Kat's house slowly came into view as the red sedan rounded the corner. The familiar chipped white painted brick, broken grey shutters that hung crooked, and Sean and Steve's Mustangs; birthday presents from their father, before he passed away, were parked out front.
A tall, broad male figure was pacing the front lawn. It was Steve. Kat smiled, seeing his drawn face and his arms crossed tightly in front of his chest anxiously awaiting her arrival. That was just like him. She felt a warmth rising in his chest. She couldn't wait to see her brothers again. But quickly, this emotion was overshadowed by a flash of bitter resentment for leaving her there for so long.
Steve's head jerked in the direction of the road. He met the car as it rolled up to the house. Timing it perfectly. Kat's door opened and Steve put out his hand.
"Kat! I'm so glad you're finally home! Here, where is your suit-..."
She felt her face burn. Kat wrenched to her feet pushing past him. Angerly dragged her suitcase behind her, digging her nails into the handle. Her teeth clenched.
Steve stopped mid-sentence, his mouth dropped and flashed her a bewildered look.
Kat scowled, and without a she marched across the front lawn and straight into the house, letting the front door slam behind her. She was absolutely not going to let him help. There was no excuse for waiting three months to be brought home and he was going to know it.
"Kat, hey!" Sean jumped to his feet. Kat stormed past him and Scott in the living room. He looked as if he'd been waiting inside to welcome her home. But Sean, the one who started all of this mess. She was just supposed to say hello, as if she were just on a pleasant three month vacation? No way! She bolted up the stairs. She was so angry her hands shook.
It was a long grueling two hour ride from some hickville town in rural Pennsylvania and she was exhausted.
Kat pressed her feet into her fluffy purple bedroom carpet. She released her grip, dropping her suitcase on the floor inside the door. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath of the familiar smells of her room.
Steve's voice floated up the stairs, asking where she was, snapping her into consciousness. His footsteps thundered up the staircase. Kat turned as he reached the landing. Predictable Steve, rushing to check up on them, making sure everyone was ok. She would have been better if she were home three months ago.
"Hey kitten." He said softly as he stepped cautiously toward the entryway to her bedroom. The only time he used that nickname was when he felt guilty. She avoided his caring brown eyes, knowing she would lose her anger for him and that was not going to happen, not yet.
"Hi." She gave a short greeting and grimace.
"How are you?" Steve gave her a warm smile and wrapped his sturdy arms around her shoulders. His arms were much bigger and stronger than when he left months ago. He had obviously gotten bigger from working out at football training camp at college.
"I'm tired." Kat said with arrogance. She pulled her shoulders away from him, walked to her bed and dropped on the edge, leaving Steve at her doorway. Another blatant attempt to show her frustration.
He stood with a blank face. Which made no sense. Where was he? And where was her mom? How was she getting off scott-free with no responsibilities to her children? Her anger was boiling over.
"Did they tell you about me?"
"Yeah. You're in charge."
"Did you want to ask me anything?"
"No." What was there to know. Steve was officially in charge now. Taking us in as official guardian. But at least things would fall back to the way they were before he went to college, which was fine. But he better apologize.
"Mom's moved out, so I moved into her room. Are you ok with that?"
"I don't care." Kat snapped. Who cared where he slept? No one cared where she slept for three months.
"Ok. I'll be downstairs if you need anything. Get some rest." He gave an awkward pause, then spun around, heading back down the stairs. She would deal with him later. Truth was she more than tired, she truly was exhausted.
Kat fell back on her bed. The mattress felt exactly the same as when she left three months ago. She fanned her arms out feeling the soft comforter. She found the one plastic thread that had unraveled last year when it got caught in Dee's jacket. She twisted the thread between her fingers.
Dee, her best friend, had started high school without her. They had so many plans together for high school: starting the first day together, parties, boys, clothes. She wondered how Dee faired without her.
Kat rested her head on her rainbow print pillow, propped her throbbing arm on a spare pillow and let her exhaustion overtake her. She hadn't realized how tired she was until she was back in her own bed. The last three months were tough, living at a strangers house, under their rules, with bullying boys. Next, to fix her life, back to normal.
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