Kayliegh Gaskarth

I knew ever since I was little something was different about me. I wasn't like any of the other kids, I didn't know why. I didn't care which is definitely a good thing. I grew up bouncing from foster home to foster home constantly until the age of eighteen. No place was ever home, I could never call anywhere my own. I was off on my own and it felt great. I didn't have anyone to answer to, I had no one to tell me what to do. But that's the thing, I had no one. Never really had any friends, no family. I liked the face that I could get up and leave whenever I wanted and no one noticed-or for that matter-cared. It was as if I never existed. I'm sure someone-somewhere out there-looked through a yearbook, came to my picture and said "Kayliegh Gaskarth... who the hell is that?" To be honest, I liked it better that way. No one to get attached to, no one to rip me into shreds. I am at no one's disposal.

 

Of course theres a downside to every plus. I never went to prom, homecoming, parties. Never had a boyfriend, didn't have anyone to sit by at lunch, etc. Although I was smart, real smart at that. I was going to be valedictorian, but I turned eighteen before graduation. I dropped out of school at that point and went to Denver, Colorado. I got a job at a local restaurant as a waitress. Not the best job, but, a job is a job. Money is money. Of course you got drunk perverts every now and then pretending they can't read your name tag so they can stare at your chest longer. They then pathetically slur out something that sounds like a cat hacking up a hairball. Then I go ask Preston Creighton-a male coworker- to take that table and that I owe him one. He always trades tables with me for a table full of young preppy girls who came here only because they knew he would be there. It's pathetic really, hitting on a waitor but, I don't blame them. Preston is a very good looking guy. Don't read too far into that, he was very attractive to me but I never did anything about it. Long ago, I convinced myself that I would always be alone, abandoned, forgotten. The only time Preston talked to me was closing time and if we were switching tables. I was pretty alright with that, I talked to him most out of everyone I've ever known. He's funny, extremely funny in fact.

 

I can tell that he loves to make people laugh. "Kayliegh, you dont smile enough." He told me at closing after a long hard day at work. After a second of silence he proceeded, "Even if it takes my whole life I'm going to make you smile a million smiles" The promise itself made me smile. Did I expect him to follow through?... Of course not.

 

A few months later after I locked up, he was waiting outside, car running. "Get in." He said. I hesitated looking toward my car for a second, then looking back at Preston. He bit his bottom lip nervously awaiting a reply. "Why should I?" I call.

"You owe me.... remember?" he says his voice evenly. I figure I've known him for almost a year a half now and I opened the passenger side door. As I got in, he had a smile from cheek to cheek. When he pulled out of the parking lot and started to pull onto main street. "So... tell me about yourself." He says smoothly. I pause, "I have absolutely no idea where to start." I say trying to not sound stupid. "Hmm.." He says with a smile, "start with your family." "Umm." Is all I manage to reply with. "You do have one... don't you?" he asks with a somber tone. "No... I don't. You?" I say trying to sound as if people asked that a lot. "What happened?" He asks entirely ignoring my question. "My mom didn't want me, I guess. I don't know, I've been in foster care my entire life." I answer sincerely. "Any pets?" he asks trying to lighten the mood. "Nope, so what about you?" I ask.

"I have a twin." he replies. "That's really cool." I say. "Nah, not really. Ma always liked him more." he says in a tone I've never heard him use. "What's his name?" I ask in a pity tone. "Porter...." He says with a hint of anger in his voice. I say nothing. "Know any good jokes?" He says hopeful. "Umm... What did the skeleton say to the other skeleton?" I start. "I don't know." He calls back. "It's over and he walks away." After a very long pause, "Did you find that on the back of a laffy taffy?" He teases. "More than likely." I laugh.

 

"Where are we going?" I ask as he looks in the mirrors and makes a lane change. "You'll see." he replies as he turned his blinker on. I only see a few buildings and a parking lot in the darkness. He pulls a key out of his ask tray and turns it, opening a parking garage. He pulls in and I see over 40 cars. We get to parking space 54, he parks turns off his engine and starts to get out, keys in hand. We walk down a poorly lit section of the garage. About 200 feet away there is an extremely bright gleaming door. We approach it and he puts a different key in the slit. He hits a button to call for an elevator. "So you brought me to your place?" I ask trying to make the silence a bit less awkward. "Yeah, me and my brother share an apartment. We call it the P.C." "Oh, personal computer... lovely." He turns my direction while stepping into the elevator laughing to himself. He smacks the 5 button making it glow and ugly yellow-orange color. "Won't Porter mind that I'm here?" I ask unsure. "Nah, he knows ur coming." he says like its nothing. "You told him I was coming?!" I say baffled. "well yeah, I had to make sure he was wearing a shirt when you came in." He said honestly. He shoves his key into the lock on the door and flings the door open in a swift move of his hand.