Bad Choices

Katelyn stumbles into their house at three in the morning, drunk and high. This has been her routine for the last few months. Ever since, her dad gave her an ultimatum to either find a job or another place to live. Katelyn has her parents believing that she works third-shift at the chicken plant flashing her friend's paycheck stubs around to make it look legit.

I didn't know working at the factory could be so much fun. She giggles, bumping into the furniture. "Who put that there?" She staggers towards the stairs. She's halfway up when the hall light flips on. She looks up to find her dad glaring at her from the top.

"Hi, Daddy," she hiccups, weaving back and forth. Feeling like she's about to fall, she grabs the banister for support.

"What the hell do you think you're doing, coming home so late and in that condition too?"

"I'm just getting home from work," she smirks.

"I talked to your boss today. He said you were hired but never showed."

I work there, Daddy. I swear I do. I even have check stubs to prove it."

"Don't you mean your friend's check stubs?" He holds up a small piece of paper. "I know all about your con, Katelyn."

Her face turns ghostly white. "I can explain."

Stan raises his hand to stop her. "I will not tolerate you lying to me. Especially when you're living under my roof eating my food."

"I'll never lie to you again, I promise," she tearfully blurts out.

"Damn right, you won't. I want you to pack up your shit and go."

"But, Daddy," she protests.

"You heard me, Katelyn; I want you out of my house by the time I get home tonight."

"Don't you think you're a little hard on her, Stan?" Madeline questions, stepping up beside him. She's been the go-between for years.

He spins around. "I will not tolerate you undermining my authority any longer, Madeline. Is that understood?"

"But I.."

He raises his hand.

Madeline cowards down. "Yes, Stan."

He turns towards his daughter. "As for you, young lady."

"I'll go, Daddy, I'll go," she sobs.

***

Madeline has been cleaning out the storage area above their garage all day. She figures that if Katelyn is careful, she can live there undetected for a few weeks. That should give her enough time to get a job and a little money set aside for rent.

Running to her room. Madeline shakes the slumbering child. "It's almost 4:00, Katelyn. You need to get up and get out of here before your dad gets home."

"Katelyn pushes her hand away. "Not now, Lucas. I'm sleeping."

Who's Lucas? "Honey, it's mom. You need to wake up before your dad gets home."

"Fine." She rolls on her back, exposing her pale naked body.

Shocked by all of the bruises, Madeline shakes her again. "Katelyn, honey, wake up. We need to talk."

Katelyn sees her mom standing over her when she opens her eyes. Realizing she's naked, she pulls the covers around herself.

"What is it, mom?"

"How did you get all of those bruises, Honey?"

Katelyn looks away. "I fell."

"Did Lucas do that to you?"

"How do you know about him?"

"You muttered his name in your sleep."

"Oh." She smiles.

"Who's Lucas?"

"He's just a guy I know." She pictures his well-toned body and smiles.

"No man has the right to lay his hands on you, Honey."

Katelyn point to her mom's face."You're one to talk."

"What happened between your father and I is different. I shouldn't have misspoken."

"He'd like it if you didn't speak at all."

"Well, he's going to be home soon, so we need to get you out of here."

"I don't have anywhere to go."

"Yes, you do. Get dressed, and I'll show you."

A few minutes later, the two slip out the back.

"You want me to stay in the garage?" It started as a garage but turned into a storage unit through the years.

"No, silly, you'll be staying in the apartment above it."

Grabbing her hand, she pulls Katelyn towards the stairs.

Katelyn jerks away. "I'm not living in that mess."

"For God's sakes, Katelyn, come on." Aggravated, Madeline pulls her up the remaining steps. "Well, what do you think?" she asks, throwing the door open.

"You did this for me?"

"Do you like it?"

"I love it, but what will he say about me staying out here?"

"If you're careful, he'll never catch on."

"I hope you're right."

Lifting her hand, Madeline touches her swollen cheek. I do too. "You have just enough time to pack a few things and get back here before your father gets home."

"Katie doesn't know about this, does she?"

"Of course not." They found out a long time ago anything they tell her goes straight to Stan.

"You get some clothes together, and I'll get the food," Madeline instructs, walking towards the house.

Katie is sitting at the table when they step inside.

"Hi, Honey, how was school today?"

"It was the usual crap." She sees her sister step through the door. "Isn't she supposed to leave?"

"Don't worry. You'll have Daddy all to yourself soon."

"I can't wait. I think I'll ask him for your room." Seeing Katelyn getting angry, she smiles and then adds, "I'm going to paint it pink."

Katelyn turns toward Madeline. "You have to stop her, Mom."

"She won't touch your room."

"Dad will give it to me if I ask."

She's right about that. "You better get a move on if you want to get your things packed before Marge gets here." She winks at Katelyn.

"Aunt Marge is coming?"

"Yeah, she's taking me to my new apartment, the one you like so well. Have fun with Daddy, squirt." She messes up Katie's hair as she walks past.

"I better make sure she doesn't steal my stuff." Katie jumps up from her chair.

"Don't go causing any trouble," Madeline warns.

Smiling, Katie bolts out the door.

"Katie."

"I won't."

Madeline is bagging up a few groceries when she hears a commotion upstairs. I knew I should've kept them apart. Emptying her hands, she runs up the stairs.

Madeline finds Katelyn pounding on her sister. "Stop it; Stop it, right now," she screams, running towards her girls.

Katelyn turns towards her mother, an evil gleam in her eyes.

Seeing the look on her face, Madeline freezes in mid-step.

"Honey, I'm home," Stan announces, stepping through the door.

"Help me, Daddy; please help me," Katie begs.

Stan sees Katelyn on top of Kate's bleeding body when he dashes upstairs. Running over, Stan shoves Katelyn away.

He turns towards his wife. With fire in his eyes, he says, "You should've stopped her, Madeline. You should've stopped her from hurting my baby girl." Scooping Katie up, he rushing past.

Reaching the door, Stan spins around. "I want you and that demonic teenager out of my house."

"Please, don't do this, Stan," she cries, running to the porch. "Please, don't let our marriage end this way. Please don't let it end this way," she sobs, watching his taillights fade out of sight.

Madeline is heading towards the house when a patrol car pulls into the drive. Not now, she gloomily concludes, wiping the tears off her face.

"We got a disturbance complaint from one of your neighbors," Rachel explains, walking to the porch.

"The girls got into an argument, but it's over now."

"I'd like to talk to them, please."

"Katie and Stan just left."

"Can I speak to your other daughter?" Glancing at her notebook, she continues, "Katelyn Howard please?"

"Did dad send you here to escort me off his property?" Katelyn asks, walking down the steps.

Rachel first sees the blood on her T-shirt and then her swollen knuckles. Looking closer, Rachel discovers a red trail leading down their stairway to the front door. "Where did all this blood come from?"

Katelyn glances at her clothes. "It's mine; I had a nose bleed earlier and must have got some on my shirt."

"What about your knuckles?"

"I did that punching a wall."

"A neighbor said she heard you and your sister fighting."

"I yelled at her for borrowing my clothes. She waves her hand through the air. "You know, normal sister stuff."

Her partner steps up beside her. "Can I talk to you a second, Sergeant?"

"Don't go anywhere," Rachel instructs, following her partner. "What is it, Jerry?"

"Captain just got a call from Katie Howard. She said she wants to press charges on her sister. Kirk is getting a formal statement."

"I'll handle the arrest," She walks back to the porch.

"Katelyn Howard, you're under arrest for aggravated assault."

Tears fill her eyes. "I didn't do anything. Please, mom, please tell them that I didn't do anything wrong."