1.5

The reality was far different from the dream, Kaylee thought as she walked aimlessly. After all these years of wishing Janet would just leave...when she did it wasn't anything like Kaylee thought it would be. Ever since Janet had left she had been trying her best to make sure that no one realized that she was living by herself. She had the feeling that here in good, old Pleasantview they would shove her in a girls' home quicker than she could blink if they caught wind of her situation. It wouldn't matter that she was almost an adult.

Right now she was trying to figure out how she was going to pay several bills that Janet had let lapse. She hated to go into her college fund money, she still had hopes that she would be able to go, but the two grand that Janet had left wasn't stretching very far. Kaylee was so deep in thought she didn't realize that she had walked into the middle of a game of street football.

"Oh! Hey, I'm sorry!"

Kaylee tried to rub the sting away and blink back tears at the same so she could see who was talking to her. Turning around she saw a boy about her age standing in the middle of the street with an embarrassed smile on his face.

"Are you alright?"

"Christ, you have an arm on you," she said in reply before reaching down, picking up the football and tossing it back to him. She watched as he caught it effortlessly then began to toss it absently up in the air.

"So, are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm cool." She waved away his concern and turned to go. She stopped when she heard footsteps hurrying up behind her. Looking over her shoulder she saw the boy jogging to catch up to her.

"What are you doing?"

"I haven't seen you around here before. Do you live around here?"

Kaylee snorted. "Not hardly. I live down there," she said pointing over the peak to where she could just see her house.

"What are you doing all the way up here? Did you walk?"

He sounded so amazed that she laughed. "I needed to think."

He nodded. Kaylee stared at him for a moment before stepping away. He fell into step beside her after tossing the football to his friends. Kaylee stopped.

"What are you doing?"

"I just want to make sure you get home safely. I did throw the ball pretty hard."

"You don't need to tell me that," she muttered touching the back of her head again before shaking her head. "You don't need to walk me home."

"Course I don't need to. I want to. So, what's your name?"

Before reaching her house Kaylee found out that Tyrese, or Ty as everyone but his mom called him, was in the same grade as her but he went to Pleasantview Prep. He was going to college on a football scholarship but he still didn't know what he wanted to major in. When he asked her questions Kaylee tried to be as evasive as possible without being rude. Before she knew it they were back at her place.

"Well, this is it. Thanks for walking me home." Kaylee stuck out her hand. Grinning, Ty shook it.
"I'll see you around," he said with a wave before jogging off.
Shaking her head in bemusement Kaylee went into the house and got ready for bed.

She didn't dream. She was too tired for that.

But sometimes, when she woke up, she would wonder why Janet hadn't come into her room to tell her to get her ass moving. She would lay there, in confusion, until it all came rushing back...

As the light from the sun crept into the room a crushing weight rested on her chest as she realized she was alone.

Reaching under her pillow she pulled out the picture that Janet had left behind with the money. One snapshot that captured a moment in time that she couldn't remember. That she would give anything to remember. Brushing her thumb over the image she blew out a shaky breath then shoving the picture back under her pillow.

Kaylee stared at herself in the mirror. Janet had been gone for nearly a month and during that time she had picked up as many shifts as she could at her job but whatever money she made was going right back into the bills. Kaylee had cut back on as much as she possibly could. She had sold the old television, didn't turn on any lights until absolutely necessary, and sometimes, when she went to bed, her stomach was still growling. The wear and tear on her body was starting to show.

She had decided that she needed a change as well. Something so that she blended in with everyone else at school. So, she had dyed her hair and wore a minimal amount of make up. Sometimes she just felt some exposed...and ugly. Shaking her head she went out front to grab a piece of toast and to do the homework that she had been too tired to do last night. She was coming from out of the kitchen when she saw the shadow on the floor. Peeping around the corner she swallowed a groan.

He seemed like a nice enough kid but Kaylee felt too old for him. Besides, she couldn't afford to be friends with anyone. Friends asked questions which would lead to more questions and she couldn't allow that. Climbing silently up on the little coffee table she stood frozen, hoping that he would leave so that she could do her homework before the bus came.

"Kaylee? Are you home?" The doorbell rang again then she heard him sigh. She waited a few more minutes to make sure he was gone before she climbed down from the table and grabbing her homework quickly finished it.

Glancing at the clock she realized that she had time to spare so she started to make a list. She had read an article in the paper that had been promoting home businesses. So, she figured that she could go to school, work and then be able to supplement the rest of her income from her home business. She just had to figure out what she wanted to do. The blaring of a horn jolted her. Slipping the list into her pocket she hurried out the door.

While she had been at school, her art teacher had pulled her aside and had told her how proud she was of her pottery project. So proud, in fact, that she wanted to enter it into a national competition. That started Kaylee to thinking. She went to the market place and started to speak to different merchants and scope out the different set ups that they had in hopes that one would fit her.

Then, investing a little of her college fund money, she brought a pottery wheel. After having it dropped off she placed it in her old bedroom and started to get to work. She had fun creating all the pieces but that night she only made as much money as she had invested. She only broke even as they say.

That night she also noticed a woman who spent more time starting at her then at the products. She looked vaguely familiar but Kaylee couldn't pinpoint her. It wasn't until Ty called her a few days later, she absently wondered how he had gotten her number, and told her that his mom had gotten one of her plates that she realized why the woman had looked so familiar.
"Ty," she said with a sigh.
"No, she thought it was really great. She loves art. Actually she's an artist herself. She says you have talent."
Kaylee perked up. "Really?"
"Yeah. She also says that you're too young to be so lonely."
Kaylee frowned. "I'm not lonely!" she snapped. "Look, I have to go." Before Ty could say anything else she hung up the phone.
She wasn't lonely, she told herself vehemently. Being alone and lonely were two different things. Feeling edgy she went into her crafts room.

A few days ago Kaylee invested in a floral center. And she had cried as she gave up the money because it was the last of her college fund. Whatever dreams she had about going to college were shelved away as the cashier took her money and thanked her for her purchase.

Kaylee enjoyed making bouquets. All the different flowers and the multitude of ways she could place them. It soothed her being in this room. After all, her life was tedious. She'd wake up, go to school, come home, do her homework if she had any, go to work then come back home and start throwing clay or making bouquets until she was dead on her feet. Then she'd collapse into bed, catch maybe four or five hours of sleep before starting all over again.

She was finally making a profit but it was going back into the business. Kaylee's Korner had actually gotten a small accolade in the paper and she had received a nice little plaque. She had a small set up in the backyard which suited her purposes just fine. When she wasn't schmoozing with the clients or ringing up customers she was painting. She enjoyed that nearly as much as making pottery and, truth be told, she was a lot better at it.

After flipping the sign closed sometime after three in the morning Kaylee trudged into the kitchen to make herself something to eat. She was just sitting down when the doorbell rang. Her heart started to hammer. Oh god, what if it was the police coming to take her to foster care? How had they found out? What was she going to do? She swallowed dryly then pushed back her chair when the doorbell pealed again. So slowly walked around the corner and froze when she saw the figure standing there.

"Hello Kaylee! Do you remember me?"
She heard the woman's voice through the glass and nodded jerkily. "Yes, but Janet's not here."
The woman heaved a sigh. "Yes, I know. May I come in? I would like to speak with you."
Eyeing her for a moment Kaylee shrugged and unlocked the door. Smiling, the woman walked in and perched on the couch.

"You look different,"Kaylee said as she joined her.
"It's the divorce. I'm so much happier. Besides the fact I'm not crying on your front lawn." The woman laughed then shook her head. "Where are my manners? My name is Rachael. Rachael Harris."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Ms. Harris."

She smiled again. "You're so polite. My son could take lessons from you. Please, call me Rachael. So, are you enjoying the house Kaylee?"

"Yes."

Kaylee didn't blink as Rachael stared at her. She did blink when Rachel threw back her head and started to laugh.

"Silly girl, I'm not a social worker. As a matter of fact I'm glad that you're mother...Janet left. Although I had hoped...but that's neither here nor there. I've been watching you Kaylee and all this work you're doing is great but it's wearing you down. You look tired. You never go anywhere and you have no friends."

"Thanks," she muttered disheartened to hear the last three months of her life summarized in three short sentences.

"Kaylee...don't you want to go to college? Janet said you did."

"Yeah well, I've had to spend my college money elsewhere," she snapped bitterly. "Besides, Kaylee's Korner isn't doing too shabby."

"No, it's not but what about your dreams?"

Kaylee swallowed the knot in her throat. "Dreams change."

"Stubborn girl. What would you say if I offered to pay your way through college?"

Kaylee's heart leaped at the thought but then she shook her head. "I don't want to be indebted to anyone."

"You are cut from a different cloth from Janet. When I offered her this house, a fresh start, she jumped at the offer."

"It was you!" All of the sudden it started to make sense. Why they had moved so quickly, how they had gotten a house, the voice on the phone...

"Yes, and now I have an offer for you. A chance at college. To make your own path and find happiness. If you won't take the money then we can work out a loan. All I'm asking is that you think about it. Here's my number if you want to contact me."

Rach got up and walked toward the door. She turned around and smiled at the stunned look on the young girl's face. "We only live once Kaylee. Make your own destiny. Don't live in the shadows of Janet's." She turned back around and grabbed the door handle before pausing again.

With her back to her Rachal spoke. "You think you hate her now? Imagine waking up every day for the rest of your life, full of bitterness for what her selfishness caused. Imagine never knowing a moment's peace because then you'd start to hate yourself for the choices you made and didn't make. Imagine, turning into Janet without even realizing it. The choice is yours Kaylee."