You're On Your Own Kid

New Years Day

01/01/2023

[3rd person pov]

"Get your coat Lottie, we have to go now." Whispers a soft voice while she shakes her little sister awake, trying to get her leg on with her other hand. 

"Why now, I was sleepin?" Charlotte says as she opens her eyes which are met with another pair of teary ones, attached to Colette's red face. Not shocked by her sisters state she sits up and hugs her stuffed lion, Bubba, who clearly needs a wash.

"Mrs.Kent hurt me again, I'm not letting us be here anymore. Grab Bubba and your coat, we don't have much time." She says a little lower this time, grabbing Willow's harness and strapping her in. She checks the pile of things by the door for what feels like the 100th time, making sure the bag she has had packed for months still has all of their important things, adding the framed photo of their Mom and Dad to the side pocket. "Do you have everything, Lottie?" She says one last time before grabbing her baby sisters hand and pulling their bag onto her back, before grabbing the bar of Willow's harness. After poking her head out the door to make sure that Mrs.Kent was still asleep in her room, she was. 

"Where are we gonna go Edde?" Whispers the little girl, still not being able to pronounce her big sisters name that well. She isn't confused or scared, she's been ready for this day since she met Mrs.Kent after Grandma Juno couldn't take care of the girls anymore, she is just tired and a little upset that she got woken up. 

"I have no idea, Princess but I'm gonna keep you safe. I promise." Ette whispers as she shoves their things under the doggy door, and, making Willow go out first. After Lottie goes through the tiny door that really isn't too small for her, Ette looks around one last time. Grabbing the final things she thought they might need, a couple bottles of water, Willows bag of food, and, 80 bucks that stupid Mrs.Kent stupidly left out. It will leave them with a good chunk of change when she adds it to the rest of the moneys she's collected over the years. "Grab these Lots." She whisper yells out the doggy door and squats down to pass the things to the pair of tiny hands on the other side. She is well aware that she won't make it out the door so she opens it gently and tries her hardest not to make any noise. As they make it down the steps of the tiny porch, she grabs the little girls hand and Willows harness again she starts walking down the street. She knows her way around this area, she's blocked out this escape plan many times, having to change it every time someone new moves in so they don't get caught. She sees a little crowd around their favorite restaurant, knowing that no one is going to worry about two girls wondering around if they want to get in and eat she walks in that direction. 

"Why the people over there Ed?" Lottie says, rubbing her eye and finally waking up a bit.

"Not sure princess, wanna go see?" She says while looking down at the blue eye staring up at her. With a huge smile she nods and pulls the older girl towards the crowd. Thats when she sees her. "Holy shit." She mumbles under her breath, really awake now 

"Language young lady." Ette says as she looks around to see what shocked her sister so much. Then she sees her as well. Taylor Swift, the girls all time favorite person on the face of the earth. She's just walking around, trying to avoid the cameras when someone steps on Willows paw, making her let out a yelp and gain the attention of the tall blonde in front of them.

[Taylor's pov]

I'm making my way out of Selena's New Years party at her favorite restaurant, trying to get through the crowd of paparazzi so I can go home and get to my bed and cats, god do I miss them so much. While I'm walking all of the thought get taken out of my head when a hear something yelp, it didn't sound human so I look at the floor to see what kind of animal it came from, thats when I see it. Two of the most disheveled little girls and a dog with a service vest on, all looking up at me with eyes just begging for help. I bend down and pull them into the ropes and ask if their mom or dad is somewhere and after I get two soft head shakes I pull them into the car and shut the door behind me. Getting the two girls strapped in I think of all the problems I started for myself, but I couldn't do anything else when I looked down and saw the little girls with black eyes and messy hair staring up at me like I was their last hope. My only goal now is to keep these sweet babies safe.

"Why are you out by yourselves so late honey?" I ask the older girl as the younger one won't make eye contact with me. I silently signal to the driver to go home as I look at them both, also keeping my eye on the dog sat on the floorboard. 

"Mrs.Kent hurt me again" Whispers the older girl as she watches the younger one play with her fingers. "I'm Colette and thats Charlotte but I call her Lottie." As I take in the information I help her take off the bags from her back. 

"Do you want to come home with me and I can figure out how to help you guys?" I ask softly while still buckling in the small child in the back and taking off my coat. The little one nods before the older one is able to get a word in so she slumps back down in her seat. I make a mental note to ask who Mrs.Kent is in the morning but right now I need to get the girls in bed before the sun rises. I motion to the small girls bag and watch her nod as the car comes to a stop and they undo their straps before hopping down from the seats. 

"Lots, lets go princess." The older one grabs who I'm assuming, is her little sisters hand and follows behind me slowly. Taking in the sights around them and trying not to fall asleep while walking. 

"You two have some pjs in here Colette?" I ask and turn around to see her response. A wince, before a soft nod. What did I do? Lottie reaches up to her sisters ear whispers something in it.

"Who is Colette?" She whispers making the older girl laugh. What?

"My nickname is Ette, thats all she knows. It's me Lots, I'm Colette." She says smiling at the tiny girl and gripping the little hand a bit harder and looking back to me and then at the dog following behind us. 

"Sorry Ette I didn't know. How about we get you two changed and off to bed , yeah?" They both nod and follow me in the house.

-

About 20 minutes later we are sitting in the bathroom, convincing the tiny girl to get her shirt off so we can change her. She is being very stubborn. "Does she always do this?" I whisper to Ette, trying to think of a way to get her to stop.

"Yeah, if you step out I can get her to change." She says looking up at me with hopeful eyes. I step out of the room and about 3 minutes later the girls walk out in pjs and ready for bed. I finally notice something, probably the reason for the dog following her around everywhere, a prosthetic leg. "Can I take this off?" She asks me already pressing the button to take it off. As I nod she pulls it off and sits on the guest room bed. Pulling up Lottie by her hands and laying her head down on the pillow. I start asking questions, all answered by Ette.

"Lights on or off?" Off

"Door open or closed" Open

"Fan?" Yep

"I'll be right down the hall, my door will be open if you need me." They nod and pull the blankets up "Goodnight loves." I say before turning the light off.

"Night Taylah." I hear a soft, tiny voice say before I shut the door.

Shit.