Part 3: Just gonna take a minute

Janet calls Katia a w***e,

while she lets her b***s fall out of her tops.

While she leaves my Dad every night and goes to party.

While she uses all his money to buy anything her heart desires.

Katia is not a w***e.

Dylan and I went bowling,

and Katia didn't come up once.

We just laughed and teased eachother and everything was fun.

We kissed and he was a gentleman,

buying me the most expensive french fries from the canteen.

The weather has turned from gloomy to gloomier,

the expected April rain has arrived.

While the streets are wet and flooded,

Dylan and I are safe and warm inside.

We've been waiting for an hour,

For Dylan's mom to pick us up.

Out in the rain, tucked together under a small umbrella.

Calling her cellphone over and over but never getting an answer.

Dylan's been kissing me like this was his plan all along,

like he hasn't realized we've been waiting for an hour.

Dylan's mom never did come,

so he grabbed my hand and took a deep breath, and we set out on the deserted road.

After twenty minutes of walking, the rain has soaked through my boots to my socks.

We're just down the street from my house, and Dylan slows down.

Like we're in no rush, like we've got plenty of time.

“Come on, you can come inside. No need to hang out here.” I try to pull him toward my house.

He just placed his hands on my neck and pressed his cold lips against mine.

And stole away my every gasping breath.

This is the first time I've had a boy in my room,

and I feel so stripped, so bare.

My room is a mess, and I had to rush to kick my bras under the bed before he could spot them.

He sits awkwardly on my bed, like we're supposed to do something but neither of us know how.

“What are we doing?” I ask, smiling slightly.

“Nothing.” He assures me, placing his hand on mine.

“I'll go.” He whispers, aware of the rest of my family being fast asleep.

He begins to stand up, like that's all that's left to say.

Feeling rushed, I grab his sleeve and pull him back down.

He eases down on top of me, only a few layers of clothing between us being skin to skin.

He kisses me, and I squirm under him.

And for now, this is as close as we need to be.

Katia doesn't live with us anymore,

Daddy threw her out on the streets.

But what he doesn't know if that Julia and I bring her bread and vegetables every night.

She swears she's looking for a place to stay, but she can't afford one.

She's staying at the bar where she works now,

earning minimum wage.

Katia and I went on a road trip today,

I told my father I was going to Ashley's house.

I met Katia by the ESSO gas station,

and hopped in her rented pick-up truck.

We drove and drove, and she told me all about her new life.

She smiled with a certain new-found intelligence: “It's not perfect but it'll do.”

We pulled up beside a 50's diner,

Katia said we should grab a bite to eat.

A pretty asian waitress sat us down in a booth,

Katia ordered more then she could afford.

Then I spotted Tony a few booths away,

and kicked Katia's shin under the table.

She followed my gaze and stared it him with terrible longing.

She jumped up and scurried over to him,

interrupting his flirty chat with the waitress.

Katia holds out her palm expectantly.

Tony writes her a check reluctantly,

I guess he's not all that bad.

Katia moved in today,

to a small apartment downtown.

She scrounged together enough money to pay the rent.

She doesn't call often, and she doesn't have a computer,

But atleast I know that she's safe.

I am such hypocrite,

Bitching about how Katia is so bad and such a dishonor,

While I let Dylan slip his hands under my shirt.

While I let him touch me and kiss me.

While I feel the same urges she did with Tony.

While I chip away my innocence.

Katia can't pay the bills,

she says she bit off more then she can chew.

I promised her I'd help.

But I couldn't think of how.

It was the only way.

Besides, daddy's got too much money anyways.

And it's not stealing when it's from your family, right?

Katia gave birth today,

Dylan's family came with me and Julia to the hospital.

Daddy and Janet refused to come.

I think it's stupid.

I think it's mean,

to leave poor Katia to raise her baby on her own.

With not even one penny donated on their behalf.

Katia gave birth today,

to a healthy baby girl.

Katia named her Chelsea,

and she's been staring at her for hours.

Just watching her.

Chelsea isn't even moving.

But Katia is completely captivated.

Mesmerized.
She's fallen in love.

Last year when I was fifteen,

my big sister had a baby.

My dad got re-married.

I fell in love.

I got my heart broken.

I reached new highs.

I discovered just a new layer of life's natural treasures.