I don't own Austin & Ally
Maddie's POV
"Uh…", Kelsey said stalling. She wouldn't even look me in the eye. "Come on Kelsey, please? I told you my whole story, and your family's which I probably wasn't supposed to, and that was really hard for me. I rarely open up", I admitted.
"Well, it really doesn't seem that big compared to you", she said. Err, seriously!?
"Then it should be easier to tell me. Come on, everyone's problems are big in their own way, and deserve to be told and listened to so they can eventually be solved", I said.
"Fine", she sighed. "My best friend Katy and I were pretty popular at school even though I'm an all A's student", she started. I nodded for her to continue.
"Well my boyfriend, Alex, was on the football team. I thought everything was fine; I even thought I could fall in love with him", she admitted.
"What happened?", I asked knowing there had to be a tragic turn in events from how she was talking. She sighed.
"We said 'I love you' to each other, then he tried to kiss me", she said looking disgusted. I don't think I like where this is going…
"I pushed him away, telling him I wasn't ready to have my first kiss at fourteen. I knew that with a guy like him, he'd try to change me, and I could possibly end up as one of those 'sixteen and pregnant' stories. I'm a Christian, so I don't want that. I've seen it happen to all the good girls: they go out with the football player who acts all sweet, kiss at a young age, and get pregnant before they're married. I would never want that. And he said he respected my wishes, and totally understood where I was coming from", she said rolling her eyes. Whatever comes next can't be very good.
"Alex began acting strange, and more distant than usual. He would smile when he saw me, but I could tell it was fake. His smile never reached his eyes like it used to. I just overlooked it and decided to spend more time with my best friend. We were going to have a sleepover at my house, but I realized I had forgotten one of my books in my locker on the way home", she said tearing up.
"I made my way back to the school, but I never made it inside. Right outside the doors, I came upon my boyfriend and my supposed best friend making out. When they noticed me, neither of them even tried to apologize or make up a lie. No, they just smiled. They smiled at my pain", she cried.
"Oh Kelsey", I said, but she didn't even hear me. She just seemed to be stuck in the painful memory she was reliving.
"The whole football team, all the cheerleaders, and a bunch of other kids who I thought were my friends came into view, laughing their heads off. They called me so many horrible things, just because my boyfriend cheated on me with my best friend since I wouldn't kiss him. They called me things I'm not even aloud to repeat out loud", she said. I feel so bad for her.
"Since then it's just gotten worse. They all bully me every day, and I have no friends at all", she cried. I just hugged her while she cried like Ally did to me that first day I was having a panic attack.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't be crying. My problems don't compare to yours", she said wiping her eyes.
"Hey, it's all okay. Don't worry about me when you have problems of your own. That was some serious stuff you just told me. Have you told anyone else that these kids have been bullying you?", I asked, even though I figured she hadn't.
"No, I can't! That'll just make everything so much worse!", she said. Her face was all red and tear stained from where she had been crying so much, so I went and got her a wet washcloth. Her eyes went wide when I started wiping her face, and after a few seconds she let out a yelp of pain. I moved the washcloth to see a huge bruise covering her entire right cheek, and there were cuts and scrapes all over her face. She wouldn't look at me, so I easily went to the bathroom and filled a bucket of water, which I splashed all over her. She gasped in surprise, but it revealed many more injuries all over her body.
"Oh my goodness Kelsey! You have to tell someone about this! You need to be treated", I exclaimed. I can't stand seeing innocent kids with injuries caused by other people. She grabbed onto my arm before I could leave to go tell the others.
"No, please! You can't tell anyone! They'll just hurt me more if you do!", she begged.
"No Kelsey, it gets better if you tell someone and worse if you don't. That just means they'll get to walk all over you for the rest of your life", I told her, having been through this before.
"It won't get better", she said shaking her head, refusing to believe me.
"Kelsey, I went through the exact same thing. I was beaten every day, with a spikey belt and with bare hands, and they told me that if I told anyone that it'd only get worse. Well, it took me eighteen years to get up the courage, but I finally ended up telling Austin, Ally, Trish, and Dez, who helped me escape from them. That was the smartest thing I ever did was tell them. I never would've gotten out of there if I didn't tell anyone", I told her desperately.
"You really think it'll stop if I tell someone?", she asked with tears streaming down her face.
"I really do", I assured her. "Eventually"
"Let's go", I said holding out my hand to let her know she has my full support on this. She grabbed my hand shakily, and we made our way to the living room where everyone but the kids were seated.
Austin's POV
We were all just sitting in the living room talking when Maddie and Kelsey came back. Everyone gasped at the sight before us. Kelsey's whole body was covered in bruises, cuts, scrapes, and there was a huge bruise on her right cheek!
"Sweetheart, what happened to you!?", Uncle Daryl exclaimed.
"Who did this to you!?", Aunt Claire asked at the same time.
"Alex, Katy, and all the other popular kids at school", she said with tears in her eyes. The last time I was here, Katy was Kelsey's best friend! And who the heck is this Alex kid!? I'll-
"Your best friend and boyfriend!?", Aunt Claire exclaimed. BOYFRIEND!? Oh, he's a dead kid!
"What happened?", Uncle Daryl asked, as he let his daughter sit on his lap while she cried.
"M-Maddie", she stammered.
"Yeah?", Maddie said softly.
"W-Will you please t-tell them? I d-don't want to s-say it twice?", Kelsey asked.
"Sure. Luckily, I have an excellent memory", Maddie said and explained the entire story to us. Kelsey was crying the whole time, and I was about ready to beat the pulp out of all of those kids. I could tell Dez, Dad, and Uncle Daryl all were just as mad as I was. That Porter kid doesn't seem so bad anymore.
"I'm so proud of you sweetie. It takes real courage to say no to something you don't want to do, or feel you aren't ready, and it also shows courage to tell us all that happened", Aunt Claire said hugging her daughter.
"Maddie really helped me. I couldn't have done it without her", Kelsey said.
"How'd I do that?", Maddie asked.
"I never would've told them what happened to me if you didn't tell me your story first so I could realize just how bad things could get", Kelsey replied. Maddie was just looking down now.
"What story?", Aunt Claire asked.
"My life", she said quietly, still not looking up.
"She had it like a hundred times worse than I ever did", Kelsey said. I could tell Maddie was about to start crying any second. Oh no…
"How's that possible?", Aunt Claire asked.
"Because-", Kelsey started, but Maddie interrupted her.
"It just is okay", Maddie snapped, and ran out the door with tears streaming down her face.
Porter's POV
I'm so confused. I was just sitting in the living room of this stranger's house in Tennessee, listening to everyone's conversations, when Maddie just ran outside crying. Instinctively, I ran after her to make sure she was okay…before everyone else. Okay, I may have a little crush on Maddie, but she could never like me back. The first time she saw me, she thought I was going to hurt her just for giving her back her purse…well, at least that's what she thinks is the first time she's seen me.
"Hey Maddie, are you okay?", I asked when I found her outside, crying on the sidewalk. I'm so stupid! Of course she's not okay, she's crying on the sidewalk! What's wrong with me!?
"Not really", she said hiding her face with her hands.
"Is there anything I can do for you?", I asked her.
"Anything you can do for me?", she laughed, but she was still crying too. "You must be so confused. I freaked out on you when you just came over to return my purse. Then all that stuff was said about me and my family, and you probably don't know what's true and what's not considering where we are at the moment. And let's not forget we basically took you hostage as we ran away and you had to change you name", she cried.
"It's okay Maddie, I don't need to know any of that. I don't care what problems are going on with you and your family, because it's none of my business. And you didn't take me as a hostage, I basically volunteered to come. All I need to know is that you're okay", I said honestly, even if I was curious about all of that.
"You really should know what you're getting yourself into", she warned.
"We're already on the run and had to change our names, what more could there be?", I asked laughing.
"Deadly, abusive, psychotic, birth parents that none of us even knew are chasing us", she said looking serious. Okay, maybe there is a lot about this girl that's still a mystery.
"Okay, maybe I don't know everything", I said. She laughed. Man, I love her laugh…
"You sure don't, but I'll explain", she said, and explained everything to me. Can I just say…wow.
"So Ella's Ally's niece and Austin's not even her real dad?", I asked, genuinely shocked.
"Yep", she said popping the 'p'. Wow, I never would've thought any of that with how picture perfect they look.
"And you were held at gunpoint by Ella's birth mother, while your brother was actually shot?", I asked, still in disbelief.
"All true", she said nodding.
"Were you really abused for all those years?", I asked a little quieter.
"All eighteen years", she sighed. "Stupid Freemans"
"Did you just say Freemans?", I asked, hoping she didn't.
"Yeah…why?", she asked.
"No reason, I just thought I knew the name", I shrugged.
"Well, it could be different Freemans you know. I'm sure you'd be able to tell if they were the same. Tina, Max, and Samantha are pretty easy to pick out in a crowd", she said. I just nodded. Why!?
"Wow, you really did go through a lot", I commented.
"Yeah, and now you know what you're getting yourself into", she said.
"And I'm up for it", I told her. She quickly turned to face me, looking awfully surprised.
"What!? After all that, you still want to stay?", she asked in disbelief.
"Not that I really have a choice in the matter, but yes, I still want to stay after all that", I said smiling.
"You're so sweet", she said wrapping her arms around my neck.
"Only for you", I laughed, and she did too. We just started talking some more to get to know each other, and she's one very interesting girl…not that I couldn't already tell that.
"I still wonder who that guy is that saved me and Ella from being kidnapped by Ally's birth parents", she said suddenly.
"Why?", I asked.
"Dude, he totally saved our lives! I owe him everything", she said seriously.
"You don't owe him anything. I'm sure all he cares about is that the two of you are safe", I said like I knew…which I kind of do.
"Thanks Zach", she said nudging me in the side.
"Anytime Lizzie", I said nudging her right back.
Ella's POV
Yes, I'm hiding behind a bush to spy on Maddie and Porter, but that has nothing to do with what I just found out. Porter's the masked hero that saved me and Maddie!
And there's you guys another chapter! What'd you think? So now we all know Kelsey's secret, but we also found out a little more information on Porter. Any thoughts on that? I'll leave it to you guys to read, review, follow, and favorite, but please do! ;P
Oh, I didn't actually show the whole thing where Maddie was telling Porter everything that happened because that would practically be like retelling the whole story, and I just had Maddie tell Kelsey a good bit about her life in the last chapter.
God Bless you all!
-Daddysgirl11