The next morning Kari watched Tai grab his soccer gear and his backpack. "I could wait you know. I could walk you to school." Tai said and Kari quickly waved her hands in front of her face. "Don't be ridiculous Tai. He's sleeping. I'll be out of here soon enough. Go to practice." Kari could see her brother hesitate but then to her relief, he nodded and said his goodbyes. She watched him leave and felt better that he was on his way to soccer. She would hate to see him fall behind in sports and school just because he was worried about her. Kari looked out onto the balcony and saw her mom hanging clothes on the line. She smiled hoping today would be peaceful. She got up to put her dishes in the sink. She then heard a bedroom door open and turned to see her father coming out from his room. "What the hell are you looking at?" He asked hoarsely. Kari quickly looked down. Any peace she felt had evaporated with the appearance of her father. "Where's your brother?" Her father demanded and Kari quickly squeaked out a reply, "practice." Her father stared at her and she felt her heart rate increase. "You know he doesn't really care about you." Kari frowned. Her father continued and took a step towards her. "He cried when we told him we were having another child. He didn't want you here." Kari tried to keep her face neutral. She didn't want to show fear. "He hated you." She knew in her heart, her dad was lying. She hung onto the truth with an iron grip and stood tall. "I should get to school." She mumbled and she went to move past her dad. That was when she was suddenly shoved to the floor. She landed on her stomach and was in shock that her dad had just pushed her. "He's not always gonna be around to protect you. You're weak." He then kicked her and Kari let out a pained cry. She could hear the sliding door open and her mother yelling but Kari was clutching her stomach in pain. She then shuffled her way along the floor but then screamed out when her father stepped on her hand. She saw her mother push her father but then her father grabbed her mother forcefully. Kari quickly clutched her injured hand to her chest and slowly sat up. Her fathers face was inches from her mothers and he was saying something. She couldn't hear what it was though, her own heart pumping in her chest and the pain from her stomach and her hand coursing through her. Her father then pushed her mother back and walked away. Kari whimpered and hoped her mom would come to comfort her. Her mother turned to face Kari and Kari could see her face was drained. "You shouldn't have made him mad." She whispered and then she turned and went back out onto the balcony. Kari started to cry while she sat on the floor alone. She wanted comfort, she wanted Tai. She shakily got to her feet and went over to her room. She used her good hand and grabbed her phone. She dialled Tai's number and then stopped. He was at practice. He needed to practice. She lowered her phone and stood still. She wanted to call him. But then, she didn't want to interrupt him. He was in his final year of school. He should be selfish and focusing on his own life. She wiped her cheeks and put her phone in her bag. She then put her bag over her shoulder and walked to the front door. Her hand hurt more than her stomach and she took a minute to look at her hand. It was red and blue and she just hoped nothing was broken. She tried to curl her fingers into a fist. She winced and stopped leaving her hand open. She shook off the tears that threatened to fall and put her shoes on. She then opened the door and left for school.
Kari arrived at school early. She put her bag in her locker and then headed to her classroom. It was empty. She sat in her desk and stared at her hands. Her injured hand was still throbbing. She gently placed her good hand on top of her injured hand and felt the cool touch slowly ease some of the pain. "Kari?" Kari turned her head and saw TK standing in the doorway. She quickly sat up straighter. "Oh hey TK." She forced a smile and TK walked over to her. "What are you doing here so early?" Kari moved to lean an elbow on her desk leaving her hurt hand on her lap. "I was gonna get some work done. What about you?" She asked and TK now stood right next to her desk. He looked down at her, "basketball practice. We finished early." Kari nodded and TK tilted his head to the side. "You okay?" Kari smiled and opened her mouth to lie. She stopped and decided on a different tactic. "Uhmm, yeah I kind of hurt my hand." TK raised an eyebrow, "how?" Kari then shrugged her shoulders and brought her injured hand from her lap to the top of her desk. "I caught it in the door." TK went wide eyed and gently grabbed her hand "Jeeze Kari. It looks like someone stomped on it." Kari flinched but tried to remain neutral. "You okay?" TK asked while he inspected her hand gingerly. "Just embarrassed." Kari lied and TK sighed. "Come with me." He said and Kari allowed him to pull her to her feet and then walk her over to the sink. TK let go of her hand and turned on the tap while Kari watched him. "You don't have to do this you know..." TK smirked and shook his head, "let me help you Kari." Kari smiled and nodded. TK soaked a dry paper towel under the tap and then turned off the water. He then gently wrapped the now wet paper towel around Kari's hand. She flinched at the cool water but then felt it sooth the pain. "Thank you." Kari whispered as TK finished wrapping the paper towel and gently returned Kari's hand. She pulled it close to her chest and then she felt tears threaten to fall. TK was being so nice and gentle to her. She couldn't understand how she had managed to secure a friend like him. TK noticed Kari's face change and he got a worried look in his eyes, "You okay?" He asked and he started to rub her arms. Kari nodded hoping the tears wouldn't fall. "Sorry TK. I just want to say thank you for looking after me." TK nodded and then Kari hugged him. She had been craving a caring touch ever since her dad pushed her. TK wrapped his arms around her and Kari melted into him. She didn't want to ever leave the warmth of TK. She felt safe. "Kari? Is there something you're not telling me?" TK whispered and Kari froze. She wanted to tell him. She closed her eyes and forced her head to shake. "No, I'm just really happy you're here." She said lamely. She felt TK nod his head against her own. She squeezed him tighter and he returned the embrace. To her disappointment, TK then slowly released his hold on her. He stepped back just enough to look at Kari. His hands still stayed on her and she was grateful for the contact. "You sure that's all?" He asked and Kari nodded and wiped her nose, "I'm sorry I'm so emotional." She whispered and TK smiled. "I'm here." Kari then stared into his eyes. "I know." She replied softly and TK did something he had never done before. He placed his forehead against her own and the two friends stood together in silence. Kari felt closer to TK than she ever had and felt her body tremble slightly. She didn't want to keep things from him. She didn't want to hurt him. So she took it a step further and kissed his cheek. She slowly pulled away and the two teens were frozen. Kari looked at her shoes and then forced some space between the two of them. TK stared at her. He looked like he wanted to say something. He took a step forward. "TK there you are! I was wondering if you had done the notes on the book report?" TK and Kari quickly separated and Kari looked at her shoes while TK looked at the student entering the classroom. "Hey Damien. Uhh yeah I may have." TK said and he started to walk away from Kari. "Hey Kari didn't see you there." Damien greeted and Kari turned and smiled, "hey Damien." She said sweetly and she made eye contact with TK who looked back at her a moment. "Kari let me know if your hand keeps hurting." Kari nodded suddenly remembering her throbbing hand. She held it against her chest and moved to her desk. Damien and TK left the classroom and Kari squeezed her eyes shut, What on earth am I going to do? She thought and she sat down at her desk wondering what she was gonna do next.