• Chapter 8: After the Game

    The bus pulled into the parking lot as Kauri wondered where she should go. She couldn’t stay at the school, and she knew it. She watched as all of her friends trickled out of the school’s property. She sat there alone, wondering what she was going to do.
    Mrs.Halson, the assistant director, approached her. “Is your ride coming?”
    “Yea, I thought they were. I don’t know where they are.”
    “Do you need a phone?” she offered, opening her purse and searching.
    “No, I’ll get mine. Thank you, though.” Kauri pulled out her phone and her mind began to work as quick as it could. She pressed the numbers and panicked. She hoped she wouldn’t be denied, since she would be stuck if they said no. She stepped far away from Mrs.Halson so she wouldn’t know what was happening.
    “Hello?” Cameron’s voice answered.
    “Cameron, I totally understand if you say no, but can you pick me up? I’ll explain everything when you get here. You’ve done so much, don’t think you have to pick me up.” Kauri began to tear up thinking about what had happened before she had arrived at the school.
    “Yea, I’m on my way. It’ll be 10 minutes.”
    “Thank you SO much! You’re the best! You’ve been so much help lately!”
    “Yea, yea, yea. Whatever. Thank me after I’m there, before you tell me why I’m driving back to the school again.”
    “Mrs.Halson, you don’t have to wait. They’ll be here in about 10 minutes,” Kauri turned her attention back to the teacher. “Sorry for keeping you here. There was a… misunderstanding.”
    “Oh, it’s no problem at all,” Mrs.Halson politely replied. “I can wait 10 more minutes. I’ll just tell everyone at home someone’s ride didn’t show.”
    Kauri sat on the pavement outside the school, waiting patiently. The little green car pulled up next to her and she opened the door. She sat down in the front seat and immediately turned to Cameron, who was already staring at her.
    “Explain. Now.”
    Kauri sighed. She took her stuff and threw the bags over her shoulder into the back seats. “Ok, just drive to the nearest woods. I’ll explain why on the way.” Cameron stepped on the gas and left the parking lot. “My dad was hitting me again. After he was done, he told me I wasn’t welcome in the house any longer,” Kauri explained, tears streaming from her eyes. “I have a tent and everything. Just drop me off and I’ll set everything up.”
    “You’re going to sleep in our guest room tonight. It’s too dark and late for you to set up a tent. We’ll discuss what’s going to happen tomorrow.”
    Kauri glance at the clock to discover it was 11:00. He was right, it was too late. She was going to crash as soon as she saw a bed, and she knew it.
    Once she walked into the house, Cameron went ahead and led her to the guest room. “Oh! I forgot. You can’t stay in there, it’s full of junk. It’s ok, you can sleep on my bed, and I’ll sleep on the couch,” he politely offered.
    “No, I’ll sleep on the couch. It’s YOUR bedroom, after all.”
    “Ok, I can give you 3 reasons why I’ll sleep on the couch. 1. YOU’RE the guest. 2. YOU’RE pregnant, and 3. I PROMISED you a bedroom, so you’re going to get a bedroom. Got it?” Cameron argued.
    “Ok, ok. Sheesh! Calm down,” Kauri replied, walking her way through the halls toward the bedroom.