3.30 Back to "normal"
(Tony)
(Tony)
I called Chris before we left the house. He still wasn't very happy about the fact that I hadn't brought Kellie back home last night, but knowing she's finally on her way calmed him down. And before we got in the car I talked to Kellie one last time.
"Listen, Kellie, at least take my phone number and if you ever need help or want to talk about what I had suggested, call me. Day or night. You have nothing to be afraid of from me, I promise."
I called Chris before we left the house. He still wasn't very happy about the fact that I hadn't brought Kellie back home last night, but knowing she's finally on her way calmed him down. And before we got in the car I talked to Kellie one last time.
"Listen, Kellie, at least take my phone number and if you ever need help or want to talk about what I had suggested, call me. Day or night. You have nothing to be afraid of from me, I promise."
She looked me in the eye without blushing this time. "I'm not afraid of you. You found me when I was lost in the desert, you took me to your home, let me sleep in your bed, fed me," she touched the shirt I gave her with her fingertips and smiled, "you even dressed me. But you got the wrong impression about me."
On the contrary, my dear. "Here's the thing, Kellie. I can read people. I'd say I'm quite good at it. And you're actually not very hard to read, because you do not feel comfortable telling lies. Red dress or not I can see who you are and what your strenght is. When you stop hiding from yourself you'll figure it out too. I'm rarely wrong."
She shook her head refusing to accept it. "I can't be who you ask me to be, Tony. I think the girl you're looking for is named Raven Nightshade. She would do what you want. Whether she would make Chris happy is a completely different question. He's very attracted to her though."
I frowned. There has been too many Nightshades hanging around these kids lately. The family was never up to any good. The Nightshades I once knew were dealing in weapons.
It was my turn to shake my head. "No. You're perfect for it, but I guess we can continue this discussion another time, when you change your mind."
"Not gonna happen."
I smiled. "Let's take you home. Chris is waiting for you and I'm sure your mom is worried too. It's actually pretty damn strange that she hasn't called me yet."
When we arrived to Newcrest, Chris was waiting for us at the gate. Kellie saw him, jumped out of the car, threw a "Goodbye, Tony," over her shoulder and darted past my son into the house. Chris barely managed to say hi to her and she was out of earshot.
"Is she alright?" Chris asked me.
"She will be," I said. "And where's your mom? I would have expect her to come here and give me hell about not speaking to her directly about what happened last night."
"She's... errrm... sleeping."
"Sleeping? It's almost 10 a.m. Is she ill?"
"Nah. She's been just too exhausted lately. All those... uhm... wedding preparations seem to be tiring her out."
"Really?" That's weird. Shouldn't she be all excited about the wedding? She's been trying to find herself a decent husband for a long time. "Chris, is your mom happy?"
He looked away. "Yeah. Well... not like when she was with you, but she's content."
"Are you absolutely sure?"
"Positive. Anyway, what exactly happened to Kellie? Where did you find her?"
I told him. "Don't ever let your sister out of your sight like that again, not even for a pretty chick, Chris. She's your responsibility when you're partying or whatever you did last night. Do I have to tell you what can happen to girls like Kellie when they get lost in the middle of the night in an unfamiliar town?"
Chris hung his head. "No, dad."
"She's very beautiful as you must have noticed. She's going to attract various guys, not all of them good. If it wasn't for the Nightshade boy who defended her last night, I would have arrived too late. This must never happen again! And those two sons of bitches, are you going to take care of them or shall I?"
My sons eyes widened. "W-what do you mean take care of them?"
"Teach them a lesson, of course. It has to be done. Vermin like them can't be allowed to get away with it. I would incapacitate them for a few weeks at least."
"I- I will do it. I'll take some of my friends and we'll... work them over."
"That's my boy. They'll be probably sticking together after what they did. Be smart. Separate them from each other and don't let anyone see you beating them up."
"Okay dad. I... I have to go now. Thank you for saving Kellie and... for your advice."
"Anytime, son. Anytime."
* * * * *
(Chris)
I went upstairs to check on Kellie. We needed to talk about what happened yesterday. But when I knocked on her door she wasn't answering. I knew she was in there.
"Kellie? Can I come in, please?"
Nothing.
I went upstairs to check on Kellie. We needed to talk about what happened yesterday. But when I knocked on her door she wasn't answering. I knew she was in there.
"Kellie? Can I come in, please?"
Nothing.
I tried the door handle, but the door was locked. Kellie never locked her door. Why would she do it now?
"Kellie? Can we talk?"
What was going on with my sister? I wanted her back. I wanted back my best friend. I knocked again.
"Are you alright, sis? If you don't let me know you're okay, I'll have to go and get mom."
Finally she answered. "Yes. I'm okay. Now leave me alone, please."
I tried again to talk to her over the door, but it was to no avail. She wouldn't open. I want the old Kellie back.
* * * * *
(Kellie)
When Chris finally left, I slid into my old clothes, pulled my hair into a ponytail and put on my favourite glasses. I expected to feel comforted by my old familiar appearance. But I didn't. I looked at myself in the mirror. This is the real me, I thought. Except that it wasn't. The old skin didn't fit. I wasn't this easy girl anymore nor was I the girl in the red dress, although I felt that despite having thrown the dress away I still wore a piece of it inside me. Who am I now?
When Chris finally left, I slid into my old clothes, pulled my hair into a ponytail and put on my favourite glasses. I expected to feel comforted by my old familiar appearance. But I didn't. I looked at myself in the mirror. This is the real me, I thought. Except that it wasn't. The old skin didn't fit. I wasn't this easy girl anymore nor was I the girl in the red dress, although I felt that despite having thrown the dress away I still wore a piece of it inside me. Who am I now?
So much happened in last two days. I will never forget the look in Max's eyes when he held me on that bridge. The viciousness and determination to hurt me. I've never been so scared in my life. If Thomas didn't show up... Then I ran and ran until I tripped and fell and couldn't ran any further. I didn't even know what happened back there on the bridge or how Tony found me. Thank the Watcher he did. Chris called him. Chris... I'll have to come out of this room and face him, eventually. But not yet.
Then there was the kiss, of course. And Kristi and Raven and who knows who else, that saw me kiss my brother. And I thought my life sucked before. Now it's a complete disaster. What am I going to do? Quit whining would do for a start.
What was it Tony said? You have such a potential. I wish you could see it.
I went back to the mirror. What did he see?
I unfastened my hair. I had to admit that looking nice for a while wasn't all bad. Perhaps if I made few changes and kept something of my old self... There. Maybe radical change was not for me, but I could change few things and be still me.
I can see who you are and what your strenght is. When you stop hiding from yourself you'll figure it out too.
I'm sorry, Tony. I still need to hide. In my room, behind my glasses. However, I will try to look for the strength you were talking about, because I feel I'll need loads of it in the days to come. But I won't try to influence Chris to abandon his legacy.
I know something in me is different now. The little piece of red fabric grown into my soul, reminding me of what people are capable of when they think no one can see them and that I never want to feel as helpless as that night. You have to take care of yourself, Kellie, because no one else will do it. When we face danger we are all on our own. Always remember that.