Chapter 13

Keith had a lot to say about our family. Some of the things he said I only had vague memories of. Other things I hadn’t known about. I enjoyed every word he had to say.

In the morning I was getting myself a bowl of cereal when Keith sat down at the table.

“Hey, Keith. You sleep well last night?” I asked.

He nodded then said, “You tossed and turned last night. Is everything okay?”

I looked at my bowl as if it were the one I was talking about and said, “I dreamt that I was called in to film more scenes. It wasn’t until after I shot all of the required scenes for the day that I found out that I didn’t have a top on. I chewed you out for not telling me that everyone had been staring at my bare breasts the entire day.”

Keith chuckled, “I guess that’s why you hit me during the night then just rolled over.” He cleared his throat, “Sorry. That sounds like a crazy dream.”

I shrugged, “Yeah, it was kind of thrilling at the same time. But it’s not anything I’d want to do in real life. I don’t feel comfortable with public nudity like that. I don’t think I’d ever want a lot of people to see me topless or even naked. One reason my parents talked my school into letting me change in a different room than the other...” I had almost said guys, “girls.”

“Why? Were all the other girls jealous of your big beautiful breasts?” he asked.

I glared at him then answered with, “No. I was actually the smallest in the chest department. These beauties are fairly recent developments.” I looked at the clock, “Oh, shoot, I need to get going, I promised to go out with some of my friends from school.”

As I stepped outside the door one of my friends pulled up in her car. It was a stunning purple and felt so comfortable inside.

Britney looked uneasy as she said, “There’s been a change of plans.”

I was preparing to exit the car as I asked, “Does that mean the trip is over?”

“Not exactly. Just the destination. The other girls thought that going to the mall was pretty much overdone. We’re going to the skate park instead,” Britney told me.

“Um, I don’t know how to skate,” I admitted.

“Don’t worry. We can teach you. Or you can join the half of the girls that are there for the guys. I could always call them and say we can’t make it. We can just visit,” was Britney’s response.

At the skate park, one girl with really short blonde hair came up to us, “Glad you could make it.”

She held out her hand to me and I took it and asked, “Don’t I know you?”

She shook her head, “I don’t think so. But if you’re a friend of Britney’s then you’re a friend of mine. Come on, let’s skate.”

“Problem there. I didn’t know Heather doesn’t know how to skate,” Britney was saying.

“Would you like me to teach you?” The girl asked.

“Um, uh, do you have pads or a helmet I could borrow?” I asked.

“Of course. We always wear those. Safety is always a must. I have some extra by that bench. You’ll love learning,” the girl told me.

“Hey cuz. We’re growing old here!” another girl called out.

She looked a lot like the girl who offered to teach me to skate. So I guess cuz wasn’t just a nickname. After quite a few failed attempts at learning how to skate, I decided to give things a rest. The other girls seemed to not really trust me for some reason.

“That was a nice try out there. Do you think you’ll be back for more lessons?” Britney asked.

I thought for a moment then said, “Maybe. but it’ll have to be this week or next week. Then I’m going to be busy for the rest of the summer.”

Britney looked intrigued and was about to say something when my phone went off. I excused myself and went to the other side of the park.

The voice I heard seemed soft and scared, “I need some help. Can you come to my place?”

After that Candy hung up the phone. I was on my way back when I saw the blonde girl. A dog was trying to get her attention and she looked really scared. With that scared look, I remembered why she looked so familiar. It was Stella. The first girl that Steven brought in to visit me after they abducted me. I wanted to just run away and help Candy but it was too great of a distance.

As I got closer I heard one girl say, “I can’t believe that girl is living with Keith Kasady. I wish I could live with that hunk.”

Another girl, “Why did he even agree to take her in? Is it just because she reminds him of his brother Wade? Don’t tell me I’m the only one to have noticed that.”

“There are similarities but there aren’t a lot of differences too. I’m not sure we should be talking about this,” Britney said.

Girl 3, “Oh come on it’s obvious why he took her in. She’s a hot girl with big breasts and a very hot ass. If I didn’t have a girlfriend already I’d have asked her out. He probably plans on banging her if given the chance then he’ll dump Heather once he’s done with her.”

“Shut up. You’re being disgusting and disrespectful. Keith wouldn’t be like that,” Britney shouted.

Girl 2, “It’s not disrespectful because she’s a tramp. She’s after his money. I bet my inheritance on it.”

“Shut up bitch!” Stella yelled.

That’s when they noticed me. I turned around and started walking away. Before I got very far I ran into Stephanie.

“Heather, are you okay? Why are you crying?” Stephanie asked.

I was breathing hard and failing my attempt at not crying.

Then Britney said, “She overheard some mean girls make some nasty comments about her.”

Stephanie asked what was said and which girls said it. Then she took off in the direction of the girls.

“Who was that woman?” Stella asked.

Britney said, “ she was our old teacher.”

“She gives me the creeps.” Then to me, Stella said, “I’m sorry what those girls said. It was uncalled for.”

“Yeah. I didn’t think they could be that harsh. I can’t see hanging out with them if they act like that,” Britney said.

“You don’t have to stop hanging out with them just for me,” I told her.

“It’s not just for you. It’s for me too. I take care of the people I consider my friends, Heather. And I’m proud to say that includes you and Stella,” Britney said.

“Why do you even like me?” I asked.

“At first it was because you reminded me of Wade. But after getting to know you I came to realize I actually liked you for you. You have a lot of differences from Wade. God is what I’m saying all jumbled up. I can’t tell sometimes. Especially when I’m nervous or furious,” Britney said.

Britney and Stella brought me I’m for a group hug.

Stella asked, “Is there anything we can do for you?”

I looked at the group of girls that Stephanie was now chewing out and told Britney and Stella, “I need a ride to a friend’s house. She called me and said she needed my help.”

I tried to tell my friends that they could just drop me off at Candy’s place and they could leave. But they wanted to make sure that we’d both be okay. I ended up agreeing to go in and if the situation was calm enough I’d step out the door and wave goodbye. The door was unlocked and nobody answered. I knew that her parents were on a trip and Josh was babysitting his little cousin. So I let myself in. I heard some crying and made my way towards it. There on the floor of her room sat Candy. She only had on her panties.