Chapter 12
Song: Fall to Pieces by Avril Lavigne
"Rise and shine, Sassafras," a voice called.
Kate's eyes fluttered open to see James, Libby, Michael, Tom, and Lindsey standing around her bed.
"What…" she yawned. "What are you guys doing here?" she asked sleepily.
"They closed school today," Libby replied. "Something about too many trees in the road for the buses to run. So we decided to come visit for the day, since yesterday was such a bust."
Kate gulped and tried not to let the anger and hurt she had experienced the day before show. James obviously hadn't told them what he had prevented the day before. She was grateful for that. The last thing she wanted was Lindsey telling her parents, and Tom flipping ou,t and Libby going all shrink-like. She quickly composed herself and shot James a silent thank you look. He grinned back.
"Well, make yourselves comfortable," she said, smiling.
They had been talking for a while when James remembered something he had seen when he was searching for Kate the day before.
"Hey Freckles," he began. "You savin' those bottles of coke for anything special?"
"No," she answered slowly. "Why?"
"How 'bout we play a little game then?" he looked around to see the murmurs of consent and Kate shrugged. He pulled out the sodas handed one to each person.
"What are we playing?" asked Lindsey curiously.
"Well cupcake, we're gonna play a little game of 'I Never,'" he replied.
"How do you play?" Libby asked, ignoring a groan from Michael.
"It's simple enough," he said, sitting back down. "We go around the room and everybody says something they've never done. If you have, then you drink." He grinned as they all glanced at each other and shrugged. "I'll start. I never been to Disneyland."
Libby, Michael, Tom, and Lindsey looked at him surprised, but each took a small drink.
"Okay Libby, your turn," James said.
"Um…I never…rode a train," she said after a moment.
Kate, Michael, and James all took a drink, James grinning at the memory of his train ride.
"I guess I'm next," Michael said. "I never flew on a plane."
Lindsey took a small drink. "My parents have to travel a lot," she explained. "Your turn, Tom."
Tom thought for a moment. "I never…tipped a cow."
Michael and James looked at each other and burst out laughing. "Long story," Michael said after they had both calmed down and taken a drink.
"Yeah," James agreed. He turned to Tom. "You need to live a little sport."
Tom frowned, but Lindsey giggled and took her turn. "I never went bungee jumping."
Nobody drank.
"Well, it's all I could think of," she said embarrassed.
"That's alright, it was a good one," Kate reassured her cousin. "I never…" Kate grinned. "I never pulled the school fire alarm."
James took a drink, grinning, while Tom scowled at her "It was only because you dared me to."
"Doesn't change the fact that you pulled it and got suspended for three days," Kate retorted playfully.
"Well then, nice one Tommy-boy," James said, a hint of admiration creeping into his voice. "Mine only got me two days."
"It was in the middle of a thunderstorm," Tom sighed, grinning ever so slightly at the memory.
They all laughed.
"Well, that makes more sense," James said. "Let's see…I never rode a roller coaster."
Everyone took a drink. "That's just sad," Kate said.
"What can I say Freckles, I guess I'm just a roller coaster kind of guy," he grinned and she rolled her eyes.
"Okay, I got one," Libby said suddenly. "I never got chased by the police."
James and Michael both took a large gulp. "We gotta drink for every one," James said when Kate looked at him curiously.
Michael lit up, a mischievous look on his face. He glanced at James. "I think you'll like this one. I never kissed a guy."
Kate, Lindsey, and Libby all took a drink while James' grin disappeared and he took a small sip. "How'd you find out about that?"
"Belinda," Michael replied, while the rest of the group looked at him in utter disbelief.
"Should'a known," he muttered, avoiding Kate's eyes.
"So, are you going to tell us what happened?" Kate asked finally.
James glanced up at her and saw her pleading puppy dog look that he couldn't refuse. He sighed. "A couple of years ago, I went to this auto exhibition in Nashville with some of the guys from my auto-shop class. Afterward, there was a party, and Belinda decided to tag along with us. While we were there, she bet me fifty bucks that I couldn't walk up to any girl in the place and kiss them without getting slapped. I took the bet and she picked out the lucky gal. She had long hair and had on a pink shirt. She was surrounded by a big group of other girls, but I thought it was no big deal. So I went up, put my arm around her waist, and kissed her. Only problem was, the so-called 'chick' was a guy. Belinda went into hysterics and the guy was about to deck me when she came over and explained herself. And I gotta say," he finished. "That was the easiest fifty bucks I ever earned."
The rest of them sat in silence for a moment, then collapsed into fits of laughter.
About twenty minutes later, after they had all calmed down, Libby spoke.
"Well, I can't really top that, so I'll just go with something easy. I never…" she thought for a moment. "Went stag to a dance."
Nobody drank so Kate continued quickly.
"I never went to a dance."
Lindsey, Tom, Michael, and Libby all drank.
"I'm not much of the dancin' type either sweetheart," James said in response to Kate's unanswered question.
James thought for a second. "I never…went to a zoo," he finished lamely.
"Not event the dinky little petting zoos every kid goes to when they're, like, eight?" Lindsey asked as they all drank.
James' face hardened for an instant, then relaxed. "Nope," he answered. "Not even one of those."
"Wow," Tom said cynically. "You need to live a little Cowboy."
James shot Tom a fierce look. "Sorry, but I'd rather eat a hamburger than pet a live one."
Kate tried not to laugh as Tom and James glared at each other.
"Calm down you two," Libby said dryly. "Let's keep playing."
The game continued on, revealing more and more secrets about long forgotten pasts. James admitted to trying marijuana cigarettes, but said they tasted about as good as a tree frog dipped in ranch dressing, and Tom revealed that he had once gotten drunk and showed up at one in the morning outside Lindsey's window singing 'Thriller' by Michael Jackson, a story that left them all in tears of laughter.
After a while, when Lindsey was good and hyper – Kate had forgotten what caffeine did to her younger cousin – it was Lindsey's turn again.
She thought for a moment, then giggled. "I've never been, you know - forced."
Michael, Libby, and Tom looked at her strangely and rolled their eyes.
"That was kinda stupid Lins," Tom said, glancing around the room. He froze when he saw James staring at Kate with a horrified expression on his face.
"What happened?" James growled softly.
Michael, Lindsey and Libby turned to see Tom and James staring at Kate, whose eyes were cast downward as a hard grimace came across her face.
"It was the morning I stayed home because I didn't want to have my pictures made," she said, shame finally overtaking her anger. "You came up to make sure I was okay and he came in drunk and had a gun. After he knocked you out, he …" she trailed off. "I didn't have a choice," she whispered tearfully.
Libby came up and pulled her into a tight hug while Kate cried on her shoulder. "Shh…It's okay. We won't ever let that bstard touch you again." Libby's voice was calm, but her eyes flashed with hidden anger.
"Kate," Tom said hoarsely. "You told me he never touched you."
"I didn't want to worry you guys," she choked out, realizing just how stupid an excuse it really was.
"You didn't want to worry us?" Tom exploded. "We're your friends Kate! We're already worried about you! The least you can do is tell us the truth! Instead, you lied to us. You lied to me, Kate!"
"Well I'm sorry I don't feel the need to share every detail of my life with you, Tom!" Kate yelled back, her voice hoarse.
"Tom!" Lindsey exclaimed. "What are you thinking? Don't yell at her. It's not her fault."
Tom threw one last hurt glance back at Kate, then stormed out of the room. After a second, Lindsey followed, frustration and anger quickly replacing her hyper energy.
Libby looked on as Kate dried her eyes and hugged her one last time. She glanced over at James and could tell that he really wanted to talk to Kate alone. "We'll come back tomorrow okay?"
Kate nodded and took a deep breath to calm down and help regain control of her anger.
Libby took Michael's hand and led him out of the room.
Kate turned back to see James sitting down with his head in his hands.
"Why didn't you tell me Kate?" he asked softly.
"I didn't want you to feel guilty," she replied after a minute. "I didn't want you to feel like you could have done something to prevent it from happening. Wayne was…determined to get what he wanted and nothing was going to stand in his way."
James got up and came to stand beside her bed. "Kate, I promise, I will never let anything like that happen to you ever again."
Kate looked up at him and smiled sadly. "I know."
Tom stormed down the hallway and stood waiting for the elevator. 'How the hll could I have let this happen?' he asked himself, slamming his fist against the wall. 'I promised myself I would always be there to protect her.' The elevator dinged and he stepped inside. Just as the doors were closing, someone else stepped inside.
"What the heck's your problem Tom?" Lindsey all but yelled. "She spills a secret that could rip her life to shreds, and you yell at her!"
"I made a promise to myself," Tom said slowly. "I promised to protect her, and I didn't. That bstard hurt her and I let it happen."
Lindsey came up and held his arm. "Tom, there was no way you could have stopped him. Didn't you listen? The jerk knocked out James who is twice your size. He could have killed you if you had tried to get in the way."
Tom's face hardened when he heard James' name. "That wouldn't have stopped me."
They reached the lobby and exited the elevator. Tom spotted Diane walking towards them and was trying to think of an excuse to ditch Lindsey when she sighed.
"I've got to go. I promised my parents I would come find one of them when I was ready to go. I'll see you later Tom." She leaned up and kissed him and then walked off.
"Bye," he called after her. When she was gone, he quickly went over to Diane. "Hello Mrs. Kerry."
She turned. "Oh, hello Tom. I don't suppose you could tell me what room Kate is in. I can't seem to remember." She looked a little disoriented.
"Of course. She's in room 416. In fact, why don't I go up there with you?" Tom had an idea and this opportunity was too good to pass up.
"Oh, you don't have to do that. I can certainly find it on my own," she said as she waited for the elevator.
"It's no problem. I'm not in any hurry." The bell dinged and they stepped inside.
Libby and Michael stepped out of the stairwell just in time to see Tom follow Kate's mom into the elevator. 'I wonder what he's up to.' Libby thought to herself.
"You know Mrs. Kerry, I'm really worried about Kate," Tom said as the doors shut.
"I have been too. I'm very glad she's being released on Monday," Diane replied.
"Yeah but it's not just that. You know that guy she's been hanging out with, James?"
Diane nodded.
"Well, I've heard some pretty bad stuff about him. He's not exactly the type of person that promotes good values. I think he might be having a bad influence on Kate." Tom paused and looked concerned while Diane processed this information. "And," he added hesitantly, "He was the one driving when they crashed."
"Hmm…thank you for telling me that Tom," Diane said slowly. "Kate and I will have to have a little conversation about him."
"Oh, Mrs. Kerry, please don't mention me," Tom said, his nervous feelings becoming real. "She would be so embarrassed to find out that we're trying to protect her."
"Don't worry Tom," Diane said as the doors opened. "I'll make sure your name doesn't come up."
"Thanks."
"Not a problem. It was nice seeing you again, Tom," said Diane as she started down the hallway.
"You too Mrs. Kerry," Tom replied as the doors shut.
The innocent look he had put on for Diane slid off his face to reveal a malevolent grin. 'That should take care of that little problem.' Tom thought. He grinned wickedly as the elevator went down once again.
Diane walked down the hallway and opened the door to Kate's room to find James hugging Kate.
"Mom, I didn't expect to see you again so soon," Kate said surprised, as James released her.
"Wayne had to go to Memphis for a business meeting and won't be back until late tomorrow night," she said as she sat down.
"I'll see you later Kate," James said, stepping towards the door.
"Okay, bye," she said as he exited and the door swung shut.
"How are you sweetie?" Diane asked Kate.
"I'm good, mom," Kate replied.
They talked for a little while and finally her mom stood up.
"Well honey, I'd better go. I'll see you on Monday when we come to pick you up," Diane said.
"Bye mom," Kate said, relaxing for the first time since Diane had entered the room.
"Oh, Kate," Diane said, pausing as she exited the room. "I really don't want you to see that James boy anymore. He's not good for you."
"But mom-" Kate began.
"Don't argue with me, Kate. I know what is best for you and hanging around with him is not it." Diane left the room.
Kate sat shell-shocked. What was she going to do now?
