Given Up

Chapter 13

"Yep, I was such a fool back then. And wasn't your sister dating my brother Ed for a bit too?"  He frowned, trying to find the memory.

"Yes, oh yes, she was. I had forgotten that we went on a few double dates." Kate smiled at the memory.

"So you knew my Mum?"  The question popped out of my mouth. I hadn't realised that he had known her personally.

"Well, not really since school times. I saw her round town a few times over the years. And I happened to see her a week or so before..." His voice cut out.

"I didn't know that."  Kate gave him a funny look. "At the hospital?"

"Um, yeah, just through a work thing." Scott's eyes flicked to mine and held them for a second.

He hadn't gone into details just then:  was he trying to tell me that he wasn't going to tell Kate about that? I have no idea if Mum had ever told her about it, but they weren't that close so why would she have. Maybe he didn't want Kate to be more upset by hearing about it. Now it made sense why he had dropped Mum home after the tyre slashing incident: she had known Scott from before.  I stared down at my plate and concentrated on chewing. I didn't want to think about that time.  There was silence for a few minutes as we all ate.  I was aware of them sharing looks over my lowered head.

"So Kate tells me that you used to do Karate with Max Pankton...He is a good guy."

"You know Sensei Max?"  My interest was piqued. 

"He does self-defence training down at the station every year. And I did some of his Karate classes over at Mountview for a few years until I couldn't fit it in my schedule anymore. I still see him at the Gym from time to time."  Mountview was a leisure centre on the other side of town. "He was always a Sensei that didn't take any crap."

"Very true," I murmured, a smile playing across my lips. He was an old school Sensei. 

"He won't be too pleased about you fighting outside of class though, will he?" Scott's gaze was not unkind.

"You got that in a fight?"  Kate looked at me worriedly.

"Oh Kate, where did you think he got it? Walking into a door?" Scott shook his head at her in gentle disbelief.

"You were in a fight?" Kate put her hand on my arm so I had to look at her. "With who?"

I didn't answer, but stared at my plate as if it was a rare mosaic.

"Are you being bullied?"

"No, I am not being bullied Auntie Kate, Jesus." I threw my head back and tried not to roll my eyes.

"Judging by the state of your hand, someone else out there has got a decent shiner too." Scott chipped in.

Thanks for that, dick.

"You hit someone?"  Kate's eyes were wide:  like she was finally realising that I wasn't a little baby in nappies anymore.

"That is kind of how it goes in a fight K."  Scott was enjoying this far too much.

I flashed him a dirty look as Kate took my hand and looked at the swollen lumps. I pulled it away quickly.

"It is really nothing. Can we just not talk about it?" I put my fork down.

"I think that you going out drinking and getting into fights is exactly what we should be talking about Kyle." She sounded just like Mum when she took that tone.

"Oh God," I muttered as I ran my hands through my hair with my eyes closed. My head was really not up to any discussions like this.

"I'll do the washing up." I stood up quickly and picked up the dirty dishes from in front of them and took them through to the kitchenette. 

I could hear them having a whispered conversation behind me, with the only thing I could make out was Scott saying "just leave it for now".

I finished and started to head to the door. I turned on my heel, remembering myself.

"Thanks for breakfast Auntie Kate." 

I forced a smile and she returned a weary one, and I was gone.

——

My phone beeped later that afternoon.

Cassie:  Hiya

Ky: Hi

Cassie:  Get home ok?

Ky:  Yes and no.  Walked in on my Aunt and some man half naked on the couch together.

Cassie:  NOOOOOO!

Ky:  And then I had to endure brunch with them both this morning.  Awkward to say the least, especially with a hangover.

Cassie:  Feeling a bit fragile this morning?

Ky:  Weren't you?!

Cassie: Right as rain...I don't really get hangovers.

Ky:  Lucky you...

Cassie:  How is your eye?

Ky:  It is okay I guess.

Cassie:  Send me a pic?

I quickly snapped one and sent it through.

Cassie:  Ouch.  Does it hurt?

Ky: A little.

Cassie: Such bravado.

Ky:  Wouldn't be so bad if I could have gotten ice last night but I didn't want to ruin the mood further 🤢

Cassie:  Ew ha ha.

Cassie:  Listen I have a random question to ask you and I want you to feel 100 percent like you can say no if you don't want to...

Ky: Okay....

Cassie:  My Dad was wondering if you wanted to earn a few quid helping him with the decoration of the extension.  Stripping wallpaper, painting.  He seemed to think you were looking for work....

Ky:  Yeah, I am - trying to help my Auntie out a bit.  Please tell him yes!  That would be amazing. When does he want to do it?

Cassie:  He said could you come after school tomorrow for a few hours?  He wants to get going on the stripping etc.

Ky:  Yep no problem!

Cassie:  Opps I have to go, being called for dinner.  Bye

Ky: Bye

I leant back on the bed and smiled. I would feel much better if I could help out Auntie Kate with some money. I know it wouldn't make up for her losing her whole life for a few years, but it was better than nothing.