Chapter Seven

Brad was just walking in as we were sitting down.

“How was the library, son?” Tyler asked, taking on his role as adoptive father to him, kind of like Kayla’s dad was to me.

“It was good. I got a lot of work done,” he replied tiredly as he plopped down in his chair and started piling food onto his plate.

I eyed him suspiciously. “What time did you go to bed?”

He flinched. “One.”

“And what time did you get up?”

“Six.”

I was horrified. “Brad! You’re not getting enough sleep!”

He sighed. “I know, but I have so much work to do. And I’m going back down to the Cities next weekend to check up on some things with my teachers.”

“What kind of college do you go to that you have to take classes in the summer?” Mike asked. Brad just shrugged and continued shoveling food into his mouth.

I picked at my food, not really paying attention to what I was doing. It was nearly July already and Brad had to go back to school. He was making me worried, working so hard. But I didn’t say anything. I never did.

Brad was gone before I could even get a chance to talk to him. Every morning he left before I was even awake, and he never came home until the library closed at eight. And after dinner he just went back to his room to study some more.

I was nervous. Usually, when Brad left, I felt like I needed to stay at Mike’s, but Dad was still looking for a job, so I didn’t want to go back just yet. I flinched, thinking that no matter how much I didn’t want to go home, I had to some time. Mom needed me.

The night before Brad left, when Mike’s friend Vance was over, Kayla called on the Wavota’s land line.

“How did you get this number?” I demanded when Molly gave me the phone.

“It’s called a phonebook. Anyway, can I come over? I’m in the area and I haven’t seen you in, like, a week.” To her, a week was almost a century.

I giggled. “Sure, let me ask Tyler.” I put my hand over the mouthpiece and called, “Mr. Wavota-”

“Go ahead, Katie!”

I smiled and told Kayla, “You can drop by,” before hanging up and prancing down the stairs.

Mike groaned. “Great. A girl is coming over.”

I raised my eyebrows. “I’m a girl, aren’t I?”

Rolling his eyes, Vance laughed. “This is different. A girl by herself is fine, but when you put two of them together it’s like an early mine blast.”

“Take that as a compliment, dear,” Molly called.

I was planning on it,” I muttered as Kayla knocked on the door.

“I got it!” I called, racing down the stairs before the boys could get to it.

She squealed and clung to me, saying, “It’s so good to you!”

“It’s only been a week,” Mike muttered as he and Vance walked in, grabbing their jackets.

Kayla, strangely, became suddenly quiet. Ignoring that, I asked the boys, “Where are you going?”

Mike smiled. “The movies. Wanna come?”

I was about to decline, but Kayla tugged on my sleeve and hissed, “Say yes!”

“Sure. What movie?”

“We were thinking The Omen,” Vance grinned wickedly, though don’t ask me why.

“That sounds great. We can take my car,” Kayla agreed quickly. I looked at her curiously as Mike closed the door to his house, but she gave me a look that clearly said she would shoot a bullet through my forehead and bury me in the mines if I asked her there, so I made plans to ambush her later.

The car ride over to the theater was . . . interesting, to say the least. Kayla had Vance sit in the front with her, and they were getting along great. W ell, more than great. They were talking about past relationships. As it turned out, both were single and both had a fascination with Panic! at the Disco’s CD: A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out. Personally, I couldn’t understand why they like that stuff, but if they liked it, that was fine by me. As long as they didn’t make me listen to it, that is.

Kayla had to park on the far end of the lot, right next to the cemetery. It was kind of creepy to step out and see a tombstone not twenty feet away, but Kayla dragged me inside, telling the boys to get our tickets and popcorn while we went to the bathroom.

As soon as she checked to make sure no one was in there, Kayla turned to me and said, “You didn’t tell me that Vance was Mike’s friend!”

“I didn’t know until tonight!” I defended. Then I asked, “Why? Do you like him or something?”

She averted her eyes from me. “Maybe. . . .”

I was shocked. “You have a crush on someone? A proper crush?”

“Oh, shut up, will you? Just because I date a lot, that doesn’t mean I’m not allowed to like someone.” She was blushing now.

I looked at her critically. “How long?”

She sighed. “Four years.”

“Where?”

“Dad’s birthday party. Close knit, you know.”

“Are you gonna ask him out?”

She snorted. “Of course not!”

I sighed. “Why wouldn’t you ask out someone that you’ve liked for four years that you met at your dad’s birthday party?”

“Right now, he’s perfect in my mind. I don’t want to ruin it.”

“Then you can go through life without really knowing anyone.” I smiled. “Know where I got that from?”

Kayla laughed. “Good Will Hunting.”

“You know, I don’t get why Skylar had to go to California for school. She was attending a perfectly good one in Boston.”

“It’s just part of the plot, Katie. It wouldn’t have been interesting if Will hadn’t chased after her after realizing that his horrible childhood wasn’t his fault.”

“Whatever. It still doesn’t make much sense.”

“That’s why it’s Hollywood.”

We were still laughing over one of our favorite movies when we rejoined the boys. The look they gave us clearly stated that they didn’t want to know and they weren’t going to find out because we weren’t going to tell them, and that was perfectly fine by us. Kayla giggled and took Vance’s hand, leading him directly to the back of the theater. Mike and I followed quietly behind.

The movie was okay, I must admit, though I’m not a huge fan for horrors. It was fun all the same.

After it was over, Mike asked us, “Do you want a bite to eat? China Buffet should still be open.”

“Sure. I’m starving,” Vance replied, grabbing Kayla's keys. She only minimally argued. Oh boy.

When we got to the restaurant, Mike and I went in, but strangely Kayla and Vance stayed behind. They came in eventually, and we all started piling food on our plates. We were the only ones there, and it was late, so we were pretty loud.

“What’s that on your arm?” Mike asked Vance as we were sitting down. Vance muttered something incomprehensible, but I saw that Kayla had written her cell number on his arm. In lipstick. I stared at them, and Kayla mouthed that she would text me about it later. She had better.

Meanwhile, Mike was firing questions at me.

“Are you tired?” was the first thing he asked.

“No.”

“Cold?”

“Mike, I’m wearing a sweatshirt.”

“Is the food too spicy.”

“I’ve been here before. I already know what I like and what I don’t like.”

“Was the movie too scary for you?”

“I’ve seen worse romantic comedies.”

“Do-”

“Mike,” I interrupted gently. “I’m fine. Just eat your food.” He easily obliged, smushing an egg roll into his mouth in one bite. I laughed at him. He looked like a chipmunk.

Later that night, after Kayla and Vance had gone home, I could hear Mike checking up on me. I guess I had two older brothers, no matter how much I didn’t need another one. But still, it made me feel more comfortable in that house that wasn’t my home but I spent most of my time there anyway.

Author's Note

I'm a habitually don't edit any of my writing, so if you found any mistakes that is most likely why! =)