Just One Of The Boys

Here We Go Again

It was a blur. The whole day really.

"What do you mean?" I had asked the question a million times already and every time it was explained, absolutely nothing was made any clearer.

"Liz..." Tate sat down at the edge of my bed with a sigh, "there was an accident."

"But what does this mean." I scramble and look to George. They had explained over and over again. There was a car accident and my mom was now in the ICU and in extreme critical condition.

"It means we go to visit her, try and get her to sign over custody."

"And why would you think she'll do that?" I laugh harshly throwing my hands in the air. How could I bring myself to do such a thing at this time?

"Liz she's dying..."

"Yes you've said that. And what? I'm not supposed to care, she's my mother. Even after everything she's still my mother." I shout back.
"So you want me to go ask my dying mother to give over custody. That should be just so easy. Sure sure, perfect plan huh?" I ramble on, pulling at the edges of my shirt anxiously. All my emotions were boiling up to the surface. I couldn't bring myself to want to go to the Hospital let alone walk into her room and ask her such a thing. At this time. It changed everything. Nothing was the same, nothing mattered other than she was dying. My mom.

"Elizabeth. This is the only option if you want to stay with us. The court doesn't know you've been living with us." George reasons. Somehow George explained how legally I should be living with my mother and how if she dies without signing me over I'll be put into the system. Carter being 18 meant there was no reason she couldn't be living with George and Tate.

"I don't understand. Why is this happening. What the hell is happening?" I let out before tears start streaming down my face. Everything around me seemed to be crashing down.

"Hey hey, it'll be okay..."Tate tries to calm me down.

"Don't... Just don't. I need KJ." I sigh.

****

KJ's POV

***

"Dad." I walk into the living room.
"I really need my phone back."

"You don't need anything. You want it." My dad snaps back looking up from a pile of documents.

"No. I actually need this to check on Lizzie." I sigh knowing reasoning will most likely get me no where.

"Fine. You may use the landline to call her." My dad seats his hand at me telling me to go away. I let out a sigh of relief and run over to the kitchen pulling to phone attached to the wall and calling Lizzie.

"Hello?" A voice cracks through the phone.

"Liz? It's me." I say gently.

"Kaden? Oh my god. Oh my god." She mumbles out.

"You miss me?" I smirk to myself.

"KJ. KJ she's dying." Liz says after a few seconds of silence.

"What? Who?" I rush out.

"My mom."

"Oh."

"And if she doesn't sign over custody then...I don't know where I'll end up." She stumbles over her words.

"Oh god."

"Yeah."

"Are you okay?"

"Hardly. But where are you? Why haven't you been around?" She quickly changes the subject.

"My dad." I sigh, "he got temporary but full custody over me and Sammy. And he won't let us have phones or anything. We're at his place but so far were basically just trapped here." I explain.

"Can he do that?" She rushes out.

"Apparently" I sigh.

"Kaden? Who's on the phone?" Sammy asks tugging at my leg.

"Is that Sammy?" Liz asks sweetly.

"Mmhm." I answered before giving Sammy the phone.

"Lizzie? I miss you. KJ is sad all the time now, he was never sad around you. You should come back So he'll be happy again." Sammy reasoned sweetly.

I laughed and looked to his little brother, "come on- give back the phone."

Sammy handed back the phone happily before running back up the Stairs.

"Where even are you?" Lizzie asks.

"One of my dads apartments I guess..." I mumbled.

"I miss you."

"You too." I laughed, it soon died down and I got quiet, sensing something off with Lizzie. "What is it Liz?"

"It's my mom....she- she's dying. KJ she's in the hospital. And I don't know what to do. Do I go? I have to but I don't know if I can" She mumbled out roughly. My heart stopped. I couldn't imagine what she had to be feeling. I knew she had said it before but I wasn't sure how it effected her. But I could hear it in her voice. This wasn't good.

What was happening to us? Custody battles, estranged parents. It was a mess. How could life pan out like this.

I had to figure out a way to find Lizzie. To get to her. She needs me more than ever now.