AUTHOR'S NOTE: Here's Chapter 4! :D I hope all of you like it. Please, let me know what you think in a review :)

A big THANK YOU to those of you who have reviewed. It really puts a smile on my face :D... Also, go read surfergal23 's "The Way We Were".. its an awesome/dramatic KendallxOC story. CHECK IT OUT :D:)

Disclaimer: I don't own Big Time Rush, but I do own Sage and Elliot

IMPORTANT NOTE: I've started a MATURE one-shot series for KOGAN called "For the Lovers of Kogan"... Check it out if you're so inclined :D

-waterwicca

CHAPTER 4: BIG TIME SUMMER SCHOOL

It had been four hours since Elliot had walked out of the kitchen, leaving Sage sitting on the floor. That's exactly where she stayed. She had cried silently for awhile until she calmed down, then she just remained still. Sage knew that if she made any sound Elliot would jump at the opportunity to punish her.

Sage's body only sprung into action the moment she heard her stepfather leave and start his car. He had passed the doorway of the kitchen and didn't even spare her a glance, but she knew she was better off without it. Elliot could hardly ever look at her without hitting her.

After running upstairs to her room, Sage dressed quickly in dark jeans, a green t-shirt with a blue pattern on the front, and the first pair of sneakers she could find. She took some time to cover the light bruise forming on her cheek from the earlier assault. She could hardly feel the pain anymore, but she wouldn't be able to lie to Kendall's face if he saw the mark.

Sage winced when she brought the foundation sponge to her face, using her injured hand. Her dominant wrist throbbed with a new pain after Elliot had agitated it earlier in the morning. Pushing the feeling aside, Sage continued applying the makeup until she could pass for a normal teenage girl. She covered any evidence of the beating with a well-practiced hand.

She had always found it best to try to get up and dust herself off after each encounter with Elliot because she new for a fact that it would just happen again and again. She was convinced that she would lose her last strand of sanity if she dwelled on each hit because, no matter how much she tried to rationalize the abuse, it would never make sense to her.

It didn't take long after her mother's death to learn to stop asking questions and just be glad to still be alive. When Elliot had first started victimizing her, she considered suicide as a possible escape, but she felt like too much of a hypocrite to go through with it because she was still so angry at her mother for doing it.

Hearing someone coming up the porch, she ran down the stairs and to the front door with hopes of seeing Kendall. Grabbing the handle with a wide smile, she flung the door open. Her heart dropped all the way to the basement beneath her feet when she saw Elliot standing across the threshold.

"Happy to see me?" he asked with a menacing smirk as he pushed harshly past her and entered the house. "I forgot my phone," he added as he disappeared up the stairs.

Sage froze, still standing with the door open. Before she could even take a calming breath, Kendall was pulling up in front of the house and hopping out of the car with a brilliant smile as they locked eyes across the lawn.

"Shit…" Sage whispered under her breath as Kendall moved quickly toward her.

Each step he took in her direction made the front of her body warm and hum with excitement, but her entire back was tense and cold; knowing Elliot was somewhere behind her.

"Hi! I missed you…" Kendall spoke when he finally made it up to the porch in front of her, sweeping her into his arms and squeezing her tightly against him. He was unable to hide his exhilaration at being able to feel her again.

"I missed you too…" Sage whispered into his neck, her entire body relaxing, forgetting Elliot for a moment. Her hands found warmth in the back of his hair and the nape of his neck.

"Who's this?" Elliot suddenly appeared in the doorway, moving to stand directly beside his stepdaughter.

Sage broke away from Kendall abruptly, looking tense, while Kendall grinned sheepishly. She stole a glance in Elliot's direction before casting her eyes to the ground, her usual stance around the man. Elliot wore a fake, toothy smile but his eyes remained cold.

"Hello. You must be Elliot. I'm Kendall Knight," Kendall spoke confidently, putting on a cordial grin similar to the one he had used on the nurse the night before. He held his hand out for Elliot to shake.

Elliot stared at the boy's hand for a moment, his eyes darting back and forth between it and the girl beside him, before he finally reached his own hand out. Sage watched as he shook Kendall's hand firmly, knowing that he wasn't using as much force as he wanted to. Elliot had become a master at pretending. The community loved him because he never gave them a reason not to. He was the perfect man. The only person he never held back on was Sage. Elliot let go of Kendall's hand and rested his own on Sage's shoulder, squeezing it tightly in a vice grip.

She tensed immediately, but brought her eyes up to focus on Kendall, standing in front of her, to try to remain calm. She silently hoped she didn't look as scared as she felt. She never wanted Elliot to be near him, let alone speak with him. The fear rose in her throat like bile… a fear not for herself, but for Kendall.

He had no idea about the snake hiding in the grass beneath his feet.

Kendall waited for Elliot to speak, watching Sage while he shoved his hands into his pockets like he had done earlier in the morning. He wanted to reach out and take Sage's hand, but he knew it would be a bad idea with Elliot there.

"You're the new family in town, right?" Elliot asked as if he already knew the answer.

"Yeah…" Kendall responded uneasily, seeming to be at a loss for words.

"It's my job to know these things… I try to keep my eyes everywhere," Elliot told him, his smile falling to a grin while his grip tightened on Sage's shoulder, unknown to Kendall.

"Oh…" Kendall spoke with an uncomfortable smile.

"Well, I guess we better get going, and you have to go back to work…don't you?" Sage suddenly interjected nervously, wanting them separated as soon as possible.

"So, you two are going out?" Elliot asked, ignoring Sage as he tended to do. She knew never to speak directly to him unless spoken to. Both his smile and hand tightened impossibly harder.

"Yeah, we're having lunch. That's okay, right?" Kendall asked with a small smirk and a raised brow.

He felt confused, but he didn't want to let his face show it. The conversation felt awkward… like he was missing something. Also, he couldn't help but notice that Sage seemed upset. His body ached to wrap around hers, knowing it would make everything better.

"Sure…Just take care of her, or I'll come after you," Elliot warned, only widening his smile and laughing as if he spoke in jest.

He reached forward with his free arm and delivered a small, playful punch to Kendall's shoulder. The hit seemed too hard to Sage, but Kendall laughed along uneasily anyway.

"Have a great day, Sweetie. I won't be home until late," Elliot explained, speaking to her like he cared for her as his child even though they both knew it was a lie.

Sage held her breath as he suddenly leaned down and kissed her temple, letting his lips linger for a second too long. He threw a glare in Kendall's direction so quick he would have missed it if he wasn't staring. The look made Kendall jump, but he brushed it off, assuming Elliot was being overprotective.

Elliot took a step forward so that he stood outside between the two teenagers. He looked down at Sage, who instantly felt as cold as her stepfather's eyes when Kendall was blocked completely from her view. She had to remind herself that he was right there because her fear-driven vision could only sense Elliot.

"Be good…" he whispered a warning, causing Sage to shudder. He reached up with a rough hand, pushing a strand of hair out of her face before shooting her a smile that wasn't warm at all. She couldn't even say it was cold… it was ice… ice that made Sage's body freeze on contact and had her wondering why she could not see her breath in a cloud of fog between them.

Before she could even manage to blink, Elliot turned on his heels and walked past Kendall without a word, getting into his squad car and leaving Sage petrified where she stood, her face still painfully cold where he had touched her.

She was more afraid than she had ever been. Kendall's presence ignited something in Elliot she had never seen before. Sage belonged to him, and he didn't seem to be reacting well to any kind of competition or interference. It frightened her to think of what the future may bring… of what she brought into Kendall's life.

"What's wrong?" Kendall spoke softly, moving directly in front of Sage and causing him to come back into focus. He reached up to touch her face where Elliot had only moments ago, erasing any traces of her stepfather and replacing them with a feeling of pure warmth that was only Kendall.

Sage's demeanor suddenly changed. Her smile returned, and her eyes came to life, causing Kendall to relax.

"Nothing…I'm glad you're here," she whispered, quickly embracing him and savoring every second as Elliot drifted far from her mind like a terrible memory. Kendall held her close, kissing her softly on the lips before pulling back only far enough to look at her.

"Elliot seems…nice," he smiled uneasily.

"Yeah…he's…" Sage responded nervously, leaving the statement open, unable to find the right words. "So, where are we going?" she asked with a grin, choosing to change the subject.

"Well," Kendall started with his own smirk, "I packed lunch. I can't just take you to a diner or someplace like that…It would be way too normal," he chuckled and she nodded in agreement, waiting for him to continue, "So, we're going to school," he finished proudly.

"It's July…" Sage laughed, tilting her head in confusion.

"The building doesn't just magically appear in September. It's still there even though no one's using it," Kendall laughed as he took her hand and lead her to his car.

"Okay…Now I can show you around before the semester starts. This way you won't look like such a new kid," Sage joked, shoving him playfully before getting into the car.

It only took several minutes to reach Ramsey High School. Kendall parked his car in the lot in front of the large main building. Both he and Sage got out, meeting to stand together behind the car.

"Where to?" Kendall asked, eyeing his unfamiliar surroundings as he threw a brown messenger bag over his shoulders and took Sage's hand into his own.

The parking lot was empty for the most part. Only around a dozen cars were scattered across the pavement. A baseball team practiced on a nearby field, the crack of the bat and ball connecting and cutting through the air every few seconds.

"Let's take a tour," Sage replied with a smile, pulling him toward the main entrance. It didn't take them long to slow down to a comfortable stroll. Kendall wrapped an arm around Sage's shoulders as she moved her own to circle his waist.

"This is it," she stated simply with a smirk as they entered the building.

They stood in a long, wide hallway lined with offices that had glass windows instead of closed off plaster walls. When the hall ended, it split off in two directions with most of the walls covered in maroon colored lockers.

"What exactly are you expecting to see?" Sage asked as they walked down the hall.

"I don't have a clue," Kendall replied with a shrug and a grin. "I've been to several schools because of how often we move. Each one's got something special. They all have quirks that only the insiders know about. You're an 'insider', so teach me all you know," Kendall requested, chuckling as he squeezed her against him.

"You make it sound like a secret society," Sage giggled, shaking her head.

"Good idea…We'll make our own secret society: just you and me. Now, if Mom asks me if I'm socializing and joining clubs, I can say yes without lying," Kendall laughed and winked down at the girl in his arms.

"Clever," she admitted with a smile.

"Mom's always telling me to get involved in every school I go to. She worries too much about my 'adjustment'," Kendall confided, using air quotes to emphasize the last word.

"You seem fine to me," Sage laughed, looking up at him as they continued toward the lockers.

"I bet Elliot is always bugging you too, huh?" Kendall asked as he looked innocently at the various posters that lined the walls between the lockers.

"He doesn't really take an interest in my schooling," Sage responded quietly before stopping in her tracks. "Come this way. I'll show you the gym," she finished with a smile as she lead him through a set of doors at the end of the hall and down a short flight of steps.

"It's kind of spooky with no one around," Kendall smirked as they stepped into the large gym.

The room was massive and mostly empty. It seemed the school used it as a basketball court because of the paint that decorated the freshly waxed wooden floor. The only light in the room came from the windows that were situated high up on the walls.

"Do you like Phys. Ed?" Kendall asked casually as they walked the length of the room, both kicking their sneakers against the floor occasionally, enjoying the way the squeaking echoed through the empty space around them.

"I'm coordinated enough to pass the class," Sage answered with a wide smile, "and it usually provides some quiet time without lecturing or tests."

"What's your favorite sport?" he questioned.

"I don't really have one… but I'm gonna have to say hockey because it's part of the reason we met," she responded, turning with a soft smile and wrapping her arms around Kendall.

"Good answer," he spoke quietly, moving his hands to her waist and leaning down to kiss her gently before continuing. "You don't even know anything about hockey, do you?" he smiled, raising a quizzical eyebrow.

"When you get the puck in the net, it's called a touchdown," Sage stated, keeping her face still.

Kendall's eyes widened with his smile, and then Sage broke into one of her own.

"I'm kidding… but I really don't know too much," she admitted with a laugh as their hands interlocked, and they continued walking up the length of the gym.

"Then I can teach you. We can go to the rink and -" Kendall started speaking with excitement.

"Oh, you mean that place that landed you in the hospital?" Sage interjected with a smirk, teasing him.

"I only got hurt because I challenged a few guys to a friendly game that turned not so friendly," Kendall replied with a shrug, "It tends to happen in contact sports. Plus, we met as a result. So, I think it was worth the small hit to the head," he smiled brilliantly down at her as they walked, and he tapped a finger against his temple.

"Maybe you should try dodging the other players rather than aiming for a head on collision," she suggested playfully.

"Please, I'm great at dodging," Kendall told her with a smile and a scoff; mocking offense.

"Really?" she asked, raising her brow.

Kendall nodded proudly.

Sage let go of his hand, shaking her own out gently and ignoring the feeling of loss. She took a few steps away and turned to face him as he threw his bag carelessly to the ground.

"Dodge me," she stated with a smile, which he returned, before running straight for him.

Instead of moving, Kendall opened his arms and lunged forward, wrapping them around her waist and pulling her into him with a laugh. Sage found herself up in the air, only his strength keeping her feet off of the ground. So, she wrapped her legs around him.

"Never," he whispered as they inched their heads closer to one another to meet in a soft, passionate kiss.

Their hearts picked up in a faster tempo while they held each other tightly, and their lips fit perfectly together. Their tongues met one another's, only increasing the heat between them.

Kendall walked to the nearest wall, holding Sage up against it with her legs still wrapped around him. His hands wandered up and down her sides while she grabbed the back of his neck, making both of them tremble. They only pulled away when they needed air.

Kendall and Sage breathed heavily, their foreheads resting against each others as Kendall used his hips as leverage to keep Sage around him and against the wall.

"I like contact sports," Sage finally spoke between breaths, smiling as Kendall laughed softly.

"I thought I loved them before… Now there's a whole new appeal," Kendall grinned, panting from their kiss, as he finally stepped back, letting Sage's feet meet the ground. He still kept his hands on her waist, not even being able to imagine letting go. Sage and Kendall stood quietly for a few moments, holding each other and enjoying the feeling. With her head against his chest, Sage spoke.

"Shall we continue the tour?" she asked with a smile, pulling away and leaning her head on the wall behind her to look at Kendall.

"Why not? So far, it's the best tour ever," he smirked, causing them both to shiver while thinking about their most recent lip lock.

"Very true," Sage nodded in agreement while Kendall took a small step back, pulling her forward with him.

He finally turned away from Sage and picked up the discarded bag, being sure to keep one arm around her body when they left the gym. They walked down a long hall and, when they reached the end, Sage moved to one of the many doors.

"What's this?" Kendall asked as they both stepped forward with their free hands cupped against the glass window to peek inside the dark room.

"It's the music room," Sage explained while turning the handle. It was locked.

"Don't worry… We can go to my house after lunch. There's a piano that the original owners left when they moved, and I really want to hear you play," Kendall smiled, kissing the top of her head sweetly before continuing. "Unless, of course, you want to break in…" he suggested, his smile turning into a mischievous smirk.

"I don't think so. You shouldn't have a permanent record before you even start the semester, 'Clyde'," Sage joked, nudging his ribs while they walked down the next hall.

"If I'm Clyde, that makes you my Bonnie," Kendall played along, smirking down at Sage as he moved in front of her so he was walking backwards slowly with his hands in both of hers.

"All right, my partner in crime, what classes are you taking in September?" Sage laughed as Kendall dodged a garbage can just quick enough so he didn't send himself to the floor.

"Told you I was good at dodging," he laughed and then resumed walking backwards in front of her. "Anyway… I figured I'd take whatever you did. I don't have a preference other than spending time with my girlfriend," Kendall smiled as they stopped walking, and he moved his hands to her waist.

"I'm your girlfriend?" Sage asked, looking up into his eyes. When the term first left his mouth, she had felt ecstatic that they were on the same page. Quickly regaining her composure, she had planted a smirk worthy of Kendall's signature one onto her face.

Kendall froze at her question, worried that he said the wrong thing. It seemed like he had no filter with Sage. However, he completely relaxed when he studied Sage's playful expression.

"Well, if you don't want to be my girlfriend, I guess I could just look around for someone else…" he grinned, making a show of scanning his green eyes across the empty hall.

"That won't be necessary, Boyfriend," Sage laughed, pulling him forward to deliver a quick kiss to his lips.

"I think we've completely lost it," Kendall sighed with a soft smile as he looked longingly at the girl in his arms.

"Completely," Sage agreed quietly with a grin. "Unless you usually pick up random people in the hospital, I'm pretty sure - ".

"That this is insane," Kendall finished for her, only smiling like he didn't care about how abnormal their relationship was, and neither did Sage.

The two teenagers' heart rates picked up as they inched closer, pulled together like magnets. Their lips came together and worked through a slow, sensual, choreographed dance that they seemed to already have memorized. Their hands pulled at one another while their tongues met softly.

Kendall squeezed her waist and pulled her close, holding onto her like she might disappear, until her body was completely against his own. Sage placed her own hands on his firm upper arms, feeling them tense beneath the heat their bodies created as he used his muscles to hold her impossibly harder against him.

The pair slowly separated.

"We keep doing that," Kendall stated between breaths with a grin.

"Are you complaining?" Sage asked playfully, still wrapped in his arms.

"Absolutely not," his grin transformed into a full smile, while he reached up to move a piece of blonde hair away from Sage's emerald eyes.

"Good," she smiled sweetly, giving his arms a gentle squeeze before stepping away and taking his hand into her own where it always seemed to belong.

"Lunch?" Kendall asked with a tilt of his head.

"Where should we eat?" Sage questioned.

"Where do you usually have lunch?" he countered.

"This way," she smiled, pulling his hand and leading him through the hall.

They stopped at a large, open doorway that held only a staircase. There was one flight up, a landing, then another set that lead to the second floor.

"I told you I didn't have any friends," she shrugged as they moved up the stairs, "and crowds aren't my thing. So, this is my private cafeteria," Sage explained, gesturing nervously with a wave of her hand as they stopped on the center landing.

"Thanks for sharing another one of your special spots with me," Kendall spoke with a genuine smile, caressing the back of her hand with his thumb.

"Now it's our private cafeteria," she smirked, while turning to sit on the floor with her back against the brick wall.

"I haven't even known you for 24 hours, and we already have two special places that are all our own," Kendall commented with a smile as he sat directly beside her so their shoulders were touching. Kendall always did his best to make sure he had contact with her at all times.

"Definitely abnormal," Sage chuckled.

Kendall pulled his bag over his head and off of his shoulder and opened it. He handed her a bottle of water and a sandwich. Both of them ate in a comfortable silence, seeming to be deep in thought even after they finished their food.

They pondered what the last several hours had brought them. The time together had made their lives collide; binding them together so that it was difficult to imagine what had come before. Whether they were close or far apart, they only thought about one another. Their bodies and minds screamed out simultaneously for each other. The call was so loud that it was almost deafening and unbearable when they couldn't get immediate satisfaction.

Kendall turned to Sage with a serious expression, ready to explain how he felt. He reached over to take her hand in his own, staring down at it as he spoke. He seemed to be memorizing the way it looked and felt to be intertwined together.

"I never gave much thought about destiny or fate… but when I saw you in the hospital last night I just knew…" Kendall paused to look Sage in the eyes, trying to convey all the emotions he felt, "…I knew it was meant to be," he reached up to her face with a small, genuine smile. "My body…my heart…my everything called out for you the second I heard your voice," he admitted all that he had been thinking about her.

As he waits for Sage to speak, Kendall stops everything. He stops breathing. He doesn't blink, and he's sure that his heart does not beat even once. He watches her intently and questioningly, feeling like if he couldn't be with her his life would end.

Sage only waited a split second before reaching for his other hand so both of hers were in his… They were always a perfect fit.

"Like soul mates," Sage whispered with a shaky breath.

She studied their hands just as he had moments before, and then looked up at him with a sweet smile and eyes that shimmered even in the dim lighting.

Kendall made her truly happy; something she thought she would never experience. She was sure that the only person in her life, although unwanted, would be Elliot. Her existence was never what she wanted it to be, and she had grown accustomed to the idea of living without joy… until Kendall came along.

Sage finally spoke.

"Before the last 24 hours, I thought I knew what my life was and how it was going to be… except, now, I'm not sure of anything… but, I do know one thing without a doubt…" Sage paused, taking a deep breath and moving closer to him.

"What is it?" he spoke with expectant eyes and quick breaths.

"It's crazy," Sage warned with a shake of her head before looking him in the eyes again.

"What isn't lately?" Kendall asked rhetorically. He squeezed her hand for reassurance.

He waited relatively patiently for her to continue, feeling like he already knew in his heart what she would say, but still anticipated it like a child did Christmas morning.

Sage leaned forward, connecting their lips in a delicate kiss that Kendall returned gently until she leaned back.

"I love you," she spoke with a relieved smile, glad she was able to speak the words she hadn't said since her mother died years ago. Sage was pleased to find that it came easier for her than she thought it would be.

It seemed natural to love Kendall Knight.

He reached up to touch the side of her face. His hands could never seem to get enough of her. His smile was wide and ecstatic. He felt anxious and relaxed at the same time, but even the most confusing feelings felt right around Sage.

"I love you too," Kendall spoke with as much sincerity as Sage had.

Without waiting another moment, they propelled themselves forward, connecting their lips. Sage's tongue instantly found his as she moved to lean on her knees. It only took a second before she threw her leg over him so that she was straddling his lap.

Kendall pulled her against him while their tongues playfully battled for dominance, the kiss turning more feverish than ever before. Sage's left hand found his upper arm, pushing up the sleeve of his shirt to make skin contact with his strong bicep. Her other hand clutched the back of his neck, tugging on his hair gently, only making him hold her tighter.

He had one hand on Sage's hip while the other pressed into her lower back. He touched the hot, exposed skin between her jeans and shirt, pushing underneath the fabric slightly so that his whole hand burned. Both of them moved their hips instinctively against one another as they tried to deepen the kiss even more, only pulling away when they finally gave into their lungs' demands for oxygen.

Both teenagers stayed still, trying to make their breathing return to normal while continuing to clutch one another tightly. They lay their foreheads against each other's, waiting for their minds to clear.

Being together was like tunnel vision… Only the two of them mattered, and the rest was just background noise.

"Life is going to get weird," Sage smiled, finally speaking into the silence.

"It's already weird," Kendall chuckled while he rubbed his hand slowly up and down her back, beneath her shirt.

"We don't even know each other that well," Sage rationalized. However, she still smiled, seeming to be unfazed by any logic that said they shouldn't be together as they were in that moment.

"We'll learn," Kendall reassured her with a kiss to the exposed area just below her neck.

Both of them shivered in delight and pressed harder against the other.

"Any other concerns or arguments?" Kendall asked as he continued moving his hand along her back while she glided her own up and down the length of his arm.

"I really can't think of any that matter," she whispered with a smile as she delivered her own kiss, pressing her soft lips against his neck.

"Good. Me either," Kendall told her with a smirk as she relaxed fully against him.

She buried her head into his shoulder, and he wrapped both arms around her. They embraced lovingly, unable to think or even care about the rest of the world beyond the surrounding walls.

A/N: What did you think? I would really love some REVIEWS even if you just say you like it :).. or hated it.. to each his own lol... If you don't want to take the time to review, please ALERT just so I know that you are interested in more...

I'm currently working on a couple SLASH stories, and I understand that this community has a HUGE slash following... I got a crazy amount of reception for "For the Lovers of Kogan"..and it really made my whole weekend... I'm a major fan of these boys myself, and they are so damn writeable that i had to do a KendallxOC story :)... I'm really trying to make it different from the majority of them and I PROMISE that James, Carlos, and Logan are going to play a huge and important role in this story... I really do love writing them and I'm excited to share the scenes that I have planned for them. :D

Please review... oh! and who's excited for the new episode tomorrow night? makes me wanna write a Jagan one-shot... ;D... and i'm so jazzed about the album drop tomorrow... What's your favorite song? (mine are Oh yeah and Big Night)

ANONYMOUS Reviews are enabled. So, don't be shy :D