DISCLAIMER: I do not own Big Time Rush or any of its characters.
"You've just got to relax," came the soothing, calm voice of Jo Taylor from the speakers of the laptop that was perched precariously on two pillows on the bed. When there was no response, Jo spoke up louder. "Camille, are you even still there? Camille!"
With a loud, overly dramatic sigh, Camille through down the dress she was scrutinizing and crawled up onto her bed, in front of her laptop's webcam. Her blonde, beautiful best friend smiled at her from the screen. "Thank you!" Jo grumbled good-naturedly. "What good is video chat if we're not even going to see each other? I could have just called you."
"I know, I'm sorry," Camille sighed. "I just have to figure out what I'm going to wear. This is really important, you know, Jo."
Jo looked slightly puzzled. "You've been on plenty of dates with Logan, you know. He is your boyfriend." Suddenly, Jo seemed to realize something. "Or are you dressing up for the paparazzi that follow him around now, hmm?"
"No!" Camille denied, sounding hurt. "I'm insulted that you would think that about me."
"Okay, okay, sorry I said it," Jo apologized. "You have to admit though…your dating a huge pop star might actually help your acting career."
"I don't want to get jobs because Logan is famous—I want to get them because I deserve them and because the directors and producers and casting agents and all those other stupid people recognize that I am the best person for the role!" Camille let out a huff of air in indignation.
Jo smiled. "Another rejection?"
Camille sighed dejectedly. "Third one in two weeks. My dad will never let me stay another year, Jo…I'm afraid of what will happen if I don't land my big break before the end of summer."
Understanding, Jo nodded with support. "Well, it is a tough business. I'm sure—sure—that the next audition will be the one though, you just wait." Camille couldn't help but smile back at her friend as she said these encouraging words.
I've already said them to myself at least a thousand times.
Jo looked over her shoulder at something Camille couldn't see. "Hey, Camille, my lunch break is ending and I've got to get back to set," she said sadly.
"Right, I forgot, sorry." Jo was talking to her from New Zealand, where it was 12:30 the next day already. "You have fun. Do great, movie star." Jo smiled and waved before the screen went blank.
Camille sighed and shut the laptop with a snap. She went back to where she had dropped her dress and grabbed it again, before tossing it to the bed and pulling another out of her closet.
"Logan! Hey, Logan, can we get a smile?"
"Logan, Logan, can we have one shot?"
"Hey, Logan, is that your girlfriend? Let's get a shot!"
He had barely even gotten out of the car before camera flashes had started. Smiling only slightly, he simply went to open the door for Camille. He took her hand and they started to walk into the cute little restaurant where they were having dinner.
"Logan! One picture, please!" There were only five or six paparazzi, but they were loud enough that it seemed like a red carpet press line. Logan felt his good-natured personality taking hold of him as the photographers called out for "just one photo." He turned to Camille and shrugged awkwardly.
"Do you mind if we take a few pictures?" he asked, hoping that he didn't seem big-headed by posing for paps.
"No, not at all," Camille smiled. "Whatever you want." Logan smiled at her and, placing his arm around her waist, turned to smile at the paparazzi as they snapped their "one" picture (which was more like a hundred each).
Logan held up a hand to wave after a few seconds and nodded agreeably. "Okay, guys, that's it."
"Can we get a shot of Logan by himself?" one photographer called out. She gestured for Camille to move out of the shot. Logan felt his face start to burn with half embarrassment, half annoyance.
"No, pictures of me are always better with my girl in them," he called back to them, forcing a smile on his face. "Thanks guys, but we have reservations." He waved on last time before placing his arm around Camille's shoulders and guiding her into the restaurant's lobby.
He grimaced at her sheepishly. "Sorry about that, Camille. Can you believe that?" He gave his name to the host, who immediately showed them to their table and left them with their menus.
"You know I don't mind," Camille told him. "You could have taken the solo pictures, I really really don't mind, Logan."
Logan shook his head. "I mind. They're ridiculous—I'm standing next to the most beautiful girl in California, no the world, and they want a picture of just me?" He chuckled as he flipped the menu over to look at the back. "Crazy."
Camille didn't answer, and Logan looked up at her. She was studying the menu with such intent that he almost laughed again. "Aren't you going to get the cheeseburger with fries?" he asked her. "You always get a cheeseburger."
Surprisingly, Camille shook her head. "I'm not that hungry," she admitted. "I think I'll just have a salad or something."
"Oh. Okay." Logan glanced at the menu again before remembering something. "Hey! Oh wow I forgot, how was your audition?" He mentally rebuked himself for not having remembered instantly.
"Um…" Camille hesitated, and Logan felt his heart sinking at the sight of her face. "Well, they said they'd call by five if they wanted to see me again and—" Camille checked her small, silver watch. "Well, it's seven, so I think they're not interested."
"Oh…I'm sorry Camille." Logan wanted desperately to be able to make her feel better. "You know you can be in my next music video right?"
"Yeah, you've told me," Camille replied, smiling just slightly. "The only thing is…well, being in music videos only gets someone so far, and I think my dad's sort of figured that out."
Logan was confused. "What do you mean?" The waitress arrived at that moment to take their drink order, so they paused their conversation for a moment and then resumed. "Camille, is your dad giving you a hard time?"
Camille laughed forcibly. "He's my dad; that's his job, right?" Then, Logan saw her chin quiver just the tiniest bit.
"Hey," he soothed, reaching across to grab her hand. "It's okay, what's the matter?"
She sniffed and fluttered her eyelashes a bit in an attempt to stop her tears. "He's basically told me that this summer is it, Logan," she admitted. "If I don't get some role that's more than a few lines in one scene, he said we'll go back to Connecticut before school starts."
The shock of this must have shown on Logan's face. "He's going to make you go back—no, hey, don't cry, Camille." He desperately searched for some way to make this better. "I'll help! I'll get Gustavo to help. I can get you roles, I'm sure."
"See that's what Jo said," Camille sniffed. "I don't want hand-out, charity roles. I want to be an actress, not a celebrity."
"Right," Logan conceded. "Well…hey, Camille, the summer's just started. You'll find some great role in time, don't worry!" She sniffed and Logan immediately pulled out his handkerchief to give to her, which she accepted gratefully and dabbed at her eyes. "You are so amazingly talented and you're the prettiest girl that anyone will ever find. You'll make it."
Camille smiled and started to say something, but someone cleared their throat next to their table. The couple looked up to see a pretty blonde girl of about fourteen standing by, looking interested. She grinned.
"Hi!" she squealed. "You're Logan Mitchell, aren't you? From Big Time Rush!"
"Uh…" Logan hesitated, glancing at Camille, who smiled weakly but encouragingly. He looked back at the fan. "Yes I am."
"Oh my gosh, I am just BTRs biggest fan ever," she gushed. "And you're my favorite."
"Well, thanks," Logan replied pleasantly.
The girl glanced at Camille. "You're his girlfriend right? I've seen you in magazine pictures with him before." The sight of Camille's red eyes and smudged eyeliner was not lost on the fan. "Are you guys breaking up again?"
"No!" Logan exclaimed. "No, we're together."
The fan only looked a little disappointed. "Okay. Will you sign this? And maybe take a picture?" She held out a crumpled receipt and pen, looking incredibly eager.
Logan cleared his throat and, after another quick glance at Camille, smiled at the teenager. "Sure thing," he agreed, shooting his famous twenty-thousand watt grin at her. "What's your name?"
Camille fiddled with Logan's blue handkerchief while the girl squealed about her name being Mandy or Brandy or Candy or something. She tried very hard to believe what Logan had told her. She would find something. She wouldn't have to leave California. She could make it without anyone else's help.