After venting for about an hour, Kendall was much calmer although nowhere near as happy and chipper like he was. He was distraught to say the least, frustrated at not knowing the answers to his many questions; what was going on? Why did Katie all of a sudden question things? Was she hurt? Scared? Threatened? He knew her mom talked to her but he didn't think that she had anything to do with this; she wouldn't have interfered with Katie's love life would she? There had to be some sort of reason and Kendall didn't want to jump to any conclusions before getting to the bottom of things. He had another week in Europe and he wasn't going anywhere until everything was taken care of so he settled down and got to work, covering up his pain as he laughed and joked with his band mates for the camera.

Needless to say, everyone was concerned for Kendall but he seemed to be getting over whatever was bothering him and he still didn't want to talk about it so they just left him alone. He was feeling more at ease as the days past and thought about less; he started to wonder since this wasn't bothering him as much as it was, then maybe Katie was on to something. But something still seemed a bit off although he couldn't quite put his finger on it. After the week passed it was time to go home; he had a nice flight back to LA where everyone went their separate ways for the holidays.

Kendall went back to his empty house, his movements echoed in the silence. He dropped his things in the living room before heading upstairs to his room. He walked past Katie's room before backing up and staring at the closed door. He opened it to see the room still lived in, so she'd be coming back at least. He really didn't want to think to much about anything right now, he just wanted to put the whole thing behind him and sleep for eternity.

He woke up the next morning oddly refreshed and felt normal, he knew Katie had gone home but he didn't remember anything else. By lunch time however everything started to race back to him and he ended up wallowing in his own depression for the rest of the afternoon, unsure of what to do with himself. It had been days since he talked to anyone or even ventured outside, he just lay on his living room couch mindlessly watching episode after episode of Katie's show, The Other Side of High School. It wasn't registering what he was seeing or doing his mind was empty and his gaze almost lifeless.

Finally after not replying to texts or calls from anyone, Camille, Logan and Tyler made their way to Kendall's house. Kendall didn't answer but they could see the TV on. Tyler picked the lock on the back door and the others followed to find Kendall in an almost dead like trance. Tyler shut off the TV and Logan checked for a pulse on a sleeping Kendall. He was alive but from the looks of the living room, he hadn't moved in days unless he had to use the bathroom. Food, drinks, and garbage surrounded the couch, covered him and was spread all about the first floor.

"Do you think maybe he's depressed that he didn't get to see Katie before she left and now he misses her?" Tyler guessed

"I think it's more than that. He's been in an odd mood since halfway through our promotional tour in Europe. Something was going on and he never spilled the beans but it probably does have something to do with the two of them." Logan surmised

"Maybe they broke up?" Tyler suggested.

Camille and Logan looked at each other then to Tyler before finally resting their gaze on Kendall with a look of sympathy. They couldn't be sure and as much as they wanted to know, they also didn't want to pry. They left Kendall to sleep and snuck back out the back door and would be back to check on him later to make sure he was doing alright.

Kendall was finally forced off the couch by James after another few days and with the help of Logan and Carlos, Kendall had a night out with his band mates to try and get some spark in his life. Kendall told them what had happened and he just wasn't sure about his feelings. He was sad but he was also frustrated and disappointed. He had so many questions and no way to get them answered. He was so focused on himself that he didn't even think about how Katie must have felt to even come to this conclusion. She seemed so calm and open now after getting used to her new life and learning to trust people and now all of a sudden she was scared again, shutting down all her outlets to avoid the pain.

Katie had come so far that it hurt him to see her bottle herself up in fear. He wanted to know why she was so scared, what set her off and can he change her mind? He really did lover her and although he could see her point about them never fighting or getting a chance to get sick of each other, he just didn't think it was possible. He didn't want to move on without her; he wanted her by his side forever and he hoped she felt the same way somewhere inside her heart. Katie was unreachable at the moment and with the holidays right around the corner, it was almost positive that she'd be busy for the next few weeks.

Back in Connecticut, Katie was a complete mess. She wasn't focused or cheery like she usually was; she spent a lot of time in her office alone, only working when she had to. She wasn't in a bad mood per say but it was in everyone's best interest to stay out of her way and not ask questions. Her mind was everywhere but on what she was doing, paper work was messed up or missing, accidents were waiting to happen both in and out of the classroom and kennel. Liam tried to pry but she pushed him away gently, showing her displeasure to talk about it and he obliged hoping she would come around soon. Truth I she was devastated at the choice she made. She loved Kendall, or at least she thought she did; she had no idea what love felt like. She never loved anyone outside of her family and even then sometimes her feelings and emotions were backwards. She didn't like being without Kendall but was she just attached to him and his kindness or did she actually and truly love him?

Either way he didn't deserve her broad and vague responses and she was hurting inside at the pain he might be suffering. She knew what it felt like to be hated, ignored and unloved so why would she ever want to inflict that kind of pain onto someone else? She felt worse as the days went on and tried to ignore it all in hopes it would go away and die out. Her phone was over loaded with unread text messages and missed phone calls from almost everyone, except Kendall. After their discussion a week ago she had heard nothing from him.

"Well, at least now we know how a fight would turn out…" she sighed as she sat in her office staring at her phone in her hands.

Christmas came and went without so much as a peep. Her office and the academy was decorated brightly but at home there was no sign of Christmas; not a single bell or strand of light nor garland graced the empty walls. Christmas was skipped out of both punishment and lack of funds. Her parents were unable to afford gifts and her father refused to celebrate Christmas anymore after Katie had missed it last year. She spent much of her vacation at home, alone in her room doing random things to try and pass the time. She started to feel better about the whole situation although guilt and sadness still sifted through now and again.

She'd soon be back in LA and it'd be awkward to walk up to the once friendly atmosphere. She had promised to talk to Kendall more but since he hadn't even tried to contact her, she left it at that and never called him back. She desperately wanted to explain herself and just to talk to him but she was too scared. She blew the one and only chance she had at maybe finally finding the happiness in her life she so desperately needed. Not only that but she could feel her parents disappointment in her from her seemingly 'wild' actions; she couldn't help but still be almost brainwashed by her parents. Whatever tie she had formed with them, wasn't about to break very easily, no amount of outside love and force would be able to break her free but she wasn't sure if she wanted too.

She told a few people about her desperate attachment to her parents but it was only because she knew nothing else. Those were the only two people who ever showed her any kind of love, attention and acknowledgement that she needed and wanted. She could never turn her back on them nor would she want it done to her; but at the same time, somehow her parents could sense her attachment and she felt they used it to their advantage. At one point she thought maybe they did this for her own good, to try and break the tie so she could function on her own, as she would have to eventually someday but she just wouldn't or couldn't budge. Having no one else to love and no one to love her, she couldn't face reality; instead she suffered in silence as the pain built up only to have it collapse when she was so close.

Kendall was feeling less down and although still heartbroken he was more upbeat. Without a 2nd thought he packed his bags and got on the next flight to Connecticut to try and find Katie. He wanted to get things settled now and in person; no more waiting around and thinking. He had a vague idea where he was going but he couldn't be sure but he'd cross that bridge when he came to it. Once he landed in the terminal he tried to hide himself as best he could although Connecticut was a fairly quiet state, there wasn't much to do and it was overall very private. He wasn't willing to take the chance and just stayed low as he grabbed his bags and picked up his rental car. He looked up the Academy's address and punched it into the GPS and he was off. After an hour he arrived at the front gate; a new guard was inside a shack in the process of being remolded. He pulled up to the window to talk with the guard.

"Hi, I'm here to see Katie Pryszweic." he said.

"I'll need to see an ID."

"Sure, I don't attend school here so I assume my license is ok?" Kendall asked pulling out his wallet.

"Fine." he replied taking the card from Kendall. "I'll be right back." after about a minute the guard came back with a pass and the license. "Here you are, sir. Do you know where you are headed?"

"Uh, it's been a while so a refresher might help."

"Alright then. I cant tell you exactly where she is but just head down the main road here until you reach a second gate. Scan your visitor's pass and follow the path that opens up. It'll take you right to the main building after a few turns and stop signs." the guard instructed.

"Thanks." Kendall replied

"No problem, have a great day." the guard said.

"You too." he smiled as he drove through the opened gate. The main building was big as life and although school was still closed for another week, it seemed pretty active. This time the building was open for business and he walked right in. Sandy was sitting at the desk and smiled at his presence.

"Well, well, long time no see! How have you been Kendall?" she smiled getting up to give him a hug

"I've been alright I guess. How about you?" he replied

"Fine, fine. Let me check out the schedule for you to see where Katie is. I'm not sure if she's working today." she said as she sat back down and took out a binder. She flipped through the pages and sifted through the schedule. "hmm, her schedule says 'various'. She might be on call today and working from home or have something else to do and she's not even home or even something else. Sorry I cant tell you anymore; she's been pretty secretive lately."

"Oh, I see. That's ok. Is Liam around?"

"Yes, he's in the main Kennel building caring for some extra animals. We had a huge blizzard here last week and it was pretty tough on thousands of people throughout the state. Don't play or pet any of the animals in building, they arent ours and it's a huge liability."

"Sure. Thanks, Sandy."

"No problem, Kendall." she waved as he left. Kendall found the kennel pretty quickly, it wasn't far from the main building and the dogs were outside and barking on occasion so it was hard to miss. He walked in and called for Liam and he peeked his head around the corner in response.

"Hey, Kendall!" Liam smiled. He waved quickly before wiping his hands and greeting Kendall with a handshake. "Nice to see you man, how have you been?"

"Pretty good I guess, you?"

"I've been alright. Been working hard though, Katie's been a bit out of sorts since she got back last month. I thought maybe she was sick."

"That's what I'm here for. She was acting fine before she left but then I had to go on a sudden promo tour in Europe. She wasn't supposed to leave until I got back but she finished work early so she left early. Halfway through my tour I get this call from her and she's just not making any sense. Before I can get any info, she hangs up on me and wont answer. I don't know whats going on or who put what kind of ideas in her head but that's what I'm here to find out. I was hoping you could tell me where she lives?"

'Sure, but that's not going to do you any good; she's on call today and was sent out on Rescue, Pick-ups and Transport. She'll be back around 5 or so to check in and call it a day."

"Do you know where she is?"

"Nope, the calls she gets come straight from police and other local, state and federal agencies. ACS has no part in the calls except when responding. She might not even be in Connecticut."

"I see. Well, give me her address anyway, I want to see where she lives and maybe meet her parents. I have a surprise for her anyway so I can leave it at the door."

"Her parents arent home, plus her dogs are home. Not a good idea to trespass when she's not around, those dogs can be unpredictable when she's not around. Go get some lunch or something; if you want you can get settled in a dorm room too if you'd like."

"That sounds good, I could use a quick nap."

"I have to finish up here, I'm already behind schedule but Sandy has the extra dorm keys. I would think you're contract is still viable from last time you stayed so you shouldn't have to sign anything."

"Great, thanks, Liam."

"No problem."

Kendall left and talked with Sandy who gave him his key and Kendall went to his dorm room to unpack. The room was a bit stuffy from being closed for so long but it was clean. He cracked a window for some fresh air and tossed his bags into the corner to deal with later before crawling into bed for a quick and much needed nap.