~Chapter Nine~

~Jade's POV~

When I saw Kendall's face when he saw my new haircut, I almost felt bad about cutting it. Almost being the keyword there.

If he didn't like it, well that was to bad. We weren't together anymore and it didn't matter what he thought. It was time I put myself first.

"What did you do Jade?" I turned to see Cassie standing behind me.

"It was time for a change." I shrugged. "Don't you like it?"

"The last time you cut your hair this short, you left Todd for the last time." She really looked worried. "Whats going on? You used to tell me everything."

"Hmm, you're right that is the last time I cut my hair so short."

"Kendall said you had a bad trip home but would say anymore. What happened?"

"I was gonna tell you on the bus tonight." I ran my fingers through my short hair. "I just want you to have a kick ass show and not worry about it okay."

"For some reason that doesn't make me feel any better."

"Cass, I promise you everything is okay now." I smiled at her the best I could. "Please don't worry. I'll explain everything later."

"Are you sure."

"I'll never lie to you, I may not tell you everything, but I'd never lie you." I sighed. "I just didn't want you to worry."

"I hate when you do that, but I understand."

"Go get ready for the show." I laughed.

"I'm going." She laughed and walked away.

I sighed and leaned back on the wall.

"So I guess this mean it's really over?"

I opened my eyes to see Kendall standing in front of me.

"Was I not clear enough earlier? I will never let another man control my life again." I pushed off the wall.

"So that's it?"

"That's it." I pushed past him and walked away.

But once again he grabbed my arm to stop me, but quickly let me go when I turned and looked back at him.

"What is up with you grabbing me every time I walk away? It's really starting to piss me off."

"I just want you to talk to me Jade."

"And I don't want to talk to you Kendall. I've said all I have to say to you."

"Whatever." He mumbled and just walked away.

I sighed and headed towards the dressing rooms.

When I got to Cassie's dressing room, I really wish I would have knocked instead of just walking in.

"God I really did not need to see that again." I covered my face with my hand.

"Well next time you'll knock."

"Or, you two could knock it off?"

"Yeah not gonna happen sister, nice try though." She turned back to James and kissed him one more time before she sent him on his way.

"Ugh I hate you."

"Mommy that's not nice." I turned to see Gracie standing behind me with her hands on her hips.

Great just what I wanted, to be scolded by my 6year old.

"She didn't mean that Gracie, she's just had a b ad day."

I fell back on the couch and sighed. Gracie crawled up onto the couch next to me.

"Mommy, what's wrong?"

"I'm just really tired."

"Maybe you should go to bed then." Cassie sat on the other side of me. "Take Gracie and go get some sleep, you look like hell."

"Gee, thanks sister."

"You know I say it with all the love in my heart." She patted my knee. "We can talk tomorrow."

"Fine, fine you win." I threw my hands up. "I'm too tired to fight with you."

"I'm not tired." Gracie pouted.

"And I can't leave you back stage by yourself."

"Mommy, I'm a big girl, I can stay back stage by myself."

I sighed and looked at Cassie.

"I'll have James keep an eye on her. She'll be fine." I sighed again. "Really don't worry."

"How can I not worry? I worry about you both all the time."

"Have I told you lately that you're the best Mommy in the world?" Gracie hugged me around the neck. "I love you so much."

"If something happens to her I swear I will tan your hide." I glared at Cassie. "I don't care how old you are."

"Nothing will happen I promise."

"Fine, she can stay."

"Best Mommy ever!"

"Behave, little missy."

"Yes Mommy." She got off my lap and sat back down on the couch.

"You two are up to something, and I don't like."

"We're not up to anything Mommy."

"I don't believe you two."

"We promise no funny business." Cassie smiled at me.

"I'm too tired to deal with you right now." I stood up. "Be good and call me if you need anything. Love you both."

"We Love you too." They said together.

I just shook my head and headed towards the buses. I really hope they stay out of trouble.

~Gracie's' POV~

Once I was sure Mommy was gone I looked up at Aunt Cassie.

"What happened back home?"

"Daddy was being Daddy, even though he's dead." I just shrugged.

"Oh, okay." She just left it there. "Well let's go find the guys so they can watch you."

"Can I just stay with you til you go on?"

"What's up Gracie you've been by my side pretty much all day."

I just shrugged. I didn't want to tell her why I didn't want to leave her. I didn't want to seem like a baby.

Aunt Cassie wrapped her arms around me and hugged me. I hugged her back and didn't want to let go. But she pulled away and smiled at me. I smiled back.

When she was done getting ready for the show, we headed out into the venue to find the boys. We found them in the green room. I walked over to James and climbed in his lap.

"Are you trying to steal my man, Gracie?"

"It wasn't that hard." I shrugged ans snuggled down in James lap.

Aunt Cassie just sat down next to us. James kissed her on the cheek.

"Not in front of the kid please." I whined.

"Jade went to lie down; can you watch her for me during my set?" Cassie just ignored my whining.

"Sure, we'll watch from back stage."

"Well I better go get ready to go on." Aunt Cassie stood up. "You guys wanna come?"

"Sure, as long as James carries me."

They just both laughed and stood up. James shifted me so he could hold Aunt Cassie's hand. As we walked out I glanced back and Logan and Kendall. They both might have had smiles on their faces, but I could see the sadness there in their eyes. The same sadness I saw in Mommy's eyes.

I had to do something and fast.

I planed and plotted as I watched Aunt Cassie do what she loved to do.

"Gracie,"

"Hmm." I looked up at James.

"I have to go, I'll send someone to be with you okay."

"Okay." I nodded and looked back at the stage.

"Everything okay Little Lady?"

"There's to much sadness."

"We'll have to fix it."

"But later, you're late."

He kissed the top of my head and then took for for the dressing rooms.

"Hey Little Lady." I looked up to see Logan all ready to go on stage. "Can I sit."

"Only James calls me that." I mumbled ignoring his question, but he just sat next to me anyways.

"Are you still mad at me?"

I just shook my head no.

"Am I still your Logie Bear?"

"As long as I'm still your BooBoo."

"Always."

I jumped into his lap and hugged him.

"Dont be stupid again, okay? I don't like being mad at you."

"I don't like it either."

"Logie, I need your help with something."

"What's that?"

"I hate seeing Mommy sad all the time." I wiped my eyes. "It makes me sad. I don't like sad. I like happy better."

"What can I do?"

"Help me get Mommy and Kendall back together." I looked up at him hopefully. "Can you help me?"

"I will do what I can." He kissed the top of my head. "I promise you that."

"You're the best Logie Bear." I grinned up at him.

"Only the best for my BooBoo." He smiled. "So do you have a plan?"

I grinned and nodded.

I told him my plan, or what I had of it.

"That would work, but we'll need Carlos."

"He'll help right?"

"Yes, I'll make sure of it okay?" I nodded. "When?"

"Tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow it is." I clapped my hands. "We have a short travel day, so that would be the best."

"Yay!"

This was good. By this time tomorrow Mommy will be happy again. And I can stop being mad at Kendall.

"What are you two whispering about?" I looked up to see Aunt Cassie.

"Nothing." I was trying not to smile.

"I know you Gracie, I know when you're up to something." I just grinned at her. "Right I don't need to know."

"You know it." I slid off Logan's lap.

"Come on, I have to go change." She grabbed my hand. "Thanks for helping."

"No problem. Bye Gracie."

"Break a leg, but not really. Bye Logie Bear." I kissed his cheek and then ran after Aunt Cassie.

The next morning when I woke up, Mommy was already up. I crawled out of bed and went to find her. Mommy and Aunt Cassie were crying on the couch. But they both smiled at me when they saw me.

"Mommy, what's wrong?" I crawled up onto her lap, laying my head on her shoulder.

"I just finished filling Aunt Cassie in on what happened while we were home."

I just nodded and yawned.

"Why don't you go back to bed?" Mommy looked down at me.

I just shook my head.

She kissed the top of my head with a smile.

"I'm hungry."

"Aunt Cassie's turn to make breakfast."

"I'm hungry Aunt Cassie."

"What do you want Doll Face?"

"Food, duh."

"You think you're so funny, don't you."

"No, I know I'm super funny." I grinned up at her. "Mommy tells me all the time I'm super funny."

Aunt Cassie rolled her eyes and got up to make us breakfast.

"So Cassie tells me you made up with Logan." I looked at Mommy, I couldn't read her. "I'm proud of you Love."

"I didn't like being mad at him anymore."

"So there's no secret plot?"

"You're so funny Mommy." I laughed. "There's no secret plot."

"Even if there was, you'd never tell me."

"Mommy!" I laughed.

We laughed and talked as we drove the last hour or so to the venue. It was a nice way to spend the morning. It was almost like Mommy was back to herself again. But I could still tell there was something missing, and that was Kendall.

When we got to the venue, I snuck away from Mommy and Aunt Cassie to fine Logie and Carlos. They were in the green room eating breakfast. I sat next to Logan and waited for him to notice me.

"Mornin' BooBoo."

"Mornin' Logie Bear." I took a piece of his toast. "Mommy, thinks I'm up to something. We have to be careful."

"We're all set on our end."

"Good." I smiled and took a bite. "We need to move soon, before they wake up all the way."

"Agreed."

"I'll go set up my end." I slid off my chair. "Make sure you set up your and Carlos does his."

"Is this really a good idea?" I looked up at Carlos.

"If you want them to stop being grumpy, then yes." I crossed my arms over my chest. "We have to do this. I have to go."

I walked to Aunt Cassie's dressing room. She was sitting there waiting for me.

"I really don't like this."

"Please Aunt Cassie, it's for Mommy."

She sighed and gave in. I knew she didn't want to do this, but it needed to be done.

~Jade's POV~

While I was going around the venue making sure everything was set for the show tonight, I got a weird text from Cassie saying that Gracie had locked Carlos in a closet again.

I didn't believe it, but on the off chance that she had, I needed to go check it out. That was the last thing I needed was Gracie locking Carlos in a closet.

When I got to the closet, I could hear someone moving around in there. But Cassie was nowhere in sight. Maybe if I had been more alert, I would have smelled the set up, but I didn't.

I opened the closet door and walked in. It was dark and I really couldn't see anything. As I was feeling the wall for a light switch, someone shut the door. I tried in vain to open it back up, but they had locked it from the outside.

"It's no use." Carlos's voice came from outside the closed door.

"Damnit Carlos let me out of here right now!"

"I'm sorry Jade, Gracie scares me more than you do." I could hear him walk away from me.

I hit the door a few times then slid down leaning against it. I opened my phone to see if I could find another way out of here, when I saw a bound and gagged Kendall staring at me.

They were all dead, every last one of them. Dead I tell you.