A/N: I said this on my other story so I'll keep this brief for those who don't know. I lost all of my docs, files, and incomplete work to a virus. I had to wipe my computer and start over, and while I do have a flash drive that has old old stories on them, my chapters for Me and my Brothers and other upcoming Kames work is gone. And I'm so sad. There's a slim slim very slim chance that my work might possibly be somewhere but I've looked everywhere on my computer. So until then, here's a story I've been wanting to write for a good 4 years now. I had it typed up on my docs but obviously can't continue with it, so I started over. My other stories will continue once I get back in the spirit of re-writing the chapters. T.T
Soft feet pattered across the floor as 6 year old Kendall dove onto his bed and hid under the covers. Tears spilled down his puffy cheeks and he hiccuped while wrestling to get safe under his covers. The mental picture of his mama getting smacked tortured his frantic mind. The man who wasn't daddy, the man who Kendall didn't like and would never like. He hit his mama. And all Kendall did was run. His tears didn't let up even as he fell into a fitful sleep.
...
Meeting James was probably the best thing that ever happened to Kendall. Kendall was a small child even for his age and was shy as a ladybug. He always kept to himself, staying busy with pictured books or doodling. The kids often teased him about his looks, like his nose for instance or his bushy eye brows. But he was fine ignoring them like they did to him (except when they teased) but when he met James, he wondered if he was really fine or if it was him accepting the fact that the other kids would never want to play with him.
...
At first Kendall was startled and went into complete lock down mode when the chubby, loud but already very popular James plopped down next to him in the sandbox during recess. Kendall had been minding his business, the other kids' laughter and sounds the background while he drew pictures in the sand. However, when James suddenly appeared, the small blonde wanted to disappear. He stared down at his legs hoping James would leave. But James didn't.
"Why are you always alone? Dontcha get lonely?" James asked him. When he didn't answer, James poked his side. "I asked a question. It's rude to ignore people when they're talking to you." the brunette clarified and Kendall finally looked up at him with his watery emerald eyes.
"S-sorry.." the blonde whispered almost inaudibly, his soft voice cracking. James didn't expect this and hurriedly reached into his pocket to fish out his wrapped pastry.
"Don't cry. Here," James ripped open the plastic wrap and tore half of the sweet treat for Kendall which he offered it to. "This will make you feel better."
Kendall stared at the pastry with wide eyes and James shook it in his face impatiently. Shyly, Kendall gently plucked the treat out of James' hand wondering if the other boy was messing with him. But when James allowed him to take the pastry without a fuss he relaxed. "Thank you." he murmured, remembering his mama's words about please's and thank you's.
"Want to play tag?" James asked and Kendall, who had bitten into his treat, stared at him surprised. James laughed and Kendall deflated quickly, thinking this had been a trick on him but James just reached over and rubbed his soft fingers across Kendall's cheek. "You got crumbs all over here." the chubby boy giggled and Kendall looked down shyly even as James continued to clean his face. "There. Now come on, let's play tag!"
...
They were 8 when the sleep overs began. Kendall always looked forward to staying at the Diamond's house. He got away from the man who hurt his mom and left the cries and screaming behind. He didn't know why his mom chose to stay with the man but Kendall wished she would just leave him already. But what was he supposed to do? He was just a kid.
"How does mac and cheese sound tonight?" Brooke Diamond, James' gorgeous mother, asked the two boy who were in the large living room watching Cars on the flat screen.
James tore his gaze off the screen and looked at his mom with hopeful hazel eyes. "With hot dogs?" he asked and his mother laughed.
"If Kendall likes hot dogs." Brooke replied and Kendall looked over at the sound of his name.
"You like hot dogs don't you?" James asked him and he nodded mutely before looking back at the tv.
Brooke chuckled at the bright look on her son's face and walked back into the kitchen to get started.
...
Kendall probably enjoyed the sleep overs the most due to the fact that he and James shared the bed. Often the blonde curled up on his own in a cold bed with the blankets covering his head. But with James he was curled up against a warm body and had no reason to hide his head to drown out the fighting.
James was always so warm even if he did snore and drool a little. Kendall didn't mind. Not all, especially when he was wrapped up in James' arms like a human teddy bear.
...
It turned out Brooke and Kendall's mom, Jennifer, know each other back from college days. When James and Kendall began their friendship, the two mothers were bound to meet each other at some point, and when they did, the two hugged and squealed like they were in their 20's again. Brooke had gone and started her own cosmetic business which rocketed across the Minnesota regions before becoming a franchise across the states. Jennifer took up teaching like she said she'd always do and the two bonded over coffee while spilling about their lives and success.
When Jennifer was asked about her previous ex who had been her high school and college sweetheart, Brooke was surprised to hear that the two had broken up. When she told that Jennifer had a new boyfriend, Brooke saw the emotion flicker across her friend's face clear as day. It was only a matter of a few days for Brooke to get Jennifer admit she was unhappy with her relationship. It had taken a week for Brooke to realize why and she threatened to kill the guy herself if he touched Jennifer one more time.
...
Years passed by and Kendall's 13th birthday passed by in the crisp air of November. Despite James being popular and the fact that none of the other kids liked that James picked scrawny Kendall over them, the brunette remained faithful at Kendall's side, refusing to leave the blonde for any reason. On Kendall's birthday it was no different. His mom treated him to his favorite restaurant, James and Brooke took him to the movies (though it was just him and James who actually saw the movie), and now he was ending a perfect day in James' bed tired and content.
James exited the bathroom while flickering the light off, and joined his best friend on the bed. Just as he did, Brooke stuck her head through the door. "Good night boys. Kendall, I hope you had a good birthday."
Kendall smiled sweetly. "I really did, thank you Mama Diamond."
Brooke smiled back. "I'm glad. Love you both."
"Love you too." they chorused in sync and watched the door as it closed shut.
...
Everything went down hill when James told him he was moving away. To L.A no less. Apparently Brooke received an amazing deal with her job and was moving her coorporate building up there. James had no idea what hell Kendall will go through if he leaves him. The time came to say good byes came too soon. Jennifer was gripping on Brooke and Kendall was gripping on James.
"I don't want you to go." the blonde whispered brokenly and James tightened his arms around his best friend.
"I don't either but I have to. I'll call you every day. I promise." James replied softly but Kendall shook his head.
"This is unfair." he sniffled, thinking about how in the world would he survive school without James.
Meanwhile, Brooke was whispering to her best friend. "If you ever ever need anything, I will fly you out and you guys can stay with me any time for you want for as long as you need."
"Brooke-"
"I mean it. He may say he loves you and you may say you love him, but you deserve better. And Kendall isn't ignorant. I'm not trying to butt in or anything, I just want you to be careful, okay?"
...
School spiraled down into a dark hell for Kendall just as he predicted. Three months without James was torture because the bullies appeared, but what really hurt Kendall more was that he was three months without James. During these months he's received 4 calls and has called James about 180 times. Maybe more. The more time passed by, the less Kendall heard from James. The more time passed by, the more bruises and scars Kendall received. It was when he was 17 that his mother pulled him out of school after a near death experience. Some asshole thought it would be fun to drown the blonde in the school's pool, and almost succeeded had it not been the custodian who walked by after hearing a ruckus.
...
It was at this point that James had suddenly disappeared from his life and Kendall was holding out on his own. Jennifer was still the asshole, even married him and had a daughter from him. Kendall's little half sister Katie was adorable and Kendall thanks God that she inherrited all of his mother's looks and none from the asshole.
...
The screams woke him at 3 in the morning. Kendall blinked as he sat up and froze when he heard a crash from somewhere in the house. Katie's screaming had him flying off the bed and to his door which he practically knocked down in his haste. He went to his baby sister's room and saw that she stand in her crib holding onto the white rails with chubby fingers. Her face was flushed pink and wet from tears and snot.
Another banging sound and his mother's cry came from downstairs and Katie began to fuss some more. "Shh shh it's okay." Kendall rushed over and gently picked up the baby who immediately clung to him. Quietly he made his way back to his room and carefully laid her down on his bed. He bunched up the covers and pillows around her like a nest before giving her his phone. It was a crappy pay on the go one which had no minutes on at the moment so he didn't care. After making sure Katie was safe and pre-occupied, Kendall left the room once more.
...
Jennifer saw red when the man she thought she loved wrapped his beefy hands around her son's throat. Kendall came flying down the stairs and shoved Brian off her who'd been in the middle of stricking her again. "Get away from her!" the blonde growled with a racing heart. Enough was enough already.
That's what Jennifer thought too when she picked up the lamp harshly, the cord ripping off the wall and slammed it over Brian's head. She mustered up all of her pain, hurt, and hate the man caused her and fused into the single blow she landed that knocked the man down. For good messure, Kendall kicked the fallen body away from them and hugged his mother to his chest.
Enough was enough.
...
Brooke received the call at 4 in the morning. She was already up, just getting out of the shower when she answered the phone. "Hello?" the woman froze for a moment before her body sagged with relief. "Of course," she murmured soothingly. "I told you before, didn't I? I'll have a flight ready for you as soon as posible."