The bell rang loud and long, signifying the end of classes and the day. Kids burst into the hallway with ecstatic noises and wide smiles to be let out from the prison that students often saw as school.
Katherine, Maylin, Kyle, and William all walked down the hallway, Kyle ruffling William’s hair.
He pulled from Kyle, looking elated as he waved goodbye to Samantha Ashe. Samantha giggled, gripping her books, and joining her friends down a different hallway.
William had this lost look, as if pulled by a sweet lullaby while he wavered on the spot with a silly grin.
“She likes me,” he said in a melodic voice. “She really likes me. Thanks so much, Katherine.” He beamed at her.
Katherine nodded. The truth was the truth. “You did the work, William. If anyone’s to thank, it’s you.”
“Never doubt the masters, young disciple,” Maylin said.
“Just remember to take it slow, little bro,” Kyle said. “Women prefer gentlemen.”
“Which you are not,” Maylin said, sticking her tongue out at him.
Kyle winked at her. “You don’t know what you’re missing, but I do.”
Maylin rolled her eyes. “Whatever, playboy.” She slapped her hands together, her face lightning up with an idea, which usually led to devious things. “We need to celebrate.”
Kyle and William gave looks of agreement.
“Now you’re speaking my language,” Kyle said. “I mean, I enjoy our Noodle Fridays and all, but I’m down for a little extra.”
Maylin eyed Katherine, who had walked ahead of the group. “Katherine?”
Katherine tightened the straps on her backpack, taking a confident breath as she stiffened and turned. “I need to walk Abigail home, so I can’t wait.”
They caught up with her, Maylin letting her arms hang low in a slumping motion. “Oh, come on. Not that excuse.”
“It’s not an excuse. Abigail needs an escort home.”
Maylin let out a sigh. “Abigail will be fine walking on her own. It’s still daylight out.” Then an idea popped into Maylin’s mind, which was relayed on her lit-up face. “Hey, what if I ask Rekka to walk home with her? That way she won’t be alone.” Maylin didn’t even wait for Katherine’s response as she pulled out her phone and began taping her thumbs away in a frenzied motion as she cackled like some wicked witch. “And Rekka will be totally cool with that.”
Katherine spun to her, hands on hips, letting out her own sigh. She didn’t feel right about this, but she would be with Rekka, and since they were her friends, and because Maylin was so insistent, and Kyle and William looked so happy about today’s events, she caved. Crap. “Fine. I’ll join you.” Then lifted a stern finger. “But make sure Rekka goes with her.” She pulled out her phone and began to text Abigail. “Having two girls at the same age doesn’t equate to more maturity.”
“Okay, okay,” Maylin said, continuing to tap away on her phone with lightning finger movements, her thumbs whipping away, which was kind of her thing being the queen of social media and blogging. Moments later she raised her phone to show Katherine that Rekka, her little sister, had agreed to join Abigail.
Katherine texted Abigail herself:
Katherine: You know Rekka, right? Maylin’s little sister. She agreed to walk home with you. Be sure to stay together and get home before dark.
Like all the other times, she waited for her sister to reply. The three dots appeared with Abigail’s eventual response:
Abigail: That’s awesome, sis. Spending time with friends will be good for you. I’ll be home before dark, I promise ??. Rekka’s already with me, so please don’t worry and enjoy yourself.
Katherine let out a sigh, staring at her sister’s message. “It’s done.”
“Hooray,” Maylin said with a little jump and clapping of her hands over her head.
Katherine continued to stare at her phone, doubting her decision, a growing worry falling over her even though she tried her best to focus on the task at hand.
“Come on, then,” Maylin said, tugging her forward, Kyle and William following along. “We don’t have all day, let’s get to the party!”
When Katherine got home, she felt relief come over her as she saw Abigail on the couch.
Abigail gave her a look as if to say, what’s got you all worried? She regarded Katherine with a mischievous grin and signed, “Were you on a date?”
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Katherine’s mouth opened as she thought of Kyle, and things she shouldn’t be thinking, then went red and rigid. “N-no. I was with friends!” She clutched at the straps of her backpack.
“Okay”, Abigail signed back slowly with a roll of her eyes, looking as if she didn’t believe Katherine. “You can date your friends, can’t you?” Abigail lifted a remote to the TV, browsing through a list of horror movies on a streaming service.
“Definitely not!” Katherine said, suddenly worrying about her younger sister and things she might be curious about, perhaps wanting to do. She was close to being a teenager. Maybe Rekka was telling her stuff that she had learned from Maylin?
Abigail smiled in a childish manner, signing, “I’m just kidding, Katherine. Learn to lighten up, will you? Be more like Rekka, or Maylin. They know how to have fun.”
That really made Katherine worry. What did she mean by that? At the same time, how dare she sign that to her?
“I know how to have fun,” Katherine said, stomping a foot and clenching her fists.
Abigail let out a throaty noise that sounded like a laugh, her movements signifying a chuckle. She waved her hand in front of her as if to tell Katherine to stop being so funny.
Katherine puffed her cheeks out, feeling an agitation rise.
Abigail steadied herself, then signed, “It’s okay, Katherine. Even if you are rigid and uptight, I still love you.”
Katherine wanted to retaliate, but instead let out her own throaty growl which eventually warmed as she was happy to see Abigail in one piece. “I’m glad you made it home safe. Next time, I’ll walk you home.” She paused for a moment, seeing the choices of horror movies Abigail was scrolling through, looking around to see where their useless father was. Perhaps working late, perhaps already asleep. “You know, it’s a school night, and watching a horror movie is not a good idea. You’ll have nightmares.”
“Says the girl that’s easily scared,” Abigail signed while frowning. “You know, you’re not mom, so stop trying to be like her. “
Katherine felt her jaw tense. “I’m not trying to act like mom.” Why couldn’t Abigail see that she was just doing what was in Abigail’s best interest? “I’m just looking out for you, okay?”
“I’m 12 now, Katherine,” Abigail signed slapping her hands together for emphasis. “I’m not a child. I can take care of myself.”
“Says the girl who can’t even speak,” Katherine spat, feeling her defensiveness go overboard, realizing her mistake on the spot. “Whether you like it or not, I’m going to walk you home from now at, and that’s final.” Katherine folded her arms, feeling her authoritative energy shine through. Even if she was upset or disliked this, Abigail would submit, she had to. Katherine would be there to walk her home, even if Abigail was kicking and growling. It’s what she had to do to keep order, avoid chaos, and stick to what her mother had told her way back when.
Abigail simply glared at her, not saying anything, a little growl emitting in her throat as if she was an animal about to pounce. They held eyes on each other, neither of them making a move. “Fine,” Abigail signed with an angry emphasis. “Do what you want. I can’t stop you.” And then she turned back to the TV and selected a movie about vampires.
Katherine knew she had perhaps messed up, but also knew that saying anything more wouldn’t do anything, so she stomped down the hallway as Richard popped out of his bedroom.
“Hey, kiddo, how was school?”
“I’m not a kid, Richard,” she said, slamming the door to her bedroom behind her.
“Hmmm,” he said, rubbing his chin. “Note to self, don’t call her kiddo.”
He made his way to the living room and sat next to Abigail, leaning back and stretching his arms out.
“Vampires, huh?”
“Yep,” she signed while beaming. “Unless you want to watch that one about killer clowns?”
He smiled, adjusting himself. “How about something with a little magic in it?”
She selected the vampire movie, and signed, “Vampires are magical, well… supernatural.”
“Vampires it is,” he said, leaning over her and changing his voice to sound like Count Dracula. “I vant to suck yer blood, mwhahaha.” He tickled and wrestled around with her while she kicked and giggled and tried to break free.
He glanced back at the hallway as the movie began, then let out a sigh as he felt he had unfinished business.
“Hey, I’m going to go talk to Katherine for a moment, you can start without me. Oh, and would you like some popcorn?”
She nodded, then turned to the screen, pulling her legs to her chest and using the hoodie she was wearing as a little mini blanket.
A knock came at her door, and Katherine ignored it. Her dad peeked through, his voice low. “Hey, Kat, is everything all right?”
“Yes,” she said, frustration rising. Why was he so nosy? And why did he just barge into her room without an invite?
“I heard you went out with your friends. That’s nice.”
“I suppose. Is there something you want?” She knew he wanted to talk about something. She let out a sigh.
“What did you end up doing?”
“Why do you even care?” It was harsh, but she didn’t care about sounding harsh anymore. She meant it. If he really cared, he would have listened to her back then. Believed her. Time for that had long since passed.
The bed gave a little creek as Richard sat down, and she could almost sense a sad smile on his face. “I really need to talk to you about something.”
Here we go. She turned in her chair. “What is it?”
“You know, I’m here If you need to talk about… anything.”
She didn’t expect that, well not that exactly. She nodded. “I know.”
He glanced at the picture with Masako in it and frowned, fingers gliding across Katherine’s bedsheet. “It’s been so long since she’s been around and—”
“Don’t,” Katherine said, gripping the back of the chair. “Don’t say anything about mom, you have no right.” She practically barked the words, not meaning to, an anger rising in her for what he had done, the things he had lied about, but part of her knew that perhaps it wasn’t exactly what she thought. Still, he had no right to talk about her mother. “I don’t want to talk about her, not with you.” There was so much malice in her voice. Did she really hate him like that? What else could she feel? He had lied to her, and she knew he knew something more than he was letting on, so he had no right, and until that day, until he let her know the truth, she wouldn’t let him in.
He lingered for a moment, not sure what to say, adjusting his glasses.
The chiming of the microwaved beeped, and a smell of buttery popcorn filled the air. Katherine smirked. “Popcorn’s ready.”
He slowly rose and lingered in the doorway, one hand gripping the frame. “I just want you to know that you’ll always be my little princess. Anything you need, anything at all, I’ll be there for you.”
He shut the door slowly, and Katherine grabbed a book and threw it at the door. How dare he call her that. He hadn’t called her that since mom was alive. The bastard. Acting all kind and modest and caring. If he really cared, if he really was willing to do anything at all, he’d tell her the truth. If he really meant what he said, he’d tell her what happened to mom, how she was killed by a monster and that he believed her, believed what she saw, believed his little princess. Well, screw him.
She wiped tears away that she couldn’t control and fell on her bed, hugging a pillow to her chest as she cried.
