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❪   CHAPTER SEVEN !   ❫
-ˏˋ BIG TIME DEALS ˊˎ-

KENDALL PUSHED THREE BLUE SHOPPING CARTS towards his four friends. The five of them were in the parking lot of Fast 'N' Fresh, the grocery store Kendall worked at. Kendall and Aurora had gotten there first, and the other boys had just shown up recently as they usually do almost every Saturday. Kendall had his jacket off, and he was now wearing his red apron that had a label with his name on it.

James and Logan already had their hands wrapped onto two other shopping carts. James had a plain look on his face, except his jaw was locked. Carlos had his helmet in his hands and Aurora's arms were crossed.

"So, I uh, did the math last night on this whole singing thing," Logan spoke up once Kendall reached the group. Kendall turned to face Logan.

"And Katie was right." Logan continued gripping harder onto his cart, "You're an idiot."

Carlos inclined his head at his friend's remark. Logan pushed the blue cart towards a group of other carts that were stacked together next to the wall of the store. Instead of rolling into the stack, it hit a car that was parked a few feet away. The cart made a noticeable dent on the side of the car and the sound of its alarm filled the air. A woman glared at the group as she walked past the vehicle.

The teenagers cringed. Logan distinguished, "It's breaking right."

"Guys," Kendall spoke out, shutting his eyes in annoyance. "I'm not going." He disclosed.

A line formed between Aurora's brows. She glared at Kendall, "You said you would think about it." She quoted her friend's words.

"I did think about it," Kendall shrugged. "And my answer is no."

Aurora huffed. She aggressively took a shopping cart from Kendall and rolled it towards the same stack Logan was aiming for. A couple walked past the stack and the cart came into contact with them, almost sending them to the ground.

The five teenagers cringed once again. "Sorry!" They spoke loud enough for the couple to hear.

Kendall went on as the couple went inside the store, "I don't wanna go to L.A. with that jerk. I wanna be here with you jerks and play hockey for our team."

"But this is just like hockey." Carlos moved his hands and helmet with enthusiasm. He debated, "Only, instead of crashing the boards and rushing the net, you're singing and dancing!"

Logan added, "What have you got to lose?"

Carlos stepped in front of Kendall, noticing he was not showing much interest in his small pep talk. "Dude," Carlos began again. "California...the girls, the beach, the stars."

Carlos stressed once again, "The girls!"

"Yeah," Kendall admitted. "But none of that matters if it's minus my best friends."

Carlos hung his head down. He stepped back to his original spot in between Kendall and Aurora. James' jaw was still set, and he purposely did not join the conversation. He looked off in another direction, but still listened carefully to what was going on.

Kendall scrunched up his face a little and pointed to Logan. He spoke, well pleased with himself, "Add those numbers up, Professor."

"Okay," Logan shrugged, going into his pocket and pulling out his phone. Aurora and Carlos leaned over to see what he was doing.

Logan spoke out, "...carry the two. Aaah, nope!" Logan lifted up a finger. "Still an idiot."

Aurora and Carlos both smiled at Logan's remark. Kendall, however, sent his friend a small glare. He noticed that James was fiddling with his shopping cart, rolling it back and forth.

Kendall nodded his head at his friend. "What about you?"

James snapped his head to face Kendall.

Kendall held his head high. "You haven't said anything to me since you got here."

"I'm not talkin' to you." James faked a smile before turning away.

Just like the night before, Carlos, Aurora and Logan each pulled a face. They spoke in unity, "You just did."

"You know what?" James snapped at his friends. He moved away from his shopping cart and took a step in front of Kendall. He spoke in anger, "All right, dude, part of me hates you right now."

"No," James scoffed. He corrected himself, "All of me hates you." He kept his jaw tight and shook his head.

He softened, "But call that guy back."

Kendall's expression stood the same. "'That guy' said you have no talent," He spoke in a firm voice and pointed at James. He then turned to Logan and pointed out, "Made you cry,"

Logan looked at the ground.

Kendall turned back to James, lowering his voice slightly. "And broke my mom's teacup." He reminded his friends as he tried to defend his reasoning.

James practically growled, "Yeah, but he wants to make you famous!" He stepped away, irritated. He grabbed his shopping cart and shoved it towards the stack. This time, the cart hit a man that was holding two bags of groceries. The man flew to the ground from the contact and dropped his bags. Logan let out a soft wail.

The group grimaced and apologized, "Sorry."

The man collected his belongings off from the ground and walked away quickly, practically crying.

"Okay," Carlos put his helmet on with swift. "If I make a hole in one, you have to call that guy back." He bargained.

He took a cart from Kendall and aligned it in the direction of the rest of the carts. Carlos suddenly yelled, "Whaaa-hooo!" He took a running start and pushed the cart forward before jumping inside of it.

"Oh, no, don't—" Aurora began, but cut herself off when Carlos and the cart were already heading towards the stack. The group watched as a car drove into the cart, knocking Carlos out of it.

"Ooh." The four groaned.

Logan turned to Kendall and inclined his head. "You should still call him." He proposed.

James took a step toward Kendall and pulled a sheet of paper out of his jacket. He held the paper out to Kendall. "He's been on the cover of Rolling Stone."

Aurora leaned towards Kendall to be able to read what was on the paper. It was a printed article of a few paragraphs about Gustavo, in which his picture on the Rolling Stone magazine took up majority of the page. Aurora scoffed and grabbed the paper out of James' hand.

Kendall laughed, staring at the paper now in Aurora's hands. He remarked, "What other odd things do you carry in your pockets?"

James frowned. In just a second, James lifted up his famous black comb.

"My lucky comb." James stated, as if the answer were obvious. He continued, pulling more papers out of his jacket. "And eight by ten personalized head shots..."

James lifted up the papers one by one. "One boy next door, one bad boy." He smiled.

Kendall nodded, impressed.

Carlos waddled over towards his friends. He pushed past James and Aurora and flung his arm over Logan's shoulders. Logan stumbled over slightly.

"We just want what's best for you, man." Carlos whined, putting his hand on Logan's cheek.

Logan pulled a face, both uncomfortable and concerned for his friend who most likely had a concussion of some sort. "I'm Logan." He identified, He pointed towards Kendall.

"Oh." Carlos spoke, disoriented. He turned and pointed to Kendall, "You..."

Carlos' friends watched him as he passed out onto the ground.

Logan leaned his elbow onto Aurora's shoulder and pointed at the passed out boy. "He got hit by a car for you." He noted to Kendall, still wanting him to call Kelly and Gustavo.

James added, "Yeah, opportunities like this come once in a lifetime." He quoted his best friend.

Aurora shook her head and pulled her lips together. "I already tried using that line on him." She told James. The girl sighed dramatically whilst looking at Kendall. "He's unbreakable."

Kendall looked at the three of his best friends. Logan and James both had looks of determination spread across their faces, dead set on persuading their friend to go to Los Angeles. Aurora had a slight disappointed frown on her face, and Kendall couldn't tell if it was because she wanted to go to L.A., or because of the fact that Kendall would not.

"Now, let me get this straight." He spoke out to his friends, "You're saying if you all had a chance to go to L.A. with a giant turd producer to record demos..."

The three friends smiled at Kendall's joke.

He continued, "...You'd go?"

Kendall's best friends, including Carlos on the ground, each pulled out their phone and gestured them into Kendall's direction.

"Yes!" They blurted out almost instantly.

Kendall held back a smile as he picked up his last shopping cart. He aimed it for the stack and gave it one quick shove. Him and his friends watched as the cart rolled smoothly into the other ones. Logan nodded in satisfaction.

Without another word shared, Kendall pulled out his phone and the card Kelly had given him. He smiled to himself, coming up with a plan in his head. His four best friends said that they would go to Los Angeles if they were given the chance, so that was exactly what he was going to make happen.

After waiting for a few minutes, the group watched a shiny white limousine pull to a stop in the parking lot. The teenagers readied themselves, getting primed to face Gustavo Rocque once again.

A door to the vehicle opened and Gustavo stepped out with leisure, him wearing his usual scowl. Kelly trailed out behind him, and Gustavo shut the door closed.

Aurora turned to Kendall as the two adults began to approach them. "Uh, don't think about him." She warned, resting a hand on his shoulder. "Think about the beautiful L.A. beaches, and having tons of fans." She soothed, though Kendall was calm.

"And think about world tours. Think millions of cities." She continued.

Logan added as him and his friends walked forward, "Think millions of dollars." He spoke with a Coke bottle in his hand.

"Think millions of girls!" Carlos encouraged.

James leaned close to Kendall's ear. "Think of me as the backup singer who could spin off in his own solo career. You know, after your second album."

The group stopped walking once Kelly and Gustavo stood directly in front of them. Logan gulped and took a small step behind Aurora and Carlos. When Kendall stood silent, Gustavo held out his arms.

"Well?" Gustavo spoke in a loud voice.

Kendall mirrored the man's actions and held out his arms as well. He made direct eye contact with Gustavo. "Okay. I'll go to L.A. with you and record some demos."

The two adults let out a breath of relief. Kendall's friends gave each other pleased smiles.

"If," Kendall began to bargain, causing everyone to freeze. They all stared at him, intrigued on what he was going to say next.

Kendall smiled as he continued. "If you take Aurora with me and make her my songwriter."

Looks of confusion were written on the other three boys' faces, confused as to why Kendall would make such a bargain. Aurora's jaw was dropped and she looked as if she was ready to pass out, right then and there.

"Come again?" Aurora questioned in disbelief.

"And," Kendall went on. Gustavo pulled a face—He was bewildered at the fact that a teenager was trying to make a deal with him. Logan widened his eyes and took a sip of his drink, confused as to what else his friend would want.

"If you take the rest of my buds..." Kendall spoke, "And make us a singing group."

Logan choked on his soda and coughed.

"Dude!" Carlos looked at Kendall in complete shock. James wore the same expression, except the inner corners of his lips were curled upwards.

"Cold up my nose." Logan coughed. Aurora patted his back, her lips still parted in surprise.

Kendall turned to look at his friends. "I mean, you guys said you would go." He reminded them, smiling to himself.

Gustavo's scowl grew even more. He took off his glasses and cross-examined, "I-I'm sorry, are you trying to make a deal with me?" Gustavo raised his voice, "I make the deals!"

Kendall's expression did not change. He continued to smile. "If you want me," He opened out his arms. "You have to take all of us."

Finally wrapping their heads around what was going on, the four other teenagers smiled.

Gustavo began to laugh, gaining the attention of anyone in the parking lot. His laugh was obnoxious and almost mimicking. He looked at Kelly who gave him a fake smile in return.

The man waved his hand in the air, pointing at the three other boys. "Have you even heard your friends sing?" He stopped laughing and continued, "Oh, that's right. They can't."

James' smile faded. Aurora shut her eyes in annoyance whilst Carlos and Logan wrinkled their noses.

"Well," Kendall began, "I'm no mega-producer like you, but I know they sing better than dogs,"

Kendall turned his head to face Aurora, who still had James' printed article in her hands. A small but devious smirk appeared on her face. She lifted up the paper so Gustavo can see.

Kendall turned back to the man. "And you can turn them into stars...right?"

Gustavo and Kelly glanced at the paper, both of them recognizing it immediately. Kelly's lips turned upwards, though Gustavo wore the same angry scowl.

Aurora jumped a little when Gustavo snatched the paper out of her hands suddenly. He waved the paper around in the air. "Is this supposed to sway me?" He questioned and let the paper fall to the ground like a piece of sad confetti.

"I'm Gustavo Rocque. I'm amazing," The man spoke of himself with vain. "I'm amazing. And if you think for one second that I'm so desperate because I've toured twenty-two cities and that I haven't been able to find anybody,"

Kelly glanced at Gustavo, knowing he was giving in without actually saying it. The group looked at each other, confused as to what exactly Gustavo was saying.

"You can think again." Gustavo continued. "Because there is no way, no way, Gustavo Rocque is takin' Miss. USA and the four dogs from Minnesota to Los Angeles to make them stars! It's never gonna happen! Never!"

Kendall smiled innocently, "So...we have a deal." He shrugged with satisfaction. His friends leaned closer to Gustavo and Kelly.

Gustavo paused before plainly replying, "Yep."

Kendall smiled once again, with his teeth shoving this time. James jaw hung low, but his lips eventually crept up into a smile. Logan's eyes were bulged out and he stood frozen, tons of different emotions running through his body.

Carlos and Aurora both let out surprised and excited chuckles. James moved over and gave Carlos a high five. Aurora threw her arms around Kendall in celebration and thanks, and Kendall stumbled back from the impact. He blinked a few times in shock before letting out a soft laugh and hugging her back.

Kelly turned to look at Gustavo. She spoke whilst the group was distracted, "This is gonna be an interesting group."

Gustavo wrinkled his nose. "Interesting?" He repeated. He put his glasses back on and corrected in disgust, "More like excruciating."

And on that note, the musical journey began.

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STARTED WRITING: July 21, 2019
PUBLISHED: July 23, 2019
WORD COUNT: 2582