Kat knew she was in trouble as she climbed over the balcony railing to get into her room. The rose vines her father had put in the year before were starting to come in handy. It would be impossible to climb up that high without them.

It had been a little over two years since they had came to live at whipstaff. She was fifteen and was turning into a handful. Her father had been able to start back in practice again. Once he saw his wife was happy in heaven he was able to start his life over again.

She had fallen in love with boy named Chris a few months ago. The first time her father met him he banned her from seeing him.

He was a rebel to say the least. He was only seventeen and he already drank and smoked cigarettes. He didn't talk about his family much but Kat could tell it wasn't a good home. Something about him just called to her.

What is it about good girls wanting the bad guys?

She hadn't liked the idea of sneaking out to be with him but she didn't have much of a choice. Her father didn't like him and there was no way she was going to give him up. He would hold her in his arms for the longest time just kissing her. While their relationship was mostly physical she had convinced herself that Chris loved her very much.

Kat shook the thoughts from her head as she gazed at her bed. Well, her and Casper's bed. Casper was sleeping curled up at the foot of the bed. She had gotten used to sharing her room with Casper right away but sometimes she wished she had her own room. Sometimes a girl just needed to be on her own.

She sighed. Casper had no idea she was sneaking around with Chris. She knew he wouldn't like it. It would really hurt his feelings to know she was seeing someone and the lying would make him mad. She knew that Casper loved her. She loved him as well but there was only so far her relationship with Casper could go. She needed more.

"What you thinking about tuts?" came Stretch's voice.

That made Kat jump. Her eyes darted around the room looking for him. He was sitting in a chair in the corner of the room.

"What are you doing in here?" she hissed.

"Just waiting for you to come home," he said looking at what would be his fingernails.

"You knew I was gone?" she questioned in a scared voice.

"I've known what you were up to from the start," he said getting up from the chair.

"Are you going to tell my dad?" she asked.

"No," he said as he walked towards her. "I think it would kill the guy if he found out what his little kitten was up to."

Kat didn't say anything. She was frozen in terror. Did he know everything that had been going on?

"Oh yes kitty-kat," he said placing a hand on shoulder. "The first couple of times I noticed you were gone I followed you. I couldn't believe that perfect little Kat was acting out. If your father knew what you were doing with that boy it would kill him for sure."

Kat closed her eyes tight not wanting to look at him. If her father knew she had lost her virginity in the back seat of a car it would break his heart. She had always imagined that her first time would be more romantic than it was. She hadn't really wanted to do it but Chris really wanted her to do it.

"Don't worry," he said patting her shoulder. "I won't tell him. Though, I must warn. Secrets don't stay secrets very long. They always find a way of getting out."

When Kat opened her eyes again he was gone. She knew he was right but she wasn't ready to admit it.