Just One Of The Boys

Thrown into the deep end

Hello all! So updates are going to be moved to Saturday for a few months ! ALSO hi I'm back!
KJ and Lizzie above:)

*****

"Hey Liz the-" Carter comes around the corner, "Oh!" She steps back leaning against the wall. I jump away from Alex and tuck my hair behind my ears before looking up.
"Hello Alex." She smirks then looks to me.

"I-uh..." I start.

"Yeah so you guys should probably head in." Carter laughs and walks into the living room and I follow in toe.

"Look who I found." Carter announces as we walk into the room where the boys were sprawled across the couches and the chairs, bickering about the movie that was playing.

"Liz" KJs soft voice interrupts my thoughts. And I feels a tug on her sweater.

"Hmm?" I look down to see KJ looking at me with worried stricken eyes.

I simply just nod and sit down next to him.
"I'm fine." I whisper back once I'm sitting.
He pulls me in for a quick hug and I feel myself relax slightly.

I peek my head up and look to see Alex glancing at me from a few seats over.
He sends me a smile and I simply look down to my hands.

"I'll be right back." I mutter before pushing myself up off the couch and walking past some of the boys on the ground and make my way to the kitchen.

"Liz..." I hear KJ waiting at the entrance of the kitchen leaning against to wall.

"I just- he just- who does he think he is?"
I struggle to find my words, "he kisses me and we were- well whatever we were- and then all this shit happens and then he leaves! He leaves! Why does this bother me so much?" I stop breathless and turn to look at KJ

"THEN he goes ahead and shows up and kisses me just now?" I shout out failing at keeping my voice down.

"He did what?" KJ stands up and looks to me.

I sigh, "yeah."

"That little-" KJ stops himself clenching his fists and running his hands through his hair.

I walk over and touch his arm lightly. His body visibly relaxes and his rage filled eyes are replaced with concern.

"Shit Liz are you-" he starts seeing tears welling up in my eyes.

"I'm fine, it's fine...this- the last few weeks have just been insane...I'm just overwhelmed." I sigh and nod sending him a soft smile.
"God sorry for being so damn emotional." I laugh slightly and he just smiles.

"You don't always have to be tough Liz." He says and then pulls me into a tight hug.

I say thank you to KJ and grab some water before heading back into the living room and plopping down next to Connor.

"Hey Liz!" He smiles at me nudging my shoulder.

"Hey Connor." I smile back. The night goes on simply, watching movies, bickering about food and channels and I couldn't help but feel at home with everyone here.
"Have you seen Tate." I nudge Carter. She shakes her head and replies,
"He said he'd be back soon."

The bell rings again and I jump up to go answer the door.

I'm greeted by Tate and his head down, "Tate?" I question.

He slowly looks up revealing dark Purple bruises forming around his left eyes, "holy shit Tate!" I let out before grabbing his arm and pulling him inside.

"What the hell happened to you, are you okay? Holy shit." I repeat in shock.

His dark grey T-shirt looked worn and dirty , his face was bruised and his knuckles were bloody.

"Carter!" I yell into the other room trying to keep my voice calm.

"Yeah what's up- holy shit." Carter stops in her tracks seeing Tate sitting at the kitchen counter.

He looks up to Carter with tired eyes, "I'm fine, really. It's not a big deal." he throws his head back in frustration. 

"I'm sorry, not a big deal Tate? No, that doesn't work in this family, what the hell happened to you. If you don't start explaining in about three seconds, I will call George." Carter snaps leaving me. along side Tate, in awe. 

"well shit." I mumble looking to Tate. 

"Liz, I gotta head out, I-....Tate? Man what happened to you?" Kj walks into the kitchen phone in hand. 

"Nothing, it's fine." Tate shakes his head. Carter lets out a groan and goes back to interrogating Tate while I turn to KJ. 

"What's wrong?" I ask KJ, noticing his sunken shoulders and tired eyes. 

He lets out a sigh and the corners of his lips ever so slightly begin to turn upwards, "how do you do that?" He asks pulling me into a hug, " what would I do without you Liz." he whispers into my hair and I can feel him smile before I pull apart our hug. 

"is it your dad again?" I ask quietly. KJ nods and looks to his phone,

"It's okay, I just have to go handle a few things, I'll be back in a few hours though." He lets out a small smile and walks over to a very angry Carter and a tired Tate, saying goodbye. 

He makes his way back over to me, and we silently walk to his car. His hand gently grabs mine and squeezes it softly in reassurance, "call me if you need anything, okay?"

I nod and look down to my hands, my mind completely lost in thought. I feel a hand on my chin before it's tilted up and I'm met with KJ's eyes. 

"What is it?" he asks dropping his hand from my chin and tucking a piece of hair behind my ear.

"You don't seem yourself." I look up to him hesitantly not wanting to upset him. 

"What do you mean" he asks leaning against his car. 

"you're not as carefree anymore I guess, and I feel like I'm to blame for that." I look down to my hands again and nervously moves around my hands. KJ was always so happy, always the first one to crack a joke and even with everyone back tonight, it wasn't the same. His mind was far away focused on anything but enjoying the moment. The KJ I knew never let anything bother him, he was one of those live every moment as if it's the last type. and with everything that has happened, it just seemed like it had all drug him down. 

As if I had drug him down. 

Kj's hand takes mine in his own again, "You are the reason I'm still here."

and with that he squeezed my hand one last time and turned to leave, and all I could do was stand in my drive way and watch him drive away, wondering what the hell that could possibly mean.