iPod Shuffle Challenge - Spotify 2025 Edition
I was going through a bit of a slump in my writing. Remembered this fun challenge I did last year. Decided to bring it back for this.
I did mine based off my Spotify Wrapped 2025. The order of the songs got... very weird. So, there'll be some weird ones.
Anyway... here's another Jaelyn (James/Kaelyn) shuffle challenge I did.
IPod Shuffle Challenge Rules:
Pick a character, pairing, or fandom you like.
Turn on your music player and put it on random/shuffle.
Write a ficlet related to each song that plays. You only have the time frame of the song to finish the drabble; you start when the song starts, and stop when it's over. No lingering afterwards! No editing!
Do ten of these, and then post them.
Song One: Boyfriend by Big Time Rush
It was a fun night at the carnival. At least it was meant to be. But for James, it was anything but.
He had made things right with Logan after kissing Camille. Thanks to a spit ball showdown in Palm Woods Park. Surprisingly, that was the easy part. The hard part was the hurt he had caused Kaelyn.
They had never defined their relationship. Not since the three (or four – maybe more) kisses they shared in the leadup to their first album release and subsequent tour. They never said, ‘We’re more than friends.’ But the hurt look on her face when she found out what happened between him and Camille hurt more than any physical blow.
He had watched the others run off with their girls. Kendall was off with Jo. Carlos was off with his new girlfriend Sasha. Logan was with Camille (showing they were already on-again, off-again). But he was standing there alone.
At least until Kaelyn stood before him. Her facial expression unreadable.
James had a thousand apologies lined up. Many he had already said. And he knew she heard them. So, instead, what came out was,
“All I really want is to be yours.”
It was the first time he had said it aloud. And it turned out to be the key.
Because she came over with a smile, looped her arm through his, and suggested a ride together.
Song Two: Dancing on the Ceiling by Lionel Richie
The success of the school dance the previous year made Miss Collins immediately agree to host another one this year. Once again, they were forced to host it at Rocque Records. (Gustavo proved to be surprisingly agreeable. Well… once Kelly convinced him he should reward the band for the hard work following the success of their first album and tour.) Mr. Bitters had nothing scheduled at the Palm Woods. But he still hated school dances and the four hockey heads from Minnesota. So, he was not feeling particularly charitable.
The dance was well put together last time, but having the extra time this year really enabled the teens to go all out. No more brown paper banners. No more hastily donated snacks and sodas. Everything was done ahead of time.
Including getting dates.
Logan and Camille were in the on-again phase of their on-again, off-again relationship, so they went together. This time, he had no problem asking her. Kendall went with Jo as his girlfriend to celebrate her audition for the Chauncey Jackson movies. Carlos went with a new arrival at the Palm Woods. And James…
James got to openly go with Kaelyn.
He got to twirl her around the dance floor, loving the way the dark blue dress enhanced her natural beauty. He got to hold her as they swayed to the beat. They got to have fun together. They didn’t have to sneak away.
They got to dance on the ceiling.
Song Three: Praise by Elevation Worship (this was a really weird one to pop up – I hope I made it work)
Nobody could explain how they came to be on this particular radio station, but here they were. It’s not that James nor Kaelyn had a problem with Christian rock music. The only problem is… Kaelyn didn’t particularly view herself as religious, and James is Jewish. (Even though he celebrated both Jewish and Christian holidays and traditions thanks to one parent being Jewish and another parent being Christian.)
But when they heard the song that was playing, they didn’t move to change the station. They could appreciate the song. It had a great beat. The lyrics were inspiration. And there was a particular line that spoke to them:
‘Cause praise is the water my enemies drown in.
It was strange for that particular lyric to strike them, but it did, given their recent struggles. Namely Hawk rearing his ugly head once more trying to sabotage Big Time Rush. Again. Clearly, he didn’t learn from when he sent a skunk to Rocque Records, nor stealing James, nor kidnapping the band, nor stealing the hard drive containing their second album.
This time, they didn’t just defeat Hawk. They defeated the army of trolls he amassed trying to destroy Big Time Rush. Because Hawk had underestimated the Rushers that stood by them.
They became the water their enemies drowned in.
Song Four: I Want You Here All the Time by Big Time Rush
It became something James said in his head long before he understood the gravity of the words. The gravity of the feelings behind them.
Every time he told people he didn’t care if Kaelyn couldn’t hang out with them in their childhood, he lied. He did care. He did care when Kaelyn spent time with other people. He did care when she wasn’t with him.
Some would say it was selfish. But his motivations weren’t selfish. They weren’t based on a desire to be one of Kaelyn’s only friends. It was simply because he wanted to be with her.
What he didn’t know was that Kaelyn was the same. She felt the same whenever James went on one of his many dates. It didn’t matter to her that these girls never lasted more than one date, two at the most. When he was away, he was on her mind.
What he didn’t know was they had the same thought:
I want you here all the time.
Song Five: Windows Down by Big Time Rush
None of them could believe it. Gustavo was sending them to Hawaii. For a working holiday.
He did make the point the emphasise the working aspect of the working holiday. But Kelly had been quick to reassure them that the working aspect of the working holiday would be brief.
And it wouldn’t feel like work at all. Because they were shooting a music video. A music video involving them having fun in Hawaii.
Kaelyn got to handle the camera for some of the more personal aspects of the music video. She got to film the boys race into the water at the beach. Running through the sand. Singing by a bonfire at night. Fortunately, this camera was waterproof because she was subject to more than a few splashes. Most of them by Kendall, who was wanting to annoy his twin.
The favourite part of this vacation to Hawaii was the sunsets. The sunsets from Waikiki Beach were absolutely incredible. They looked like something made out of a movie. And they made for the perfect sunset beach shot.
Including one she didn’t know she would take part in.
Carlos was the one handling the camera, wanting a turn. And he had gotten a shot of James and Kaelyn standing on the shoreline kissing in the sunset. And it went into the video.
Song Six: Friendly Fire by Linkin Park
It was the aftermath of one of the worst fights they’ve ever had. James and Kaelyn rarely fought. But when they did fight, it was explosive. It was akin to World War III.
The absolutely worst part about this fight was, in the aftermath, James couldn’t even remember what the fight was about. But he could remember the screams. He could remember the hurt on both sides. He could remember some low blows that were exchanged in the heat of the moment. Low blows that came from a lifetime of growing together.
All James knew was that he was supposed to protect her. But he had forgotten that sometimes, you hurt the ones you love. It was called friendly fire. But it didn’t feel friendly.
Eventually, James made his way through the front door of their mansion. Kaelyn had moved from the living room where he had left her to their master suite. He found her curled up in their bed, her body shaking with sobs. She did not know he was there until she felt his presence in the bed. Smelled his Cuda man spray.
He wrapped his arms around her as he spooned her, kissed her temple, and whispered a thousand apologies.
Her squeezing his hand was her silent acceptance.
Song Seven: He Lives in You by Lebo M
James didn’t have the best relationship with his father, but he certainly had the best relationship with his paternal grandfather. He had acted more of a father to his grandson than his son ever did.
Anytime James had questions about what it meant to be a man, he turned to his grandfather. He may have followed his father in his serial dating habits, but he followed his grandfather in how he treated the many women he did date.
So, when he received news of his grandfather’s hospitalization, he dropped everything and went back to Minnesota. He sat by his bedside, holding his hand as he took his last breaths.
After organizing the funeral with the rabbi, he didn’t seek out his father, who didn’t seem to care about the loss. Nor did he seek out his mother (though, he knew his mother would have given him comfort, for she had her own affection for her former father-in-law). He sought out the Knights instead.
Everyone had flown back to Minnesota with him. Offering wordless support.
When he arrived at the Knight homestead, Kendall was the one to open the door. He already knew. He wordlessly guided James inside, mentioning that Carlos and Logan were on their way.
Jennifer was standing in the middle of the living room with her motherly smile and offers of comfort. Offers he immediately accepted.
He couldn’t remember what prompted the conversation. Was it because he was scared of forgetting his grandfather? But he remembered the words Jennifer had told him:
‘He lives in you.’
They broke the dam he had constructed so carefully. He allowed Kaelyn to pull him into a hug as he broke. He clung to her like she was his only port in the storm of grief. Hoping Jennifer’s words were true.
Song Eight: Music Sounds Better by Big Time Rush feat. Mann
Following the success of Oh Yeah, Gustavo started involving Big Time Rush in his songwriting more. Especially when Kaelyn wasn’t around for one reason or another.
It had started off simply enough. James had approached Gustavo about writing a love song for Kaelyn like she had done for him with Count on You. He had the idea and some of the lyrics. But he needed Gustavo’s refinement.
Gustavo had asked James to describe how Kaelyn made him feel. And he was able to do that. Gustavo had asked James what he wanted the song to be. And he answered up-beat. His concept didn’t feel like a ballad.
He was saying the music sounds better with Kaelyn. To him, that connotated happiness. And happiness meant an up-beat track.
The boys were performing the completed piece for Kaelyn once it was fully mastered. Since their relationship was still mostly secret, Kendall didn’t know it was for Kaelyn. It was the one reason he was agreeable. But Kaelyn knew. She knew the song was for her.
She knew it was James’ way of telling her he loved her when they couldn’t say it out loud yet. He was telling her the music sounded better with her.
Song Nine: Suave by Big Time Rush feat. Maffio & Calacote
James felt his jaw drop when he saw Kaelyn. When he saw that little black dress, he wanted to know why he didn’t know she had it. And why she didn’t wear it often.
They were at a club. The location of some after party. (Adulthood really opened doors for them concerning venues.) When a certain song played through the speakers, Alexa (Carlos’ wife) had convinced Kaelyn to join her on the dance floor.
Seeing the way Kaelyn’s hips move made him drop the glass he had been holding along with his jaw. He immediately made his way to the floor entranced. Pushing his way through the crowd to the centre of the floor where Alexa had dragged Kaelyn.
He placed his hands on those seductive hips and pressed himself against her. He whispered some of the lyrics into her ear (those Spanish lessons in high school certainly paid off). And he was rewarded by a devilish smile and wink that led to them disappearing into the club’s bathroom.
Song Ten: Cut to the Feeling by Carly Rae Jepsen (PHEW! I MADE IT!)
James and Kaelyn didn’t know when they decided to cut to the feeling. Or even who voiced it. They were more than happy to say it was a unanimous decision. Perhaps it didn’t even need to be spoken.
Kaelyn weaved her fingers in James’ hair as he leaned in for a kiss. She felt his hands on her waist. Her back against the wall she had been leaning on when he came over. She could barely hear the song that was playing over the roaring of her heart in her ears.
When they broke apart, James rested his forehead against hers. He didn’t want to break the contact. And neither did she. She pressed herself away from the wall to press herself further into his embrace. Rather than simply resting his hands on the curves of her waist, he wrapped his arms around her.
“I guess we cut to the feeling,” James quipped. Not his best line. But it felt right. As did kissing her again.
“I guess we did,” Kaelyn whispered with a smile.
James shared the smile as he resumed yet another kiss.
