CHAPTER 16

(3 months into the tour)

Thanksgiving was right around the corner and Kaitlyn was excited to be able to spend it with Cody and Jennifer since they were going to meet up with them in Chicago. It was only three days away and the five guys were becoming grumpy that they couldn't see their family.

"Justin, are you still down about not being able to see Jonathan?" Kaitlyn asked patting him on the shoulder.

Justin's intense blue eyes were now so solemn and so sad as he turned to look her. "It's okay. I'll be fine." He took her hand in his own and kissed it gently.

Kaitlyn decided to give him some time to be alone. She walked down the halls of the venue and into the cafeteria. It was, oddly and unusually, the only place Justin hadn't decided to go to yet. She couldn't help seeing such a sad face. She sat down at one of the tables and took her cell phone out her bag and dialed Jennifer's number.

"Hello? Jennifer's dorm." A male said picking up the phone.

Kaitlyn at first felt a chill run down her spine when she found Jennifer not the person on the other line. "Hello, may I please speak to Jennifer?"

"May I know who this is please?"

"It's her sister, Kaitlyn."

"Alright, JENNIFER....PHONE!" Kaitlyn could here the phone be put down and the guy go off looking for Jennifer.

A minute later, Jennifer picked up the phone, "Kaitlyn?"

"Jenni, hi, who was that?"

"Who? Oh Luis? He's my next door neighbor."

"Uh-huh, sure he is."

"FINE! Don't believe me."

"No, I believe you, I'm just wondering why he's at your dorm room?"

"He's a good friend, and a real good student. He's helping me with my sociology paper."

"Really? Why would my darling little sister, who does nothing but socialize, need help with a sociology paper?"

"Oh come on Kait. You know that this is different."

Kaitlyn laughed a little and then continued, "well, I can't stay long and I do want you to finish your paper, so I just wanted to make sure everything was set for you when you meet us in Chicago. Remember, we're staying at the Doubletree Suites."

"Don't worry, me and Cody are sharing a suite there. Geez, you cannot imagine how much those places cost."

"Oh I know. But don't worry, we'll split the cost three ways."

"Oh thanks sis. At least YOU don't have to worry about books, tuition and stuff like that."

"Yeah, but I have to worry about taxes, loans, and credit card bills."

The two of them both laughed and Jennifer continued, "well, I talk to Cody two days ago, I think he's going to come in earlier than my flight, so he'll wait for me at the airport."

"Good, I'm sending a limo to pick you two up."

"A limo huh? I feel so...so...VIP."

"Don't get used to it! I can't wait 'til you meet the guys, you'll love them. And now, I know you will get along with Joey real well. Hopefully enough to get him off my back!"

"I can't wait myself. I'm just glad we're getting together without Shannon and Misty eating everything in sight and ruining the day."

"Yeah, well hey, I better go call mom. Wouldn't want her to have a heart attack worrying about the three of us. God knows she worries way too much over those airhead sisters of ours."

"Ok, send her my love. Bye"

"Bye."

Kaitlyn waited until she heard the other line click then she hung up herself. She decided that she would call her mother to check in with her, but she really didn't want to have to talk to Misty or Shannon. So she called her on her own line. The phone rang a couple of times until her mom picked up.

"Hello?" A faint and coughing voice picked up the phone.

"Mom? It's Kaitlyn, you alright?"

"Oh sweetie, I'm glad to finally hear from you (cough), I'm (cough) alright. Just a bad head cold."

Kaitlyn started to worry when she could hear her mom start to gag. "mom, you sure your alright? You don't sound like it's just a head cold. Have you seen the doctor?"

"Oh sweetie, stop worrying about me, I don't need a doctor. Who needs a doctor is your sister Shannon."

"And why is that, I'm afraid to ask."

"She's announced that she and that Mitch boy are getting married. It's way too sudden, and your father thinks she's pregnant."

(KAITLYN)
*Leave it to Shannon to screw up like this*

"Mom, I'm sure Shannon's alright. She must have a good explanation."

"Explanations are what I hate getting out of her. They're are way too young."

"Listen mom, I'm worried about your health, I was just checking in on you and right now I think you should rest. And get some medical attention."

"Kaitlyn Rose Davis, I know what's good for me and what isn't. I'm fine."

"Mom, I don't want to argue with you. Just please, for all of our sake."

"Alright, I'll call Dr. Greene today."

"Good, I love you mom."

"You too sweetie."

Kaitlyn pressed end on her cell phone and flipped it closed. She never heard her mom say she loved her back. It tore her to pieces.

(KAITLYN)
*That's probably the reason she never supported me on anything I ever did. Her and dad never told me that they loved me. The two very own people who brought me into this world couldn't even find a place in their hearts for me.*

Kaitlyn was now in tears and she had her face buried in her hands. She couldn't explain why her parents never told her they loved her, but even with the guys around, she still didn't feel loved. Lance saw Kaitlyn crying at the table and decided to go over to her and see what was wrong.

"Kaitlyn? What's the matter?" Lance said bending down to face her.

At first she didn't look up at him, she was too embarrassed to look at him.

"Aw, Kait. What's the matter?" He wrapped his arms around her and she just broke down and cried her heart out.

Lance sat there on the ground and Kaitlyn just knelt down and buried her face in his shirt. Chris walked into the cafeteria and saw the two there on the floor.

"What's wrong?" He said brushing Kaitlyn's hair. It was obvious that she was upset and crying. "What happened?" Chris said asking Lance.

"I don't know. I just found her here crying." Lance said softly.

Chris knelt down next to her and tried to talk to her. Kaitlyn just turned her head away.

"Let's bring her in the dressing room. At least she could sit down there." Lance suggested. Chris agreed and they helped Kaitlyn stand up and walk. Once they got to the dressing room Joey and JC turned to see what was wrong with Kaitlyn.

"What happened to her?" JC asked helping her onto the chair.

Kaitlyn wiped the tears from her eyes and looked up at the four concerned faces.

"I'm sorry you guys. I just had something bothering me. I'm fine now." She said reassuring them. She really hated worrying them.

"Are you sure? Do you want to talk about it?" Lance asked looking up at her after she got up.

"No, I'm fine. But thanks anyways you guys." Kaitlyn gave them a fake smile and walked out. She was too wrapped up in embarrassing herself in front of the guys that she didn't notice Justin come her way. The two of them bumped into each other.

"Kaitlyn, I'm sorry...are you alright?" He asked looking at her red eyes.

"I'm fine cutie." She tried faking her sad looking face.

"No you're not, come here." He took her hand and brought her into the wardrobe room. He took her by the shoulders and sat her down on the chair in front of the mirror.

"What's wrong sweetness?" He asked looking directly into her eyes.

Kaitlyn couldn't dismiss those gorgeous blue eyes. She tried to turn away from him but he took his finger under her chin and turned her to him once again.

"Are you going to tell me or do I have to pout?" He said starting to pout.

"No. I'll tell you." She finally agreed. He was someone who was easy to open up to.

"Ok, I'm ready. Talk to me baby." He said playfully sitting on the couch opposite her.

"I don't know why I did, but I just broke down and cried on Lance's shoulder in the cafeteria." She said shamefully.

"Come on sweetness, you know exactly why you were crying." Justin said giving her a look.

"Alright. I started crying after I talked to my mom on the phone. She was getting sick so I told her to rest. Before I hung up with her, I told her I loved her, but she did the same thing she does all the time...." Kaitlyn's voice trailed off to a quiet whisper.

"What does she do all the time?" Justin said taking her hand.

"She said, 'you too'. No matter what I say, no matter what the situation, she has never said 'I love you' to me. Never. It just kills me inside to know that my mom probably doesn't love me." She felt tears form in the corner of her eyes, but she held them back.

"Listen to me sweetness, your parents love you. I don't know them personally, and you haven't said much about them, but who wouldn't love you? If they don't, their fools. They don't know what their missing." Justin went up to her and cupped his hands around her cheeks and wiped away the tears in the corners of her eyes. She closed her eyes and felt his soft, sweet lips kiss her forehead.

"Thanks Justin." She said wrapping her arms around him.

"Hey, whenever you need me, just call and I'll be there."

"Yeah, I know. I just feel so embarrassed crying in front of all the other guys and you." She said shaking her head.

Justin looked into her eyes once more and told her, "remember what you told me, you said, 'it's okay to cry'. You told me it was okay to cry, and I'm just telling you. I'm returning the favor."

Kaitlyn looked up at him and smiled the first smile of that whole day. She liked having Justin around. She was becoming protective of him and very open to him. But something told her what she was doing was wrong. But she didn't know why.

************************

(Thanksgiving Day)

Kaitlyn was very excited about seeing Jennifer and Cody today. She woke up at about 6am since she needed to make sure that not just everything was set for Jennifer and Cody, but for Justin too. She was excited about her whole surprise for him. She was so intrigued by his sincerity and she knew how it hurt to not be with the ones you love. She had called Lynn, Justin's mom and talked to her about how everything was going.

***********************************************

~flashback~

"Hello, Harless residence." Lynn picked up the phone and answered.

"Hello, Mrs. Harless? It's me Kaitlyn."

"Kaitlyn, it's good to hear from you. How's everything going?"

"Everything's great Mrs. Harless."

"Oh be a dear and call me Lynn."

"Alright, Lynn. But, I have a reason why I called you. It has to do Justin."

"Is he alright?"

"Oh, yes. Of course. But, why I called, well...he's been down lately since he won't be able to see his family for Thanksgiving this Thursday."

"Oh I know. I've missed him so much."

"Yes I know. So I talked to Lou and he gave the okay to have you visit Justin here in Chicago. We all have a day off on Thanksgiving and the day after that, so I was wondering if you would like to come visit him?"

"Kaitlyn, you don't have to ask me twice!"

"Great. But, do you think his little brother Jonathan and his father could come along?"

"Well, it's a good idea. I'll give them a call, so I'll call you tomorrow."

"Thank you so much Lynn."

"No, thank YOU Kaitlyn, Justin told me what you did for JC on his birthday. Those boys are very lucky to have you around. Justin talks about you all the time."

"They're all worth it."

"Alright, I'll call you tomorrow. Good-bye."

"Good-bye."

Kaitlyn hung up the phone and laid down on her bed and hoped that Justin's dad and half brother would also be able to come along.

~End of Flashback~

****************************************************

The five guys were all sleeping soundly in their rooms. It would be the first in a long time that they got a day to sleep in. There was a Thanksgiving party set up for everyone that night. Kaitlyn got into the limo waiting for her at the front lobby. Cody's plane was getting in at 10am, Jennifer's at 12pm and Lynn, Jonathan, and Randy were arriving at 1pm. Just perfect timing.....

* * * * *

LOVE WALKED...
Hosted Fiction