Chapter 14

Katalina sat out in the picnic area outside in the front of the pavilion of the school. Her lunch sat 
 half uneaten. She watched the coulour guard wannabes practice for tryouts. It was their first day and 
 some were having problems. Desree had ignored her and Devra at lunch and sat down with Jeremy. 
 Devra had left halfway through lunch for tutoring. A moment later Alair Daniels sat down beside 
 her.”
	“So what’s your brother’s name?”
	“ I’m an only child.”
	“ Your uncle?”
	“ OI only have one uncle. He’s Uncle Dru and runs Prelin Companies.”
	‘ Oh, yeah. He was here for the business lecture thing.”
	“ Yes.”
	“ A cousin?”
	‘ My uncle is only thirty-something.”
	“ Oh. A family friend?”
	“You can say that. Uncle Dru introduced me too him.”
	“ Ah. Why don’t you tryout?”
	“ Huh?” Katalina snapped out of her trance.
	“Colourguard. It’ll be your senior year; do something.”
	She smiled. “ Maybe I will.”
	“ So what’s his name?”
	“ Michael,” she said wistfully.
	“ He’s too cute.”
	“ Yes he is,” she turned suddenly. “ Alair?”
	“ Yeah?”
	“ When are your mother and her boyfriend getting married?”
	They became indulged in a cheery conversation about Alair’s mother’s upcoming wedding.

Michaela and Katalina entered the livingroom. Katalina fell onto the futon. Michael snuggled up 
 next to her.
	“ How did the project go?” she asked.
	“ Alright. Dru wants me to go out with him and your father.”
	“Oh. So you’re going?”
	“ I told them I couldn’t. I said I had to work on the new project.”
	“ Is it as big as this one?”
	“ Bigger,” he sighed.
	“ Poor baby,” she gave him a kiss.
	There was a knock at the door.
	“ Who’s that?” Katalina asked.
	“ I’ll see.”  
	He got and answered the door.
	“ Michael, I was driving by and I thought I saw Katy’s BMW…”
	‘ Uh, come in.”
	Michael stepped back to let Rainquest in. he looked at his daughter sleeping on the futon.
	“ What’s going on?” Rainquest eyes went wide.
	“ She said she slept in her car because she couldn’t go to Devra’s or Desree’s because you would 
 find her. She showed up after school. I let her in and she fell asleep.”
	“ Is she going to stay here?”
	“ I don’t know. I haven’t decided what to do with her.”
	“ Send her home.”
	“ But you threw her out.”
	“ No, she left. I gave her a choice.”
	“ Oh. I misunderstood.”
	“ Michael, I was scared. I’m glad she’s with you to tell you the truth. I remember a Mark guy.”
	“ Well, I’ll see what I can do.”
	“ Try for me, Michael, please.”
	“ I will.”
	“ Thank you,” Rainquest left after his words.
	Michael looked at the acting Katalina. After a moment she sat up.
	“ Lovely bull shit,” she said.
	“ Yeah,” she said very quietly with a nod.”
	“ You’re not thinking about sending me home are you?”
	Michael was quiet.
	“ Michael, you can’t!”
	“ I know,” he sighed. “ Kal, I don’t know what to do.”
	She stood and touched his cheek.
	“ Michael, I love you.”
	“ I love you too.”
	He hugged her. “ Kal, I need you. You are everything.”