Aim High, Never Rest

The Palm Woods park is a very decent place, which is why I'm so glad Carlos brought me here. 

The trees have the greenest leaves ever and that enlightens me. It's so quiet and peaceful. People who walk by just mind their own business and not judge you with their eyes. The atmosphere is way different than West Palm Beach. It was also what I didn't expect. My thought of Los Angeles was West Palm Beach but worst. So now I realize that in LA, rich snobs don't run all over the place. 

"So what do you think so far?" Carlos pulled me out of my thoughts. 

"I think this place is amazing" I said honestly. He grinned and that made me happy for carrying enthusiasm in my answer.

It seems like making Carlos happy is what I have to live for in order to feel proud of myself. Since nothing I do around society seems to be right. Nothing I do seems to make people happy. 

We continued to walk around the park in comfortable silence. It was weird to see Carlos so mesmerized by our surroundings. He always seems kind of jumpy. Like he can't focus on one thing at a time. But it's good to see this side of him. 

"Look, it's the corn-dog stand!" he exclaimed, charging to the stand, knocking people and things over throughout the process. 

Looks like I spoke too soon. I chuckled to myself and followed the excited helmet wearer to the stand. Even though I was a few paces behind, I manage to catch up to him.

Carlos bought a dozen of corn-dogs and I find that a bit too overwhelming. 

"That's a lot" I stated, taking two from him.

"Try it!" his eyes went wide with excitement and his smile couldn't get any bigger. He stared me down while I self consciously take a bite out of the corn-dog.

"Hmmm" I nodded in approval.

"Well?"

"It's really good, but..."

"But?" he looked a bit offended.

"No, it's nothing bad. It's just very fattening. I have to watch my weight" I noted. He frowned and now I'm feeling horrible for mentioning my weight problems. I feel like a monster for tearing Carlos away from his cheery mood. It's like taking a lollipop away from an innocent child.

"But I will eat more" I compromised. 

That smile went back on his face. 

Each of us ate six in total which was almost like torture for me. With every bite I take, I feel like I'm going to gain another pound and people are going to judge me. 

"Hannah, it's not that fattening" Carlos stated, studying my expression very carefully.

"I don't know, I feel like I'm going to get fat" I stared down at my flip flops, thinking about all the mean remarks Cassie and her friends pass to me back at home. 

"You're not going to get fat. Your really skinny" he patted my shoulder and offered to bring my corn-dog sticks to the trash can. 

"Oh please, your just saying that to make me feel better about myself" of course I didn't believe him. He doesn't understand. He doesn't understand what it's like to live with perfection. 

"Hannah, don't listen to what other people say about you. I think your very pretty and amazing" Carlos looked at me directly when he said that.

My cheeks heated up at the compliment. I have to get used to Carlos. I've never met anyone like him and I feel like my life will be different with him around. But different in a positive way, of course. 

"So are you ready to go back to Palm Woods?" Carlos asked. 

"To be honest, I don't want to go back yet" 

"But it's 5:30" 

"So what?"

"The guys and I are throwing a party tomorrow and we don't know how we should get rid of Bitters" Carlos explained with some kind of worried expression on his face. It makes me feel a bit bad seeing that look on him. 

"You guys are throwing a party tomorrow?" I cocked an eyebrow.

Carlos nodded furiously.

"Isn't that against Palm Woods rules?" I clarified.

"Yeah"

"Then why are..."

"Hannah, if you knew us long enough, you would know that we don't care. We will do something about it" 

"But what about Bitters?" I asked. The man already have so much to handle. It would be troublesome to pull something behind his back. 

"We get rid of him so he won't have to know" Carlos said like it's the easiest thing in the world. I really don't understand. What do they have against Bitters? 

"Isn't that mean?" 

"He is mean"

"You guys treat him like crap. That's why"

"Who's side are you on?"

"His apparently"

"Hannah!" he whined.

"Carlos!" I mocked him. 

"This is going to be a kick ass party and we want nothing in the way. We just need to find a way to distract Bitters from being at the hotel tomorrow night. We won't hurt him, we just need to pull him away from his duties for the night" 

An idea suddenly popped in my head like a lightbulb. But I feel really hesitant to sharing it with Carlos. Should I side with the guys and sabotage Mr. Bitters? Just for this one night right?

And plus, it was hard to deny Carlos with that adorable face look he's pulling.

"Okay, I have something" I announced.

He glanced at me hopefully. I could sense the desperation in his facial expression. He wants this party to happen so bad and who am I to ruin a chance at making him happy? 

"We can set Cassie on a date with Bitters!" I said proudly. Carlos gasped inspirationally and immediately agreed with me.

"But how are we going to get Cassie to go out with Bitters? I mean look at him" Carlos questioned. I couldn't help but feel bad. It really isn't nice insulting our hotel manager. Unfortunately, he really has a point. Cassie would never go out with him in a million years.

"Cassie may be beautiful but she's not that smart. That's no problem convincing her" 

So for the next hour, we managed to reserve a table in the fanciest French restaurant around Rodeo Drive. 

But around that time, Carlos and I were starving and fighting off the hunger due to our determination of making this plan work.

When we got back to Palm Woods, we ran into the other three guys, who were ready to leave.

"Hey Carlos, what's up bro?" Kendall greeted.

"Guys, Hannah came up with the best plan ever to distract Bitters!" Carlos announced excitedly. The guys all stare at me wide-eyed.

We explained the plan to the guys and they were satisfied with it. So they decided to help.

"Where will we get a limo?" I asked aloud.

The guys all looked like they were deep into thoughts.

As if on cue, the guys gasped and gave each other a knowing look. 

"Let's go!" James led the way out the hotel. The guys followed, leaving me to stand here dumbly. 

Two seconds later, Carlos popped his head in the door.

"Lets go!" he beckoned me. He didn't need to tell me again. I ran after him, falling dependent on the guys for direction. Please don't let me down, guys. And what could possibly go wrong on this run to a mysterious place? 

"Where are we going?" I asked, panting during the run.

"Rocque Records" Logan mustered from his unsteady breath. 

I didn't even have the energy left to ask him what it was. 

But finally, we reached the destination. The guys charged at the door to a fancy looking building like it's their own house. I hope they won't cause anymore trouble. Unlike the guys, I carefully push the door open and walked in.

Catching up with the guys, we end up in a hallway decorated with posters of some famous boy bands that I used to listen to in the 90's. The walls looked to be made of glass and following the color scheme of red and white.

I followed the guys through a black door and reached to someone's office. 

"Dogs!" a big man behind the desk yelled.

"Gustavo, we... Need..." Carlos panted, running out of breath. 

"... Your... Help" Logan finished for him. 

"Why are you talking like this?" the man known as Gustavo, asked loudly. This man talks really loud and it's frightening me.

"Can you get us a limo?" I asked, speaking for James, who was about to open his mouth.

"Why would you dogs need a limo?" Gustavo questioned, "and who are you?" he glared at me.

"It's not important right now" I responded.

"We are throwing a party at Palm Woods but Bitters can't find out so we need to get a..."

"Okay, I'll get you guys a limo if you stop whining" 

"We weren't even whining" Kendall pointed out. 

"Don't talk!" he yelled at Kendall, gaining him a satisfied grin.

Now I remember Carlos' conversation with Kendall about Gustavo. According to what I heard, Kendall likes pissing Gustavo off. 

"When and where do you want the limo?" Gustavo asked. The guys looked at each other then at me.

"Uh..."

"Huh?"

"When does the party start?"

"7:00"

"Then tell the limo to arrive to Palm Woods at 6:30 tomorrow" I told him. 

"I'll have Kelly arrange that for you, now get out of here!" 

When we got back to Palm Woods, the lobby was almost empty since it was getting really late.

"Bitters!" Kendall shouted, running to the counter. We all ran after him.

"What do you guys want?" Bitters rolled his eyes.

"We did you a favor" Kendall said enthusiastically. 

"Are you guys moving out?"

Logan, James, and Carlos looked at him, obviously offended at that remark.

"No, but we got you a date tomorrow night at Restaurante de France" Kendall continued.

"Okay, I'm listening" Bitter's face distorted with a sudden interest.

"Be at the restaurant by 6:30 tomorrow night. Just ask them for a reservation for Bitters and they will lead you to the table. She will arrive with an escort. Then after dinner, the limo will bring you two back" I explained the details for him.

He has this really creepy grin on his face and for once, I couldn't identify my feelings for this guy. It's like I've lost all respect for him for some reason.

"Now, have a nice Palm Woods day!" he said, shooing us away from his counter. 

"Hannah?" Kendall started when we got in the elevator.

"What?"

"Are you sure you can get your sister to go out with Bitters?" 

"Yeah, no problem" I shrugged. 

"Alright, cool. Thank you"

"And one more thing guys..."

They looked at me curiously.

"Can I go to the party?" I asked, afraid to hear their answer. I mean it doesn't mean if I help them, I'd qualify for the party.

"Of course, did someone forget to ask you?" Logan glared at Carlos, who shrugged and looked at me apologetically. 

"CARLOS!" everyone, excluding me, shouted.

"Sorry" he closed his eyes shut and clutched his helmet tighter against his head. 

The elevator stopped on the second floor and we all retreated to the hall.

"So see you tomorrow, Hannah" Carlos said, waving his hands excitedly. Wow, even his goodbye wave was cheery and exciting.

"Bye guys, see you tomorrow! I'm looking forward to setting up this plan with you guys"

And with that, we each entered our own respective rooms.