Sophomore Year || Parenthood Series, Book One || WATTYS 2018

Chapter Twenty-Three

SOUNDTRACK:  "Can't Find My Way Home" - Blind Faith

"Come on, Kate. We're gonna be late!" Jared said, tapping on Kate's door frame.

"We? What do you mean we?" she asked, pulling her jacket on. "Samir usually takes me."

"Not today," he said. "Today I'm taking you. And we're gonna be late. So get your skinny ass in gear. I have a meeting at nine-thirty downtown that I can't be late for."

Kate grumbled and grabbed her bag before rushing after Jared. She caught up to him just before he started to back his car out of the driveway. The Hot Wheels car was, mercifully, in the shop for maintenance. She barely shut the door before he had pulled onto the road.

"Your birthday is soon," he started. "Did you think of what you want to do?"

"Uh...not really. I don't think I want to do anything," she answered.

"Come on. You're turning sixteen. Isn't that like a big deal or something?" he asked.

"Even if I wanted to throw a party, it's too late. My birthday is next Sunday. There's not enough time," she replied sullenly.

"You could have some friends over to the house," he suggested. "From San Diego."

"And what are you gonna do? Renovate the entire house in a week? Jared, your mark is all over that place. They'd know who you were in a second," she answered. "They're not stupid."

"I didn't say they were," Jared said. "I just - I know it's been a strange couple of months for you. I want to do something special for your birthday. Plus, I've never even had a birthday with you before. I want to celebrate," he explained.

Kate remained silent until they joined the drop off line at Winterlake. "I just don't feel like doing anything, okay?" she said.

Jared suspected it was because she was missing her mother. And he couldn't blame her. The first time he had celebrated his birthday away from his mom, he felt incomplete. There was something so fulfilling about celebrating with family. He at least had Shannon and friends; Kate didn't have anyone. He just wanted to make her feel welcome into the family and give her a good experience. But he didn't want to be pushy about it. And yes, he felt guilty for missing her first game after promising he'd see her play and he was trying to find a way to make up for it.

"We're definitely having dinner," he said just before she got out. "My mom, Shannon, and you. It's kind of a tradition."

She sighed and nodded. "Sure, fine. Whatever."

"Oh, I meant to ask you, are you okay by yourself Wednesday night? I have an event to go to and I won't be home until early morning," he asked.

"Do I have a choice?" she asked.

He didn't respond. "Samir will pick you up like normal," he told her through the rolled down window.

She gave him a wave over her shoulder before walking onto the Quad. Jared saw several teen girls look his way, but he rolled his window up quickly and drove off. As he drove into the city, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off with Kate. Her words about him having to hide everything in the house in order for her to have friends over kept rattling around his already-packed mind. She knew he didn't want to tell people about her. She knew he was trying to hide her. And she was starting to take it to heart.

GOSSIP BOARD

LETODREAMZ324 POSTED: I don't know what to make of this, but I just saw a random anonymous post talking about Jared being at a high school earlier today? Here. I'll link it: