Pick-me-up

By Cecilia La France

Pick-me-up, a young adult problem novel, tells a heroic story of Katelyn fighting back against the dysfunctions of her family and her friends. While she tries to live in the right, Katelyn falls into her own problems when she hooks up with a boy full of trouble and his own addictions. This rural-Iowa teenager keeps making decisions that would lead her to the same fate of her two high school dropout sisters. Katelyn fails classes, skips school, and at one point ends up with reserved seating in the Principal's office. Katelyn’s friends back away as she begins to live up to the troubled legacy left by her family. Home life proves no better. Katelyn’s dad disappears and ends up in jail, again. The fragile relationship she has with her mother nearly breaks as Katelyn is dumped with the responsibility of caring for all her older sister’s abandoned children. Katelyn gets her own pick-me-up in the form of a charming older boy with a criminal history. Her friends and scene change as she follows him back into his bad habits. Just as she keeps faith in her family, she keeps giving Tim another chance. Only after she suffers because of her misguided love does she start to take care of herself. She's able to salvage her dignity and rebound to break the dropout streak in her family.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cecilia La France
• Release date: Dec 30, 2013
• ISBN: 9781311379276

Cecilia La France

Cecilia La France writes fiction and nonfiction. Pick-me-up is her first ebook publishing accomplishment. She resides in Denver, CO.

Book preview

Pick-Me-Up

By Cecilia La France

Published by Cecilia La France at Smashwords

Copyright 2014 Cecilia La France

Visit and comment at https://www.facebook.com/pickmeupbycecilialafrance

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

Thank you for downloading this ebook. This book remains the copyrighted property of

the author, and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial

purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own

copy from their favorite authorized retailer. Thank you for your support.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Things Got All Messed Up

Chapter 2: A Big Mistake

Chapter 3: 9 Months, 27 Days Earlier

Chapter 4: Little Sister

Chapter 5: Act II

Chapter 6: In School Suspension

Chapter 7: Fatherly Advice

Chapter 8: Grounded

Chapter 9: Paying Debts

Chapter 10: Waiting For A Call

Chapter 11: The Date

Chapter 12: Summer Break

Chapter 13: In the Dark

Chapter 14: Making Up

Chapter 15: Sophomore Year

Chapter 16: Anniversaries

Chapter 17: A Study

Chapter 18: Seconds

Chapter 19: Secrets

Chapter 20: Hanging Out

Chapter 21: Another Day

Chapter 22: Full Circle

Chapter 23: Cycles

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1: Things Got All Messed Up

The lawns on his street looked clean, no toys or tools spread out on the yard. Tulips pushed up in his neighbor’s small gardens skirting the fronts of the small ranch houses. From the outside, anyone passing by might think these people lived the clean, simple lives associated with small town Iowa.

These yards didn’t look like Katelyn’s, and, more than ever, her life felt the farthest from clean and simple. She stood at the corner on Tim’s street and looked at his house. No clean and simple life lived behind his doors, either.

Before she took another step, Katelyn pulled out her phone and reread Tim’s message from this morning: I want to see u. Things got all messed up. Let me explain. T.

The text broke five days of silence since his last one. It was the first to sound sober and kind. Katelyn didn’t want to think about the other ones right now. Katelyn wanted to know the truth about what happened last week. She wanted to hear Tim apologize. She wanted to forgive him, again. But, mostly, Katelyn wanted her boyfriend back.

She stuffed the phone back in her jacket pocket and shivered. The sun came through new buds on the trees, but spring was still fighting the winter chill. Katelyn looked at the empty houses and wondered if people were away for their spring break. Envy crept in. Vacations weren’t part of her life.

For the fourth time in the two-mile walk to his house, Katelyn questioned if she should come. Her mom was going to be livid if she found out. Katelyn’s would likely now be grounded until the end of school rather than the month she already had in store.

Katelyn stopped at the corner. She could turn back before her mom found out. But questions would remain. She wouldn’t have the apology she deserved. And, Katelyn wouldn’t have her boyfriend back.

Tim didn’t deserve to see any of her hopes. For what he did, they were over. They should be over, unless.

Katelyn had texted Tim to say she’d come get her stuff. Her cheap MP3 player and a few shirts she’d left in his room weren’t that important, but they gave Katelyn a reason to come over, not just because he asked to see her.

She was still mad. Tim couldn’t expect that she would so easily be over what he did only a few days ago. Katelyn wasn’t about to forget the threats from Mona, the girl who called from Tim’s phone claiming to be his new girlfriend. She was just the start of Tim’s betrayal. He had a lot of explaining to do.

Katelyn went over her plan again. She would not go into his house. Tim would want her to go down to his room, but she didn’t want to be reminded of all the hours they spent there together. No, she would stay outside and ask for her things, outside--where she was safe. If he didn’t say what she needed to hear, she’d turn around and get on with life, even if it would be without him.

Katelyn’s eyebrows pinched together and her head started to ache. She reached up and pushed her long bangs back into her hair. She took a fresh breath of air and shook her head as if it would make memories fall away.

Katelyn turned her head and forced her feet to take the last steps to his house. Next week would be their 10-month anniversary. Katelyn had a Top ten things I love about you poem drafted. She was not ready to let him go. Please, she thought, please let this all be a big mistake.

Chapter 2: A Big Mistake

Tim’s mother answered the door and instantly looked disappointed when she saw Katelyn. Tim’s mom crossed her arms in front of her chest and leaned into the door frame, protecting entry into a house where Katelyn had spent countless days and nights. His mom had never cared for Katelyn, but then Katelyn wasn’t sure of anything the woman did care for other than her own interests. From the first time Tim introduced them, his mom eyed Katelyn sharply, even blowing her cigarette’s smoke somewhat purposefully in her direction from across the kitchen.

What do you want, Katelyn? His mom didn’t move from the door frame. For a moment, Katelyn wondered what Tim had told his mom to make her act this way.

Katelyn didn’t shift from her spot on the small front porch. She wasn’t scared of this woman. In fact, Katelyn didn’t care for her either. If Tim had a better mother, maybe he wouldn’t have turned to drugs in the first place. And, it was her ex-husband and, later, another one of her live-in boyfriends that physically and mentally abused him. Maybe Tim wouldn’t have been violent himself if she cared more about him.

Tim called me, Katelyn said with a sneer of her own. Don’t worry, I’m not coming in.

Tim’s mom gave her a once-over look and turned into the house. She yelled Tim’s name down the hall. Her fake tan, low rise jeans, and strap tank top were too revealing for both a woman her age and the early spring weather. His mom turned back to Katelyn and shook her head. Then, she disappeared back into the house.

Katelyn shuddered with nervousness, but took a couple deep breaths to calm herself. She went to one edge of the porch and leaned against a railing. She bit at her nails. Tim stepped into the door frame timidly and stopped. Right away, Katelyn was thrown off from what she expected. She thought Tim would have been worrying all day about her visit, but he looked like he had just dragged himself out of bed. His black T-shirt was wrinkled, his black shaggy hair tousled, and he wore his flip-flops he used as slippers when he woke up in the morning. His face looked pale and his eyes were puffy and red. A red flag went off in her head, but she ignored it. Katelyn wanted to believe he was sorry.

Tim’s eyes gave his only greeting as he stuffed his hands into his baggy jeans. He just looked at her, acknowledging her presence, but nothing more.

Hi, she offered softly.

His face turned into more of a question. Wussup? he answered almost rudely. They’d known each other too long for her to not recognize his approach. She’d seen him like this with others he didn’t trust. He’d stay silent to set the other person on edge. Why was he acting this way? How could he turn so quickly against her?

You said you wanted to talk, remember? Katelyn said, growing impatient.

He leaned back on the door, and his eyes narrowed on her. His head twitched back to the house occasionally like he was trying to remember something he’d been doing inside. He brought his hand to his neck and rubbed. More silence. His head jerked again. Something wasn’t right. Tim still didn’t say anything.

Katelyn didn’t want to leave, but he obviously wasn’t going to explain. Katelyn regretted coming over. Tim was still trying to hurt her. Fine. Katelyn pushed herself off the railing and crossed her own arms. Just give me my stuff and this will all be over.

He didn’t change except to step down off the door jam onto the porch, one step closer toward Katelyn. He leaned in and his words came out in a snarl. You’d like that, wouldn’t you, you slut.

The last word sliced through the air as if to cut off Katelyn’s air. She felt hot tears making their way through her veins. Her throat burned and her lungs refused to take a breath. She was so foolish to think the past week could be wiped away; here she was back again being insulted by the person she trusted most. Katelyn wasn’t about to go through this again.

Embarrassed and hurt, Katelyn turned quickly to the steps, her long hair whipping behind her. She began to run down, but her foot only reached the second step. Her head snapped back. She had only a moment to comprehend that she’d been grabbed by the hair and pulled sharply. Tim had grabbed her hair to stop her, to hurt her. The force of his pull brought her backward and she lost her one-foot hold on the stair. As she fell, her butt hit the concrete step and she felt the crack of her rib cage as it hit against the edge of the wooden porch. Her head was the last to hit, smacking back against the porch platform.

Her vision faded like a movie ending. Ringing filled in her ears. She gasped for air, coughing as her lungs expanded in pain.

It was an accident, she thought. It had to be. He wouldn’t. He wouldn’t. Within seconds she felt his hands on her. He grabbed her shoulder, cupped her face.

Katelyn, Katelyn! Oh my God, I’m sorry. I’m sorry, he cried, the tone of real concern now in his voice. I love you. You know that. I love you. I didn’t mean it. You can’t leave.

Katelyn’s vision started to clear and she saw him over her, saw his own eyes wide in fright at what just happened. She also saw the Tim she loved, the boy who trusted her.

She tried to lift her head but a sharp pain shot through her back. She moaned.

You have to get up, Tim said in a panicked voice now. Come on, Katelyn. You have to be okay. Get up.

She felt her arm being pulled and opened her eyes again to see Tim standing to get a better hold of her. His eyes scanned the neighbor’s yards anxiously in worry.

Wait, Katelyn said, feeling like she was going to get sick. Don’t.

Tim let go of her arm and jumped back inside the door. He seemed to hide back in the door frame like he was scared to come out. He grabbed his arms as if holding himself back from coming out the door again. The next moment he scratched at his neck and then his arm. She heard him muttering to himself, but couldn’t understand. His voice grew in volume.

Get up! he hissed from his perch. Get up, you fat bitch.

His words were too much to handle at the moment. Katelyn felt a danger she hadn’t before. Tim did this. Tim did this to her.

She tried again to lift herself and managed to get turned onto her knees, but she couldn’t push herself up yet. She looked to the neighbor’s yard, looked for help, but saw nothing but colorful tulips she’d taken joy in only minutes ago.

Help, she cried. Help me, she aimed in the other neighbor’s direction.

Shut up! Shut up, you whore, Tim threw his words at her and suddenly she felt the sharp pain of her hair being grabbed once again. She screamed as she felt hair rip out of her head. Tim held his grip and yanked her up the last step. Now, in a fury, he flung her over the door jam into the house. Katelyn’s sweatshirt caught and tore on the edge.

Panic filled her now and she tried to get up, but Tim began to kick her. His foot landed in her stomach and she instantly vomited on her hands in front of her. Katelyn’s head pounded, the blood heating her whole face and filling her ears.

Katelyn heard new yelling and looked up to see Tim’s mom alarmed and trying to confront Tim. What the hell is going on?! Tim moved back a step from Katelyn, like a child in trouble. His mom stopped halfway down the hall.

Help, Katelyn cried out to her, but the woman made no move toward her.

Hatred and anger surged through Katelyn. Pain pierced her sides as she moved, but Katelyn managed to get to her feet. I hate you! she yelled at Tim. She held the wall as she backed up. I hate you! she yelled louder and she turned to stagger out the door.

Tim snapped out and jumped her from behind. Katelyn collapsed down onto the front porch face-first. Tim jumped on her back and pinned her. You bitch, he cried repeatedly as he slapped her again and again in the head. Tim’s mom screamed hysterically at Tim to stop, but he reached a rhythm.

Katelyn couldn’t feel the hits individually any more. From beneath him, Katelyn struggled. She put all her strength into making it end. Finally, she was able to get a knee up and get leverage. With a heave upward, she threw him off guard and Tim fell against the porch railing in surprise. With all her strength, Katelyn raised her beaten body and struggled down the steps. She kept going when she made it to the yard and didn’t stop until she reached the end of the block. She fell to her knees on the cold sidewalk. She turned around expecting him to be in chase, but he remained on the porch of his house, his mom’s curses reaching across the neighborhood.

Katelyn’s body hurt and she bled from several cuts. She felt dizzy and broken. The tears came freely now, but fear made her keep going. She pushed herself up. She had to get away. This just couldn’t be real, couldn’t be happening. Not to her. Not by Tim.

Chapter 3: 9 Months, 27 Days Earlier

Jenny, don’t drink it all! Katelyn yelled from the cramped living room into her sister’s even smaller kitchen. Yelling wasn’t really necessary in Jenny’s small two-bedroom apartment. Katelyn, Jenny, and two of Jenny’s friends were quite close amid the highchair, dollhouse, toy kitchen, and an array of other toddler furniture that filled up the space. Katelyn didn’t really want another drink. She just didn’t want Jenny to have another drink.

Jenny, Katelyn’s 19-year-old sister, was pouring the rest of a bottle of neon blue Vodka into a plastic toddler’s cup; some spilled out and down the sides of a fading Elmo decal. The last drops fell from the bottle as Jenny shook it. Jenny let it clatter to the countertop where she grabbed an open lemonade carton. Jenny filled the rest of the cup. She turned to Katelyn with a wicked smile before she tipped the cup to her lips and took a mighty drink. Ahh, she exaggerated, you’ll just have to buy another.

Jennieee, Katelyn whined. I don’t have any more money.

You like coming over here? Want to go home. Should I call mom? Jenny turned to her two friends who were watching a reality show on the screen; they had turned to watch the sisterly spat. Katelyn is mom’s fav’rite, she slurred.

Katelyn looked down at her own drink to avoid the obvious threat; her sister was drunk and she was a mean drunk. Jenny, even though she was four years older, was the only sister Katelyn considered a friend. Even a mean Jenny was better than going home.

Katelyn forked over her allowance or whatever she could skim from her mom’s wallet so Jenny could buy booze. And, Jen let her hide out and drink with her. It was a give and take deal, but she’d take it. Her mom and dad were fighting in full force again. Her mom thought he was back on drugs. So, whenever her dad made it home, all they did was fight until he left again. Listening to it all was painful, but even more painful was the truth. Her dad wasn’t acting right. Katelyn didn’t want to believe he was back on drugs. Katelyn couldn’t deal with that again. Her sister, on the other hand, she could handle.

Sure, Jen, let’s call mom and let her know I’m with you. Let’s call her so she can really know that you’re still a drunk instead of just suspecting you are. Katelyn got up from the worn sofa while she talked. Let’s call her so you can wish your kids goodnight. She knew she’d hit a nerve with the last jab and strode quickly to the bedroom.

You can leave now! Jenny yelled at her.

Katelyn ignored her as she stepped into the dark bedroom and slammed the door behind her. Through the thin door, the TV show was only slightly muffled and her sister’s words were only masked by the room’s darkness. She may have them, but they’re my kids. They’re my kids! A commercial filled her short silence.

Katelyn couldn’t help but picture the plump cheeks of her niece and the baby blue wide eyes of her youngest nephew. Kayla was almost three and Jacob was at that cute, smiley six month stage. Katelyn’s mom took custody of the kids after Jenny went missing for a week the previous month. When Jenny came back, without the dirtbag she left with, their mom wouldn’t give Kayla and Jacob back until Jenny went through an alcohol treatment program. Jenny still hadn’t signed up. This month, Jenny was going to lose her welfare payments, but even that didn’t seem to worry her.

Let her take care of them; it’s more she ever did for me. Sadness mixed in with the bitterness in Jenny’s voice, but Katelyn knew better than to play into her pity party.

Katelyn moved away from the door after she was sure her sister had moved on. She heard Jenny complain to her friends and, shortly thereafter, wicked laughter from her friends. Katelyn threw herself on the unmade bed; her eyes had adjusted to the dark and she kept the lights off. She checked the time on her cell phone: 12:36 a.m. It was too late to walk anywhere; the stupid city curfew was at 11:00 p.m. on weekends and the cops loved to stop her. Her last name might as well be stamped on her in reflector neon. Thanks, Dad, for the legacy, she thought. Katelyn had already been stopped and escorted home twice by the police. Luckily for her, after the cops left, her parents ended up cussing about the crooked cops rather than punishing her.

She leaned back on the bed, knocking over a laundry basket full of clothes onto the floor in the process. She didn’t bother picking the clothes up. They were probably dirty anyways. Jenny hadn’t asked her to borrow money for laundry lately.

On the ceiling she could see the outlines of stick-on, glow-in-the-dark stars and planets. They didn’t glow. The lights had been off for too long. Some previous tenant had put them there to amuse their children, probably someone like Jenny, a single mom on assistance. The apartment complex was for single moms; the rent was super cheap because the Iowa Department of Human Services paid most of it while moms found jobs or went to school. The State must not have found out about Jenny’s custody issue yet. If Katelyn needed to, that was something else she could use as leverage against Jenny. Katelyn hated fighting dirty, but kind just wasn’t how her family played anymore.

She checked her phone again. The screen’s light momentarily blinded her in the dark. No calls, no messages. She ran through recent texts and sent a few wussup