The Boy Next Door - A Big Time Rush Fanfiction….
A/N - Well here is chapter nine! I'm sorry I didn't update when I said I would last week, life just gets busy sometime. But no worries, here is the update I promised just a week later. Things are about to get super busy for me these next couple weeks, I'm moving soon! So I don't know when I'll be able to update, so I'm not promising anything. But hopefully soon, this story is almost over, a couple more chapters. Anyway; thanks for all the reviews from the last chapter it means a lot to me! I hope you like this one! Do not worry answers will be giving soon about the realtionship of Hortense (Logan) and his mother! I promise! :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Big Time rush!
Chapter 9
Big Time First Jobs Part 1
It had been a month after the night Kendall came and told Hortense the shocking news about the blonde boy's father. At first, things had been rough, and Kendall hadn't wanted to go home due to being mad at his mother, believing it was her fault he left. But finally, after a week of staying with the Mitchells, Kendall was forced to go home due to Mrs. Mitchell talking him into it and getting his mother to come to get him and talk things out. The next time the thirteen-year-old genius saw Kendall again, it was near the end of the month, and he had found out that the blonde's father had left due to relationship problems between him and his mother. It took a while for James, Carlos, and Hortense to cheer Kendall up, but eventually, they could break down his walls.
James, Carlos, and Hortense noticed the changes within the Knight household when they hung out there. Katie (Kendall's younger sister) kept bugging Kendall about what was happening and where their dad was. Kendall, of course, shrugged and said I don't know. The other different thing was Mrs. Knight. Anytime she wasn't around the boys, she was on a laptop in another room applying for jobs and or crying. She never cried in front of the kids, but Hortense knew she cried behind the doors. Whenever she came out to make them a snack or ask if they needed anything, they could all see that her eyes were red and puffy, and she sounded stuffy. Of course, out of respect, neither boy ever brought up the situation or judged the three remaining Knight on how they were expressing their feelings about the situation. It only surprised them when Kendall gathered them in his bedroom for a private conversation while his mother helped Katie with her homework. It scared Hortense how serious he looked when they were finally alone, but Hortense knew it needed to be done and that Kendall was finally talking to them about everything. The boy was getting it out, and that was all that mattered.
"So, as you all know, the situation with my father - "Kendall began as he cleared his throat, his head held hurt, anger, and betrayal as he said the word. But the blonde quickly discarded it as he continued, "- And because of it, my mother has been struggling with the whole job situation. That's why she's been applying. She thinks I don't know what's happening, but I hear her talking to herself. She's behind on our bills, and her waitress job isn't paying enough…." Kendall explains as he frowns.
"Aw, man, I'm so sorry. Is there anything we can do to help?" James questions as he raises an eyebrow at his friend. The boy wanted to help his friend, just like Kendall had helped him when his parents split about a year ago. It had been hard for James, but Kendall was always there if he needed to talk about anything; he wanted to return the favor.
Kendall sighs and shrugs, "I'm not sure what all help we can do. I'm only fourteen, but I will apply at the supermarket and see if I can work at least part-time; it's something to get money for my mom.
"Are you sure that's a good idea, to work and be in school?" Carlos questions as he watches his friend as Kendall starts pacing back and forth.
"It's the most I can do right now, and I'm sure it'll be fine. Part-time at a supermarket can't be that hard, right?" Kendall asked as he raised an eyebrow and stared on in thought.
"Well, there are other options," Hortense speaks up, making everyone eye him.
"Go on…" Kendall states as he listens with interest.
"The other day, Mrs. Magicowski saw me mowing my mother's lawn, unfortunately - "Hortense begins as he sighs, shaking his head, trying to rid the memories of how hard that had been. But since his mother was so busy and thought Hortense needed more chores, she taught him how to use the lawnmower and made him try it the first time the other day. She had been pleased, and it was now his responsibility to mow it. The boy clears his throat shaking his thoughts from his head, and continues, "- She asked how long I've been doing it and if I could mow her's. She said she'd pay me to do it, and I think she offered me about twenty bucks. It's not a lot, but it's something, and anyone can do the labor." Hortense finishes as he smiles.
That's not a horrible idea! I see mowing signs all over town and in people's yards. You'd be surprised how many people want lawn services. James chimes in as he pulls out his lucky comb and makes sure his hair looks alright.
Kendall, Carlos, and Hortense look at their friend fixing his hair but nod at the statement. Carlos grins, "My Papi pays me to shovel snow off our driveway in the winter; we could do that for other people. I hear you can make decent money.
It's settled; we will start work. Alright, Hortense, you can teach the rest of us how to use a lawnmower. Then we will ask Mrs. Magicwoski if she needs us to mow her lawn and ask anyone else if they need the service. Boom, our profit should raise and help my mom with the money trouble." Kendall finishes as he smiles.
The four guys celebrate their plans as they rush out of the house. Kendall tells his mother they are going to the Mitchells next door and call him if she needs him. The blonde-haired boy was the first to get a cell phone out of the four of them. It was only because his mother worked long, late shifts as a waitress and often left Kendall and Katie home alone. She made him get one in case of emergencies, but she often had Mrs. Mitchell check in on them.
Speaking of the Mitchells, once the boys were at Hortense's house, they saw his mother wasn't home at the moment. When asked where she was, Hortense simply shrugged and said she had been out lately and been busy with work. The others didn't think much of it and dropped the matter; they entered Mitchell's garage. Hortense showed them the lawnmower he had used for their yard and taught them the parts of it and how to fill it up, start it, and shut it off. When they went over it enough times, the guys now knew what to do. They only needed to ask Mrs. Magicwoski if she needed their services. So, Hortense pushed the lawnmower across the way after getting it from the garage, and the group headed over to the older women's house. Hortense was the one who walked up to the front door and knocked, and the other three stood by the lawnmower, hoping she would let them work.
"Oh, hello, Hortense; how can I help you?" Mrs. Magicwoski had asked when she opened the door, and she knew the boys from around town. At this point in their lives, locals knew the four, for they were always seen together and were good boys. So it hadn't surprised Hortense when the older woman came up and asked him that day about mowing her lawn, so here he was.
"I wondered if my friends and I could help you and mow your lawn," Hortense asked as he shifted in his stance; these types of things always made him nervous.
Mrs. Magicwoski smiles and says, "Nothing would make me happier. If you and your friends do so, I'll pay you twenty each. Thank you, Hortense."
The young genius smiles and says, "Your welcome; we'll let you know when we are done."
With that, the older woman nods and goes back inside. Hortense goes back to Kendall, Carlos, and James, letting them know the good news. So, the four get the lawnmower started, and Hortense takes the first go, showing the other three boys the pattern for the grass. James tries and does well, Kendall has his go and gets it down pat, and Carlos is the last to try. At first, Carlos did well until he didn't see a small tree stump and tripped. After tripping, he lost hold of the lawnmower, and it started to somehow run wildly, with the other three starting to try and chase it down. Hortense went over to Carlos and helped him up, making his friend was alright. Once he was fine, the four kept trying to get the lawnmower, but it was fast. Before they knew it, it turned on James and Kendall chasing them. Carlos and Hortense laughed as their friends ran by, and once the mower got to them, the two grabbed onto it together and managed to get it to stop. As soon as the lawn mother stopped, the four gathered, and they all started laughing.
After calming down from their laughing fits, the four friends got to serious work and made sure Mrs. Magicwoski's yard looked perfect. Once they were done, Hortense went to the door and let her know they were finished, and she looked over her yard and loved it. She paid Kendall, Hortense, James, and Carlos every twenty bucks, just as she had promised. It wasn't much, but it was a start, and seeing how grateful Mrs. Magicwaski was for their help, made them all feel good. So, after the four told their parents about it, their parents agreed to let them help around the neighborhood as long as they stuck together and told them when they would go out and do the services. All four boys had been happy at this, and they continued for the evening, managing to help out another three yards before they had to go in for dinner.
Mrs. Knight had let the guys stay as usual for dinner. Kendall's mother was off today and had been home with Katie while they had been out. Once they finished eating, James, Carlos, and Hortense thanked the Knights for the meal as usual and went home themselves. Hortense was nervous as he walked home, not sure whether or not his mother would be there. Truth be told, when asked earlier by his friends where his mother was, Hortense didn't tell them. She was out, sure, but she was mostly out working or at a bar. She's been drinking a little lately, and Hortense didn't want to talk about it. His mother never really came home drunk per se, but he has seen her tipsy a few times. Of course, the young genius wasn't stupid, he knew what happened to people when they drank, but he didn't understand what drove his mother to start.
It was almost eleven when Hortense heard the front door finally open, and his mother hadn't been home when he entered, so he got himself ready for bed and cleaned up the house. Once she was inside, Hortense was about to speak to her when he saw that once more, she was tipsy. Instead of acknowledging his presence, she strolled past him and into her bedroom, closing the door. The young genius frowns, and he locks the house up before going to bed himself. Falling asleep, Hortense couldn't help but worry about his mother that night until his thoughts turned back to today and how much he had with the guys. Little did he know, this would be the start of their lawn mowing and snow shoveling business, and he couldn't wait to do it again with his friends…
A/N - There was chapter nine! Thanks for reading, it'll be updated hopefully soon! - BTRFanatic13