Author's Note: Hey, everybody! Welcome to my third Big Time Rush fan fiction! *waits for cheering to stop* So, at the end of my last story, Big Time Movie, I said that I'm not going to post anything else until I finish writing the whole story. I lied. I've got 4 1/2 chapters of this one written so far. It's not the whole story, but it's still a start.
As Kendall Knight walked back to the Palm Woods, he had no idea that his life was about to change forever.
Kendall had just been shopping for a birthday present for his little sister Katie, whose birthday was in a week. He had finally found the perfect present and now couldn't wait for her birthday.
As Kendall walked home he took in his surroundings. He had come from a pretty small town; Los Angeles never ceased to fascinate him.
What'sthatpileofragsdoingthere…? Kendall wondered, passing an alley. Waitasecond…didthatpileofragshavehair? Kendall backed up and saw that yes, the pile of rags did have what looked like hair. In fact, it wasn't a pile of rags at all.
It was a human being.
Kendall entered the ally to get a closer look. The person looked like a teenage girl, all huddled up in a ball. She was dressed in filthy denim rags and her skin and hair was even filthier. She looked like she was shivering; Kendall hesitantly touched her skin. She wasn't cold. She didn't feel sick. So why was she shivering?
"Hello?" Kendall said tentatively.
The girl's head popped up, her eyes wide in fright. Before Kendall could react, the girl had scrambled away, backing herself into the corner.
"I'm not going to hurt you," Kendall said softly. He put the bag carrying Katie's gift down and held out his hands to show that he wasn't carrying any weapons.
The girl didn't move.
"My name's Kendall," Kendall said, "What's yours?"
The girl didn't say anything.
"Do you understand English?" Kendall asked, the thought occurring to him that this girl might be an immigrant.
The girl nodded slowly.
Kendall took the girl's wrist and looked at her arm. "You're hurt," he said, in the same soft tone, seeing that her dirty skin was covered in ugly colored cuts and bruises.
The girl closed her eyes, turning her head away, as if she was prepared for him to hit her.
"I'm not gonna hurt you," Kendall said again, dropping her wrist.
The girl cautiously opened her eyes. Kendall thought he saw her relax just a tiny bit.
"I have a friend that can help you," he said, "He can make you feel better. He can make the hurt on your skin go away."
The girl looked like she was trying to decide whether to trust this boy or not.
"Come on; I'll take you to him," said Kendall, standing up and holding out his hand.
The girl hesitantly put her hand into his. Kendall gently pulled her up and looked at her.
She was about a head shorter than him. She looked like she had stringy, dark brown hair, but Kendall wasn't sure if that was her real hair color or if that was just dirt. She had hazel eyes and a small nose.
The clothing she was wearing was ripped and torn. The pants she was wearing could hardly be called pants anymore. Kendall could see red marks and more bruises underneath the clothing. But that wasn't what struck Kendall the most.
Her clothes were covered in blood. In some places, there were just some red spots scattered around; in others, the entire area had been dyed red.
"My apartment is only a block away; do you think you can walk that far?" Kendall asked.
The girl nodded.
"Ok. Come on." Kendall led the girl out of the alley and onto the sidewalk. They were able to walk the short distance without any mishap.
It was six o'clock so most of the people that lived at the Palm Woods were eating dinner, including Bitters. There were only one or two people sitting in the lobby, reading scripts or enjoying the free Wi-Fi. Kendall went back outside.
"Come on. There aren't a lot of people in there right now," Kendall said. The girl took his hand again and they quickly went up to apartment 2J. Kendall used his key to open the door.
"Logan!" he called as soon as they entered the apartment.
"I'm over he-who is that?" Logan interrupted himself, coming out of his room.
"I don't know. She's hurt." Kendall tried to pull back the girl's sleeve to show his friend but she wouldn't let him.
"This is my friend Logan. He's going to help you," Kendall said to the girl patiently, "I promise he won't hurt you."
The girl thought for a moment and then hesitantly pulled back her sleeve. Logan gasped.
"Carlos!" he called, "Get me the first aid kit!"
"What?" Carlos mumbled sleepily from the couch, where he had been taking a nap.
"First aid kit. Now."
"Ok," said Carlos, getting up.
James came over. "What's going on?" he asked.
Carlos brought the first aid kit to Logan. "What happened?" he asked, but then saw the girl. "Who's that?"
By this time Logan had brought the girl to the bathroom.
"I'm going to wash your arms, ok?" he told her. The girl looked at Kendall as if to ask if this was ok. He nodded back at her.
"Carlos! I need a washcloth!" Logan said.
"Who's that?" Carlos repeated.
"Carlos!"
"Ok, ok. No need to yell," Carlos grumbled, bringing Logan what he needed.
"Where's my mom?" Kendall asked.
"She's out shopping with Katie," said Logan, beginning to use the washcloth to gently wash the girl's arms.
"We're back!" the boys heard, as if right on cue.
"Mom!" Kendall said, starting to leave the bathroom. Before he could leave, though, he felt a tug on his sleeve. He turned around to find the frightened face of the girl.
"Don't worry. I'll be right back," he promised, and then went to the living room.
"Hi, Kendall," said Mrs. Knight, putting her bags down.
"Hey, big brother," Katie said.
"Mom. I need to tell you something."
"Can it wait? I have to go to the bathroom."
"No, Mom, it can't wait. Besides, Logan and Carlos are in the bathroom."
"Did Carlos hurt himself again?" Mrs. Knight asked, knowing that the bathroom turned into the first aid station whenever one of her boys was hurt.
"No, it's…it's this girl. She's hurt."
"What girl?" Mrs. Knight asked, confused.
"I don't know. I just found her in an ally on my way back here and she's hurt and I don't think she has a home. Logan's helping her right now."
Mrs. Knight marched into the bathroom and gasped a bit at what she saw.
"Alright! Everybody out!" she said, "This girl needs a mother's touch!"
"But—"
"No buts! Out!"
Logan and Carlos left the room, knowing that Mrs. Knight was serious.
"You too, Kendall," said Mrs. Knight.
"Mom!" Kendall said, noting the girl's scared face, "Just wait a second!" He turned to the girl. "This is my mom. She's gonna…um…"
"I'm going to wash you and get you some clothes," Mrs. Knight said in a kinder tone.
At the word 'mom' the girl shrunk back.
"It's ok. She's not gonna hurt you," Kendall said gently.
The girl shook her head.
"I promise. My mom's really nice. She's just going to help you."
The girl shook her head again.
"She won't hurt you. I swear."
The girl looked uncertain, as if she was trying to decide whether to believe Kendall or not.
"I'll be right out here the whole time, ok? You'll be fine," Kendall said, slowly moving towards the door.
The girl nodded uncertainly.
Kendall left the room and slowly closed the door behind him, breathing a sigh of relief.
"Ok, Kendall," said James, arms crossed, "What's going on? Who is she?"
Carlos and Logan were standing next to James, looking very much like they wanted to know the same thing.
Kendall told his friends all that had happened.
"I think she might have been abused or something," Kendall concluded.
"Looks like it," Logan said, a grim look on his face, "And you said she didn't say anything?"
"Nope. Not a single word," said Kendall, "I'm not sure if it's because she can't or if it's because she chooses not to or what."
"Maybe she's just the quiet type. Like Lindsey," Carlos said. Lindsey was one of the quietest girls back in Minnesota; it had taken a lot of explaining to get Carlos to understand that some people were just naturally quiet.
"I don't think so," said James, "Lindsay was just shy; this girl seems…I don't know...scared."
"Like she's been traumatized or something," Logan added grimly.