Chapter 3 Kendall 'Slapshot' Knight
Kendall Knight hasn't been himself for a long time. He always cared for his three best friends and when Gustavo Rocque offered to take him to LA and make him famous, there was no doubt in his mind that he wanted his friends right there with him. It was never his dream to become famous, at least not through singing and dancing. Kendall had always dreamed of becoming a professional hockey player. But he always knew; sometimes opportunities come once in a lifetime and you have to grab it and make it big time. So, he did.
In the beginning it was a lot more fun than he anticipated and all four of the guys turned out to be good at it. Sure, they argued sometimes, but they had always been like brothers, so it wasn't new. And sometimes things were less fun, like when his girlfriend Jo left to shoot a movie for three years. But they were becoming successful, doing world tours, selling albums. Things were great.
Then somewhere along the line, the happiness started to ebb down. The four friends had always promised they would never change. They would always stay the four hockey heads from Minnesota, no matter what happens. His three friends did catch the Hollywood Fever once, aka homesickness, but Kendall had managed to stay himself and with the help of others, they managed to remind the other three where they came from. This time, it wasn't that simple. Kendall just didn't feel happy. Everything annoyed him and while he always had a big mouth, he couldn't help but lure out fights with everyone around him. He couldn't figure out why and he couldn't stop it either.
This is what started the biggest fight he had ever had with his three buds and ended up costing him their friendship and his job. He wasn't sure what or who had started the fight, but in the end he had had enough and decided that Big Time Rush was no more. If he had been himself, he would have cared deeply and would have done anything to get his friends back. But he was done and decided that they had simply grown apart and didn't feel like trying again. They had all given up, every single one of them. None of them fought to keep the friendship going, so why should he?
He immediately headed back to Minnesota, not even waiting for his mom or sister to follow. From the money he made with Big Time Rush, he stayed in a hotel temporarily, stubbornly waiting for his family to follow. He didn't even flinch when his mother started to yell at him and he didn't care how his sister ignored him for nearly two months. He hardly listened to all the things his mom yelled about and just headed for his room and turned up the volume of his stereo as high as it could go.
That was ten years ago. In those ten years a lot of things changed. When he started to feel better again, he started up his hockey career again, falling right back in a comfortable routine. Playing hockey made him feel good, mainly because he soared when he was on the ice. He started a career in college hockey and soon stepped into the professional field by becoming a part of the Minnesota Wild team.
And within the same ten years he was finally reunited with the love of his life, Jo. After her movie deal was over, she quickly reached out to him and they fell in love all over again. At first they tried a long distance relationship, both working on their careers. But as Kendall's career was taking off promisingly, Jo's career seemed to fluctuate and she couldn't get anymore jobs. Kendall tried to convince her time and time again to move to Minnesota, so they could start a life together. It took about four years, but then she finally gave in.
While Kendall kept moving up as a star player of the Minnesota Wild, Jo kept looking for a job and eventually found a career as a kindergarten teacher. It was never the direction she saw herself in, but since her acting career just wasn't going well, she was ready to try something new. And as it turned out, she loved her work and soon had a strong craving to have small children of her own.
Kendall's busy sports career kept him from home a lot, but the couple had a solid connection and stayed strong throughout all the hectic moments. Both were happy and things were going great. Kendall was doing so well, he earned himself a nickname; Kendall 'Slapshot' Knight.
He was happy and still so in love with Jo, that soon he was ready to take the final step; marriage. The two tied the knot after being together for three years. And even though Kendall's life wasn't slowing down, their first child was born after their first year of being married, a boy, Kaycee. The second one followed two years later, another boy, named Marshall.
Everything was moving like a fairy-tale, the two beautiful blonds living happily ever after. Which was exactly why it was extra hard when things fell apart.
It was a Friday night when Minnesota Wild had a big game at their home base. Since their second child was still only a few months old, Kendall's family decided to stay at home and watch the game on the television. Kendall's mom and his busy sister Katie, went over to keep her company.
The first half of the game went smooth. Kendall scored three times with his famous 'slapshot' and dedicated all of them to his family at home with a heart sign directed towards the camera. They all cheered him on and he soared over the ice. His teammates slapped him on the back when they reached the locker room and it couldn't go better. The second half should go just as great, the coach just wanted everyone to keep up their game and pass their pucks to Kendall.
When the second half started, the entire team noticed a change in the game plan of the opponents. Within ten minutes, two of their players were placed in the dugout for slamming a Minnesota Wild player into the boards from behind. The other players and even the crowd booed, while the coach tried to communicate with the referee and the other team's coach. The game quieted down a little after that. People started to enjoy themselves again.
But then came Kendall's big moment. The last two minutes came on the clock. Kendall's heart was beating right out of his chest when the puck was passed to him. This was it. The game could be won by this last slapshot. He had to make it.
He looked at the clock, while his teammates defended him and cleared the ice around him. He skated forward, keeping his eyes on the goal. He picked up his stick to take the final shot. When out of nowhere a black figure came at him. He tried to ignore it, but it was hard to ignore the hockey stick slamming down with full force onto his knee.
He went down at once, screaming in agony and holding onto his leg. Everything went quiet. No one even responded when the buzzer sounded to end the game. Even the opposing team shook their heads in disappointment, while the coach dragged the now laughing player off the ice. This was clearly not something planned by them. It was a personal attack, one no one could believe.
Kendall's family had been cheering him on happily all this time. But at that moment they all sat in front of the TV, speechless at what they just witnessed. They watched as paramedics flooded the ice and loaded the blonde clearly in pain onto a stretcher. Jo's hand flew to her mouth while tears pooled in her eyes.
The small children stared in confusion while their mother silently started to cry. Jennifer Knight didn't waste any time and turned off the TV, quickly grabbing the children to put them to bed. Katie sat with her sister-in-law, trying to comfort her as much as she could. When Jennifer came back into the room, they still sat in silence and shock at what had just occurred. It couldn't be real… Jennifer instructed Katie to take Jo to the hospital as fast as possible, while she stayed to watch the children.
They rode in silence, both in shock and filled with worry. At the hospital they were greeted with the other players, still in their uniforms and looking sad and worried. They stared at Kendall's wife as she walked through the hallway, heading for the coach at once. The friendly older man nodded at her and directed her to the door on his left side. Her breath hitched when she saw him. He wasn't looking her way. He just laid there, staring out into space, his leg held high and his knee in a large brace.
She knew he hadn't received good news. She took a deep breath and headed inside carefully. He pulled his head up when he heard the door. Tears filled his eyes right away and she was at his side in seconds.
She held him tightly as he relayed to her what the doctor had told him only moments before. Not only would he need numerous surgeries, but also his kneecap was completely shattered and might not ever fully function again like it should. In other words, walking would be difficult, but ice hockey would be impossible.
In one whole minute, that other player had shattered his kneecap and his dreams and future right along with it. No more hockey. His career was over, just like that. He would need a cane to walk around for the rest of his life. How did this happen?
The other players were devastated. They felt so bad for him and wished they could do something for him. The coach wished the same. But he knew that no matter what he did, he couldn't do the one thing Kendall wanted, to put him back on the team. This was it.
That night was the moment Kendall started to change once again. He went from a hockey star on the rise, happy with his family, to a hockey dropout, dreams taken away from him and forever attached to a cane. He couldn't look anyone in the eye. As soon as he knew he was off the team, he made himself invisible to the media and everyone else surrounding it and the sports industry. Not that he needed to do a lot of work. Because as soon as people got wind of him never playing the sport again, they dropped him like a sack of potatoes.
Kendall just stated that he didn't need them or anyone else for that matter and thus, he started to push everyone away. That included the family and friends around him.
That was two years ago. People have tried to bring him back to his old ways, but he can't be bothered. It was like he has given up on life completely and not even his small little family can cheer him up. Every day he just seems to drag himself along, going through the motions, but he's never really there. Jo just doesn't know what to do anymore. Their relationship is just empty now and she doesn't feel happy anymore. She's ready to give up on him just as he has on everything and everyone around him.
Kendall sits in the living room, watching TV like a zombie. He stares ahead, not even really looking at whatever is on the screen. He sits on the couch in sweatpants and an old sweater. He hasn't bothered to really get dressed in a long time. Shaving is also something he hardly does anymore. A small unkempt beard is present on his face right now, but he doesn't care. The dark circles underneath his eyes show how utterly exhausted he is.
He takes a small sip of his bland coffee and lets out a deep sigh.
"Daddy?" He hardly turns his head towards his youngest son's voice.
"Hm?"
"Will you teach me how to thow a ball?" The small dark blonde boy looks at his father with hopeful eyes. Kendall wants to chuckle at how the little one still can't pronounce the 'r'. But like with all other emotions, he is unable to express how he feels.
"Sure, buddy." He tells the boy, who squeals in delight. The two year old runs off to grab a light green ball that he can hardly hold in his little hands. His green eyes so much resemble those of his father. The only difference is, these tiny orbs shine with happiness and curiosity. He watches the mini version of himself and his mind wanders back to his own childhood. God, how things were so much easier back then. But that was when he still had dreams, when he knew what he wanted to do with his life.
The little boy throws the ball towards him, missing him by a mile. Kendall follows the ball as it bounces on the ground. He looks back at his son, whose lip is already quivering. Kendall frowns.
"No need to cry, bud, let's try again." He tells the boy, trying a small smile his way. The boy watches with curious eyes as his father stands up and hisses as he puts his full weight on his injured knee. He grabs the black cane next to the couch and hobbles towards the ball.
Marshall watches him with big eyes filled with wonder. His father moves back towards the couch and sits down before slowly rolling the ball on the floor towards his son. He in turn grabs it with both hands and excitedly tries to throw it again, his tongue sticking out for effort. But once again, the ball veers off to the left side. Before Kendall has time to stand up, the front door opens.
Marshall rushes forward.
"Mommy!" He excitedly yells and runs into his mother's arms. Jo hugs him and lifts him off his feet, before setting him down again. "Look, mommy, daddy is teaching me to thow the ball." He holds the green ball in his hands with a large toothy grin. She smiles at him and then shifts her look towards her husband and her smile fades slightly. Their eyes lock for a moment, before she adverts her gaze and looks around with a frown.
"Kaycee?" She turns around and steps back out the open front door, watching curiously at her eldest son who seems frozen in place as he stares at something. "Honey?" She calls out as she steps closer. "What are you looking at?"
He turns around and nearly takes a step back as she looks at the spitting image of her husband. The dimples in his cheek, the long chin, the big eyebrows. The last part she felt bad about, but it never made Kendall look less attractive, so that would be okay.
"I think the new family is moving in." He mentions to her and turns back around, staring off in the distance again. Jo walks closer towards him and frowns as she tries to find the target he is looking at.
Right there, about three houses away, a moving van has stopped and furniture is already being unloaded from the back.
"Who do you think they are, mom?" He asks her.
"I don't know, sweetie. I didn't know we were getting new neighbours."
"Do you think they have kids?" He asks again, sounding a little excited. She smiles down at him. Of course he's be excited about that. There weren't many other kids in the neighbourhood, so it would be fun for him to meet new people and maybe make some new friends.
"I don't know that either, honey. Why don't we get inside, it's getting a little cold out here." She tells him and tries to turn him towards the house.
"Mom, look! It's a swing set. They do have kids!" Kaycee excitedly yells as he points towards the moving people who are indeed walking through the fenced yard with part of a swing set.
Jo frowns when she watches two other movers pull part of a red swirly slide out of the truck and proceed to move it through the front door.
"Yeah, I guess they do." She trails off. "Now, get inside and wash up. I'll make us some sandwiches."
"Yay!" He squeals and runs inside the house. She smiles as she hears him cheering all the way.
She stares at the house in the distance a while longer, before heading inside herself and closing the door behind her.
A/N Another long time for me to update, I know. Again, my apologies. I'm trying, but I just don't have as much time left as I thought each day, with my full time job and all.
The next chapter I will have our families meet the new neighbours, but the few people who reviewed were right after all ;)
Sorry for sounding so cryptic. I've been so positive the last few days and yesterday I felt at peace with myself and my life. But tonight I feel a little down again. I worry too much about wanting to be friends with people who apparently don't feel the same way. I feel like I'm getting stuck in a rut again with my new job, which is far from the creative path I want to take. But enough about my personal issues :P
I want to thank the few people who have reviewed this story so far. I have a lot of ideas for this story, so many that I'm having difficulty choosing ;)
But once again, I will do my best to update soon, but I'm not promising anything.
It was great btw hearing that the guys were so close in Europe these past few days. I live in Holland, so they were really close. But for me, the chasing them for an autograph days are over. I am however hoping to meet them someday in another way and seeing them in concert
And lastly, I am so happy for Carlos to finally admit having a girlfriend on TV everywhere. He seems so much happier, so much more at peace with himself. And is it me or has he been losing a lot of weight recently? I'd love to know his secret ;)
Okay, closing off now :P But let me know what you thought of this chapter
Love, Baxxie