Hey hey hey hey! I'm back! Did you miss me? Hahahaha. So tech week went amazing! So much fun and a lot of work! But the show was fantastical. But I have no stories so onto the actual story!
This chapter is dedicated to: BTRlover98, briorca18, and Crazygurl5and11
Warnings: it's a bit heavier than what it has been
Songs Used: Family Portrait by P!nk.
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Enjoy!
Chapter 10: Family Portrait
I ran away today, ran from the noise, ran away Don't wanna go back to that place, but don't have no choice, no way It ain't easy growin up in World War III Never knowin what love could be, well I've seen I don't want love to destroy me like it did my family Can we work it out? Can we be a family? I promise I'll be better, Mommy I'll do anything Can we work it out? Can we be a family? I promise I'll be better, Daddy please don't leave In our family portrait, we look pretty happy Let's play pretend, let's act like it comes naturally I don't wanna have to split the holidays I don't want two addresses I don't want a step-brother anyways And I don't want my mom to have to change her last name
(Kendall POV)
My mom was pacing her bedroom, right in front of the bed where I was sitting. She was furious with me, it reminded me of when Katie did something wrong and she sat on the bed and watched me pace.
"For one thing Kendall, the kitchen's a mess!" My mom yelled. She was annoyed we had had a frosting war, in the kitchen.
"I'll clean it up!" I told my mom.
"It's not just that! Today was the first day Katie came home and you went and threw frosting on her?!" My mom fumed.
Since when has she cared so much about Katie? "She started it! And as her big brother I had no choice but to retaliate! It's a rule!"
"Not so much that you retaliated, you wrestled with her! Why would you do something so stupid?!" My mom shouted.
A slight whimper came from outside the door. I knew Katie was out there, waiting for me. "She tackled me! I don't see how this is my fault! She started it!" I yelled, standing up. "So why am I getting in trouble for something she did?!"
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(Katie POV)
I couldn't believe what I was hearing! Kendall was getting in trouble for having fun with me, and now he was blaming me. He sucks.
Not only that, but I was tired of the yelling, back and forth, back and forth. Erg, I left that and wondered into the family room in search of peace and quiet. I found none of that. James and Carlos were screaming at each other while Logan tried to calm them down.
"You're so stupid!" James yelled at Carlos.
"No you are! At least my mirror isn't my best friend!" Carlos screamed back.
"At least I don't wear a stupid helmet!" James growled.
As the argument picked up, Logan's voice could be heard. "Guys stop it!" More fighting. "I'm raising my voice!" Still nothing happened. "I'm yelling at you and you're not listening to me!"
I stifled a laugh. Logan caught my eye and winked. "It's a two person job." He mouthed.
I was sick of the yelling. I turned and ran as fast as I could out of the apartment. I ran to the air ducts, and crawled in those as far as I had to go until the noise stopped. I sat there and cried, wishing for a normal life.
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(Kendall POV)
"Mom I'm done with you! Just pack up and leave already just like you said you would!" I shouted. "Just run away from your problems like you always do! We don't need you here anyway!" I slammed the door behind me, but not before I saw my mom's face turn red.
I walked away, like I hadn't just verbally assaulted my mother.
I walked into the family room in search of Katie. All I found was three screaming boys.
"Have you guys seen Katie?" I asked. No response. "Have you seen Katie?!" I tried a little louder. Still nothing. "HEY!"
All three boys jumped.
"Have you seen Katie?" I asked.
"No." James said, scowling at Carlos.
"Yes, she ran out the door while I was trying to stop these two from fighting." Logan muttered. Both James and Carlos earned a knock on the back of the head. They fought so much whenever Logan or I caught them we hit them on the back of the head. They knew we would do it, but they still fought just as much.
"Okay James over there." I pointed to one side of the couch. James obeyed, pouting, he sat down. "Carlos you right here." I tapped the couch. Carlos sat down and sulked. "Logan you watch them." I said. "I'll go find Katie."
I sprinted out into the hallway. Katie could be anywhere by now, any floor of the Palm Woods and there were like twenty, down to the park, or wandering the streets of LA. I walked down the hallway towards the elevators, but an open air duct caught my eye. I managed to climb up into the ducts, and crawl around. There was one path, so I didn't have any options to turn.
After a few seconds, I heard soft crying. My big brother senses went crazy, and I no longer had to think, it was robotic. I crawled at top speed until I reached then end.
In the corner was my sister. Knees to her chest, head buried in her knees. Crying softly.
"Katie what's wrong?" I asked quietly, breaking the stillness of the ducts.
Katie glanced up at me; then buried her face back in her knees, crying harder.
I crawled closer to my sister. "Hey, what's wrong?" I asked, I was concerned. Why would Katie be in the air ducts, just flat out sobbing?
Katie turned her head away from me.
"Are you mad at me?" I asked curiously.
Katie nodded slightly, soon her tears picked up even more.
I slid my arm around her. "What's wrong baby sister?"
She lifted her head from her knees and set it on my chest. "You and mom were yelling." She sniffed. "And so were James and Carlos."
Katie hated it when I yelled. Nothing scared her more than me yelling. Or anyone yelling for that matter.
"I'm sorry." I whispered. I pressed my lips to her hair. "Shhhhh." I cooed. "Why don't we lay down for a little bit?" I suggested, letting myself stretch out. Katie followed suit, still sniffling.
"Why were you yelling?" Katie cuddled in as close as she could to me.
"Mom was being stupid and screaming at me for having fun with you this afternoon." I heaved a large sigh. "Katie can I ask you something?"
"What?" Katie asked me, fearing the worst.
"Why do you get so scared when I yell? Is it my voice or what?" I asked.
It took her a while to respond. At first I almost regretted asking, but I was curious.
"It reminds me of when I was little. I would stand in my room, near my mirror and Dad would stand right in front of me, screaming at me for doing something that I didn't do, and he would hit me. You look so much like dad. The blonde hair; and the green eyes. Yours are nicer than his are though." Katie whispered.
I tried to put two and two together. "So when I yell, it gives you a flashback or you think I'm going to hit you?"
"Both." Katie responded. "It depends if you're yelling at me, or someone else."
"Well then I'm sorry to scare you." I said, rolling over so I could get out of the air ducts. It was starting to get hot in here.
"Are we leaving?" Katie regarded me with big eyes.
"Yeah, it's not too safe up here, and I don't need you back in the hospital." I muttered. Suddenly, I felt so pissed off and I wasn't sure why. Normally, Katie could calm my bad moods, now she might actually be the cause of one.
"Are you mad at me?" Katie asked.
I stopped moving and forced myself to smile. "Of course not Katie."
I started to move again and I heard Katie whisper. "You're lying. I can tell."
It sucks that she can see right through me. I have a harder time seeing through her, so at least she can hide her true feelings.
I reached the opening in the floor and stopped once more. "You want help down?"
"Will you go down first?" Katie asked, she was about five feet behind me. "Then if I need help you can lift me down?"
I nodded. I swung my legs over the edge and slowly lowered myself down towards the ground. I was about a foot away from solid footing and could reach any further down so I pulled my hands tight to my sides and dropped. "Come on down baby sister." I called.
I saw Katie's feet before I saw anything else. They dangled down about two feet from my face. "Are you coming down?" I asked.
"I'm scared." She whisper-replied.
"Katie how did you manage to get yourself up there in the first place?" I was really curious.
"Carlos taught me a few months ago." Katie responded, peering over the edge.
"Of course he did." I looked up. "Are you coming down?"
"I don't wanna fall."
"You'll fall what? Nine, ten feet tops?" My patience was stretched thin. I had a very important person coming over tonight! So I needed Katie out of the air duct!
"Will you catch me?" Katie asked shyly.
"Of course. Just hold yourself up and slowly lower yourself down. It takes some arm strength but you'll be fine."
Finally, my sister obeyed. She lowered herself down as quickly as she possibly could.
"Now fall. I'll catch you, I promise." I raised my hands, sliding them under her arms.
Katie let go, and I brought her in as close as I could. "Good girl." I cooed, kissing her forehead.
She looped her arms around my neck. "Carry me?"
I nodded, closing the vent, I walked back to 2J.
I opened the door to the apartment and peered inside. "I found her."
James looked up at me, temporarily forgetting to pout, and smiled. "Good. I was worried."
I strolled over to Carlos and knocked him on the back of the head again. "That's for teaching Katie how to get into the air ducts!"
"Ow!" Carlos whined, rubbing his head. "I'm sorry!"
"Why are they pouting?" Katie asked me.
"They're in time out for fighting." Logan explained from his position on the table.
Katie giggled, burying her face in my neck.
"Kendall, when's your special person coming?" Carlos asked me.
"Soon. After dinner." I responded, sitting down.
"Who's coming?" Katie asked me.
"You'll find out." I teased, a small smile spreading across my face.
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(Kendall POV)
It was 7:30 and I was sitting on the couch trying to watch TV. I was trying, not succeeding. Katie was lying on the couch, her head in my lap, playing with my fingers.
"Kendall please tell me whose coming!" Katie begged me.
"Nope." I smiled, pulling away my fingers.
"Please?" Katie took my hand off the couch and began to play with it once more.
"Not a chance." I answered, resting on of my hands on her stomach.
My sister began to beg, not even pausing for a single breath. I withstood about five minutes of it. "Katie! Put a sock in it!"
"Don't be mean! Just tell me!" Katie whined.
She left me no choice, still running her mouth. I took my socks, that I had been wearing all day and were now balled up sitting next to me on the couch, and stuffed them into Katie's open mouth.
It took her a total of three seconds to start gagging and get them out of her mouth. "That's so gross!" She chucked the socks back at my face.
"I told you to put a sock in it." I teased, tickling my sister.
"Not your icky sock!" Katie gagged and stuck her tongue out, scraping it with her nails. Her round eyes looked sadly at me.
"I'm sorry. That was really mean wasn't it?" I gave my sister a half hug.
"Yeah." Katie agreed. "And gross too."
I kissed her temple. "I'm sorry."
"Will you please tell me whose coming?" Katie asked me, her tongue peeking out of her mouth.
There was a knock on the door.
"No," I told my sister. And to the person at the door I said. "Come in! It's open!"
Katie gripped my hand as the door opened, in fear of what might be coming in.
The person who stepped in was tall, well dressed, and had floppy brown hair. He tugged in a red suit case and turned towards us, bright blue eyes happy.
Katie stared at the boy standing there, as if she couldn't place him. Finally, it clicked in her brain.
"Robbie!" She cried, rushing towards our cousin.
"Hi Katie!" Robbie smiled, returning the hug Katie was giving him.
I smiled and stood up. "Nice to see you again." I had invited Robbie here, to just clear Katie's head, and maybe let her have a little fun.
"You too Kendall. Thanks for inviting me." Robbie attempted to get Katie's hands off of him.
"Katie let go." I told my sister. She obeyed and came over to me, putting her arms up in the air. I picked her up, blowing in her ear to make her giggle.
Robbie smiled and ran one hand through his hair.
"Would you like to sit?" I asked, gesturing to the couch.
"Sure." Our cousin shrugged.
I followed him to the couch sitting down next to him. Katie cuddled next to me, suddenly shy.
"It's nice to see her not sobbing and in pain." Robbie smiled shyly. "She's still really thin though."
I nodded. "She is."
"That's because I was just in the hospital again." Katie told him, touching the tender spot on her head. "I just got home today."
"Really? What happened?" Robbie asked.
Katie gazed at me.
"Uh-uh." I shook my head. "You brought it up, you tell him."
"Daddy came back." Katie pouted. "And shot me, right here." She pointed to her left temple, where there was a dark scar.
"You're kidding me right?!" Robbie yelped.
"We wish." I looped my arm around my sister.
"You're okay right?" Robbie asked.
"Yeah. Now." Katie muttered, then flew into the air.
I whipped around to see James holding my sister high in the air.
He smiled at me and set Katie on his shoulders. "Hi guys."
"You almost gave me a heart attack!" Katie yelled.
"How stupid are you?!" I asked James.
"Apparently very." James answered. "I'm sorry for scaring you Katie."
"It'sokay." Katie said quickly, looking uncomfortable on James' shoulders.
"I'm James." He told Robbie. "Katie's favorite."
"Untrue!" Carlos yelled from the balcony. He rushed down Swirly. "I am!"
I turned towards Robbie. "Welcome to our-anything-but-normal-house." I muttered.
He laughed. "It's cool. Much nicer than my house. I'm an only child."
"Sounds nice." I told him. "James put my sister down."
"Yeah!" Katie cried. "Put me down!" James obeyed and took Katie off his shoulders and held her about three inches from the floor. "Put me down!"
"Say please?" James asked.
"Please!"
"Please what?"
"Please can you put me down?!" Katie kicked her feet rapidly.
"I don't know; can I put you down?" James teased.
"Will you please put me down?" Katie begged.
"That doesn't seem very sincere." James lifted Katie further off the ground.
"James, will you please put me down on the ground. I don't like you holding me." Katie stated, in something a tad more sincere than monotone.
"Thank you." James set my sister on the ground. "All right I'm out. Late session at the gym."
"Awesome." I stuck my hand out. James slapped it once then fist bumped me.
"See ya." James held up a peace sign as he walked to the door.
Katie watched him leave. "Now I'm attacking you!" She dove over the couch and onto my lap.
"What?! Why?!" I laughed, protecting my face.
Katie looked as if she was torn between trying to tickle me or punch me, so she kind of did both. "For saying you wished you were an only child!"
I laughed really hard. "You're gonna pay for this punk!" I threw Katie over my shoulder and carried her behind the couch. I put her down, laying her flat, and rolling her shirt up to her ribcage. "Do you want me to blow on your stomach?"
Robbie peered over the back of the couch at us.
Katie squealed. "No!"
I blew on her stomach anyway. She squealed; then giggled like crazy.
"Stop!" She laughed.
I did it again. "Can you say your so-orry.?" I sang.
"I'm sorry I attacked you!" Katie giggled.
I blew on her stomach once more; then sat her up. "I love you."
She wrapped her arms around me. "I love you too. Pick me up?"
I obeyed, standing up. "Like I said, anything but normal."
Robbie nodded. "Where's your mom?"
I shrugged. "Who cares?"
"Isn't she in her room?" Katie asked me.
"No." Carlos said; I had forgotten he was there. "When you were trying to find Katie in the ducts she left and said she'd be back tomorrow morning."
"Shit." I muttered.
"Bad word!" Katie bonked me on the head.
"Oops, sorry Katie." I apologized. "Did she sound mad when she left?"
"Not mad. Upset." Carlos told me.
"I'm an awful son." I groaned, falling back on the couch, Katie still in my arms.
Katie shrieked. "Kendall! Be careful!"
"Sorry." I said again.
"You aren't an awful son. And even if you are, you're still a great brother!" Katie told me.
"Thank you Katie." I gave her a kiss on the forehead. "Why don't you go show Robbie his room? I need to talk to Carlos and Logan where ever he might be."
"Wait." Robbie said. "There's more of you?!"
"One more." Katie told him. "Four boys. Kendall, James, Carlos, and Logan. One girl, me! And then mom if she's ever here!"
"Hey Katie will you go get Logan for me and tell him I need to talk to him?" I asked my sister, we were still upside down on the couch.
"Okay!" She smiled. "LO-GAN! KENDALL WANTS TO TALK TO YOU!"
"Well I could have done that!" I groaned.
Katie frowned. "Well why didn't you?"
"Go show Robbie his room." I told her.
Katie rolled off of me. "Come on Robbie." She took his suit case and headed to the bedrooms. "Kendall! Logan's here!" She called.
I waited for Katie to leave. "Is it wrong that I want her to be mute again?"
"Heard that!" Katie yelled.
"Stop eavesdropping!" I called back.
"What's up Kendall?" Logan asked me, dropping down next to me. Carlos did the same.
"Where is my mom going?" I asked.
"She didn't say, she'll be back tomorrow though." Logan told me. "Why?"
"I think I might have been the reason she left." I told them what I had said.
"She'll get over it." Carlos promised.
"I don't know. What I said was pretty mean." I murmured.
A large crash came from the back of the apartment. "Katie." I rolled my eyes.
"We can fix that tomorrow. Right now we have to fix whatever Katie broke." Carlos told me standing up.
Maybe we don't need a mom; I have my best friends standing right next to me. And they'll always be there.
Awww Happy ending! Or is that sappy ending? heh punny. Anyway, until next time. XOXO~Tay
Don't question love science!