Gone

Two

"Hey Katrina." Brianna's voice comes through my phone.

"Hey." I say quietly, three months had passed since Gale's disappearance.

"What are you doing?" she asks.

"Just sitting at home, thinking about stuff."

"Can I come get you for awhile?" she asks.

"Yeah. Of course." I say, "What are we doing?"

"We're just going to pick something up from my house and then you'll go home." she says.

"Okay." I say.

"See you in a few minutes." she hangs up.

I pull on black sweat pants and a black T-shirt. My usual.

I run down the stairs, stopping to address my father.

He sits at the kitchen table, reading something. The newspaper.

I see Gale's face on the page and walk up to him, "Why are you reading that?"

"Just.... Interested." he says, shrugging.

Yeah. I know you are. Interested in kidnapping him.

"Oh. Well Brianna is coming to get me soon. I'm going to her house for awhile."

He eyes me, "I don't like you going to her house."

"Well, I like going so." I shrug, "Deal."

"You need to cut the attitude." he says.

"You act like you don't even care!" I snap, "He was important to me John."

"Dad. It's dad. And no. I don't care. You know I don't like him. I never have. I couldn't give a-" he is cut off by a knock at the door.

I narrow my eyes at him, "Finish that sentence."

"No. I am not gonna fight with you Kat." he says.

"Don't call me Kat." I snap at him.

"Fine. Cut the attitude though."

I scoff and turn to walk out, he yells, "You have to remember who is in charge. I own you."

I walk out, slamming the door.

I walk to Brianna's car, climbing into the passenger seat. Her radio softly plays, "What a shame" by Shinedown. Her windows are all down and her car smells like Axe.  Gale's Axe.

"So what's up?" I ask.

"I want you to have Gale's truck, under my name."

"What?" my eyes widen.

"It's just sitting in my drive way," she explains, "He would be pissed if he came back and nobody had driven it and I let it just sit there."

"But. I can't, I'm sorry I can't."

"I can't drive it. It hurts me too much. He would want someone he loves to have it. And he loves you."

"Bri..." I say.

"Don't argue." she orders, pulling up in her driveway, "It's yours." before she gets out she hands me Gales keys.

"How did you get his keys?" I ask.

"They were left on the ground beside the truck." she says, looking at the truck with a sad glaze over her eyes.

"Bri can I talk to you?"

"Yes." she nods, "Always."

"I have been paying close attention to my dad, and I think I might be onto something. The night that Gale disappeared I found a bloody flashlight in my dads trunk. Not to mention he was not at home when he went missing." I say, "He has been coming home late and he had.... My dad had Gale's wallet."