Kate for Keeps

Five

Chapter 5

"Is that you Kate?" a voice calls from the den.

"Yeah it's me! I callback.

"Come in here!" the same voice says.

I throw my bag down on the floor and walk towards the den. once there I find Miranda flipping through different books with pictures of furniture.

"Yep?" I get her attention.

"Ah Kate!" Miranda smiles. "I have some furniture pictures I want you to choose a bedroom suit for your new room!" She cheers.

"New room?" I raise my brow at her.

"Yep! She says popping the p.

"Oh yeah." I sigh as I take a seat next to Miranda.

"So here's my favorite!" she shows me a picture of a white bedroom suit that looks like Mia's taste much more than mine. "What do you think?"

"I hate it!" I spat truthfully.

"How? it's beautiful!" she cried out.

"For Mia!" I retort.

She take sabotaged look at it shaking her head. "well then here's-" I cut her off.

"Just give me the book!" I finally say snatching away the book.

I flip through it mumbling "no. definitely not. never. no. yuck. no. PERFECT!" I jump up with the book in my hands.

"What'd you find?" Miranda stands too.

"This!" I show her a picture of a cream colored bedroom suit.

It has a full size bed, a spacey dresser, a vanity desk and a tall book case. "nice." Miranda nods of approval.

"Now what are you painting your room? I have these sample shades of pink."

"No!" I shout startling Miranda.

Miranda shoots me a questioning look as I scramble to explain. "I hate pink!"

"Then what color do you want?" she asks cautiously.

I must say I can't blame her. "teal!" I say like it's so obvious that she should go back to school (hopefully military school)!

"Teal?"

"Yes teal!" I turn on my heel and leave the room.

In the kitchen I grab an apple and peanut butter. Chop. Chop.

"We're home!" Donny's voice calls.

I bit into an apple slice. Suddenly there's a loud scream and me and Miranda are upstairs in an heartbeat.

Mia's standing there with a creeped expression on her face staring at the wall.

"Mia what's wrong?" I asks panicked

"Sp-spider!" she shrieks.

"Spider?" I giggle.

"Yes!" she runs to Miranda's safety.

"Hey mi watch this!" I take my hand it quickly squash the spider leaving spider fits on the wall.

"Kate!" Miranda wines. "Go clean that up! Mia's to young to see a living creature killed! now go!" she points down stairs.

"Sheesh!" I turn to go down stairs.

~~

Later that evening when my dad gets home I don't hear him cause I'm lounging on my bed with my head phones on.

It's no until he comes upstairs do I know. "hey Kate. how's school?" he asks.

"Fine." I reply plainly.

"That's good. How're Nicole and Carley. they liking it? do you have any classes with them?" he's asks as seriously as can be.

I almost choke at that. "Dad!" I squeal.

"What?" he asks innocently.

"Do you pay any attention to my life?!" I shout. "Nicole and Carley moved! they go to total different schools!" I'm now on my feet.

"Oh." he stares at his shoes. he's still in his work clothes. to tell the truth I'm surprised that he came up ere to see me. all he pays attention to these days are Miranda and Mia.

"Sorry." he slips out of my room leaving me to punch my pillows.

He can be so weird sometimes. but he's my dad so of course I forgive him. still he has his flaws.

~~

"Now be sure to not press to hat with your pencil. draw lightly so it looks pretty when you trace over it with color." The art teacher instructs.

It's only week 2 and we're already staring on self portraits. I mean self portraits take practice! right?

Art is actually pretty...what's the word? is it...BORING? Yes I think so!

I truly wanted to do chorus for a full year but I have to wait until next quarter to take that.

it's so unfair. my dad and Miranda didn't care enough to change my schedule so I'm stuck with it.

I seriously wish I had chorus singing is my favorite thing to do. when my life seems like it's just going to absolutely fall apart... I sing.

"Kate! Kate!" I jerked my head up in time to see the whole class staring at me. I blushed realizing this wasn't the first time the art teachers called my name.

"Would you care to show the class your painting that your supposed to be working on?" I stare down at my painting. it's a landscape and looks like I splattered paint all over my sketch pad.

"No." I answer so only my desk buddy can hear me.

"Speak up child!" Ms.Lowry snaps.

"No thank you." I say in a higher tone that doesn't sound like my regular shy voice.

"Well show it anyway!" she points her ugly fat finger at the spot next to her at the front.

"But-" I begin to argue though stop cause I know it's useless. so useless.

"C'mon!" she glares.

All eyes are on me while I walk awkwardly up to the front. I try to make eye contact with Amanda, my desk buddy but she tries everything in her will power to do the opposite.

I flip my sketch pad around for everyone to see my piece of junk. gasps and oohs and ahhs surround the room.

"As much as I hate to admit this," the art teacher begins, her eyes glued to the painting "but this is the best landscape I've seen done by a sixth grader. I'm so sorry I thought you were talking instead of working!"

So that's why Amanda didn't want to make eye contact with me! duh! I take my seat and cram in some color for five minutes. I si back admiring my painting that's only half done. The bell rings and I'm off to second encore.