-The Next Morning-

I woke up to my alarm again at 5:30 AM ad put on some sweat pants, tank top, tennie shoes, grabbed my iPhone 4, the armband and headphones, put my hair up and went downstairs.

"Where are you going? Dad asked coming out of the kitchen with his coffee in hand, looks like he just came home from a run.

"It's Sunday, I'm going to run around the block for an hour or so." I said.

"And have to wait for you to catch up? I pass." I teased.

"I've been doing this longer than you have Kat, if anyone would have to wait, it would be me."

"Is that a challenge?"

"Would you go already, I have plans for the two of us and I need you back and ready by 8 okay?"

"Okay, see you in about an hour." I said walking out the door as i put my buds in and my iPod on.

I was running for about 45 minutes when a man wearing a cap, hiding his face, stepped out of a car and grabbed my arm as I passed by. I pulled my buds out and said, "Do you have a problem?"

"I wonder what would have to Katherine Burke if she wasn't able to play basketball again, do you?"

"Who's asking?" I asked as my heart raced, which never happened.

"Well, aren't you breathing a little fast. Going soft are we? I guess that's what happens when you find a boyfriend."

"Who are you?"

"I'm the voice on the other end of the phone Miss Burke. Tell me that you haven't forgotten?"

My heart started to race even faster, I was trying to think of a way out, but for the first time in my life, I started to doubt that there was a way. What is wrong with me? Maybe I have gone soft but I thought it was over, I thought my life would have become normal... Everything's going to be okay... Ain't that a lie in itself.

"Let's take a walk, shall we?" He said dragging me along with him.

"What do you want?"

"I want you to play my game Miss Burke, I was never done. I only just started."

"Play your game? What makes you think I'll just play your game?"

"It won't just be you, your father and Neal will be involved too."

"And it we don't."

"I know your mothers schedule inside out, need I say more?"

"No." I said getting the hint.

"Good, I'll text your father the details in a few months, after your recovery." He said pushing my in front of him and letting go of my arm.

"Recovery? Wait!"

But I was too late, he shot my right knee out and I fell on the concert screaming in agony. He raced back to his car and left just as my Dad walked out with his gun in hand. We were tow doors down from my house. Several minutes later the paramedics came and wrapped my knee to stop the bleeding, by the time I was in the ambulance I blacked out.

When I woke up I was in a hospital bed, with a cast on my right leg and didn't stop until the middle of my thigh. Mom said that I might have to go through physical therapy for my knee. Dad was at the Bureau waiting for some results to come back on the bullets that was found. Tim stopped by but I was asleep, when I awoke I saw that he left me a yellow rose, my favorite. He's been sending my text messages but I haven't read them. I don't want him involved in this if he doesn't have to be. Just when things seem to be going right in my life it seems to take a u-turn. It's like I'm not allowed to be happy...

My knee's pretty bad. So bad that I might be able to play basketball anymore... Doc. said that I might be walking with a limp for the rest of my life. Miracles are real, right? I mean... My life won't always be like this, right? Well, here comes the hard part... Waiting.

-End of the School Year-

As the last bell of the school year rang everyone rushed out of their classes and into their cars going to the beach, or pack for their summer vacation. Me? Well, Tim's helping me out to his car, I got my cast off about 3 months ago and I've been doing physical therapy for about 2 1/2 months but every now and the my knee decides to give out and I have to have someone behind me 24/7. I have a nice scar on the left side of my face, I hit the corner of the cabinet because my knee gave out as I was stepping over Satchmo.

Tim now knows what my life has been like the last 3 or 4 years, and trust me, it took awhile to get a response from him. He's been more protective than ever now. Which is sweet but I can't let him get in the middle of this. Good thing he'll be going to Florida in a couple weeks to visit his friends for the summer, but being Tim, he's not liking it, although he knows I'll be fine, or will try to be.

THis waiting game is killing me but it's a good thing that I have to wait, give me time too... Well, put my guard up, to a point. I'm basically back to myself but I won't really know until I'm put to the test.

It's dinner time, MOm just made spaghetti and Dad invited Neal over. As we were eating out meal Dad got a text message, I already know who it was from. I was our "orders." Mom went up stairs, she couldn't bare to hear what was going on.

"We each have something we're going to do. He'll text the details to each of us and when it needs to be done. WE are to tell nobody, not even each other, what we are doing, or El dies. Keep your phone close and the volume loud because we only get one chance to make this right without messing up, or she's dead." Dad said.

I couldn't help but shake my head and toss my fork across the table, "I'm not hungry anymore." I said getting up and walking to the patio as Neal tried to help me, "Don't, touch me. I know how to walk." Neal threw his hands up and took a step back as I opened the back door and shut it forcefully.

I sat on the ground of the patio, hiding from the window view as much as I could. Then my phone buzzed in my pocket, I took a deep breathe and checked it... It was only Tim. His ticket was changed and he's leaving tonight. He was just saying good bye. This is another waiting game, waiting for the phone to go off, do what this guy wants then give it to him where he wants it. I hate these games. I hate waiting... This is one game we can't afford to lose.