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“She called five times already.”
I let out a deep breath, knowing she will keep calling until I come. It has to be me or she won’t answer the door. I glance at the clock again.
“I’m going. I won’t be back tonight unless you call me in for something,” I tell Pam. I need to head over to Mrs. Lemon’s then drive around to make sure everyone is shutting down. Maybe I’ll get lucky and run across Catherine. I can’t stand the idea of this girl not having somewhere to go. Maybe my gut is wrong and she is staying with a friend. I don’t think I can wait for the schools to open back up before I can talk to her. I need to know she’s okay. Something is clawing at me deep inside, a need like I’ve never felt before to know this girl is okay, taken care of and warm for the night.
Chapter Four
CATHERINE
I sit in the gym waiting for everyone to clear out of the girls’ locker room. Dread swirls around in my stomach that school got called out early today. Even the library is closing down. The whole town was. I prayed the snow storm wouldn't last long. I knew all I had left at home was half a loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter. It would have to hold me over until the town opened back up again. There was no way I could make it to the store before they closed. Not to mention it was too cold to even try. The walk home was going to be hard enough.
When I see another girl leave the locker room I slip in. Looking around, I make sure everyone is gone. I dig through my bag, finding my shampoo and soap before slipping off my clothes and getting into the shower.
I’ve been using the school’s showers since my water got turned off. So far I haven't been caught. I didn't have gym, so there’s no reason for me to be down here. I wash myself as quickly as possible, sad that I can’t linger in the warm water a little longer. I’m almost done when I hear giggling behind me. I turn to see three girls standing there in their cheerleading outfits.
I know who they are. They couldn't be more cliché if they tried. They are the mean girls and I cringe when I see them all staring at me.
I turn the water off, grab a towel, rush past them to my backpack and hurriedly get dressed.
“Let me guess. Your drunk of a father couldn't pay the water bill?” Jannie laughs as she says the words. The other girls laugh with her. “That’s why Ren was hanging out with you all day. He feels bad for the poor girl. Maybe thinks it would be easy to get between your legs.”
“Maybe he likes that she never talks,” Beth adds.
I bite the inside of my mouth as I pull my shoes on and tie them up. I just want to get out of here. I need to let my hair dry, but I can see that isn’t going to be an option. I should have gone straight home, but I was worried about how long I’d be stuck there without getting a shower.
I use the towel to dry my hair a little before grabbing my stocking hat out of my backpack. I try and get all my hair under it, worried about the cold with my damp hair.
“Does Coach Snow know you’re down here using the showers?” Kim chimes in.
I don’t answer her. I pick up my coat sliding it on before grabbing my backpack. I go to move past them but they block my way to the door. My heart starts to pound. I’m not a confrontational person. Nor am I a fighter. I’ve never been in a fight in my life. In fact, I’ve spent most of my life trying to cool down my own father when he goes into one of his moods.
“Girls,” I hear called. We all look over to see Coach Snow standing there. “You should be getting home. The school is locking up in ten minutes.”
“Coach Snow, Catherine was—” I push past Beth, not wanting to hear her finish telling Coach Snow I was using the school shower. My cheeks are already burning with embarrassment. Beth huffs as if I hurt her but I barely touched her. I rush out and don’t stop running until I clear the school doors and make it a good few blocks away.
I stop for a moment, bending over, trying to catch my breath. My nose burns and I can feel the tears wanting to break free, but I push them back. I really don’t want to face Coach Snow when I go back to school and answer why I’m using the school showers. I push those thoughts away. I have other things to worry about. Like the fact I forgot to fill up my two water bottles before I left school. I groan. Maybe I can put snow in them and it will melt.
