Imbalanced

Chapter Three

          I gasped. It was impossible. He had found me. After all these years, here he was, standing just a few feet away. “Daddy?” I whispered, scared the moment would disappear if I spoke any louder.

Suddenly I felt like I was six years old again, like nothing had happened, like nothing had changed. It was me and my dad. And I needed him now more than anything. I needed to hear him say ‘I love you’ one more time, I needed his arms to embrace me like they used to; I needed him to save me.

Before I could run over to him or he to me, the door slammed into me, pushing me to the floor and in walked Kenzie, looking as high and mighty as ever. Her hair was pinned back today in a low bun. She always wore her long red hair like that on days she felt irritated and like breaking a few arms. She looked more bossy and important in her black suit when her hair was back; it made her face look even fiercer and stone cold.

She smirked at my crumbled self on the floor but other than that ignored me for the most part. She kicked my leg as she walked past me and towards Garret –my dad. I narrowed my eyes at her, wishing I had a bat right about this time.

“Garret, I have something I need you to take care of for me.” Kenzie’s voice poured out like honey, making me want to throw up. My eyes softened as I looked at my dad. He glanced at me briefly, looking apologetic before he turned his full attention on Kenzie. His whole demeanor changed cold and hard the very moment he looked at her, not letting off any emotion.

I stood, about to leave. As much as I wanted to hug my dad and cry and whine about all the crappy stuff Kenzie had put me through I definitely didn’t want Kenzie around when I did.

“Meet Jarred.” Kenzie said at the time as a boy walked into the room. My breath caught as I took him in. He was tall, really tall. His brown hair was shaggy, almost as if he needed to get it cut as ended just above his brow line, but he made it work. He had big blue eyes that looked really bright against his tan skin and dark hair. It was an odd color for hair color but none the less gorgeous.

I knew if I stared to long I’d get lost in his eyes. Before that could happen though, I let my eyes travel down the rest of him. He was very well built, obviously an athlete of some sort. He was wearing a tight fitted black t-shirt and light khaki shorts, doing nothing to hide the well-toned muscles that lie underneath.

I caught myself blushing as I remembered how pathetic I looked compared to him. Although I felt sorry he was stuck here to, I couldn’t help but be happy that I’d have someone my age around here. The only one closest to my age here right now was a girl who was only 13, four years younger than me.

I then remembered I’d be leaving here soon, hopefully, and frowned. Knowing Garret was my dad changed everything. This new guy would be stuck here, practically alone. “Did you hear me Shay?” Kenzie’s sharp tone cut through my thoughts, cold as a knife. “Meet me in the basement after you eat.” She didn’t let me answer her question, obviously knowing I hadn’t heard a word she’d said before.

Suddenly I thought I was going to be sick. I didn’t want to go back down there. As if sensing my fear, the boy –Jarred- put a hand on my arm, reassuring me. He was giving me a sad smile, full of pity. Yeah, I thought to myself, just wait, you’ll be down there soon enough. At that thought I quickly exited the room, hating myself instantly. I shut the door behind me.

I decided to skip breakfast, something I never did, but something told me my stomach wouldn’t be able to handle any more food at the moment. The apple had been enough.

Back in the girls room I curled into my small cot, trying to think everything over. I couldn’t get a grip on one thought. So much was happening, between having an escape chance and being reunited with my dad again but still having to live though Kenzie’s torments again, I wasn’t too sure how I’d be able to pull myself together. But I had to; I had to pull myself together. I’d help it together so far, I wasn’t about to fall apart now. Things were starting to look up finally, aside from Kenzie and her evil ways. Maybe it was time to start a new chapter in my messed up life, one controlled by me, not Kenzie and her puppets.