Exposing Kitty Langley (8 page)

I was shaking but I wasn’t crying.
“Yes, I think I’m okay. Help me straighten this mess so no one knows what
happened here.”

“Kitty, we need to call the police.
He attacked you.”

“It’s okay, Reed. He just got
carried away. I don’t want anyone to know. Please Reed. No one can know. I’ve
been through so much. Please.”

His expression softened as he
stroked my cheek. “Okay, calm down. If you’re sure that’s what you want, but if
he comes near you again we’re calling the police, got it?”

“Okay, I promise.”

Together we straightened the desks, grabbed
my things, and scurried from the room, leaving Trent where he lay, still groggy
and weak.

When I got home I went straight to
my room, fell across the bed, and cried. I’d been holding it in until I could
get home to let it out in the safety of my room. I didn’t want Reed to know how
upset I was. He already wanted to call the police. I just couldn’t put my
parents through that. I didn’t want to go through that. So I held it in. But
now all I could do was remember Trent’s hands all over me and his mouth on
mine. It wasn’t just that though, it was all the drama of my life. It was all
too much. Maybe I should’ve let Reed call the police after all. At least one
threat would be gone. One thing was for sure, Reed would never let him near me
again. That thought alone brought a small smile.

 I sent a reassuring text to Reed
and went to bed. Surprisingly, I slept like a baby.

Reed

She was downplaying her emotions for
my benefit, but I knew she was upset about the attack. Every time I thought
about it I got so mad I wanted to find that Trent and kill him. The memory of
his hands on her had me biting my lip so hard it bled. I was just glad I got
there in time. I couldn’t think about what might’ve happened had I not. I had
become increasingly protective of her and it was beginning to alarm me.    

I met her at her car first thing.
She looked beautiful as always, no sign of the struggle from the day before.
“Are we okay?” I asked as she exited.

She smiled, reaching up to hug me.
“Yeah, we’re okay. I’m sorry I didn’t give you a chance to explain. Haley told
me everything, and I understand now. So we’re good.” She pulled out of the
embrace and we made our way toward the building.

“Whew!! Thanks. I sort of missed you
a little.” I teased, bumping her shoulder with my side.

She laughed, bumping me back. “Yeah,
me too. But just a little.”

We were teasing each other for the
first time. Things had been so heavy. This felt good.

She stopped me as we were entering
the building, slight trepidation on her face. “Stay with me today?”

I knew instantly what she meant. She
was scared. “Besides our classes, I’ll be with you every minute. I won’t let
him hurt you again, Kitty. I promise.” I could tell she relaxed a little bit.

“Thanks, Reed.” Her words were like
a caress. I almost closed my eyes to savor it, but I would’ve looked like an
idiot.

She ate lunch with us again.
Everyone treated her as if she hadn’t been missing for the past several days. I
think she appreciated it. Haley was trying to be more civil, and that was a
shocker.

She got up and waltzed across the
room to put her drink in the trash can. I noticed that she left her phone on
the table and only because it was buzzing as a text message popped up on her screen.
Instinctively, I glanced briefly at it, registering the name Trent. I picked it
up and read it. He was trying to apologize and wanted her to meet him in the
parking lot after school. I thought about it for a moment, peering around to
see if anyone was watching, and then typed in the reply. I told him it was me
and that if he came near her again we would call the police. I erased the
message so she wouldn’t see it. I didn’t want to upset her. I knew she’d
understand.

I was brought back to the present
when Mark remarked, “Why doesn’t she just stand up to Bunnie, like that girl
Charity did last year. Nothing ever happened to Charity after that, so why
shouldn’t Kitty try it?”

“For one thing, moron,” Haley
snapped, “Charity is a lot bigger than Kitty. If you haven’t noticed, Kitty is
about the size of a small rodent.”

I suddenly had a thought. “Hey,
isn’t Jordan one of Charity’s husband Levi’s friends?”

“I think so.” Mark replied.

“Hmm, do you think he’d give me her
number?”

“I think this guy Levi will rip your
head off if you even ask.”

“I’m not interested in her. I just
thought that maybe she could help us with Bunnie, since she stood up to her.”

“That’s a good idea. I have Jordan in
my next class, so I’ll ask him and get back to you.”

“Great.”

That afternoon I walked Kitty to her
car, giving her a peck on the cheek before she got in and drove away. Behind a
tree, I noticed Trent watching us. His eyes shot daggers at me. So I did the
only thing I could. I smiled and waved.

Kitty

“Hey, Mom,” I greeted her, waltzing
into the kitchen and dropping my backpack in a dining room chair. I grabbed a
clean glass from the dishwasher, filling it to the very top with grape Kool-Aid.

She was sitting at the table writing
out the bills. “Hey, Kitty. How was your day?”

“It was okay. How was yours?” I took
a big sip, relishing the flavor.

“It was good. Is everything all
right with you? You’ve been quiet lately, and we don’t talk as much as we used
to.”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I just have some
things on my mind these days. It’s nothing you need to worry about.”

“Are you sure? Do you want to talk
about it?”

“Thanks, Mom, but I’m fine….really.”
I smiled and leaned over, giving her a peck on the cheek. “I’m gonna head to my
room and work on my homework.”

“Sure, honey. I’ll call you down
when supper is ready.”

“Okay thanks.”

The next morning, when my alarm clock
blared at 6 a.m., I hit the snooze button one too many times and was running
behind as a result. I dressed in a hurry, threw on some makeup, and pulled my
hair into a ponytail, thinking it was past time for a trim, and headed out the
door.

Reed was waiting on me when I
arrived. I pulled into my spot and got out quickly. “I’m sorry. I woke up
late.”

He took my backpack from me, smiling
a sweet smile. “It’s okay, but I was a little worried something might have
happened.” He held up his phone. “Text?”

I laughed. “Sorry. I forgot.”

“It’s okay. Maybe next time?”

I smiled. “Yes. Next time.”

He walked me quietly to my first
class, kissed my cheek, and then turned to leave. For the first time since all
this craziness began, I watched him walk away, my eyes trailing longingly after
him, mesmerized yet again by the beauty of him. He had a sexy swagger that I truly
admired. I was surprised at my annoyance as a few girls also turned to watch
him pass. Of course he was oblivious. Again I shook my head. Get a grip Kitty.
He could get hurt. I knew I should push him away, but Bunnie and the B’s hadn’t
done anything to me so far, so maybe they had decided to let it go. Maybe they weren’t
planning anything after all. I carelessly allowed myself to hope—and that was a
big mistake.

Finally it was lunchtime, and I knew
I was supposed to wait on Reed, but I scurried out of class so I could stash my
books in my locker first. I was just passing the girl’s restroom when the door swung
open and someone pulled me inside, covering my mouth as I tried to scream.

“It’s no use, Kitty,” Bunnie said
smugly. “No one’s going to hear you.” Bambie, Muffy, and Heidi had tight grips
on my arms, while also covering my mouth. They pulled me into a stall and
Bunnie proceeded to approach with something shiny in her hand. Was that a
knife? My eyes grew wide.

“You see, Kitty, no one humiliates
the B’s and gets away with it, you least of all. You used to be one of us so
the betrayal is all the more deserving of a strict and harsh punishment.” She
finally moved her hand in a way that allowed me to catch sight of the shiny
weapon she toyed with. It was a pair of scissors! As her intentions finally
dawned on me, I wiggled and squirmed, trying desperately to break free, but the
three girls’ grips grew tighter still.

“Now, Kitty, this will only hurt a
little,” she smirked.

Muffy grabbed my ponytail in her
hands as Bunnie leaned over me, bringing the scissors toward my head.

“No!!!” I tried to scream through Bambie’s
fingers, which were so tight I could feel my teeth cutting my lips, causing
them to bleed. My eyes filled with tears.

“Hold her still!” Bunnie snapped,
grabbing my ponytail and jerking it with force.

I could feel her sawing the scissors
behind the rubber band holding my ponytail. Snip!! She pulled back with a
triumphant smile, holding my ponytail in her hand. I stopped fighting and
slumped in defeat.

“I think I’ll keep this as a
souvenir,” she laughed. “Good luck getting out of the school without everyone
seeing your new do.” She laughed louder this time. “Let’s go girls.” They let
go and I dropped to the bathroom floor. I huddled there, crying.

I’m not sure how long I had been
lying there, curled up on the cold floor in despair, when I heard the restroom
door open. Without hesitation I pulled my stall door shut and listened. All was
quiet.

“Kitty?” I heard a voice finally
say. Then my stall door opened, and staring down at me, was Haley.

“Oh-my-gosh, Kitty! What did they do
to you?” She knelt down by me and inspected the B’s handiwork. “I can’t believe
they did this to you.” I continued to cry as she grabbed handfuls of toilet
paper and dabbed at my mouth, pulling it back bloody.

How could I be so foolish to think
they wouldn’t get me? Haley pulled out her phone and began texting. “I’m
texting Reed, telling him to hurry and bring the car around to the back door.”

“I can’t let anyone see me,” I
managed to say through the tears, reaching to touch my butchered hair.

She thought for a moment, looking
down at her clothing. “Here, wear this,” she said, snatching her hoodie off and
helping me into it. Once it was zipped up, she pulled the hood over my head.
“See, no one will know a thing. Now, let’s get you out of here.”

I put my hand on her arm, stopping
her. “Why are you helping me? I thought you hated me.”

She shrugged. “I guess I did…..at
first, but now I’m not so sure. Reed is my friend, and he really likes you.
When I saw the B’s leaving the bathroom laughing, I felt like maybe you were in
here, especially since Reed couldn’t find you after class or in the lunch room.
I couldn’t just let you stay in here not knowing if you were injured. Besides, I’m
beginning to agree with Reed. You’ve been through enough. Just don’t hurt him, okay?”

I nodded. “Thank you, Haley.”

“It’s no big deal. Now, let’s go.”

She helped me to my feet, and we
made our way out and through the back door. Reed’s car was waiting.

“What’s going on?” Reed demanded
once the car door was open and I was settled inside.

“Get her out of here,” was all Haley
said before shutting the door and heading back into the building.

“Kitty, what’s wrong?” He took hold
of my face, turning it toward him. “What the hell!!! Who did this to you?!!” He
demanded, noting the blood all over my lower face.

I started to cry again. “That’s not
all,” I said, slowly removing the hoodie.

His eyes grew wide and quickly
shifted to angry, until he registered the fresh tears drenching my face. “Oh,
Kitty, I’m so sorry.” He pulled me into his arms and cradled me against him. I
couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but he didn’t say a word, he just held me
while I cried, rocking me back and forth. Finally, he sat me up and studied my
hair. “Well, it’s not that bad.” He suddenly smiled. “I have an idea.”

I wasn’t sure where he was taking
me, but since I couldn’t go back to school looking like I did, I guess it
didn’t matter. He was quiet during the 25 minute drive. We parked in front of a
nice-looking salon called Feast Your Eyes. He held my hand as we entered the
elegantly decorated salon located in the nearby city called Happy.

“May I help you?” A young woman with
blonde hair and blue streaks asked from behind the counter.

“Yes,” Reed answered, “We’re here to
see Maggie.” 

“Oh yes, she’s expecting you. I’ll
get her.”

“Thanks.”

A moment later, a tall, thin woman
with short cropped hair and lots of makeup came out of the back room. She was a
very pretty woman. “Reed!”

He smiled, wrapping his arms around
her for a hug.

“I’m so glad you messaged me you
were coming.”