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ithinkyouhealedmyheart · 22 days ago

Text

Ghostwriter ch 21

Unbetad Unedited Unhinged || AO3 Wattpad

Character(s): Kendall Knight, James Diamond, Carlos Garcia, Mercedes Griffin, Curt Haverfield, Calliope Anderson oc, Addison Tate oc, Veronica Clark oc, TJ Miller oc

Pairing(s): Kendall Knight/Original Female Character, Kendall Knight & James Diamond & Carlos Garcia & Logan Mitchell, Kendall Knight & Jennifer Knight, Mercedes Griffin/Original Male Character

Word Count: 6065

Mercedes jumped on the opportunity for TJ to stay in L.A. for a week with the rest of Ronnie’s friends. It took a bit more convincing than it should have to convince her dad to let her go on a date that night. TJ was scared when he met Arthur Griffin because he had such an intimidating air around him. Mercedes took him to that fancy restaurant Curt talked about a while ago.

“Uh, Mercedes… I think I’m underdressed.” TJ mumbled, averted his gaze, and looked at the floor. Everyone was wearing suits with ties. He was ashamed of borrowing nice clothes from her father.

“Nonsense! You look lovely.” Mercedes patted his arm. “Dad won’t mind if I let you borrow one of his suits.”

A woman in a black boxy dress with red hair slicked back was writing something down at the hostess stand. TJ looked away. He didn’t want to peek by accident. It was most likely table numbers and reservations. He glanced at Mercedes. She was wearing a sparkly pink dress paired with pink heels. Her wavy blonde hair was pulled from her face and cascaded down her shoulders. Mercedes had only sent an initial photo of herself when they started talking over text to confirm she was real. TJ hadn’t forgotten when his breath caught in his throat. Part of him was scared that she was a middle-aged woman, but he was grateful she was his age. TJ managed to pull his dreadlocks into a ponytail to keep them out of his face while eating. His thumb rubbed over her knuckles. TJ didn’t want to forget what holding hands with his girlfriend felt like. He never wanted this week to end. The last thing he wanted to do was return to Vermont. Some of the guys on the football team teased him about his online relationship. For once, he wanted to prove he had a girlfriend.

“Hello, do you have a reservation?”

“We do!” Mercedes chirped. “Under the name Griffin.”

“Oh.” The woman’s eyes widened. “I’m so sorry I didn’t notice sooner, Ms. Griffin. We have the perfect spot for you,” The hostess grabbed the anxiously. “If you could follow me.” She smiled sheepishly as she led the two to their table.

“Your family must be popular,” TJ leaned slightly to whisper in the blonde’s ear.

“Of course we are. My father is one of the top three CEOs in the country.” Mercedes giggled behind her hand. “I’m baffled how you’ve never heard of RCM CBT Globalnet Sanyoid.”

“It’s not like there are that many stores in Stow, and I doubt your father wants to put merchandise in the middle of nowhere without guarantee it would sell.” TJ tugged on his collar. Arthur Griffin had a thinner neck than his, and the fabric was chaffing.

Their table was smack dab in the middle of the restaurant. TJ’s eyes widened when he noticed the white tablecloth and the candle in a decorative glass holder. This place was far more expensive than he thought it would be. He had been very anxious about the price, but now he was sweating bullets. How could he afford to pay for their meal? Was this a bad idea? Would Mercedes shame and laugh at him?

TJ carefully slid out the chair for Mercedes. He was afraid of scraping the chair legs against the hardwood floor. He carefully pushed her chair in and then hesitantly pulled his chair out. Every movement was calculated. The last thing he wanted to do was break something and find out he owed thousands of dollars. Mercedes noticed TJ’s hesitance as she unfolded her napkin. She would have inspected her silverware but refrained once she realized how uncomfortable he was.

“Are you okay?”

“I… I’ve never been to a place like this before,” TJ confessed.

“That’s okay! It’s not as fancy as you think it is, trust me.” She attempted to reassure him.

“There are restaurants fancier than this?”

“Of course there are, but I would never be able to get into them even if I made a reservation under my father's name because they require a certain etiquette.”

“Why did you use your dad's name for the reservation?”

“I wanted to show you the best treatment tonight, silly!” Mercedes opened her menu. Her eyes darted around to each item.

“Oh…” TJ paused when he opened his menu. No prices were listed, which made him sweat even more. By the night's end, he would be nothing but a puddle of football player goo.

“Sweetie, you’re getting pale.” Mercedes was concerned. She lowered her menu to observe her boyfriend. His jaw was clenched tight, and he had such a firm grip on the menu that his knuckles turned white. This was the only restaurant near his hotel that she could think of. Was this that bad of an idea?

“They don’t list any prices…” TJ mumbled. His eyes were bulging out of his head.

“Oh, honey, you don’t have to worry about prices. I convinced Daddy to pay for our dinner,”

TJ tensed up, and Mercedes bit the inside of her cheek.

“I’m sorry. You’re not comfortable. I should have noticed. We can go somewhere else–” Mercedes closed her menu and scooted her chair from the table.

“No, no. It’s fine. We can eat here. You don’t have to get up and leave because of me.” TJ reached for the complimentary water glass and downed it like a shot of alcohol.

“Are you sure?” The blonde socialite raised a brow. “Because if you’re only saying that to make me happy–”

“Mercedes,” TJ reached across the table and took her hand. “I promise I won’t let prices get in the way of us having a lovely evening.”

Heat rose to Mercedes' face, and she flushed. The tips of her ears turned red. She squeezed TJ’s hands gently and smiled brightly.

“In that case, I promise we’ll go somewhere more comfortable for you.” She tucked hair behind her ear and looked away. TJ was so sweet! How could she not fall madly in love with him?

“It doesn’t matter where we go as long as I’m with you.”

All thoughts in her head dissipated like vapor. She stared at TJ, and her face got redder. Embarrassed, she covered her face with her menu. None of the guys she previously dated, including Big Time Rush, were this sincere. What did she do to meet TJ? No. What did she do to deserve him? Mercedes couldn’t focus on the words on her menu. Their waiter came by, and they both ordered fountain soda. The waiter walked away when they said they needed more time with the menu.

“So, have you lived in Los Angeles all your life?” TJ coughed awkwardly.

“Of course! Born and raised in Los Angeles. I watched my parents get divorced and then watched my dad get married to a younger woman. You know how rich people are, right?”

“Oh. I didn’t–”

“It’s okay!” She waved away his concern. “I expect it. I’m waiting for the day my father divorces his current wife for someone even younger.” A shiver ran down her spine. “He says I need a mother as if nannies haven’t looked after me since I was little.”

“So, when you say your dad is one of the top three CEOs in the world, you mean he’s that rich?”

“Was I not clear about that?” Mercedes tilted her head. “Well, he’s been trying to improve his status, so he’ll be number two shortly.”

“I didn’t know your family was that wealthy…” TJ looked down at the table.

“Yeah, it’s not like I need a wealthy boyfriend.” Mercedes shrugged. “Having so much money you don’t know what to do with can get boring.”

“Boring?” TJ almost spat out his water. He dabbed around his mouth with the black napkin and tried to cough quietly. “Sorry– It’s boring?”

“Don’t worry, I can buy you whatever you want–” “I don’t want you to buy me whatever I want.” TJ interrupted her. “That wouldn’t– I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if you bought me anything. That– That’s my job.” What his father told him was floating around in the front of his mind.

“I hardly think it’s anyone's job. It doesn’t matter as long as we enjoy each other’s company.”

“Yeah,” TJ nodded. “It’s just my dad– he always taught me to be a gentleman.”

“Ugh. Don’t get me started on all that gentlemen crap.” Mercedes groaned.

“If someone has to say they’re a gentleman, then they aren’t…” TJ scratched the nape of his neck.

Out of the corner of her eye, Mercedes noticed Ronnie and Curt. They were more than likely on a date, but it was a coincidence that they were at the same restaurant. Mercedes couldn’t help but be happy that her new best friend was hitting it off great with Curt. Initially, she was nervous that Ronnie and Curt wouldn’t get along. If they didn’t get along, she always had another hockey player on her phone, but they already knew each other. Mercedes wasn’t surprised that Kendall and Ronnie knew each other. Her father liked the song she wrote, and Gustavo wouldn’t think about firing her if he wanted to stay in Griffin’s good graces.

It was good to know that her best friend was as happy as she was. Of course, she would have to thank Ronnie for giving her TJ’s number, but nothing could convey her gratitude. Looking for genuine love with L.A. boys was hard because they all wanted someone pretty or famous. Mercedes knew she was gorgeous, but that wasn’t the problem. The only thing that made her semi-famous was her name. If she were born to anyone else, she wouldn’t have the kind of recognition she already has. In the back of her mind, she wondered if TJ would be like every guy she’s met. But how could he be if he was someone new? The socialite just knew this relationship would be different. She had confidence this one would be different.

“Are you okay?” TJ asked.

Mercedes hadn’t noticed the conversation fell flat or that she went silent. She blinked twice, reached for the ordered soda, and sipped from the straw. She averted her gaze. He sounded so concerned. It was surprising how much he already cared, but maybe that was the difference between the romantic culture in Vermont and California. It was a big gamble to throw herself out there and take a shot with someone across the country, but even though this was their first date, Mercedes didn’t regret a thing.

“I’ve never been better.” The blonde coughed when the soda went down the wrong way.

“Okay,” TJ couldn’t hide his anxiety, but he was thankful he wasn’t the only one.

Then, something crossed his mind, and his heart dropped.

“You look gorgeous in that dress.” How could he have been so stupid? He forgot to compliment her, and TJ mentally facepalmed.

Mercedes squeaked and looked away again.

“Thank you– You… You look good, even though you had to borrow the clothes.” Her voice shook. She felt so vulnerable as if he could see into her soul or something. It was weird to feel like the existence of her being was laid bare before him.

“I’ll remember to bring dress clothes when I visit next time,” TJ chuckled.

“Next time?” Mercedes' eyes widened. “You’ll visit again?”

“Of course. I like it here compared to Vermont. It’s sunny and warm most days, but I wouldn’t really trade Stowe traffic for Los Angeles traffic.” TJ scratched his chin. “I think that’s the only thing that would keep me from ever moving here.”

“Move here?” Mercedes’ breath hitched in her throat. “Why– Why would you want to move here?”

“I know it’s too soon to say, but if this gets serious between us, I would want to be closer to you,” TJ stated. He furrowed his brows in confusion. “Do you want this to get serious?”

Mercedes giggled awkwardly but couldn’t hide the blush on her face. She knew one thing: she wanted to keep him for as long as possible.

Addison had the songwriter borrow one of her dresses. The green-haired girl was highly uncomfortable in the black dress and matching heels. She was surprised Addison had anything like this in her dresser, much less anything she had packed for the trip. Ronnie never liked dresses and skirts because they left her legs bare. She would wear leggings or tights if possible, but unfortunately, Ronnie didn’t have tights on her hand, and neither did Addison. The restaurant was bone-chillingly cold, and the dress had straps, not sleeves, which put her arms on display.

She was ashamed of her arms mainly because she didn’t look like the other girls in Los Angeles. Ronnie was three inches taller than the average, and she wasn’t some skinny blonde who looked terrific in bathing suits. The songwriter never liked comparing herself to others because she didn’t seem like everyone else, but not in appearance. Her mind became an echo chamber, and she noticed how Curt looked behind her instead of at her. Maybe he was looking at a prettier girl. It would be for the best anyway. He needed someone to show off to the media, and no one would be proud to show her off to the press.

“You look lovely,”

Ronnie stared at him confusedly. Although she didn’t like her arms or stretch marks, her dress wasn’t her style. She didn’t feel like herself in this little black dress or the matching black heels. Could he not see how uncomfortable she was? Could he not tell that this dress didn’t feel like something she could proudly wear? The black dress didn’t match her. It wasn’t like she could blame him, honestly. Although they’d known each other for two months, it was as if they didn’t know each other. Or Ronnie felt distant from him. She wouldn’t be surprised if Curt were distancing himself from her. He already didn’t like her friends from home. Absentmindedly, she twirled a strand of hair around her finger.

“Hello? Earth to Ronnie?” Curt gingerly touched her hand, and she jumped.

“What– Thank you,” she shifted uncomfortably in the chair.

“Are you thinking about work again?”

Curt tried to roll his eyes subtly, but he failed. Ronnie scratched her arm anxiously and shook her head. What was wrong with her? Why was she so awkward? In the back of her mind, she knew it was because Curt typically talked the entirety of their date, but he was oddly quiet. She didn’t like the shift in the atmosphere or his mood. She did something wrong. That had to be it. Whatever error Ronnie made was the only explanation for how different he was acting.

“I’m sorry,” the apology flew out of her mouth before she could think about it.

“For what?” Curt raised a brow.

“Didn’t I do something wrong?” Ronnie furrowed her brows. “You’ve been acting weird.”

“What? No,” Curt sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “No, you didn’t do anything wrong. Why would you think that?”

“You’re quieter and… The atmosphere feels wrong.”

“The atmosphere feels wrong?” Curt didn’t mean to sound so annoyed, but he couldn’t help but think it came out that way. Part of him couldn’t help but wonder if she meant she had done something wrong. Why would she bring it up otherwise?

“Forget it,” Ronnie looked away. “It’s nothing. It’s not important.”

“Well,” Curt heaved a sigh. “You were thinking about work, so what happened?”

“We don’t have to talk about work–”

“That’s the only thing you talk about.” Curt deadpanned.

Ronnie paused. She was taken aback. Perhaps she did something that hurt him. Why couldn’t he tell her what he was upset about? Was he pretending everything was okay for her sake? Curt cleared his throat and tugged at his collar. For the most part, their dinner was excellent. It was nice to spend time with each other as a couple. Lately, everything had been so hectic because of their schedules, but they finally had a chance to see each other that matched their schedules.

“Okay,” Ronnie took a steady breath. “How was practice? Do your teammates treat you well?”

“Practice is okay. Considering my teammates are all older than me, I’m essentially the team little brother.” Curt shrugged and poked at his chicken parmesan.

“Which means they give you noogies and jokingly steal your stuff?” Ronnie leaned forward. She engaged in the conversation even though Curt didn’t think she cared.

“I guess? They’re like my older brothers. Do you not have siblings?”

“No. My parents were in their forties when they had me.”

“Forties?” Curt spat out his drink. Ronnie flinched and grabbed her napkin to wipe her arm. “I knew your father was old, but I didn’t think he was that old.”

“Hey,” The songwriters' shoulders tensed. “It barely crosses my mind…”

“My mom is in her forties, but your dad is in his sixties.”

“Curt.” Ronnie’s face grew warm. Was he making fun of her dad?

“Sorry, sorry.” He wiped his mouth on the black napkin. “I’m just surprised, is all. Typically, we’re expected to have young children in North Carolina.”

“So, if we ever got married, we would have to…” Ronnie trailed off. She couldn’t say it aloud. Much less. She didn’t even want to think about it.

“Married? What? No,” Curt spit his drink out again. “We haven’t known each other for that long.”

“Oh.” Ronnie blinked twice. “I figured since we’re almost eighteen and this seems like something that would last… No, ignore me.” She shook her head as if to shake the thoughts away.

“Ronnie, we’re seventeen.” Curt chuckled. “We can think about marriage in a couple of years if we last.”

The songwriter felt her heart deflate. She couldn’t understand why her heart dropped but wished she didn’t take this personally. It was anything against her. If anything, Curt wanted to be with her, but it still… hurt. Maybe this was her fault for getting attached so quickly or thinking he could be the one. She stabbed her steak with her fork idly. The rest of the date was a blur. This high-pitched ringing settled between her ears as she leaned against Curt in the backseat of the car. She watched herself out of her body. It was as if her head was underwater, and everything was muffled. The car door shut behind her, and she shuffled into the PalmWoods like a zombie. The elevator opened and took her to the third floor quickly. It probably felt quick because she wanted to stay in bed with her friends.

The door to 3G opened and closed. Ronnie heaved a sigh and ran a hand down her face. She was tired and upset. Her bedroom door swung open, scaring the shit out of her. Addison and Callie pushed through the doorway excitedly.

“What happened?” Addison asked, barely able to contain the smile on her face.

“Is everything okay?” Callie asked quietly.

“Yeah, yeah. Everything’s fine,” Ronnie ran a shaky hand through her hair. “Can I put pajamas on before we debrief?”

“Go ahead,” Addison took a step away.

Her bedroom door closed behind her, and Ronnie fell face-first on her bed. She lay there for a couple of minutes. The coziness of her bed was inviting and comforting. Rolling onto her back, she stared up at the ceiling. She messed up royally. Maybe she shouldn’t have mentioned marriage or at least apologized for her error. Her heart was heavy in her chest, and she wanted to think logically about this, but sadness washed over her like a tidal wave. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes, and she sat up. Hastily wiping her face without regard for makeup, she stood up and pulled open her dresser drawers.

Callie and Addison lounged on the beige couch in the living room, watching some random channel on television. The songwriter was in her room longer than they preferred, but this could only mean one thing. She was decompressing. For as long as they’ve known Ronnie, she wasn’t socially inept, but she had a hard time doing things that made her uncomfortable. It wasn’t like she could make them uncomfortable, either. Addison described it as Ronnie’s “social battery.” And when Ronnie needs to recharge, it’s advisable to stay away until she’s ready.

The green-haired girl laid the dress on her bed and crumpled to the floor. She held her knees against her chest and stared blankly at her phone. She texted Curt, hoping he got home safe, but he hadn’t replied in a few minutes. It wasn’t that she would wait by her phone for a response, but she at least wanted recognition that he wasn’t mad at her. She wanted to be guaranteed she didn’t make him angry or hurt him. Her first “boyfriend,” Craig, wasn’t like this. Then again, he kept his distance, and they only held hands while walking. Of course, at the time, they were about thirteen, so it made sense that the only thing they did was hold hands. Maybe it was the teenage hormones or her racing thoughts, but Ronnie wanted to know if she was desired. Would Curt throw her away for the next girl, given the chance? Wouldn’t they last? Ronnie, so severely, wanted them to last. To be a high school sweetheart with someone she just met was a thrilling idea. Perhaps she had been reading one too many romance novels. Maybe she built up this idea of him in her head, and it was finally crashing down.

Her bedroom door opened, and Ronnie shuffled out. The hardwood floor was freezing, and her black socks didn’t provide enough protection from the cold, but she pulled a smile on her face and sat between her friends on the couch. Addison propped her elbow on the back of the sofa, resting her cheek on her palm.

“So, how was the date?” The blonde grinned from ear to ear.

“It was okay.”

“Okay?” Callie furrowed her brows. “What did he do?”

“Nothing. He didn’t do anything.” Ronnie sighed and threw her head back. “But, maybe I did something or said something wrong.”

“What could you say that’s so wrong?” Addison frowned. “It sounds like he upset you.”

“No.” Ronnie groaned and slid off the couch slightly. “I did something wrong. I had to have done something.”

“Okay…” Callie hesitated. “What did you do wrong?”

“I don’t know!” Ronnie whined. “But he’s been acting weird, and I can’t help but think it’s my fault because why else wouldn’t he be acting weird!”

“Oh, sweetie.” Addison’s frown deepened, and she pulled Ronnie into a side hug. “It’s going to be okay. If you did something to bother Curt, he would tell you.”

“I think it’s because I mentioned marriage…” Ronnie mumbled, playing with the hem of her oversized t-shirt.

“You mentioned marriage?” Both girls gasped.

“What? Isn’t dating supposed to be where you find your forever partner? It’s just courting, and humans have courted each other for centuries!”

“No guy wants to hear about marriage.” Addison petted Ronnie’s hair. “Especially not at this age.”

“But, what’s the point if you don’t want to spend the rest of your life with the one?” Ronnie frowned and shrunk in on herself.

Callie and Addison exchanged knowing glances. Callie knew this would eventually become an issue for her friend. The two girls hugged Ronnie from either side, leaning their heads on her shoulders.

“For all you know, Curt could be the one,” Callie spoke softly. “But, it’s best not to worry about who you want to spend the rest of your life with.” She chuckled.

“Our lives have barely started to worry about all the other stuff,” Addison added.

“But, isn’t marriage this big deal?” Ronnie furrowed her brows. “There was a reason why people married young ages ago. Why is it such a bad thing now?”

“Times have changed,” Addison sighed and took Ronnie’s hand. “But, it’s sweet you’re trying to find the person you want to spend your life with.” The blonde glanced at Callie, who had her eyes closed. “Not many people think about the long term,”

Ronnie couldn’t sleep. She wouldn’t rest until whatever was between her and Curt was resolved. Unfortunately, this meant she was up all night waiting for her boyfriend to text her back after she sent him several texts asking if he was okay, if they could talk, or if he was mad at her. Addison decided it would be best to spend the day with Ronnie while Callie familiarized herself with Los Angeles. Addison braided Ronnie’s hair to keep it out of her face, and her blonde hair was in a high ponytail. Since Addison couldn’t watch Big Time Rush rehearse, she sat in the hallway. Ronnie shuffled into the dance studio and squinted at the bright lights. She was confused when Gustavo said she had to follow the guys there. She hadn’t set foot near the dance studio for the last month or so. Kendall, Logan, James, and Carlos wore grey shirts and sweatpants.

A man in a sparkly gold cropped jacket, wearing a black leotard, black sweatpants, and a pink and grey sweatband around his forehead, turned to look at her. He clicked his tongue and shook his head. Ronnie didn’t know who he was, and she tensed up when he approached her.

“No, no, no. When you walk into a room, you need to be flowing with confidence!” He gently pushed her shoulders back and adjusted her posture. Ronnie squeaked and froze like a deer in headlights. James told her about their dance instructor several times, but she never met him.

Mr. X wasn’t that bad, but she did not want him to fix her posture again. Not until she was more acquainted with him.

“Good, now get in line.” He clapped his hands together.

Ronnie fell in line next to Logan, who did not look happy.

“If it makes you feel better, I’m not the best dancer.” Logan leaned over and whispered to her.

“That helps a little…” Ronnie nodded slowly.

She wasn’t looking forward to learning the choreography with the guys, but she couldn’t disobey Gustavo. He had a temper, and she liked her job. It seemed like Logan was a far better dancer than she thought, which meant she was the worst dancer of the five of them. Although dancing wasn’t what she was hired for, she couldn’t wrap her head around why Gustavo wanted her to learn the choreography. Maybe he wanted her to help the guys rehearse outside of work? Or perhaps it was because they were on a time crunch. It had been two days since she and the producer finished another song. It seemed like the album was going to be completed before the deadline. At least, Ronnie hoped the album was finished early. But part of her worried about whether she would return to Vermont once the album was done.

She built a life for herself in Los Angeles rather quickly, and if that were to come tumbling down, then what would she be without songwriting? Music was her livelihood. Songwriting ran through her veins and made her heartbeat in her ribcage. What was she without songwriting? Could she be anything without songwriting? Ronnie couldn’t forget about everything in Los Angeles. She couldn’t return to her quiet life in Stowe when she could make a name among the city's bright lights.

“Woah!”

Ronnie wasn’t thinking when she crashed into Kendall. Her caught her swiftly and chuckled awkwardly.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah.” Ronnie nodded and found stable footing. “Sorry, I got stuck in my head.”

“You look sad,” Kendall noted. “What were you thinking about–”

“Less talking, more practicing!” Mr. X snapped his finger.

Ronnie and Kendall stood at attention and stared wide-eyed at their instructor.

“It appears we have someone even less experienced than Logan,” Mr. X frowned and shook his head. “But, alas, Gustavo said he would X-double my salary.”

The tips of her ears tinted red, and she thought everyone was looking at her. It didn’t help that she could see their reflections in the mirror. Her mother had signed her up for ballet class once, and she hated every minute. In a way, the dance studio reminded her of the ballet studio in the basement. The mere thought of the dim lighting and the mirror on the wall made her skin crawl. The pink leotard was the worst.

“You,” Mr. X pointed to Kendall. He grabbed the blonde’s upper arm and pulled him forward. “You will teach the girl the choreography. Maybe learning from a peer will help,” The Asian man wasn’t being mean on purpose. He took his job seriously.

“Okay…” Kendall cleared his throat.

As much as he didn’t like being put on the spot like this, he tried to shove that to the back of his mind. It would help anyone if he panicked and forgot the choreography, but it was as if every thought in his mind dissipated. Although he felt awkward dancing in front of his friends, he tried his best to recreate the steps Mr. X taught them despite how good he was at dancing. Ronnie had already lost her train of thought as she watched him. Her thoughts derailed themselves, and before she knew it, she was thinking about that dream she had when she was sick. Oddly enough, the lighting made her think of the ballroom. But why was she thinking about that dream again?

Everything went quiet, and she realized Mr. X was looking at her expectantly. She hadn’t paid attention to Kendall’s dancing and was lost in her thoughts. Hesitantly, she tried to repeat what the dance instructor had been teaching her, but she tripped on her shoelace, which somehow united itself. Ronnie had never been that good of a dancer. Her aunt described her as someone with two left feet. Her aunt teased her so frequently about her inability to dance that she refused to dance at social functions, making her look awkward and lonely. She didn’t mind sitting alone as long as she didn’t subject herself to ridicule if she tried to dance. Likewise, she was expecting the same ridicule from anyone in the room, but no one snickered or whispered under their breath. Mr. X was disappointed, but he didn’t speak of his disappointment, which sewed a seed of fear into the pit of her stomach.

All five of them were sweating and whining as they left the dance studio. Hair stuck to Ronnie’s forehead, and her sweatshirt hung around her shoulders. Addison looked up from her phone and raised a brow.

“Was it that bad?”

“I don’t want to dance again…” Logan whined.

“That answers my question.” Addison giggled.

Ronnie collapsed into one of the chairs and covered her face with her sweatshirt. Like the guys, she was covered in sweat from head to toe, but there was no doubt in her mind that her shirt wasn’t covered in sweat stains.

“Heads up, citrus fruit water.” The songwriter knew Kendall would toss it to her for some reason. She pulled her sweatshirt off her face and caught the water. Considering it was tinted orange and the furniture in Rocque Records was white, it would be horrible if the water stained it.

“Are dance rehearsals always this… Intense?” Ronnie sat up and unscrewed the cap. “I do not remember dance classes as a kid being this bad,”

“Mr. X is X-treme,” James said, crossing his arms to make an X. “That’s his gimmick,”

“He needs a new gimmick.” Logan groaned. He lounged across the couch, chest rising and falling erratically in an attempt to catch his breath.

“I think his gimmick sounds fun!” Addison chirped. “Mr. X… That name sounds so flashy!”

“Wait, when did she get here?” Carlos barely lifted his head. He was lying on the ground.

“I’ve always been here,” Addison chuckled. “As Ronnie’s best friend, I can’t leave her alone in an unfamiliar place.”

“Unfamiliar? She’s been here two months.” Kendall furrowed his brows. “Is this an excuse to hang out with the band?”

“Not everything is about you,” Addison scoffed. “I’m here to provide emotional support!” Addison grinned from ear to ear. She placed her hands on Ronnie’s shoulders. “Last night, her date didn’t go so well, and I doubt any of you could provide an increment of emotional support.”

“Hey!” James frowned. He took the most offense. “Is it because we’re guys?”

“No, no.” Addison shook her head. “I’ve known her longer and would know the best way to help her.”

“She’s the mom-friend,” Ronnie said after drinking half the citrus-flavored fruit water. She put the bottle down on the side table and fanned herself.

“I wouldn’t call myself the mom-friend, but I just– I’m protective of Ronnie, I guess…” Addison smiled sheepishly and played with the songwriter’s hair absentmindedly.

“Then, I tell her she doesn’t have to worry about me so much,”

It was like they had been through this explanation a million times over. Carlos, James, Logan, and Kendall exchanged confused looks. They would never understand teenage girl friendships.

“What do we have planned for the rest of the day?” Ronnie asked. “Because the last thing I want to do is get up from this chair.”

“We have to practice our vocals,” Carlos pouted.

“Yeah, and Gustavo will be upset we’re out of breath and tired.” Logan frowned.

“Can’t you ask him for a break?” Addison asked.

“This is our break,” James said as he stretched like a cat.

“Oh.” The blonde girl blinked twice. “Okay,”

“Usually, we spend our break in the cafeteria.” Kendall sat on the floor. He leaned against the chair James was occupying. “But I don’t want to get up either.”

“I think you guys are being a little dramatic.” Kelly chastised as she walked past. “We need our choreography to be perfect for Griffin when he asks for the finalized album.”

“That’s practically in two weeks!” Ronnie cried. “Gustavo and I are going as fast as we can,”

“Yes, but a lot still needs to get done. Welcome to showbiz,” Kelly patted Ronnie’s arm. “You’re needed in recording studio A,” she said, looking down at her watch. “Twenty minutes.”

A chorus of groans responded to her statement, and Kelly walked away, her heels clicking on the linoleum floor. Addison furrowed her brows and scratched her chin.

“How do I get you guys energized?” She looked around the area as if it would give her any hints. “Sandwiches! Would sandwiches help?”

“You don’t have to–”

“I want to help!” Addison interrupted Ronnie. “After an extreme workout, you need fuel. You’ve already tried to cool down with water, so now, you need food!”

James whined in response, and he threw his head back.

“Coach always says you can’t expect your body to do much on an empty stomach.” Addison’s eyes sparkled. “I’ll be right back!” Her sneakers skidded on the floor as she raced down the hallway.

“Your friend is so peppy,” Carlos commented.

“She has to be. She’s a cheerleader,” Ronnie responded.

“You’re friends with a cheerleader?” Kendall’s brows shot up to his hairline. “What’s next? You’re friends with a football player?”

“Yes, actually. TJ is a football player and my friend.” Ronnie sat up and leaned against the arm of the chair. “Most of the people I’m friends with have shared classes with me for a while.”

“What? So, were new students ever introduced?” Kendall leaned forward.

“Not really,” Ronnie shrugged. “Not many people move to Stowe, Vermont, unless they want to escape the city.”

“You were in a small town?” Carlos asked. “Cool!”

“It was small,” Ronnie laughed. “I lived within walking distance of the high school, and the high school was within walking distance of my job at the ice rink.”

“Wait, wait, wait.” Kendall’s eyes widened. “You worked at an ice rink, but you’ve never been ice skating?”

“I never had time. I always went from school to work and then home.” Ronnie scratched the nape of her neck. “It wasn’t like I had a problem with that schedule. I was content with the routine.”

#btr #btrtv #big time rush #btrtv oc #btr oc #ghostwriter fic #oc: veronica clark #kendall knight #james diamond #carlos garcia #mercedes griffin #logan mitchell #gustavo rocque #mr. x

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