Freeing Katie

Ch.3 Friends?

It’s been three weeks since we’ve moved here, and we are still getting used to our family schedule.  Mom works between five and six days a week, working either 12 or 16 hour shifts, leaving me home to be with Jason.  She says it’ll slow down in a couple of months, once they have trained all their new hires.  I hope so, because I do want to get a job this summer if I can.

But it hasn’t been too terrible.  I actually like hanging out with my brother.  Jason and I have gone out a few times to see what’s around town.  With it being winter and all, we’ve only made it to the mall and the movies.  When the weather turns better, we can explore the park and some hiking trails.

School has been going alright- as much as school can go.  I’ve been spending my time catching up with my peers and I finally have had a couple of days where I don’t have to do homework.  It was pure bliss.

Chase has become a constant borrower of notes- mainly for English class.  I swear he acts like that subject is so painful, but it happens to be my favorite.  We don’t hang out, but we’ll say ‘hi’ in passing and sometimes talk in class.  He rarely stays at his house and sometimes even gets back home in the late hours of the night… not like I’m stalking him or anything.  I just hear his car pull up a few times when my nightmares wake me.

I still don’t have a confirmed opinion of him.  He’s sweet and nice to just about everyone, but I can see his playboy tendencies from time to time.  He is a flirt, but the times that I’ve seen him around the other girls, he can sometimes be a pig.  One time, a girl was hugging him as if she were his girlfriend, but then his gaze was leering on another not too far away- typical male.

I can’t be the only one to see these things, but that doesn’t stop girls from looking at him like he’s the last piece of chocolate cake.  He doesn’t seem like the commitment type, so how is that attractive to a girl?

I’m in second period for Science, bored out of my mind.  We had a substitute today, so everyone is basically doing their own thing. 

“Hey Katie.”  I look up from doodling, seeing Taylor and Brenna approaching me.  We were grouped for an experiment last week and worked well together- everyone doing the assignment instead of letting one take the brunt of the work.  I could tell they’ve been friends for a long time, but from appearances, they are complete opposites.  Taylor looks like a doll with thick blonde hair and big blue eyes, and not once have I not seen her in pants.  Brenna is more of that sophisticated chic type.  She keeps her natural curls in a cute pixie cut, and her lipstick is always a color that compliments her mocha skin perfectly.  Her outfits are always effortlessly simple, something that I envy.

“Hey guys,” I smile out.

They pull a desk closer to me and one sits on top while the other takes the seat.  “Have you picked a group yet?” Taylor asks, referring to a project we were just assigned to yesterday.

Seeing that I really don’t know anyone, Brenna beams.  “Well, you can be in ours.  Taylor and I were thinking about going to the movies right after school.  I don’t know how you feel about horror, but that new monster flick came out last Friday.  Wanna go?”

“Um.. sure?”  Her excitement to invite me is a little jarring.

“Don’t feel like you have to say yes.  Brenna can be a little much,” Taylor laughs as Brenna sends her a glare.

I smile, thinking that this is one of the reasons why we moved.  To have a fresh start and to make new friends.  “Yea, that sounds good actually.  Sorry, my company as of late has just been my 10-year-old brother.”

“Eesh, then you definitely need some girl time!  You drive to school, right?  Taylor and I do too.  I’d say, everyone drive home, and I can pick you up, then we head over to the theater!”

We spent the rest of class talking about the project and what we were going to do.  I was actually smiling without faking, and it was nice.  Coming out of class together, I see Chase walk by.  “Sup, Katie,” was all he says then continues the conversation with his friend. 

I just nod my head then look back to the girls.  Taylor has her mouth open.  “What?”

“You personally know Chase?  Taylor, close your mouth!”

“Um, yea.  He’s my neighbor.”

“Your neigh-… Katie, how could you keep this from us?” Brenna whisper yells.

I laugh as Taylor dreamily says ‘he’s so hot’.  “I didn’t know that was the type of information you needed Brenna, my bad.”

“I just like to look at him, Josh, and Nate,” Taylor sighs out.

“Now Nate, I can get down with,” Brenna laughs.  “But since you know Chase, we can get into all those parties he and his friends have.”

“Isn’t everyone invited?” I ask blandly.  I know I hear people yell out in the cafeteria about any party at least twice a week.

“Yes, but it’s awkward unless you know the people that throw it, or at least one of their good friends.  We are definitely going to be hanging at your house in the future!”  I roll my eyes playfully and we split ways for our classes. 

After school, we went to the movie together as planned, and I actually had a lot of fun hanging out with girls my age with no prior judgement or pity.  They tried to get more information out of me about Chase, but I had nothing to tell them.  They were really let down when I said we were just acquaintances, but I made them happy when I said I would try to see about a party in the future.

It was only 8pm when I got home, but it was a school night and I still had homework.  Walking through the door, I smile seeing my mom in her PJ’s and out of scrubs with my brother hanging off of her on the couch.

“Welcome home, sweetie.  Have fun?”

“I did,” I say, taking off my shoes.  “Saw a movie then went to Mexican for dinner.  They want to have a sleepover soon.”

My mom gives me that smile- one that says ‘I’m proud of you’ and it feels good.  I join them on the couch, snuggling next to mom with my brother on the other side, just for a few minutes.  By the time their show goes off, I go take a shower while mom puts Jason to bed, even though we both know he’ll probably be playing his video games for another two hours.  I pull my math homework out and go to the kitchen to work on a few problems.  Mom comes in and kisses me on the head as she pours us both some juice.

“School going okay?”

I stretch out my back.  “Yea.  Now that I’m finally caught up, it’s a lot easier.  How was your day off?”

“Perfect.  Slept all day while you were both at school.  Loved every minute of it.” 

We sit there quietly, and I look around the clean kitchen.  It’s not the prettiest, but it is ours.  My eyes land on the calendar, reminding me of an upcoming appointment with Dr. Kelly.  I feel mom’s gaze on me as I sigh out.  “Thanks for moving us mom.  I know you’re working hard an-“

“I moved here for all us.  Don’t think for a second that this is a burden on me.  I love my job, even if the hours suck right now.  It’s not permanent.”  She leans over and puts a hand on top of mine, always sending me her love.  “And I’m glad that you’re making friends, Katie.”

“So am I.”