- author's note -
as of right now, i have three chapters written for this.
this is a trial run, of sorts. if the response to the first two chapters are good, after a week, i'll post the third.
which also means that as of now, Phil Collins vs Peter Gabriel is on hiatus. i'm really sorry, both to the readers and myself, but i just cannot get into it right now. i feel like i'm just writing to write, with no real purpose. and after re-reading the last chapter, i decided to not pursue it until i can fully wrap my head around it.

- disclaimer -
i don't own Big Time Rush, nor do I claim to.

the Benefits
chapter one? let's begin the fun!

Anyone in the lobby at that point would have been trampled. He was on a mission. He ducked through the crowd, turned corners and bit to swiftly and let out a deep sigh as he pounded on the door. Apartment 3H; his own personal heaven. He gave his hair a signature flip, caught his breath and tried to look as appealing as possible. But, of course, that was no challenge. The mirror in the hallway confirmed he looked as damn good as he felt. With a wink, he turned just in time for the door to swing open. There she stood, hair neat and curled and laying on her shoulders, a smirk on that face. That face. She crossed her arms, leaning on the door frame and cracked a small smile, "And here I thought you stood me up."

He allowed himself to chuckle. That was part of their agreement, sarcastic banter, open hours and mind-blowing, life-changing sex. And a damn good agreement it was. He gave a proud smirk before practically lunging at her, taking her face in his hands, attacking her lips and slamming the door with a swift kick. Backing into the room, she tore his shirt from his body, breaking the kiss momentarily to pull it over his head and remove her own top. There, they locked eyes. She smirked again, she always smirked, and he could see the lust written clearly in her eyes. She reached her hands behind her back, and normally he would stop her. Taking off her bra was his favorite part – of the foreplay at least. Today, however, he needed this. Gustavo had pounded harmonies into their heads today, relentlessly. He needed this. She needed this.

She dropped her arms and down fell her red, lace brazier. His eyes widened and he grinned like the Cheshire cat. She laughed, grabbing his hand and making a break for her bedroom. Halfway down the hall, he spun her around and slammed her against the wall. She looked up at his lips, biting her own, "We're playing ruff today, huh?"

He nodded, kissing her again, his fingers fumbling with the buttons on her shorts, hers undoing his so easily. He grunted in frustration, "What the hell?"

"Here, let me." She insisted, slipping out of the pants easily. She chuckled at his astonishment, "The buttons are fake."

He took another moment to make sure her shorts knew he hated them, then grabbed her thighs, hoisting her up. She latched onto his torso, kissing him fiercely, and let him carry her into her room. Tossing her onto the bed, and flicking off the lights he slipped out of his boxer briefs. She giggled and tilted her head back, motioning for him to come over. Naturally, he obeyed.

"James. James. James Diamond! Earth to James!" Kendall waved a hand in his friends face, frantically. He removed his headphones, shrugged to the booth and turned to Logan, "He's completely catatonic. Hey, JAMES!"

James Diamond snapped out of his revelry with was lazy, "Huh?" He looked to Carlos, Kendall and Logan, then turned to the booth and offered Kelly and Gustavo a meek, "Sorry, where were we?"

Gustavo threw his hands up, tossed his head back and groaned, "Dogs, take five. Kelly, my office."

The three remaining members of the band, those without fabulous hair, a rocking body and a super hot – "Dude." Carlos interrupted James' musing, much to his dismay, "What is up with you this week?"

Logan was the first to agree, "Yeah, you seem…distracted."

"Out of it." Kendall added.

Carlos nodded, proudly, crossing his arms and stepping in front of the two reprimanding hockey players, "Yeah, you seem distracted and out of it."

"Thank you, Carlos." Kendall sighed, "What's gotten into you, James? We have to get this song done or else no album, no European tour, and no hot European girls."

It was odd, for someone just recently split up, Kendall was eager to date again. James never pegged him as the rebound type, in all the years he'd known him. Still, James had to agree. He shrugged, "I'm just…I don't know! Can't a guy be in deep thought without being scolded, huh? Logan does it all the time! No one ever yells at him."

"That's because when Logan thinks, he doesn't do this." Carlos turned around, rubbing his hands on his back and making kissing noises, "Ooh, yeah, you're so hot."

James immediately blushed. Kendall and Logan laughed a bit, but after received a glare from James, coughed their chuckles away. Carlos, however, was cracking up at his own humor. James had no idea he'd been talking mid-daydream. Needless to say, he was more than embarrassed. He shoved Carlos, "Shut up, man. Look, I've just been busy with other things lately, alright. They've sort of have my mind…occupied."

"Well, get it un-occupied, James." Kendall demanded, "I am going to Europe this summer."

Logan gave a half smile, "We all are, we've just got to get focused. Right, James? We'll get there."

James nodded. The boys stood in a silence for a mere moment before Kelly entered, an apologetic smile on her face, "Sorry, guys, you can head home. He's –"

A loud, thunderous yell came through the speakers, "KELLY!"

She grimaced before shrugging, "He's that. See you guys tomorrow, same time."

Kendall, James, Carlos and Logan trudged through the Palm Woods lobby, exhausted. Gustavo was on a mission, should he chose to accept it, and it was killing them before the end of the month. They had six more songs to record, six already done. Then came the album release in May, summer tour, living the dream. Between the dance and music rehearsals, it was getting harder and harder to even recognize the dream. Kendall whimpered, flopping down into a lobby chair, "Wait, please, wait. I can't walk anymore. My legs, my legs!"

Carlos was the next to fall, he collapsed onto the couch, his arm resting on his forehead, a light – fake – sob shaking his body, "I can't take it anymore. I just…I can't."

"Europe, guys." Logan attempted sympathy. Failing, he too fell into a Lay-Z-Boy, "Europe."

James laid his body along the back of the sofa, eventually falling onto Carlos and groaning more. Then a small voice, a small female voice entered the quartets ears and brought them back to life. Kendall's eyes popped open at the sound of a girl behind him, "Excuse me?"

All four sat up, eager faces and frantic hands fixing themselves. She giggled, "Hi."

James and the girl locked eyes, a knowing glance undetected by the other three. However, they were interrupted by Kendall, ever-so-suave, "How can I help you?"

"We." Logan corrected, "How can we help you."

Carlos, Logan and Kendall all rose to their feet. Not wanting to seem suspicious, James followed. Again, she laughed, "Have you seen Buddha Bob? My sinks on the fritz again." Sighing, the boys all pointed to the left, "That way? Thank you, boys." She gave a wave then made her way out onto the patio of the Palm Woods pool.

Kendall slumped back into the chair, "Who's the new girl?"

"No idea," Logan followed, "I've never seen something that…"

"I know, me either." Carlos sighed.

When the room fell silent, outside of the chatter surrounding them, the trio looked to James. His eyes shot from boy to boy, frantically, before he caught on, "Oh!" He piped, "I mean, yeah. She's…hot."

The boys gasped, "James!" Carlos scolded, "How dare you talk about the future Missus Garcia like that!"

Logan laughed, "Missus Garcia? Try Missus Mitchell. Doctor and Missus Logan Mitchell."

A scoff came from Kendall's side of the conversation, "Missus Kendall Knight would not appreciate you guys fighting over her."

James just shook his head. The sense that he was keeping something from his friends hadn't hit him until that moment. Still, there was something so dangerous about it. The Secret life of James Diamond. It sounded like a poorly casted, ABC Family Original show. Huh. He allowed his head to fall back and rest on the couch while his friends banter continued. Finally, he stood, "Guys, you don't even know her. Just lay off, alright, she's not a piece of meat."

And then, leaving his friends confused and in his wake, James stomped his way to apartment 2J. His phone vibrated in his pocket, startling him. After a small struggle, pulling it from his skinny jeans, James finally got out his iPhone. A new text from one Sadie Grant. He smiled.

Your friends are super cute, James.

He gave one "Ha!" before typing his reply, They could, and did, say the same about you.

Another buzz. Well, isn't that just the sweetest! How was recording?

Same as usual. James typed. Gustavo's a pain in my ass.

Funny, you were a pain in mine last night ;)

James nearly blushed. He started down the hallway to his and Kendall's room. Speaking of, tonight?

Can't :(

Why not?

I've got an early morning audition. Unless you want to come by now?

Would Buddha Bob mind?

Not if you're quiet. Besides, he'll be gone by the time you get here. Unless you wanted him to watch.

Sadie, you're sick.

Yes, but you love it, don't you.

This time, James didn't respond with a text. He pounded on the door to apartment 3H and smirked as a confused Sadie opened it. She smirked, took his hand and pulled him to her, kissing him, "I'm taking that as a yes." She whispered. Sadie pulled James into the apartment, "Bob, you can just head out when you're done."

A grunt of understanding came from the maintenance man and James took the small distraction as an opportunity to pull Sadie's hand to his crotch. She gasped, pulling it away, then continued to drag James away to her room.