The albums were in.

After the months of craziness, rehearsals, and Gustavo screaming, they were finally in.

And the best part, there would be a tour.

Emily held the box containing all the CD's in her arms, waiting for the boys to arrive at the studio.

Within seconds, the whole band ran in,

"Well?" The all shouted.

"Well what?" Emily teased, swinging the box back and forth before dropping it in front of Gustavo. Gustavo pulled out a copy, the boys on the cover.

"Sch-pingo!"

The boys started shouting excitedly, smiling at their faces on the cover of their first album.

"And people can buy this?" Kendall asked, "In stores?"

Emily hid a tight smile, dancing over to the wall with a projector screen covering what lied beneath.

"Not yet," Kelly corrected.

"The record company will not release it until they announce your big time tour!" Gustavo exclaimed, Emily pulling up the shade, revealing a map of the country, pins in each location the boys would play.

A big smile broke out on her face, seeing her friends so excited.

"We're going on tour?" James asked in disbelief.

"And your first concert is in two weeks," Gustavo told them.

Smiling, the boys looked up together, closed their eyes, and broke out in imaginary dancing and singing, as if they were performing in their fantasy.

"Should I tell them preparing for a concert will be the hardest thing they've ever done?" Gustavo asked Emily, watching his band in delusions. "And that it's not in Times Square?"

"Oh, let them have their fantasy," Kelly smiled.

"They're so happy," Emily gushed to her bosses, pointing at the boys.

Gustavo paused for a second. "Okay, moment's over," he said, reaching forward, shaking the boys awake and shoving the dazed and confused pop stars into the studio.

Gustavo and Kelly hoped up on stage, as Emily shared an excited smile with each of them, going over to get the dog cones.

Regretfully, Emily then handed each boy a cone and told them to put it on.

"The concert stage, where you will need intense focus," Gustavo said.

"Incredible stamina," Kelly commented.

"And... expert knowledge of every inch," Mr. X said, stepping into center stage.

"Why are we wearing dog cones?" Kendall demanded, irritated.

"Because during your concert, you got to look at your fans. Not your feet!" Gustavo told them.

"And to avoid extreme injury, you have to know without thinking. And see without looking," Mr. X told the boys, jumping down off the stage.

"What if we have an itch?" Logan asked, getting on stage.

"Don't!" Gustavo snapped.

"Places. Focus. Begin," Mr. X said, the boys placing themselves accordingly. Emily hit the start button on the speaker.

As James and Kendall crossed, they ran into each other. Then Logan and Carlos crashed into the drums when spinning around.

Emily winced, stopping the music.

"They actually lasted longer than I expected," Mr. X admitted. "Again!"

Into the drums again.

Again.

Then on the floor.

Into the speakers.

Carlos spun into the wall.

Then off the stage.

Into the drums.

Off stage.

Eventually Gustavo gave up. He pulled out a deck of cards and Emily lost focus and turned her attention to an intense game of Go Fish while the boys died.

Standing up, Gustavo grabbed the spotlight. "And lastly, the spotlight test," he said, turning on the bright light, blinding the boys and sending them tumbling off the edge of the stage.

"I will X-pediate their training and make them X-ready."

"Great," Gustavo hummed, "Now, let's move on to the hard part of your training."

Emily groaned, knowing the boys were about to make a run of it.

"Sounds good," Kendall said, swaying.

"Run," Logan cried, the boys and their dog cones running out in fear.

Gustavo rolled his eyes, calling for Freight Train and sent him after the boys.

Emily cleaned up the stage for them when they got back, soon enough seeing Freight Train come in, carrying Carlos. The others followed sluggishly.

Emily gave her friends a sympathetic look, jumping off the stage as the climbed back on.

"Okay, time for fan preparedness training," Gustavo told them, "with the number one teen idol. Dak Zevon."

Emily's jaw dropped, not expecting Dak today. He came in, a white t-shirt and dark jacket, making her swoon inside.

He smiled at Emily, "Hey, Em." Turning to the band, he pulled out a pointing stick. "Guys, fans are your friends, but they can also be frenzied. Which is why lesson one Proper Fan Interaction. Or P'fie," He said, pointing to a dry erase board. Dak blew the whistle around his neck, dozens of screaming teens running into the studio, forming a mosh pit. "Okay, now, observe carefully," he told the boys, on stage with them.

Emily and Kelly nodded to each other, seeing him flawlessly slap hands with the mosh pit. James stepped up, smiling. He hit a few hands and then was pulled into the pit, no where to be seen. The other boys panicked, keeping their distance while practicing, learning from James' mistake.

Dak blew the whistle, giving the three a smile as they high fived. The mosh pit tossed James back up on the stage. Emily then saw Freight Train block the first few feet of the stage, pushing the pit back. Then a screaming girl ran from the side, attacking Kendall, demonstrating a crazed fan.

Emily winced, gripping Kelly's arm tightly as the boys submitted themselves to death up there. Even worse, the pit grabbed the other three's legs, pulling them in.

"They're not doing bad," Kelly said, hopefully.

***

Hours later, the boys were done for the day. Gustavo sent Emily home early, to be at the Palm Woods when the boys ran there.

He was making them run all the way back to practice endurance and she would be ready with plenty of water and towels.

She saw the boys run in through the pool, crashing around a fire pit, soaked in sweat and injuries from the day. She ran out, greeting each of them with an apologetic smile and a cold water.

Jo and Camille stood there, taking them in cautiously.

"Are you guys going to make it the next two weeks to your concert?" Jo asked.

The boys all poured the cold water over their heads, cooling off.

"Yep, and it's gonna rock!" Kendall told her.

"And you and all the Palm Woods are invited to our dress rehearsal," Logan said, tossing Camille the VIP passes.

"Cool, we're VIP's," she gushed to Jo.

"Someday we'll be able to say we knew them when," Jo sarcastically said.

"Hey, someday is today." James said, standing, "I have dreamed about this for so long. And it's finally gonna happen."

The crazed fan from earlier attacked James, jumping on his back. Jo and Camille gasped, looking to the guys or Emily for help.

"Don't worry," Emily assured them. "It's part of their training."

***

The next few days the boys worked harder than ever.

Emily's favorite part was the casually flirting with Dak and spraying the boys with a hose while the ran.

A few hours before the dress rehearsal, Emily sat in the park, relaxing before the big night.

Months ago she didn't really have friends. The Jennifers were nice to her, but they never hung out or talked.

And then four boys soaked her with water. And Emily felt blessed for it.

"Hey," a voice said, sitting down beside her on the bench.

Emily turned, seeing James, nervously bouncing his knee.

"Hey," she replied. "Excited?"

He scoffed, "I guess."

"You were excited a few days ago," Emily pointed out, turning her body to him.

"Yeah, and now all my dreams are about to come true," he told her.

She tilted her head, "Technically they're not coming true until the actual tour starts..." she trailed off, seeing him give her a "really?" look.

"I've worked so hard," he said, leaning into his knees. "I've worked too hard for it all to go away now."

Emily sighed, "James it's not going away," she told him. "Contrary to what you believe, I think you are so talented. And I'd say I wish I could've seen you audition for Gustavo but I don't because I love it when they have to travel."

James laughed, nerves more at ease. "This is probably the longest conversation we've had that didn't end in you getting mad at me."

Emily smiled, "There's still time." She shoved his shoulder, "Go rest for tonight. I'll see you in a bit," she said, pushing him off her bench. He smiled, giving a small wave of goodbye, heading off.

Sitting with her thoughts, she couldn't help but think to herself about James.

How he first was when he showed up. Well, he's the same. But Emily got past all that, for the most part.

How none of them changed, really. How they might be the first people she's met in the business who got there by being themselves.

***

Emily had saved this dress for a special occasion. A short dress, covered in multi-colored sequins. It cost a whole week's worth. But Gustavo kept telling her she needed something super fancy for when he finally made it back to the top.

The boys sang Someday as Emily quietly danced to the music, watching intently with Gustavo and Kelly as Griffin judged besides them.

Logan dodged the crazed fan.

They passed the spotlight test.

Emily broke out in echoing cheers as the song ended.

"Bravo," Griffin cheered, taking the floor. "Watching you boys go from nobodies to somebodies has been more thrilling than hunting humans."

Emily looked to Kelly, who shared a concerned glance.

"Which is why it hurts me to say the album, the tour, this concert are cancelled."

"What?" Gustavo and Kelly yelled.

"What?" The boys yelled.

"What?" The crowd yelled.

"What?" Griffin said. He turned to Emily, who remained speechless, her heart falling out of place. "I mean, yeah. Big Time Rush is dead."

The boys rushed off stage, coming over to their team who cornered Griffin.

"What do you mean the band is dead?" They all shouted.

"Accounting has just released their risk and feasibility report on Big Time Rush," Griffin exlained. "And they decided it's too risky. And not feasible." He threw the massive report book into Gustavo.

Emily looked at the man in furious confusion.

"Oh! We're shifting our strategy to children's books on tape. No tour support is required. They have a higher profit margin and are super cheap to make. Which is why tomorrow Gustavo will be producing Can you foo? As read by actor-environmentalist Ed Begley Jr."

Struggling to find words, Emily's chest tightened.

"But, Griffin, this is our someday," James fought, Emily turning to him, helplessly.

"Close. It's your last day," He said. "Sorry, fellas, I like you; I do. But as we say in business, "That's business.'"

"You can't do this! We've been working our butts off! Our concert is in one week," Gustavo demanded.

"Don't worry. That's why I'm giving all of you fruit baskets!"

Enraged, Emily took a deep breath, her common sense vanishing. "Griffin, you have done a lot of stupid things in the past, quite frankly I don't understand how you got to be CEO. But this is the dumbest thing you have ever done." As she spoke, the people around her gasped, Carlos trying to pull her back. "You don't even seem to have any remorse! I wouldn't be surprised if you really did hunt humans in your free time. You have the mind of a sociopathic five year old who found his daddy's car keys."

The room went quiet.

"No one's ever spoken to me like that before," Griffin hummed, seeming unfazed. "You're fired."

"What?" Gustavo demanded.

"You can't fire me," Emily retorted, the boys backing her up.

"Actually I can," Griffin said. "I own Rocque Records, so I own you. You are fired."

Emily, staring Griffin down, took the financing binder from Kelly, throwing it into his chest, making the man stumbled, and stormed out, ignoring her friends calling after her.

***

Emily didn't sleep that night.

She was basically back where she was before. Sure, Gustavo was still going to financially support her, but Emily wasn't the type of person to take, even at 16.

The boys were leaving back to Minnesota.

She could never see them again.

They could all forget each other.

No more movie nights with Carlos.

No more study sessions with Logan.

No more solving problems with Kendall.

And she had just started opening up to James.

Her phone buzzed. Jo texted her the boys were in the lobby about to leave.

She hadn't seen them since she stormed out last night. They texted and knocked on her door for a while, but she couldn't see them. She needed to be alone.

She rolled off her couch. Emily caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her hair was frizzy and slightly curled from last night and she had dark circles under her eyes.

Opening the door, she found the strength in herself to say goodbye and see them without crying.

In the lobby, she saw the boys heading out the main doors to get in the car. Jo and Camille stood there, having just said goodbye, ushering Emily to hurry before they left.

Outside, Mrs. Knight loaded the car. Katie sulking with a Big Time Rush hat on.

Logan saw her first, nudging his friends. They all turned, seeing their friend who looked worn out and exhausted.

"Hey," Kendall said first. "We didn't think we'd see you."

She shrugged, "I didn't know what time you were leaving."

"Are you okay?" Logan asked. "After..."

Emily, barely feeling the pain in her chest anymore, shook her head. "It's been worse."

They didn't know what to say, all just standing there in silence.

Mrs. Knight stepped in, leaning to Kendall. "Sweetie, we got to go."

Suddenly, Emily got that stinging feeling in her nose and felt her eyes gloss over. She ducked her head. "Bye, guys," and she turned around quickly.

"Hold up," Carlos stopped her. He tried to turn her back around. He finally realized why she wouldn't look at him. "No, Emily. Stop. If you cry, I'm going to cry," Carlos said, starting to sniffle.

Emily finally turned, giving him an amused smile, her eyes turning red with tears.

Her lip started shaking and Carlos pulled her into a tight hug. She felt a tear slip out, holding the boy close so he couldn't leave.

He eventually pulled away, wiping his tear away, backing up so Logan could say goodbye.

"Thanks for everything," Logan said, not good with goodbye's, giving her a shorter hug. Emily lost another tear, her chest starting to pound as she was halfway done.

Kendall stepped up, going straight in, pulling the girl into his chest. "Take care of yourself, Em."

She nodded, sniffling into his chest. He pulled away, a sad smile. She took a deep breath, turning to James, who she couldn't read.

He wasn't mad or upset or frustrated. Just blank.

"You said it wasn't going to go away," he told her.

Trying to conceal a sob, she remembered what she had told him before everything happened. "It shouldn't have."

James shifted awkwardly, "I know you don't like hugs," he mentioned.

She shook her head, "I just got three," she told him, wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling herself close. The boy held her tightly, sighing as he let go.

Emily choked out a sob, "I'm sorry, guys."

"We're sorry too," Kendall said. They each gave her one last look and wave, getting in the car.

The door shut, and the car drove off.

And then the real tears started.

***

Two hours after that, Emily ran out of tears. Then she started thinking logically again.

Griffin kept saying how he "owned" this and this. So she thought, "What if we owned the band."

Then she checked the logs of assets and devised a plan to buy the band from Griffin. She told Kelly who told Gustavo who cried when he sold the mansion and he got all three of them on a flight to Minnesota.

Gustavo had apologized to Emily for what happened, telling her even after all this is over, he's still going to support her financially. Kelly told her Gustavo never said goodbye to the boys.

Now they stood outside the Knight's house. It had been only a day but Emily felt like she hadn't seen the boys in weeks.

She nervously bounced, waiting for the door to open. Finally, Kendall answered, wearing a hockey jersey, freezing upon seeing who knocked.

"Hello," Gustavo said as Kelly waved.

Kendall, in shock, fell backwards into the merchandise boxes Katie purchased.

Emily winced, running up to help him stand. Hearing the commotion, Logan and Carlos joined in.

"Kendall, who's at the-" Logan asked, freezing when he saw Emily Moore in the house.

"Emily!" Carlos cried, jumping on her, suffocating the girl in a hug.

She smiled big, returning the gesture, Kendall standing.

Gustavo and Kelly walked in, "We need to talk."

As Emily followed them into the house, she nodded to the boys, "Then we need to talk about these outfits."

Mrs. Knight had hurriedly made tea, and sat down to hear what Gustavo had to offer.

"I'm putting the bad back together," Gustavo announced.

"And we're doing the concert," Kelly smiled,

"Yes!" Katie cheered, popping up from behind the couch.

"So... What do you say, guys? You want to come back to L.A. and take one more shot at the big time?"

Looking at each other, "No," Kendall answered. Emily's face dropped and Gustavo crushing the cup. "Gustavo, we're tired of being pushed around. We're gonna be a band. We're not gonna be a band. What you want. What Griffin doesn't want." He complained. "I want a hockey scholarship."

Emily sighed, knowing it must be hard on them, but also finally understanding the hockey jersey and lab coat Logan was wearing.

"I want to be a doctor."

"And I," Carlos said, posing, "want to make the world a safer place." Emily "oh'ed" in realization as to why he was wearing a superhero costume with a meteor on the front.

"You didn't even say good-bye," Kendall said, hurt.

"I'm not good at good-byes!" Gustavo defended. "But I believe in you. And you've taught me things. Other things that I'm not good at, like friendship and loyalty," he said, nodding slightly to Emily. "And family. Can I-can I stop now?"

"You're doing great," Mrs. Knight reassured him.

"If we go back, our album will be released, right?" Carlos confirmed.

"Once people see your concert, everything else will fall into place," Gustavo said, standing.

"We're almost positive," Emily mentioned, a nervous smile.

"So you want us to pack up everything, again, for a concert that may or may not launch our album?" Kendall questioned, him and his friends standing.

"So we got a deal?" Gustavo asked.

"Yep."

A smile appearing on Emily's face. She stood on the small wooden coffee table, jumping into a hug with Kendall and Logan. As they put her down, she put an arm around Carlos, shaking his helmet.

"Let's get James," the boys said.

"Where is he?" Emily asked.

"He's not talking to us," Logan said.

"Oh, okay," Emily replied, confused.

Walking down to James' house, she never left the boys' sides.

"I'm no genius," Kendall said, "But I'd say you missed us," he smirked, looking at Emily.

"If you must know," she said, "I actually went out and found these four idiots, turned them into a band, and they're back at the Palm Woods waiting for me so we can play video games all night."

Kendall shoved Emily, the girl laughing. The boys smiled at her joke, not showing amusement.

The walked up to a house, the boys went up, knocked and stood back as an older man answered the door, wearing a leather jacket and had thick hair combed over, like his son.

"Mr. Diamond, we're looking for James," Kendall smiled.

"Sorry, guys." He said, "James left an hour ago for L.A. with a producer named, uh, Hawk."

Emily's stomach dropped. Kelly gasped. And Gustavo began screaming in agony.

***

Finally back in L.A., they brought everyone back to the studio.

"We are back!" Carlos cheered, walking down the hallway.

"Now, all we have to do is find James, tell him the band's back together, and-" Kendall planned, entering the lobby, seeing all the furniture gone.

"Oh, my gosh, the studio's been robbed!" Logan cried.

"This looks like a job for El hombre del flaming space rock man," Carlos said, pulling his shirt to reveal his suit underneath.

"The studio wasn't robbed," Emily told them.

"I had to sell everything to buy Big Time Rush back from Griffin, including my mansion. Oh, Kelly!" Gustavo cried.

"Don't worry, Gustavo. We won't let you down," Kendall told him.

"And you can stay with us at the Palm Woods," Mrs. Knight offered.

"Yeah, there's no money for the Palm Woods," Emily mentioned.

"Then where are we staying?" Katie asked.

The three grimaced, leading everyone into the studio. Equipment all gone and filled with cots.

"Welcome to the Rocque-Woods. It's not much, but," Kelly said,

"It's not much," Emily said, shrugging to the boys.

"And it's only temporary, until you guys rock the concert in four days," Gustavo said.

"And Big Time Rush gets some big time investors," Kelly chimed in.

"Then we go on tour, get your album released," Emily told them.

"Then I get my studio and my mansion back," Gustavo cheered.

"This'll be fine," Mrs. Knight said, unconvincingly. "We can do this. And see how positive I'm remaining?"

"But before we do anything, we need to find James. And get rehearsals started up again."

"Got it; we'll go straight to the Palm Woods so I can see Jo," Kendall said, running out.

"What he really means is, maybe somebody at the Palm Woods has seen Camille-I mean James," Logan stuttered, leaving next.

"This looks like a job for... "Carlos said, "My still-unnamed superhero." He turned, jumping, falling onto the ground flat, not able to fly.

Gustavo groaned.

Emily smiled, "I got it," she told them, picking Carlos up and pushing him to walk.

***

Bitters wouldn't tell Emily where and if James was staying at the Palm Woods.

Thankfully, Camille and Jo had seen him. He was in the crib.

Standing anxiously in front of the door, Kendall rang the doorbell, a gong sound playing.

"May I help you?" A older, British man asked, answering the door.

"Yeah, we're looking for James," Kendall said, unsure,

"Do come in."

"We shall come in," Logan repeated, everyone hesitantly entering.

"This is our old apartment?" Kendall said in disbelief. Everything was modern. A giant portrait of James on the wall, silver stairs where the slide used to be.

"Those are sushi chefs," Emily commented, eyeing the sushi bar in the kitchen.

"Oh!" Carlos cried, "And what happened to swirly?"

"Hey, what are you guys doing here?" Emily turned, seeing James run down the stairs in a silk robe. "I mean, what are you guys doing here?" He repeated, coldly.

Big Time Rush is back together," Emily told him, a big smile.

"Yes, so let's get dressed and go," Logan told him.

Yeah, and what happened to swirly?"

"We got to get back to Rocque Records to get ready for the concert," Kendall said.

"Yeah! No," James responded, Emily's smile dying. "You see, Hawk signed me to a three-record deal, modified the crib to suit my new personal style, and gave me Sebastian!" He smiled, showing off his butler who answered the door.

"Hot towel, gentlemen?"

Emily tried to warn the boys, but they'd already taken the towels and put them on their faces, collapsing to the ground in pain from the heart. Hawk's towels were known for being sorching hot.

As soon as they recovered, "And, as I recall, you were the ones who told me to get real and move on, so I did," James said, pointedly.

"You said what?" Emily asked.

"Megaphone for emphasis, sir?" Sebastian asked, holding a tray with a megaphone.

"Ooh, yeah. I rock!" James shouted.

"James, I was mad, okay?" Kendall defended. "We shouldn't have broken up the band. But we've always promised since we were peewee hockey players that we would stick together."

"Ooh, and you've never broken a promise?"

The boys grimaced, realizing something. "We might be horrible people," Logan winced.

"But we'll fix it. But first, we need to fix the band," Kendall said. "James, we're sorry. Now, let's go."

Emily sighed heavily, getting anxious and desperately needing to leave the apartment.

"He's not going anywhere," A voice called, coming down the stairs.

An uneasy feeling formed in Emily's stomach as she looked up, seeing Hawk enter the room with a blonde following. "Because he's got everything he needs here. Right, James?"

"Some toys or money, sir?" Sebastian asked.

James smiled, picking a rubik's cube, "You guys told me to move on, so I did!"

"Tempting isn't it, Emily?" Hawk said, the girl's hands sweating as he spoke. "And now my assistant, Rebecca, will show you the door."

"She's gonna show us the door?" Kendall mocked.

Rebecca, the blonde assistant, proceeded to kick the boys with force, Logan having the run away in surrender.

Emily remained in place.

"Leaving, Emily? Or would you care to stay?" Hawk asked, an evil undertone. Emily slowly lifted her eyes, watching James, who seemed so content with where he was. Hurt, Emily glared at James until she turned and left the apartment containing the devil inside.

***

"What do you mean James isn't coming back?" Gustavo yelled, sitting at the box table.

Katie used her boxes containing BTR merchandise to create a table, couch, and all the essentials.

"He got a three-record deal," Kendall reminded him.

"And his own Sebastian," Carlos cried.

They came back to the studio, regretfully told Gustavo everything, and sat down for lunch.

"I could get you a three-record deal and a Sebastian," Gustavo said. "What's a Sebastian?" He whispered to Emily who hadn't touched her sandwich.

"Gustavo, we're eating pb&j on box furniture," Logan said.

"You just have to nail this concert!"

"What concert?" Emily turned, seeing Katie in the corner. "There's no Big Time Rush without James."

Emily knew there wasn't.

"Then we'll find a new James," Kendall thought, standing. "If he thinks he can do without us, then we can do without him."

"He's right," Kelly nodded. "Bands replace members all the time."

"The Rolling Stones had three guitarists," Mrs. Knight said.

"Destiny's Child replaced every member except for Beyonce."

"And there have been three Britney Spears," Gustavo said.

Emily looked up, "You sure about that?" She retorted.

"Let's get a new James," the boys declared.

***

Emily formed a small box table in the studio for auditions. She cleared the cots and stacked boxes against the walls.

Gustavo and Kelly put out ads with her last paycheck to find the newest member.

James had moved on, but she felt guilty about doing the same.

"Hey," Kendall greeted, the boys coming in.

"Do you guys feel weird about this?" She asked, kicking an extra box to the wall.

They looked at each other, sighing.

"Yeah," Logan admitted.

"But we need a James," Carlos said, as if he was convincing himself.

"We are not going to feel sorry about this," Kendall told them. "James decided to leave. When one of your forwards get traded, do you only play two, or do you substitute?" Kendall asked, Emily staring with wide eyes, not understanding a word he said.

"Substitute," Carlos and Logan said, more confident in their choice.

"What's a forwards?" Emily asked, raising her hand.

"A hockey position," Carlos answered.

"Why can't you play with two?"

"You need a left, center, and right wing on the ice," Logan responded.

"Why'd he get traded?"

"Emily, it's a metaphor!" Kendall shouted. The girl threw up her hands in defense, seeing Gustavo and Kelly come in with the final list of people auditioning.

"Okay, guys," Kelly said, "Time to find New James."

"Let's do this!" Gustavo cheered, the first guy walking in.

He had the boy band look, and even did the spirit finger thing James does.

"Make it count," he sang. Emily felt her ear drums burst. "Play it straight, don't look down-"

"Next!" Gustavo shouted.

"It's 'don't look back,'" Emily mumbled to Logan.

The auditions couldn't have gone worse. There was a hip-hop, rapper wannabe, a guy from a mariachi band, a monk, a really geeky kid, another rapper, a gothic dude, an older cowboy, an opera singer, who shattered Gustavo's glasses.

They were down to the last guy, Skippy Hickenlooper.

They all groaned, laying their heads on the table in defeat.

"If you want it all, lay it on the line." Emily lifted her head, hearing a strong voice sing in front of her.

The guy was cute, had the boy band look, and could sing.

"It's the only life you got so you gotta live it big time," he sang, going into a backflip.

"Welcome to Big Time Rush," Gustavo congratulated him. 

Emily smiled at Logan, finally finding someone worth it.

"I'm so excited," he gushed. "I must now tell my dark overlord, Zorblok."

They all looked forward, confused. The boy bent down, "Lord Zorblok, the time of prophecy is upon us," he said, in a dark voice. Emily looked on in shock, her mouth wide open. Then he started spinning in a circle, still bent over. He ran up and threw himself into the boxes, letting him body fall to the ground.

"I'll say it," Emily said, getting her team's attention, "BTR is a trio," she hummed, taking the audition sheets and walking out.

***

Emily looked on in misery, watching the three boys perform Famous in the studio. The choreography was wrong and it sounded wrong without James' higher tone.

She sighed, taking off her headset, unable to fix the sound.

"Stop, stop, stop, stop!" Gustavo shouted, the boys sighing.

"Need I remind you that we have a concert in two days? And I put everything on the line for you," Gustavo yelled from his place in the booth. "And you stink!"

"Yeah, well, the choreography is completely different with just the three of us," Logan reminded him.

"Everything's different with just the three of us," Carlos mumbled, looking hopeless at his friends.

"Look, don't worry. We'll figure this out. Have we ever let you down?" Kendall assured him.

Gustavo let out a sarcastically laugh, "Have they ever let me down?" He asked, looking at the people beside him in the booth. They all shook their heads.

"No," Emily answered, obviously.

"That's not the point," Gustavo said, "The point is, James is not coming back. Now, I don't care what you sing, but look like you're enjoying it, or I will destroy all of you!"

Emily saw Kendall get a smug look on his face.

"Oh, you're such a turd, oh, yeah, a giant turd," Kendall sang, Gustavo throwing his head on the board and the boys laughing in remembrance.

"And you look like a turd and you smell like a turd. Oh, you're such a turd." Emily stiffed a laugh, watching them used the choreography to perform their song.

"Well, they do seem to be enjoying it," Mrs. Knight hummed from beside Emily.

"And you-"

"Sme-e-e-eel-ell like a turd."

At the sound of an all too familiar voice, Emily shifted her vision to the boy who stood in the doorway, surprising the entire room.

Emily gasped, seeing James. She pushed back from her chair, darting out of the booth into the main studio. The boys were greeting their friend in excitement.

As Carlos set James down, Emily ran up and jumped on the boy, her arms tightly around him.

"Big time rush is back together," Carlos cheered.

"Yeah, I felt bad knowing how much you all missed me," James joked, squeezing Emily before letting her go. 

"And you're not gonna miss the cool pad, the hot towels, and Sebastian?" Logan smirked.

"Yes, no, and yes."

"Well, don't sweat it, because once we nail the concert, we're gonna go back to the Palm Woods. and get our own Sebastian, right?" Kendall smiled cheekily at Gustavo.

"What about Hawk?" Emily wondered, giving Gustavo a fearful glance.

"We'll talk about your Sebastian later," Gustavo said. "And we've got bigger problems than Hawk, as in the concert is in two days. And we haven't sold a single ticket. And all the posters are now wrong!" He yelled, pointing to the posters with only three members.

"Don't worry. Katie will donate her posters," Mrs. Knight smiled.

"No, I won't."

"Katie, donate them!" She yelled, scarily, Emily cowering back.

"Okay. But I get concession space for my hats and t-shirts," Katie bargained. 

"Deal. Kelly, what money do we have left in the budget for street team advertising and local tv spots?" Gustavo asked.

Kelly winced, pulling a few items out of her pocket, "We got 5 bucks and a punch card gor one free Schmetzel's Pretzel."

"I'll take a pretzel," Emily shrugged.

"We'll go back to the Palm Woods and get some street team volunteers," Kendall suggested.

"And I think I may know a way we can get some free tv spots," Logan chimed.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Gustavo asked. "I can't sell this band to investors if we don't sell out the concert. Go! Go! Go! Go! Get out of here!"

The group jumped running out of the studio together.

Running down the hallway, Emily spirited faster than their jog, leaping onto James' back. The boy flew forward in surprise, catching her.

"Did you have coffee today?" Logan asked, laughing at her wild spirit.

"I'm just happy," she responded, arms around James' shoulders.

***

Emily spent the day with James and Carlos tripping people walking out of the subway, and "catching" them so they could tape a flier for the concert on their backs.

Emily curled up on the box couch in the lobby, thinking about the insanity that was the past few days and how her emotions have been everywhere.

She was happy, sad, angry, depressed, scared, lonely, excited, and relieved.

Gustavo exited his office, ready to go to bed on one of the cots. "Hey," he said, seeing Emily by herself. "I've been meaning to ask you," he said, looking behind him to make sure everyone else was in the studio with the doors shut. "What happened with Hawk?"

Emily sighed, picking at her finger. "He did what I expected. I didn't talk to him, but he definitely knows how to get to me," she told the man.

"And the dogs?"

Emily anxiously shook her head, "They have no idea."

Gustavo sighed, "We just have to nail the concert tomorrow night and I'll handle everything," he said, standing, motioning with his hand for Emily to follow. "Let's go."

***

The day was amazing. Carlos and James woke Emily up with coffee, then dared her to cover the street corner in fliers, which she most certainly had the energy to do.

By call time, the show was sold out.

Emily walked out of the boys dressing room, placing small presents around the room and cards for them to read for motivation. He had lots of toys and teas and corn dogs and everything the boys love waiting for them.

She clapped to herself, energetically heading around backstage looking for them to be the first to introduce them to their dressing room. At the end of the hall, Emily saw the boys jumped and run through large doors declaring it was their dressing room with red velvet curtains inside.

Confused, the girl jogged down the hallway, tore the curtain to the side to see the boys standing in a very small dressing room that definitely wasn't meant for them.

"Guys, what are you doing?" She asked, walking in.

"Em, this is a little small, don't you think?" Kendall asked.

As she stepped into the room, it began vibrating.

"This isn't your dressing room," she told them.

The sound of metal grinding turned Emily around to see Hawk's assistant pulling a large metal door down, locking them into a truck.

"It's a trap!" Logan shouted.

All the boys ran up, banging on the door to be let go.

Emily's chest tightened. Her vision got spotty. In an act of pure panic, she threw herself against the sides of the truck, her shoulder screaming with pain.

The boys turned, concerned, trying to get her to stop.

As she went for the third time, Carlos caught her, pulling her off the wall before she could slam into it again.

"Em, you have to breathe," Logan instructed.

Hyperventilating, she pushed herself out of Carlos' hold.

"You don't have to be scared," Kendall tried to tell her as she paced to the small table in the back, throwing a bottle at the walls, tears beginning to form in her eyes.

"Of course I have to be scared," Emily shouted. "It's Hawk!"

James scoffed, also panicking, "I'm sorry, I don't understand. We're going to miss the concert and you're worried about Hawk?"

Emily let out a whimper, her hand running down her face as her body continued moving, "I used to work for him!" She screamed, a tear falling. She didn't want to tell them today. "I w-was his assistant, I did whatever he asked me to. And he got me off the street and provided everything," Emily started explaining, taking massive breaths. "And," she paused, biting her fist, "the way he treated me," her voice cracked, "he was verbally abusive and manipulative, and hit me a few times," she admitted, not able to look at the boys anymore. "And of course I stayed! I had nothing. I needed a place to live and food to eat and money and no one else was offering," she cried, collapsing into one of the two chairs in the truck.

She choked out a sob, "And finally I met Gustavo, and he hated Hawk, and found out what was happening, and he offered me a job."

Logan sat in the other chair, not touching her, "Why didn't you press charges?" He asked, horrified to hear every word coming out of her mouth.

She laughed darkly, "I was a kid and he's an incredibly powerful and well-respected man. There's a very small chance I would win," she admitted, biting her tongue hard.

Finally quieting down, the boys all looked at each other in shock, unsure how to handle the situation now.

Kendall spoke first, kneeling in front of her, "I am so sorry that happened to you. But it's nothing to be embarrassed about," he assured her, wanting her to be strong and confident again.

"We would never think any less of you," Logan told her.

Carlos sat on the arm of her chair, "But if we're going to make the concert, we can't do this without you," the boy said, striking a nerve in Emily.

She slowly lifted her head, eyes bloodshot. "I can't believe I just said all that," she gasped, breathing back to normal.

"You had a panic attack," Logan reminded her.

James stood behind Kendall, "We promise, nothing is going to happen, okay?" He told her, all the boys nodded at the girl, hoping to put her at ease.

Nodding, she met each of their gazes for the first time since calming down, "Okay."

The truck stopped, the teens bodies shifting at the sudden movement. Emily bit the inside of her cheek.

The door flew up, Hawk and his assistant, Rebecca, standing there.

All sounds muffled in Emily's ears and she froze seeing Rebecca and Hawk drag Carlos out. Rebecca stood in front of the others, threatening to attack them again with her jujitsu.

Carlos vanished, the door shutting them in again. The boys paced.

"What are we going to do?" Emily asked, standing beside them.

"We can't attack them," Logan reasoned. "That woman knows how to make it hurt," he grimaced.

"You ran!" Kendall shouted, reminding his friend. The door opened again. "Where's Carlos?" Kendall demanded. The two smirked, taking Kendall next.

"Oh my god they going to kill us," James mumbled in fear.

"Stop, we have to plan this strategically. We don't have a lot of time. So, when they come back, James you're going to jump on Rebecca, don't die. Em, you make a run for it and find Kendall and Carlos. I'm going to distract Hawk with this pendulum I can craft from the-"

The door swung open, Hawk and Rebecca snatching Logan as his back was turned.

"Okay, what do we do now?" Emily asked, turning to James in a panic.

"You're asking me? I'm not the smart one!" He exclaimed.

"And I'm obviously not stable enough to rationalize any kind of a plan!"

James sighed in exasperation. "We're dead."

"James," Emily said, nervously looking at the ground. "I really don't want to be alone," she said, breathing heavily, anticipating Hawk to return to take one of them next.

"We're going to be fine," James told her. The door raised, Hawk and Rebecca pulling James out, who screamed fearfully.

Emily was left alone in the truck only with her anxious thoughts wondering where her friends were taken.

Pacing back and forth, she stomach twisted when it opened again.

"Wish you were still working for me, now?"

***

Rebecca and Hawk dragged Emily into the empty warehouse. The boys were all tied to chairs in the center of the room. They shoved Emily into the fifth chair, circling the ropes tightly around her wrists and torso.

"Are-are you gonna kill us?" James asked.

"No, don't be stupid," Hawk scoffed. "But when Big Time Rush misses their first concert, your music careers will be dead."

James screamed, more horrified at that than actually dying.

"And more importantly, so will Gustavo's chances of ever topping me on the charts again."

"We'll tell Gustavo where to find you and your phones once the crowd boos and abandons the concert," Rebecca smirked, holding up all their phones which they took when securing each of them down.

"When you mess with the Hawk, you get all ten talons."

"Hawks actually only have eight talons," Logan corrected.

"I don't care!"

"Okay, just telling you."

"But I do want to catch your concert, so I don't miss the look on Gustavo's face when he loses everything," he smirked evilly, giving his former assistant a pointed look.

Emily scoffed, looking forward at the cold concrete.

"Have something to say, Ms. Moore?" She remained silent, trying not to show the man he could still break her. "You never really were one for speaking up," Hawk snickered, twirling a piece for her blonde curls in his hand.

Emily's lips shook as she pulled herself away.

"Hey," Carlos warned.

"Leave her alone," Kendall spoke up.

Hawk stepped back, smirking. He threw his "talons" up, "Caw! Caw!"

And they left.

"Are you okay?" James asked the girl beside him, struggling in his chair.

"No, we're going to miss the concert," Emily cried, tipping her chair back and forth.

"Em, don't do that," Logan said, wincing at what would happen.

"No, it's fine. When I fall, the chair will break and I can get us out of here," She huffed, rocking the chair forcefully to the side, gravity pulling her down. The boys groaned seeing her fall, the chair still intact. "Hmm," Emily hummed, seeing herself tied to the chair that's now holding her sideways.

"We can't all be superheroes," Carlos told her.

Emily sighed, feeling her blood rush down into her left arm. "I'm sorry, guys."

"Don't be. We can still get out," Kendall said.

"I have a question," Logan mumbled, eyeing the girl on the ground who couldn't see him. "I'm no doctor-"

"You basically are," Emily interjected.

"But I have to know, did something else happen with Hawk?"

Emily went silent. The other boys looked in confusion, not understanding how Logan caught on.

"How'd you know?" She asked, tears welling in her eyes.

"It's basic victim psychology," Logan told her softly.

"What? Victim?" James questioned.

Emily took a deep breath, hoping to say what she needed to say, and they could all move on. "I didn't plan on telling anyone this, so thank you Dr. Mitchell," she grumbled sarcastically. "When I worked for Hawk, I was sexually assaulted," she admitted, her voice barely audible.

"Oh my god," Carlos gasped, unable to speak.

"Em..."

"I'm sorry."

"You didn't have to tell-"

"I want to stop talking about it," Emily said, taking a deep breath. "We need to focus on the problem at hand."

"Really?" James asked. Emily hummed in response. "Help!" James screamed in response, calling for help.

"Don't worry, best friends of mine, for this looks like a job for..." Carlos grunted, beginning to hop away.

"Carlos, not now," Kendall grumbled.

"Yes, now! 'cause it's time...for..."

"Carlos!"

"- I can do this!"

"Carlos, you don't understand," Logan told him.

"No, you don't understand."

"Carlos, we're trying to help you," Kendall sang.

"I'm trying to help you!"

"You're not looking where you're hopping!" James screamed.

"Where is he hopping?" Emily shouted, wishing she hadn't rocked the chair.

"I can do this. It's time for-" Carlos' voice drowned out, screamed echoing away.

"Well, we tried to tell him," Logan sighed.

"What happened?" Emily asked, alerted.

Next thing she heard was the boys gasping in delight, "Ha! You really are a superhero!" James gushed.

"No, I'm a pop star," Carlos said, a booming voice. "Who wants to rock that concert, get our album released, and get chased by lots of girls."

"Then untie us!" Kendall demanded.

"Wait, did he break the chair?" Emily asked, disappointed.

"He's a superhero," James pointed out.

Emily rolled her eyes. She heard the boys getting up, thanking Carlos. Then the girl felt her body being pulled upward. Back in an upright position, Kendall and Carlos began untying the girl. When they were loose enough, Emily stretched them forward, shimming out.

"We gotta go," she mumbled, breaking out into a sprint with the boys, breaking out of the warehouse.

Seeing daylight, Emily pushed the doors open, running around the corner out of the alley to the main road. Downtown.

"Oh, we're downtown! We're never gonna make it to the concert in time," Logan cursed.

"No concert means no album, means no Big Time Rush," James cried.

Without her phone, Emily couldn't even call a ride for the boys. She was at a loss until a black limo stretched in front of them, the window rolling down to reveal Sebastian.

"Anyone need a ride to the Big Time Rush concert?" He asked.

"Sebastian?" James questioned. 

"You work for Hawk," Emily said, shaking her head. 

"I quit. Now, get in."

The boys cheered, piling in the limo. Emily prayed it wasn't another trap, but saw no alternative.

***

To make matters worse... Traffic.

Oh, how I hate L.A. Traffic... and superficiality and-" Sebastian began complaining.

"Sebastian, we're late!" Logan, Carlos, and Kendall all shouted.

"We have to get there," Emily pleaded.

"Just, please!" James cried. 

"I'm going to lose my California limousine license for this," the man sighed, before the limousine suddenly screeched, taking off.

"Guys, we don't have much time," Emily said, leaning forward. "As soon as we get backstage, you have to change. I will take care of mics and everything else, okay?" She nodded.

"Got it," the confirmed, worried.

Before they knew it, the limo spun, stopping.

"Arrived," Sebastian cheered.

The group thanked the man profusely. Emily swung open the backstage door.

"Down the hall, make a left, first doors on your right!" Emily shouted, running opposite of the boys, looking for their mics. She stumbled into the sound station backstage. "Mics," she demanded. The man handed her all four, giving her an unsure look. Emily took off running into the wings, meeting up with the boys in the doorway. "Wow, you're fast," she gushed, not believing it was humanly possible.

They ran in, seeing Gustavo falling backwards, fainting. James and Kendall stepped over, catching him before he dropped.

"Oh, we got you."

"Sorry we're late, Gustavo."

"Yeah, we got a little tied up," Logan snapped, looking over to Rebecca and Hawk who stood in shock they made it.

"The people are leaving," Carlos noticed.

"We're gonna need some microphones," James smirked as Emily tossed each member a mic. 

"Oh. Gah! Do something!" Hawk cursed. Rebecca stepped up, ready to attack. 

"Hot towel, sir?" Sebastian asked, stepping out from the back. Two towels hit the two criminals in the face, them falling to the ground in agonizing pain. 

"Hit it!" Gustavo shouted.

Famous began playing.

Emily stood off stage, smiling as she watched the boys perform her song as the opening number.

Commotion interrupted her moment. She turned with Gustavo and Kelly, seeing executives crowding the man, begging to sign the band. A tall man, Griffin, pushed them out of the way.

"A three-record deal, a worldwide tour, and immediate release of their album."

Emily stepped forward, "My job back, his mansion, the studio fully restocked," she listed.

"And the dogs want something called a Sebastian," Gustavo added.

"Done."

"And I want you to go straight back to that studio and write 100 times, "I will never do this to big time rush again,'" Kelly snapped. Griffin nodded, taking off.

Emily smirked, fist bumping her team.

***

Girls quickly invaded the stage and chased the boys out of the venue and down the street.

Emily didn't see them again until after the concert back in her apartment she got to live in again.

After getting all their phones back, she texted the boys, if they weren't dead, to meet her in her place after the concert.

Instead of knocking, the boys broke right in, cheering and shouting, making Emily spill her tea.

She set it aside, not caring and started jumping in excitement with them.

"We did it!"

"We're famous!"

"Girls chased us!"

"And our album is released!"

"And Hawk is in jail!"

The five laughed, high fiving each other.

"So, does that mean..." Logan trailed off, looking at Emily in thought along with the other boys.

"Look, knowing is one thing and actually talking about it is another, and I'm not there yet," Emily told them, shutting the conversation down, wanting the night to be about them.

"Then should we talk about how tomorrow we leave for tour?" James exclaimed, the group jumping back into the screams and cheers of excitement.

The musical journey continues.

***

8389 words...

This was exhausting and insane to write. I hope you all loved the first part of this book.

With that said, we gotta talk about a few things. First, how do people feel about mild cursing here and there? Second, Emily. I felt that it was important to give her a real backstory. More to be revealed in the future of course with some original chapters following her story more. I also felt I could use Hawk's evil nature in a stronger way and I hope everyone liked it and how it was written and handled for the time being.

I'm super anxious to see all y'all's thoughts on this chapter!