The Time Is Now (Princess Kitty Sequel)

I straightened my black vest I had on over a white tank top, paired with a dark jeans that fit me perfectly, and black flats. I had made sure my blond hair looked perfect, the curls were kind of hard to deal with, but most of the time I managed. Dad always told me I got them from my mother, but I had only ever seen pictures. I had a different mom, who I loved more than anyone could imagine. I had met her when I was four, but she and Daddy had been friends for years. They were perfect together! I turned to grab my bag off my bed, and the mural on my wall caught my eye. Mom had painted it for me, back before she became my mom. It was of Daddy and me on the beach, I think we had been going to get a snack. That was before I had been diagnosed, when I could eat whatever I wanted--whenever! But I was a four year old last time I was able to, so I didn’t miss it that much.

“Kat! Hurry up!” I heard my name being called from down the hall. I sped up and made sure I had my diabetes kit and car keys before leaving my bedroom. My eyes landed on Saralyn Aubrey as soon as I stepped foot into the living room. She was born when I was five, people weren’t too surprised by how quickly she came after the marriage!

Mom and Dad were married in June, just five months after he proposed. Saralyn was born the next March. But it’s just the four of us. They didn’t want to have anymore kids, and I did not want a brother! I had three cousins and that was enough for me. Zac was a year older than me and we were the closest. He spent a summer with us when I was fifteen because he had been acting out. We had always paired up when we were younger, and now it felt like he was the older brother I had never had.

“Kat! Come on!” Saralyn called impatiently, at twelve years old she couldn’t wait to start 7th grade. I could wait though, it was the first day of my last year in high school.

“I coming Sara, calm down,” I laughed and finished the way to the front door. She was already out by my car. My beautiful black baby! I got it for my sixteenth birthday, it was a present from Dad. He said he only paid for a third of it though, apparently my mother’s parents sent me money at every birthday and Christmas. Dad had put most of it away, saving up to get me a car for my birthday.

“Hurry, I don’t want to be late!” she told me from where she stood bouncing.

“Sara, we won’t be late,” I shook my head and let out a laugh. She reminded me of Aunt Hazel, no not our real aunt but Mom’s best friend who came over frequently--well whenever she was in town. She still lived in Pasadena, California; but she came up often to see us. Anyway, I think her eccentric behavior had rubbed off on Saralyn and I; that’s what Dad always said anyway.

“Sorry Kat, I’m just nervous,” she said after climbing into my car and buckling up her seatbelt. “I don’t know why, since I’ve been in the same class with most of these people since I was born!”

“I know what you’re talking about though,” I smiled at her. Although we were five years apart we were still close. “You’ll be fine, you’re a seventh grader now. It’s a good grade because it’s right in the middle, you’ve made it through sixth grade, but you’re not quite an eighth grader yet.” I said, confusing myself. Hopefully my little pep talk made sense to her.

“Are you nervous?”

“Not really, it’s my last year, so I’m used to first days. It’ll be fine.” I promised once more as I pulled up in front of the middle school. “See plenty of time,” I smiled at my little sister.

“Thanks Kat,” she grinned back at me, the grin she had inherited from our Daddy.

“You’re welcome, have a good day, I’ll be back after school!” I waved goodbye as she climbed out and joined her group of friends by the big doors in front of her school. I drove off the rest of the way to the high school. It was my last first day of high school. I breathed in a deep breath before I climbed out of my car and started towards the school building.

“Watch out!” a voice called out to me and before I knew it my arms were up catching a fly away football. “Whoa!” the masculine voice drew closer to me. “Sorry about that.”

“It’s okay,” I before turning around. My blue eyes locked in on his forest green ones, and I was unable to look away. My breath caught in my throat, I knew this year was going to be different. “No harm done.”

“Nice arm,” he commented, then held out his hand for the ball back.

“Thanks,” I tossed it back then made myself walk away. I was pretty sure he was new in town, because like Saralyn I had had the same classmates since I was born. And I had never seen that green-eyed boy ever before. I definitely would have remembered if I had.