Alone but United

Chapter 16

The bell rang, releasing the feisty teens back in the wild. Carter, for one, wasn’t in that much of a hurry. She was sure that she was ready to tell Tristah everything. She had can to the conclusion that in a world like this, you need true friends that you can trust with everything. That can trust you when you need them to and the same the other way around. Carter knew if she lied that she would find out at one time or another. Even when she hopefully became a Kat, her past life as an Exeptis would follow her. Especially with her last name being the same as her Kat Grandparents, a very well known family in the construction business. It was time, and hopefully Tristah is the kind of person Carter thinks she is.

Carter walked through the double doors with the sea of rusting students. The sunlight blinding here for a moment. It was still cold from early and it was definitely becoming winter. She stopped to look around, to hopefully catch Tristah going to her limo. The sea of students started to dissolve to the busses and walking groups to go home. Leaving the school grounds bare with only crumbled leaves on the pavement.

Carter looked over to see that a person had stayed behind, sitting at a picnic bench under one of the trees with leaves. Flushed with not only brown, but oranges and reds. Walking to the figure she thought to ask if they had seen Tristah.

Cater stood at the foot of the trunk and suddenly recognized the figure,“Would you like to go get some coffee?”

They walked up to the cashier and looked at the Squarebucks’ menu,“I’ll have a french roast medium and a pumpkin spice larger.”

“Alright, $10.56.”

Carter reached into her new custom purse that Stephanis bought for her and gave the cashier the cash. Waiting on the beverages, she admired the bag. It was khaki with golden buttons that formed diamonds all over it. She really loved that she was thought of by someone that hadn’t known her for very long. Carter then heard her name from the barista and grabbed the drinks. She sat down with the coffees and handed the pumpkin spice to Tristah.

Trishat took a sip of her drink and said, judging“This must be something big if you got me my favorite drink.”

“It is…”

She glanced outside. Seeming to take in the environment of the autumn trees. Carter knew this would be a calm place to explain everything to her. Every scene they were younger Tristah had always loved autumn, and everything to do with it. The colors of the leaves, sweaters, and the pumpkin spice coffees. She had already seemed entranced and a lot calmer compared from the walk over. After all, Town Hall Mall is the center of the whole ship and the only place with really trees from their home planet.

Tristah crossed her legs and cozied up in her seat,“Ok, I want the whole truth.”

Carter took a sip of her own cup then a long breath,“My father died 3 years ago,”

She told Tristah everything. Telling her that Tyson was her younger brother. That her eldest brother committed suicide 4 monthes later, and that her mother had an illness that was slowly taking over her body and taking away everyday functions every day. Her grandparents took everything from them that her dad had the rights to, along with her father’s job that was left for one of his children to succeed. How she lost her job at Duke Bros of the whole court trials that her grandparents won, and she had to take lower grade jobs that paid a lot less. Explaining how when they went shopping, she wouldn’t buy anything because of her ‘strict’ parents, but because she was saving every penny for bills and help for her mom when Carter was at school or work.

“I’ve been working hard to hold my family together...well at least the family I have left.” Cater looked down at her lap where she had her arms resting with her coffee was sitting also. She gave a small giggle,“After my brother tried to commit suicide and was recovering in the hospitle, I had no idea what to do. I knew that there would be a Childcare group to inspect the home environment, and once they saw it we'd be separated and possibly placed in one of the many Serfs Houses. Luckily my cousin, Mathew, found out the situation I was in before the government and we now live with him.”

Tristah just sat there, with her eyes shut. Taking a breath in, she took a last sip of her coffee and set it onto the table between them.

She stood up and walked just past Cater before saying anything,“I can’t believe that anyone would keep out their ‘friend’ out of so much of their life.”

Carter clench her fist,“...I know”

“I need time to think. I’ll talk to you when I’m ready.”

The clicks of Tristah’s heels echoed through Carter’s head. She could dare to look back at Tristah leaving, so she just sat there frozen in her stiff position till she was sure that she was in the parking lot waiting on her driver. Carter felt sick and bare to move even when she was sure that she could leave without accidentally incounting her. She wanted it to stop, and wanted to know if she had done the right thing. It pained her to think about it, but she really wanted someone to talk to and confide in. But she knew that was just a foolish thought. Even if she paid someone to listen, they would go and sprout if off to others.

“Are you ok Carter?”

Carter shot her head up to see young many with brown eyes, and Pink hair with a brown undercut,“Do I know you?”

The stranger took a seat where Tristah had sat. His clothes were white dress shirt with black denim pants. He was definitely one of the brewista but why was he being a cagal. His green apron was off so he must have just clocked off.

“I’m hurt,” the man flung his arm over his face dramatically,“How do you not remember me?”

Carter looked a little closer to the man. He had a black chain from the top of his ear to the bottom on one side, and a drop earring on the other side with two rings on the top of the ear. He had a beauty mark on the right corner of his left eye and a glabella on the other side.

“Now that I really look at you, you look familiar.”

He sprung up with excitement,“Good, but still!!” He sat back down again,“You don’t remember your own cousin!?!”

“Kenzo?”

“Finally you remembered.”He grabbed Carter’s hand,“How are you?”

Carter felt so rusted by emotions she didn’t know what to say. She could hold back the tears from flooding her eyes, but was able to stop them from falling. She could only see blurriness, and the once bright face of Kenzo had become nothing but a blurry figure with a pink bob. She had to control herself. She had already let her emotions take over once, but luckily it was Mathew that she did that too. This time it’s different.

“I haven’t seen you scene your fa-” He stopped for just a second,“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry about your father and brother. I wanted to come but my mom and our grandparents wouldn’t let me. Now that I am out of highschool and have my own apartment I can finally get to talk to you!” He gave a smile to her.

“Yah,” Carter stood up,“It was great to see you, but I really have to get going. I have to get going. I’ll take it to you later.” She tried to say in a sweet voice.

Carter began to leave, but before turning Kenzo hugged her,“I am truly sorry about your father, he was a great uncle.” he squeezed softly,“I really do want to get to know you more.”

Carter heitaly hugged him back. Her eyes were burning at this point, she hadn’t closed her to make sure she didn’t succumb to her tears,“Thank you.” she stepped back and smiled at Kanzo,“We definitely need to schegeral something, I’ll see you later.”

Carter walked to the outside of the mall. It was beginning to become dark and the city lights were trying on one by one. The icy cold air greated her face, making the tear lines that were down her face feel refreshing. She took a deep breath of the freezing air and looked up. Where could she go?