Hello, readers of FanFiction. I'm back with another chapter of For the Best. This chapter continues BB's story, but this chapter also has the primary focus of presenting BB and Kaitlyn's relationship. I'm not sure how well I did in showing their relationship in From the Ground Up, but hopefully I did a better job here. Enough of me rambling...here is Chapter 2.
Enjoy Reading!
Chapter 2
Hours later, Steve said his goodbyes to everybody and went back to Tulsa. BB had finally calmed down and was now waking up from a nap in the guest…his…bedroom. BB got out of bed and walked to the mirror above the dresser and cringed at the sight in the mirror. His hair and ponytail were all over the place, so he pulled the rubber band out of his hair and tried to smooth it down as best as he can without a brush.
After a moment of trying to make himself more presentable, BB decided it was time to change the bandages around his ribs. BB found his bags next to the bed and grabbed them off the floor with a small groan of pain. He found the bandages in his bag after he removed his shirt and threw that on the bed. Still in pain, he removes the old bandages as careful as possible and throws them in the trash. After taking the bandages off, BB looks at his rib and stomach area and notices the bruising. Unfortunately at the same time, somebody else noticed too.
"Hey, I heard noise in hear and figured you were awake so I was wondering if…what the FUCK!" Kaitlyn says as she walks into the bedroom and notices the bruises on BB's back.
"What?" BB asks as he turns around to face his cousin. Kaitlyn's eyes get wider when she sees the bruises in the front are worse than the ones on the back.
"What the hell happened to you? Did the people you get in a fight with beat you that badly?" Kaitlyn asks in complete shock.
"Believe me. They look worse than they feel." BB answers as he starts wrapping new bandages around his ribs and unfortunately cringing in pain.
"Bullshit. You have got to be hurting. Let me help you." Kaitlyn says as she helps BB finish wrapping his ribs.
"Alright. Maybe it does hurt a bit, but the worst has passed. Nothing you need to worry about." BB remarks as he grabs a new shirt from his bag and puts it on.
"I'm done playing around. Something must be going on if Uncle Steve had to bring you down to Houston HIMSELF and explain to mom and dad why you're here." Kaitlyn says getting agitated at her cousin.
"Katie, it's not a big deal and I don't want to talk about it so lay off." BB replies getting equally mad.
"NO I WILL NOT LAY OFF! I thought you trusted me enough to tell me what's going on!" Kaitlyn yelled.
"That isn't fair! I do trust you! This isn't something you can just go around and say. I mean it took me years to own up to it." BB says.
"What is so hard to say to me that I had to get thrown out of the living room?" Kaitlyn asks, her voice a mix of anger and sadness. After that, BB had enough of the interrogation.
"DAMNIT KAITLYN! YOU TRY GETTING ABUSED BY YOUR DAD FOR FOUR YEARS AND SEE HOW EASY IT IS TO TALK TO PEOPLE YOU LOVE ABOUT IT!" BB screams at Kaitlyn before both of teenagers' eyes go wide—Kaitlyn because of what she heard and BB because of what he accidently blurted out.
"What?" Kaitlyn manages to say after a moment of silence.
"Oh my god. Never mind. I don't wanna talk about it." BB says sitting on the bed, as far away from Kaitlyn as possible. Kaitlyn never intended for the argument to go this far, so she sits next to BB and wraps an arm around his shoulders.
"Abused? Blaine I'm so sorry. I didn't know it was that bad." Kaitlyn says trying to console her cousin.
"It's not your fault. If I would have spoken up earlier to somebody, none of this would be happening." BB said with his eyes starting to water again.
"That isn't your fault…." Was all Kaitlyn manages to say before BB starts crying again as she grabs her cousin in a hug. Kaitlyn knows not to press the situation anymore and BB will talk about it in due time. After a couple of minutes, BB has calmed down and grabs a Kleenex to blow his nose.
"Sorry about that." BB says. Kaitlyn grabs him in another quick hug.
"Don't worry about it. It's my fault for being nosey. Anyways, forget about the sad shit for now. We're glad you're here." Kaitlyn replies trying to cheer her cousin up.
"Forget the sad shit? Easier said than done." BB thought before cracking a small smile. "I'm kind of glad I'm here too."
"So, little cousin, did you remember to bring the good stuff?" Kaitlyn asks. BB cracks an even bigger smile when he realizes what Kaitlyn meant. BB reaches into his bag and pulls out a deck of cards, a bag of plastic spoons, and a small stuffed dog.
"Regarding the circumstances, I wouldn't let Uncle Steve bring me to Houston against my will unless I got to buy a bag of spoons. I mean I have to defend my trophy by beating you in a game of Spoons." BB answers as he laughs for the first time in a long time. Since they were seven, BB and Kaitlyn competitively played Spoons against each other whenever they were together. It got so heated that Kaitlyn used one of her old stuff dogs as a trophy for being the winner—a trophy that BB has held on to for two years.
"Sure, Blaine, whatever you want to believe." Kaitlyn says rolling her eyes. "By the way, I see you still haven't cut your hair."
"Not at all. I see you decided to change your hair up a bit." BB says grabbing a strand of the blonde section of Kaitlyn's hair.
"Yep. It looks like we won't be hair twins anymore. Besides, it's a style now." Kaitlyn replies showing BB the dark hair under the blonde.
"Leave it to you to be on the knowhow of what is and isn't stylish." BB says grabbing the deck of cards. "So, dear cousin, are you ready to lose again?"
"Yeah right. I'm ready to win. Game on!" Kaitlyn exclaims as BB deals the cards.
Hours later, Kaitlyn and BB come downstairs after hearing Cheryl call for dinner. The first thing that Mike and Cheryl notice is the smile on BB's face.
"Blaine, you seem to be much happier." Cheryl says. BB looks over and nods slightly.
"Yeah I do feel a little better. Thanks for letting me stay with you guys." BB replies grabbing a plate and sitting at the table. "Still scared, but still doing a little better." BB thought as he started eating.
"You're welcome to stay here anytime, Blaine." Mike says patting his nephew's shoulder.
"By the way, we just got a message from Steve. The Tulsa school district is sending your transcripts and scores over this week." Cheryl says.
"Over? Over where?" BB asks confused.
"Blaine, starting in August you will be finishing high school here in Houston. What do you think about that?" Cheryl replies to which BB almost spits out his water.
"August?! That is a month away. Am I really gonna be down here that long—not that it's a bad thing—it's just I thought I would be here a couple of weeks and back I'd go to Tulsa." BB says trying to find the right words.
"Blaine, I know this is all kind of sudden; who knows how long this thing with your father is going to be. It's better safe than sorry. Are you alright with all this?" Mike asks sensing BB's uneasiness.
"I mean it's a shock and I'm not exactly thrilled with everything going on, but…it's better to be safe. Give me some time and I will get used to it." BB admits as he gets up from the table. "I'm tired. I'm gonna go ahead and go to sleep."
"No problem. Good night, Blaine." Cheryl says as Blaine leaves the kitchen and goes back upstairs.
"What is Blaine's problem? I thought Blaine would be excited to stay down here. I mean he would get to stay away from dad and he wouldn't get abused. Problem solved." Kaitlyn says as her parents look at her shocked.
"How the hell did you find out about that?" Mike asks.
"He told me." Kaitlyn replies as Mike glares at her. "Wait! I didn't force him. It slipped and he didn't mean to tell me.
"Kaitlyn, this isn't as easy for him as you are making it out. He's still nervous and scared. This isn't something that just happened a week ago. This is the breaking point of four years of this. It's going to take some time for him to get fully adjusted without having the fear of somebody looming." Cheryl explains as Kaitlyn.
"I understand now. I'm gonna go see if Blaine's alright." Kaitlyn replies getting up from the table.
Moments later, Kaitlyn walks into BB's room and finds him laying on the bed staring at the ceiling.
"Are you ok?" Kaitlyn asks as BB turns over to look at her.
"I'm ok. Just thinking about everything." BB replies.
"Blaine, I mean are you really going to be ok. I'm just worried about you. Sure, you're happy and smiling now; it isn't the same." Kaitlyn says.
"What do you mean?" BB asks in return.
"I mean you used to be the happiest guy I knew. Nothing seemed to make you mad. It seems like this whole thing with your dad has taken most of that away. I just don't want this to ruin your whole life." Kaitlyn replies, her voice breaking slightly. BB got off the bed and motioned for Kaitlyn to come over. When she did, BB wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug.
Even though he's scared to death about this whole situation will turn out, whenever he's with his cousin, he always seems to be at peace. Even when they were little, BB and Kaitlyn were extremely close especially since they always protected each other—they acted more like brother and sister rather than cousins.
"Katie, don't worry about me. I'm nervous and it sucks right now, but I'm not going to let this ruin my entire life." BB said reassuringly, trying to convince Kaitlyn…and himself at the same time.
"Leave it to you to be looking on the bright side whenever things suck. Blaine, promise me that the next time something like this happens, don't leave me out of the loop for four years." Kaitlyn says laughing. BB responds with a smile.
"I'll try. I promise. Katie…I love you. Thanks for being there for me." BB says sincerely. Kaitlyn knew that her cousin loved her, but his partner in crime deserved to hear it because she was always his strength—someone to look to whenever he needed it.
"I love you too, Blaine. I want you to be happy." Kaitlyn replies giving her cousin a kiss on the cheek as they continue hugging.
A couple of days later, BB was sitting on the couch watching TV as Kaitlyn came down to the living room in gym shorts and a tank top.
"Where are you off to dressed like that?" BB asked when Kaitlyn sat down to tie her shoes.
"The opera, shithead! No, me and a friend are going to the gym. Gotta get back into shape." Kaitlyn says finishing tying her shoes and walking into the kitchen.
"Where did your shape go? You are always training or working out so it probably took a week's vacation because it was tired. And which friend? Is it the one that likes comic books and skips everywhere?" BB asks yelling to the kitchen.
"First, not funny. Second, no it isn't AJ. You will probably meet them soon enough. Should be here anytime." Kaitlyn says as she runs back upstairs to grab her gym bag. BB rolls his eyes and goes back to the living room. Before he reaches the couch, the doorbell rings. BB opens the door to see a guy with two-toned hair like Kaitlyn, but not like Kaitlyn—more side by side than over-under.
"Can I help you with something?" BB asks.
"I'm here to pick up Kaitlyn." The guy answers as BB nods.
"Katie! There's a guy who wants his money back for a horrible dye job! He's here to pick you up." BB yells upstairs to Kaitlyn which garners a glare from the guy. "Sorry. I was just kidding." BB answers when he turns and sees the glare.
"It's all good. I wanted it this way. I'm Seth by the way. Seth Rollins." Seth answers stick out his hand to which BB responds with a handshake.
"I'm Blaine. Kaitlyn's cousin. It's nice to meet you." Blaine replies as Kaitlyn walks downstairs.
"I see you two met. Come on, Seth, let's go." Kaitlyn says following Seth out the door.
"It was nice meeting you, Blaine." Seth says as he walks to his car.
"Nice meeting you too, Seth. Bye Katie." BB says waving to Kaitlyn and closing the door. "Hmm…Wonder why Katie is in such a rush for? Oh well." BB thought going back to the living room to watch TV.
Hours later, Mike came home early from work and offered to take BB to a local comic book shop—to which BB agreed thinking it would be a good time to go out and see the town he might be living in for a while. So what place better than a comic book shop? BB was walking around, flipping through a random comic book, whenever a voice crashed into somebody.
"Oh my god. I'm sorry. I need to watch where I'm going." BB says handing the other guy his comic book back.
"It's cool. I've done that a few times. You must be new around here. I'm Evan Bourne by the way." Evan says shaking BB's hand.
"Blaine Bonin. Some people call me BB. Nice to meet you. How can you tell that I'm new?" BB asks Evan.
"Easy. Most customers around this store are regulars, so I notice pretty quickly whenever a new guys walks in. Second, you can tell whoever a new customer is whenever they walk into somebody reading a comic book." Evan replies laughing.
"Pretty obvious huh? It's a bad habit and I didn't mean to crash into you." BB says apologetically.
"It's happened to me many times. Dad says it's a sure sign that somebody will buy something." Evan says.
"Buy something? Is he a businessman?" BB asks. Evan laughs and shakes his head.
"Kind of. He kinda owns this place. Bourne to Fly Comics is the name of this place." Evan says as BB looks up at the register where a sign with the name of the store is located. "Quick question, BB. You're last name is Bonin, right?" Evan asks as BB nods his head. "Any relation to Kaitlyn Bonin?"
"Yep. She's my cousin. How do you know her?" BB asks Evan.
"We talk sometimes and we go to school together. I see her in here with AJ or her boyfriend, Seth." Evan answers. "Boyfriend. That figures." BB thought.
"Anyways, welcome to Houston and hopefully you enjoy it here. By the way, you should come back by the store Friday night. My parents let me have a bunch of friends over and we pretty much eat pizza, watch movies, and hang out for most of the night. What do you think?" Evan asks.
"It sounds like…fun. I'll see you Friday." BB answers as Evan slaps BB on the back. BB's eyes grow wide with a mix of shock and pain as he tries to hold in a scream.
"You know what, BB. I think this is the makings of a beautiful friendship. Don't you think?" Evan asks. BB thinks about it for a moment. "Evan does seem pretty cool. I mean we could easily be best friends if things come down to it. And it's much better go out and actually do stuff than sit around at home thinking about the past and the future." BB thought before looking at Evan and nodding.
"I think so too." BB replies as they continue talking.
BB is sitting in the living room, flipping through an old photo album as Kaitlyn walks into the room with Seth.
"Did you enjoy sitting around doing nothing all day, lazy?" Kaitlyn asks sitting next to BB.
"Actually, I went out and found this really cool comic book store and brought back a decent haul. How was hanging out with your boyfriend all day?" BB asks as Kaitlyn looks at him confused.
"How did you find out? Oh wait. Evan Bourne told you. It was only a matter of time. His parents own probably the coolest comic book store in town and you two are alike. Happy all the time and full of energy." Kaitlyn says with a mix of annoyance and amusement.
"Very cute. Anyways I'm going upstairs. I'll see you la…." BB says starting to walk up the stairs before being cut off.
"Blaine, wait. I need to ask you something." Seth says calling out to BB who looks at Seth wondering what in the world would he want with him.
"Uhh…sure." BB says walking back down the stairs.
"I need to run to my room and get something. I'll be right back." Kaitlyn says running upstairs.
"Ok. What do you want to ask me?" BB asks Seth.
"Nothing really. It's more like I want to get to know you." Seth replies. "So how long have you know about us being a couple?"
"I've had my assumption for about six hours and known officially for three. Why do you want to know about me?" BB asks getting annoyed.
"Well, I feel that since I'm dating Kaitlyn, I need to get know the person she hasn't shut up about the past week. She's told me a lot about you." Seth says as BB gets a little nervous. "If she said what I think she said…I'm going to kill her." BB thought wondering if Kaitlyn told Seth about his dad.
"Like what?" BB asks.
"Well that you two were like twins when you were younger. How you two were always together. How your social skills are in the toilet because you lost your mother." Seth says as BB gets mad. "Don't get mad. She also said how much she's missed seeing you the last couple years. I'm not sure if she's told you that."
"You're right. She hasn't. Quick question. Why are you telling me all this?" BB asks.
"Honestly, in most cases if I dated a girl, I wouldn't give two shits about the sibling much less the cousin. Truth of the matter is that after what Kaitlyn told me about you is that you seem pretty cool and we can be good friends." Seth admits to BB who gives him a look telling him that he really isn't buying it. "Not cutting it? What I said is the truth, but overall she says that you two are a package deal. Date her and befriend you. Kaitlyn sees you like so much more than a cousin. She sees you like a brother."
"So…in a sense you are trying to get my blessing, right?" BB asks and Seth nods. "Let me go ahead and tell you this up front. After meeting you, I think you are pretty cool. I have nothing against you. So more power to you for dating Katie. Just remember that if you hurt her, you have someone to answer to."
"You?" Seth asks.
"No. Uncle Mike. Did he show you the shotgun with his name engraved on it?" BB asks Seth.
"That was the first thing he showed me when I met him." Seth admits as both guys start laughing.
Thirty minutes later, BB walks into Kaitlyn's bedroom with the photo album from earlier.
"So what did you talk to Seth about?" Kaitlyn asked.
"We talked about random stuff. He also said he would like us to be friends. He also said how much you missed me and that you and we were like a package deal." BB answered which caught Kaitlyn by surprise.
"He did, did he?" Kaitlyn asked raising an eyebrow.
"He did, and I think that is the most awesome thing someone has done for me." BB says sitting next to Kaitlyn and giving her a hug.
"That was a deal breaker for me. I had to tell Seth that regardless of how close we got that he couldn't break up the Dynamic Duo." Kaitlyn says.
"I guess that means we are the Three Musketeers I guess?" BB asks laughing.
"Something like that. Nobody can replace you, Blaine." Kaitlyn answers. "So what are you looking at?"
"One of your old photo albums and I just happened to find this picture." BB says pointing to a picture of him and Kaitlyn eating ice cream cones on a park bench. "Do you remember this?"
"Hell yes! I remember this day perfectly. We were seven or eight years old. It ended well, but it started out crappy. We were just playing in the sandbox." Kaitlyn said.
"Minding our own business before Wade Barrett and Cody Rhodes started picking on us." BB replied.
"Actually, Wade did most of the work. Cody just stood back and laughed." Kaitlyn said.
"Because he had a crush on you." BB answered as he and Kaitlyn start laughing harder remembering that day.
FLASHBACK
BB and Kaitlyn were sitting in the sandbox at the park, working on the walls of a sand castle, when Wade Barrett decided to kick and destroy the sandcastle.
"HEY!" Both BB and Kaitlyn scream.
"What? Did I kill your little castle?" Wade asks as him and his friend Cody Rhodes start laughing.
"Why don't you leave us alone?" BB says getting in Wade's face.
"Make me." Wade says as he shoves BB face first into the steps of the slide and he holds his face. BB takes a step back from the slide and Kaitlyn sees that BB has a bloody nose.
"Say you're sorry, Wade." Kaitlyn screams at Wade. Wade responds by laughing.
"NO!" Wade screams back.
"DO IT!"
"NO!"
After yelling back at Kaitlyn, Wade pushes Kaitlyn out of the sandbox and she stumbles onto the sidewalk. As she falls, she scrapes her knees and starts to sniffle.
"Look, Cody, Katie's about to cry." Wade says wailing with laughter and Cody joins him.
"Be nice to her!" BB yells jumping onto Wade's back.
"HEY! Get off of me." Wade says spinning around trying to get BB to fall off his back.
"Leave him alone!" Kaitlyn says running full force and spearing Wade down to the ground as both cousins start wailing away at Wade. Cody runs as fast as possible to get Wade's mom as both Kaitlyn and BB's mothers run over and get the cousins off of Wade.
END FLASHBACK
"Do you remember what happened we got pulled off of Wade?" Kaitlyn asks in between laughs.
"Do I? Wade's mom came over and said we started the fight." BB answers.
"I've never heard our moms yell so loud before in our lives." Kaitlyn says.
"Even the words that my mom used. Who knew my mom could talk like a sailor." BB says.
"She told us on the car ride home that we couldn't use those words until we graduated high school." Kaitlyn replied.
"Looks like we didn't make it." BB says laughing.
"After Wade's mom ran off, our moms made us tell the truth about what happened." Kaitlyn says wiping the tears of laughter from her face.
"Then they said that since we stood up for each other that we deserved a reward; that's how we got the ice cream." BB says lying back on Kaitlyn's bed.
"That night, we made a promise to each other that we would always stand up for each other and be friends no matter what." Kaitlyn says lying back as well.
"And that promise is still as strong as it was the first day we made it." BB says.
"Do you know what I just realized?" Kaitlyn asks and BB shakes his head no. "That this is the first conversation we had that included your mother that you didn't start crying after."
"I…I guess so." BB answers with a sad smile. Kaitlyn rolls over and gives her cousin a hug.
"She would be proud of you. I know it." Kaitlyn says.
"I know it, too. Kaitlyn, I'm glad we're still the dynamic duo. I don't know what I would do without you." BB replies.
"Aww. I've had enough fun remembering the past. The talk about ice cream made me want to raid the freezer. Come on!" Kaitlyn says as they run downstairs to the kitchen.
Meanwhile, Mike is on the phone with Steve; the conversation doesn't look good.
"How long do we have?" Mike asks.
"Honestly. I don't know. I'm sorry that I didn't call sooner." Steve says.
"It's not your fault. You didn't find out anything until you got back. I'm more worried about Blaine." Mike says.
"I am too. We just have to keep an eye out for anything suspicious." Steve replies.
"So do I not let him out of the house or something?" Mike asks.
"Don't be stupid. He can leave. He just needs to always be with somebody. Like you, Cheryl, or Kaitlyn." Steve answers.
At that moment, BB and Kaitlyn come down the stairs.
"I see what you mean. Hey, I will call you back later. OK? Bye." Mike says quickly hanging up the phone.
"No need to hang up the phone because we came downstairs. What was that call all about?" Kaitlyn asks grabbing ice cream sandwiches for her and BB.
"Just one of the guys I work with. It wasn't a very important conversation. Any plans this weekend?" Mike asks the teens.
"Nothing major. We were invited to Evan Bourne's place to hang out with friends and we thought we would go." Kaitlyn answers.
"Sounds like fun. Just don't stay out too late Friday." Mike answers. "Oh shit." He thought. The teens laugh and head back upstairs as Cheryl walks into the kitchen.
"Was that who I thought it was on the phone?" Cheryl asks.
"Yep." Mike answers.
"I'm guessing that it wasn't good news?" Cheryl asks this time.
"The worst possible news." Mike answers back.
"You know you're gonna have to tell him eventually." Cheryl tells Mike.
"I know, but I just don't want him to live in fear anymore." Mike says.
"If you don't, the consequences could be much worse." Cheryl says.
After thinking about what to do for a moment, Mike decides what needs to be done…regardless.
"I'll tell him Saturday morning. I promise." Mike says as Cheryl kisses him.
"Look. I know you're thinking that if you tell Blaine that he will lose all the progress that he's made in the short week since coming down here. In the long run, it's for the best. We can't keep things from him like that." Cheryl says reassuring him as she goes upstairs.
Mike sits at the kitchen table a little while longer, contemplating how to break such bad news to a kid who's starting to remember the brighter side of life.
"Lord…give me the strength I need." Mike thought as he heads upstairs.
Nothing like having a strong bond like that bond BB and Kaitlyn have.
I wonder what the news is? You guys probably already know, but it's fun to build up the suspense.
Anyways, that is Chapter 2. It was hard to find a good stopping place for this chapter without going too far into Chapter 3's plans, so I decided to stop here. Sorry if the stop was a little awkward. We got the introduction of Kaitlyn's boyfriend Seth Rollins and BB's new friend Evan Bourne with a little bit of progression of the story. Next chapter we find out (or verify what you already know) what is the bad news? How will BB react?
You will find out next chapter. As always leave a review about what you thought and see you next chapter!