The Step Sister

Chapter 10

As I slowed to a stop sign, I called the number that Kat had called from. It was linked to a payphone that said it was located in Meville Park, about an hour away. I was still mad and confused, and any other stupid emotion that was linked to those. I tried to think to myself. Tried to make myself believe I was overreacting and it was all my fault, but I couldn't help but feel it was part of Claire's- and my father, Janet, Ira, Kat, and my dead mother.

I looked at the the clock on the dashboard as I turned into a gas station at the entrance of Meville Park, which was know for it's drugees and clubs. It was nine almost ten. It took me over an hour to get here because of an accident on the main highway.

I got out of the jeep to fill up the tank. I stood waiting for the gas to fill up since my tank was past empty. There was a couple who walked out of the mini mart attached to the gas station. The girl was tripping over her clear, stripper heels and tightly grasping onto a guy who looked like a body builder. His face was almost annoyed by her, what seemed to be, drunkness. She was laughing and running the hand that wasn't grasped on him over her too short of a party dress, trying to flatten it out. He asked her to settle down but she only seemed to get louder and more confused as they reached his large SUV. He now yelled at her to be quiet and shoved her in the back seat. She landed with a grunt and she squealed when he slammed the door on her plastic heel.

I turned around back to my pump not wanting to get involved. From the distance I could hear her asking him question, clearly not understanding his annoyance with her.

"Shut up you stupid whore!" He yelled as he walked around to the driver's side. I looked at the gas pump, only two gallons in there. Why did it seem to be pumping gas so slow?

"Do what I say or else-" I heard him yell again. I took in a big breath and looked at my watch, anything to make myself look like I wasn't paying attention.

"He's got a gun!" I heard the girl yell, now understanding the situation. I turned around to look but the SUV was already burning rubber down the street.I couldn't help but wonder if that was ever Kat in that situation. I began to feel bad for her.

After what seemed like a life time my tank was filled up to a decent amount and I got back in trying to decide which way to go. I hadn't been to Meville Park that many times since it was basically full of gangs and hookers and now I realized I had no idea where to even begin looking for Kat.

After a second of debating I decided to turn left. I looked as I passed motels and gas stations for a pay phone but still nothing. It was past ten now and I was starting to feel bad. I pulled my hair back with my hands. I drove around a little longer finding a dance club. It didn't look too busy yet considering it was only a little past ten. 

I parked and look around the lot. There was a group of people in the back corner laughing and drinking beer. I got out of the car and decided to walk up to them.

As I got closer they all turned their attention towards me. Three girls and two guys stood there looking at me. They weren't dressed poorly or revealing and looked like high school students.

"Hello." One girl said with heavy black eyeliner.

"Uh, hi." I replied, noticing one guy was moving a bit closer to me.

"Do you need something?" She asked, but not in a rude wasy.

"I'm looking for this girl. She has black hair, lip ring, eye brow piercing..." I tried to remember what she was wearing as she passed me on the stairs early today.

"Yeah, yeah." A guy said. He had a lip ring himself. "She was chilling with this one dude, with a... with a tattoo on his head. Yeah that's right."

"Where at?"

"Piller's."

"Piller's?"

They all looked at me like I was stupid. "The club, right there." The guy said.

"Oh, well do you know if there's a payphone around here?"

"Yeah, right in the front of the club, man."

"Thanks guys." I said turning around towards the club. When I heard footsteps behind me.

"Hey," A girl said with red hair.

"Yeah?"

"Are you talking about Kat?"

"Yes. You know her?"

"I go to school with her. Is she okay?" The girl look genuinly worried.

"I don't know. I'm here to get her."

"Oh, well thank you."

I hesistated. "For what?"

"For getting her. She needs someone to look after her. She's going to get hurt. I mean, she's going to get even more hurt." She looked around the parking lot.

"Do you know her well?" I asked curiously.

"Kind of. I partied with her once. Big mistake. But she probably wouldn't remember my name or my face. Just take her home for me, please."

"I will."

"Thank you, by the way I'm Meg." Just as she said that her group of friends behind her were calling her back over. "I got to go, but thank you again."

I watched her walk back to her friends.

As I walked towards the front of the club I saw the tattoo guy step out the the club's doors and walk over to a bench near the sidewalk. Someone was sitting on it.

I slowed my pace and watched him. Whoever was sitting on the bench was trying to avoid him. The girl began to get up from the bench. She said something to him. I didn't want to see another fight again tonight. He didn't say anything back to her. He just slapped her across the face.

"What do you want from me?" She yelled. I could tell it was Kat's voice. He never answered her he just hit her again, and again. It brought me back to the day at the mall. I began to hate myself. Why didn't I stop him? Why not now and why not then? I could feel Kat's pain almost. I turned the corner and slid down the building's wall and put my head in my hands.

It seemed like almost fifteen minutes when I heard no more of Kat's grunting. I decided to look around the corner. She was alone.

I walked over to her.

"Go away." She said. Her voice sounded so broken.

"It's me, Kat." I bent down to where she was laying on the sidewalk. In the dark I could see a bruise around her eye and a cut on her lip.

"Kyle?" She was shaking.

"Yes, I'm going to bring you home." I scooped in my arms and let her limp body fill my arms as I made my way to the car.

I let her lay across the back seat of the car and closed the door. I noticed the group of teenagers in the back were gone now. I started the car and looked behind the seat at Kat. She was crying. Something I thought she was incapable of.

"Kyle?" She mumbled, almost a whisper.

"Yes?"

"I don't want to go home. What if-" She stopped because of her sobs.

"That's okay. We'll just have to make a stop on our way first."

I pulled into the lot and told Kat to stay in the car. I was sure she was probably passed out anyway. I made my way through the crops and the trees until I got into the field. It was still set up with all of the stuff from just a few hours earlier. Claire must have left without going back. I looked around and grabbed the envelope from my dad and at the last moment I decided to grab the present from Claire. I had a hard time looking back at the field before I left but I did. I knew I would miss this, miss her. Tonight was a mistake, a huge one.

I got back to the car and looked at the address on the card. It was only a couple blocks away from where I was now. I put the car into drive and was on my way down the road, but this time I wasn't leaving Claire behind.