Shocking News

My dad's behavior didn't get any better as weeks passed. I was so scared to go home every day after swim practice, that I would actually tell Mark to take me to Emily's house instead. Sure her parents argued but I would rather listen to them than to my own father's drunken yelling. One day I was talking to my mom about the talent show. I had just told her what song Emily and I had chosen when he came into the kitchen.

"What are you two ladies talking about?" he asked.

I glared at my mom and she smiled, "We were just discussing the song that Emily is singing in the talent show. Kitty has been helping her out with it."

My dad looked at her and then at me, "Is that right?"

I nodded, "Yes it is. Excuse me but I need to get to swim practice."

"Wait just a second…I bought you something." He said as he handed me a bag.

I hesitantly took it from him and sat it on the table. "What is it?"

He smiled, "Just a little something to help you out at the championship."

I sighed, "Dad you and I know that I don't need any help."

"Yea I know, but I just want to feel like I'm doing something to help you out."

I opened the bag and found a bottle of shampoo and some conditioner. I smiled and then hugged him, "Thanks for the trick dad."

"You're welcome; now hurry on to swim practice."

I nodded and took the shampoo and conditioner and stashed it in my bag. I then picked it up and walked outside to wait for Mark. Of course he was already in the truck waiting for me.

"You ok?" he asked when I got in.

I nodded, "Yea…my dad is just being weird though."

"How so?"

I sighed, "Well besides the drinking, he bought me some shampoo and conditioner. He told me that it would help me out for the championship."

Mark shook his head and began driving, "Your dad has issues….anyways are you ready for practice today? It's going to be intense."

I smiled, "You know me, I can handle intense situations."

He raised an eyebrow, "Is that so?"

"yep,"

He chuckled, "Well…I guess I know why they call you Kitty then…"

I thought about what he said and then gasped, "Hey!"

"I'm just saying…" he said with a smile.

I rolled my eyes and folded my arms under my chest. "Whatever…you wouldn't know anything about that."

"You're right I don't, and I don't plan to anytime soon."

I smiled even though that partially bothered me, "Good."

Practice that day was very intense. He had us racing each other to practice our speed and agility. He then had Emily and I race each other since we were top in the team. I kept beating her which sort of frustrated her at first, but she didn't let it bother her. After practice, we all retreated to the showers where I used that shampoo and conditioner on my hair. It made my hair super slick and soft. No wonder my dad said it would help me out. With this I could cut through that water like a knife through butter.

I continued to use that stuff all the way up until the day of the championship. I was so nervous and slightly stressed out about everything going on at home, that I almost forgot to breathe.

"Don't be nervous girls. Remember you fought hard to get here, now lets go out there and show them whose boss."

We all cheered and then went to take our seats. Before it was time for me to swim, Mark pulled me to the side to talk to me.

"Hey how are you feeling?" he asked. "You look a little paler than usual."

I sighed, "I'm just a little nervous. I don't think I can do this Mark."

He smiled and placed his hands gently on my shoulders, "You're going to be fine. Just take all that stress and anger you've been feeling and use it to your advantage."

I looked down at my feet and he lifted my head up with the tips of his fingers. "You can do this Kitty Kat."

I blushed at hearing him calling me that and then smiled, "Alright. I'm ready"

He nodded and led me back to where our team was sitting. I waved at my parents who were in the stands and then took my jacket off. I pulled up my hair and placed a cap over the messy mass before slipping off my shoes and heading to the starting position. I slowly began to relax myself as I got up on the small platform. Everything seemed to be going in slow motion until I heard the crack from the starting gun. Quickly I dove into the pool and began swimming like I never had before. My eyes were closed but I could tell I was in the lead. When I came to the other side, I did my little flip and began swimming back. The other girls were hot on my trail but I was just too quick for them. I ended up winning the race and therefore winning the entire championship.

The crowd was erupting when I climbed out of the pool and walked to join my teammates. Just before reaching them, I felt something strange. There was a slight pop in my lower abdomen and before I knew it, I was on the ground screaming in pain. Mark quickly came to my side with complete worry in his eyes.

"Kat! Kat are you ok?" he asked.

I started crying as I shook my head. "It hurts…it hurts!"

He quickly asked one of my teammates to run and get my parents. Within seconds, my mom was at my side.

"Honey? Are you alright?" she asked me.

"No…I felt something pop…it hurts so bad!" I cried.

She looked at Mark and then asked him to go call an ambulance. Mark looked down at me.

"No…I'll take her. It'll take those guys forever to get here." He said as he picked me up and ran me to his truck. Sam followed us, hoping in the backseat with an evil look on her face.

"What in the hell are you doing Mark?" she snapped.

He sighed, "What does it look like; I'm getting her to the hospital."

She growled, "What the hell…you've never done anything like this before. What is so special about this girl?"

"Oh please Sam not now. We will talk about this later." He said as he started up the truck.

She rolled her eyes and put her seatbelt on, careful not to make another sound.

Five minutes later I was sitting in the emergency room. I wasn't sure what was happening to me or why, but at this rate it couldn't be good.

"Alright Kitty, it looks like you have a stomach ulcer." The doctor told me. "I'm going to give you some antibiotics but for now you need to get some rest ok?"

I nodded. "Ok…what caused it?"

"Normally huge amounts of stress cause things like this but we also checked your blood and found steroids in your system."

I gasped and then looked at my mom and Mark who were just as shocked as I was.

"That's impossible." I said. "I don't take steroids."

He nodded, "I believe you. This particular steroid wasn't given to you through the mouth. It was coming from your brain."

I was so confused at that point. "I don't understand."

My mom then tensed up, "Oh…that son of a bitch…"

"What mom?" I asked.

She folded her arms, "I know exactly how that shit got into your system…he's such a bastard."

"I'm sorry Lita but who?" Mark asked.

She turned to him, "Her father. He bought her this shampoo and conditioner and it's the only thing she's been using ever since."

Mark looked furious, "He gave his own daughter steroids without her knowing?"

"I guess so." My mom said.

"Excuse me but how long have you been using that shampoo?" the doctor asked.

I shrugged, "Just a few weeks…why?"

"Well according to my charts…this has been in your system for at least a year."

I shook my head, "That's really weird…the only other thing I've used was my shower gel, my lotion, and-"

"-Your face cream…I bet he put steroids in it." She said. "oh God I'm going to kill him."

I sighed, "Thanks for your help doc."

"No problem, here are you antibiotics. Remember get plenty of rest ok?"

I nodded as Mark helped me off of the bed. My mom hooked arms with me and slowly walked me out to the car.

"Are you ladies going to be alright?" he asked.

I nodded with a smile, "Yes of course. Thanks so much for bringing me here."

"It's no problem, just let me know if you need anything else." He told me.

I smiled and then hugged him gently. "See you later coach."

He smiled back as he watched my mom help me into the car and then got in herself. I felt like something new was happening between us…something I couldn't quite explain just yet.