Fading Away (Hardest Mistakes #1) (3 page)

CHAPTER 4

Sammy

“Sammy! When did you get a dog?” I spin around to face Caity as she runs up behind me; she’s wearing running shoes and gym clothes, her sweaty red-brown hair tied back from her face. Early this morning I decided I should take Chester for a walk in case anyone recognized him or knew his owners.

Pushing my glasses back up my nose, I smile. “Umm, I’m just looking after him until I can find his owners.” She reaches down to pat his head. Chester snarls at her and she snatches her hand away from him, taking a big step back.

“Aggressive, isn’t he?” She nods to me and turns, jogging away. “Bye, Sammy.” She throws her hand over her shoulder in a wave.

As soon as she’s gone, I look down at Chester. “That wasn’t very nice.” He turns his head and gazes up at me with an innocent look.

We head toward home, passing an electrical goods store on the way; the ones with all the TVs lined up in the windows always playing the news or sport. At first glance I walk right by it, then I do a double take and scurry back to the window; something catching my eye.

There, in the middle of the screen, is a missing person’s photo. Kai Jordan was last seen by his family’s maid after the party on Friday night. Interesting.

I think about it for a split second more before pushing it from my thoughts. Who really cares anyway, he’s probably just run away. Poor baby can’t handle his rich, privileged life anymore.

As I try walking away from the store I’m stopped by the dog; he’s staring intently at the screen, almost as if he can understand what the news reporter is saying. I tug at his lead again and he turns, following me with his head down.

Kai

They’ll never find me, of that I am certain. All the science in the world can’t explain where I am now. Hell, I can’t even explain it. Are my parents worried about me? Are my friends? Ashlee? Or do they think I’ve just run away? I have to find out, but first I have to get away from this silly girl. Apparently her name is Sammy? Sounds familiar, but I don’t dwell on it. She isn’t paying attention to me; maybe I can just tug on the lead really hard and then make a run for it.

She slows to look in the window of another shop and I take it as my chance. Tugging as hard as I can, I wrench the dog lead from her grip and sprint as fast as I can in the opposite direction. Where will my family be? Probably at home, waiting for me to return.

As I turn a corner, I spot Ashlee’s car in a parking lot. I slow to a walk and inch closer; she’s standing on the other side of the car talking to someone, but I can’t quite make out the words. I have to concentrate to understand English, which is stupid seeing as how English is the language I speak.

Sliding along the front bumper, I come into view just in time to catch her lean in and kiss Jacob, my best friend, full on the mouth. What the hell? The growl slips from my throat before I can stop myself. Both Jacob and Ashlee jump apart and turn toward me, the scream that comes from Ashlee’s throat makes me spin around and keep running.

***

My house is full of activity when I reach it; I’ve never seen so many people at my home before; besides one of Mother’s silly parties, of course. Walking around the back along the fence, I come to the glass sliding door. I stand and look inside, searching for my parents. There, over on the sofa, speaking to one of many police officers. Surely my own parents would recognize me, right?

I start yipping at the glass door, trying to get their attention. Mom looks up with hollow eyes and when she notices me standing at the door, she gets up and slowly walks over to the glass. Gazing up into her sad face, I beg her to recognize me with a whine. A look of confusion passes over her face and she turns to call my father over. When he reaches the door, the expression on his face is full of rage. A police officer steps up beside him and reaches for the door handle, his other hand resting on his gun.

I back up a few steps as dad and the officer step through the door into the backyard. “Get out of here, you monster!” my father suddenly shouts at me, snatching the gun from the officer’s holster and pointing it directly at me. I quickly swivel on my feet and dash for the cover of trees, a shot ringing out behind me and slamming into a tree as I pass. I stop under the dark canopy where no one can see me and turn back to see my father down on his knees, head in his hands, and the officer beside him with a hand on his back. My own parents don’t recognize me and think I’ve run away or I’m dead. This is it, I’m alone.

***

Walking the streets in no particular direction gives me time to think. Where am I supposed to go now? What did I do to deserve this? My thoughts are so clouded I don’t hear the sound of a van slowing down beside me; it’s only when it stops and the door slams that I glance up.

A man with a long pole is following me up the sidewalk. I quicken my steps and so does he. I turn a corner and come to a dead end. The man stops behind me at the entrance to the alley. Suddenly I’m scared. I growl a warning at the approaching man. His pole swings around and before I know what’s happened, I’m being dragged back toward his van by the choker around my neck.

The drive doesn’t take long. Once there, I’m shoved into a small cage beside another feral, barking dog. The man sneers at me and leaves for his little office in the next room. I look at the latch on my cage. Opposable thumbs would be so helpful right now.

Sammy

I return to my apartment later than I expected. I’ve been out all afternoon looking for Chester, he just took off on me and now I’m worried; of course, he isn’t my dog and he probably found his way home or something, but I miss his company already. The loneliness presses in on me as I head for the shower. I’m not even hungry, but I made a promise to Kathy.

The house smells of baby powder when I enter. Kathy hears me and calls out for me to set the table before sitting down. David sits down across from me and straps Connor into his baby chair. He throws me a dirty look as Kathy enters the room with the roast and places it on the table.

“So Sammy, tell us about your week? How was school?” Kathy asks, oblivious to the dark looks David sends my way. I really don’t like awkward family dinners.

“Nothing to tell really, you know how boring I am.” I pause to think, I have to tell her something or she’ll worry. “Oh, Caity’s hiring a new person to help me with weekend work at the coffee shop. A college student, I think.”

She smiles. “That’s great, darling. You ladies could use the help. Who is it?”

“No idea, it’ll be a surprise, I guess. How has Connor been this week?” I ask to change the subject. She can talk about her baby boy for hours. I don’t really feel like having to make proper conversation tonight.

When dinner and dessert have been eaten, I decide to help Kathy in the kitchen rather than sit, glaring at David watching sports on TV with Connor. She’s bustling around putting things away when I walk in. I take a seat on a bar stool and stay out of her way to watch her. She asks me a few more questions about school before I decide it’s time for me to leave. My social skills are seriously lacking.

***

I’m woken on the sofa by the sunlight streaming through my kitchen window. Still half asleep, I glance over at the clock and jerk upright. I’m going to be late for school. I dash around and get dressed in record time, snatching my bag from the kitchen table. I sprint out the door to my car.

As soon as I make it to my first class I can feel it, today is going to be a long one. Everyone, including the teachers, are either mourning Kai or making nasty comments or rumors about him. Some even whisper about Dylan, who is still in the hospital. For once, absolutely
no one
notices me, no whispers, and no insults. It’s kind of refreshing.

Kai’s parents have the whole town out searching, but in the meantime, they are holding a memorial this Friday for all his friends and family. What if he’s still alive, though? He probably just ran away.

I sit with my lunch tray at a lone table at the edge of the cafeteria and peek over at Kai’s friends. Their laughter echoes through the morbidly quiet room, making some people stare or even glare over at them. He’s been missing what? Three days? Disgusting. I’m the first to admit he was a dick, but that’s just insensitive and rude.

Kai

I feel like I’m suffocating; the bars press in on me and push the air from my lungs. I know what’s going to happen if I stay here, but how am I supposed to escape?

Laying my head on my paws, I close my eyes to block out the symphony of loud animal noises around me. The man who caught me is in his office watching TV. I can hear the news reporter’s voice from here, something catches my attention. I have to concentrate to understand what she’s saying.

“The search for Kai Jordan, 18, from Miakoda Falls, comes to another inconclusive close today. The search will continue tomorrow. Any volunteers are asked to contact the police station before 8 a.m. Kai went missing five days ago; he was last seen at his home in Adaman Drive. Mr. and Mrs. Jordan will hold a public memorial for Kai’s many classmates, teachers and family to attend at the Miakoda Falls Church of Faith this Friday at...”

I tune out and open my eyes. So that’s it then, they obviously believe I’m dead if they’re holding a memorial. I’m truly alone now.

The burly man strolls past my cage and kicks the door, making me jump. I lift my lip in a half-hearted snarl. He must not like his job very much. I watch him walk out to the front office, a satisfied smirk on his lips. I close my eyes and doze off, thinking. Maybe I should just give up.

“Chester.” I jerk my head up at the sighed name. Sam appears in front of my cage with a relieved smile on her face. The dogcatcher stands behind her with a sneer. How did she find me? “Come on,” she says, opening the door and slipping a lead over my head.

“I missed you,” she tells me as we walk out to her car. The thing looks like it could die at any moment and the ride to her home makes me sick. I’m whining to be let out by the time she pulls up.

She lets us into her living quarters and walks over to the kitchen, filling a bowl of water and placing it on the floor for me. I lap it up greedily, my throat is so dry. Once full, I sit back and watch her walk around the kitchen preparing food.

Sammy

I hum the song stuck in my head while I start preparing pasta for dinner. I’m already attached to Chester, I’m so glad I found him. He makes my apartment feel less lonely.

The pasta bubbles on the stove and a little whine escapes him. He must be hungry. I turn and grab a can of dog food from the shelf above the stove and empty it into a bowl. I place the bowl on the floor; he sniffs it and turns away with a huff.

“What kind of dog doesn’t like dog food?” I ask him, taking the pasta off the stove and draining it before dishing it into a bowl full of white sauce to take back to the sofa. “I don’t have anything else to give you.”

I sit and start spooning hot pasta into my mouth. He walks over and lies down with a sigh that’s so comical I nearly spit pasta all over his head. Do dogs sigh in disappointment? I lean over and scratch behind his ear, his tail twitches slightly.

Kai

Sam shakes her head at me and slides into her bed, placing her glasses on the nightstand as she settles in. It almost feels as if I owe her or something. If she hadn’t come looking for me, I’d probably be on death row. I don’t want to feel that alone again. Trotting over to her bed, I jump up and curl up on the blanket at her feet.

“Hey!” she shouts in surprise. “Get off.” I don’t have to concentrate to know what she’s saying. She nudges me with her foot. When that doesn’t work, she kicks harder. I’m not budging. I may look like a dog, but I’m human and I’m not sleeping on the floor. She exhales loudly and mutters an insult under her breath as she lays back, getting comfortable. If I could smile, I would. I win.

***

The day of my memorial arrives almost unnoticed. Sam sleeps in, so I assume they’ve given everyone the day off. I can only guess at the amount of people from school who will show up. The church courtyard won’t be big enough. A small groan comes from under the covers and I turn to nudge at the hand hanging off the bed. If she doesn’t get up now, she’ll be late.

“Okay, okay. I’m up.” Her voice is muffled by the blankets, so I concentrate to hear the rest. “I don’t know why they’re even doing this, he’s not dead.” Thank you, I nod. “He’s run away because his privileged life got too much for him to handle.” Wait, what? What the hell did I ever do to her? She obviously didn’t care about me. Fine. I huff and leave for the kitchen while she changes. Some people are so rude, honestly.

She emerges a moment later in black jeans and a dark top. Fumbling with her car keys, she heads for the door and then looks back at me. “Do you want to come for a walk? I’ll tie you to the church fence when we get there.” She grabs the lead and I follow her out. It’s not every day you get to attend your own memorial.