A Year and a Half Later

"Kitty! I'm home hun," my uncle said when he came into the house from work.

It had been almost a year and a half since I left Houston. I had gone back a few times to see Emily and my new goddaughter, Rebecca but she was the only one I really made an effort to see. I didn't go see my mom because I really didn't want to take a chance at seeing Mark, Sam, or their new baby. Sure I had gotten over Mark…at least I think I have. Living with my uncle was really helping those feelings fade. I mean I did miss him, but I hated the way he acted before I left. Talk about giving me the cold shoulder. First he lets his wife talk crap to me and then he doesn't even have the decency to say good-bye. Oh well…that was in the past. My life had been way different since I first left Houston. My uncle was a tattoo artist, and had a really big house that sat near the beach. There were plenty of places to go and things to see there. I ended up getting a job at a clothing store called Fire.

I was now sixteen years old and slightly taller than I use to be. I also had a much fuller chest that I really didn't know how to handle and longer hair that had stretched to the middle of my back. The red streaks that were there before were now replaced with honey colored highlights. My skin was slightly darker from all the sunlight I spent time in, and I had a small tattoo of Rebecca's name on my ankle. My mom was pissed about the tattoo, but hey….I couldn't help that my uncle was an excellent tattoo artist.

"Hey Uncle Jeff, how was your day?" I asked him as he came into the den where I was. I was almost always in there when he came home. I loved sitting on the big windowsill and watching the sunrise and sunset. There was a huge beach in the backyard and plenty of sea creatures to see.

"It was alright, reading a book?" he asked.

I looked down at the small diary I had in my hand, "No. Just writing a little,"

"Oh. What you writing about?" he asked.

I shrugged, "Just stuff…"

He smiled, "It's alright Kitty, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

I sighed, "I'm sorry. You know I'm not that much of an open person anymore."

He frowned, "I understand, have you spoken to your mom lately?"

I shook my head, "no have you?"

"Yea actually, she says she really misses you." He told me.

I sighed, "I know she does, but I like it here…it's calming."

He looked at me and then sighed, "Listen Kitty. I don't know what's been going through your mind but I really want you to open up more. I know it's tough but no one can help you if you don't put forth any effort."

"I know, I guess I kind of do miss home, but going back there won't be good for me."

"Not even for a few days just to see your friends?" he said. "It's almost summer break now and you haven't been back since Emily had Rebecca."

I closed my diary and held it up to my chest. "I get the feeling that you're trying to get rid of me."

He laughed, "Kitty I would never do that, but still I want you to think about it ok? If you want to come back early you know I'll arrange that for you."

I nodded, "Alright I'll think about it."

"Ok, I need to know by next Tuesday so let me know then alright?" he asked.

I nodded with a smile and watched him leave the room. Later on I got up and went to my bedroom so I could call my mom.

"Hello?" she said.

"Hey mom," I said as I sat down on my bed.

She gasped, "Hey baby, how are you?"

"I'm good. What are you doing?" I asked.

"Cooking," she said.

I rolled laid down on my pillows, "Really? For what?"

"So I can eat of course." She said.

"No mom, you normally don't cook unless I'm going to be home." I told her.

She laughed, "Ok you got me. Mark and Sam are coming over for dinner tonight."

I froze, "What? Why?"

"Kat, I'm lonely here without you so I'm inviting company. Why?" she asked.

I sighed, "No reason. Just wondering."

"Oh, well I also invited them because I noticed they are having a lot of problems." She said.

I chuckled, "Oh boy I wonder what new issues they could be having."

My mom sighed, "Sam came over here like two weeks ago in tears…she told me she doesn't think Marcus is Mark's kid."

I gasped, "Are you kidding me?"

"No I'm not and he seems real miserable lately. I've seen him leave his house sometimes around midnight just because they are arguing."

I shook my head, "Well mom honestly that doesn't surprise me. They were having problems before due to her jealousy issues and I even lost a friend because of that."

"I know sweetie and I'm sorry for how that happened." She said.

"It's not a big deal mom. I'm completely over it now." I said.

She sighed, "If that's the case why haven't you been home to see me?"

"Mom please I don't want to get into this with you."

"Well I'm sorry honey. I miss you so much and would really like it if you came back here at least for the summer."

I sat up on my bed and thought about it. I then heard a beep from my laptop signaling a message from Facebook.

"I'll think about it mom. Does it have to be the entire summer?" I asked her as I walked to the computer desk and checked Facebook. I nearly dropped the phone upon seeing that I had a friend request from Mark…

"No it doesn't Kitty but-"

"-Nevermind mom…I'm coming home for the summer." I said quickly.

My mom laughed, "Damn that was fast. What made you want to come?"

I kept looking at Mark's picture not sure if I wanted to add him or not. I took a deep breath and hit the accept button.

"I just need to see my friends… and I do miss you, that's all"

She sighed, "Well ok. Make sure you tell your uncle so he doesn't cuss me out or something."

I laughed, "Ok mom."

I couldn't believe I was deciding to go back home for the summer. Who knew how much had changed since I last was there…