Kendra

Incoming Text from Lucy 3:23 am

Srry gurl I needed to get Charlotte to the gym she's freaking out over some of the moves so we got an early start can u catch a ride w/ sum1? Lov ya bitch Luce.

Oh hell no did she seriously just bail on me? She knows how hard it is for me to get a ride to the city. Crap now what I was suppose to do? Hurrying out of bed of course I stumbled, got tangled in my covers fell out, hit my knee and took down my whole dresser. She's so lucky I love her damn ass or I would be so pissed. Throwing the covers on the bed I rushed to the bathroom to grab a quick shower. Going over the possibilities in my head of who to ask.

I didn't have time to dry my hair so I just threw it up in a bun grabbing my bag yelling for my mom running down the stairs. Where was she why wasn't she answering? Stopping short in the kitchen I looked around my dad was there feeding my youngest sister Galleria who's only five.

Kendra: "Dad where's mom?" Luce bailed on me she's already at the gym I need to get there!"

Dad: "Sorry darling but mom left she had an early meeting I wish I could help you princess but I have to get your brothers and sister to school and daycare ask Ronni"

I groaned there was a fat chance in hell of my older sister Veronica Ronni helping me out she's seventeen and thinks she's the queen of the universe. I had little choice though so I ran down the hall she's so self centered she can't even have a bedroom in the same hall as the rest of us.

Sighing I pushed forward knocking but of course she didn't answer it was only four but she was already blasting music, talking on her cell phone. Yelling her name did no good at all so I did the only rational thing, I shoved open the door yelling for her she spun around her hair thrashed around as she turned.

Ronni: "Get out!"

Kendra: "I need a ride dad said to..

Ronni: "I don't care what dad said I am not your slave find your own ride you little brat!"

She slammed the door shut letting out a yelp I stormed downstairs grabbing my cell speed dialing Cassie.

Cassie: "H'ello?"

Kendra: "Did Lucy text you?"

Cassie: "Hell yeah I am struggling to get a ride any luck?"

Kendra: "No I am freaking out if we miss practice Mrs. Valerie will cut us I can't afford to be cut I need this for my college essay"

Cassie: "Hold up it's Molly"

Molly: "H'ello Cass?"

Cassie: "Hey Molly what's up any luck?"

Kendra: "Please say yes omg I am freaking out I need to get that Split lift down it's killing me!"

Molly: "Good news ladies I got a ride get your butts ready my sister is taking us she's heading into work earlier but she's pressed so we got to be ready"

Cassie and Kendra: "Were ready lets do this!"

Molly's older sister Harleeis policewoman/ firewoman in the city's toughest branch their always short staffed so she gets a lot of extra hours I never spent much time with her but she always seems cool. Relief flooded through me as I slipped into the car thanking Harlee profusely she smiled nodding cranking up JLo. Exchanging kisses with Molly I settled back into the backseat feeling drained form rushing around.

Molly: "Charlotte better be in a mental meltdown mode or I swear to go I am going to kill her for this!"

High fiving her I nodded I love Charlotte dearly but we all have our issues with learning stunts were suppose to stick together she should of called us we all would of gotten up and gone in but instead they stuck us for a ride. Her and Lucy both are old enough to drive the rest of us aren't and getting rides suck. Cassie looked as winded as I felt when she climbed in the car sighing she hugged me exchanging kisses than did the same with Molly.

Cassie: "I swear I will kill little Miss Lucy she always does this shit she always puts Charlotte first and screw the rest of us!"

Harlee: "Do you girls know what's going on with Char maybe she has a real issue"

Molly: "Uh she's just a drama queen"

Harlee: "Maybe you guys should talk to her before you judge her sometimes people hide things for a good reason there maybe more than what you think if it's one thing being a cop is shown me is there's always more than what meets the eyes. Don't take your friends feelings for granted you'll never forgive yourself if there's something more going on"

Molly groaned she hates when her sister goes on a lecture but her words struck a cord within me. Leaning back against the seat I recited one of the verses I was teaching in Sunday school.

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others,
and you will be forgiven."
Luke 6:37 (NLT)

Harlee smiled as she nodded Molly sighed rolling her eyes but Cassie smiled.

Cassie: "You always learn those things so fast I can't even start to memorize them"

Kendra: "Harlee do you believe in God judging you for your sins?"

Harlee: "I believe that all sins shall be forgiven before we enter his glorious kingdom"

Harlee: "Is something bothering you Kendra?" You know you can always talk to me I know how Ronni is so I am happy to be a big sister to you"

Kendra: "I ...promise me you won't tell anyone if I tell you something?"

Harlee: "What you say in here stays in here just a secret between friends"

Kendra: "I'm thinking about having sex with Archie but I'm scared I will be denied entrance into heaven will god hate me?

Harlee: "No sweetie god won't hate you he will always love you if you decide that having sex with Archie is what is right for you than that's all that matters baby but don't take it lightly sex is a very big deal, there's pregnancy std's the emotional issues it's a life changer why don't you try praying see how that feels maybe you'll get a sign"

"Don't be pressured into it though Kendra just because all your friends are doing it doesn't mean you have to it's your body your heart your choice. You'll be shocked at the numbers of kids waiting to have sex now a days"

Cassie and Molly:"Hey were not all having sex!"

Harlee: "Lying is one sin god hates the most please we all know you two are sexually active"

Cassie and Molly: "How do you know that?"

Harlee: "Remember who took you to the doctors faked your parents signatures and got the birth control for you"

Both of them laughed shaking their heads and nodded.

Harlee: "When I was in high school I did a survey my results shocked even me it's one reason I made the choice I made Seven out of ten 71 percent wish they had waited to have sex till after high school, the truth is teens aren't mature enough for sex look at all the issues Lucy and Brett have most of them are because she's insecure and jealous and he's just an immature teenage boy neither are ready for the seriousness of a real relationship"

Kendra: "I'm worried Archie won't love me if I don't do it I know how much he wants to have sex and I want to give that to him he doesn't want to die a virgin and I sure as hell don't want him to have sex with someone else"

Harlee: "Wanting your boyfriend to be happy is sweet baby but you matter most of all Archie will understand if you want to wait if he doesn't he's not right for you. Talk to your friends baby maybe they can offer you more of an insight than you think. Have you talked to your parents?"

My look told her the answer which made her laugh.

Cassie: "Sometimes I wish I had waited I mean I love Richie and he's so sweet but I worry about if we don't get married will another guy still respect for not waiting? Not to mention how much it hurt when we first started doing it I mean I was fifteen which is young. People always call us sluts you know that hurts badly. I mean Lucy doesn't care but I do I don't want my kids to know I was a slut even though I only slept with two guys so far"

Molly: "Relax Kendra, sex isn't that big a deal here's one tip size matters, after your first time it's like that roller coaster you were to scared to ride but then you got on and it was nothing but pure terrorizing fun, and I think 15 is a reasonable age not the best age but I think if you feel close enough to them the big V isn't that important just don't go paying money to lose it"

We pulled up to the gym at four-thirty kissing Harlee goodbye we wished her to be safe I gave her a private thank you. I was starting to feel more nervous now but I knew one thing now more than ever Archie and I needed to seriously talk.

After changing we raced into the gym which was getting fuller now Lucy and Charlotte were at the beam Charlotte was balancing in an extension that looked like it would be the death of her. She was so red I was starting to sweat, I could feel her frustration from a mile away. Cassie, Molly, and I helped each other stretch for twenty minutes. Than Molly went to work on the vault her favorite while Cassie worked on her floor routine. I joined Lucy and Charlotte over at the beam Char was now doing front handsprings working on her landing. She seemed to be having a shit load of issues her timing was off she was sweaty pale, she was unfocused. Lucy spun as I came up smiling hugging me. It always impresses me that there's such a difference in Lucy at school or with us she's queen bee who worries about how she looks who she's seen with people look up to her out of fear. Here people look up to her out of respect she's accomplished so much already at only sixteen, she's won so many awards and competitions she's rising the ranks at an astounding age. Little kids ask her for advice she never says no she will work with anyone to help them improve. Like now she wasn't yelling at Charlotte making her feel bad like she did at practice to Molly. She was calm confident and cool sweetly talking to Charlotte who just wasn't into it.

Kissing Lucy I pointed to a little girl named Rachel who came early everyday to work on her routine but can never get some of the moves, she took the hint going over to help her while I went over to Charlotte who looked shocked when she turned around and saw the switch. Going behind her I rubbed her shoulders massaging them telling her to relax. Taking her over to the bars.

Kendra: "Relax Charlotte I don't want to hear you can't shake this shit off focus on what's important we have a game this week we need a come back, we have a competition coming up we need to all do our part so we can nail this quitters never win winners never quit so close your eyes shut off those voices in your head, Breathe in jump in without a net get up get loud get tough"

I lifted her up to the first bar she let out a breath and started swinging. I stayed close as a spotter. She was still breathing heavier as she spun I swear I saw a bruise on her upper leg, that hadn't been there a few days ago and it didn't look old. There was no way it was from gymnastics though so where had it come from? Wait there was one on her upper torso to what the hell? She slipped fallen I raced over grabbing her before her head hit the ground. She screamed out pissed as she hit the mat with her closed fit.

Kendra: "Get up get tough don't think about this Charlotte think about the future how will be in college on one of the top dance teams, at the best school for cheer will break free of all of this town drama will be 21 broke as fuck cuz were college students…

I kept rubbing her shoulders and arms as she breathed in and out jumping up and down trying to shake this off. Whatever it was.

"But were hot, sexy and fierce, were smart so will be making the top grades like we do now, will get to go to the beach every damn day we stay up when we want we eat when we want or don't eat when we don't want to can you see it?"

She turned around I saw a new fire in her eyes as she smiled nodding yes letting out a deep breathe before jumping back on to the bar.

Charlotte: "I can see it Kendra will be living in a cute bungalow no pain no gain I have to go through the rain to get to my rainbow, you can never be to thin or to rich"

She completed the whole routine on the bars before coming down Lucy gave her a thumbs up throwing her a water bottle telling her to take a break.

Lucy: "I love water it's so pure so good for you so refreshing everything we are not but will be"

We laughed as Charlotte went to sit down she seemed to be moving slow something wasn't right she looked like she was in a world of pain, this girl has been through hell as a flyer so I knew her pain tolerance was off the wall. This wasn't a sports injury what the hell was going on?

"Maybe you guys should talk to her before you judge her sometimes people hide things for a good reason there maybe more than what you think if it's one thing being a cop is shown me is there's always more than what meets the eyes. Don't take your friends feelings for granted you'll never forgive yourself if there's something more going on"

Harlee's words came back to me making me fear swallowing I promised myself I would find out what was going on but right now Lucy was eying me so I needed to get to work after all it took only one person to mess up the whole team and I was shaky on a few stunts. A quick glance told me school would start in an hour not much time left shake it off Kendra and focus.