The van was silent as they rolled down a dirty New York alleyway. It was 5am and Justin, Trace, and Kara all sat sipping Starbucks coffee and staring at brick buildings through the heavily tinted windows. Someone thought it best to take the back roads to the studio to help avoid those paparazzi that was inevitably looking for Justin.

Finally the van stopped in front of a metal door. Teddy, head of Justin's security, got out and walked over to the door, stepping inside for a moment before he came back out. He looked to the van that had followed them, filled with security, assistants, and label representative, and motioned for them to get out. Then he opened the door to Justin's van.

"All clear," he said.

Justin got out first, followed by Kara. The girl paused to look at her surroundings. There was food litter along the sides of the alley. There was the faint, yet distinct odor of urine. Before she could see anything more she felt a nudge on her back.

"Come on," Trace said.

Kara moved ahead, following the path security had laid out for them. She followed Justin into the building and straight down the hall into one of the recording rooms. For as rundown and shabby as the building looked from the outside, it was the total opposite inside. Modern fixtures and moody lighting, plush furniture and pristine state-of-the-art equipment.

Inside the studio Kara plopped down into a leather chair by the mixing board. Assistants and Jive reps started to filter in after them. Justin turned to Trace and shook his head no. Trace immediately turned to the people in the room.

"Closed session," he said, and pointed to the door.

After a moment of exchanging confused glances, everyone began to file out of the room. Once they were gone Trace locked the door behind them. Justin let out a sigh and took off his glasses. Kara could see the sleepiness in his eyes through her own lenses. Trace followed suit, pulling off his shades and stuffing them into his pocket. They'd all opted for jet black glasses when they were pulled out of bed at 4am.

"Kicking management people out of the room, huh? So you do have a purpose after all," Kara joked.

Trace gave her a sarcastic grin before motioning to her glasses.

"You can take those off you know."

Kara shook her head.

"No I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because it's 5am."

She sipped her coffee and Justin chuckled.

"Why are we here so early?"

"Because this one here," Trace slapped Justin on the back, "has a packed schedule. This was the only time he had available today."

Kara made a face at Justin.

"Stop being so busy."

"Sorry. I'll slow my career down so you can sleep in."

"Thank you."

"But, if you and Trace hadn't been up all night sucking face then maybe you would have gotten to bed earlier and you wouldn't be tired now."

"Jealous?" Trace teased. "At least I was making out. What's your excuse for the bags under your eyes? Late night call to Marz?"

"Can we just establish that there was no making out? As cute as the midget is, I'm pretty sure he spent the night alone. Or, he wasn't with me at least."

"I knew those high-pitched scream coming from your room last night were fake." Justin pointed an accusing finger at Trace.

Kara rolled her eyes and turned her attention to the sound board, powering up the system.

"It's too early for this," she muttered.

Kara was amazed by Justin's commitment and dedication to both his work and promotional duties. The man had to be running on fumes by now, but you couldn't tell by his interviews and recordings. She was currently killing two birds with one stone getting her exercise and meditation done while playing on the Wii Justin had in his apartment in the city. She was getting used to the daily routine they were on, waking Justin up at ten in the morning so he would be ready for the Shrek 3 promotional events he'd be doing that day, going back to sleep or relaxing until about one when she and Trace would grab a bite to eat. Then the two of them would hang out until that evening when they'd meet Justin at the studio. Kara was bent over breathing in deeply when she heard someone groan. She peeked through her legs and saw Trace leaning against the doorframe and chuckled.

"Good morning to you too, like what you see?" she said, rolling her eyes.

She rose to her full height a bit too quickly and lost her balance, but Trace caught her before she hit the ground.

"Whoa tiger, you ok?" he asked, settling both of them on the couch.

"Yeah, too much blood to the brain."

"Do you do this every morning?" Trace asked.

"I try to, I usually do it when you're asleep...so you won't see me like this."

"Like what?" he questioned.

"All icky and fat looking."

"Stop right there, you're seriously going to stop putting yourself down; you're beautiful Kara."

She scoffed.

"You have the wrong sister, hun."

"No, I have the right one," he said, placing a finger under her chin.

Kara remembered the last time he'd done that back in the studio and smiled.

"You're going to kiss me again aren't you?" She said with a grin.

"Yes, unless you don't want me to."

"I didn't say that," she said, leaning in and capturing his lips with hers.

Trace pulled back before she did.

"Wait, I have to ask you something."

"Huh?" She asked, her voice hazy and husky, "Can't this wait?"

"No," he replied. Kara leaned back and sighed.

"Ok, what's on your brain short stuff."

"That. That right there?" Kara stared him with a confused look on her face.

"What are you talking about?"

"You. Me. Us, if there even is an us."

He could see that Kara was still confused.

"You act like two different people when we're around Justin and when we're not. You didn't at first, but whenever he asks if there's anything going on between you immediately go into defense mode and deny everything. Like the other night when we were at the studio when he asked if you'd spent the night with me that previous night you denied it like he was holding a gun to your head."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean for it to come off like that. His comment just came from nowhere and I was caught off-guard."

"Did it really come from nowhere? Or have I been the only one in this…arrangement we've been in for these past couple of weeks? Are you ashamed of me or something?"

Wow. Kara was shocked. She definitely never thought this conversation would come up and if it did that she would be the one saying what Trace was saying.

"No Trace, I'm not ashamed of you."

"Well you sure don't act like it. Now I know we're not together or anything, but you responded to him like I repulsed you or something."

"I am so sorry if it came across as that. If I found you repulsive I would never have kissed you the first time or the many times after that," she said before giving him a quick peck on the lips, "…and I never would've kissed you then. I'm not ashamed of you Trace, I never have been."

"So what is it then? Why are you so jumpy when Justin asks if there's anything going on between us."

"Because I'm not sure if I'm ready for there to be something going on between us," she said, lowering her head.

"Have you ever been in a relationship before?" Trace questioned.

"Yeah," she said meekly.

"A loving relationship?"

"No, he never loved me and made sure that I knew that…everyday."

"Did he hit you!?" Trace exclaimed.

Kara flinched when she heard the anger in his voice. He noticed that and quickly apologized.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell. But did he hit you?"

"No, but his words stung just as bad as any fist would. He made sure I knew that I wasn't the prettiest, smartest, or thinnest girl and that I should be grateful that a guy like him came into my life. That no other guy would even waste his time on me because I was fat and ugly…because I wasn't Marz." Trace was fuming but tried his hardest to maintain his composure.

"Is that why you let her treat you like shit?" he asked, referring to her sister, "Because that's how he talked to you?"

Kara simply nodded.

"And that's probably why you deny everything to Justin. Because you think you're fat and ugly?" Trace inquired.

Kara nodded once again. His heart broke seeing her like this, all down and out…the exact opposite of her usual bubbly self. He wished he could meet that guy once, just once, because that's all it would take to beat his ass for treating her like that.

"He lied, Kara." He watched as she just sighed lowered her head.

Trace placed an index finger under Kara's chin and brought her face eye-level to his.

"I'm serious," he began in a sincere tone, "You're beautiful and any man who can't see that is blind. And besides, Marz is too damn skinny. I like a girl with a little meat on her bones."

Kara chuckled softly at his last statement.

"You're just saying that because…" Kara didn't know how to finish her sentence. She wasn't used to hearing these kinds of things from a guy.

"Because what? Because I'm telling the truth. You're gorgeous and any man would be lucky to have you."

"Even Lance?" Kara replied in a playful tone.

"Yep, I'm pretty sure he and his boyfriend are hot for you," Trace laughed.

This was the Kara he knew and cared about.

"Thank you," she said genuinely.

"For what?"

"For talking some sense into me," she answered before kissing him sweetly on the cheeks. She rose to her feet and walked back over to the game console.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Turning this thing off," she said before doing just that, "I'm starving, do you wanna go grab a bite before we pick up Justin?"

"Yeah, let's swing by Southern Hospitality and I'll grab him a to-go plate."

"No need for that, we finished things up early."

Both Kara and Trace looked up when they heard the front door close and soon saw Justin walk in the living area.

"When did you get here?"

"Just now, I saw Trace staring at your ass while you were turning off the Wii," Justin said laughing.

Trace threw a couch pillow at his friend.

"I was not staring!"

"You're right, it was more like gawking!" Justin replied.

"Seriously? You two need to grow up," Kara said before walking out of the room to get dressed.

Trace laughed with her and got up and walked over to Justin. He waited until she was out of hearing range before asking, "How much of that did you hear?"

"What are you talking about? I just got here," Justin lied once again.

"Yeah right, I know you man. Were you eavesdropping?"

"Naw." Another lie.

"Stop shittin' me man, how much did you hear."

Justin decided to give in.

"Enough to know that her ex is a piece of shit and was wrong for what he said to her."

Trace nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, how could anyone say something like that about her. She's amazing both inside and out, but you can't tell her that. That dude brainwashed her man, she doesn't see herself like I do."

Like I do too.

Justin couldn't speak the words aloud, but they rang loud and true in his mind. He didn't know what it was about Kara that drew him in, but he was seeing a side of her that he'd never seen before. His heart broke for her when she told those things to Trace, his hands aching to reach out and hold her, to comfort her. Justin would never admit it out loud but he felt a slight pang of jealousy when Trace kissed her. He silently wished that he was in his best friend's place, something that he shouldn't have done…especially with Marz in the picture.

As if on cue, his cell rang, and Marz's name was on the caller ID. He glanced up at Trace before opening the phone.

"Hey Marz," he answered.

Trace gagged and rolled his eyes. Marz was soon turning into his least favorite person.

"Baby!" She squeaked. "How are you? I miss you. I haven't talked to you in days."

"Yeah," was all he said. "I miss you too. What are you doing?"

"Waiting for this stupid stylist to get an outfit together for me to try on. I have that fundraiser thing tomorrow night and I still don't know what to wear."

"I'm sure you'll find something amazing. You always do."

"I do," she agreed. "Only usually Kara is here to help me decide. That other girl is here now. Between you and me, I don't think she knows a thing about being a good PA. Every time I go to get some cereal it's in a different place."

Justin chuckled. She was so selfish, in an innocent sort of way.

"Well, it's always a little rocky in the beginning. She just has to get used to the way you do things."

"Maybe. So, how is the album coming along? When are you returning my sister to me so I can get working on my own tracks?"

"It'll be just a few more days. That is, if I can get here out of New York. She's in love with the Chinese food here."

"Oh no," Marz moaned. "Is she getting into the pot stickers again? I told her that's why her thighs are so fat, because she can't stay away from the fried foods."

"Why do you have to be like that?" Justin questioned.

He couldn't help the way his tone changed as he spoke.

"Like what?"

"Why do you have to come down on her like that? There's nothing wrong with the way she is."

"Sorry," she said meekly.

Justin sighed, putting himself in check. He didn't know why he was getting upset over something this small. Marz had made dozens of comments like that about Kara, too her face and behind her back. While he never exactly thought it was cool, it never really bugged him the way it just had.

"No, I'm sorry," he told her. "I shouldn't have snapped at you like that. It's just that your sister is really cool, you know. I feel bad that we're talking about her like this."

"I didn't realize your two had gotten so close."

Justin hadn't realized it either.

It was midnight in the studio, and Justin, Trace, and Kara were going over the sheet music for a ballad they were writing. It was a sappy song about unrequited love, and the mood in the room was a little intense.

All of a sudden, Justin had the urge to do a remake of Erykah Badu's Next Lifetime, and he'd been working all afternoon scribbling down music motes for Kara to follow on the piano. Now they were rehearsing, over and over and over again. Every time he sang, she felt his pain a little bit more. Whatever had brought the feeling on in him, it was real.

"Whew!" Kara breathed. "I need a minute. You're depressing me."

She stood up from the piano bench and moved to the middle of the room. Justin set the paper with the lyrics written on them down on top of the piano and moved to the sofa, plopping down next to Trace. Trace just yawned in response.

"I need a minute. You're putting me to sleep."

Kara's jaw dropped.

"How is this making you tired? It's emotional!"

"I'm a man. We're not in touch with our emotions," he smiled. "There's a 24/7 coffee shop around the corner. Who's going?"

All eyes went to Justin.

"Me? I can't go outside alone. I'll get mobbed and pulled into an alleyway and raped. Send Kara."

"Me?" She pointed a finger to her chest. "I'm a girl. You're going to send the girl out walking through New York in the middle of the night?"

"Teddy will go with you."

Kara made a face.

"I don't really know him."

All eyes went to Trace, and he rolled his.

"Fine, fine, I'll go. There's nothing for me to do here anyways. I don't sing or play piano."

Trace stood, grabbing his keys from the table and heading out the door. Justin and Kara exchanged a look.

"We're never going to hear the end of that," Justin said.

Kara nodded. It was true.

"So, you wanna go over it one more time before we try to lay the vocals down? I wanna make sure I've got the rifts right."

Kara nodded. One more run-through wouldn't hurt. The more practice he got the better. The two moved over to the piano, Kara sitting on the bench. Then she scooted over a little when Justin sat down next to her. He cleared his throat and waited for her to play, the intro sweeping through the room.

Now what am I supposed to do
When I want you in my world
How can I want you for myself
When I'm already someone's man?

Kara played intently, trying to block out the words falling his lips. He had the sweetest voice. No matter how many times he sang the same words over and over, they always seemed as sincere as the first time.

Your energy, feels so damn good to me
It picks me up, don't wanna come down
You got me spinning all around
Yeah
You need to know
I've got that somebody
You're beautiful
But it ain't that kind of party now

Justin felt the same, his mind swirling as he tried to focus on the job at hand. But he couldn't help but think of Kara. He couldn't say that he was in love with her, but there were definitely feelings forming that shouldn't have been. She was his girlfriend's sister, his best friend potential girl. Yet he she was the inspiration for his doing the song, the one person he couldn't get off of his mind, no matter how hard he tried.

Without even thinking, he reached over, coving one of her hands with his larger ones. They paused, resting over the keys, and she began to shake slightly with nervousness. The music had stopped, but he kept singing the words, ever so softly. Kara wanted to speak, ask him what he was doing. But when she looked up at him she couldn't exactly find the words to speak. He was looking back at her, his blue eyes crystal clear, and as nervous as her own brown ones.

Now what am I supposed to do
When I want you in my world?
How can I want you for myself
When you're already someone's girl?

You're already someone's girl? That wasn't the line he was supposed to sing.

His voice quieted, but his hand didn't leave hers. They sat in silence, looking back and forth, wondering what to do next. Justin, not sure if she understood what he'd confessed. Kara, not sure if it was in fact a confession, and if he'd done it on purpose if it happened to be one. So they stared back and forth, waiting for someone to move.

Then, without warning or reason, Justin leaned over. His lips brushed against Kara's. They were warm, and soft. They touched her gently, just barely. Enough to heighten her senses, but not enough to fill her curiosity as to what it would feel like to kiss him.

"I'm sorry," he said suddenly. "I… Kara, I shouldn't have done that. I know you and Trace are-."

His sentence was halted, and he was caught by surprised when Kara leaned forward, kissing him back. She was more aggressive, pressing her lips to his with vigor and liveliness. There was an urgency, that he eagerly returned. Maybe he hadn't been the only one who'd secretly wondered what if would feel like.

His hands smoothed up her sides, one resting around her waist and the other weaving into the hair at the nape of her neck. He held her there, kissing her thoroughly, biting at her lip. Kara groaned before she could help it. While part of her was in awe of his actions and her own, another part of her was on fire. She did like Trace, and he was a good kisser. But this was different, Justin was different. It had been a long time since she had had a real, true, toe-curlingly good kiss.

Suddenly she pulled back. Their bodies didn't pull away from each other, and they stared into each others' eyes, panting as they hung onto each other.

"Oh my God," Kara breathed. "Oh my God, what did I just do?"

She backed away from him, standing from the bench. She walked to the middle of the room, pulling her bottom lip into her mouth. She could still taste him there, only instead of it being a turn-on like it was with Trace, it made her feel sinful and dirty.

"Did we just-? I just-? And you're my sisters-? Oh God."

She put a hand on her forehead, collapsing onto the sofa.

Ten minutes later and Kara touched her lips again for what seemed like the twentieth time that hour. She couldn't believe it. It was better than she thought it could ever be. He was so gentle yet so firm, his soft lips coercing hers in the best way. So that was the reason why Marz was always all over him. Hmm. Kara smirked before reality set in. She had kissed her sister's boyfriend. Her sister's boyfriend. Her sister's boyfriend. Well technically he kissed her first, but she kissed him back.

Have you got love to burn?
Kisses for days?
Don't you want to grab onto something real
And never let it get away?

Kara looked down at her phone in horror. It was like her sister was psychic or something. She let the ringtone play another bar or two before answering.

"Hello?"

"Hey, did I catch you at a bad time? You sound out of breath," Marz said energetically.

Kara didn't realize that she was breathing so hard. In fact she could've sworn she was holding her breath for the past several minutes since Justin left the room after their…kiss.

"Sorry," she apologized softly, not sure if it was for the kiss or the fact that she was breathing so hard. "We're just working late in the studio. You know how worked up I get when I'm writing."

"Do I ever," Marz laughed, oblivious to her sister's lie. "Why is it so quiet in there? Where are Justin and Trace?"

"Justin stepped out for air." Because that kiss was breathtaking. "And Trace went to on a coffee run."

"Oh ok. Why didn't you go with Trace? You two could've had some much needed alone time. I know Justin must be like a third wheel for ya'll, all up in your personal space." Which I enjoyed thoroughly. Kara smiled and momentarily forgot what was going on. She caught herself in just enough time before Marz got suspicious.

"Naw, he's been really busy with this movie promotion so Trace and I usually have the days to ourselves and we just hit up the studio at night."

"Lucky you, at least you get to see your boyfriend."

Kara could hear the sadness in her sister's voice and pouted with her before realizing what she called Trace.

"He's not my boyfriend, Marz."

"He's not? Well I definitely can't tell. I've seen the way he looks at you…and the way you look at him. That midget really likes you," Marz said with a slight laugh.

Kara couldn't help but join in.

"Well we haven't put a title on things, but I like him as well."

"Just don't hurt him. Justin told me that he's had his heart trampled on by girls only being with him to get closer to his best friend."

Kara felt her heart drop. She wasn't one of those girls; she wouldn't break his heart to be with Justin. She couldn't. Besides, she wasn't even Justin's type. Their kiss was a temporary lapse of judgment. Yep. That's what happened. Their minds were experiencing some kind of blip at the same time and they kissed. No harm meant because it didn't mean anything…did it?