Chapter 2

Right after I agreed to go Juliana ran as fast as she could to tell mom. I regretted this before she even made it to the house. But what could I do she was my sister, and I loved her. I mean what was I suppose to do be mean sister and shout no? I guess it wont be that bad…, nope, now that I think about it its going to be awful. After she got in the house and I assume told my mother, I started walking toward the house.

When I finally reached the house I hesitated before opening the door. I took a deep breath and went in. When I walked through the door my mom came running came to kiss me and thanking me for being nice and agreeing to go. She told me I wouldn't regret it. But o knew I would, but of course for my sisters sake I didn't say anything just smiled and moved on. For some reason my mom was going a little over board on this, so what I'm going dads for the summer. I don't know what the big deal is, its not like anyone's dieing right. I laughed to myself.

When I got to my room I shut the door and went to the bathroom. I had no clue what I had just gotten myself into. I just kept saying to myself "can I do this, can I really face my father, the man who pretty much ruined my life." I started to run the shower, jumped in real quick and got back out. I began getting ready for bed I brushed my teeth, put up my hair and got in the bed. Although I wasn't going to sleep I closed my eyes and thought some more.

When I got bored with thinking really not wanting to think about all of this anymore. So I picked up the book I was reading called The Patriot, based on the movie with Mel Gibson. I got so into the book I never heard my mother come in. "What are you doing sweetie?" she asked. "Reading" I said. "well I see that, is it good?" she asked. "yeah, it's better than the movie." I stated. "that's nice, I'm glad your actually doing something productive for a change." she said. I was very quiet before I answered. I looked at her with a look that could kill. It all came out at once, " well it's hard to do things productive when your family is falling apart and your mother is hanging all over her new boyfriend." I shouted.

She was so stunned that I had really said that, she hesitated before saying anything. "HOW___ DARE you say something like that." she said slowly, putting emphasis on every word. But I cut her off, " how dare I, how dare you for subjecting Juliana and I to something like that. I cant believe you would actually go out and try to replace dad. And then come home and bring him with you, not even a month after you broke it off with dad. And then announce a week later that yall are getting married. How dare you mom!" she was so quiet, I thought she was going to cry. But all she did was get up and walk quietly out of my room.

After I heard my mothers door close, I got up and went to the bathroom to splash some water on my face. When I turned to walk out Juliana was standing there with tears in her eyes. " Aw… Juliana I did it again didn't I?" I said almost a whisper. All she did was nodd. I got on my knees to look at her face to face. " I promise im going to try and stop fighting with her, it's just hard on me, I guess in a way I just miss dad and don't want him replaced by him."

I walked her back to her room tucked her in and left. I got back in my room shut my door and just cried. I couldn't take hurting Juliana, but my mom I s just so stupid. Sometimes I just cant help fighting it just happens. I'm just going to have to try hard to not fight with mom or him for Juliana's sake, the bad thing is I keep saying that but It never works. " what am I going to do." I cried.

The next morning I woke up feel like crap. But I got out of bed slipped on jeans and went straight to the barn. I guess no one else was up yet because the house was so quiet. But the barn was already busy, the hands were bringing in horses to eat and grooming. Some morning lessons were already arriving, I hope my mom hurried. I greeted the horses that were already in the barn eating. By the time I got to Schones stall Mickey, one of our hands was leading him in to eat.

"Morning Mickey was he easy to catch?" I asked. "nope, he refused to come to me, like always." he said with a laugh. I laughed too, "he seems to not like you very much Mickey." I said with a laugh. " I have no clue what I did to him, but he hates me." he stated. " Aw I don't think he hates you, he just doesn't know you yet. Your new, he will soon began to accept you." I said. " I hope so." he laughed and I laughed with him. " he better since I'm going to take care of him all summer while your with your father." he said. I suddenly stopped laughing scowling, then my mother came running in the barn. "Kaley why didn't you wake me, now I'm running late." she yelled. " I didn't know I was suppose to, sorry." I said sarcastically as I walked into Schones stall.

When my mother stormed out of the barn I peeked out of the stall to make sure it was clear. I went to the tack room and grabbed my brushes. I ran back to the stall and began grooming Schones. "Schones, you have no clue what's going on do you boy. Everything is all crazy, and everyone is on edge. I'm so sorry you have to put up with all of this." I said almost a whisper. After I finished apologizing to Schones he nudged me softly and nickered, probably saying it would be ok and that everyone will get better.

After I finished grooming Schones I put my grooming stuff in the tack room, and went to eat. As I entered the house I could smell an aroma of things lets see bacon, eggs, grits, and waffles or pancakes. But as soon as I walked in the kitchen to see who was cooking it all, I then thought I shouldn't have when I saw who was cooking it all… HIM! Before I could get away unseen he turned around, " morning, would you like some breakfast?" he asked me.

"UM… I think I'll pass" I said. "suit yourself." he said almost in a smug voice. I walked to the fridge to get a drink, I think the conversation was over but according to him it wasn't. " can I make you something to eat, because really you should eat something. Especially if your going to be outside all day." he said. I hesitated before answering to make sure Juliana wasn't around or listening, before I began." how do you know what I need and don't need. Your not my father, which I have already made clear haven't I." I said.

He was quiet before answering, I had never seen him mad before. But it looked as though he was getting mad. Then it came like a slap in the face, "kaley, I am sick and tired of you treating me this way. Until you can learn to treat me with respect, you can go to your room and stay. I'm no longer going to sit here and let you get away with this, NO MORE!" he shouted at me. I was so stunned at what had just happened I couldn't speak or move, I just stood there.

I had nothing to say, I could fight back and scream at him. But I ran the risk of Juliana hearing me, cause she would be up now. So I just took my drink and ran, I ran to Schones stall and sat in there most of the day. No one even noticed me, I sat there in silence looking over him. Noticing he was losing muscle, and wasn't as bulky. Probably from not being ridden, I would get someone on that right away.

Then I heard someone coming, it sounded like smaller feet coming. Since I had been sitting here all day I could identify all the different foot step sounds. All of the sudden the stall door swung open and Juliana was standing In the door way. " what in the world are you doing? We have been looking for you all day." she said in a panicked voice. I was silent and she knew right away something was wrong. " sis what's wrong?" she whispered. I hesitated before I began, "me and jack had a fight. And for once Juliana I didn't fight back, I just left."

She looked at me in shock like I was joking. " you didn't fight back?" she asked. "no, he yelled back to defend himself and I just took it." I said. Juliana's mouth dropped, and I laughed. "what did he say?" she asked " something about if I didn't stop acting the way I act he would send me to my room." I said in a mocking voice. " oh my goodness, he really said that… WOW who knew he had it in him." she laughed, and I laughed to.