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Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own BTR.
Chapter ten. Big Time Phone Call.
Recap: "I just got off the phone with your father's lawyer." Mom sounded on the verge of tears. "He wants to get visitation rights."
"What?" Kendall and I asked at the same time.
After I recovered, I tried to form a more coherent question, "How- how can he do that?"
"Can he do that?" Kendall questioned.
Mom nodded. "He is going to take this to court, but don't worry, I'm going to get a lawyer and we are going to fight this."
I shook my head, trying to make sense of what was happening. Why on earth did he want visitation rights? He abandoned us three years ago! And now he thinks he can just walk back into our lives as if nothing happened? I won't let him! I hate him!
I got up and ran. I had no clue where I was headed; all I knew was that I was going to suffocate if I had to stay in the apartment any longer. I just had to get away. I could hear Kendall shouting after me as I left.
I passed the scarcely decorated lobby and wondered how he could ruin Christmas like this. The Palm Woods was all but deserted. Before I knew it, I was in a park. Tears were falling down my face and I collapsed against a tree.
I couldn't believe that after three years he suddenly wanted to be with us. He left us and tore our family apart. I could never forgive him for that.
I remember the day he left so clearly. I was at one of my many gymnastics meets. This one was at the gym that I trained at, so Mom, Dad, Kendall, and Katie all came to cheer me on. They always stayed until the end, but this time Dad didn't.
I was about to do my beam routine when I saw Dad suddenly get up and leave. I looked to my mom and saw that she had tears in her eyes. I knew something must be terribly wrong. I put two and two together, and realized that he wasn't going to come back this time. That beam routine was that worst routine I've ever done, and that includes the time I had a sprained ankle.
Mom divorced him soon after and thankfully got full custody of us kids. We haven't seen him since, and now all of a sudden he wants to get back into our lives. I just didn't understand.
"Why did he have to ruin Christmas?" I wondered aloud. I wished that I was back at the gym so I could take out my frustration on my floor routine.
I heard footsteps approaching from behind the tree. I turned just as Kendall sat down silently next to me and wrapped his arm around me. After Dad left, Kendall stepped up and took over the fatherly role in our house. He became someone to lean on when things got hard.
We sat there under the tree for a long while before either of us was brave enough t break the silence.
I finally told Kendall, "Thanks." I was not only thanking him for coming after me, but for always being strong and knowing what to do.
"That's what big brothers are for." He said with a slight smile. "Why did you leave?"
I shook my head. "I just- I couldn't handle it. I felt like I was going to suffocate if I stayed there any longer. All of a sudden there was this huge weight on my shoulders, and I couldn't stand it. I just had to get away."
Kendall nodded, understanding. "I know that this is hard for you, but you're not alone. Katie and I are going through the same thing. Alright?" I nodded. "I'm always here for you, Monkey. You know that right?"
It was then that I realized that Kendall was hurting, too. He hadn't just come out here to comfort me; he's come out here because he didn't want anyone to be alone. I hugged my brother tight and didn't want to let go.
"Kayla," I was startled by his use of my first name. He almost always called me 'Monkey'. "…He wants us to visit him."
"I know." I said harshly.
"No. I mean, he wants us to meet with him before all of the court stuff." Kendall's face looked pained as he explained. "He wants to have lunch with us at his place. Soon."
I jumped up, "What?"
Kendall remained where he was, at the base of the tree, and started picking at the grass. "Mom says that it's our decision. That we don't have to go."
"Good." I emphasized.
We were quiet for a while, then, "It's been three years." Kendall's face was scrunched up in an attempt not to cry, and that right there was enough for me to fall apart once again. I curled back up next to Kendall. "Three years. And, what? Now he suddenly cares about us?" He was tearing up the grass and throwing it, now. I knew exactly how he felt.
A little while later, after we had both calmed down a bit, we decided to head back to the apartment.
As soon as Kendall and I walked through the door of apartment 2J, I felt the depressing mood that was so not Christmas. It was usually a day we spent reminiscing about past Christmases and watching our old Christmas home videos, but somehow I knew that seeing our dad in those videos wasn't as good idea.
The day seemed to pass in a blur. The Christmas music seemed too cheery. The garland seemed too harsh. Even the lights on the Christmas tree seemed too bright. It just didn't feel like Christmas.
Author's note: So, a very different Christmas than what Kayla and everyone expected. Hopefully it wasn't too depressing. Don't worry, next chapter will have a much better mood :) Please REVIEW! I love hearing what you guys think of it, even if it's just "good" or bugging me to update soon. It lets me know that people are actually reading this. Thanks!