CH.12: Maddie and Kelly

Kelly had just left her family home and was about to light up her cigarette when she looked across the way spotting Maddie standing there gawking at her. "What the hell Maddie?!" Kelly found herself exploding as she crossed over to where she stood.

"Oh hey Kelly, wow, you live here…who knew?" Kelly lets out an irate sound as she removes the unlit cigarette from her mouth.

"You asked around about where I lived, swell, then that likely means you have picked up on stories about me. What is it you want to know huh? What you want to know how my father beats me on his best days? How about the drunken mother who comes home disappearing into her room after long shifts at the Hospital? Or better yet how I am taxed with all the chores around the house cause my father can't be bothered and my mother is often too much in a daze to give a care?"

Kelly could see the confliction and wavering doubt coming from Maddie and she cooled off as she ran a hand through her hair.

"I'm sorry I lost my cool, but, you have no idea how it is to live life like this, a life where rumors are constantly spread about you and nobody appears to care for privacy. I try so hard to maintain an air of normalcy, but, it just gets to me and the more I try and push it down students pry and make my life a living hell!"

Kelly held herself as she turned away from Maddie. She had felt like she was walking on air just from their basketball game and of course some part of her was drawn to the blonde that first time they spoke in the waiting area for the Nurse. Kelly didn't know though about this current predicament where she had learned of where she lived and saw her and her father's current exchange.

"I-I'm sorry that I betrayed your trust, and, I am sorry how all this came about. I never meant to pry but somehow I did and for that I really would like to start over. I can understand however if you do not want me around after this…I wouldn't want me to be around either."

Kelly eventually let out a huff as she looked over her shoulder at her. "Follow me." Kelly proceeded along a downward path away from the homes and she had no idea even if she was following her or not.

The path was a bit steep but somehow Kelly knew how to traverse it without falling flat on her face. Behind her she can hear the huffing of the other girl as she tried to keep herself from falling over.

"What is with this path anyway?" Kelly smirked as the athlete was finding herself outside of her element.

"It has been like this long as I have lived here. Growing up me and some other kids would dare one another to walk blindfolded down here, got a lot of scratches and some even broken limbs but if you walked away with nothing some would claim you cheated and looked."

"I'm not sure my dad would forgive me if I did something like that. Can I ask you a question?" Kelly went to light her cigarette and took a puff as she held up a hand.

"Go ahead, nobody is stopping you," she inhaled some and let it out. Truth be told she had started smoking around the time her father had left his pack out one night. She and a group of friends had wanted to do something bold and when she mentioned her father smoked the dare for her turn was to steal a pack and they'd each try it out.

The first time she smoked it hit her hard and much like the others either hurled or spat in disgust. Only a few of them smoked to this day and others more or less spoke of their contempt, they weren't friends so much as they were there for the safer stuff.

"When did you know you were a lesbian?" Kelly stopped in her tracks and looked back at Maddie who was standing there with her arms folded.

"Who told you I was? Or wasn't, either way, kind of a personal thing to ask." Kelly however had been out for a bit and it is partly the reason she got irked when her best friend decided to push Holden her way.

"I know, I know…and I am really sorry, but, truth is it is really important and I'd like to hear your story. I have a…friend who would like to know." Kelly looked her up and down and figured she knew this friend but given how she didn't have anything else to do.

"Let's walk and talk and I'll fill you in." Kelly turned away as she took another drag and exhaled as she looked at the encroaching trees. "I think I was 10 when I began to realize my feelings. Before then the normal thing to do was react in glee when a cute boy walked your way or you would gossip with your friends over some boy you crushed on, a lot. Thing is none of it ever felt right to me but I did it because my friends did it.

"When I turned 10 it became a struggle just to keep all that up. And to be honest it wasn't so much the boys but the girls I was drawn to. I had this friend, we were quite close and one day I kissed her, naturally it went as well as you would expect…she slapped me and began crying. She told on me and my parents found out."

She kept walking as she saw the trees surround her and she made sure to put out her cigarette before walking any further. Maddie for her part remained quiet and hopefully she didn't take any unexpected fall.

"I was sent to a conversion camp for confused girls…so…kind of like a summer camp but instead of camp songs and canoes we had the bible thrown at us and exercises to get the 'gay' out of us. It works for some but others refuse to submit, myself included. I even found a girl to refuse it with. Eventually though the camp was closed down by authorities and I was taken back home where my parents accepted I couldn't be changed and after a bit they just ignored that part of me but still I was their daughter so they weren't going to throw me out."

Kelly knew it was a lot for Maddie to take in and she didn't blame her for bailing if this got too heavy. Kelly wasn't shy about what happened to her and it only made her stronger for having gone through it. She was not going to pretend to be something she wasn't, it wasn't her style.

"I see. I didn't know that such a place existed. I, well, I mean my friend will truly cherish such information. Truth is she is struggling with her own sexuality. She has come out to her sister and a boy she sort of crushed on back in the day, and of course even her brother knows now…but…she hasn't quite told her parents or come out to like everyone-."

"My advice Maddie is be honest and upfront and hope for the best. The longer you keep this in the more it is going to drag out and it really isn't fair to the ones you love. Yes I know it is obviously you and I kind of got that feeling but didn't say anything knowing you had to be the one to come forward."

Kelly saw a mixed reaction of sorts spread on Maddie's face as she adjusts her glasses and holds herself tighter. "I-I didn't say anything about me, I-I mean my friend is the…was I that obvious?"

Kelly laughed lightly and walked over to her taking her hands in hers as she attempted to get her to loosen up.

"It is alright Maddie; you are going to be alright. Trust me when I say I can keep a secret. Doesn't it just feel better though getting that off your chest?"

Kelly stares at the other girl and suddenly she feels her lips attacking hers. At first Kelly thought to push her away; mostly because she had found her home through tracing through rumors and questions but somehow she drew her body against hers feeding off that kiss. The two of them just stood there caught in the other's embrace and finally Maddie is the one to break the kiss.

"I'm so so sorry…I don't know what overcame me, but, if I am being honest I kind of liked it. If I misread the signal please stop me now cause my heart is racing and you are just so hot and I am just talking way too much-."

"Nah, you are fine. However you stop with this whole rumor train and don't speak a word of what went down here today ok? My family life is screwed up enough as it is and I don't want it getting any more screwed up with the authorities are brought in and my family broken up. Got it?"

Kelly makes sure the other girl is ok with this. Maddie manages to nod her head and that was good enough for her. Crushing their lips together she draws in a breath while her hands reside at the small of her back and Maddie's link around her neck. Whether this was a good idea or not was lost on her but right now she felt all the turmoil in her life had grounded to a halt.

Authors note: As Liv and Malcolm start out on their journey together so too does Maddie and Kelly. However things are far from simple as the quartet are going to find out. 12 chapters in and while exactly the most popular of Liv and Maddie stories I am on track and where I ought to be storyline wise so thanks again for everyone joining me on this and being patient with me.