;:...Decompression.:.Period...:;
Kay took a deep breath and wiped the tears from her cheeks. She looked up into the rear view mirror as she sat in the back seat. This wasn't where she wanted to be -- she wanted to find her father. She knew he didn't do what they told her. He wouldn't have killed her mother, right?
She blinked and turned away as the social worker looked back towards her. She clenched her teeth and turned towards the window, watching the world pass her by. That day -- it was like yesterday, even though it was about a week ago.
She thought that day would have been the best day of her life. She went to a concert with Dom, her boyfriend, and everything seemed great. Everything was perfect… Until they drove up towards their house. Sirens were blasting into the dark silent night, lights flashing every which way. Her heart stopped and she jumped out of the car, running towards the house calling for both her mom and her dad. Please, tell me everything's okay, she can remember thinking.
She blinked, tearing herself away from that night. She didn't want to remember it. Any of it. They told her that her father was missing and that he was the Prime suspect in the murder of her mother. She never even knew how bad it was -- it had been a closed coffin funeral. In a way, it was a relief but she wanted to see those beautiful eyes one last time, those wonderful lips that used to kiss her goodnight. Why would something like this happen to her? To them? They were the perfect family, everyone thought. The perfect house, the perfect cars, the perfect lawn, the perfect kids and parents and perfect lives. What went wrong!
She gulped loudly as she felt the car come to a lazy stop. "Here we are." The social worker said, which insisted Kay call her Diane. Oh, fuck you. She didn't know her, so why would they be on a first name basis? Fuckers -- making her move into another house, with strangers in Detroit she might add. She wondered how these people were. Were they screwed in every way she could possibly fathom? Would they rape her? Molest her? Sell her off to slavery to do unconceivable acts? Who knew?
'Diane' seemed to think these people were the best in the world. The Mercers, she heard them say. She constantly ran the name over and over in her head, wondering if it would sound right with her name. Kari Dei Mercer; weird man. She stepped out of the car, slamming the piece of shit door behind her. In her hands, she held a few bags. Mostly her clothes, books and anything else she could carry. Lots of her stuff was still back at the house. Diane said that she could go back and get the stuff later.
That was the only good thing about this whole deal.
Kay wasn't that bad, she was actually beautiful. So was her personality before all of this happened. Her long, black curls fell to her shoulders with her pale almost porcelain-like skin. Her crystal blue eyes sparkled like the North Star, so bright in all its darkness. She used to be so happy, so filled with joy, but not now. She was overflowing with anger for the world and a bit of self-loathing. If she would have been there, if she would have been faster… Maybe it wouldn't have happened. Whatever did happen.
"Alright," Diane said. "Come on. It's time to meet your new family." She smiled so bright and started walking up towards the house.
Kay bit her lip. She couldn't help it - tears began to gather on the brim of her eyes burning at her. She took another deep breath, forcing them down and stepped forward bravely. She hoped these people weren't freaks. Please, God, no.
Bobby sighed, turning off the television of one of the biggest Hockey games of the season. Eh, fuck it. He could catch it later. This was more important. He tore himself from the warm comforting fabric of his chair and cracked his neck. "Angel, Jack… They're here."
He turned, fixed his shirt and headed towards the door just as a knock shot through the silence. He reached for the knob just as Jack and Angel came up to the doorway. He opened the door to see Diane and Kay, who had a not so impressed look on her face. He'd give her some slack, he'd heard about what happened.
"Mr. Mercer!" Diane smiled brightly, once again making Kay want to puke. She looked up to him and forced a smile. He didn't look like a freak, neither did the other two standing at the door with a dumbfounded look on their faces.
Bobby stepped towards her. Damn, he was tall. "Nice to meet you, Kari."
She looked down to his hand and dropped one of her bags. "It's Kay." She said, shaking his warm hand. She swallowed hard as they stepped inside. This place actually looked… cozy. A place where she would actually like to live, but she wasn't sure. Appearance could sure as hell be deceiving. She knew that. She was the Queen of Deceit.
"This is Jack, and this is Angel." Bobby said with a smile.
"Hi," she said. The cold expressions on her face making everything awkward. But she just couldn't help it. Today wasn't exactly her day, especially today.
As Diane pulled Bobby away from the rest of them, Jack stepped forward with a smile - a contagious one at that. "Here," he said. "Let us take your bags. I'm sure they're heavy. We'll take you to your room, okay?" She nodded sheepishly.
She looked into Jack's eyes, then over to Angel. They were… nice, polite and… What the hell? She followed them both up the creaking stairs and into a well-prepared room. "Thanks," she said, though cold it was meant to be a sincere thank you.
Jack and Angel nodded. "We'll let you to your uh-… Um, unpacking. If you need anything, we're just a call away. I'll give you the grand tour later, 'right?" Angel winked and closed the door behind the both of them, leaving Kay to her own devices.
As soon as they left, she walked over and locked the door tightly. She didn't trust them, not now… not yet. She didn't know if she ever would. She didn't like this place, but she knew she should. Even though she had to move away from everyone, this place seemed to be good. Why couldn't everything just be okay again?
She sighed and pulled her suitcase onto the bed, punching it wide open. The first thing she took out was a picture of her mother. It was a black and white picture, but she was still beautiful as always. She used to tell Kay about her teen years. She was a rocker, too and that's how she met her father - at a concert in Chicago. She was a dancer, and he was a guitarist. A match made in heaven. She could remember how her mother used to get all dreamy and captivated when she thought of those days, telling her how much she missed them; nostalgia all the way through.
She held the picture close as another tear swept down her cheek. "God, I miss you."
"Sign here," Diane said, gathering up the rest of the papers Bobby had signed. Damn, that was A LOT of signing. He thought his fingers were going to pop off and there was still more but he'd have to deal with that later.
"There." He said, giving her the last one as he threw down the pen.
"Thank you," she said, making sure each and every paper was perfectly straight and center. "There are a few things I need to speak with you about."
"Okay, shoot." He said.
"Her father, unfortunately, is still out there somewhere. The police are looking for him right now." Bobby couldn't help it, he hated these cops around here. They were all pigs. He didn't have very much confidence in them, that's why he thought he had an obligation to help this girl.
Bobby nodded, even though he was thinking differently. "I understand," he said. "If we have any problems, I'll be sure to call you." He stood and walked her out. "Have a good night!" He called out, waving as she drove away.
Phew, he thought. Now, for the hard part.
He looked over to see Angel and Jack on the couch watching the game. "Where's Jerry?"
"He said he'd be here in a few minutes. One of the kids are sick so he's helping Camille until they go to bed." Angel said with a sigh.
"Great." He said as he looked up towards her bedroom, Ma's old bedroom. It was the only one available and they had all agreed that it would be a good idea. There was a lingering need in the air without someone there and it bothered all of them. Plus, it would be good to have a girl in the family again. One to pick on, and protect of course. "Beat the hell out of him when he comes in, will 'ya?" He smiled as he headed upstairs.
He knocked on the door three times. "Can I come in?"
Kay looked over to the door, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. She walked over, unlocked it and walked back towards the bed. "Sure," she said.
Bobby smiled, noticing she had to unlock the door. Trust issues, much? He couldn't blame her, though. He stepped in, seeing that she had gotten most of her clothes unpacked and put away. "I hope this is enough for you. We can go get the rest of your stuff in a few days if you want to."
Kay nodded. "Okay."
"I, uh…" He paused. He stepped closer. "Do you want some dinner? I'm sure you're starving. What do you like? We can get anything, in celebration of your arrival?" He looked around, seeing a picture of her mother. He looked back to her, seeing her face a little pink from crying.
Kay didn't answer. She was too busy going through her things.
Bobby stepped closer. "Listen," he said. "You don't need to worry about your dad coming to-.."
"I'm not worried about my dad." She shot her eyes at him. "He didn't do anything; I know he didn't. None of you know him, he wouldn't do that to my mother." Her voice cracked. "He wouldn't." She repeated as she looked back down to her clothes. She clenched her fists, forcing herself to stay together. She wouldn't cry, not again and not in front of him.
Bobby's eyes scanned over her. "Okay," he said. "Well," he took a step back. "I know you're a bit… angry, and scared."
"I'm not scared!" She yelled, but the look on her face betrayed her as a tear ran down her cheek. She quickly reached up and wiped it away. "I'm fine. I'm really not hungry. I'm just going to go to bed."
Bobby didn't say anything for a moment. "Okay," he said. "I'll wake you up in the morning. Have a good rest, good night." He started out.
"Bobby," she called, wanting to say something but not knowing what to say. "Um… Goodnight." She swallowed hard and loud.
Bobby gave a smile. "Goodnight." He closed the door behind him and started down the stairs. It was going to take awhile for her to get used to things around here. He felt so sorry for her, but he was sure pity was the last thing she wanted and or needed. He would just give her some space for a couple of days, enough for her to get used to them at least, then they could work on everything else.