With a nonchalant shrug, Andy admitted, "I'm clueless. But one thing's for sure - Steven and Tyson? Those two are a dynamic duo, joined at the hip." Andy paused, a wistful look crossing his face. "Their bond is something special, like the connection I share with Angel."
Curiosity gleaming in her eyes, Alana probed, "Why don't you follow in Steven and Hannah's footsteps and get a dog?"
Andy's response was thoughtful. "I guess I wanted to forge my own path within the family. Being the youngest, I wanted something different. I adore dogs, but deep down, I think I've always been more of a cat person with a side of dog lover."
"Are you still willing to assist Steven and me in creating the utopia we envisioned?" Aiden inquires.
"Next week is when you can return to lend a hand. We're still working on the blueprints, but we need you to do something for us first," Andy replies.
"What do you need us to do?" Aiden asks.
"Educate yourselves thoroughly about the special needs community. Understand how to interact with someone like Steven and what the right things to say are," Andy explains.
"Got it, we'll make sure to do that. We promise," Alana assures him.
"Could you do us a favor as well?" Aiden asks.
"What do you have in mind?" Andy responds.
"Help us get a chance to meet Big Time Rush, please," Alana requests.
"Alright, but you must behave yourselves. They have zero tolerance for bullies. That's why they steer clear of Hannah. Plus, there's this guy named Jett Stetson at Palm Woods who's always picking on them, especially Logan. He seems to enjoy making him his target," Andy shares.
"That's just terrible," Alana replies.
"It really is. We've watched New Town High. Isn't Jo Taylor Kendall's girlfriend?" Aiden adds.
"Exactly. Jett has a crush on Jo and believes he's more appealing than Kendall. He tries to flirt with her right in front of Kendall just to get under his skin, calling him Kendork all the while," Andy explains.
"That's such a cruel nickname for Kendall. Whenever I watch New Town High, I can practically feel his arrogance radiating from the screen," Alana comments.
"Here are some of the gummy snacks I brought into Steven's tent earlier. Remember how we didn't get a chance to eat them because of all the drama that's been happening? You're now on good terms with me and Steven. Please don't screw that up, Aiden and Alana," Andy declares, his tone a mix of hope and warning.
Hannah, eager for a taste, reaches for the bag, but Steven's fierce glare stops her in her tracks, his head shaking in disapproval.
"What did you stop me? I want a gummy snack too," she protests, her voice rising in frustration. "No!" Steven snaps, his anger palpable.
"Why not?!" Hannah retorts, irritation creeping into her tone. "Is that a serious question right now, Hannah? Do you not remember what you did to me right before Aiden and Alana arrived with their parents? You had to write that apology letter to me by hand! Of course, we're not going to share our snack with you! You don't deserve our kindness." Andy's voice is sharp, the tension thickening as he adds, "You aren't ever kind to me, Steven, so why should we waste good manners on you?"
The air is charged with unresolved issues, each word echoing the past grievances that linger between them.
Hannah's rage reaches its boiling point as she crumples up the meticulously crafted apology letter she spent hours composing and hurls it at Andy.
"Ouch! What's gotten into you?!" Andy retaliates, tossing the letter back at her. "You're completely off the rails!"
"That's enough, Hannah. To your room now, and I might just take away your whole bedroom, maybe just leave a mattress for you to sleep on. No door-slamming this time!" their father interjects sternly. "And no stomping around upstairs either."
Grumbling with frustration, Hannah begrudgingly obeys her father's orders.
"I think it's time we head out," Mr. Richard suggests. "Looks like there's a family matter to attend to."
"Agreed. Let's go, kids," Mrs. Martha adds.
"Bye, Andy and Steven," Aiden and Alana bid farewell as the family exits the house.
With an exasperated sigh, Andy declared, "What a whirlwind of an evening! I'm ready for it to wrap up. Come on, Stevie, let's get ourselves ready for bed." He and Steven made their way upstairs.
Meanwhile, in Apartment 2J at the Palm Woods, the boys and Katie were all set for bed but still buzzing with energy. Carlos was particularly hyper, much to the annoyance of Kendall, James, and Logan.
"Why does he always act like this when it's bedtime?" Logan groaned, trying to focus on a game of solitaire on his laptop.
"Maybe he snuck a sugary treat we didn't catch him with," Kendall suggested. "Could be those sour jawbreakers he loves to suck on for ages before finally chewing them."
"Looks like he's not going to settle down anytime soon, huh?" James remarked.
"Sadly, if this is just the start of his sugar high, we're doomed to be up late," Logan replied, feeling mentally exhausted from Carlos' relentless energy.
Just ten minutes later, Kendall emerged from the bathroom, completely unprepared for the ambush that awaited him.
"Wrestle time!" Carlos bellowed.
"No, Carlos! Ahh!" Kendall yelped as he was tackled to the ground.
Logan shook his head at the chaos unfolding. James and Katie were doubled over with laughter.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Logan opened it, grinning. "Hey, Camille. Isn't it past your curfew?"
"Yeah, but it's fine. I was out with my dad getting groceries and running some late errands. Anyway, I need to talk to you about something. Can I come in?" Camille replied, just as Kendall's voice rang out, yelling at Carlos to get off him.
He glanced back at the commotion, sighed, and then turned his attention back to Camille. "Um, maybe now isn't the best time, and it doesn't seem safe in there," Logan suggested. "Let's chat out here in the hallway."
Camille knocks on the door, her curiosity piqued. "What's happening in there?"
Logan swings the door shut behind him. "Carlos got his hands on some candy or some other sugary delight that James, Kendall, and I missed him sneaking, and now he's bouncing off the walls. In just the first ten minutes of this thirty-minute sugar spree, he's turned our apartment into a WWE arena, and poor Kendall is his unwitting victim." He chuckles. "I mean, target. And as you just witnessed, Kendall is not thrilled about it."
"Is Kendall going to be alright?" Camille asks, her brow furrowed with concern.
"He'll be fine," Logan replies, his voice devoid of any anxiety.
Camille, taken aback by his nonchalance, places her hands firmly on her hips. "Logan Mitchell!" she exclaims, using his full name, a sure sign of her irritation. "Why aren't you more worried about him?!"
"I do not have concerns regarding Kendall, as this is not the first instance in which Carlos has unexpectedly tackled him to the ground. This behavior has been occurring since our third-grade days. By now, Kendall should be accustomed to it. Typically, they conclude their wrestling matches with laughter once they tire of the activity." Logan explains.
On the other side of the door…
"Carlos, put me down! I am not a ragdoll!" Kendall exclaims.
"What is a ragdoll?" Carlos inquires, perplexed.
A series of objects crash to the floor.
"Oh no," James remarks.
"Not good," Katie adds.
With a sigh, Logan states, "I should return to the room before they cause serious harm to one another. I genuinely worry that it will happen eventually. What did you wish to discuss with me?"
"I nearly forgot amidst all the commotion in there," Camille replies with a laugh. "Anyway, what are your plans for Friday?"
"I am uncertain at this point. Why do you ask?" Logan responds.
"I was hoping to select the activity. Jo and I are searching for some enjoyable options together," Camille explains.
"Sounds great. I am confident you two will discover something entertaining and engaging," Logan replies. "I really should head back inside before Kendall and Carlos start to genuinely argue."
He exhales deeply upon hearing the discord, gracefully opening the door to the scene unfolding before him.
"It was your mistake!" Kendall asserts with fervor.
"No, it was yours! You were the one who caused it!" Carlos retorts passionately.
She winces at the exchange. "Wishing you the best with… well, all of that," Camille remarks, retreating to the sanctuary of her apartment.
"What is the source of your disagreement, dudes? And what was that cacophony I heard, as if objects were tumbling to the ground?" Logan inquires, his gaze shifting to the table, where he gasps in shock. "Where has BuddyBot vanished to?!"
Unbeknownst to Logan, James enters the room, oblivious to his presence. "It seems we might be able to reattach this piece with superglue," he suggests.
Kendall and Carlos exchange frantic gestures, urging him to silence himself, acutely aware of Logan's proximity.
"What on earth are you all up to?" Logan asks, his brow furrowed in confusion as he turns to James. "Why are you clutching BuddyBot? What part requires supergluing?"
"The sharp metal rod that detached from its head," James replies.
His gasps fill the air. "That is the neurotransmitter responsible for managing the algorithm of the augmented reality I had meticulously stored in a cache!" Logan exclaims.
Kendall, James, and Carlos stare at him, their expressions a mix of bewilderment and disbelief.
"Were you still communicating in English just now?" James queries, still struggling to grasp the situation.
Logan rolls his eyes, exuding irritation. "Naturally! It is not my fault that none of you can grasp my sophisticated vocabulary! I shall inquire once more! Kendall and Carlos, what was the nature of your dispute? What fell? To be more precise, were you arguing over who toppled BuddyBot and compromised his cognitive functions?!" Logan demands, seeking a straightforward answer.
Carlos recounts, "The wrestling match between Kendall and me spiraled a bit out of control, and we crashed into the table. But it was Kendall who sent BuddyBot tumbling off the edge, not me. His body hit the table first; I didn't touch it at all."
Kendall retorts, "You're just as guilty for trying to cover it up!"
James interjects, "You both are the ones who said he wouldn't notice!"
The three of them erupt into a heated debate over who is to blame.
"Enough! I need help to sort this out! Katie, can you come in here?" Logan calls out.
Katie descends from the swirly slide deck, ready to clarify.
"Here's the scoop while you were out in the hallway with Camille. It's true that Kendall and Carlos were completely out of control during their wrestling match. But let's be clear: it was Kendall who knocked BuddyBot off the table. What you didn't hear is that Carlos felt it was wrong to hide the truth from you. He thought if James could find a way to reattach the piece, you could fix it. But Kendall pressured Carlos into feeling guilty and convinced him to go along with the cover-up by threatening that my mom wouldn't buy corn dogs for the rest of the year," Katie explains.
"Wow, Kendall. That's really low," Logan remarks, his disappointment palpable. "I thought you were above resorting to threats. You're better than this. You're meant to be kind and compassionate. I feel like I don't even know you anymore. How could you act so heartlessly and with such precision?!"
"I panicked! I didn't mean it seriously. It was just an empty threat," Kendall replies defensively.
"Even so, you shouldn't have done it," Logan insists.
"Can't you just create a new part to replace the broken one?" James interjects.
"No, I can't just 'create a new part'!" Logan retorts, frustration evident in his voice.
"Why not?" James presses.
"Because I can't just stroll into any electronics store and find something like that. It was made with rare components that might not even be available anymore. The best I can do right now is repair the damaged piece. It's possible, but it's going to take time—time I could be spending on something more enjoyable!" Logan exclaims. "Honestly, none of you are my favorite people at the moment. I'm really let down! Carlos, I trusted you far more than Kendall and James combined, and now I feel like that trust has been broken."
"I didn't mean to let you down, Logan. I'm so sorry. I was just trying to do the right thing, I swear. I know how much BuddyBot means to you. I feel like I don't deserve your friendship anymore," Carlos says, his voice heavy with shame as he looks down, tears welling in his eyes.
"You did try to do the right thing, and I can't deny that, but I'm still upset with you. Please don't cry. I know you're sorry," Logan says softly, trying to soothe his distraught friend.
"It's getting late, time to hit the hay," Katie announces.
"Katie's right. I'm beat. And you guys," Logan pauses, shooting a pointed look at Kendall, James, and Carlos, "owe me big time for the damage to BuddyBot."
Kendall raises an eyebrow. "What do you have in mind, Logan?"
"You'll find out in the morning. Big favors, that's all I'll say," Logan responds before heading to bed with Kendall.
Following suit, Kendall, James, Carlos, and Katie retire to their own beds, wondering what the morning will bring.
