Not Helping

Viviane

So much for not getting ourselves caught. According to Kumen, he and Mr. Gabe spent a whole period harmonizing while Mr. Gabe cleaned.

"You know," I sigh, dangling the kitten over my face. "One of these days, that man is going to get tired of covering for us." Not soon though, I hope. Everything would start falling apart. We'd probably have to just move again.

Mr. Gabe is a godsend. He's a major point for Columbus. So understanding. All the scrapes he's helped me through already. I don't know how I got on without him before. Oh wait, I didn't. That's why I'm here. How ironic that I would find my "Guardian ad Litem" after the trial, so to speak. Maybe if he'd been around, he could've found a way around us having to relocate. I know it's pointless to go into it this far after the fact, but I don't have much else to occupy my mind right now.

I wish I could just have him to tell my parent's what happened last night. Then maybe I'd get to go home instead of having to bum around campus until work.

I don't normally have this kind of down time before work, but practice was short today. Guess Karin realized most people have a life outside cheer—not me, but the rest of the squad seems to have plans. I've been watching people skip out of the parking lot for the past half hour from the best seat in the house. They have to pass my camp site here on the West Wall to get in or out. Even faculty have gone by at this point. All the "good bye" honking is hella depressing. Usually things have died down out here by the time cheer gets out, but not today. Today, I've gotten to see everyone off individually. Yay...

Kumen snuggles in under my arm as we stare aimlessly ahead at the road, tracing the bands of headlights on passing cars and wondering why Mr. Gabe hasn't switched lots yet. He usually rolls his Impala to this side of the building before starting his rounds, but I haven't seen it yet.

I try to stay out of his way on Fridays though so he has a chance at getting home early, but I was still hoping to get a chance to talk to him before I have to face the prosecution at home.

"I don't think Mr. Gabe is coming," I sigh, lying out over the wall again. Kumen crawls out above my head, sniffing my forehead pensively. I'd been getting all the details of his day before, but there's only so much anyone can tell about sitting in a metal box for hours. Desperate times, I guess I could go to the rec. center early and chill there until my shift, but that would mean spending an extra hour at the desk with Kody and I can do without any of him right now.

No, things aren't quite that desperate. I can stand my own company at least that long.

And Kody can shut his face because at least Kumen is here for me. No one's ever around when I'm free. The team's long gone. Joel's at robotics or whatever it is he does. The guys haven't left yet, but communications with Shane are still dead and diving's in session right now so not even Domonic can talk to me. Kumen's all I've got right now. Sometimes even I start to think it's a little weird how much I talk to the little guy, but as long as he's the only one answering...

One of the cars slows down ahead of me, its lights lingering on my face. Thank goodness, I was driving myself crazy.

I roll over to wave to Mr. Gabe, but it's not an Impala coasting past and my heart skips when I catch sight of the driver. The chill of recognition trickles down my spine at the sick grin tweaking his face.

"Time to go," I grunt, dropping behind the wall before he can turn in. Kumen won't be able to keep pace, so it's back in the bag with him. We take off the minute it flaps over his head. By the time I round the first corner, he's demanding answers.

"I know that man," I hiss, clutching at the base of the bag to support him. Kumen's questions only pique my nerves as I wrack my brain for a next move. There aren't many choices left. Home is still out. If I went back now, there's no way I'd make it to work. The lecture alone will probably be a weekend affair and that's not even including the massive grounding in store.