound. So ashamed, so confused, I was broken and bruised."

My fingers moved over the keys and I pushed down the memories of the aftermath. There had been bruises on my hips and face from him holding me in place. My body had broken a few months later too, it had been Jett's final hold on me. I didn't like to think about it though. My voice shook as I moved to the chorus.

"Now I'm a warrior, now I've got thicker skin."

The night he hurt me had been burned into my brain forever, despite the drugs. There was more to that night than I was willing to share with anyone. He had taken me to a hotel that night after the club. His disgusting behavior had continued there. As I laid there, I had vowed to myself I would never let myself be taken advantage of by anyone. Part of me had been sealed off and no one would get that close to me again.

"I'm stronger than I've ever been and my armor, is made of steel, you can't get in."

I played the rest of the song and tried to even out my breathing. I couldn't have a panic attack, especially so close to show time. There was something comforting about the song. Everything was in my control, the notes, the lyrics, my voice, it was all up to me. I wasn't powerless. When I reached the final line my stomach had settled and the overwhelming panic had dissipated.

"And you can never hurt me again."

The note lingered in the air. It was a slow clap that made me jump and brought me back to reality. When I turned Kendall was leaning against the doorframe. He looked impressed and nodded to the piano.

"That was good, doesn't sound like you though." He shook his head, "It's different."

I rolled my eyes. "Sorry, not everything is stupid a pop song. I am capable of writing something meaningful."

He held up his hands as he walked further into the room. "No, it's a good different. I liked it, it was really good."

My anger softened a bit, no one had ever heard it before so I was defensive. He didn't seem to be joking and he sat down next to me on the bench. My outburst seemed out of place and I cleared my throat.

"Thanks." I played with my fingers. "They'll never let it on an album though. It's too off-brand."

Kendall nodded like he understood."Gustavo's the same way. Is it new?"

"No." I shook my head and sighed. "I wrote it a while ago, it's just nice to come back to it when I get overwhelmed or upset."

He bit his lip. "What's wrong?"

There was no point in lying, he had probably seen me hiding. "Your phone call with Jo. Apparently, I'm just a bitch."

"Oh, that was just for her benefit. I'm sorry, we didn't get along at first but you're not a bitch." He said quickly, almost embarrassed. "She read the article, it was intense. I just wanted to calm her down. You're not a bitch."

"She's wrong by the way," I said quietly. "I wasn't all over Jett that night. That video isn't who I am."

Kendall agreed and rubbed his hands on his thighs. He looked up at me, his mouth quirked into a half smile. "So I'm learning. This is the real you, that song, right?"

The fact that he was taking the time to get to know me for himself and not from a video was touching. I laughed a little bit and shrugged. "Yeah, I guess so."

His hand rested on mine and all I could focus on was the color of his eyes. They were bright green as he looked down at me and for once they weren't full of judgment. His voice was soft as he spoke.

"Well, I like the real you."

He leaned in, kissing me softly before stopping. He looked unsure. My hands shook as I brought them to his face, I kissed him back, letting myself fall into him. His arms wrapped around my waist and I could feel him smiling. It was gentle, sweet even. We separated and he brushed his thumb against my cheek. It felt right.

"That should have been our first kiss." He said shyly, leaning his forehead against mine. "Not because I was angry, or because of a game or a video. It should have been this."

His words had been a shock and I stared at him, wide-eyed and unblinking. He stared back and I waited for the punchline. But when one never came, my stomach twisted into knots once again. He smiled at me and squeezed my hand.

"Kendall-" I began uneasily, shifting away from him. "You're, this, no."

His smile fell and he rolled his eyes. His face went hard and he stood up, I couldn't tell who he was angry at, me or himself. He ran his hand through his hair and chuckled under his breath, clearly annoyed.

"Of fucking course." He muttered. "It's all a game to you."

This wasn't true, the kiss had felt right, natural. But this was Kendall we were talking about, this was a joke to him, not to me. When I didn't say anything he scoffed and glared at me. I felt two inches tall and my face was hot. He stormed out of the shop and I frowned. The weight of his lips lingered on mine. I hated to admit it but I wanted to go after him. But I was frozen in my seat. Part of me wondered if we were always building to this moment. Because the words spilled out easily, honestly.

"It's not a game."

AN: Kendelle had their first real kiss (Shout out to Carkeys for reading my mind about the ship name)! That scene and the bit of the article were my favorite parts to write. I wanted to show Kendall and Elle's vulnerability and the tenderness of this kiss compared to the past ones. As for the article, I like writing about them from an outsider's perspective. Well, that's enough rambling. What was your favorite part? What are your thoughts on Kendelle growing closer?

Stay tuned next week for an explosive chapter where tempers flare and secrets are revealed.