Title: Behind Closed Doors
Chapter 4
Word Count:

Rating: T, Possibly M later on

Pairings: Eventual James/Carlos, and I decided to have undertones of Kendall/Logan somehow, otherwise general.
Disclaimer: Yeah, I still don't own BTR.
Warnings: Abuse, implied rape, self-harm
Summary: AU His friends only saw the happy, peppy, playfully crazy him. They never saw the broken, pained, dying him. He wouldn't, couldn't let them. They couldn't know what happened behind closed doors.
Author's Note: Sorry if this sucks, especially the flashback part. I wanted to update sometime this week and the week is coming to a close… . I don't think it'll be too bad though. But that's not up for me to decide! That's your choice. R&R friends!:)

One last thing… This'll probably be changed to M after I post the next chapter… Just fair warning.

Filler chapter's suck... -_-

DallieJLovesBTR

Carlos, now nine, is being forced to sit and watch as his father beat up his brother. It hurt him more than anything. More than the time he fell out off tree and broke his arm. More than the time he tripped on the ice and knocked his two front teeth out. This hurt his heart, and nothing could hurt more than the pang of guilt he had every time his brother whimpered out in pain.

His eyes shifted around the room as he tried to figure out a way to be Mateo's hero. There was nothing near he could use to throw at his father, no lamp or baseball. So, Carlos did the first thing he could think of.

"Stop it!" He screamed, jumping up from the couch. "Stop. Don't hurt him anymore." His father looked down on him and he couldn't help but hunch to hide his face.

"Who do you want me to hit? You?" The tall man laughed evilly. Carlos looked at his toes and nodded slightly. His father laughed even harder. "Oh look, you're being such a big boy! Standing up for your stupid, little brother." He spat at Carlos. "I'll make you a deal, Carly. You be my punching bag, and I won't touch a hair on his head."

Carlos looked up at his baby brother, who was shaking his head at his brother and silently pleading with him that he wouldn't let the evil man do that. Carlos saw him swaying slightly where he was, and knew he had to do this.

He looked back up at the man above him. He took a deep breath before saying. "Deal."

His wicked father laughed again and raised a fist. "Then let the beating begin." He slammed his hand into the small child's face, beginning the first of hundreds of nights that Carlos would forever be scarred from.

Thursday, Carlos was back and being goofy with his friends, even against Mateo's wishes. He brightened his friends' days with his presence and jokes, but he also had them worried. He was limping around the school and grimaced with every touch he got, even a slight pat on the shoulder.

James was the most worried for his small friend. The fact the smallest and youngest of them was in so much pain had him freaking out. He didn't want to think the thoughts that were slowly but surely making their way into his head. He didn't want to believe them, but the way that Carlos was acting made the thoughts seem real and true.

He smiled as Carlos slid into the seat next to him in English class. Carlos couldn't wipe a familiar look off his face, and James knew he had done something. Probably put tacks in that idiot teacher's seat, he thought to himself.

James looked over at his friend, who was bouncing up and down in anticipation for his prank. James had to fight the frown that threatened to show. He couldn't believe that, after not showing his face for three days or calling or texting any of his friend's, Carlos was acting the same as always. Almost as if he was never sick, or whatever he had been. James opened his mouth to ask Carlos exactly why he was gone, when the bell rang and the teacher came in to hush the class.

James frowned and turned his attention to the front of the room. Mrs. Dubbin had pulled out her seat and was sitting down, and Carlos was bouncing even faster. James smirked, and watched in amusement as his teacher sat down and jumped right back up, screaming loudly. The class erupted in laughter and the teacher glared daggers at them as she reached back and pulled out a few tacks.

Carlos smiled widely at James as the teacher started lecturing the class about respect and how it was rude to do such 'childish things to an authority figure.' James smiled back and gave him a thumbs up. Carlos' eyes lit up in glee before he turned his attention back to the woman at the front.

He really is cute…

So, yeah… Sorry that sucked so terribly and that it was so short… Next chapter will be kind of dramatic. I don't know. Maybe. Tell me what y'all think. Please? I could use some reviews. :) Reviewer's get a sneak peak of the next chapter?