Chapter 3: Moving Day
Katherine blinked her eyes hard. The bright sunlight from the new day was shining in from the window and into her eyes. She couldn't hold her eyes shut so she slowly opened them. The living room swam into view. Gah! Emptiness. She thought. She held her watch in front of her face. 7:30. She looked around the room. Her mom and dad must have already woken up, for the bed they were sleeping on was gone, and carefully stuffed into its box.
Katherine yawned and quickly pulled the blanket over her head as she saw her mother's feet appear.
"I saw that hon. Get up." She said chucking wearily. She sounded tired as though she had only woken up 20 minutes ago.
"No." Katherine groaned. She clung tightly onto her blanket as though she was a five-year-old holding on to a prized stuffed animal. Katherine thought that her mother was going to grab her blanket and pull it off of her, but she was wrong. Her mother didn't even touch the blanket.
"Come on Kasey! Greet the day!"
Katherine paid no attention and didn't move. Her mother's footsteps were now growing quieter as she left the room, soon to be back. Katherine heard her parents talking, then her mother sighing and her walking grew louder. She was back.
"Katherine!" She poked her unmoving daughter. "Katherine, I'm sick of this. Get up! You have to get up now!" She yelled impatiently above me. Katherine let out a small scream as her mother hit her butt.
"Okay!" Katherine sighed, pushing her blanket aside. "I'm up. I hope you are happy now."
"Yes. Thank you."
Katherine rolled her eyes at her.
"Don't you roll your eyes at me. Go get dressed right now."
Kasey slowly walked away thinking that her mother was being a bitch, and way to impatient with her. She slowly walked up the stairs to put an outfit on.
She put on a pair of tan pants, an orange tank top, a denim jean jacket, and a black leather chocker. She sighed and walked out of her room and into the empty bathroom to brush her hair. When she was finished, she put the brush in one of her large side pockets. She walked down the stairs to put her shoes on.
"What's for breakfast?" Katherine said, failing to stifle a yawn.
"McDonalds. Dad is out to get our orders. Then we will head off to the bus station. "
"Joy." Katherine muttered.
"Breakfast is here!" Katherine's fathers voice came from the other side of the door.
Her mother rushed over to open the door for her husband. He walked in with two bags with the familiar golden "M's" on the side. Katherine's mouth began to water. She needed that food. Katherine stared at her dad eagerly as he took out the hard Styrofoam food holders out of the bags. Mom got her McMuffin, and Katherine and her father got pancakes and sausages.
The family ate in silence, engaged in their own private thoughts. When they were finished, they threw their trash away, and almost immediately went outside and into the car. Katherine's parents told her that the mover men where going to pack the rest of their things, and her uncle would drive their car. She thought this was a crazy idea. She thought how come they just couldn't go in the car and her uncle ride the bus, but whatever they set their minds too...it was to be done.
They arrived at the bus station and Katherine immediately saw her uncle from the small crowd. He waved at them, and Katherine excitedly threw herself out of the car and bounded to her favorite uncle.
"Hey Uncle Randy!"
"Hey Kasey! What's up?"
"Nothing much."
"Are you excited?"
Katherine looked up at him. "Nope." She said simply.
He laughed. "Didn't think you would be."
"Hey brother. How's it going?" Katherine heard her father speak behind her.
Uncle Randy looked up into his twin brother's face. His face broke out into a wide grin. Katherine loved it when he smiled. She thought it made him look so much younger, and he wasn't even that old. He was about 32 years old.
"It's going all okay. Are you excited?"
"Sure am!" He said happily. "I'm sure we all are!"
Katherine hated when her father spoke for the whole family. He had no idea how everyone felt. Katherine was even sure he didn't exactly know how his wife felt about moving again. Even though she put on a happy face all the time, Katherine was sure she was exhausted from all the moving about. All Katherine could do now was to put on a fake smile while crossing her arms and mutter incoherently to herself.
The family went over to a bench and sat down to wait for the Greyhound bus. Katherine isolated herself from everyone and took to watching the other passengers waiting for the bus.
There was one guy who looked very tired. His skin was sagging off his face. He looked about 70, or older. He had a small bag with him. Another passenger was a middle aged woman holding a small sleeping infant in her arms. She was whispering to her child, and Katherine couldn't make out what she was saying. She had about 4 suitcases with her. And lastly, but certainly not least there was a young boy who had little luggage with him. He looked weary and sad. Katherine wanted to go over to this young handsome boy to try to cheer him up. She thought since she was going to be on this bus for 2 and half days, why not try to make a friend?
But just as Katherine started making her way over to him, the bus appeared. Everyone grabbed their bags and ambled over to the waiting bus.
Katherine and her parents quickly snatched their bags and placed them in the car that her uncle was going to drive, and ran over to the bus to board.
Her mother and father sat in a seat next to each other, and Katherine got the privilege to sit next to the boy.
Katherine turned to face him. "Hi."
He looked away from the window, to her face. "Hey." He answered smiling.
"I'm Katherine Rosewood."
"My name is Lucas."
Katherine smiled, but she couldn't help but wonder...Hello? Do you have a last name? She thought against asking him. Perhaps he didn't want anyone to know his full name.
"Where are you going?"
"Springwood, Ohio." He said unhappily.
"Me too." Katherine whispered. Lucas spun around in his seat to face her directly.
"Really? Good. At least I will have a friend."
The two new friends grinned at each other. Lucas's teeth were as white as milk. They were perfect. Just like the rest of him. His hair was colored straw blonde, and his eyes were a deep cerulean. Is he wearing contacts?
"Do you have contacts?"
"No." He said simply.
"So...those are your real eye color?"
Lucas smiled at her, apparently amused by her question. Katherine lowered her eyes in embarrassment.
"Stupid question. Sorry," She mumbled. "Hey! Are you going to visit anyone?"
"Nope."
"So...you are all by yourself?"
"Yes. I'm 18 years old now. I can be by myself." Said Lucas.
"I'm 16. Are you still in school?"
"My senior year. How about you?"
Katherine was starting to get worried. Lucas has a hint of tiredness in his voice, and she was hoping she wasn't annoying him.
"I'm in my junior year."
"Indeed." He said, with finality in his voice.
The two young people didn't talk again for quite awhile, but it wasn't awkward for Katherine. To her, it was comfortable sitting here, secretly watching Lucas fall asleep in the corner of her eye. And before she knew it, she was asleep too.
"Ms. Rosewood?"
"I don't know the damned answer!" Katherine blurted out, making Lucas jump in his seat.
"Excuse me?" He said nervously.
Katherine opened her eyes slowly. Lucas was starting to swim into view. She shook her head roughly to get the Math Class nightmare out of her head. How was she supposed to know what x and y was in that mile long equation?
"I'm sorry. I was dreaming." Katherine said apologetically.
"Obviously. It's okay. I was just waking you for lunch. Are you hungry Ms. Rosewood?"
"Kasey. Call me Kasey, or Katherine." She said dazedly.
"Alright. Will do." Lucas said.
Katherine quickly got up from her blue leather bus seat to let Lucas out of his own spot. They left the bus together. Katherine was looking forward to introducing him to her parents.
"Would you like to meet my parents, Lucas?"
Lucas thought for a moment, blankly staring off into space. Then he nodded. "I would like that." He finally answered.
Katherine thought she was falling into love with Lucas. He was so polite! He wasn't like the other boys you would run into. Old-fashioned parents must have raised him, and even though Katherine didn't like to be raised the old-fashioned way, she was grateful for his parents.
They walked up to Katherine's waiting parents. They both had a look of wonder on their face, because of Lucas. As soon as they got close enough, Katherine's parents smiled politely at Lucas. Katherine could tell what they were probably thinking though. Oh boy, here's another boy she has brought us. He's probably a druggie, or worse. But if her parents were thinking this, their opinions were about to change.
"Mom, Dad, this is my new friend Lucas. He is going to Springwood too."
"Hello Lucas. It's nice to meet you. My name is Joshua." Her Dad said. And they shook hands. Good so far.
"Hi Lucas. I'm Cathy." She shook his hand also. Even better. Katherine thought.
"It is very nice to meet you both. Your daughter is a nice person to be friends with." Lucas said politely.
Katherine's parent's eyes shone with acceptance. Katherine could tell her parents simply loved Lucas! They probably wanted to adopt him now.
"Why thank you Lucas." Mom said exchanging glances with her husband. "Would you like to eat lunch with us?"
Lucas nodded. "Yes, I would. Thank you."
The walked into Subway and ordered their food. Dad offered to pay for Lucas, but he wouldn't know of it. When they sat down, the talking immediately started. Of course the subject was about Lucas. And he looked embarrassed to only be talking of himself. He even tried to change the subject a few times, but he never succeeded, so he gave up.
During the talk, Katherine learned more things about Lucas. His whole name was Lucas Stephan Kinderson. His birthday is February 4, 1986. His birthplace is Torrance, California, and he is the only child in his family.
Then Katherine's parents had the nerve of showing him her baby pictures! Katherine was furious! She turned red and slumped down in her seat, hiding from existence for a while. There were the pictures where Katherine was naked, throwing a fit, or drooling all over herself! Lucas seemed to like them though. His favorite seemed to be the ones when she was just sleeping or smiling. Nice boy.
The passengers finally got back onto the bus, and they headed off again. They stopped for dinner at Burger King. There was nothing really going on here. No one had much to say, for they were all talked out.
Once again, after 45 minutes, everyone got back on the bus, and off they went again. Katherine was surprised to find out the bus driver wouldn't stop driving...even at midnight!
Katherine woke up to find her head resting on Lucas's shoulder. He was awake blankly running his hand through Katherine's hair. When he saw that Katherine was awake, he immediately took his hand away from her head. "Hello Kasey." He whispered.
"Hey." Katherine whispered back. She turned around to see that both of her parents and the rest of the passengers were asleep. They were the only ones awake, and the bus driver too.
"How come you are still awake?" She asked.
"I don't sleep a lot. I love staying up and just thinking. Sorry if I woke you, playing with your hair."
"No. You're fine. I love it when people play with my hair. It feels good." Katherine decided she would flirt a little, so she moved closer to him and held on to his arm. Lucas looked at her strangely for just a second, then smiled.
"The sky is pretty tonight."
"Yes it is." Lucas agreed.
Katherine let her head fall onto Lucas's shoulder once more. She felt her eyelids start to get heavy, and she couldn't keep them open, so she closed them. Katherine felt Lucas start to pet her hair again, and she smiled, falling asleep, thinking that Lucas was too good to be true.