Always Believe

Chapter 26- You're A Butt!

Chapter 26
KAT'S POV:

"Where were you?"

My head snapped up as my mother's voice startled me out of my 'school mode.'

"Huh?" I asked, laying my pencil down.

"Yesterday. Where were you? We came home and you weren't here." She stated, placing her hands on her hips, thinking it made her look intimidating, but it really didn't.

"Uh, I was out with Rachel." I said. "I left you a note."

"No you didn't! We looked everywhere for you!" She exclaimed. "I was so worried!"

"Were you now?" I asked dryly. "Why didn't you try calling my cell phone?"

Her face turned an angry shade of pinkish-red. "You don't ask the questions here young lady!"

"Uh huh."

"Are you mocking me?"

"No, no, I wouldn't dare, mother dearest."

She let out an enraged sound. "What am I going to do with you?"

"Ship me off to a boarding school?"

"You know what? That would be better than having to deal with your disrespect!"

"It would be better for me, too." I said calmly, knowing I was probably being disobedient and disrespectful. "I wouldn't even miss you 'cause you're never even home."

"Just shut up and stop acting like a child!" She exploded, then whirled around and left the room.

I sighed sadly and wished that I could have loving parents. I'd give up anything, the money, my huge room, my expensive clothes, just to have that. Stephen was a sweetheart, but he couldn't replace good parents, even though he was three years older.

I finished my homework, then changed into my jogging bottoms and a sleeveless t-shirt before sneaking out of the house and starting off at a slow run.

I was soon joined by a very red-faced Matt, followed by a laughing Justin.

"Hey guys." I greeted.

"Sup?" Matt grunted. "Geez, how can you do this every day? This is nuts!"

I laughed. "Not really. I've been doing it for a while. It helps me think."

"You've got that huge house. There's all the room in the world to think in there? Why would you torture yourself by doing bodily exercise?"

If I wasn't hit by a wave of extreme sadness- complete with tears stinging my eyes- by the first part of his comment, I would've laughed at his mention of 'bodily exercise.'

I blinked the moisture away and gave a weak smile and ran ahead a little bit.

"Was it something I said?" Matt asked Justin in an undertone.

"Dude, you kinda need to learn when to shut up." Justin told him, probably thinking I couldn't hear him. "Don't you realize that she probably had another fight with her parents?"

"But-"

"You're a butt!" Justin said.

I caught the reference to the Lego Movie and gave a quiet laugh. Justin blushed a little.

"You could hear us?" He asked.

I nodded. "It's fine though."

Matt looked apologetic. "I'm sorry."

"S'okay. You didn't know. You don't really know me well enough to know what sets me off or anything."

He looked pained at that statement.