Kate Ketterman stretched and yawned as the 6:30 am alarm sounded.
"Ugh" I am not a morning person," I said to no one in particular.
The routine was becoming comfortable and I was thinking less and less about gran Lil's death. I knew it would get easier, but to have your father and your grandmother die within 6 months of each other had been a blow. After dad had died, Lacey and I had moved to live with gran Lil, it was the perfect solution, I could take care of her, and Lacey and I could stay together without having to end up in foster homes and possibly separated. My older brother, Rob, was already 18 so it made no difference to him. He wasn't much around anyhow.
Now that Gran had died, I applied for emancipation as a minor, so that I could stay in the house and keep Lacey with me. At first the county wanted nothing to do with it, they actually came one day and tried to take Lacey, but I called the sherriff and he said they wern't within their rights.. It was then I knew I had some serious planning to do.
The money was and never had been a problem, daddy had a really good life insurance policy and Rob, Lacey and I split it. It was was enough, along with the money from selling the house to let us lead a comfortable life. Lacey and mine was in trust, but we got interest payments from it and with social security and the fact that gran had left the house to me, we would be fine.
I went about my usual morning routine , getting Lacey up, getting us some breakfast, and Making sure we both looked presentable before I walked her off down the street to school.
I liked the neighborhood at that time of the morning, everthing was so predictable, the same people in their yards, the paper boy, and the smell of the dew melting off the leaves, I knew winter was coming soon, and I would have to get my license. Just one more intimidating task that lay ahead of me. I had alittle bit yet to study for that, but I also had to present my life plan to the courts next week, that was more pressing.
"Come on Kate, we're gonna be late" yelled Lacey as she flew down the stairs, nary touching a few...
"Coming, coming," I huffed as I ran the brush through my hair.
As I strolled out the door, everthing was as it always was, and we started the 10 minute walk down the street to school, chatting along the way about what the day at school held and what was going to be for dinner. I knew life was not always going to be this simple and happy.
After leaving Lacey at the door to her class, I made my way back along the same path I followed there and rounded the last corner, I ran smack into a tall lanky boy.
"Sorry I was't paying attention," I muttered with my head to the ground.
I started to step around him and he stepped the same way I did, kind of that stupid dance feeling you get...
Now it was his turn to apologize..
"Oop's, sorry, as much as I'd like to dance, I have to get home" he chuckled.
I had to look up at him, and see where that deep voice had come from, I didn't expect it from a boy that seemed that young.
He was about my age, I guessed, he had wavy blond/brown hair to his shoulders, and nice warm brown eyes.
He held out his hand..
"Ike", "and you are?" he said in almost a professional manner.
"I, um, Kate, you live around here?" I stuttered, not use to having to speak to boys my age, this un-nerved me greatly.
"Yeah, you live in the Ketterman house,huh?" I live a cross the street, and a few doors down..
Yeah, cute dog, what's the name?" I wanted to take the subject away from me...
"Wicket," he said, "you know like one of those little furry creatures in Star Wars?" he had a nice laugh too ..
I stood up and stepped to the side, I had alot to do today,
"gotta get going", "nice to meet you Ike" and with that I was gone.
"Nice to meet you too, Kate" I whispered to myself..

chapter 7

I made my way back to the house whistling with a small smile on my face, "Kate" I said to myself, simple name for such a mysterious girl. Mom was right, she didn't look anywhere near the age I had guessed, that was just one more little secret she had on me..
I opened the front door to Zac, Taylor, dad, and mom all sitting at the table smiling..
"So have any 'accidents' while you were out?" My mom winked as she said this, the rest of the table let out a low chuckle.
"Can you ever just keep something to ourselves", I gave my mom a pointed look and then smiled and winked right back at her.
"And yes, I had a very nice accident" with that I strolled out of the room.
Like I didn't think Taylor and Zac wouldn't be right behind me as I made my way to the bedroom to gather my books to get started for the day.
"Soooo,? "I heard Taylors voice right behind me.
"Yeah, soooo,?" came Zacs in a normal echo.
"Whats her name"
"How old is she?"
They shot questions at me..typical brothers, but I knew I had to answer or I'd never hear the end of it.
"Her name is Kate, thats about all I was able to get out of her",
"she seems kind of skittish" I added
Grabbing my books and continuing down the stairs, I headed to the dining room table, which had become my favorite place to study.
I sat down and my mom walked in from the school room,
"So, what's her name?"
"Kate", I replied, smirking a little at my mom.
"Is she nice?"
Yeah mom, "
"Kind of jumpy though, I'm not sure whether she knew who I was or not, she wouldn't look me in the eye"
"well maybe.." my mom started..
"No. mom, maybe nothin, if I want to get to know her, I will do it, no messin on your part, besides I kind of like the 'from afar' thing right now." I firmly looked at my mom.
"You were right though, she doesn't look anywhere near the age I'd guessed" I went back to reading my text
the day wore on, and I almost caught myself daydreaming several times, but stopped myself, no woman was going to go for an 18 year old, who had another year of high school yet. I had to get to work.

Chapter 8

I nearly ran all the way home, I slipped inside the house, and pushed the door shut behind me. I leaned against the door. This is one drawback to the sheltered life I had led, I didn't even know how to talk to kids my own age, let alone, boys.
I sat down at the computer, and began to work again on my presentation for the courts. They wanted a full and detailed account with specifics as to how I was not only going to support and care for myself, but Lacey as well. I had done well so far, if all held true, I would start back up Gran Lil's catering business, and Rob had already said that he was in, if I thought I could make a go of it.
Lacey was another story, I knew that right now I could provide what she needed, but I was worried about the next few years, she was a good kid, but she was 10 , and I am going to be 16 next week, how was I going to tell them I knew how to raise a child? I had taken the GED and graduated and had signed up for a class at the community college in catering, but I knew more than they could ever tell me. I had helped gran since I was just little. I had everything I needed, so the next thing was to call some of her old accounts and let them know that Ketternmans was back in business.
I was suprised and thrilled when within the day I had two luncheons planned. I needed to call Rob and get him over here to help me with this driving thing. I had to do this.
I felt so good and so Up, more than I had in the last 6 months, I decided it was time to get Robs old car cleaned up and ready for my driving test.
Taking the keys, I went out and pulled the little blue car in behind the catering truck. I knew how to drive fine, and growing up with Rob and my dad, both "mens men" I knew how to take care of a car, fix most things and change the oil since I was Laceys age. I turned on the key and found a good radio station, humming to myself as I cleaned the car.

Chapter 9

I was deeply engrossed in my trig book and jumped as I heard Jessie's and Zacs feet pounding down the hall.
"I get to..."
"No, me.." they were arguing about something as they ran.
"Ike" Zac began..
"She's out" Jessie finished..
"What, who?" I questioned
"Kate " Zac said, out of breath from his battle with Jessie
I raised up out of my seat and looked down the street, sure enough, she had moved the car into the drive and I could see her vacuming it.
Taylor walked in right in the middle of the show.
"What's this?,, a Kate sighting?" he laughed
"She's out, go see if she needs any help.."he whispered to me.
""No way",
"I need time to find out about her" why was everybody trying to set me up with this woman ?
"Well if you're not, I am!" stated Taylor with a gleam in his eye.
I almost immeadiatly heard him in the front closet rummaging for his rollerblades.
"ah, man Taylor, don't do anything stupid" I paniked as I realized he was serious.
I knew there was nothing I could do to stop him, I had to just pray he used some sort of judgement and didn't emabarrass me.
I just sat there as I watched him fly down the driveway and head in her direction. As he approched near the driveway, he tripped and took a dive, I knew immeadiatly that it was all fake. We did that to Zac all the time to scare him.
It worked though, she heard him yell and looked up at him as he hit the ground, and came rushing over.
Agh, I almost hurt myself for real, Taylor thought as her saw her approach from the side.
"Are you all right?" she sounded so concerned.
"Yeah, yeah, just a little embarrassed.." I said.
Come over and sit for a second, that was a good fall"...I looked at her closely, no way was she was 30, let alone 25, like Ike thought, she didn't look much older than me...and Ike was right, she was cute..

Chapter 10