Rebel With A Cause

by Ashleigh Neame

  But for now, things were too weird between them, and if they wanted to get back on track, they needed to develop a friendship first.

  Knowing this, Kaitlyn moved away, and Carter grudgingly let her. She wiped away her silent tears and smiled up at him.

  “You know, we haven’t been to the races lately. Is there one tonight? You know we need some money to do this place up.”

  He rolled his eyes. “You’re not going to the races. You’re either staying here, or going to stay with your parents.”

  He noticed Kaitlyn’s face fall. “What?” he asked nervously.

  “My parents broke up,” she whispered. “The same day we did.”

  Carter gulped. He felt even guiltier now. He should never have left her. Ever. He should have held on and never let go.

  But it was too late for should haves. All either of them could do now was move forward, and forget the past.

  “That sucks,” he said finally.

  She shrugged. “It’s not so bad. At first it was horrible, but mum says it’s not my fault, and she’s always been honest with me.”

  He didn’t know what to say.

  “Anyway, it’s all in the past. I’m going to focus on right now, and right now, we have a house to fix up.”

  He looked around. “Yeah, I guess, but we left my bed behind. Where are we going to sleep tonight?”

  After a short, awkward pause, followed by a session of hysterical laughter, they finally decided on them both sleeping on the airbed. Carter swore he would keep his hands to himself.

  Kaitlyn smiled at him. “Coolies. It’s like a sleepover then, but now all we need is some DVD’s and popcorn.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Sure.”

  She grinned. “I vote we go up the road and rent some DVD’s. How about it?”

  He shook his head. “Not tonight. We can unpack, and then I’m going to the races. I’m gonna go win some money so we can completely remodel this place. You can start making some plans.”

  She frowned. “So you get to go out and I have to stay home? That’s so not fair.”

  He looked at her sharply. “Katie, you know it’s best for you to stay away from that scene for now. De is gonna be pissed, and I don’t want him anywhere near you.”

  She scowled. “I know. But I’m the hottest girl in the circuit, and if I’m not careful, some newbie, wannabe, chick is going to come in and steal my spot. That’s not cool.”

  He sighed and pulled her in for a hug. “Katie, no one could ever replace you. And besides, you’re too cool for the racing scene anyway.”

  She rolled her eyes. “If you say so.”

  “I do say so.” He let her go and stroked the hair off her face. “Hell, even I’m getting sick of it.”

  “Then why do you go?”

  He dipped his head and bit his lip. “I need the money. I have to remodel this house, get enough money for the betting at the races in case I lose-“

  “Which you won’t,” Kaitlyn interjected.

  He grinned. “Thanks for the vote of confidence. But like I was saying, I need money in case I do lose. I also need money to keep up with you shopping habits.”

  She laughed. “I am not that bad. Besides, we’re not together, so you don’t need to keep paying for my wardrobe. I can get a job. I’m not totally useless you know.”

  Carter shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t mind. You’re the only girl I’ve ever wanted to be with, for real. It’s my screw ups that broke us up.”

  She rolled her eyes. “This is too serious for a night like this. We’ve got the rest of the afternoon to unpack, and that’s taxing enough as it is without your need for serious talking all the time. And since when did you start being all serious anyway?”

  He looked her in the eyes and grabbed her small hands in his. “Since the night before I dumped you.”

  She pulled her hands away. Now was not the time. She was still hurting over that, and just because she came to him for help, didn’t mean she was ready for this talk. It simply meant that she had nowhere else to go.

  “Katie,” he tried again, “I just want us to get back on track. I love you, and I realise now how dumb I was to ever let you go.”

  She stepped back angrily and snapped at him. “God, Carter, this isn’t you! You’re a jerk who messes with me by sleeping around, that’s you. That’s how I know you. Stop being all serious, it’s just not who you are. Not the Carter I know, anyway.”

  He was saddened by her outburst. “That was a lie, Katie. It was all a cover up. I was so scared of losing you, I pretended like I didn’t care. But I always loved you, Katie, always. Ever since we first met.”

  She didn’t want to think of it, but her brain decided she needed to remember that night.

  She was such a good girl back then. She was a straight A student, and that day she had won an award in assembly for her excellent grades.

  Her best friend Amber had an older brother who was friends with T-Man. Amber’s brother was thinking of becoming a street racer, and had been invited to a party where he could get acquainted with the scene. Amber and Kaitlyn had decided to sneak out and tag along.

  Neither of them thought they would come to any harm, but after a few drinks, both girls were plastered. It turned out neither of them could hold their liquor really well back then.

  Kaitlyn had let loose. After spending most of her evenings studying, the alcohol had given her a much deserved break. She’d released her inhibitions, and started to live a little.

  She hit it off with one of the guys she’d danced with earlier that night. He had monopolized her for the rest of the night, and she’d eventually gone home with him.

  In the morning, he was really sweet to her, and a few days later she was back at his house, sober. They had stayed up talking, and that’s when she realised she’d fallen for him, hard. It hadn’t taken long.

  Looking back, Kaitlyn surmised that it was his stereotypical bad boy charm that attracted her. After being so restrained for most of her childhood, Carter had seemed like a break from the norm.

  She didn’t know then that he would lead her into a world full of mistrust and danger.

  Looking at Carter, she realised how clichéd their life was. The good girl fell for the bad boy, only to be hurt by him.

  But unlike the cliché, she didn’t want to change Carter. If he wasn’t a bad boy when she met him, she wouldn’t have been attracted to him. She loved him for who he was, not who he could or should be.

  “Just, stop. Stop trying to convince me, Carter. I know you loved me, but you treated me like trash these past few months. Don’t mess with me anymore.”

  He looked crushed. “How did we get here, Katie? I know I messed up here and there, but I never wanted us to be like this.”

  Kaitlyn bit her lip in a desperate attempt to stop the tears. She had cried enough for Carter, and since he dumped her, she’d turned from a ‘get revenge’ kind of girl to a lovesick teenager. It wasn’t who she was, and not who she wanted to be.

  But the heart didn’t seem to care when you were in love. Now, all she wanted was to be back in Carter’s arms.

  “I should go find another guy, just to get back at you,” she said. “You were a jerk, and I lost count of how many girls you cheated on me with.”

  “I wish I hadn’t done that, Katie.” He was going to plead with her again. She held up a hand to stop him.

  “Shut it, Carter. I’m here because I have nowhere else to go, because thanks to you, I fucked up my life. I love you, but I’m done.”

  She walked out, slamming the door behind her. She needed to get her life back on track.

  She wandered down the road to the park, glad to find it deserted. She sat down on a swing and began to plan her return to straight A student.

  She didn’t like who she was now.

  Chapter 12

  She pretended to be asleep when he finally came home. Carter had gone out to the races as planned, and she’d stayed at home, unpacking. She was furious w
ith Carter for telling her what to do, but also slightly awed. He had never really seemed to care about her before.

  She felt the bed dip slightly as Carter climbed on. They were sleeping on the crappy airbed as planned, but tomorrow they would get started on making this house a proper home.

  As per his highness’ request, she had made a list of everything that needed fixing, replacing or updating. Unfortunately, there was quite a lot on that list.

  Carter had fallen asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow, and she willed herself to sleep a short while after. When she woke, she could smell pancakes.

  She walked out into the kitchen, where Carter was leaning against the counter, eating what looked like a bacon and egg breakfast muffin.

  “I think I’m going to go and see my mum today,” she announced, not looking him in the eye.

  He swallowed. “Why?”

  She shrugged. “Mum started out as an interior designer, she has contacts. If I asked her nicely, she could pull some strings to get this house finished in about a week.”

  Carter studied Kaitlyn. She was evading his eyes, and he didn’t like it. He meant what he said about being friends with her.

  “Ok,” he said easily. He knew if he pushed the matter further she’d close up on him more than she already had. “Do you want my car? I have to go and pick yours up from T-Man’s, as well as the rest of your stuff.”

  “You don’t have to do that,” she said quietly. “I can go and get it.”

  He took another bite of his muffin and watched as she began to eat the pancakes he’d bought for her earlier this morning.

  “I don’t mind, Katie,” he said casually, swallowing another bite of his muffin. “You go and see your family, and I’ll go and grab your stuff.”

  Kaitlyn knew why he was insisting that he would be the one go and get her stuff back. It was like Deangelo was right there with them, silently mocking them. It made Katie wonder where she and Carter would be if De hadn’t attacked her.

  She still couldn’t believe that De had attacked her.

  She sucked in a breath. “Ok, you go. I’m just gonna get dressed. I can’t stay in your baggy t-shirts all day.”

  Carter looked her up and down. “I like it.”

  She looked up at him and saw the amused smirk on his face. She grabbed the empty paper bag on the counter, scrunched it up into a ball, and threw it at his head. He pretended to duck and it hit him on the side of the head. He laughed.

  “Just go,” he said, still laughing, “before I change my mind and make you walk.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Whatever, I’m leaving.”

  She walked back into the bedroom and changed into the only clothes she had at the moment, her dirty track pants and singlet combo.

  “Yuck,” she said, walking back out into the lounge to grab the keys. “I feel so disgusting. When are we getting the hot water turned on? And a washing machine?”

  Carter was amused. Everything Kaitlyn did amused him. She was so cute when she was angry. And upset. And happy.

  She was beautiful.

  He shook his head. “Not yet. I’ve gotta go and get your stuff, then find us a hotel for the week. We’re going to strip this place.”

  She nodded and walked out. She jumped into Carter’s car and drove in the direction of her old home. She wondered what life would be like if she had never met Carter. She’d still be at home, preparing for university, babysitting Jordy and getting good grades. She had no idea if her parents would still be together though.

  She missed the old days. She missed being the good girl. She was that girl at heart, but she wasn’t so innocent or naïve anymore. The past few weeks were proof of that. She was hardening up, when she didn’t want to.

  God, get a grip, she thought bitterly. A few weeks ago she was the most sought after girl in the racing circuit. She was adored.

  Not anymore. Things seemed to have gone downhill since Bekah came into the picture. She was Carter’s only living relative, and her return must have had an impact on him.

  She blamed this all on Bekah. If Bekah hadn’t come into the picture, Deangelo wouldn’t have attacked her. She’d still be Carter’s main girl, and Marcus’ bit on the side.

  By the time she arrived at her old house, she’d managed to calm down a bit. She knew it wasn’t Bekah’s fault De did that to her, but blaming them both felt good.

  “Mum?” she called, letting herself in. “Mum? You home?”

  No answer. She shut the door behind her and locked it again, before dumping her keys into the bowl on the small table next to the door. She kicked off her grimy shoes and jogged up the stairs to her old bedroom. It was exactly as she’d left it; messy, and with school books and stuffed animals all over the desk and bed. She opened her old wardrobe, glad to see that she still had some clothes here, even if they weren’t exactly her style.

  She picked out an old striped maxi dress and some clean underwear. She grabbed a facecloth from one of her dresser drawers and wandered to the upstairs bathroom. She switched on the shower, glad that no one was home, and glad that she could have a hot shower with no one getting suspicious.

  When she was done, she switched the shower off and changed into the dress. She quickly blow-dried her hair and dumped her washing in the laundry hamper.

  She went back into her room and switched on her radio.

  “Icicles drip from his eyes…” she sang along quietly.

  The song was a symbol of the way she felt. It was an old song, but one of her favourites. It summed up how she’d been feeling for a while.

  She tidied up her school books and packed them in her school bag. She was planning on taking them with her when she left to go back to Carter’s house.

  She was just about to clear her old bed of stuffed toys when the door sprang open.

  She looked up fearfully, feeling nothing but relief when she saw it was her mother.

  “Mum!” she cried. “Don’t do that! You scared me.”

  Her mother looked at her like she couldn’t believe that she was real.

  “Mum?” she asked. “Are you ok?”

  Her mother swallowed. “Are you real?”

  She laughed. “Yeah, Mum. I’m real. I came to see you…”

  Before she could finish what she was about to say, her mum came over and hugged her fiercely.

  “Oh Katie,” she cried, “thank god you’re ok.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Relax, Mum. I’m fine. I actually came to see you for a reason. I need your help.”

  Her mother pulled back. “Anything. What do you need?”

  She took a deep breath. “Well, you see, Carter bought a house and it needs fixing up…”

  Her mother frowned. “And you want me to pay for it?”

  She shook her head eagerly. “No, no way. Carter has money from when his parents died, he can pay.”

  Her mother’s expression of disapproval was replaced by one of concern. “Oh dear, that poor boy.”

  She rolled her eyes again. “Mum, it’s ok, forget it. Listen, he just needs – we just need – some help getting it fixed up.”

  “So, you’re living with him now?”

  She nodded. “Yeah, I am. He’s a good friend, and he really cares. I know it’s not the same as living with you and Jordy, but things were just too tense at home, so I needed to get out.”

  Her mother sighed. “I guess. It was the same with me. When I was pregnant with you, my mother tried to get me to have an abortion. And with no dad, things were tough. So I moved in with your father’s best mate.”

  “Uncle Rick?”

  Her mother smiled. “Back then he was known as Dick.”

  Both women burst out laughing. Kaitlyn’s Uncle Rick was a bit of an idiot, so it didn’t surprise her that he was nicknamed Dick when he was younger.

  “Is Jordy here?” she asked hopefully. She missed her little brother.

  “Yeah, he’s downstairs watching TV. Come say hi?”

  She nodded. “Sure.”
>
  She followed her mother down the stairs and into the front living room.

  “Hey, Jordy baby,” she said casually.

  Her little brother dropped his bowl of apple slices on the cream carpet and looked around.

  “I’m not a baby!” he screamed grumpily.

  Her mother chuckled. “He had a bad day at school. He got sent to time out.”

  Kaitlyn grinned at her brother. “It was the mean teacher, wasn’t it?”

  He looked at her and frowned. “Go away.”

  She laughed and looked at her mother. Her mother shrugged. “He’s been temperamental lately. I think it’s since your dad left that he started playing up.”

  Katie looked at Jordy sadly. “Do you miss dad, J?”

  His face crumpled. “Daddy left me. He doesn’t want me!”

  He burst into tears and Kaitlyn couldn’t help feeling guilty. She scooped her baby brother up in her arms and tickled him.

  “Stop it!” he screamed, kicking wildly. “Katie, stop it!”

  She laughed and put him down. She had almost forgotten what it was like to be part of a real family. She missed this. As much as she loved Carter – and she did, despite his weird sense of right and wrong – he was no replacement for the love of her family.

  “So, what did you want to talk to me about?” her mother asked her, sitting down on one of the sofas. Kaitlyn sat down on the other.

  “Well,” she began, “like I said before, Carter has bought a house, and it needs a serious makeover.”

  Her mother nodded. “I can do that. Or would you rather do it?”

  “The thing is, Carter bought the house when I was still with him. He meant for it to be our home, so I’ve been working on it, but we need the grunt work to get it done.”

  Her mother pursed her lips thoughtfully. “Well, I can certainly provide that, but if you want it done fast, you won’t be able to live there.”

  Kaitlyn nodded. “I know. Carter’s organising a hotel room for us in the meantime.”

  “Don’t you want to live here?”

  The question caught Kaitlyn by surprise. Live back home? That was just…too weird. She’d moved out because of her parents. Moving back in would be like one step forward and two steps back. It just wasn’t what she wanted. She wanted to move forward.