Invisible

A Whole Lot of Bad (continued)

When I woke, my head was throbbing and my throat was sore.  At first I wondered why I felt like I had cried all night, then I remembered that I actually HAD cried all night.  

My dad had come back.

Lucas had come back.

Pain had come with them.

But with my dad, relief came as well.  I finally had closure about him leaving me.  Not that I would ever admit it, but I wanted him to stay.  It was nice having him around.  

I got out of bed, stretching out, and trying to forget what happened last night.  I didn't want to remember the feeling of Lucas's lips on mine or his hands on my waist...

"Good morning, pumpkin," my mother said as I opened the door.

"Morning."

"How did you sleep?"  She asked.

I just shrugged, glancing around the kitchen.  "Where's dad?"

She sighed.  "I don't think I'm going to get used to you saying that," she paused.  "He went to get his stuff from his hotel.  I told him he was welcome to stay in our guest room until he found an apartment."

"He's staying?"  I asked.

Despite knowing how much my mom hated him, I could tell she was happy for me.  "Apparently so."

I smiled.  "That's... good."

Maybe things would be different now.  Maybe things could start looking up.

Phil strolled in, already dressed, coffee in hand.  "Bye sweetheart," he pecked my mom on the cheek.  "See you when I get home," he told me as he walked out the door.

"Mom?"  I asked.  I needed to tell her what happened.

"Yes, Kasey?"

"Lucas kissed me last night."

She tried not to show her surprise, but I saw her body tense at the sound of his name.  "Oh."

"It just sort of happened.  I don't know why I told you.  I guess I just was feeling bad for throwing a fit last night," I sighed, sitting down at the table.

She nodded.  "I think you should be allowed to have a little melt down after all you've been through.  Don't worry about it."

We stayed there, a long silence falling over us.  The phone rang, and I jumped.

Mom checked the caller ID.  "It's Thomas... strange.  You answer it, it's probably your sister anyway."

I took the phone from her.  "Hello?"  I asked.

"Kasey," Thomas's voice was strained.  

"Thomas, what's wrong?  Is everything okay?"  My heart started beating fast because something told me everything was not okay.

"Kasey, I'm so sorry," his voice was thick with tears.  "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to."

"Thomas?"

"He pulled out in front of me so fast, I didn't even have time to react," I heard him cough, still straining to talk through his sobbing.

"Thomas..." my heart was about to beat out of my chest.  What was he talking about?

I heard Teresa telling him to give her the phone.  "Kasey," she said.  "There's been an accident."

"Teresa just tell me!"  I saw my mom from the corner of my eye.  Her eyes were wide, hand over her mouth.

"Lucas is in the hospital."