AN-Alrighty then. Welcome back, welcome back. As you know, Katie and Adam's parents have decided to spend Thanksgiving together, the four of them.
Sit back, relax, grab a box of popcorn if you will, and enjoy the holiday festivities!
The wind gust about, dragging dead leaves up from their graves and sent them flying into the air, alive once more. Katie Banks watched this sight from her window, feeling depressed.
She lay on her bed, pen in hand, notebook placed on her lap. The page was blank, like her mind. She had no urge to write anything. The upcoming holiday had ruined her. It was hard enough that her parents were divorcing but now? Now they wanted to spend Thanksgiving together, as if nothing had happened.
She heard a knock on her door. "Come in.''
Adam stuck his head inside and smiled softly at his little sister.
''Hey, it's almost 3.'' he said.
Katie gasped and looked towards her clock. She had been so lost in thoughts, she hadn't even realized.
''Thanks.'' she said, placing her notebook on her desk and quickly pulling on her shoes.
"So, are you planning on hiding in the trunk and going with her?'' Adam asked.
Every year, Maddie's family went to New York for Thanksgiving to visit her grandparents. Katie wanted to make it to their house before they left, so she could say goodbye.
"Well, that wouldn't make sense, since they are taking a plane.'' Katie said.
"Well I just figured once they saw you in the trunk, they'd take you with them. The Thomas' love you.'' Adam said.
He was right. Katie sometimes thought of Maddie's parents as her own. Especially now.
''Well duh. I'm me.'' Katie said, grinning at her brother.
She headed downstairs, Adam right behind her. Grabbing her coat off the rack, she bid her brother a goodbye and left the house.
The wind Katie had observed outside her window, welcome her out into the cold. It stung her eyes, sent her hair flying about. She grinned, it felt...nice. It was nice to be outside, to be alive. She loved the cold. In her eyes, coldness led to the warm summer days, without cold...there'd be no warmth.
As she walked down the front drive, she recognized a boy, making his way to her house. She smiled, brightly, and went to meet the boy.
''Hey Spazway.'' she called.
Charlie glanced up and grinned at the young woman in front of him.
''Hey Kat. Where are you off to?'' he wondered.
Katie stopped in front of him and smiled, their previous encounter replaying in her mind.
Katie knocked on the door of Charlie and Adam's room. To her dismay, Charlie answered the door.
''Oh...hey Kat.'' he said.
''Hey.'' she replied.
They stood in an awkward silence for a few seconds.
''So...what's up?''
''Uh..oh yea! I wanted to give you your coat back.'' Katie said holding it out to him.
''Thanks.'' Charlie said, taking it. ''Wanna come in?''
''Sure.'' Katie said, softly.
She entered the obviously messy room and grinned.
''Charlie, Charlie, don't you ever clean up after yourself.'' she teased.
''Hell no, your brother does.'' he said, throwing the coat onto his bed and sitting down next to it.
Katie sat on the chair.
''So...Banksie told me about Thanksgiving. How you holding up?'' he asked.
She shrugged. ''I really don't know. A part of me, knows that this is gonna suck. They're gonna be mean and snappish with each other, and in their own creative ways, make me and Adam take sides, " she paused, wistfully, "then another part, wants to believe that..."
"That maybe this will be normal? Maybe they'll realize they still love each other?'' Charlie asked.
Katie nodded. "You probably think I'm such a stupid little kid.''
''No. Kat, I get what you're feeling. Do you know how many times I wished my dad would just show up and him and my mom would get back together. That I'd have a family again?''
''That doesn't disprove my point.'' she said, the ghost of a grin on her face.
''Ha ha, not funny. Kat, I'm being serious.'' Charlie said.
''I know. Sorry, it's just...I know it won't happen. I don't like thinking that it will, because I know how disappointed I'll be.''
A tear started to make it's way down her face, and she reached up to brush it away. Charlie got their first. He wiped it away and cupped her face gently. He leaned up, kissing her forehead.
''Kat...you can cry in front of me.'' he whispered.
Katie gave him a watery smile, but quickly sucked up the tears. She hated crying in front of people.
''Thanks...but I'm ok.'' she said, pulling away from his hands.
Charlie nodded. ''Fine...but if you ever need someone. Just to talk to or whatever. I'm always here for you.''
"Kat, are you there?'' Charlie asked, waving a hand in front of her face.
Katie blinked and smiled at him.
''Sorry, spaced out for a minute. What's up?'' she asked.
''Where are you going?'' Charlie asked, yet again.
''Oh, to say goodbye to Maddie. In fact, I'd better motor. Bye Charlie.'' she said.
She walked quickly down the driveway and Charlie watched her go.
''God, I sooooo don't wanna go this year. I wanna be here for you. I even tried begging my parents to take you with us, so you wouldn't have to face them.'' Maddie said, packing any last minute items.
Katie sat on her bed, grinning as her best friend ranted and raved.
''Trust me, I'd love to come, but Adam needs me. We're gonna have to stick together this year.'' Katie said.
Maddie sighed and sat down next to her.
''I know, I just can't believe they would do this to you guys. Don't they care?''
''They do care. They want us to have a ''normal Thanksgiving '' like a ''real family should"' Katie said, making sure to use air quotations marks when nesses.
Maddie giggled.
''Well, if you should need someone...Charlie's always in the neighborhood.'' Maddie said, slyly.
Katie had made the mistake of telling Maddie every detail of her conversation with Charlie. Now, she was bringing it up whenever the moment presented itself.
''Thanks for reminding me, Mads.'' Katie said.
''Of course.'' Maddie said.
''Maddie...we're leaving in about five minutes!'' her mother called up.
''Ok, be right down!'' Maddie shouted back.
She grabbed her suitcase and the two girls headed downstairs.
''Let me take that Maddie. Hello Katie how are you?'' Maddie's dad asked.
''I'm fine. I hope you have a happy Thanksgiving, Mr. Thomas.'' Katie said.
''Thank you Katie.'' he replied.
He took the suitcase out of the room, and Maddie's mother walked into the room.
''Katie, we really wanted to bring you along, but Mr. Thomas and I were a little apprehensive of what your parents would say. Especially your mother.'' Mrs. Thomas said.
Katie and Maddie shared a grin. It was no secret that Mrs. Thomas did not care for Katie's mom. Last time they went on holiday, they had asked her if they could bring Katie. Mrs. Banks told the Thomas' they could take their charity offer and stick it...well, Katie didn't like saying the last part.
''Trust me, Mrs. T. I'd love to go with you.'' Katie said.
Mrs. Thomas gave Katie a hug and went to help her husband.
''So, we're leaving.'' Maddie said.
Katie nodded. ''Have a good Thanksgiving, Mads.''
"You too Kat.'' she said.
The girls hugged. "And call me, ok? Sometime this weekend, let me know you're ok.'' Maddie said.
They let go and Katie nodded. ''I will. Promise.''
Maddie got into the car and Katie waved to the family as they drove down the street.
Thanksgiving Day
Katie woke up with a groan, desperately wishing she could go either go back in time or have the power to skip this day completely.
She reluctantly got up and got dressed. She had to wear a skirt today, her mother's orders. Katie laughed silently to herself, like she would really wear a skirt.
Instead, she chose a nice pair of dress pants and a dark brown sweater. Once again, she brushed her hair and placed it into a pony tail.
She exited her room and walked down the hallway to Adam's. She knocked once, and her brother immediately stuck his head out.
''Mom should be here in a few.'' Katie said.
During the divorce proceedings, their father, Phillip Banks, won ''custody'' of the house by showing paperwork that he was the only own who paid for it. Their mother, Vicky Banks, got an apartment a few miles away.
''Can't wait.'' Adam remarked, stepping out of his room. He was wearing slacks, a long-sleeve white shirt, and a tie.
''Why, Adam Banks, don't you look handsome.'' Katie said.
''Why Katherine, you spoil me.'' he replied.
Katie laughed softly, and Adam grinned.
Then the heard the ringing of the doorbell and the happy expressions faded.
Katie answered the door and Vicky Banks walked in. She was a tall woman, about 5'8, with long blonde hair and one of those body's that every man admired.
''Katie! Don't you look-'' she broke off, taking in her daughter's outfit. ''I see you're not wearing that skirt I bought you.''
Katie braced herself for her mother's wrath.
''No doubt your father has poisoned you against me. Not wearing that skirt is his funny idea of saying 'see, my daughter loves me more''' Vicky snapped. ''I don't blame you dear.''
Katie felt disappointment seep through her body. She wanted her mother to yell at her, not blame her father. She wanted something normal today.
''Adam..as handsome as ever.'' Vicky cooed, hugging her son tightly to her.
Katie rolled her eyes as the contest obviously began.
The tension at dinner was so thick, you could cut it with a knife. While Phillip and Vicky took the opposite ends of the tables, the kids were in the middle. Literally.
''Katie, dear, could you please pass the water. Lord knows I'm gonna need something to wash down the meal your father made.'' Vicky complained.
''Adam, son, do your mother a favor and go into the kitchen freezer and fetch one of those cheap T. V. dinners. Those might be good enough for her.'' Phillip said, sending a glare down to his ex-wife.
''Adam, sweetie, don't waste your energy. You're going to need it, the more your father pushes you to play hockey. Tell me, Phillip, what about your daughter, do you even care what she does?''
''Well, Katie, why don't you tell your mother about that wonderful afternoon when I took my lunch break and we spent that time together.''
''Tell your father, Katie, exactly what you like to do in your spare time. I promise you he'll forget the moment your brother comes home with a trophy.''
''Well son, it seems that your mother is angry with you for being good at hockey.''
''Adam, you know I love you. I'm just making a point, your father doesn't give a damn about Katie, just you. Yet he wants custody of both of you.''
''Maybe because unlike you, I can actually provide for my kids. You need a man in your life to provide for you.''
''I bet you kids can't wait to meet the secretary your father was screwing behind my back.''
''And I bet you kids can't wait to meet the new man who's gonna be taking care of your mother until he gets tired of her shit.''
''ENOUGH!!'' screamed Katie.
Her parents and her brother looked at her shocked.
''Just stop, we haven't even had dinner and you two won't stop insulting each other. Just stop!'' she yelled.
''Katherine, stop being so immature at the table. So doubt it's your father's care that's turned you into this.''
''Now see here Vicky, at least I care-''
''STOP! Stop! Stop! Stop!'' Katie screamed again and again. ''You guys are both being so immature. You wanted a normal Thanksgiving but you won't stop tearing into each other! Frankly, I just don't give a damn about this day anymore. You guys wanna act like babies, fine, but leave me and Adam out of this.''
''Katie, watch your language, probably a habit you picked up from your mother.''
Katie finally just screamed, picking up her plate and throwing it against the wall. Her parents looked at her, as if finally seeing her.
''I'm down, I'm outta here. Both of you can just go to hell.'' she said.
And with that, Katie left the table, grabbed her coat, and left her ''family'' staring after her, clearly shocked.
AN-So I originally had no clue how long this chapter was going to be, and every I added after this made it like super long. So, I'm gonna cut it in half.
Stay tuned for part 2, out soon.