We make it across the train tracks and he pulls in at the Grab ‘N Go. “I just need to run in really quick and grab some Gatorade and crackers for Chase.”
“Sure.” I fiddle with the radio once
he goes inside the store. I could walk from here. My house is just a few blocks away. But the way the snow is falling and the way the temperature continues to drop, I’ll wait it out. An important emergency weather alert starts making that god-awful beep blaring sound. The report says the snow is falling heavier and faster than anticipated. They are advising everyone to get inside and stay off the roads.
At least I am almost home. The lights inside the filling station flicker off and on. I really hope the power doesn’t go out. I hear a ping from inside my bag. It’s my mom sending me an iMessage. She says she will be staying put at the hotel with Mr. Saturday. I tell her I am fine and not to worry. Mr. Miller is driving me home.
This isn’t the first or last time my mom has left me on my own for a date. Jason places a few bags in the backseat and hurries to climb into his driver’s seat. “Really getting bad now,” he states and begins to creep slowly down the street.
We skid and slide across the road a few times. The red light we are stopped at by the church fades to a soft glow before flickering completely off. The engine starts to make a sputtering sound. “Shit,” he curses under his breath. “I forgot to get gas.” He turns to me. “I am going to coast us over to the church, I will walk you home, then I will head back to the Grab ‘N Go to get gas. Sorry,” he apologizes.
“No biggie.” I shrug my shoulders. “I can walk myself, it’s not that far.”
“Katie, I will get you home. I can’t just let you go wandering off alone in the middle of a blizzard.”
We coast into the empty parking lot of the church.
I figured there would be a shelter set up. Unless the backup generators are down. They are old, and I heard Aaron saying something about his father complaining about getting them replaced. Then I remember they started doing the storm stuff at the high school’s gymnasium. They only open the church up now if they need the extra space.
The car is completely dead now. The locks click. I wrap my scarf once more and prepare to brace the cold walk home. Only the door is locked. I look over at Jason, confused. “Mr. Miller, can you unlock my door please?”
He leans across the console. “You know, you look a lot like your mother, Katie. You have her eyes.” He sniffs my hair, and I get a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. My hand is gripping the door handle, not that it is doing me any good. If I grip it any tighter, my fingers are going to split open.
“I used to see her. She’s the one who recommended I hire you as a sitter. I think you and me could come to an arrangement. I would be willing to pay you more. I could start driving you home.” He winks at me, and I think I am going to be sick. I don’t feel butterflies in my stomach. I feel as though crows are pecking at the walls of my stomach.
“I’d like to go home now,” I tell him calmly, although on the inside I am slowly dying. My worst fear is coming true.
He cups my face, roughly. “Don’t be scared. I want us to be friends.”
“I have enough friends,” I manage to spit out before he clamps his mouth down onto mine, trying to shove his tongue in my mouth. I press hard against his chest, but he doesn’t stop. My back is pressed so hard against the door you’d think I was melting into it. Why couldn’t I have gone with Penny to Aaron’s party like a normal kid? Then I’d be snowed in there with them, and not here dealing with this insanity.
Realizing I’m not giving in to his advances, he pulls away from my mouth. “Damn it.” He beats his fist on the dashboard. “I’m sorry, Katie, I don’t know what came over me. It’s just that I thought…”
“You thought I was like my mother,” I finish for him.
He disengages the lock, and I don’t waste another second getting away from him. I slam the door shut. My feet sink into the snow. It’s so dark out. The wind is whipping the snow and my hair into my face. I can barely see. I hear him scrambling from the driver’s side. Fearing for what he will do to keep me quiet, I run as fast as my legs will carry me into the dark church. A few candles are still lit giving me enough light to make out my surroundings. I duck into a row of pews and hunker down, breathing heavily.
I feel the draft from the doors opening again. I hear them slam shut. “Katie,” Mr. Miller calls my name in a strained whisper.
Dropping to my stomach, I try to regulate my breathing. I roll under the pew to the left of me.
“Can I help you?” Relief washes over me at the sound of Father Wright’s weathered voice.
“I, uh, ran out of gas,” Jason explains. I hear father Wright leading him further into the church. I am waiting for the perfect time to make my exit.
After waiting a few moments, I roll out from my hiding place. Shoot. I hear their voices filtering in my direction. Not left with much choice, I scurry into the confessional. My hands are shaking. My throat feels hot and dry from the damp winter air. Licking my chapped lips is probably making them worse but I can’t help from doing it.
I peek out of the door when I hear muffled voices passing me by. The doors to the church open and close, bringing in another gust of air. The candles that were providing a little comfort have blown out. I am left in the dark. I dig through my messenger bag quietly looking for my phone. I can use the light from it to guide me out. The sooner I get out of here and get home, the better.
I am fiddling with my phone trying to get it to power on, but the fecking battery must have died. Just my luck. The door to the confessional I am in creaks open. The hair on my arms stands up. “Father Wright?” I ask hesitantly, unable to see a thing. I am shoved roughly against the interior wall.
“Katie,” I hear Becks say.
“Becks?”
“Yeah, it’s me,” he says, shining his phone in my face. “Sorry I didn’t mean to push you. I couldn’t see.”
“What are you, how did you?” I am so confused right now but I am so happy to see him.