Other Fan Fiction ❯ Big Time Temptations ❯ Dating is like a cat with a ball of yarn ( Chapter 10 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

"Should we tell them that they never made it to their apartment," Says Camille while looking at the heap of boyband corpses on the filthy, flat-rug floor of the Palm Woods. "And that they're actually passed out in the Palm Woods' lobby?"

"They'll catch on." Reply the Jennifers in unison.

"Let's go through their bags." Says blonde Jennifer.

"Our perfumes must be in there!" Cheered the other Jennifers.

The three girls hurry over to the piles of luggage gathered on the floor beside the members of the band; having seen them off, they know which bags to go for since the familiar ones undoubtedly still have nothing inside but their clothing and toiletries. Watching this defiling moment, all the other residence of the Palm Woods that know them gave a shrug then rushed over to do the same, leaving a dust cloud and scatter of rubbish in the departure.

Chuckling at the sad state of their friends, Camille and Lucy take it upon themselves to help the exhausted band up from the floor and up to their apartment 2J for some much needed rest in their mini-break before they start the last leg of their World Wide tour, which is now through the states; giving them a gentle shove in the direction of the elevator, they giggle and shake their heads in sympathy for the four. Oh Fame you're both a love and a slideshow of pain and torture.

On the elevator Ding! the four- unsupervized, though somewhat awake now that they're moving- tromp through the hall of the second floor toward their apartment room. Passing the door Kendall, Carlos, and James are stopped by Logan latching onto James by the back of his shirt, and in his topple to the floor he stops Carlos and Kendall by knocking their exhausted bodies to the floor in an overlap.

The two groan in a desperate sort of sob due to just wanting to be able to sleep already- the overall jet-lagged really wiped them out when Gustavo told them it was break time and they'd be heading back to the Palm Woods. Their eyes have been closed since then and they were sort of dumped off by Freight Train after the ride back. But they're here now, apartment sweet apartment where they'll soon reunite with their beds.

The door is opened by Logan who staggers inside and directly toward the shared bedroom. It was a slow drag for the others, who crawled, and half slid into the apartment to their room and into bed. "Nappy Time" as Kendall once so eloquently put it in a very lucid dream he'd had about them all being monsters and witches.

"Was that Gustavo?" Mumbled Kendall in a slur.

Carlos only snored louder; James shifts beside Kendall on his bed. They crashed in pairs since getting onto the upper bunks was out of the question, and where Kendall and James are unintentionally spooning on the blond's bed, Carlos and Logan are sleeping with Logan laying long-ways and Carlos half on/half off the bed with his feet touching the floor; and Carlos is sorta pinned because Logan is laying on him.

And so they sleep.

A knock came at the door, banging louder and louder but when no one came the knocking ceased.

"Katie get the door." James slurred into the puffy pillow, he's now laying on his stomach after managing to contort himself out of Kendall's death grip.

Ten minutes pass before Kendall asks. "Did she get it?"

"Mmm." Logan replied through his sleep haze.

An hour went by then and, after rolling himself free from beneath Logan, a hungry Carlos listened to the call-of-the-wild begging for something to eat. Yawning, his aching muscles crack beneath his stretch. Rubbing bleary eyes, he smiles at the sight of Kendall and James looking very much like a cuddling couple. Its pretty funny, almost kind of cute. If they haven't moved by the time he finishes feeding his gut he has to get a picture to tease them with.

A groan from his stomach alerted him to his reason for waking up, and he traveled into the kitchen to make himself a couple of corn dogs. Meal in the oven, Carlos plants himself on the big orange couch to watch some cartoons; more lively now that he's got something to focus on, Carlos bust a gut laughing at a young boy in a white hat, and his dog battle a large pink griffin that just stuffed the dog with a trove of people that look like or possibly are made of candy.

"That's hilarious!" He chuckles.

Smelling his meal, Carlos leaves the couch to check on the delicious delight. Giving them a poke, he then shoves his hands into the hot oven pulling the dogs out by the stick. It didn't take long for the heat to do its things, and he gave a yelp before fumbling the burning dogs over to the counter top where they, miraculously, land on a yellow plate.

Washing cool water on his burning finger tips, he expells a relieved sigh of pleasure. Shaking his hands free, he then brushes them down his pants before grabbing the plate and taking it over to the couch.

Logan was the next to wake up. He travels to the bathroom, uses it, then exits to the kitchen where he turns off the oven for whomever has left it on. He doesn't know whom, since he walked out of the room with his sleepy eyes closed; by habit he knows the way to the bathroom, so walking there half-aware was not a problem. Fixing himself a bowl of cereal, Logan walks it to the empty living room to eat infront of the TV. Changing channels, he stops when reaching one of his favorite shows The Math Path hosted by Phoebe Nachee; though mauled and humiliated, he still respects her opinion and plans to make her his future wife- or at least a drive-by. Because unless she's a lesbian, a woman's got needs. He'd even take a brief lecture!

While eating his cereal and watching his program, he looked around the apartment through turning his head this way and that, as he wondered where Katie and Ms. Knight have gone? Probably out for the day. Checking his watch he sees that its around 1 in the afternoon. Doesn't help when they're coming back from Japan, and are now existing in yesterday... which puts them at... Friday. Awesome, fish sticks!

"Three hundred seventy two." He replied to Phoebe when she did one of her math jokes.

Laughing at the answer, he turns off the tv, then heads to the door to grab his sneakers and head out. Now is as good a time as any to go get tackled by Camille, and when she runs into his waiting arms, he'll tell her that he wants her back officially, that he misses her, and it was just one kiss and she told him about it almost immediately after, which meant she had no feelings for James and didn't intend to take it any further than that mistake. He's sure that after he explains all of that, and swiftly apologizes, she'll take him back.

Camille's the coolest girl he's ever met; she wouldn't have moved on and not've told him so. She's not like that. And after how cool she was when he wanted to go out with that new girl Peggy, he kind of thought that they were cheering each other on- sure, he completely didn't like that Steve guy, but if Camille was really that into him he would have... Nah, he'd never be happy for anyone looking to date Camille. Competition is competition.

Tugging the door closed after he exits, Logan staggers in step when a brown packet catches his eye. Stooping over, he swipes it up and tosses it into the apartment for later or one of the other guys can open it when they wake up.

James got up next. He walked into the bathroom to empty his bladder and, after glancing at a stack of towels through the mirror over the sink he decides to take a shower to wash off the trip. 13 hours on a plane can be brutal on a guy. Adjusting the water to the way he likes it, James grabbed a juice box to quickly suck down while he passed through the bedroom to get something to change into.

Noticing that Carlos and Logan are nowhere in sight, or within earshot- otherwise they would have heard him walking around and said something- he moves over to sleeping Kendall and leans over him. Lowering his lips until they touched the blond's, the prince waits a moment for the sleeping beauty to wake up.

"Are you kidding?" He says when Kendall doesn't so much as shift positions from laying on his back, one knee bent, and an arm slung in the warmth he left behind. "A prince like me has the power to wake up sleeping beauty, so why are you asleep?!" He shouts at him.

Nothing.

"Oh forget it." Using the bed to help him up, James returns to the bathroom to shower.

He can't help but smile, he's never had secret dibs before. He knows how it works, but he wondered IF it would work. It made sense in Japan when they were feeling so romantic and happy, but in the light of day something somewhere was gonna trip them up. Either from the media finding out that they have girlfriends which will have them stalking them all over the place to find out who that girl is or they'll be asked out so many times and turn down so many people that their immediate friends will get curious and snoop into what they're doing, which will have them stumbling onto the truth.

It shouldn't be a big deal. James thought as the wash rag scrubs under his armpit then down his side. But its a matter of everyone else getting hurt in the reveal as well as him and Kendall. Kendall. Ha! How could he not wake up?! That kiss was magic! He's just being stubborn, but let him be that way. He's missing out on one sexy shower. Rinsing himself down; he then grabs the bottle of shampoo sitting on one of the two soap dishes set into the shower wall, and scrubs some Estee Lauder brand shampoo into his hair. Finest products in the land.

"Aaaaahh!" He screamed. "The burn means its working!" He sobbed out due to the tingles working through his scalp.

He should really be sure to thank his mother for the package sent to him when they were in Paris, containing said shampoos and creams for his face. He's never strayed from his favorite CUDA MAN products, but he can't deny his mother's love or gifts... or could he? He groaned in sweet sweet pleasure when the water ran the shampoo from his aching head.

After the shower, he walks through the apartment drying his hair and looking around for something to do. Swirly slide? Nah, he's not really in a swirly kind of mood- although with his wet hair you'd think he's just received one.

"Aaah, toys." He grabs a chopper from the shelf, and a Bond action figure, and a chubby little legless wobbler- since he can't fall down.

He spent ten minutes thoroughly amused with his game of a gatling gun armed heliocopter that's, being fired by the chubby mailman who's aiming at his arch-nemesis, James Bond. After firing many nuts and skittles then eating the discharged ammo, James returned to the bedroom to retrieve his disgarded sneakers. He wasn't sure when he'd taken them off before he climbed into bed, but he was glad to have slept without them on. It's worse than uncomfortable.

Sneakers on; he cast Kendall a long look before trying, again, to wake the sleeping male through a kiss. Nothing.

"Oh whatever. I'm gonna go see the guys." Patting the coma patient on the stomach, he exits the room while whistling a tune.

Kendall hummed, then rolled over to where there used to be a soft cozy body to snuggle with. "Did anyone get the door?" His drowsy eyes open to discovering that he's alone. "Well I guess I'll get it then." He says to no one about the knocking on the door.

And it took a moment too, because he kind of took a minute microsleep just after declaring that he'll answer the door. Startled awake by the insistant beating, Kendall drags himself to the door and answers.

"Hmm?"

"Kendall, I" Lucy stammered when seeing the blond drape himself against the door to continue resting. "Are you even awake."

"I'm here, aren't I?"

"You might be." Though she turns her head to cast him a suspicious look. "If you're not up to hanging out, I can leave."

"No. No. Stay," He gestures with a sweep of his arm that she come inside. "HhhhI" It's yawned out. "was just about to wake up and yell at everybody, but they're all gone."

"Carlos is down by the pool talking to the Jennifers, I think Logan is at Camille's, and James is... well, I saw him leave the elevator aaand ran in the opposite direction."

"He's not still into you." He said abruptly without meaning to.

"Oh, he's not?" She asks with a bright, almost relieved smile. "That's great!" Make that completely relieved smile. "So, who's the lucky girl."

The sarcasm on the word 'lucky' wasn't missed, and- like it was produced from his back- Kendall drops a long wig on his head, and with proud shame he points a finger down at the top of his head.

Chuckling with a forward lean; her pretty dual colored hair fans forward like a curtain to hide her outburst of giggles. Straightening, she waves her hand in the air infront of her chest. "What? What are you doing?" She asks.

Kendall snatched the wig from his head, then quickly jerked Lucy into the apartment being sure to lock the door for good measure; then pushing the locker infront of it, also for good measure, Kendall then busied himself with shutting the blinds and checking the bathroom and swirly slide for intruders. They're good. Phew. Snatching Lucy's hand again, he tugs her along until they're secreted away in the confines of their bedroom closet.

When a flashlight illuminates the area, she gives an exagerated shrug. "Is there any reason I'm standing amongst your filthy clothes and things?"

"We need privacy for this." Hissed Kendall.

"What? Your weird affinity for crossdressing?"

"Almost. But what I'm about to tell you, I'm telling because you're a cool girl and... James and I could use the privacy." Putting his hands in prayer of the truth being with his next words he adds. "And what I'm about to tell you can't go beyond this room."

"Alright, I won't repeat it, but what is it?" Her whisper matches his.

Sucking in his courage then letting it out; he holds onto her shoulders, and in a very serious tone he says. "James and I are kiiiinda,"

"Kindaaaa what?"

"We're kinda seeing each other- romantically."

Confusion came first, then a smirk tugged the corner of her mouth. "Is that why you put on the wig?" She then laughed. "Kendall, please don't tell me you're crossdressing to date James?"

"Weeelll, yes and no."

"Weeell, which is it?" She immitates again.

"If James and I were to say wanna go out somewhere to eat, either he or I would have to go in female disguise."

"But where do I come in?"

"Lucy... dear friend, whom I love..." He nods with a smile. "I was wondering if you'd help us out by pretending to date me."

Dumbstruck, she says. "Huh?"

"If I wanted to take James out someplace and the guys, or my mom and Katie ask "with who?" I can just say with Lucy, that's who."

"So I'm your beard?"

Pointing at her like a salesman trying to be palsy, he replied. "That's a term that can also be used."

She took a moment to think about it. "Okay, let's say I say 'yes', what do I have to do?"

"You know, the usual cover stuff." He shrugs. "If James and I wanna go out, I'll say that I'm going somewhere with you. Then you make yourself unavailable to all incoming calls, and visitors until I give you the call that we're back."

"Oh. So until you give the word, I'm a recluse."

"Or you could say, no, and blackmail James and me because you know our secret." And with mock snide in his tone, he adds. "Which is a bad idea because we're friends, and we've done a lot of nice stuff for you."

"And James did a few bad things to me- like chase me around the Palm Woods asking for a date- well, Carlos was there too- but they pounded on my door round the clock when I first moved in, let's not forget about the styling comb he gave me that butchered my hair like this" And she points a finger at her chop-shop hair cut.

Kendall winced in sympathy for her.

"When I did finally go out with James he was so amped-up that he spilled everything on my lap when trying to pass the salt."

Optimistic, Kendall says. "I'm hearing a 'but'."

"But, you guys are my friends... and I love you too." She adds. "So... fine. I'll be your beard." Smiling, she rubs Kendall's arm. "And even though you wanna keep it a secret, I'm happy for you two." Lucy grins when Kendall smiles happily. "And myself, since he will no longer be chasing after me."

Kendall shot her with a "good point" finger-gun.

Right then the door is tugged open. Logan blinked in confusion, and when he opened his mouth to speak, he's left floundering for what to say when Kendall lays one on Lucy!

"What are you two doing?" He asks looking over his shoulder to be sure that no one else is going to walk in and see this specticle. "What about James?"

"Logan! Didn't see you there!" Kendall said lamely, and unintentionally loudly.

"You looked right at me for like ten seconds." Replied the male with certainty.

"Didn't see you." He lied. "And aren't you supposed to be at Camille's getting tackled and conversating... like you said you would?"

"I chickened out, and since when did this start? Does James know?"

"You can't tell James!" He warns. "He's kind of still into Lucy, but Lucy is kind of into me. And I realize that I have feelings for her too."

Dumbstruck after just receiving a Hollywood smooch on the chin, she grins and nods to agree with Kendall.

"This isn't gonna blow up in my face, so your secret's safe with me." He assures them. "But, to be fair, you're gonna have to tell James. Its part of the Friend Code."

"A friend can't move in on another friend's girl situation without envoking a punch to the face, without a former explanation and apology." Recites the sinking male. How could he not think that Logan would chicken out about telling Camille how he feels? And that they have a key to the apartment. "I know. And I plan on telling James the minute I see him." Gesturing to the girl he adds. "And I'll bring Lucy to-..."

The two blink at the vapor dust where Lucy was once standing.

"Man, she's good!" Kendall clenched his fist in the air.

"And you're really gonna tell James?"

"The minute I see him."

Kendall tore through the Palm Woods until he located James sitting by the famous Palm Woods pool; he wasn't exactly getting a tan since its December, but he's instead watching and laughing at his best friend, who's impressing- or bothering, its hard to tell- the Jennifers by pretending to fish. Even Kendall found it weird that the girls are watching and laughing along with the wild male, instead of sending him on his way as they normally would. He smiled down at James, who smiled up at him when seeing who was approaching and from there he drags him back to apartment 2J and into the bedroom closet.

"I inlisted Lucy as a beard."

"Ohhh, great job." He gives him a thumbs up.

"You have no idea what that means, do you?"

"I think I do."

"It means that when we wanna be alone, Lucy will cover for us by saying that's she's going out with me somewhere, when really I'll be seeing you."

"Ohhh, waaaait a minute. Why is Lucy your beard- I grow more facial hair than you can, and umm let's seeee" He grabs his chin in thought, letting it go when shouting. "She's my dream girl! Since when did you like her?"

"Since she's first moved in, we were all into her and- why does it matter?! We're dating each other, Lucy means nothing."

"Oh you're gonna take that back," Though Kendall was left to be unsure of what James meant. "And if she doesn't matter to you, than why can't she be my beard?"

"Because Logan already caught us in the closet when I was talking to her about us." Crossing his arms; the beam of light from the flashlight is now illuminating the door instead of the secreted-away two. "It would be awkward if suddenly you were going out with Lucy instead of me."

Taking a deep breath, James nods. "Fine. But no kissing." And he drove his point home by putting his finger in the blond's face.

Swiping the hand from his face, he says very snippingly. "What part of fake relationship didn't you understand?" Poking James on the chest and anywhere else, he says. "Me. Only kiss. You. Remember that."

"I will."

"Good. Now, let's watch a movie... because all this darkness is kinda putting me in the mood for one."

"I'll make the popcorn!"

"And I'll get the tablet."

Exiting the closet, they cross through the bedroom only to stutter to a stop to avoid crashing into Logan and Carlos, who are in the middle of happily chattering over a magazine.

"Look at this!" Carlos ran the magazine over to the two. "Japan's magazine company sent us a copy of the one we're featured in Japan Today." Pointing to a shot of them at Disney, he laughs. "I always look good on a roller coaster."

Kendall chuckles at that.

Carlos skimmed through the book a little more, cheering on the pictures and describing them to the other three members as if they weren't there. "And there's one of Kelly and me eating dango." Blinking, he furrowed his brows. "Uumm when were these taken? I don't remember doing that."

Looking at the photos Kendall and James feel a heart attack coming on, when they spot themselves exiting and entering the Christmas lights maze. Another picture of them eating curry together, and another of them playing at the arcade. Good thing they didn't get a snapshot of them inside the photobooth, just that they'd gone in. They had no idea anyone was following them taking pictures. And it would have been worse in L.A. they'll have to be more careful in the future.

"Those!" He snatches the magazine. "Are from when James and I went out to sightsee, but you guys were too tired to come along, so we went alone. No big deal." He laughed out. Turning his back to his fellow friends, the panicked male quickly skimmed the photos for anything incriminating before holding it out for Carlos to take.

"Oh. Well, next time try a little harder to wake us up." Taking back the magazine, Carlos looks at the remaining pictures as he speaks. "This lights show looks awesome."

"Kendall, where's your mom? I'm starving." Logan asks. "I haven't eaten since the flight."

"I don't know." Reaching into his pocket for his phone, he dials M. "Mom? Hey, we just got in. Where are you?"

The others gather around to hear the conversation.

"She says she and Katie are still back in Minnesota, and they'll be home tomorrow morning." Kendall passes the message on for his mother. "Aaand that the fish sticks and tots are in the freezer, along with some frozen pretzels. And she loves us."

"We love you too!" They call into the phone.

"Bye mom." Hanging up, he stuffs his phone back into his pocket.

"Movie night!" Calls Carlos with joyful cheer.

...

A platter of tots and fish sticks are sitting on the coffee table before the four friends, and they eat heftly from the pile; dipping without caution from a dish filled with tartar sauce. Luckily any sauce falling from their meal- or damp bits of food crumpling from the body of the item- fall onto the platter.

"Can you imagine if this place were haunted?" Carlos says when the ghost is creeping up behind the girl.

"There's no such thing as ghost, though." Replied James. "Plus, that's more like a vengeful spirit than a ghost since she's trapped in the well."

Shaking his head to disagree, Carlos adds. "But if there were, I wonder if it would try to contact us."

"Now it sounds like you're talking about aliens." Logan leans over for another tot.

"But seriously, a ghost could be standing right behind us" Carlos pushed the issue. "poised to hit us over the head, or possess us! It would only take one quick swing."

They all yelped when the door slammed in the movie, laughing afterwards at how stupid it was to be afraid.

Releasing a relieved sigh, Logan swats Carlos on the back of his head. "It was only the movie; and since we're short on killer video tapes, I think our chances of survival are pretty good right now, oh and did I mention... ghost aren't real!"

"Ghost are definitely real." Came a voice from behind them.

"Aaaah!" They screamed.

Leaping from the couch in fright, they scramble, stagger, and stumble blindly through the room for the light switch that's over at the door to see who's hiding in the darkness. The only light they have is from the dull glow of the television screen, and that isn't even much to go by since the scene that's playing is at night, making the apartment just as dark as it is in the movie.

"Turn on the switch!" Called a frightened James reaching the light switch third.

When the apartment lights up, they all look over to the coach shocked and disgusted... and a bit confused.

"Mr. Bitters?!"

Popping a grape into his mouth then a fish stick covered in tartar sauce drippings, the chubby building manager spared them a nonchalant glance then went back to watching the movie.

"How long have you been in here?" Asks Carlos.

"Why are you in here?" Corrects Logan as they approach the intruder.

"I always stay in this apartment when you dorks leave the Palm Woods." He eats another fish stick. "And I've been here looong before you walked in. I was asleep in your mother's room until I smelled dinner and heard you shrieking over The Ring."

"You can't stay here." Kendall informs very sternly.

Clearly offended and a little put out, Bitters pouts like a child. "But I don't have anything to do today!" Was his best line of complaint, right before he very kindly adds. "And I missed you."

"I think I just saw something scarier than the girl in the well." Whispered Carlos nervously eyeing Mr. Bitters' smile.

The others nod to the confession.

Rolling his eyes, Kendall plops back down on the couch. "Alright, you can stay!"

"What?!" Bark James and Logan.

"But only until the movie ends."

"Really? Again!" James was at the end of his patients now. "That is the fifteenth time he's gotten up since we let him stay; the movie's never gonna end..." And he calls into the direction of the closed bathroom door where Bitters is using the toilet. "If we keep pausing it!"

"James is right." Logan agreed. "Its late, we should just tell him to go."

"But how," Wonders Carlos. "you remember what happened ten minutes ago?"

They all recalled ten minutes ago when James blew up at Bitters, causing the chubby building manager to childishly moan and groan beyond the bedroom door of his mother's and Katie's shared bedroom until James apologized.

"I'll handle this," Kendall gets up from the couch and stalks over to the bathroom. "You know what? We're just gonna save the rest of the movie for tomorrow." He gave them a thumbs up when hearing the sink water run. "We have to get up early to do harmonies, so we should really be dropping off now."

The bathroom door opened then and Kendall, though the smell is powerful enough to take down a brontisaurus- population- only held his demeanor when the smell cinged his brows off. "Oh right, you do that little singing thing."

Kendall bit his tongue to the insult and the fact that Bitters just dried his hands on his shirt.

"I'll be going then, I really should get back to checking in those new residents." Halfway out of the apartment, he looks over his shoulder and adds. "Don't forget your rent, its due this monday."

"We won't." Kendall says through his teeth. "Goodbye." Closing the door, he lets out a sigh of relief. "Who's up for some table hockey?"

After twenty minutes of table hockey then, after Logan's insistance, fifteen minutes of group homework checking, Big Time Rush headed to bed.

Kendall grabbed his phone from the dresser separating their beds, checking for a call he sees that he's got a text message from James. Smiling, he rolls over onto his back to read the message.

James: How bad does it suck that I want you right now?

With a scoff, Kendall replies.

Kendall: Can't around those 2. Won't in mom and Katie's room. So it sucks pretty bad.

James: Sexting?

Kendall: Lol! No.

James: Please?

Kendall: No.

James: I'm taking my shirt off.

Rolling over onto his stomach Kendall laughed into his pillow, before texting a very sound reply of. No!

James: There must be something we can do then?

Kendall: Umm sleep?

James: I'm not tired.

Kendall: Fake it until you are.

James: It was easier to get in your pants on tour than it is at home.

Kendall: Hey at least we've got Lucy to help us out.

James: True. ...She has her own place, right?

Kendall: Right.

James: Right.

Kendall ? Oh, riiiiight :)

Kendall and James floored it from Rocque records after they worked on their harmonies for songs on the third album. There's talk that its going to be amazing, and from what they can tell this talk is all true. It won't be long before their American portion of the tour is over and they're off to this radio station and television station to promote the new album.

But that thought is put out of mind between the 2 who're flying through the city at top speed to get back to the Palm Woods.

"Looks like they're at 'bonding-time' again." Says Logan. "Not a bad idea, though, cause I really need to officialize things with Camille aand," Turning around he sees that the recording studio has emptied. "I'm talking to myself."

Removing the headphones from around his neck he sets them down on the lyrics sheet's stand then exits the room. Taking the phone from his pocket, he dials Camille's number. "Hey its me... do you wanna go out for lunch right now?" He listens to the actress then replies. "Anywhere is good, I'll pay. ...Then its a date. Bye." Hanging up, he smiles to himself about how well that went.

Meanwhile, over at the Palm Woods. Lucy pulls open the door to her apartment; she'd planned on going down to the pool, but was abruptly stopped by a brick wall made up of Kendall and James.

"Guys, what's up?" She looks between their grinning faces waiting for an answer. "Can I do something for you?" Still nothing. "You're freaking me out."

"You seem like you really need a good day out of this cramped, stuffy apartment." Kendall says finally.

Adding in, James says. "Did we mention cramped, and leaving."

Blinking in concern and confusion Lucy asks with a bit of annoyance. "What are you talking about?" It hasn't even really been a day to get used to the idea of being a beard and already the secret couple are cashing in on her deal with them. "And what are you talking about?" Now that she really heard what was being said. "I thought I was supposed to stay in my place and not answer calls and things?"

"That's part of our deal, yes," Kendall holds his hand out. "but James and I kinda wanna be alone, and with this money-"

"And a concert ticket." James holds out a red slip of paper to her along side of Kendall's money.

"You can take some time out to enjoy the fine city of L.A."

"Wow!" She takes the gifts with mock enthusiasm. "Seventeen dollars and... a concert ticket made of red construction paper to see" She reads the slip of paper. "A BAND. How did I get to be so lucky to have friends as generous as you?"

"We're great people! And can we pleeease use your apartment?"

Both of them put their hands up in prayer.

"Sure. I need to head out anyway," Stepping out of the apartment, she turns back to face them. "But if you're doing what I think you're doing, not in my bedroom... and not on my couch."

"So what does that leave us?" James inquires.

"Don't know. Get creative. Bye boys." Waving, she strolls down the hall to the elevator.

"What a great friend." Kendall nods to himself. "Now let's go."

...

"So are you having a good time?" Logan asks Camille.

Swallowing a fork full of risotto, Camille nods. "Yeah, I love this place." She shrugged. "And its nice to get to come here with someone other than my father."

"I'm glad."

"So what did you wanna talk to me about, and don't say "nothing" like yesterday." She looks into his eyes with mischief. "That was a pretty long hold, even for one of my tackles." She winked at him.

"I just wanted... I mean..." He laughed nervously. "Bleep blop bloop... Ahaha."

Chuckling, she takes his hand in one, and caresses the side of his face. "What am I gonna do with you? You keep turning into a space invader everytime you wanna ask me out."

Brows raised, he then lowers his eyes in shame. "So you know?"

"Logan, of course I know... I've spent my entire life being an actress, and you are terrible at hiding your feelings."

Making a face in wonder of what that meant, he shakes it off to ask. "So... what do you say? Take me back?"

"You're still paying for lunch, right?"

"Yeah."

"Then welcome back." She smiles at him warmly.

Humbley, Logan says. "Thank you." Leaning into Camille, he shares a tender kiss with her and when he sits himself back down, he runs the back of his hand over his forehead. "Phew!"

Laughing, Camille shakes her head thinking about how cute he is.

...

Exiting the apartment, the secret couple stand at the door engaged in shaking hands with each other.

"Good job in there." Kendall says.

"Thanks. I didn't realize how easy it is to do that standing."

"Right?"

James nods. Releasing Kendall's hand the two stand in momentary awkwardness of how to separate now that they don't have the luxury of being on tour with many distractions awaiting them.

"So I'm just gonna..." Kendall points his thumb over his shoulder.

"Me too. I'll be at the pool."

"And I'll be in the lobby waiting for mom and Katie."

"Great! See you later then."

"Yeah." Rubbing his hands together, he gives James a parting kiss when the pretty boy puts his hand on his shoulder and leans in. "Alright, so see ya."

"Yup."

Separating, they get to the end of the hall and whip out their cell phones. Leaving text for each other their phones are stuffed back into their pocket and they continue to their desired location.

"I can't believe you went to the opera in Paris." Says blonde Jennifer.

"And ate at the Eiffel Tower restaurant." Add the other Jennifers.

"Yeah it was all really cool." He changes the photo. "And this is us in the London Tunnel, they've got like cool horror attractions and everything."

James had to blink hard to make sure that, once again, he isn't hallucinating. The Jennifers are hanging out with Carlos. It may only be because they think he's a big-shot now that he's been around some parts of the world, or maybe they've finally come to the fact that they're somewhat interested in him. Whatever the phenomina, its strange. He just hopes that Carlos doesn't blow it. He may be fun for them, but for others... he's just plain weird.

Having a seat at a table rather than by the pool where he'd normally be seen on bright summer days, James sits in silence while planning out the perfect date night with Kendall. Its gotta be romantic, sweep you off your feet good. And its gonna contain a candlelit dinner at a table. But where to do it? Out here by the pool? If its late at night, no one will be looking out their windows, so they won't see them. Or maybe he can set up a nice table and everything in Lucy's apartment? Naah, she probably wants to do something weird like 'sleep' or whatever it is girls do at night. Romantic dinner? Already got that under control.

'And if Kendall can tone down the ten-rated hotness, I can keep from pouncing on him and show him that I'm a real boyfriend.' Thinks the pretty boy with a selfsatisfied smile.

But on the other side of the Palm Woods, Kendall is coming up with a plan practically identical to his secret lover's.

'I'll put together a manly romantic picnic in the park with music, a blanket, candle light- via lightbulb- and some of the best grub his sugar-bear can make.'

"Hey guys!" He waves to the cab pulling in.

"Its Kendall!" Katie calls out the window.

"Hey baby sister." Walking over to the slowing vehicle, he pulls open the door accepting the hug from his sibling with open arms. "Hey Mom," Releasing his sister, he replaces her with his Mother. "How was Minnesota?"

"Oh you know, playing catch up with the other moms, and getting a few extra, after Christmas presents- spoiler alert- we got you all socks and underwear." Nodding to the trunk, she grabs hers and Katie's bag from the backseat while Kendall empties the trunk.

"Just what I've always wanted, especially now that I've worn through the current pair I'm wearing." He teased.

"How was tour, I wanna hear about everything." Jennifer says while walking through the lobby.

"I wanna see all the cool stuff you're gonna autograph for me to sell- I mean," She back tracks when her mother shoots her a repremanding look. "presents to cherish forever and ever."

Laughing, Kendall comments. "I did buy you some pretty cool stuff, and got perfume and some earrings for mom."

"Thanks honey."

"Making you proud, its what I do."

"Which is why you have to call her everytime you do something wrong?"

The two mockingly laugh at each other, laughing sincerly afterwards. You never realize just how much you can miss your family until you're back around them.

"Ooh, somebody's all smiley." Teases Katie when seeing the spaced out look on Logan's happy face.

They're sitting around the table having a dinner of chinese food; Jennifer just got back from a very long flight and she is not about to cook dinner.

"That is because Camille accepted me back as her boyfriend."

"Cool." She nods her approval. "...Wouldn't it make more sense to say that you've taken Camille back? You broke up with her, remember?"

"True. But my ongoing doubts about being with her, and date sabotaging, has earned her the right to be the one taking me back."

"But-"

"Its Love-Science!" He put up a declarative finger.

Putting up her hands in defense, and retreat, she goes back to eating her meal.

"Kendall, James... are you guys not hungry? You love chinese food." Ms. Knight asks when realizing that she's going in for seconds, and two teenaged boys are not.

"I had a big lunch." Kendall replied rubbing his gut.

Doing the same, James replies. "Same here. I must have eaten for eight."

Scrunching his face in thought, Carlos shakes his head. "But you guys had ketchup and relish packets... I saw you."

Lamely, Kendall replies. "There were a lot of packets."

James helped with an added shrug.

Suspicious of that, though not interested enough to look into it any further, Ms. Knight smiles and says. "Okay."

Relieved that they won't be questioned while scooping portions of food for reheats tomorrow, the two get through dinner without further question. Going separate ways after dinner is through and cleaned up, Kendall and James sneak around the Palm Woods to get ready for a nice, at home, date.

Unfortunately... both of them were so fired up to set up their little love nest that they never bothered to check their text messages, and both end up waiting eagerly in their created set-up for the other to show up.

Sighing in agitation when he realizes that this is the fourth time he's checked his watch, Kendall pulls out his phone and sends a text to James. "Where R U? Send." Seeing an incoming message, he ignores the one above it- assuming its from their overnight flirting, and believing that its an unopened emoticon sent to something he'd said. "Where am I?" He reads. Rolling his eyes, he texts back. "You know where I am. Stop messing around and get to the park."

Kendall waited for the reply, but when it came it wasn't what he's expected. "I'm a little held up, can you come help me? I'm by the pool." Groaning in agitation, he texts him back. "I'm doing something too, you come help me."

After some thought, he sighs only becoming more annoyed with the situation since James isn't coming to him as he wants. He may as well help him out and just walk back with him. He just hopes the food doesn't get cold. He looks down at the plate covers concealing some re-heated cream of chicken vegetable stew he ordered while sucking down his second packet of relish. He had no worry of James and Carlos overhearing him because they were in the middle of playing Star Fox on the Wii. Nothing like some hot stew on a cool night.

He'd better hurry though or the food really will get cold.

...

James; now sure that Kendall isn't coming, regrettably leaves his romantic candlelit table housing sparkling cider, and some well cooked meatball subs in order to help Kendall with his thing so that they can get to his dinner, and get down to the romancing!

Stalking across the lawn he doesn't even see Kendall pass by him, his mind is so focused on the goal of reaching the blond. Kendall hadn't seen him either since he's just as focused on helping James.

"Alright, I'm here.. what do you need help with?" He looks around the area. "James?!" He calls to the empty pool and lounge area. "Guess he helped himself." Immitating how a horse blows its lips out in order to dispell his rising agitation over the situation, Kendall heads back across the Palm Woods again. James is doing the same thing, believing that the little picnic he'd stumbled upon was from some other couple, and that Kendall was off helping himself.

On his way back he, again, passed by Kendall but stopped this time.

"Where were you?" Asks the blond.

"Looking for you, I have this dinner set up and we were supposed to eat together aaaand- WHERE WERE YOU?!"

"Looking for you! I made us a really manly romantic picnic and now its getting ruined, because you've got me running back and forth looking for you."

"Well, I made us this romantic latenight table setting, and my dinner is meatball subs; and its better than yours... so we'll go with mine." Says James smugly.

"Well mine is a stew, which is perfect for nights like this- and its covered which means that its still hot."

"Yeah, in L.A. heat!" Declared James. "Meatball subs can start off hot and get room temp and still taste really good- whereas your stew needs to be hot to be enjoyed."

"So. And if we eat it now, it will be hot."

"No, mine is better!"

"Mine!"

Stepping into Kendall's face, James barks. "Mine!"

Not backing down, Kendall sneers. "Mine."

So they met in the middle and had smoothies with a carton of reheated chinese food in the Palm Woods stairwell. Not the most romantic setting in the world, but it suited their odd romance nicely.

...

author's notes: Sorry this is so short but the next one will be longer and possibly the last chapter, I'm both excited and sad. One I can do another BTR story, I put it in my profile page. And two I've always been told I have bad endings, so nerves are up. Fingers crossed, I do a good job.

Thanks for reading and reviewing, I love seeing old readers and new ones hey Annabellex2! I've checked my story stats this one is fourth in reviews woo! But first in reads woo hoo! Ahaha thank you!