Cat Bennet, Queen of Nothing

by Mary Strand

  I started drawing them all.

  Too bad it was the highlight of my day.

  I awoke Thursday morning to the sound of a fire truck’s siren as it raced past the Motel 6. Just like that, I remembered I had a real job. I was stuck in Wisconsin Dells. And my so-called adventure wasn’t much of one.

  I told myself it wasn’t so bad. Sure, I hadn’t made any friends yet at the waterpark, but I’d worked there only two days so far, and it was hard getting to know people when we kept switching stations. Sure, I was broke, but I’d get paid. Sure, my family probably had already rented out my room, but—

  My cell phone rang, making me jump.

  Was it Steve, calling to say he’d reconsidered the whole near-drowning thing and wanted to fire me? I glanced at the number, but it wasn’t the waterpark. It was my own area code, but not a number I recognized. Which probably meant Dad or Mom had resorted to calling me from someone else’s phone, just to trick me into answering.

  I let it ring.

  After a minute, my phone dinged to let me know I had a message. Great. I’d spent way too long on Monday listening to the million messages Mom, Dad, Liz, and Jane had left. Shouting (Dad), cooing (Jane), badgering (Liz), crying (Mom). At least Mary wasn’t stupid enough to call.

  I almost didn’t listen to my new message. No one in my family left a message on Tuesday or Wednesday, but they must be getting their voices back. Or maybe they did rent out my room—and changed the locks on the house—and were just calling to tell me not to bother coming home again.

  Sighing, I pressed the phone to my ear.

  “Cat? Cat, hi. This is Megan. Megan Case. I heard what happened, and I guess you left? But what they did is, like, totally rotten, and it’s not your fault, and Tess has detention with Mr. Paymar for the rest of her life.” A nervous giggle, barely more than a whisper, interrupted Megan’s quiet voice. “So I hope you’re okay. Even Bethany says hi. I mean, not that she wouldn’t say hi. Anyway. I hope you come back soon. And I, uh, hope you don’t mind what I did.”

  Click.

  What she did? What did Megan do?

  Shaking my head, I played the message again, but she definitely said it. And I, uh, hope you don’t mind what I did. Megan never did anything wrong, or bad, or mean. She might be annoying sometimes, but I’d been in the mood to be annoyed. Like, for a month.

  The person I should’ve been annoyed with was Tess.

  Not Drew, who got interested in someone else, and probably didn’t know how to tell me, and—let’s face it—had maybe never been all that interested in me.

  Not Chelsea, even if she was snotty and look-at-me-I’m-so-cool about hooking up with Drew, but her biggest crime was that Drew liked her now. And not me.

  And definitely not Megan, who was the sort of selfless friend that regular kids wanted. She was also a really talented artist and, unlike Tess, wasn’t spending her life making fun of other kids and getting drunk and stupid at parties.

  I tossed my phone next to me on the bed, lay back with my arms behind my head, and stared at the cracked and patched ceiling. Two hours ’til my shift today.

  It gave me too much time to think.

  I grabbed a quesadilla for a late lunch in the middle of my shift and was still chewing when Steve found me. I bit my lip at the grim look on his face. He had reconsidered. I was fired. But I hadn’t drowned anyone! Including myself!

  “Cat, I need to see you in my office.”

  He gave me sort of a half smile, totally confusing me, then turned and headed back to his office.

  I half-expected to be greeted by cops or worse, but when I reached Steve’s office five steps after him, no one else was there. He sat behind his desk and waved at the chair where I’d sat during my interview two days ago.

  Then he started filling out forms and ignored me. I perched on the edge of my chair. Ever since the near-drowning, I’d been a model employee. I’d even blown my whistle a few times to stop kids from having too much fun, and my arms were sore from all the rubber rafts I hoisted from one conveyor belt to another. I was actually better at this job than I’d been at Nickelodeon Universe, maybe because I got it myself. And this was way better than McDonald’s, where the smell of grease and raw meat had turned me into a vegetarian in the first week.

  I stared at my hands, curled into fists in my lap. Steve could fire me if he wanted, but I’d find another job. Even if none of the other waterparks I’d applied to wanted me.

  “Cat?”

  I looked up at Steve, feeling the grim set to my jaw, seeing the look of almost, well, pity in Steve’s eyes.

  I met his eyes without blinking. I didn’t need his pity or anyone else’s. Even if I spent the last month basically begging for it.

  “Cat, I’m sorry, but—”

  “I like working here, and I think I’ve done a good job.” Okay, except for the near-drowning, but that could happen to anyone. Especially on her first day.

  Steve cleared his throat. “I received a call from your parents. Apparently they’re not currently on a missionary expedition through Afghanistan, as I could’ve sworn you mentioned during your interview two days ago.”

  Crap. “They’re back? No way.”

  Steve actually grinned, shocking me. “They never left. Unless of course those were imposters who called me.”

  “You never know.”

  “No, you never do. As it turns out.” The look in Steve’s eyes was definitely pity now. “Look, Cat, you’re a pretty good worker, but I’m told your high school in, er, Paris wants you back. For the next year and a half.”

  I could still find a job at another waterpark. No, Mom and Dad were obviously checking waterparks. But I could go to Madison or Milwaukee. There were plenty of places in Milwaukee to work besides the strip bar where Lydia ended up.

  “Your parents are driving to Wisconsin Dells to pick you up, even though I understand you have a car. They’ll be here by—” Steve glanced at his watch. “Five o’clock. If you’d like to finish your shift then, we’ll pay you for the three days you’ve worked.”

  As the wheels turned in my head, I held up a hand. “Do you mind if I stop at four? I mean, is that okay? I need to check out of my hotel and get my stuff.”

  Steve stared hard at me, finally giving a brief nod. “Where have you been staying?”

  “The, uh, Travelodge on Broadway.” I almost knocked my chair over as I stood up, my knees were wobbling so hard. “Thanks. This way I can grab my stuff and be back here by five. They’re coming here, right?”

  “I can tell them to meet you at the Travelodge.”

  I edged toward the door of Steve’s office. “No, here is fine. They’re already planning on it.”

  Head down, I started to walk out the door.

  “Cat?”

  I looked back at Steve over my shoulder.

  “Your parents might not appreciate it, but if you want a job this summer—” Steve shook his head, but he was grinning. “I guess we wouldn’t mind having you back.”

  My eyes went wide. “Really?”

  “Sure. We haven’t had a lot of employees who’ve studied in Paris, and I still haven’t heard all your stories. I have a feeling you have quite a few, and not just on your job applications.” He winked at me. “Besides, it’s not like you’ve let anyone drown.”

  The guy actually laughed.

  Grinning, I floated out the door of Steve’s office and back to work. I was fired—sort of—but I had a job this summer. I just had to get through the three months between now and then.

  Somehow.

  Chapter 17

  “It may do very well for the others,” replied Mr. Bingley; “but I am sure it will be too much for Kitty.”

  — Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, Volume III, Chapter Seventeen

  I couldn’t help looking over my shoulder the rest of my shift, wondering if Mom and Dad would show up early. It really sucked the way no one trusted their own daughter anymore.

  But they didn’t appear,
so I finished work and grabbed my paycheck and busted out of the waterpark faster than I’ve ever done anything in my life.

  As I drove to the Motel 6, I tried to come up with a wild excuse why I had to check out five hours late without paying for an extra night. But cash wasn’t my biggest problem. After Mom and Dad figured out I wasn’t at the waterpark or the Travelodge, they’d start checking every cheapo motel they could find. They’d look for a hot-pink Jeep, but Dad would notice my lousy black paint job, even if Mom didn’t.

  Bottom line, I had to get out of town. Fast.

  I got to my room, tossed my few things in my duffle, made a final quick sweep of the place, then headed down to the front desk. Five minutes later, I was free, thanks to my graphic tale of the sudden death of my mom this afternoon after sliding her motorcycle under an eighteen-wheeler on an icy road.

  The instant the front door of the Motel 6 closed behind me, I started whistling. Sure, I had to hit the road, but I’d handled Wisconsin Dells, hadn’t I? I could handle Madison, too, even if I shuddered when I tried to imagine Milwaukee.

  Lost in thought, I grabbed the door handle of the Jeep a moment before realizing someone was sitting inside the Jeep. I lurched backward and screamed, only belatedly realizing that the person behind the wheel was my sister Mary.

  I screamed again.

  She rolled down the window and smiled. “I told Mom and Dad you wouldn’t be at the Travelodge.”

  “You always were the smart one.” I snorted. “According to some people.”

  The driver’s door to the Jeep opened. Mary hopped out, grabbed my duffle out of my hand, and tossed it in the back seat. Without saying anything. Without even looking pissed.

  She got back in the Jeep, which was running, and rolled up the window. Not asking me to get in. Of course, she already had my duffle in the back seat, which narrowed my options. She suddenly twisted in her seat and locked the back door to the Jeep. Crap.

  Well, it was Thursday. I could go back home with her, pretend to be sick tomorrow, then have the weekend to escape. Even though Dad would probably let the air out of the Jeep’s tires, and maybe even the tires on his and Mom’s cars for good measure.

  I’d figure something out. Like Steve said, I was creative. Smiling, I walked around to the passenger side, yanked open the door, and climbed inside.

  Mary shifted into reverse. “Nice paint job, by the way. Dad will love it.”

  I frowned. “He hasn’t seen it? Is he still at the waterpark or the Travelodge?”

  “Home.” Mary pulled out of my parking space and headed out of the parking lot and onto the road.

  “What do you mean? He just sent Mom with you?” No way. Mom might be great in a courtroom, but she wasn’t exactly the best go-to person in a crisis. Not that I qualified as a crisis. “Where are you going?”

  I frowned as Mary took the entrance ramp for Highway 94, heading toward home. I would’ve guessed we’d all head home together. Obviously, they’d driven at least one car down, but where was Mom now? Or had Liz or Jane come instead?

  Mary finally glanced at me. “Home. Mom and Dad are both home. In Woodbury.”

  No way. “Seriously? Did something happen?”

  Mary just shook her head.

  I folded my arms and slouched down in my seat, settling in for the longest ride home in the history of the world, at least if Mary stayed behind the wheel. If I didn’t grab the Jeep when we stopped for gas. Hell. I might not wait that long. I could push her out of the Jeep as we cruised up Highway 94.

  As I sat there, I started to get steamed. Steve told me Mom and Dad were coming to pick me up. They sent Mary instead? Even though Dad raced to Milwaukee last summer to bail Lydia out of jail? Even though Mom would race to the ends of the earth to bail Lydia out of just about anything?

  Mary kept driving, eyes straight ahead. “Dad had me call around to all the waterparks after I told him I thought you’d be here. I found you on my fourth—”

  I held up a hand. “You thought I’d be here? Dad or Mom didn’t guess it? You?”

  Without taking her eyes off the road, Mary shrugged. “I knew how pissed you were when Lydia got to go to Wisconsin Dells last summer, and I figured you might want to have a chance at it yourself.”

  I snorted, even though she’d nailed it. “I’m surprised you didn’t look in Milwaukee. Like, in a strip bar.”

  “You’re not like Lydia.” Mary raised her voice when I tried to cut her off. “Yeah, I know you’ve always acted like you wanted to be like Lydia, but you’re not. You’re not identical twins. You’re not stuck with her.”

  “No, I’m stuck with you.”

  “Lucky you.” Mary glanced sideways at me. “Seriously. I’m not sure Mom and Dad realize how different you guys are, but it’s been pretty obvious ever since Lydia left.”

  I slouched even lower in my seat, staring out the passenger window as the endless white nothingness of Wisconsin flew by in the growing darkness. “You don’t know anything about me.”

  Mary tilted her head. “I pay attention.”

  “Yeah, well, spend your time paying attention to Josh. I don’t need your so-called help.”

  Without Mary’s help, I’d still be in Wisconsin Dells right now, finishing up my shift. I wouldn’t be headed to Woodbury, where the only person who apparently gave a rat’s ass about me was sitting next to me in the Jeep. Mary.

  I glanced over at her, catching her grinning. “Josh loved your paint job, too.”

  “What’d you do? Send him a pic from your cell phone?”

  “Nope. He saw the Jeep up close.” When I frowned, Mary rolled her eyes. “How do you think I got to the Dells? We stopped by the Travelodge first, so I missed you at the waterpark.” She shook her head. “I almost panicked, but then I remembered how Dad always joked about making people stay at the Motel 6, and I figured you might stay there because it’s cheap. I asked the guy at the waterpark if one was nearby, and there you were. Or, at least, there was the Jeep.”

  Crap. I should’ve gotten off work at three.

  “So where’s Josh?”

  “He didn’t want to stay around for the fireworks when I found you, so he headed home as soon as I found the Jeep.”

  “I still don’t get why Dad didn’t come. Or even Mom.”

  “You wouldn’t want Mom driving a car when she’s excited.” Mary raised her eyebrows. Mom was a nightmare behind the wheel even under the best of circumstances. “And Dad . . . the truth is, he didn’t want to come.”

  I bit down a stab of disappointment, trying not to remember how long Dad spent in Milwaukee trying to fix Lydia’s problems, which were a lot bigger than mine. Trying not to remember how little time he spent with me, just me. Ever.

  “He’s pretty pissed, Cat.”

  “Yeah? He was pissed at Lydia last summer, too.”

  “And he got her sent to reform school.”

  Mary drove for a while without saying anything, and I didn’t feel like talking to her, either. After several miles, she finally spoke again. “Dad’s not perfect.”

  “No shit.”

  “Even though he’s pissed, and threatened to have your cell phone turned off, he never did it because he wanted you to be able to call home. Which you never did.”

  “I was trying to get away from all of you, in case no one figured that out.”

  “Oh, we did. When you didn’t answer any calls on Monday, Liz told Mom and Dad to quit calling. Give you some time.”

  “How much? A year?”

  “Dad didn’t agree, but he said he’d give you a few days. Then he told me to start calling the waterparks.” Mary gave me a faint smile. “He said if that didn’t work out, I should try the fast food places, but not to bother with McDonald’s.”

  I rolled my eyes. Okay, so Dad paid a little attention. But who didn’t know I hated McDonald’s?

  Sighing, I rubbed my neck, leaned back in my seat, and started plotting my escape from her when we stopped for gas. Next thing I knew,
we pulled up in front of our house. I’d slept through the whole drive, not to mention the gas stop where I planned to steal the Jeep.

  Crap.

  I trudged up the front sidewalk with Mary trailing me, then stuck my house key in the front door, turned it, and paused to take a deep breath.

  “They’re not going to kill you.”

  Tensing, I didn’t make another move to open the door. “Easy for you to say. You’ve never gotten in trouble.”

  “Sure I have.” Mary put a hand on my shoulder, holding me in place. “You just weren’t paying attention.”

  “They’re totally gonna kill me.”

  Mary rolled her eyes. “Remember when Lydia came home from Milwaukee in her four-hundred-dollar cab ride? They didn’t even kill her.”

  “Dad wanted to.”

  “True, but he probably remembered those pesky laws against homicide, especially homicide against a daughter who’s a minor. That must be what stopped him.”

  “Funny.”

  I had no idea why I was standing outside in the frigid night air listening to Mary try to explain Dad to me. I’d lived with him for almost seventeen years, hadn’t I? She just had a year on me, even if she acted like it was thirty years. I pushed the front door open and took a cautious step into the front hall. When I didn’t hear any immediate shouting, I went into the living room to face Dad’s wrath.

  He wasn’t there.

  “Weird.” Mary came up to me, her head swiveling, then headed for the kitchen. A moment later, she was back in the living room. “They must be in the basement watching a movie. Or upstairs in their room. It’s nine o’clock, after all.”

  I shook my head. “Dad’s always in the living room until ten, minimum.”

  “Yeah, waiting for the last daughter to get home.” Mary shrugged. “Maybe he didn’t want to be obvious.”

  “He doesn’t wait for us to get home.”