It had been only a weekend since the prom and Emily spent it all with Jo and Camille trying to figure out where her head was at.

She told the guys she was sick so she wouldn't have to see them, mainly James.

James had taken another girl to Prom, a hotter girl, to win king, and it totally caught her off guard. Her and James weren't exclusive. They weren't dating. They barely kissed since the beach, but that was the agreement. To take it slow and see what could happen.

And yet, Emily still felt furious with him. She really thought they would go together and become official. They hadn't talked about it, so she guilted herself into not being mad. But to not have an explanation from him made her mad again.

This is why she locked herself in her room all weekend. Her emotions couldn't be trusted.

Monday finally rolled around and unless Emily could figure things out, she'd have to continue the lie and tell Gustavo she was sick and couldn't work.

Outside her apartment, Jo and Camille sighed to each other, unsure what to expect. They spent a majority of Saturday with her, talking it over, and quickly discovered she would scattered. The girls agreed to regroup on Monday and see how a day alone treated her. Her friends didn't know what to expect.

Camille knocked on the door.

"Come in!"

Jo shrugged, opening the door at ease, expecting Emily to be sleep deprived and dead on the couch. Camille bet she had been drinking caffeine nonstop and was bouncing off the walls.

Emily smiled as her friends entered the apartment, taking off her oven mitts. The girl had just taken a tray of muffins out of the oven, setting it on the stove to cool before popping them out. The rest of her kitchen and counters were covered with muffins of all flavors.

Camille held back a laugh at the sight of the hundreds of pastries while Jo gaped, approaching her slowly.

"What's all this?" Jo questioned.

Emily leaned against the counter, "Well, Carlos sat outside for hours yesterday and refused to leave me alone until he could do something for me because I'm "sick,'" she told them with air quotes, "so I sent him to the store and I've been baking muffins ever since."

"I can tell."

Camille nodded to the tower of blueberry muffins, taking on. Emily eagerly nodded, happy to share. "I can't tell if this is a good thing or a bad thing," Camille hummed as she peeled off the bottom wrapper.

Emily looked around, inspecting for good work, contemplating her answer while Jo shook her head in disbelief, "This is bad," she told them. "I love you, but this is insane."

"I think it's delicious," Camille mumbled, giving Em a thumbs up.

Emily, ashamed, "She's right. I did all this without a drop of coffee," she admitted. The girl couldn't stop thinking about James. She even had multiple nightmares and dreams about her current situation and the only way to clear her mind of it was occupying herself with anything else.

Jo pulled out the stool, sitting down, giving in and having a muffin for herself, "Where's your head at today?"

Emily rubbed her face, stressed, "I don't know," she admitted. "I feel more rational thinking it through, but I can't ignore how upset I am."

"Again," Camille stated, "Logan is the one who convinced James of all this."

Emily shook her head, "Logan doesn't know about us and is completely out of the scenario," she told her. Logan may be the reason this was happening, but not intentionally, not vindictively, and completely unaware something was wrong. He had no obligation towards Emily.

Jo nodded, "And you are James aren't official and never talked about when you would open that up," Jo told her. Each time the girls tried to talk Emily out of her guilt for being upset with the boy, all Emily did was defend him and repeat those facts.

"But he still should've talked to me, right?"

"Right," they both snapped, a small smile on their faces as their friend starting thinking the way they wanted her to.

Emily winced to herself, becoming overwhelmed as she found herself rambling and pulling out the flour and measure cups to unconsciously make yet another batch of muffins. "And what if this is the sign I've been looking for, the thing I was afraid of. What if James really is just like this and no amount of time or official-ness would change that? Maybe it was just a matter of time. But I don't know if I want to end whatever's happening, maybe I just forget the whole thing. But what does that say about m-"

Jo tore the bag of flour out of her grasp, a cloud of smoke exploding from the aggressive force on the bag, "You have to stop."

Camille sighed, giving her friend a sympathetic smile, "I know you really like James, and I know you're afraid of what might happen if you and James can't work things out."

Jo nodded, "But this is why you didn't tell anyone. You can't say for sure everything will change with the guys if they have no clue what's happening."

Camille pointed to her and Jo, giving Emily a stern look, "We think James was out of line, and you should feel validated in being upset."

"And we also think you're too good of a person to let someone treat you like this whether you realize it or not," Jo said.

The girl shrugged in shoulders, defeated, "I don't know where his head is at," Emily mumbled.

"That's why you should talk to him!" Jo exclaimed.

"And stop baking," Camille exasperated. "Go into work, feel it out, and get alone with James to know what step to take next," she advised.

"Will you go with me?" Emily muttered, giving her friend's the Emily equivalent to puppy-dog eyes.

Jo rolled her eyes, hopping off the stool, "No, as much as we love you, you're on your own now."

Camille gave Emily a quick squeeze, "We've done all we can for now, and we'll be right back here the second you need us again," she promised.

Jo gave her a pointed nod, as the two left the apartment, "And if you're not dressed and leaving for the studio in 30 minutes, I'm telling Carlos about all the muffins and he'll be up here himself," she threatened, knowing if Carlos heard about the baking going on, there'd be no force stopping him from confronting Emily and getting her out of her isolation.

"Love you," Emily groaned, detesting their orders and she shuffled her way into her bedroom to get dressed.

"Oh!" Jo popped her head back in through the cracked door, "I find out about the movie in a few hours. Please be there with us when I get the call," Jo pleaded.

Jo was up for a major movie deal. She'd been going back and forth through screen tests, readings, and auditions for months. Today she finally found out if the role was hers or not.

"Of course I'll be there," Emily told her. No matter how badly she wanted to avoid the guys, Jo came first. Even if it meant the whole crew being there with Kendall.

Jo blew her a kiss, shutting the door, and leaving the conflicted girl alone.

Emily groaned, spinning in a circle, as she whined before forcing herself to get ready.

***

Before going into the studio, Jo suddenly barged into her apartment, screaming how the call was coming soon.

She dragged Emily to the crib where all the guys were anticipating the news.

"Em!" They cried, finally seeing their friend again.

"You feeling better?" Logan asked.

Emily gave a small nod, "Yeah, thanks," she told him, sitting on a small ottoman with Jo. Her phone was on the table in the center.

"This is so exciting!" Carlos exclaimed.

"I know!" Logan cried, unable to contain his excitement, "I can't believe you're up for Emily in the new Chauncy Jackson film."

Jo shrugged, nervously smiling, "It's an honor to be considered worthy enough to play an Emily," Jo joked, bumping shoulders with the name-sharing best friend besides her.

Emily stiffed a small laugh, holding Jo's hand.

"Jo Taylor starring in Chauncy Jackson and the Magic Gallows," Kendall dramatically said.

"I've read every book of the series," Jo said.

"Yeah, and every actress in town wants this role," James reminded her.

Carlos laughed, "It would be awful if they didn't hire you!"

"Carlos," his four friends snapped.

"I mean, to get this close to the role of a lifetime and not get it?" He exclaimed, trying to explain but only making the actress more on edge.

"Carlos!"

"Guys," Jo shouted, "I'm fine if I don't get it," she assured them. "I just want the phone to ring!"

As if it heard her, Jo's phone started ringing, a call from her agent coming through. They all jumped. Emily slapped Jo's arm, "It's ringing. It's ringing," she muttered.

Jo jumped up, answered the call, and stood nervously, "Hello? Uh-huh." Jo had a smile break out on her face, "I got the part?" She exclaimed.

Emily and the guys all jumped to their feet, screaming in celebration as the guys each popped a mini-confetti canon.

"It's a three movie deal?" Jo repeated, excitedly jumping with Emily as streamers and confetti fell around them. "It's shooting in New Zealand for three years?"

Emily and Kendall were the only ones who registered what the girl said, not cheering this time. Shocked, and empty, Emily just stared at her friend.

"They want me to leave this week?" Jo said, locking eyes with Kendall, who didn't know what to do.

Carlos started cheering, the last one to catch on. Logan held him down, stopping him from jumping.

"Oh, oh?" Jo asked, focusing on the phone call. "Really? Okay, bye." Hanging up she shrugged, "The agent said I can't do the movie if I don't get out of my New Town High contract," Jo explained to Kendall. Emily stood back, wishing her friend didn't have to make such a difficult decision.

"But if you do get out of the contract," Carlos mentioned, "then you go to New Zealand for three years and your relationship is-"

"Carlos!"

"I'll find out more after I talk to my agent. Good-bye kiss?" She said, stepping in to kiss Kendall. She turned to her best friend, "Walk me out?" She offered, knowing Emily didn't want to be alone with the guys now.

Emily nodded, silently, still processing the news, as she fell in step with Jo.

Walking down the hallway to the elevator together, "This is big news," Emily said.

Jo nodded, "I know," distracted in her own head.

"If you get out of the contract, you would go, right?" Emily questioned, in the elevator.

Jo sighed, "I don't know."

Emily shrugged, "We can bake muffins while you figure it out." Emily smiled seeing a small laugh come to her friends face in the midst of her crisis.

Jo nodded at her, as they reached the lobby, "We'll talk later, yeah?"

"Yeah."

***

Lucky for her, Gustavo gave her a heads up and asked her not to join the guys in the studio. He said it was a waste of her time. They were just handing out lyrics and demos to the guys for a new song, Worldwide, and he would be yelling at them to stay away.

A Latin pop star, Selana, was recording her first english album in the studio for a few days and he did not want the chaos of Big Time Rush around.

And Jo was back from her meeting.

Emily waited by her door. Jo didn't have a chance to fully knock before Emily swung it open.

"Well?" She demanded.

Jo poured into the room, collapsing on the couch.

"It's complicated," she mumbled into a pillow.

Emily rolled in eyes in confusion, "No, it's not. You can either do the movie or you can't."

Jo sat up, "I can do the movie." Inside Emily's heart dropped as her mouth hung open, not sure what to say. "But I'm not."

Her body sunk down besides Jo on the couch, "Why?" She asked, no expecting her to turn down the role.

Jo sighed, "I saw Kendall in the lobby," she told her, "and I knew I had to stay."

"Does Kendall know?" She hesitantly asked.

"No," Jo quickly answered. "And you cannot tell him, please," she begged.

Emily sighed, "You'd give this up for him?" She questioned. As much as she didn't want her best friend to leave, it didn't sit right with the girl knowing why she wouldn't leave.

Jo tilted her head at Emily, narrowing her eyes, "Gee, it's really frustrating when your best friend makes decision based off a guy."

"I feel like we're turning the tables back on me," Emily stated, not wanting Jo to yell at her for not talking to James.

"Did you talk to James?"

Emily sighed, avoiding Jo's stare, "Gustavo told me I didn't have to come into work, so I haven't had the chance," she defended herself. Before Jo could reprimand her, "But I think I would've worked it out. Not every relationship is perfect, and ours technically isn't a relationship yet."

Jo nodded, listening intently, "Kendall and I are having dinner tonight, so tomorrow," she said, "You and I and muffins in the morning?"

Emily rolled her eyes over to the mountain of muffins still in her kitchen, "I have plenty to spare." Jo chuckled as a text flew in on Emily's phone. Her mood fell down, Jo taking notice, as she read the text.

"What's wrong?" Jo asked.

Emily bit her lips together, dropping her phone into her lap, "Well, for one, Carlos refuses to get rid of the helmet. And two, apparently James and Selana are having a life-time relationship in the span of the three days she's here recording."

Jo gaped, shaking her head in confusion, "Selana? The Latin pop star?" Emily nodded.

"It's just a meaningless experiment," Emily mumbled, trying to excuse his behavior so her chest would stop hurting.

Jo shook her head firmly, "No, Em. I'm drawing the line," Jo told her. "He's all over the place and you need to go find him and talk right now," Jo demanded as she hauled Emily to her feet and pulled her out of her own apartment.

"I don't feel like it."

"I don't feel like lying to my boyfriend tonight over dinner, but we all have to make sacrifices," Jo told her, leading Emily into the elevator, pushed the button to the lobby and waved as the doors shut.

***

Emily walked into the studio, seeing no one in sight.

Gustavo walked out of his office, "Moore?" He questioned, not expecting to see his assistant for a few days. "Did you not get my messages?"

She nodded, "I did. I'm looking for James."

Her heel bounced in place as she looked around for him.

Gustavo rolled his eyes at the mention of the boy, "Ugh, he's busy having a romantic relationship."

Emily took a breath, "Gustavo, please. Just separate them for five minutes," she pleaded. Gustavo creased his forehead in confusion but nodded and went into the booth, shouting for James to get out.

After a moment of bickering, James grudgingly walked out of the booth, eyes widening to see Emily. "Em, hey, what are you doing here?" He asked.

"We need to talk."

The boy nodded, oblivious to what she wanted to talk about, "Okay?"

Emily shook her head desperately to herself, "I don't understand what's going on. First, you show up to Prom with another girl because she's hot enough to win you a stupid crown, and now you're engaged in a relationship with someone else?"

"Okay, Selana and I are having fun," he told her, not seeing how it was a big deal if it meant nothing. "And Aubrey was a huge let down and her bodyguards almost killed me, no thanks to you."

"James, we might not be in a real relationship but I thought we were getting there, and that it was real enough to take seriously."

James scoffed, "I take this seriously."

"Then why did you ask another girl to our prom?"

"You said you didn't want people to know about us, yet!"

"I thought that could've been our chance to let people know," she told him, wanting to raise her voice, but keeping it down so Gustavo couldn't listen.

"You should've told me," James told her, as if she should've known.

"I didn't know I had to ask you to not play with other girls," she spat back.

"I didn't know I had to ask you to not make out with my best friend."

The room went silent. Emily felt a hot wave flood her back as James snapped at her. It was two different circumstances. "That was different, I talked to you about it, and you said it was okay," she reminded him, in a low voice.

James shrugged, giving her a "what do you want me to say?" glare as the girl helplessly watched him.

"I can't decide if you're actually upset about that, or you're just using it to excuse your own behavior," Emily thought out loud, unable to look away from James, no matter how badly she wanted to run out.

"I haven't kissed anyone," James reminded her. Emily blankly stared at him, thinking she was in a dream and this argument wasn't real. She'd wake up from a nap and Jo would tell her to talk to James. She'd sit down and they'd come to an understanding. That wasn't the case. "I don't understand why you're so upset," James told her.

"You don't understand or you don't care?" She retorted.

James scoffed, rolling his eyes back, "Of course, I care."

Emily shook her head, "Could've fooled me."

She turned, walking out of the studio, ignoring the minimal shouts from James.

***

Muffins didn't take long enough to make.

That's why Emily traded all the muffins to Carlos for him to go back to the store and get her more ingredients to make scones in exchange for hiding his helmet from Kelly and Logan until he got back.

Carlos was far too preoccupied keeping his helmet safe and stuffing his face with muffins to take notice the girl was out of sorts and excessively baking.

When Jo arrived the next morning, she let the silence wash over the two girls as they ate scones together for half an hour before anyone spoke.

"I take it your talk didn't go well," Jo guessed, looking over Emily who was covered in flour, butter, and dough. Emily shook her head, as she stared off into space.

"And since you haven't yelled at me for stress baking a more complicated pastry, I take it dinner didn't go great," Emily stated.

Jo shook her head, holding back tears.

"We broke up."

Snapping Emily out of her daze, she turned to Jo, heart-stopped, "You broke up?"

Jo nodded, sniffling, "He was being such a jerk at dinner and he was rude and said awful things about how I would've bombed the part," Jo recounted.

Emily's eyes wandered in confusion. That didn't sound like Kendall. He would never treat Jo like that. It's like he wanted her to dump him.

Emily gasped. Realizing what happened. Jo turned, startled by her sudden energy spike. "Kendall knows about the contract."

"How?" Jo asked.

"Katie Knight is his sister," Emily reminded her. Katie once told Emily she read everyone's contracts. "Kendall would never, in a million years, let you turn this opportunity down because of him," Emily told her friend.

Jo sighed, broken hearted when everything made sense finally, "He wanted me to break up with him." Jo's head fell forward onto the counter. "I can't leave."

Emily shook her head, tracing her finger lightly down Jo's back, "You can't make any decisions without talking to him."

Jo took in a deep breath, cleaning the tears off her face as she put Kendall out of her mind and turned to Emily, "What happened with James?"

Emily picked up a scone, playing with it in her hand, "Well, I pretty much made up my mind after he compared everything he did to Logan and I kissing."

"He what?" Jo snapped. The girl bit her tongue, laughing bitterly as she held back all the awful things she wanted to say. "So you guys are done?"

Emily sarcastically hummed, "Since he doesn't have an ounce of common sense, I think I have to make it a little more clear for him." Emily turned to Jo, tucking her head on her shoulder, "You going to find Kendall."

Jo smiled sadly, "I will later," she decided, leaning her head onto her best friends.

***

It had been an hour since Jo left.

Emily had cleaned dishes from the muffins in that time and still had a major mess to go.

A soft knock called from the door. Emily threw her towel in the sink, going over to find Jo back again.

"Hey," Emily said, focusing on her bloodshot eyes. The girl stood there, waited for Jo to tell her what had her so upset.

"I leave tomorrow," Jo told her, choking out another sob. Tears burned in Emily's eyes when she realized Jo was taking the job and would be gone for years.

"You're taking the role?" Emily gasped. Jo nodded, her lip trembling. "What about Kendall?" She asked, holding tears back.

Jo looked over to the side. Emily leaned out her door seeing Kendall, waving sadly at her from down the hall. Jo shrugged, not knowing to how explain what her and Kendall would do.

Emily sniffled, brushing a tear away, "Okay," she smiled, laughing as she pulled Jo in for a hug, "This is so exciting!" She felt Jo sob as she tightly hugged her back.

Jo pulled away, "Would you want to join us for a picnic in the park?" Jo asked, wanting to spend her last day with her boyfriend and best friend.

Emily nodded, "Of course," she told her, shutting her door, linking her arms with Jo's and walking down towards Kendall. "I'm never gonna get my kitchen clean again," she told her.

Jo laughed, grabbing Kendall's hand, and led them to the park.

***

Emily planned to spend all day in bed crying because Jo was gone. Except she was woken up at 9 sharp from shouting and fighting on the floor below her.

After having a picnic with Jo and Kendall, Emily left the two of them alone for the rest of the night. Jo stopped by her apartment to say goodbye before Emily had fallen asleep.

Emily sat up in bed, her eyes swollen from the sleepless night. At the sound of a window crashing, she groaned, stomping out in her shorts and hoodie, barefoot, and down to the second floor.

Not to her surprise, Emily found the obnoxious noise coming from the crib. She stormed in to see Kelly, Logan, and Carlos all fighting over that stupid helmet.

"Why don't I just not wear it during photoshoots or bring it to the dinner table?" Carlos shouted as Emily slammed the door behind her.

"Are you kidding me?" Kelly snapped, letting go and shoving the helmet back into Carlos' arms.

"Yeah," Emily scoffed, "It's 9 am and you idiots woke me up," Emily snapped at them.

Logan frowned, pointing to her bare feet, "You don't have shoes."

Emily rubbed her eyes, frustration, and not concerned with her absent footwear.

The door opened. Emily turned, to see a sulking Kendall walk in meaning Jo just left.

"Kendall, guess what?" Carlos exclaimed as the boy crossed in and collapsed into the couch. "My helmet and I are together, forever!"

"Carlos!" Logan snapped. He walked around the couch, slinging a comforting arm around Emily, "You okay, buddy?"

"Yeah," Kendall responded. "I just feel like we forgot something."

"Who cares," Carlos scoffed. "I bet you'll never forget that goodbye kiss."

Emily lips tugged into a brief smile, knowing the iconic goodbye kiss between Kendall and Jo was their thing.

Kendall jumped, sitting up, wide eyed.

"No," Emily gasped as Logan let go, mouth open.

"You forgot the goodbye kiss?" He questioned in disbelief.

"How could you forget the goodbye kiss?" Carlos retorted.

"That's your thing!" Emily exclaimed, knowing Jo probably just realized it herself.

"I don't know," Kendall stuttered, "She was late and the horn was honking, and the balloon poodle's leg popped-"

"Hey, what's going on?" James greeted, joining the conversation.

Emily turned in surprise, taking a deep breath as he entered the room, careful not to interact with him.

"Kendall and Jo forgot the goodbye kiss!" Logan shouted.

"How could you forget the goodbye kiss? That's your thing!" James cried.

"I know!" Kendall yelled.

Carlos held out his arms for his friends to calm down, "We have to get to the airport to kiss Jo goodbye," he said.

Emily nodded, turning and sprinting out the door, still barefoot.

"Emily, you need shoes!" Kelly shouted after her.

"There's no time!" The five of them snapped, wildly exiting the apartment.

***

"We have to catch her before she gets past security," Emily shouted.

They had just arrived at LAX, pushing past people into the front of the airport.

"Security check in is that way!" Logan shouted, pointing to the sign, and the teens pushed the massive crowd a part for Kendall to get through.

People flinched, staring at the five kids running through the airport against traffic. Bumping past people, Emily muttered apologies while her feet smacked against the floor and dodged suitcase wheels.

Emily spotted the blonde curls ahead, "Kendall, there!" She pointed, ducking under the crowd control belt keeping the line in place.

Kendall jumped in front of Jo before she past the check in desk. Emily breathed heavily, as the other three guys caught up to her, stopping beside her, smiling as Kendall made it in time.

As they kissed, a business snapped from the line, "Come on! You're holding up the line!"

"Shut up," Emily snapped.

"Don't make me tase you," the security woman warned, before allowing Kendall and Jo to continue their goodbye.

The three guys wiggled their fingers together in victory watching their best friend kiss the girl. As they pulled away, a call came over the airport announcing the flight to New Zealand was boarding.

"I got to go," Jo told him, sadly.

Kendall nodded.

Jo took a deep breath before passing security as she turned back to Emily who stood back with no shoes and a hoodie. She gave her an amused smile as she held her arms out.

Emily choked out a sob, diving into her best friend, tears falling rapidly. The girl pulled away, knowing Jo had to leave, Her bright red eyes softened as she gave her a tight smile, sniffling, "Bye," she mumbled, their hands letting go as Jo walked away.

Kendall and Emily moved over so people could get by as they watched Jo walk away. She turned back, looking at them one last time. Tears fell from Emily's eyes as she linked her arm around Kendall's.

Logan stepped over, a hand on their shoulders, "We can watch her take off," he told them, gently guiding the two out of the crowd, the guys mumbling apologies to the people they disrupted and over to a large window in a waiting area by bag check, overlooking takeoff.

Walking over, arm in arm, Kendall muttered, "Jo told me I'm your new best friend."

Emily laughed sadly, "Just so you know, I stress bake," she warned him.

Kendall gave her arm a squeeze, letting go. The boy walked forward, standing right up against the window, watching the plane in motion.

Emily held her body tight, shaky breaths escaping her lungs as the plane lifted off the ground and took off, out of sight.

Kendall turned, shoulders hung low, tears forming in his eyes. The first person he spotted was Emily. The only other person who would be hurting like him.

As he walked back towards his friends, passing Emily, he pulled an arm around her, walking them both back.

Logan, James, and Carlos nodded sympathetically at their two friends. They each gave a support smile, following the two broken hearted people out of the airport.

***

More drama and lots of tears.

This part of the continuing saga is Emily deciding to break it off with James, which must be put on hold because Jo freaking left.

Lots more drama to come.

Also, for anyone who's seen Baby Daddy, Emily's stress baking was inspired by a scene where Riley obsessively bakes muffins and take one bite out of each so she doesn't feel guilty about eating so much.

Enjoy :)