Disclaimer: I do not own Big Time Rush or anything to do with it.
"How do you keep beating me!?" asked Carlos astonished. "I just taught you how to play yesterday!" he exclaimed laying down the controller.
"I must be lucky" said Celia with a shrug, truth was she had no idea how she was winning especially because she was basically playing one handed because of her cast. She had been in the apartment for just over a week now. A lot had been happening.
Since she had been staying with Kendall she had no contact with her family, but she knew that Mrs. Knight was keeping in contact with her uncle. Mrs. Knight had informed her that there was going to be child abuse charges among other charges filed against Calvin. Even though Celia was still not ready to see her family she desperately missed her little sister. She was however scared to see Maddie because she was afraid how Maddie would react to being forced out of her home and having her father thrown in jail.
Celia let out a sigh and put the controller down and leaned back into the couch. It was hard to believe that her senior year of high school was starting in a week. This time last year she would have been getting ready for school. This year she did not even know where she was going to go to school since in the past she was forced to attend some horrible expensive private school because Calvin demanded it.
"You okay?" asked Carlos concerned.
Celia just gave him a look.
"Sorry dumb question" he answered.
"No I'm sorry you where just concerned" said Celia running her hand through her hair worriedly. "It's just that everything is so screwed up. I finally was able to have people believe me about Calvin, but since I told my family and I have lost so much. We lost our home, Maddie lost her father, and even though it sounds stupid I lost my school. I should be getting ready for my senior year; I should be excited for school! Instead I feel like my whole world is just crashing down" she finished blinking her eyes quickly to keep the tears away.
"Sorry" said Celia turning to Carlos who had stayed silent and let her rant "I should have not unloaded all of that on you" she finished feeling guilty.
"Its fine" said Carlos leaning over and giving her hand a quick squeeze "that's what friends are for."
"A friend" said Celia with a smile "it's nice to have a friend again I haven't had one in a while." Carlos just gave her a smile.
"Okay now that the sappy hallmark moment is over" she joked with a laugh "do you know where Kendall is? He said he had to pick something up but he has been gone almost two hours."
"No idea" said Carlos fidgety not meeting her eyes as he talked.
"Carlos" said Celia in a warning tone she could tell he was lying.
"Trust me everything is fine and Kendall will be back soon" said Carlos honestly. Before Celia could respond the apartment door opened and Kendall himself walked in.
"Yep I'll be back soon" Kendall joked coming in.
"Very funny" said Celia with a laugh.
"Well I gotta do this thing" said Carlos standing up "see you later Celia" he said leaving the apartment.
"Okay bye" said Celia as Carlos left and she turned to Kendall. "Okay that was suspicious and where's Katie she left with you?"
"She's outside in the hallway" answered Kendall nervously.
"Why?" asked Celia suspiciously.
"She's with someone" answered Kendall sitting down beside Celia.
"Is this twenty questions? I am supposed to guess?" she joked.
Kendall took a deep breath before answering "she's with Maddie" he finally answered.
"Maddie, as in my little sister Maddie?" asked Celia shocked her heart speeding up.
"Yes and before you start yelling you should know that Maddie really misses you. Also, I think it would be good for you to see her" he finished taking her hand.
Celia just let out a sigh "I just wish you would have told me first" she finally said.
"If I would have told you, you would have said no" Kendall said.
"Probably" said Celia with a shrug. She took a couple of deep breaths before nodding to Kendall
"Katie" he called gently into the hallway as he and Celia stood up Celia squeezing his hand for dear life.
Katie slowly made her way into the apartment holding Maddie's hand. Celia suddenly felt like she hadn't seen her sister in years. Her sister looked so different to her, it seemed like the spark in her eyes were gone.
"CJ?" her sister questioned staring at her with a petrified look.
It then dawned on Celia that Maddie had not seen her since the night before Calvin beat her. She could not blame her sister for looking shocked at the cast and the nasty bruises covering her body.
"Did Daddy really do that?" Maddie finally asked.
Celia just nodded tears coming to her eyes; she really hoped that Maddie would not blame this on her. Instead of saying anything Maddie burst into tears.
"Oh Maddie" said Celia bending down and ignoring the burning pain in her ribs she pulled her sister into a hug. Out of the corner of her she saw Kendall motion Katie out of the room and they left leaving her alone with her sister.
"Let's sit down" she said guiding her sister towards the couch, they both sat.
Maddie finally managed to pull herself together and Celia wiped the stray tears off her cheeks.
"So …" started Olivia not sure where to really start.
Before she could think of anything Maddie asked her a question that broke her heart. "Are you not staying with me and mommy because you hate us?" she asked her lip quivering tears coming to her eyes again.
"No, never, no" said Celia emphatically. "I could never hate you or mom you are the most amazing little sister I am so lucky to have you" said Celia putting her arm around her and pulling her into a hug kissing the top of her head.
"Okay" said Maddie wiping at her eyes "I thought that you hated me because Daddy hurt you so bad."
"Why would you think that?" asked Celia confused.
"Cause that night I did not want to Grandmother's I wanted to stay home with you. I asked Daddy and he yelled at me and made me go" said Maddie not meeting her sister's eyes. "If I stayed with you Daddy would've never hurt you" finished Maddie.
"Maddie look at me" said Celia turning her sister on the couch until her sister was looking her in the eyes. "None of what happened was your fault, none of it. Your Daddy would have found any excuse to hurt me like he did, he would have still done it if you where home with me. I am actually glad that you were not there he may have hurt you too" finished Celia taking her sisters hands.
"Okay" said Maddie in a small voice. Celia knew that Maddie blamed herself and she would have to keep telling Maddie that it was not her fault and hopefully Maddie would finally stop blaming herself.
"I have another question" said Maddie finally.
"Shoot" said Celia with a smile.
"If you do not hate Mommy or me why are you staying here?"
Celia took a deep breath in. She did not know if she could even explain why she needed to be away from her mother and her family at the moment. Why she needed some distance to sort her emotions and be able to make peace with what was going on. How could she could explain that to a six year old when she barely even understood it herself.
"It is really hard to explain" Celia said "it's something I have to do. But I promise you that it has nothing to do with you, I love you very much. I am also sorry it took me over a week to see you I missed you so much."
"Me too" said Maddie grinning.
"I was actually afraid you would hate me" said Celia.
"Why?" asked Maddie curiously.
"I was afraid that you would hate me because you had to leave our house and that because of me you have to stay away from your Daddy" she finished.
"No it's not your fault. Mommy explained to me that since Daddy was so mean to you and the rest of us that he was in time out. She said he could be in timeout for a long time" said Maddie. "Mommy also said that it could be a while but when the timeout is over I may be able to see him if I want."
"Yep that's about right" said Celia with a sad smile. She guessed that her mom was right to explain it like that. It would pretty hard and devastating to tell a six year old that her father could being going away to jail for a long, long time.
"So how has everything been going at Uncle Derek's?" asked Celia.
"Well daddy always said never to call him Uncle Derek, cause he was not my real uncle" said Maddie, Celia fought the urge to roll her eyes at Calvin's ignorance. "Anyway Uncle Derek said it was ok to call him Uncle because he considered himself my Uncle. I really like having him as an Uncle. We play checkers a lot and I won most of the games" Maddie finished grinning at her sister. Celia slowly saw the old spark coming back to her sister's eyes.
"Won most of the game huh? How did you get so smart?" joked tickling her sister.
"From my big sister" giggled Celia looking up at her sister smiling.
Later that night Kendall and Celia were sitting in Palm Woods Park watching the sun go down. Celia had an amazing day with her baby sister and was glad Kendall had brought her over. Maddie ending up standing for dinner and chatted away the whole time, she could tell that right away she had all the guys wrapped around her little finger. Celia could not help but smile; it seemed that now that Maddie was finally away from her father she was coming out of her shell.
"What are smiling?" Kendall asked putting his arm around her.
"Today" said Celia laying her head on his shoulder. "Maddie seems to be doing alright; she actually seems to be more herself now that she is away from Calvin."
"That's good, so are you glad I brought her over?" asked Kendall.
"Yes, but how did you know that she wasn't going to get over here and say she hates me?" asked Celia curiously.
"Because I am genius" said Kendall, Celia just gave him a look. "I knew because no matter what Katie does I will always love her and I know no matter what I do Katie will always love me. I also know it is the same way with you and Maddie."
"My boyfriend is a genius" joked Celia giving him a quick kiss.
"Now if you could just remember that for future reference" said Kendall, Celia just gave him a playful punch before snuggling closer to him.
They sat in silence for a while watching the sunset. It was one of the first times Celia had been out of the apartment. Also, she finally agreed to go out with Kendall because at this time of day the park was pretty much deserted except for a few people. She squirmed uncomfortably when people stopped and stared, she could not blame them she still had a broken nose and wrist and her bruises were starting to turn a greenish color.
Kendall could feel Celia's uneasiness at the few people staring at Celia "bet you are wondering what happened to her?" he said to them.
"Kendall" she said slightly panicked, what was he doing?
"She got attacked by a shark real nasty, you should see the huge chunk missing out of her leg?" he said trying to keep a straight face "why don't you roll up your pants leg and show them?" he said turning to Celia trying not to laugh.
Celia bit her lip to keep from laughing she glanced over at the people; they gave her and Kendall an odd look before walking away. Once they were gone both her and Kendall burst out laughing.
"Okay that was a good one" said Celia once she gained control of her laughing ignoring the burning pain it left in her ribs. It felt good to laugh again.
"Did you really Kendall me?" he asked faking hurt "Do you really think I would just tell strangers your business?"
"No, I know, I just panicked. I know you would never do that" she said smiling at him.
"I love you, you know" he said smiling at Celia.
"I love you too" she said giving him a kiss.
Little did they know they were being watched from some people across the park. Mrs. Knight and Katie had just gotten back from dropping Celia at her Uncle's. Kendall had volunteered to take Maddie back but his mom said she would do it. She told Kendall to finally get Celia out of the apartment it would be good for her.
"They are so sweet" said Mrs. Knight smiling.
"Mom it's kind of creepy that you are spying on your son" said Katie crossing her arms.
"I am not spying on them" said Mrs. Knight defensively "it's not like I follow them or for that matter any of you kids everywhere."
"Okay, but you said we should take the long way back to the apartment through the park" said Katie suspiciously.
"Oh Katie you are too smart for your own good" said her mom smiling putting her arm around her daughter giving her a hug.
"However I do have to admit that Kendall seems very happy" said Katie. "He never seemed this happy when he was with Jo. He seems light up every time he sees her or even when someone mentions Celia's name" finished Katie with a small smile.
"Who knows maybe Celia is Kendall's soul mate" said Mrs. Knight with a smile as she and Katie made their way back to the apartment.
A/N: Sorry it took me two and a half weeks to update, school started and also the last two weekends I went camping with family friends. I have a big test coming up so it is going to be at least another week before I update. Also, for this story there is only three or four chapters left. Another note is someone sent me a message and asked if I was from London because I sounded British. I am nowhere near British I am from the east coast of the USA. Just thought I put that in here in case other people thought that, though I do not know why people would think that. Anyway hope you enjoyed the chapter :)