1

Elie was relieved that the Starbucks nearest the studios was not packed as usual. Great she thought, I could catch up on my reading before I bring them their coffee. She ordered the usual (iced nonfat venti caramel macchiato, extra shot), and as she was fishing for money in her purse, she heard a familiar voice say, "I got it."

"Kendall, why are you paying for my drink?" Elie asked. The question she really wanted to ask was why was Kendall in Starbucks so early?

"I couldn't sleep, yada, yada," Kendall replied. "Anyway, you're welcome," he said as he smiled at Elie and sipped a bit of her coffee. Kendall's face immediately turned sour. "You could have just chewed coffee beans instead, geez. What is this?"

"I need the extra caffeine today, and THANK YOU KIBS. Now, give me that," Elie said as she grabbed her drink from Kendall.

"Why are YOU early?" Kendall asked Elie.

"I couldn't sleep either, and I woke up super early. So I thought why not swing by here? I could get you your coffee now if you want," Elie offered. "Here," she said as she hands over her tray to Kendall, "Go find us a seat."

Kendall found one soon enough, a couch right by the corner, somewhat hidden from everyone. As he put the tray down on the tiny table, he surveyed the area and watched Elie as she ordered his coffee and an order of French toast. So thoughtful all the time, he thought. He smiled to himself for a bit.

"Here you go, Kibs," Elie said as she placed Kendall's breakfast on the table.

"Thank you. You're very nice," Kendall tells Elie. "And stop calling me Kibs."

"I try to be. And you're welcome," Elie replies with a smile.

They spent the next hour eating, finishing their coffees, and chatting away about mundane stuff. Needless to say, Elie had gotten no reading done. They would have forgotten about the time, if not for a text message to Kendall reminding him about call time in five minutes.

"Oh shit, I have to get coffee for the guys!" Elie said, half-panicked, as she tried to recall which coffee went with what and which syrup should go with what coffee. "You go ahead, Kendall. Tell the boys I'll be there in 5 minutes. I'll run."

"Nonsense. I'll help you. The studio's right there, and they wouldn't start without me anyway. It's my scene."

Kendall helped Elie with the coffee orders and drove together to the studios. Kendall walked on the set and the crew still hasn't finished setting up the scene. He handed Logan's coffee to him.

"Why are you bringing me coffee, numbnuts?" Logan asked.

"Hey man, where's my coffee? Where's Elie? Why did you give Logan coffee? Where's my coffee?" Carlos piped in.

"Here you go, Carlos," Elie said as she hands Carlos his cup. "Where's James?"

"In his dressing room," Logan replied. And off Elie went.

"And you, young man, why were you with her?" Logan asked as soon as Elie was out of earshot.

"Why am I… what? Why are you asking me why I'm with her? I went to Starbucks, she was there," Kendall told Logan.

"Yeah, the Starbucks she hangs out with before going to work. The Starbucks I told you I saw her enter about a week ago when I was early for work but didn't have a chance to call out to her because she went in fast," Carlos said in an accusing tone.

"I went to Starbucks, she was there. I paid for her coffee, we -"

"Ooooh. Paid for her coffee, eh?" Carlos said. Carlos and Logan were looking at each other with knowing looks.

"What?!" Kendall was getting annoyed.

"Two weeks, man," Logan said, "And she isn't even blonde."

"Who isn't blonde?" James joined in the discussion.

"Elie," Logan and Carlos said in unison.

"Aaaaah," James said, nodding his head, seemingly in agreement with Logan and Carlos.

"What is up with you three? She was there, I was there!" At this point, Kendall was turning red and his voice was starting to get louder.

"Oh look, he's blushing!" Carlos said, as he roared with laughter.

"Okay, guys, enough. Cut it out," said a booming voice. It was Ranel, their body guard.

"Thank you, Ranel. At least someone's on my side, you stupid fucks," Kendall said as he walked towards his dressing room. Ranel joined him a few moments later. "Thanks, man, for coming to my defense. Those three idiots are way over -"

Ranel suddenly cut him off. "Do you remember what I told you when Elie first got here?" Ranel asked.

At this point, Kendall was at the door and was opening his dressing room. "No, not really, no. What was it?"

From the corner of their eyes they could see Elie a few yards away, carrying Kendall's costume changes for the day.

"I told you not to fall in love," Ranel said with a shrug and a smirk.

Kendall just stared at Ranel, not quite believing he heard what he just heard.

"Hey, Ranel! How's it going today?" Elie asked Ranel cheerfully.

"Not much so far. Let me help you with those," said Ranel, while taking a big bunch of clothing and props from Elie. Kendall was still looking at Ranel, thinking about what he just said. Meanwhile, Elie was giving out reminders for Kendall.

"…and you're needed in the makeup chair in 20 minutes so you better change into the blue shirt, not the green one okay?" Elie notices that Kendall seemed a bit too quiet and was staring into an empty space. "Oh my God, Kendall. Please don't tell me you had a joint before taping. Right before taping, Kendall? Really? Are you kidding me?" She rapped Kendall's arm.

"Huh, what?" Kendall said, coming back from his reverie.

"Go change. You're needed in the makeup room in 20 minutes," was Elie's reply.

Taping went on smoothly. The boy kept riding Kendall about Elie when she was out of earshot, so taping wasn't as smooth for Kendall as he had hoped. He was in his dressing room when he heard a knock on the door. "Come in," he said. It was Elie. Why did she seem to be everywhere today?

She popped her head through the door. "Do you, uh, need anything for next taping? I mean apart from the usual coffee. I need to go back to Corona right about now, so if you can't think of anything now you can just call me, okay?"

Kendall just nodded. At that point, Carlos walks into Kendall's dressing room.

"Hi, Carlos. Do you need anything for next time?" Elie asked.

"Uh, me and Logan and James and Kendall are going out to eat. Care to join us?" said Carlos.

"No can do, Papi. I need to go back to Corona right now. Maybe next time?" Elie replied. And off she went.

"See, Kendall? See how easy it is to ask her out?" Carlos chided Kendall.

"Ha-ha very funny," Kendall snorted at Carlos.

"You need to stop falling in love with every person who brings us coffee, dude," Carlos said.

"I don't fall in love with everyone, Carlos," Kendall replied. "Just this one."

Now it was Carlos' turn to register a look of shock on his face.