Fic: When the Music Stops, Part 2/?
Title: When the Music Stops
Genre: Big Time Rush - Drama / Romance
Pairings: Logan/Kendall
Details: Slash, AU
Rating: MA/NC17
Warnings: Adult situations (i.e. smut) at some point, mild angst, swearing
Status: WIP
Word Count: ~3700
Summary: An accident keeps Logan and his parents from moving to Minnesota. When Kendall and Logan meet years later, Kendall hears clear as a bell. Logan doesn't. "Sitting on a speaker instead of a drummer's throne, Logan turns up the bass, pounding out any bitterness he had let fester in his heart. He won't leave himself to rot, not anymore."
Masterlist
Kendall is standing on the sofa by the big picture window, the curtains cracked as he peeks outside. The vacant house across the street has cars parked in front of it, the door open in a lazy yawn. His eyebrows pull together as he watches a lady come outside to the For Sale sign and struggle with it, trying to jerk it from the ground.
"Kendall Knight, what have I told you about shoes on the couch?" Mrs. Knight shouts when she sees Kendall getting mud on her cushions. He scrambles to get down, turning to his mom and giving her a sheepish grin.
"Sorry," he mumbles. "But I think someone bought the house across the street!"
Mrs. Knight smiles at him, thinking she should berate him more for mucking up the sofa, but eventually decides to let it go due to the excitement on her son's face. "Yes, I've heard."
Kendall continues to look at her expectantly, trying not to be too hopeful about the new neighbors. "Well?" he urges, throwing his hands up. "Spill what you know."
She shakes her head in fond exasperation. An eight-year-old son is definitely a trial on her good nature, especially when that son has two equally rambunctious friends.
"It seems the local hospital is getting a new chief-of-staff, and he's moving in there," she gestures across the street, "with his wife and eight-year-old. They're from Texas."
Kendall waits and watches his mom, wondering if she's going to elaborate any more. He loves his best friends, James and Carlos, but they need an even number. Breaking up into teams is horribly difficult with the three of them, and Kendall needs someone to be just his. James and Carlos are always doing things, only the two of them, and Kendall hates to admit how much that irks him. He doesn't want to be whiny or let anyone know how much he needs or show how maybe he is the tiniest bit codependent. That would never do, not since he's the man of the house now.
"Boy or girl?" Kendall prods after several beats of silence.
"From what I hear, a little boy," she answers.
Kendall pumps his fist in the air, does a spinning jump. "He's going to be all mine!" Kendall exclaims, laughing. "Do you think he'll have a funny accent? I've always wanted a best friend with a funny accent."
Before Mrs. Knight can answer, Kendall is rattling off the things he's going to do with his new friend: sleepovers, movies, listening to happy music.
-K-
The phones rings seven times, but Kendall isn't going to answer it.
"Kendall, your dad's on the phone," Mrs. Knight shouts. The sound is muffled, quiet through Kendall's closed door.
"I don't want to talk to him," Kendall says, the volume so low Mrs. Knight has no chance of hearing. A few more moments pass before there's a knock on his door and it opens.
"Dad is on the phone," Mrs. Knight repeats, walking inside and trying to hand the phone to Kendall. Kendall merely shakes his head, worms under the covers on his bed. She sighs, mumbling something into the phone before the beep sounds out indicating the phone is off now.
"Kendall - "
"Why'd you keep his name, Mom?" he asks suddenly, pulling the covers down so he can look at his mother fully.
"I wanted to have the same last name as my kids. I didn't want there to be any confusion," she answers, quickly, as though the answer has always been prepared.
"But he left us." Kendall glances out the window, the curtains pulled back, the house across the street still empty even after a whole year of its supposed selling. He stares at the colors on the For Sale sign until they blur together.
Mrs. Knight sits on the bed. "Sweetie, he left me, not you and Katie." She reaches out, taking her son's cheek in her palm before running fingers through his hair.
"Could've fooled me," Kendall replies, pulling away from his mother and burrowing back under the covers.
Most of the time, Kendall is okay. He's strong and supportive and brave. Then there are days like today, where he wants to mope and feel sorry for himself. Everyone has those days, Kendall thinks, where every breath hurts.
"Why don't you call up James or Carlos to come visit? Hmm?" The bed shifts as she stands. "That would help cheer you up, right?"
They probably would, but Kendall being in the mood he is in, he just looks out the window and thinks, I bet my best friend from across the street would've been over already. I bet I wouldn't even feel this way.
Maybe Kendall is a little bitter over his phantom best friend. As the years go by, though, he becomes just another thing Kendall has lost.
-K-
Kendall Knight has always thought himself a protector of sorts. Not so much that his friends need protecting, but more so that he looks out for them, wants them to be happy.
Carlos started wearing his helmet nearly constantly after all of Kendall's pushing that he should. James passes his classes because Kendall helps him. Not like Kendall doesn't need a helmet himself. Not that he's an excellent student. He's just Kendall and he finds a way to make sure his buds are taken care of. Always.
So when they hear about the infamous Gustavo Rocque holding auditions close by, Kendall knows he has to help James. It's been his dream for as long as Kendall can remember - he's pretty sure James danced up to meet him for the first time and sang out the word Hello - and Kendall's purpose has always been to see his friends happy. Besides, James is ridiculously good looking - complete popstar material.
Sometimes he wishes his friends needed him a little more, but that's neither here nor there.
Once the announcement is made on TV, all three boys call their parents looking for a ride, but get no answers. Kendall curses himself repeatedly, wondering why he didn't study just a little harder to get his learner's permit, because if he had they could totally borrow a car. They all sit, staring at their phones and squirming in their seats on Kendall's couch, urging them to ring.
"Wait!" Kendall exclaims, his train of thought leading him to a solution. "Let's ask Mrs. Magicowski to drive us!"
"But Mrs. Magicowski drives so slow!" James leaps from the sofa, and he really must be freaking out because he starts pulling on his perfectly coifed, brown hair. "She hit me on my bike once and I didn't even feel it."
Carlos stands beside James, throws on his hockey helmet. "Let's just run there. Let's go, guys!"
"Carlos, there's no way we can make it there in time. We've got less than half an hour and the theater is miles from here. Come on, it's our only shot."
The boys finally agree, all three of them scrambling next door and scaring Mrs. Magicowski with their incessant knocking. It takes a fair amount of bribery, but she agrees.
And James was right, Mrs. Magicowski drives at a snail's pace, slow as Christmas and a zillion other analogies Kendall has plenty of time to come up with on the drive. James is fretting and mumbling and once they are within sight of the theater, he throws open the car door and runs.
"Will you wait here for us?" Kendall asks, ensuring they have a way home while Carlos runs after James.
"I'll make my way in there, boy. Don't want to miss out on seeing you kids make fools out of yourselves." Mrs. Magicowski laughs, but not in a mocking way. She lightly pats Kendall's cheek. "Go on."
"Thank you, ma'am," Kendall says, throwing open the door to follow his friends.
He hears raised voices the moment he walks in. He glances at his watch and realizes they are five minutes past the open audition time. James is arguing with a dark-haired lady holding a clipboard.
"But there's still time! He's here, I'm here and he needs me!" James shouts, pointing to his wrist even though there is no watch there.
The lady looks flustered, like she wants to agree with him, but she only says, "Mr. Rocque says he's done."
"Oh no, he's not," Kendall says, approaching his friends and the woman with her clipboard. "He's got the few minutes it'll take to see James."
"Yeah!" Carlos agrees, stretching up to his full height - not so impressive - and nodding. "He's got the time."
"Look, I'm sorry. But when Gustavo says he's done, it's really not best to push him." She lowers her voice and leans in toward the boys. "And when he's like this, he wouldn't be impressed with anyone, let alone whatever kind of weird, plaid, hockey band you guys are."
"We're not a band," Kendall is quick to correct, furrowing his brows. "We only want James to audition." James wiggles his fingers and waves.
"You are really cute." She rubs a hand over her face. "Wait here," she says.
"Tell him I'm amazing," James chimes. He lowers his voice, "Because I'm amazing."
She rolls her eyes as she walks away, making a dismissive gesture with her hands, disappearing behind the double doors leading into the theater. About that time, Mrs. Magicowski makes her way inside and comes to stand next to the boys.
"Not going so well?" she asks, and the guys shrug their shoulders. "Surprise, surprise."
By the time the dark-haired woman emerges from the theater, it's fifteen minutes past the deadline. "Sorry, guys, Gustavo says auditions are over."
"Huh uh," Kendall says, striding quickly toward the doors, "he can't do this."
A look of fear passes over the dark-haired lady's face. "Um, security? Could you, uh, stop Mr. Tall, Blond and Eyebrows here?" The huge guys flanking the doors make a move to grab Kendall, but he easily out maneuvers them and bolts into the theater. Hockey moves come in handy in real-life situations and Kendall always knew it.
"I told you no," Gustavo says, his head resting on a table in front of the stage. He looks up when no one answers him and sees Kendall approaching him quickly. "Who are you and what are you wearing?"
"Just who do you think you are?"
"I'm Gustavo Rocque and I'm a genius! Who are you?"
"A genius, huh?" Kendall looks over his shoulder, notices his friends and Mrs. Magicowski in a scuffle with the security guys. He returns his gaze to Gustavo, smirks. "You haven't had a hit in over a decade."
"That's not true! Boyquake had a hit in - "
"Oh, that song?" Kendall is so angry he's seeing red. This washed up, gargantuan, pompous dude thinks he's too good to let his best friend audition? He starts to sing Gustavo's crappy song, moving his feet and recreating the same dance moves from every band this guy has produced since the early '90s, each thrust of his hips and high-pitched note full of mockery. Kendall gets in Gustavo's face and spits the lyrics, bumping into Gustavo's fleshy hip with his firm one. Gustavo stumbles back, a look of pure shock on his face.
"Security!" he shouts, just as Carlos and James break free of the two huge guards. There's more scuffling when security enters the theater, but even when he's tackled and subdued, Kendall is still singing in a fury.
"Here's a song for you!" Kendall rallies and sings, "Oh, you're such a turd, Oh yeah, a giant turd, and you look like a turd, and you smell like a turd."
Not the most mature thing ever, but Kendall is pissed. He will fuck up anybody who messes with his friends, even if it's just by messing with someone's head. And judging by the look on Gustavo's face as Kendall is dragged away, the big guy has definitely been messed with.
-K-
They're all nursing their wounds on the couch as Mrs. Knight gives them a stern talking to. Thankfully, Mrs. Magicowski put in a few words for them (she couldn't really speak ill of them, considering she was in the middle of the fray) so Mrs. Knight isn't as harsh as she could be. Kendall is pretty sure she goes easy on them because of James' dejected expression as well. He's clearly heartbroken, which only keeps Kendall's anger fueled.
"I can't believe that guy!" Kendall says, throwing his hands in the air. "He wouldn't even listen. Of course, James has more than what it takes to be famous. He's got more talent in his pinky than that asshole has in his whole stupid body.
"We'll just have to get James famous another way," Carlos says, flashing a smile at James. "Then one day he'll be kicking himself for how dumb he was."
"Yeah, about that, what that lady said about us being a ba - "
James is interrupted by a knock on the door, and Kendall is still fuming as he goes to answer it.
"What?" he booms, completely un-Kendall-like. His face flushes red, his anger doubling when he registers the duo at his door.
"What the h -, " he stops, remembering there is a lady present, and he's nothing if not a gentleman, dammit. "What are you doing at my house?"
The big man, Gustavo, gives him a long look. "I want to make you an offer you can't possibly refuse."
-K-
"I refuse," Kendall says, finishing out the nod Gustavo was perceiving as positive. There's no sound but pure shock in the room. Despite what some might think, shock has a clear sound Kendall can imagine likens to that of electricity humming through wires, and right now, there's an electrical fire in Gustavo's head. Kendall can see the smoke coming from the big guy's ears.
The almost-silence is broken by Gustavo smashing his tea cup. The dark-haired woman - Kelly, they've learned - places a calming hand on Gustavo's arm. Mrs. Knight stares blankly at the pieces of one of her best tea cups.
"Kendall," Kelly starts, "Gustavo wants to make you famous. This isn't something we offer every day. Are you certain?"
"I just wanna play hockey," Kendall replies, "and hang out with my buds. And why should I do anything with him anyway? He's obviously rude and destructive and has some serious anger issues."
"Kendall," James whispers. Kendall looks toward him and leans in so James can speak to him quietly. There's this look of desperation on James' face, but there's no way in hell Kendall is going to let James live vicariously through him. "Why aren't you agreeing to this? Say yes."
"No," Kendall replies with equal fervor. He's always done things on his own terms, his own rules since his dad left, and he's not about to let some jerk start dictating his life now.
Gustavo's head is redder than a firecracker and twice as hot. He gets up and walks as quickly as he can, heading outdoors to cool off.
"Here's my card," Kelly says, leaving the card and some money on the table. Mrs. Knight looks at the wad of bills incredulously.
"For the damage. Kendall, we'll be here until tomorrow afternoon. Call me if you change your mind, okay? And think about this long and hard." Kelly winces when there is more smashing heard from outside. She throws down a few more bills.
"I won't be changing my mind, but thank you for the lovely experience of meeting you fine people," he says, sarcasm evident.
"Kendall," his mother warns.
"What?"
Kelly sighs. "Just...think about it."
-K-
"I hate you," James says, brutally pushing a shopping cart towards the direction of the return. Kendall is taking an impromptu break from the grocery store as Carlos and James make a rather destructive game of helping him with the job of gathering carts from the parking lot. The cart misses the return and bumps into a car.
"James," Kendall starts, "that's your dream, not mine. I just want to play hockey."
"But the girls!" Carlos whines. Kendall rolls his eyes. Girls are nice enough, they're soft and smell nice, but Kendall is more interested in sweaty guys in hockey jerseys with big sticks. He snorts out loud at his thought process and resists the urge to say That's what she said.
"Would you guys really move to L.A. with that asshole and let him run stuff for you?"
"Yes," James replies, "in a heartbeat."
"But he wouldn't give you the time of day!"
"So? He gave it to you. Call him. Don't be an idiot."
"What's the point of being famous if I don't have you guys?" Kendall adds.
"Okay," Carlos interjects, taking a firm grip on a shopping cart, "if this is a hole in one, you call that guy." Without waiting for an answer, Carlos begins pushing the cart, jumps in and promptly gets hit by a slow moving car. Thankfully, he's wearing a helmet.
"You should still call him," James says, putting a hand on Kendall's shoulder and squeezing. He's so earnest, Kendall only nods, but he has a new idea formulating that just might work.
-K-
When the stretch limo pulls up and Gustavo gets out, Kendall crosses his arms over his chest, a smug expression on his face.
He's got nothing to lose.
"So?" Gustavo prompts.
"Okay," Kendall starts, "I'll go to L.A. with you and record some demos." Gustavo and Kelly look relieved and Kendall can already see them starting to celebrate. He wonders, for the first time, what the hell they see in him. Before it was all some kind of joke and he hadn't really thought twice about it, but seeing the relief on these two strangers' faces he can't help but question their judgment. It's a little nice to have some leverage though.
"But!" Kendall adds, jabbing a finger in the air, "I want you to take my buds here, too, and make us a singing group."
"Ha! I don't even know if these two idiots can sing!" Gustavo replies, full out laughing in Kendall's face, but he keeps his expression neutral.
"But weren't you quoted saying that you could make a dog a popstar?" Kendall counters.
"I'm not looking for dogs!" Gustavo shouts. "I'm looking for someone amazing."
"I'm amazing," James interjects.
"You've been to dozens of cities and I'm the best you could find? I'd say you need us." Kendall gets a little closer to Gustavo. "Don't you have a deadline or something?"
Gustavo glares at him, and there's some emotion Kendall can't decipher. He decides it might be fear, maybe indecision. "The boy band is dead. Besides, three guys aren't enough for a boy band."
"What about LFO?" Carlos throws in.
"Who even remembers LFO besides their moms?" Gustavo says.
"What about Hanson?" Kendall asks. "Or The Jonas Brothers?"
"Those guys play instruments. Do you dogs play instruments?"
"I play the guitar," Kendall replies. "Carlos has messed around on the bass."
"There's a little thing calls percussion in the music industry. That might be important!"
"James could learn - " Kendall begins.
"Just shut up." Gustavo takes off his colored glasses, pinches the bridge of his nose between his eyes. "I'm done here. I'm not arguing this anymore. See you guys never." He turns around abruptly, leaving Kendall open-mouthed, a retort burning his tongue.
Kelly gives them all a long, regretful look. "Sorry, guys," she says, and Kendall thinks she really means it.
The three boys are silent as the limo pulls away. Kendall looks to this empty spot between him and where James and Carlos are huddled close to one another. He's always known there was that empty spot and Gustavo only drove the fact home. He pushes his self-pitying feelings aside.
"Oh, well." Kendall shrugs and starts to go back inside the store. James grabs his arm before he can get too far.
"Wait, Kendall." Their eyes meet and there's that desperation on James' face making Kendall feel like a failure. He fucking hates feeling like a failure. "We could still be a band."
Kendall laughs. It fades quickly when James's expression doesn't change. "What? You gonna learn to play drums?"
James shakes his head, a half-smile curling the corner of his mouth. "No, I'm too pretty to sit in the back. But I was trying to tell you guys last night, when Kelly thought we were a band it gave me an idea." His face shifts into a full blown grin, because James gets really proud when he comes up with an idea.
"Go on."
"I want us all to be famous together, so let's do it," James answers.
"That's a great idea James!" Carlos agrees. "Think of all the girls." He immediately gets a dreamy expression as he tilts his helmet clad head back to gaze at the sky.
"James, do you have any idea how hard it is in the music business? The rejection we've experienced in the last twenty-four hours is nothing compared to - "
"I know," James interrupts, "but if I'm with you guys, I can handle anything." James affectionately slaps Carlos on the back of his head. "And what's the point of being famous if I don't have you guys?" His words echo Kendall's from not even an hour ago.
Kendall loves his friends, and he would do anything for them. Music is definitely a huge part of who he is, but it's never been so clear to him as it has in the last day. Yes, he sings in the shower, getting ready for school, to Katie when she can't sleep. He's got a music player bursting with melodies he constantly carries, his own soundtrack playing at almost all hours. He'd never entertained the idea of doing it for a living, the thrill of the ice seeming much more attainable.
But, to quote The Beach Boys, wouldn't it be nice? It'll be a challenge, but Kendall Knight is always ready for those.
"Okay." Kendall nods. "Any ideas for a drummer?"
"My cousin George plays the drums in the school marching band!" Carlos says. "The marching band is awesome."
James' smile is blinding. Kendall can't help but return it.
"We need to start practicing," Kendall says. He turns to go back to work, thinking, just maybe, this could be a good thing.
Part Three
Genre: Big Time Rush - Drama / Romance
Pairings: Logan/Kendall
Details: Slash, AU
Rating: MA/NC17
Warnings: Adult situations (i.e. smut) at some point, mild angst, swearing
Status: WIP
Word Count: ~3700
Summary: An accident keeps Logan and his parents from moving to Minnesota. When Kendall and Logan meet years later, Kendall hears clear as a bell. Logan doesn't. "Sitting on a speaker instead of a drummer's throne, Logan turns up the bass, pounding out any bitterness he had let fester in his heart. He won't leave himself to rot, not anymore."
Masterlist
Kendall is standing on the sofa by the big picture window, the curtains cracked as he peeks outside. The vacant house across the street has cars parked in front of it, the door open in a lazy yawn. His eyebrows pull together as he watches a lady come outside to the For Sale sign and struggle with it, trying to jerk it from the ground.
"Kendall Knight, what have I told you about shoes on the couch?" Mrs. Knight shouts when she sees Kendall getting mud on her cushions. He scrambles to get down, turning to his mom and giving her a sheepish grin.
"Sorry," he mumbles. "But I think someone bought the house across the street!"
Mrs. Knight smiles at him, thinking she should berate him more for mucking up the sofa, but eventually decides to let it go due to the excitement on her son's face. "Yes, I've heard."
Kendall continues to look at her expectantly, trying not to be too hopeful about the new neighbors. "Well?" he urges, throwing his hands up. "Spill what you know."
She shakes her head in fond exasperation. An eight-year-old son is definitely a trial on her good nature, especially when that son has two equally rambunctious friends.
"It seems the local hospital is getting a new chief-of-staff, and he's moving in there," she gestures across the street, "with his wife and eight-year-old. They're from Texas."
Kendall waits and watches his mom, wondering if she's going to elaborate any more. He loves his best friends, James and Carlos, but they need an even number. Breaking up into teams is horribly difficult with the three of them, and Kendall needs someone to be just his. James and Carlos are always doing things, only the two of them, and Kendall hates to admit how much that irks him. He doesn't want to be whiny or let anyone know how much he needs or show how maybe he is the tiniest bit codependent. That would never do, not since he's the man of the house now.
"Boy or girl?" Kendall prods after several beats of silence.
"From what I hear, a little boy," she answers.
Kendall pumps his fist in the air, does a spinning jump. "He's going to be all mine!" Kendall exclaims, laughing. "Do you think he'll have a funny accent? I've always wanted a best friend with a funny accent."
Before Mrs. Knight can answer, Kendall is rattling off the things he's going to do with his new friend: sleepovers, movies, listening to happy music.
-K-
The phones rings seven times, but Kendall isn't going to answer it.
"Kendall, your dad's on the phone," Mrs. Knight shouts. The sound is muffled, quiet through Kendall's closed door.
"I don't want to talk to him," Kendall says, the volume so low Mrs. Knight has no chance of hearing. A few more moments pass before there's a knock on his door and it opens.
"Dad is on the phone," Mrs. Knight repeats, walking inside and trying to hand the phone to Kendall. Kendall merely shakes his head, worms under the covers on his bed. She sighs, mumbling something into the phone before the beep sounds out indicating the phone is off now.
"Kendall - "
"Why'd you keep his name, Mom?" he asks suddenly, pulling the covers down so he can look at his mother fully.
"I wanted to have the same last name as my kids. I didn't want there to be any confusion," she answers, quickly, as though the answer has always been prepared.
"But he left us." Kendall glances out the window, the curtains pulled back, the house across the street still empty even after a whole year of its supposed selling. He stares at the colors on the For Sale sign until they blur together.
Mrs. Knight sits on the bed. "Sweetie, he left me, not you and Katie." She reaches out, taking her son's cheek in her palm before running fingers through his hair.
"Could've fooled me," Kendall replies, pulling away from his mother and burrowing back under the covers.
Most of the time, Kendall is okay. He's strong and supportive and brave. Then there are days like today, where he wants to mope and feel sorry for himself. Everyone has those days, Kendall thinks, where every breath hurts.
"Why don't you call up James or Carlos to come visit? Hmm?" The bed shifts as she stands. "That would help cheer you up, right?"
They probably would, but Kendall being in the mood he is in, he just looks out the window and thinks, I bet my best friend from across the street would've been over already. I bet I wouldn't even feel this way.
Maybe Kendall is a little bitter over his phantom best friend. As the years go by, though, he becomes just another thing Kendall has lost.
-K-
Kendall Knight has always thought himself a protector of sorts. Not so much that his friends need protecting, but more so that he looks out for them, wants them to be happy.
Carlos started wearing his helmet nearly constantly after all of Kendall's pushing that he should. James passes his classes because Kendall helps him. Not like Kendall doesn't need a helmet himself. Not that he's an excellent student. He's just Kendall and he finds a way to make sure his buds are taken care of. Always.
So when they hear about the infamous Gustavo Rocque holding auditions close by, Kendall knows he has to help James. It's been his dream for as long as Kendall can remember - he's pretty sure James danced up to meet him for the first time and sang out the word Hello - and Kendall's purpose has always been to see his friends happy. Besides, James is ridiculously good looking - complete popstar material.
Sometimes he wishes his friends needed him a little more, but that's neither here nor there.
Once the announcement is made on TV, all three boys call their parents looking for a ride, but get no answers. Kendall curses himself repeatedly, wondering why he didn't study just a little harder to get his learner's permit, because if he had they could totally borrow a car. They all sit, staring at their phones and squirming in their seats on Kendall's couch, urging them to ring.
"Wait!" Kendall exclaims, his train of thought leading him to a solution. "Let's ask Mrs. Magicowski to drive us!"
"But Mrs. Magicowski drives so slow!" James leaps from the sofa, and he really must be freaking out because he starts pulling on his perfectly coifed, brown hair. "She hit me on my bike once and I didn't even feel it."
Carlos stands beside James, throws on his hockey helmet. "Let's just run there. Let's go, guys!"
"Carlos, there's no way we can make it there in time. We've got less than half an hour and the theater is miles from here. Come on, it's our only shot."
The boys finally agree, all three of them scrambling next door and scaring Mrs. Magicowski with their incessant knocking. It takes a fair amount of bribery, but she agrees.
And James was right, Mrs. Magicowski drives at a snail's pace, slow as Christmas and a zillion other analogies Kendall has plenty of time to come up with on the drive. James is fretting and mumbling and once they are within sight of the theater, he throws open the car door and runs.
"Will you wait here for us?" Kendall asks, ensuring they have a way home while Carlos runs after James.
"I'll make my way in there, boy. Don't want to miss out on seeing you kids make fools out of yourselves." Mrs. Magicowski laughs, but not in a mocking way. She lightly pats Kendall's cheek. "Go on."
"Thank you, ma'am," Kendall says, throwing open the door to follow his friends.
He hears raised voices the moment he walks in. He glances at his watch and realizes they are five minutes past the open audition time. James is arguing with a dark-haired lady holding a clipboard.
"But there's still time! He's here, I'm here and he needs me!" James shouts, pointing to his wrist even though there is no watch there.
The lady looks flustered, like she wants to agree with him, but she only says, "Mr. Rocque says he's done."
"Oh no, he's not," Kendall says, approaching his friends and the woman with her clipboard. "He's got the few minutes it'll take to see James."
"Yeah!" Carlos agrees, stretching up to his full height - not so impressive - and nodding. "He's got the time."
"Look, I'm sorry. But when Gustavo says he's done, it's really not best to push him." She lowers her voice and leans in toward the boys. "And when he's like this, he wouldn't be impressed with anyone, let alone whatever kind of weird, plaid, hockey band you guys are."
"We're not a band," Kendall is quick to correct, furrowing his brows. "We only want James to audition." James wiggles his fingers and waves.
"You are really cute." She rubs a hand over her face. "Wait here," she says.
"Tell him I'm amazing," James chimes. He lowers his voice, "Because I'm amazing."
She rolls her eyes as she walks away, making a dismissive gesture with her hands, disappearing behind the double doors leading into the theater. About that time, Mrs. Magicowski makes her way inside and comes to stand next to the boys.
"Not going so well?" she asks, and the guys shrug their shoulders. "Surprise, surprise."
By the time the dark-haired woman emerges from the theater, it's fifteen minutes past the deadline. "Sorry, guys, Gustavo says auditions are over."
"Huh uh," Kendall says, striding quickly toward the doors, "he can't do this."
A look of fear passes over the dark-haired lady's face. "Um, security? Could you, uh, stop Mr. Tall, Blond and Eyebrows here?" The huge guys flanking the doors make a move to grab Kendall, but he easily out maneuvers them and bolts into the theater. Hockey moves come in handy in real-life situations and Kendall always knew it.
"I told you no," Gustavo says, his head resting on a table in front of the stage. He looks up when no one answers him and sees Kendall approaching him quickly. "Who are you and what are you wearing?"
"Just who do you think you are?"
"I'm Gustavo Rocque and I'm a genius! Who are you?"
"A genius, huh?" Kendall looks over his shoulder, notices his friends and Mrs. Magicowski in a scuffle with the security guys. He returns his gaze to Gustavo, smirks. "You haven't had a hit in over a decade."
"That's not true! Boyquake had a hit in - "
"Oh, that song?" Kendall is so angry he's seeing red. This washed up, gargantuan, pompous dude thinks he's too good to let his best friend audition? He starts to sing Gustavo's crappy song, moving his feet and recreating the same dance moves from every band this guy has produced since the early '90s, each thrust of his hips and high-pitched note full of mockery. Kendall gets in Gustavo's face and spits the lyrics, bumping into Gustavo's fleshy hip with his firm one. Gustavo stumbles back, a look of pure shock on his face.
"Security!" he shouts, just as Carlos and James break free of the two huge guards. There's more scuffling when security enters the theater, but even when he's tackled and subdued, Kendall is still singing in a fury.
"Here's a song for you!" Kendall rallies and sings, "Oh, you're such a turd, Oh yeah, a giant turd, and you look like a turd, and you smell like a turd."
Not the most mature thing ever, but Kendall is pissed. He will fuck up anybody who messes with his friends, even if it's just by messing with someone's head. And judging by the look on Gustavo's face as Kendall is dragged away, the big guy has definitely been messed with.
-K-
They're all nursing their wounds on the couch as Mrs. Knight gives them a stern talking to. Thankfully, Mrs. Magicowski put in a few words for them (she couldn't really speak ill of them, considering she was in the middle of the fray) so Mrs. Knight isn't as harsh as she could be. Kendall is pretty sure she goes easy on them because of James' dejected expression as well. He's clearly heartbroken, which only keeps Kendall's anger fueled.
"I can't believe that guy!" Kendall says, throwing his hands in the air. "He wouldn't even listen. Of course, James has more than what it takes to be famous. He's got more talent in his pinky than that asshole has in his whole stupid body.
"We'll just have to get James famous another way," Carlos says, flashing a smile at James. "Then one day he'll be kicking himself for how dumb he was."
"Yeah, about that, what that lady said about us being a ba - "
James is interrupted by a knock on the door, and Kendall is still fuming as he goes to answer it.
"What?" he booms, completely un-Kendall-like. His face flushes red, his anger doubling when he registers the duo at his door.
"What the h -, " he stops, remembering there is a lady present, and he's nothing if not a gentleman, dammit. "What are you doing at my house?"
The big man, Gustavo, gives him a long look. "I want to make you an offer you can't possibly refuse."
-K-
"I refuse," Kendall says, finishing out the nod Gustavo was perceiving as positive. There's no sound but pure shock in the room. Despite what some might think, shock has a clear sound Kendall can imagine likens to that of electricity humming through wires, and right now, there's an electrical fire in Gustavo's head. Kendall can see the smoke coming from the big guy's ears.
The almost-silence is broken by Gustavo smashing his tea cup. The dark-haired woman - Kelly, they've learned - places a calming hand on Gustavo's arm. Mrs. Knight stares blankly at the pieces of one of her best tea cups.
"Kendall," Kelly starts, "Gustavo wants to make you famous. This isn't something we offer every day. Are you certain?"
"I just wanna play hockey," Kendall replies, "and hang out with my buds. And why should I do anything with him anyway? He's obviously rude and destructive and has some serious anger issues."
"Kendall," James whispers. Kendall looks toward him and leans in so James can speak to him quietly. There's this look of desperation on James' face, but there's no way in hell Kendall is going to let James live vicariously through him. "Why aren't you agreeing to this? Say yes."
"No," Kendall replies with equal fervor. He's always done things on his own terms, his own rules since his dad left, and he's not about to let some jerk start dictating his life now.
Gustavo's head is redder than a firecracker and twice as hot. He gets up and walks as quickly as he can, heading outdoors to cool off.
"Here's my card," Kelly says, leaving the card and some money on the table. Mrs. Knight looks at the wad of bills incredulously.
"For the damage. Kendall, we'll be here until tomorrow afternoon. Call me if you change your mind, okay? And think about this long and hard." Kelly winces when there is more smashing heard from outside. She throws down a few more bills.
"I won't be changing my mind, but thank you for the lovely experience of meeting you fine people," he says, sarcasm evident.
"Kendall," his mother warns.
"What?"
Kelly sighs. "Just...think about it."
-K-
"I hate you," James says, brutally pushing a shopping cart towards the direction of the return. Kendall is taking an impromptu break from the grocery store as Carlos and James make a rather destructive game of helping him with the job of gathering carts from the parking lot. The cart misses the return and bumps into a car.
"James," Kendall starts, "that's your dream, not mine. I just want to play hockey."
"But the girls!" Carlos whines. Kendall rolls his eyes. Girls are nice enough, they're soft and smell nice, but Kendall is more interested in sweaty guys in hockey jerseys with big sticks. He snorts out loud at his thought process and resists the urge to say That's what she said.
"Would you guys really move to L.A. with that asshole and let him run stuff for you?"
"Yes," James replies, "in a heartbeat."
"But he wouldn't give you the time of day!"
"So? He gave it to you. Call him. Don't be an idiot."
"What's the point of being famous if I don't have you guys?" Kendall adds.
"Okay," Carlos interjects, taking a firm grip on a shopping cart, "if this is a hole in one, you call that guy." Without waiting for an answer, Carlos begins pushing the cart, jumps in and promptly gets hit by a slow moving car. Thankfully, he's wearing a helmet.
"You should still call him," James says, putting a hand on Kendall's shoulder and squeezing. He's so earnest, Kendall only nods, but he has a new idea formulating that just might work.
-K-
When the stretch limo pulls up and Gustavo gets out, Kendall crosses his arms over his chest, a smug expression on his face.
He's got nothing to lose.
"So?" Gustavo prompts.
"Okay," Kendall starts, "I'll go to L.A. with you and record some demos." Gustavo and Kelly look relieved and Kendall can already see them starting to celebrate. He wonders, for the first time, what the hell they see in him. Before it was all some kind of joke and he hadn't really thought twice about it, but seeing the relief on these two strangers' faces he can't help but question their judgment. It's a little nice to have some leverage though.
"But!" Kendall adds, jabbing a finger in the air, "I want you to take my buds here, too, and make us a singing group."
"Ha! I don't even know if these two idiots can sing!" Gustavo replies, full out laughing in Kendall's face, but he keeps his expression neutral.
"But weren't you quoted saying that you could make a dog a popstar?" Kendall counters.
"I'm not looking for dogs!" Gustavo shouts. "I'm looking for someone amazing."
"I'm amazing," James interjects.
"You've been to dozens of cities and I'm the best you could find? I'd say you need us." Kendall gets a little closer to Gustavo. "Don't you have a deadline or something?"
Gustavo glares at him, and there's some emotion Kendall can't decipher. He decides it might be fear, maybe indecision. "The boy band is dead. Besides, three guys aren't enough for a boy band."
"What about LFO?" Carlos throws in.
"Who even remembers LFO besides their moms?" Gustavo says.
"What about Hanson?" Kendall asks. "Or The Jonas Brothers?"
"Those guys play instruments. Do you dogs play instruments?"
"I play the guitar," Kendall replies. "Carlos has messed around on the bass."
"There's a little thing calls percussion in the music industry. That might be important!"
"James could learn - " Kendall begins.
"Just shut up." Gustavo takes off his colored glasses, pinches the bridge of his nose between his eyes. "I'm done here. I'm not arguing this anymore. See you guys never." He turns around abruptly, leaving Kendall open-mouthed, a retort burning his tongue.
Kelly gives them all a long, regretful look. "Sorry, guys," she says, and Kendall thinks she really means it.
The three boys are silent as the limo pulls away. Kendall looks to this empty spot between him and where James and Carlos are huddled close to one another. He's always known there was that empty spot and Gustavo only drove the fact home. He pushes his self-pitying feelings aside.
"Oh, well." Kendall shrugs and starts to go back inside the store. James grabs his arm before he can get too far.
"Wait, Kendall." Their eyes meet and there's that desperation on James' face making Kendall feel like a failure. He fucking hates feeling like a failure. "We could still be a band."
Kendall laughs. It fades quickly when James's expression doesn't change. "What? You gonna learn to play drums?"
James shakes his head, a half-smile curling the corner of his mouth. "No, I'm too pretty to sit in the back. But I was trying to tell you guys last night, when Kelly thought we were a band it gave me an idea." His face shifts into a full blown grin, because James gets really proud when he comes up with an idea.
"Go on."
"I want us all to be famous together, so let's do it," James answers.
"That's a great idea James!" Carlos agrees. "Think of all the girls." He immediately gets a dreamy expression as he tilts his helmet clad head back to gaze at the sky.
"James, do you have any idea how hard it is in the music business? The rejection we've experienced in the last twenty-four hours is nothing compared to - "
"I know," James interrupts, "but if I'm with you guys, I can handle anything." James affectionately slaps Carlos on the back of his head. "And what's the point of being famous if I don't have you guys?" His words echo Kendall's from not even an hour ago.
Kendall loves his friends, and he would do anything for them. Music is definitely a huge part of who he is, but it's never been so clear to him as it has in the last day. Yes, he sings in the shower, getting ready for school, to Katie when she can't sleep. He's got a music player bursting with melodies he constantly carries, his own soundtrack playing at almost all hours. He'd never entertained the idea of doing it for a living, the thrill of the ice seeming much more attainable.
But, to quote The Beach Boys, wouldn't it be nice? It'll be a challenge, but Kendall Knight is always ready for those.
"Okay." Kendall nods. "Any ideas for a drummer?"
"My cousin George plays the drums in the school marching band!" Carlos says. "The marching band is awesome."
James' smile is blinding. Kendall can't help but return it.
"We need to start practicing," Kendall says. He turns to go back to work, thinking, just maybe, this could be a good thing.
Part Three