Torn

Chapter 1

Kat! Kat come on you're going to be late to school!" John yelled the next morning.

I was in my room finishing up my make-up as I did every morning before he decided to yell. I never really understood the yelling seeing as how my school wasn't far from our neighborhood. Besides the cutest girl in the school had to make sure she was looking fabulous right?

"John I'm coming!" I yelled back as I shut my bedroom door and headed downstairs to meet him.

"Man you women and your need to be beautiful." He said as he grabbed his car keys. "Must you always take forever in the mornings?"

I rolled my eyes, "You've got your nerve. I've personally witnessed you staying in the shower for over an hour before going to a rap battle."

He shrugged and opened the front door. "My situation is different Kat…"

"How so?" I asked as I followed him out the door.

"I'm a grown man looking for a wife." He said. "You're a 15 year old girl who happened to be born with all the beauty in the world and doesn't need a man right now."

"Whatever." I said as I headed to his car. "When are you going to teach me how to drive?"

He pointed his car remote and opened the doors. "As soon as you turn 16 Kat, I told you that."

I sighed heavily and opened the passenger door. "All my friends knew how to drive before that…"

"Yes but you are not like the rest of your friends Katrina. You are 15 and until you are 16 you will not get behind the wheel of this car." He said as he got into the car.

I shook my head and got inside of the car. "That's unfair John."

"No It's what's right." He said. "I don't want you driving for another three weeks and I'm only doing it to keep you safe. You need to be worried about getting a job when you turn 16."

I gasped. "I can't work and cheer at the same time John."

"Sure you can…it's called growing up." He said as he started up the car.

I shook my head in disbelief. "Wow."

"Look Kat, you're reaching the age where you want to do more with your life and I get that, but you've got to start helping me out now. I may not be able to win money every single night like I do and it would be nice if you could make your own money and learn to take care of yourself."

I folded my arms, "So do I have to get my own place too?"

"Come on Kat you know I didn't mean it that way." He said. "All I'm saying is you're growing up and I want you to start getting use to adult life a little bit."

I looked at him, seeing something on his face I hadn't seen before. "John? Is everything ok?"

He glanced at me with watery eyes. "I'm sorry…I just can't believe I was able to raise you this long. I wish your mom was here to see the woman you're becoming."

I smiled, "Is this what this has been about?"

"Yeah, I just want to make sure I'm doing everything right and I know working at your age is the best thing for you." He said. "So will you try to find a job when you turn 16?"