Kylie & Kate

Three

The next day, Kate comes in and glares at me, crossing her arms. What now?

"Kylie," she snapped. "Do you want to tell me what you did yesterday?"

Her hazel eyes pierce into me, and I almost spill. "I hung out with Tiffany."

"Yeah, and what did I tell you not to do with her? That you'd already done?"

I rolled my eyes. "Smoke pot. And it's not a big deal, I did it all the time at mom's house."

"So you lied to me? And it is a big deal."

"Well I obviously wasn't going to admit it to you."

"I will not tolerate drugs here, you will not turn out like our mother. Go to your room!"

"Fine!" I stomp back to my room, and scroll on my phone until she joins me.

Kate bends me over her knees on the bed.

"This isn't fair," I say. "I'm not going to end up like mom."

"I know you're not. Because you're not going to do drugs." Kate pulls my jogging pants to my knees.

SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!

She doesn't take my panties down yet.

"Ah," I grunt and squirm on her lap.

Her hand really, really stings. She yanks my panties down.

"Please, Kate, I'm sorry!" I protest, but she continues. "Owwww!"

"You will not," she starts her lecture, each word sent through with a harsh swat. "Do drugs or lie to me in my house, understood?"

"Oww!"

"Understood?"

"Yes ma'am!" I say, hoping she'll let up if I use good manners.

I start crying softly as she stops.

"Lay down on the bed." Kate says, bending to the bottom drawer of my dresser that I don't use. I do what she says.

She pulls out a thick leather belt from the dresser and folds it in half.

"You can't hit me with that!" I say.

"Yes, I can. Now roll over."

Kate places her hand on the small of my back, the belt in her other hand.

"What are you doing? I've had enough!"

"I'll decide that."

WHOOSH! SMACK!

I arch my back and scream, gripping the bedspread in both hands. The belt hurts so much on my already sore bottom, I can't stand it.

"Please! I'm sorry! Owwww!" I sob. Can't she tell that I've had enough?

With one more swat, she stops. Kate sits beside me on the bed and rubs my back until I can stop sobbing. I get up and yank my pants up with a little whimper.

"Kylie, come here."

"No! I hate you and I hate it here!" I yell, walking to the living room, wiping tears from my face.

"Kylie, please. I'm doing what's best for you. Because I care about you."

"No you're just crazy and you want to hurt me!" I scream.

"Kylie, I know you don't understand, but I really am trying to help you."

I sniffle, and sit down on the couch. My head hurts, so I put my head in my hands. Kate's hand gently brushes my back, then rubs it, then pulls me towards her. I realize that I'm really tired so I let her. She comforts me there for a while, until I'm almost asleep.

"Sorry I said I hated you," I mumble. I might not like what she's doing, but I don't hate her. I barely know her.

"It's okay, Kylie. Everything's okay."