Exposing Kitty Langley (3 page)

I glanced over in time to find her
pulling her hair out. I mean literally pulling her hair out! “What in the world
are you doing?!” I asked in shock, trying to keep my eyes on the road.

“I’m getting rid of everything that
stands for the old Kitty,” she said, unhooking something in her hair, and after
a few short minutes, pulled a heap of auburn hair free in her hands. “This is
the old Kitty, and I never want to be that Kitty again.” She smiled as she
rolled down the window and let her fake hair fly out into the wind.

She then began poking her fingers in
her eyes, pulling the contacts out one at a time, flipping them off her finger
and letting them fly into the evening air.

What she did next surprised me yet
further. She pushed the button that rolled back my sunroof and stood, feet
straddling our seats, and stuck her head out of the roof. “I’m free!” she
yelled at the top of her lungs, laughing exuberantly.

I had to concentrate extra hard at
not wrecking. This girl was a total loon! Did Trent knock something loose when
he smacked her?

“Could you please come back in so I
won’t wreck the car? That’s sure to put a damper on your newly found freedom.”

She climbed back in but looked
different, not the somber girl as before, but happy, refreshed, and she
looked—pretty. Her big eyes were no longer sky blue, but green as the sea. I
could make them out from where I was seated in the dark car, they almost glowed.
Her hair was down, but instead of being to her waist, it now hung just below
her shoulders in soft curls. I was surprised yet again by this petite girl sitting
across from me; the girl with the green eyes and the most luscious lips I’ve
ever seen. My eyes would’ve been drawn to them had I not needed to keep my eyes
on the road.

She told me where to go and soon we
were parked in front of her house. “Thanks for bringing me home, Reed. I don’t
know how to thank you.”

“No problem. How are you gonna get
your car?”

“Oh, I’ll make something up and Mom
will take me to get it tomorrow.” She hesitated for a moment. “Well, here is
your jacket back, and Reed, thanks for listening.”

“You’re welcome, but you keep the
jacket until Monday.” That statement was as much for me as her.

“Oh, thanks.”

“No problem. What will you do on
Monday?”

“I’m not sure. For whatever reason
I’ve been given a second chance, but I fear it’s gonna come at a cost, but
whatever happens I deserve it.”

I started to respond but she darted
from the car and made her way around the front. When she passed my headlights,
I was really glad I’d made her keep the jacket. She was small, but not too
skinny, still curvy, with creamy, pale skin. It was almost too much. I fought
to forget how it felt to hold her in my arms. What was I doing? This was Kitty Langley
we’re talking about. I must’ve been totally insane to entertain any thoughts of
this girl. For all I knew the whole night had been a set up by her—to get
attention or something. I wouldn’t have put it past her. It wasn’t much like me
to get suckered by some damsel in distress, and this one was sure to bring
nothing but trouble.

I was about to pull away when I
noticed her walking past her front door and sneaking around the back of the
house. What was she doing now? Curiosity got the best of me. I cut the car off
and got out, following her around the house. I found her trying to lift a ladder
against the roof. I hurried to grab it from her before it fell on top of her.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

She looked over at me in surprise.
“Well, I can’t very well go in the front door in my underwear, now can I? How
am I gonna explain that to my parents, who by the way, are waiting up for me?
Please don’t look up.”

Before I could answer she began
scurrying up the ladder toward the flat roof outside of what I assumed was her
bedroom window. I made sure not to look up, but I was tempted.

She whispered down to me. “Do you
mind putting the ladder back beside the house over there?”

“Sure.”

“Thanks. I’ll see ya,” she called,
waving.

I looked up then, and a sweet smile
covered her face. “Yeah, I’ll see ya.”   

When I was back in the car, I pulled
out my phone and called Haley, bracing myself for the tongue-lashing I was sure
to get. “Hey, it’s me. I know, I know, but I have a very good explanation, and
you’re not gonna believe what it is.”

Kitty

I was so glad to be back in the
safety, not to mention warmth, of my familiar bedroom. At least here I could be
myself. I went straight into my bathroom and decided on a hot bath instead of a
shower. Maybe I could wash away the memories from the horrific night. No such
luck; the evening replayed itself in my brain like a film on instant flashback
mode. I kept seeing Trent’s angry face as he charged after me. What was it he
had said again? It was something about humiliating him at his party. I was sure
it was some setup by the B’s. I needed to find out what they did so I could set
it right. But that was the least of my worries.

As I lay there, emerged to my ears
in hot water and bubbles, I tried to clear my mind from all the images from the
dance, but one image seemed to haunt me: that kiss!

Reed Reynolds! He moved to our town
right before the school year began and would easily be classified as the most
handsome guy in the school; he’s tall, with wavy, sandy blonde hair, and
beautiful eyes of possibly the bluest color I’d ever seen. If his eyes weren’t
enough there were his lips. His top lip was perfectly shaped, and his bottom
lip was slightly full and pouty. To all the girls’ disappointment, they quickly
learned that he was a little shy and way too focused on his music to be
bothered by girls. He hung out with a small group of people, including a girl
named Haley. I often thought they were a couple, but everyone said no—that he
wasn’t interested in her like that. But at the dance, after the kiss, he called
me Haley. If he was kissing her then they were definitely a couple. Oh well, it
was for the best. I knew my life was about to become a nightmare. It was
foolish to even think about bringing any guy into the equation. After what he
did for me, the last thing I wanted was for him to be hurt because of me. 

After my bath I went downstairs to
say goodnight to Mom and Dad.

“Kitty,” Mom said in surprise, “when
did you get home?”

I had a story already thought out,
and part of it was true. “Oh, well a friend brought me home because I wasn’t
feeling well. I came in the door. I guess you guys didn’t see me. I hope you
can give me a ride to get my car tomorrow.”

“Of course, dear. Is everything all
right? You look pale. And your lip?”

“Oh yeah, well I ran into the back
of someone at the dance and bit my lip. I’m fine. Nothing a little rest won’t
cure.” Boy how I wished that were true. “Goodnight.” I kissed them both on the
cheek and headed off to bed.

The next morning, after I got
dressed and had breakfast, Mom took me to the school to pick up my car. I
spotted my flat tires as soon as we pulled into the parking lot. As we got
closer, however, I realized that not only were all four tires slashed, but a
deep scratch ran along the driver’s side of my door.

My mom gasped. “Kitty, your car! Who
would do such a thing?”

I sighed, trying to fight the tears
that sprang to my eyes. “It could’ve been anybody, Mom. My car was left here
overnight. That alone is enough to invite destruction. It’s my fault. I should’ve
known better.”

“Oh honey. It’s not your fault. You
weren’t feeling well. No one deserves this. We’ll have to call your dad and see
if he’ll arrange to get it fixed.” She whipped out her phone and called him. He
was upset. I could tell that from where I stood. I didn’t blame him though.

“He’s sending someone to pick it up
and put some new tires on it for you. He said they’d have it ready later this
afternoon. I’m afraid the scratch will be a little harder to fix. You’re going
to have to live with that for a while longer. I’m sorry, honey.”

“It’s fine, Mom. I think I’ll live.”

“You’re handling this very well. Are
you sure you’re all right?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” I knew she could
hear the sadness in my voice but thankfully didn’t persist.

That night I had a difficult time
sleeping, and all too soon the morning came. I dragged my feet out of bed and
wished that somehow I didn’t have to face the day, but I had brought it all
upon myself. No one could take my punishment for me. I was in this totally
alone.

I slowly nibbled on a Pop Tart as I
fixed my shorter hairstyle straight and loose about my shoulders. I added just
a touch of makeup, a stroke of blush, and a dab of lip-gloss, careful when
stroking it across my sore lip. I squeezed into my size two faded jeans, pulled
on my favorite lavender top, and laced up my Chuck Taylor’s, just before
heading out the door and into the beginning of what was sure to be a horrendous
day.

Reed

“Who are you waiting on? Let me
guess—Kitty Langley,” Haley said, her voice traced with contempt.

“No!” I retorted. “I’m just sittin’
here waiting on the bell to ring, like every other morning.”

“Yeah, except you can’t take your
eyes off the parking lot.”

Then I spotted a white Toyota Camry
pulling slowly into the parking lot and even slower into a parking space. Haley
followed my gaze as I watched the door open and a small girl step out.

“I’ll be right back,” I said,
jumping down from the wall and heading toward her.

“I told you!” she yelled out to
me—then stomped off in a huff.

Kitty looked good, but cautious,
walking with her head down.

“Hey,” I said, stepping up to her.

She glanced up then. “Oh hey, Reed.
You shouldn’t talk to me.”

I gazed down at her, her big eyes
sad. “And why not? I just want to make sure you’re better.”

“I’m better, but not for long. I
have a big, red target painted on me, remember? You’d better stay clear of me.
Have a nice life, Reed. Oh, and here.”

Before I could respond she shoved my
jacket in my hands and walked away without even so much as a backward glance.

I was confused by her behavior.
Didn’t she need a friend more than ever? Not that I wanted to be her friend
exactly, but she seemed so fragile—so vulnerable—and so dang sad. I didn’t like
what those emotions were doing to me; drawing out feelings I wasn’t accustomed
to having. Oh well, it was her life, what did I care?

Later, I was making my way to the
cafeteria when I heard a commotion. “Reed, there you are!” Haley said,
breathless, but amused. “Kitty Langley is getting the crap beat out of her by
some guy. I thought I heard someone say it was Trent Alexander.”

“What!” I rushed toward the small
crowd that had gathered on the cafeteria lawn and forced my way in front. Trent
had Kitty pressed against a tree, yelling at her. She looked afraid. I started
toward her when Trent grabbed her in his hands and threw her to the ground. I
saw pain on her face as she landed hard on her back, her backpack still
attached. She groaned as he stepped closer. I rushed in, grabbing him by the collar
and slamming him into that same tree.

“Leave her alone,” I said, my voice
composed but angry.

He struggled. “She deserves it for
what she did at my party!” he yelled.

“She wasn’t at your party.” I
hesitated for a moment and then blurted out, “She was with me. We’re together
now. We were trying to keep it a secret from the B’s.”

His eyes widened in surprise. “What?
Are you sure?”

“Of course I’m sure. Whatever
happened at your party you can bet the B’s are behind it. They have it in for
Kitty now.”

He seemed confused. “I-I thought Kitty
was one of them.”

“Not anymore.”

He looked over at Kitty, still lying
on the ground, her face full of surprise. “Kitty, is that true?”

She spoke through her pain. “Yes. I
wasn’t at your party.”

His eyes grew wide with surprise and
then shame. “I-I don’t know what to say. I’m so sorry. I was sure—” He went to Kitty
and offered her his hand. She was hesitant but took it. He pulled her to her
feet.

She moaned under her breath. “The
B’s are very clever, Trent. I’m sure whatever they did they made sure you
thought it was me who was responsible.”

“Well, I’ll get to the bottom of
this somehow—and they’ll pay for this.”

The bell rang and he reluctantly
turned and left her there. The others had already begun to disperse. Several
teachers had rushed to the scene as the bell rang and the crowd cleared. Not
finding anything to be concerned about, they followed the students into the
building.

“Kitty, are you all right?” I asked,
taking hold of her arm.