One thing Dani knew was to never trust the guys with something important or valuable because it never gets back to you in one piece.

Well, that's what Dani was trying to explain to Gustavo as he sent her to give the boys all video cameras so they could all record their daily lives to post online for their fans to see, but did he listen?

Not a chance.

So when the boys all walked into Gustavo's office the following morning and Kendall dumped out all of the broken camera pieces from the brown paper bag, Dani couldn't help but smirk at Gustavo in an 'I told you so' manner.

Gustavo ignored the girls' stares as he had them all regroup in the studio.

"Boys, our album comes out in three months." Gustavo announced, causing the boys to silently high-five each other. "And given our recent web video disaster, it is time for phase two of my get Big Time Rush on the web so people will know about you and buy your album in three months."

"That sure is a mouth full." Dani said, looking up at the man, causing the four boys to nod in agreement.

"Is that phase two under the sheet?" Kendall asked, pointing at what looked like a board that was covered by a red velvet cover.

"Guys, get ready because today. Big Time Rush is spending," Kelly started, pulling the sheet off to reveal a TV with a blog. "A day with Deke!"

"He's Hollywood's number one entertainment music blogger." Dani explained. "If you want to be somebody, Deke is your guy."

"Guys, Dak Zevon was a nobody until he spent the day ice fishing with Deke. Then he became The Reel Deal."

"And today it's Big Time Rush at the famous Palm Woods pool." Gustavo spoke, causing the boys to become excited.

"Cool, so we just have to hang out with this guy and be the real us." Kendall asked, causing Kelly and Gustavo to start laughing, making Dani look over at them weirdly.

"No."

"I don't want him anywhere near the real you." Gustavo revealed. "You'll just knock him into the pool or slice off his arm with a hockey stick."

"'Cause that's bad, right?" Carlos asked.

"Yes, that would be very bad." Dani replied.

"If you have a bad day with Deke, your career could end up like Tanyon Lavell's." Kelly stated.

"Who's Tanyon Lavell?" The four boys asked, confused.

"Exactly." Kelly and Gustavo said.

"I thought his latest project was actually good." Dani spoke, causing the others to look at her. "What?"

"And now, I present to you my day with Deke Big Time dog training preparation team." Gustavo said, pulling out his air horn and pushing it as six people came rushing into the room.

"Change them!" yelled the marketing people, causing the three stylists to go rushing at the boys at full speed, carrying clothes and hair supplies as they went crashing to the ground.

....

Before Dani knew it, the studio was transformed to reference the outside sitting area of the Palm Woods pool, near the fire.

The boys were all dressed in, let's say, unique clothing choices for themselves. I mean, Carlos had a tie on over his T-shirt. Unique.

"Boys, we've not only recreated the Palm Woods pool setting for your day with Deke. " The female marketer said she pulled out a life-size cardboard cutout of Deke, and let's just say it was small.

"We've also re-created Deke." The male marketer added, causing the two of them to point at the cutout ecstatically.

"He's so tiny." Carlos exclaimed, pointing at the cutout, causing Dani to let out a small laugh.

"Please don't say that when you see him, because it is very important what he thinks of you." Gustavo explained, standing up from his spot on the back of the couch beside Kelly. "Got it?"

"Got it!"

"Now, good luck with your training, my young padawans. It begins now."

"Good luck, guys." Dani said, sending them a reassuring smile before she quickly followed after Gustavo and Kelly.

"Shouldn't we be helping the guys?" Dani questioned, making her way into the office, taking a seat on the mini couch, and putting her legs over the arm.

"We are. Welcome to phase three of my Big Time Internet Blitz." Gustavo said, holding up the number three with his fingers.

"See, that's such a better name."

"I'm giving the guys scuttlebutter accounts." Gustavo explained, motioning to the phones on his desk as Kelly semi-nodded. "That way, they can text their fans what's the haps, only they won't be posting. It'll be me, because they are stupid."

"No one says that. Besides, that is such a terrible idea." Dani said, sitting up a little. "What do you think will happen when they meet these fans in person and they're nothing like these scuttlebutter accounts?"

"Yeah, please don't do that." Kelly agreed, reaching over the desk, grabbing the phone from Gustavo's hands.

"It's easy," Gustavo spoke, taking the phone back from Kelly's hands. "I signed up too. You just scuttbutt fun facts about yourself. 'I hate brusselsprouts'. Done."

"It's two words." Kelly explained, looking down at the phone unimpressed as she looked back up at Gustavo. "It's Brussels Sprouts."

"All right, Delete... Delete, Backspace, and Cut--" Gustavo mumbled when the posting sound went off, causing Dani to quickly sit up. "What just happened?"

"You just posted something," Dani informed the man, causing Kelly to quickly grab the phone.

"You sent out a scuttbutt saying you hate Brussels." Kelly said, putting the phone down, looking over at Gustavo.

"As in the capital of Belgium?" Dani questioned, causing Kelly to nod.

"Ahhh!" Gustavo exclaimed, letting out a small scream before stopping. "Who cares?"

"Um, I think the Belgians will," Dani said, letting out a fake chuckle, giving Gustavo a serious look, causing Gustavo to shrug at the girl, making his way out of the office with Kelly behind him as Dani threw her head back, letting out a loud breath before she got up.

"Boys, this is a test you cannot fail," the female marketer said as Dani made her way into the room. "You need to make this a day Deke will never forget."

"What he thinks is what is," Mr. Fong stated, waving a biscuit in his hand.

"And remember, our album comes out in three months, and the web is a powerful tool that can take BTR right to the top," Gustavo explained, pulling his glasses off of his face. "And Deke is a powerful person."

...

"I still can't believe I had to come along with you idiots." Dani groaned, sitting in the center between Logan and Carlos with her arms crossed. "I could have been working on my song with a cup of cocoa, but no, I'm here."

"We have what? Another 15 minutes. Why don't you go get a cup of cocoa?" Kendall suggested, causing the other boys to nod.

"I don't can't." Dani shook her head. "I promised Gustavo I wouldn't leave your side until Deke leaves."

"I guess you don't want that free cup of cocoa they were giving out in Palm Woods park." James said, looking away from the girl.

"What are you talking about, Diamond?" Dani asked, glancing over at the tall brunette boy.

"You didn't hear; the Palm Woods is giving away free cups of cocoa to all the residents." Kendall said, causing her to quickly shake her head. "It's a pop-up thing; it's only today."

"I can always go after; I mean, it's..." Dani started, pulling out her phone to look at the time. "Only almost 1."

That caused all of the guys to make a sound, biting onto their knuckles, causing Dani to grow confused.

"That's thing, Dani; it closes at 1." Logan explained, causing Dani's heart to drop. "But if you leave now, you'll make it in time!"

"But what about the interview?" Dani questioned as she was pulled up from her spot by Carlos and Logan as all the boys stood.

"Don't worry, we got this!" Carlos exclaimed, causing the other boys to nod in agreement.

"Remember what Gustavo said; we are ready for this!" Kendall spoke, causing the girl to slowly start nodding.

"Okay, I guess I'll go then." Dani said, causing the boys to start pushing her towards the lobby doors, but Dani stopped them as she turned around, causing all of the boys to quickly stop. "But I will be back, so don't do anything stupid while I'm gone! Got it!"

"Got it!" The four exclaimed in unison, quickly pushing the girl through the lobby doors as she made her journey towards Palm Woods Park.

Let's just say Dani wasn't very happy with the boys.

Dani couldn't believe that the guys' lied to her, but what she couldn't believe more was that she actually believed them. Not only that, she got a message from Kelly telling her about the Belgians boycotting BTR's new album because of Gustavo's stupid scuttbutt.

Dani was making her way back into the Palm Woods when she noticed the four standing in the lobby, but what caught Dani's eye was the cords wrapped around Carlos and Logan as they stood across from James and Kendall.

"What are you guys up to?" Dani questioned, walking up behind Carlos and Logan, causing the four boys to let out a scream as they crowded up together.

"Dani, um, what's up?" Logan said, sounding confused, causing the girl to glare at the four.

"What's up? What's up is that you guys lied to me and I actually fell for it, and what's with the cords?" Dani asked, eyeing the two boys.

"Nothing!" The four exclaimed before the sound of banging came from the door behind the boys.

"What was that?"

"That was James; he, um, kicked the door." Kendall quickly said, looking over at the other boy as he quickly kicked the door.

"My bad." James apologized, quickly sending the girl a smile.

"Okay, weirdo," Dani said, eying the boy before looking over the group. "So, where's Deke?"

"Deke?" Carlos asked quickly as all the guy's eyes grew.

"Yeah, Deke. You know the blogger who's writing the article on Big Time Rush." Dani said, pointing at the four boys, causing them to share a look. "You idiots."

"Oh, that Deke, yeah, never heard of him." Kendall responded before the sound of something crashing came from the room behind the guys.

"You can't stop the truth!" Deke exclaimed from the room, causing Dani's eyes to grow wide.

"You locked him in a closet!" Dani yelled, causing the boys to quickly send her a small smile before they turned to the door.

"Let's just say Deke didn't like the real us, whatever that means." Carlos said, putting up air quotations as he said the word real, causing Dani to give them a look to continue.

"Well, we used the things Gustavo taught us, and so now Deke thinks we're fake and that we are just some other boy band created by the industry." Logan explained, causing the girl to nod. "Yeah, then James locked him in the closet."

"He said we had no real substances!" James exclaimed.

"Look, if you just agree to spend the rest of the day with us like you promised..." Kendall started looking at the other guys, causing them to nod.

"And let us prove we're not phonies." James continued.

"We'll let you out." Carlos and Logan spoke together.

"Okay, I will." Deke agreed, causing the boys to let out a sigh of relief.

Kendall reached over, opening the door as Dani peered over Carlos and Logan's shoulders as she came face-to-face with a short guy who had a computer attached to him, assuming it was Deke.

Deke sent the group a smile before trying to make a run for it, but was quickly pushed back into the closet by the boys of Big Time Rush.

"Guys!" Dani exclaimed as the boys closed the door and turned around, facing her, as Deke began beating on the door.

"As soon as I get internet access, you guys are big time finished!" Deke shouted.

"Well, let's look on the bright side." Kendall said, looking around his friends. "This is definitely a day Deke will never forget."

"Yup," Carlos agreed, causing the others to nod.

After at least 10 minutes of the group arguing back and forth, mostly Dani telling them how stupid their idea was, they finally gave in to talking to Deke.

"Look, we just want a chance to change the way you think about us." Kendall explained, sitting between James and Dani, with Logan standing beside Dani and Carlos sitting on the ground in front of the door beside Logan.

"Fine, I'll interview you through the door." Deke's said, causing them to cheer as the boys all quickly stood up in front of the door. "What made you decide to come to L.A.?"

"Um, well, we didn't really plan on this, but when amazing opportunities come, you have to." Kendall started to answer but was cut off.

"Could someone elaborate on that?" Deke asked.

"Sure, well, it was my dream to be a pop star, but my buds helped me get to the audition." James began elaborating before he also got cut off.

"Where do you see yourself in 20..." Deke's voice spoke as it slowly started dying like a battery.

"Oh no, his battery died!" Logan exclaimed, causing all the boys to look around scared as Dani facepalmed herself.

"People don't have batteries, you idiots!" Dani said, getting up from her spot and walking towards the door, pushing it open to reveal on a tape recorder and no Deke. "See, it's a tape recorder, genius'."

"Wait, what!"

"He's in the ducts!" James exclaimed, causing Carlos to scream as the group all sprinted away from the closet, following the path of the ducts and the sound of Deke's voice.

"All I have to do is find a hardwired computer and expose the big-time truth." Deke's voice came from the ducts, causing the group to stop as they noticed his face peering out of one of the vents.

"Yeah, well, the truth is, we do sing. Observe." James said, defensively, pointing at the other 3 boys as they all sang C in harmony.

"Not bad. But I will destroy you."

Soon, Deke stopped as they made it to the second floor as he began to breathe heavily, complaining how hot he was in the ducts.

"Would you like some water?" Dani asked nicely, looking up at the sweating boy in the ducts, feeling bad that the boys put him in this position.

"Do you have sparkling?" Deke questioned, peering out of the vent once again.

"Let me check." Dani said, quickly running into her apartment and running back out. "Here, catch."

Dani quickly tossed the water bottle into the vent as Deke caught it.

"Thanks!" Deke said, chugging some of the water before closing it back up. "Later, losers."

Dani went to go after him, but stopped when she felt all of their eyes on her.

"What?" Dani said, confused, looking at all four of them.

"You just had to give him water!" James snapped, motioning to where Deke once was.

"Oh, I'm sorry for being a decent human being; and worrying about his health." Dani scoffed, walking closer to the tall brunette. "If your ego wasn't so big, you wouldn't have locked him in the supply closet in the first place, and we wouldn't be in this mess!"

"Yeah, well, if you weren't on a wild goose chase and there for the interview, you would have seen what happened!" James replied, taking a step closer. "I mean hot cocoa, really? Are we three? Why can't you just grow up and be like a normal teen and like coffee or something?"

"That's none of your business! And you mean the goose chase that you idiots sent me on?" Dani snapped, poking the boy in the chest, taking a step closer about to poke him again, but quickly felt herself being lifted off of the ground as she was pulled away from James.

"Okay, now is not exactly the time to be turning on each other." Logan said, stepping in the middle of the two. "We need to figure out a way to keep Deke from posting that horrible blog about us."

"I don't know; maybe James can go lock him in another closet while you and Carlos pull out some more electricity cords and make the entire Palm Woods go dark." Dani shot, glaring at the brunette as she noticed Carlos beside Logan, which meant Kendall was the one holding her. "Or better yet, lock James in the closet and see how he feels, and will you put me down!"

"Or better yet, we get Deke out of the vents, and then we try to talk to him." Logan suggested, throwing his arms up as he shrugged his shoulders, causing the girl to cross her arms once she was placed on the ground.

"That's a good idea," Carlos said, nodding his head and pointing towards Logan, causing Carlos, James, and Logan to quickly start following the ducts, while Kendall stayed behind Dani as he noticed Dani wasn't moving.

"Everything okay, Dani?" Kendall asked, causing the girl to turn around to face the boy.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. You guys, go ahead; I'll catch up later." Dani said, sending the boy a small smile as he gave her a look. "I promise, I'm fine. Now go, Kendork."

Kendall sent the girl a smile before running to catch up to the guys.

Dani began to feel tears welling up in her eyes as she stepped into her apartment, letting out a shaky breath.

"You are fine." Dani whispered to herself, fanning her eyes, trying to get the tears to stop forming. "I'm fine."

She stood there in front of her apartment door for a good minute, trying to collect herself, before she went to her kitchen to do something that made her calm: bake.

...

Dani quickly made her way to the studio after she received an urgent text from Kelly saying that Belgians started a riot outside of Rocque Records and destroyed the studio.

Dani thought she was exaggerating but still quickly made her way to the studio before even taking a second to think about looking at her appearance.

As she made her way into the studio, Dani noticed the furniture scattered all over the place, waffles scattered all over the floor, and signs against Gustavo torn into pieces.

"Wow. Gotta love Brussels."

She made her way towards Gustavo's open door but stopped when she heard him reading what she assumed was Deke's blog.

"'The Big Time Truth: After lies about snowboarding, corporate-written sound bites, and being locked in a supply closet, I knew within my first five minutes that Big Time Rush was big time phonies." Gustavo read before he began screaming. "You locked him in a supply closet?!"

"Yep." The four boys responded.

"But, hey! '' The rest of my day was literally a Big Time Rush." Kelly read, causing Dani to somewhat perk up, happy that it didn't all end up terrible.

"And not just because of 20-foot-high heating duct slides, garbage can rides, and sparkling water delivered upon request by Roque Records Danielle Jennings.'" Logan read, causing a small smile to appear on Dani's face, glad that she knew she did something right.

"'But in discovering that Big Time Rush are four dedicated, smart, and fun-loving guys who share a passion for music and life," Carlos continued reading.

"My day with Big Time Rush is one I'll never forget." James said it ecstatically.

"And I'm looking forward to hearing their new album.'" Kendall read, finishing the article, causing a moment of silence before the room was filled with screams of excitement.

"Okay, okay.' Gustavo said, causing the group to stop as he gained their attention. "Now that my dogs have crushed phase two of our big-time web attack, let's go back to phase one and make some web videos for the Big Time Rush website."

"And this time, try not to break the cameras." Kelly begged.

"Got it!"

"Wait a second." Kelly said, causing the screaming to once again stop. "Where's Dani?"

"Oh, yeah. We haven't seen her since she gave that water to Deke, and she and James got into that argument." Carlos started, but he was cut by a hand being placed over his mouth.

"What argument?" Kelly asked.

"Dani and James had a little disagreement about Deke and the closet." Kendall explained.

"He said some things; she said some things. They both said some more things. There was poking, and then poof, Dani's gone." Logan added.

"We also may or may not have sent her on a wild goose chase during our interview with Deke." Kendall admitted.

"Look, I was just upset; she gave Deke water after he called us names; she told me I had a big ego; and then she called us idiots." James explained.

"You also told her to grow up."

"Carlos!"

"Explain, now." Gustavo demanded.

"I questioned her about her cocoa addiction." James admitted, causing Gustavo and Kelly to usher him to continue. "And then I said something along the lines of? 'Are we three? Why can't you be like a normal teen and like coffee or something?"

Gustavo and Kelly quickly shared a knowing look, causing the boys to grow concerned.

"What's wrong?" Kendall asked.

"I mean, it was just a little argument." James said.

"You don't understand. She may be this tough and strong girl, but certain things put Dani in this kind of... funk." Kelly explained. "It's all about her past with..."

Dani couldn't hear anymore, so she quickly made her way into the room.
"Hey guys." Dani smiled.

"Dani, what are you doing here?" Gustavo asked, causing the girl to give him a questioning look. "What I mean is you're off the clock."

"Kelly told me that you needed me here." Dani replied, glancing over at the woman. "Something about angry Belgians. Also, I brought cookies."

"Cookies!" Carlos exclaimed, causing the girl to hand him the container as he quickly tore the lid off and threw it before stuffing his face. "Mmm, thanks, Dani."

"Oh, right, that text!" Kelly said, before Dani even had a chance to respond to Carlos. "Yeah, we have it under control."

"You sure?" Dani asked, pointing towards the hallway. I can help clean up; I'm already here."

"No!" Gustavo exclaimed, causing the girl to jump. "What I mean is that the dogs will help; it will help them with, um, their dance moves."

"Oh, okay." Dani said, nodding slowly.

"Dani, are you okay?" Logan asked, causing the girl's head to snap in his direction.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Dani said, sending him a fake smile.

"Well, for starters, your face is red, and it looks like you've been crying." Kendall pointed out, causing Dani to quickly wipe her face.

"Oh that, yeah, I must have got something in my eye while baking. It's no biggie." Dani said. "Well, if I'm no longer needed, I'm going to head back to the Palm Woods. I'll catch you guys later."

Before anyone else had the chance to say anything, Dani quickly made her way out of the office and out of Rocque Records.

...

Dani wrapped herself under her giant cozy blanket with a cup of cocoa and a plate of cookies as she watched a Christmas movie.

The sound of someone knocking at her door caught the girl's attention, making her head shoot towards the door before she quickly paused the TV.

"Coming." She called out, standing from her place on her couch and making her way to the door, opening it to reveal the boys of Big Time Rush. "Oh, hey guys, what's going on?"

Logan, Carlos, and Kendall all smacked James.

"I wanted to apologize for what I said to you earlier. I shouldn't have snapped on you or told you to grow up." James apologized. "I guess you're right about me having a big ego, and I was wondering if you would forgive me."

"James, it's fine; you were in a mood about the article, and Deke, I understand. You're forgiven."

"So, can we join you for a cup of cocoa?" Kendall asked, causing the boys to send her a smile.

"And Cookies!" Carlos exclaimed, causing the girl to chuckle as the boys all sent him a look, making her open the door up wider as she stepped out the way. "What? Her cookies are delicious."

"You're just in luck." Dani said, closing the door behind them as they all made their way into her apartment.

The girl grabbed four mugs from her cabinet, pouring cocoa into all four of them before she slid them over to the boys, one by one. She then refiled her cup before returning to the couch that now held the four boys as she sat in the center, between Carlos and Kendall.

"You do know it's still not December, right?" James asked, looking from the TV to the girl.

"James!"

"Sorry." James mumbled, sinking into the couch as he took a sip from his cup as he started at the TV screen.

It was nights like these that she enjoyed with her boys; she never felt alone.

Before Dani knew it, she drifted off into a deep slumber.

...