Readers: I realize I made a mistake with Katrina's last name. It's Hardy so please ignore the beginning of the story thank you. =)

Secrets?

SMACK! "What in the hell is wrong with you!" my mom yelled once she made it downstairs. My dad was just coming in from drinking to celebrate my victory and she smacked him.

"Ow what was that for?" he asked.

She sighed, "Matt! You've been slipping steroids into your daughter's stuff? What is your problem!"

"Look Lita, our little girl is destined to do something great with her life and I knew that this would help her along."

"Excuse me! She's fourteen Matt! What if she was allergic to that shit? She would have died you asshole!"

He sighed, "Yea but it didn't! She's alive and well."

"Actually she isn't well at all Matt…if you didn't go out drinking you would know that she was sent to the emergency room after her victory."

"What…is she alright?" he asked.

"Yes…you've been stressing her out so much about swimming that she developed a stomach ulcer and has to rest for a few days."

He fell silent for awhile and then my mom continued.

"She's been missing you a lot Matt and so have I. If you keep this up…you just might lose us both."

He chuckled, "Oh really and where are you going to go huh? Maybe with my brother?"

"What are you talking about Matt?"

He threw something which made me jump.

"Just forget it!"

My mom sighed, "Matt you know Jeff and I haven't spoken in years…not since before Katrina was born."

"Yea…I know that…but that doesn't mean he shouldn't come around here and see about his kid."

I gasped and got up from my bed slowly. I couldn't believe I had just heard those words leave his lips. I walked to the top of the steps and stood there. Neither of them noticed I was there.

"Matt stop! You know you are Katrina's father." My mom yelled. "I can't believe you would say that!"

"Why shouldn't I Lita! You spent so much time with Jeff before you got pregnant so I don't even know if Kat is mine!"

My mom began to cry, "I can't believe you would actually accuse me of that…is that why you've been so distant from us?"

"I don't know maybe…" he said. "Look I'm tired and I want to sleep. Do not disturb me."

He began to walk up the steps when he looked up and saw me standing there. There were tears in my eyes but I didn't let them flow.

"Kitty…honey…" he started to say, but I didn't even listen to him. I just turned and walked back to my room, slamming my door shut. I then walked to my balcony and cried my eyes out. I wanted to run away so bad, just to get away from it all. I was just about to go back inside when I heard Mark's window open. I didn't want to look but, I did anyway.

I saw Mark and Sam arguing. Why must everyone argue around me…let alone…about me.

"No Mark I'm leaving! You clearly care for that girl more than me!" she yelled.

He laughed, "Are you kidding me? I care more about her? "

"Yes you do!"

"Oh…so I guess since I care about her so much I should go buy her a 50k diamond ring like the one on your finger? Or maybe I should start taking her to expensive restaurants like I do for you every Friday?"

She sighed as she began pulling her things out of the closet. "Mark, you might have bought a lot of things for me and spent some time with me but…you being around that girl…it just bugs me!"

"Why though Sam? She's fourteen. I have no interest in a fourteen year old girl how many times do I have to tell you that?"

"I don't know…" she said.

He shook his head, "Ok…you know you're the only one I've ever made love to. If I really wanted Katrina, I would have done that by now."

She sighed and ran her hands through her hair. "Look…I know you love me. But I just need a few days to think things over."

He sighed, "You know what…how about I just leave."

"What do you mean?" she asked.

He sighed and pulled off his wedding ring, "I'm done with this Sam. It doesn't matter where we go, you always have a problem with the girls I coach. I can't deal with it anymore."

She chuckled, "So you're leaving me?"

"Damn right. Now if you'll excuse me…I need to go."

I felt my heart drop hearing that Mark was leaving. I got up and went downstairs so I could head him off. When he finally came outside, he stopped and looked at me blankly.

"What are you doing out here Kitty? You need to go inside so you can rest."

I shrugged, "I'm sorry…I was sleepwalking. I think that medication is getting to me."

He smiled slightly, "Nice try, you should really stop listening to your neighbor's conversations Kat…it could get you into trouble."

I watched him as he packed away his stuff into his truck.

"I'm sorry…I can't help but listen sometimes. It's a lot better than hearing my parents argue."

He smirked, "Yea…I heard that."

I folded my arms, "Goodness and you tell me not to be nosey."

He laughed and then shut his door. "Don't worry Kitty, your eye candy isn't leaving town…just going to his personal penthouse."

I blushed, "What…what are you talking about?" I asked with a smile.

He winked at me and then hopped into his truck. "See you later Kitten, go get some rest."

"Alright then," I said before turning back to my house and going inside.

I ended up sleeping very well that night and the next few nights after. Mark was checking on me through Facebook. We had really nice conversations together and I honestly believe that he was the reason I was healing so fast. Sure I would have bad days at home, but every night I'd find myself on Facebook talking to Mark after.

I thought things couldn't get any worse with my father…that is until Emily came over one night. I thought my father was going to be out for the entire night so she came over to practice the talent show song with me. My mom had just stepped out to go grocery shopping so I figured we were alone.

"Oh my goodness girl we are going to be a hit in December!" she said.

I laughed, "Yes we are. I'm so happy to be doing something I want to do for once."

"I know how you feel. I still can't believe your dad didn't want you to sing. Your voice is like a bell!"

I giggled, "I know Mark thinks so too."

She smiled at me, "Mark huh? You two sure do talk a lot."

I blushed, "Not really…just on Facebook."

"Mm-hm…well it looks like you two are getting really close." She said.

I sighed with a soft smile, "Yea, but we're just friends Em. I mean yeah he's really sweet but I can't allow myself to get too close to him."

"true, but tell me something, if you were eighteen would you get close to him?" she asked.

I thought about it for a second, "I don't know…maybe if he wasn't still married."

"At least you're honest." She said. "Come on let's practice the song again."

I nodded and we began to sing our little hearts out. In the middle of our song, my door came flying open scaring the living daylights out of us. When we looked up, my dad was standing there looking at us through blank eyes.

"Hello ladies…I see your practicing a song." He said.

Emily looked at me and then back at him, "Um…yes sir."

He glared at her for a second before nodding his head slightly and then took a drink of his wine. "Carry on…but Emily don't stay too late ok?"

She nodded as he walked away in the direction of his room. My heart was still racing slightly as I got up and shut my door. I then turned around and saw Emily looking more pale than usual.

"Your dad is fucking weird." She said.

I laughed, "Yea I know. Sorry about that."

She nodded and then we finished practicing our song. When we were done I walked her to the front door not noticing that my dad was sitting in the kitchen still drinking.

"I'll call you when I get home alright." She told me as she hugged me.

"Ok. Be careful girl." I told her.

I watched her walk down to the gate before stepping back into the house and shutting the door. Just as I turned around to head back upstairs, I was struck dead in the face by my father's hand. I fell to the ground in shock not believing he really hit me.

"I told you that you weren't allowed to do that talent show Kitty…now why must you disobey me hm?" he said as he looked down at me with an evil stare.

I was so scared so I tried to get up and run past him. He grabbed me by my hair and began to drag me towards the kitchen.

"I'm so done fighting with you Kitty, it's time that daddy take things into his own hands." He said as he opened up a drawer and pulled out a knife. I broke free from him at first but he grabbed me again. Before I knew it, he had stabbed me three times in my side.

I screamed at the top of my lungs just before he let me fall to the ground. He then turned me onto my back and was about to stab me again, but I kicked him in the dick. He dropped the knife next to me so I grabbed it and tried to crawl away.

"Get back here you little bitch!" He said as he grabbed my leg and crawled on top of me. He turned me over and began to choke me. "I should have did this a long time ago…"

I was losing air fast so I did what I thought I had to do…and stabbed him in the shoulder. He released me and fell onto his back. I then held my side and slid myself up so that I could get up. I went to the front door, and opened it, happy to see my mom was just getting out of her car. I came out onto the porch and looked at her.

"Oh hey honey, can you come out here and help me?" she asked me.

I went to walk closer to her, but my legs gave out and I fell down the steps.

"Kitty! Oh my God!" my mom yelled as she ran over to me. "Honey are you…KATRINA! What happened to you baby!" she asked as she covered my wounds with her hand. "Who did this to you?"

I went to answer her, and found that I could barely talk.

"Somebody help me!" she screamed. "Please!"

I closed my eyes, feeling my body growing colder with each passing second.

"Oh Kitty please stay with me baby. Don't you die on me!" she said.

I fought hard to keep my eyes open, but the pain was so great. I was able to keep them open long enough to see Sam coming out of her house.

"Oh my God what happened?" she asked as she ran over to our yard. "Is she alright?"

My mom shook her head, "No. Please go call an ambulance for me please!"

Sam nodded and hurried back to her house. Within seconds I was hoisted into an ambulance and on my way to the hospital. I only hoped I would live long enough to see Mark's face one more time.