"Hey what is this place?" Kaitlin asked as we walked into a large gray building.
"It's called 'Tulsa Town'. It's a dance club for teens, but don't worry. There are cops and detectives all over this place looking for drugs and crap. So you'll be safe," Isaac answered her as the music and lights permeated my thoughts and vision. I was glad Kaitlin hadn't directed the question to me because I didn't want to look like a fool, yet again.
"Hey Hanson! Over here!" A loud voice called out over the noise of people laughing and talking. We made our way toward a corner booth were our friends Jarrod and Scott were sitting. Jarrod and Scott are part of a local band around Tulsa called Admiral Twin. They've been out on tour with us a few times on the Albertane tour, back in 98.
"Are you guys playing tonight?" Isaac asked Jarrod and took a seat across from him. Their booth was situated near a large make-shift stage.
"Well yeah, if this sound technician can get his act together. I told him that I could work it out, but he just ignored me," Jarrod said and took a sip of what smelled like Dr. Pepper.
"Hey Zac, who's the cutie?" Scott asked as he looked passed me toward Kaitlin. She was looking around at the large crowds of swaying people and wasn't really paying attention to us.
"This is Kaitlin Thomas. She's new in town and we're just showing her around," I said and Kaitlin turned toward us as I called her name.
"What?" She asked and took in Jarrod and Scott staring at her.
"Hi, Im Jarrod. Welcome to Tulsa," Jarrod put out his hand and Kaitlin shook it slowly.
"Yeah, Im Scott and this is Mark," Scott shook Kaitlin's hand as Mark came up behind him. "What something to drink?"
"Yeah, that'd be nice. Actually Im originally from Tulsa. I just moved back here from Indiana to go to Oral Roberts," Kaitlin said and shook Marks hand as he handed her a white paper cup.
"What's in this?" She asked with a hesistant expression.
"Oh it's just Dr. Pepper but it's watered down alot. We had it in a cooler but it broke," Mark answered her and Kaitlin took a small sip.
"That's really good. Wanna try some?" She asked me (which caught me off guard) and I shyly shook my head.
From where he was sitting, I could tell that Ike was weary about the mysterious Dr. Pepper. Jarrod and Scott were not known to be heavy drinkers, but Mark could get a little tipsy on occasion.
"So, how's Tay's marriage coming along? We're sorry we couldn't make it to the wedding, but we had alot of press and stuff that week-end," Jarrod was talking to Ike and I glanced sideways toward Kaitlin.
She seemed to be really enjoying her 'Dr. Pepper' and was on her third cup when she saw me looking at her.
"What? Do I have something strangely wrong with my face?" She asked me and I just smiled back.
"No, You just look alittle tired. Are you okay?" I asked as Kaitlin was pushed from behind by a passing dancer.
"Wow!..." She said and started laughing hysterically. Just then Admiral Twin were called up on stage and Kaitlin cheered loudly (more like screamed) right in my ear. "Yeah...baby!..
I sat down beside Ike and watched Kaitlin begin to dance to the music. She moved her arms from right to left with the cup still in her hand. I must have been staring because Ike asked me what was wrong.
"Does she look okay to you? She's just been acting weird ever since we got here," I replied and heard Kaitlin cheering along with the crowd.
"She's okay I think. Maybe this is just the other side of her we have yet to see," Ike answered as Kaitlin plopped down across from me.
"Hey you, wanna dance? This music rocks," She asked and her voice was as though she were really out of breath. It took me a minute to realize she was talking to me.
"Uh. yeah," I replied and we went onto the dance floor. Kaitlin began dancing slowly (even though the song was fast) and she smelled really bad. I looked over at Ike and he was just listening to the band, patting his hand on the table.
"This is great right!..Wooow!," She smiled and spun around only to go limp on the floor in front of me.
"Ike!..help she's fainted!" I yelled and Ike was at my side. We tried to help her up, but she was as limp as a dish rag.
"Help me carry her!" Ike instucted as I grabbed her feet and he held her arms. We took her over to a nearby door and laid her on the ground outside.
"Kaitlin!..Kaitlin are you okay?" I knelt down beside her as Ike ran to get help. Soon a security guard/cop was listening for her breathing and then he called an ambulance.
"What has she had to drink?" The cop asked me as Ike came around with the car.
"Just Dr. Pepper I think. Mark Johnson gave it to her. He's with Admiral Twin. The band," I answered nervously and stared down at Kaitlin's face.
"Zac, can you ride with her to the hospital? I'm gonna call mom and dad," Ike asked me hurridly and I nodded as the ambulance sirens came quietened down.
Kaitlin's still body was put onto a stretcher and I scrambled up to the ambulance door with her. "Are you family?" A tall man asked me when I tried to get into the ambulance.
"Uh...yeah," I replied without thinking and got in the ambulance. We were on our way toward the hospital, and my thoughts were lost with the sounds of emergency calls and instruments being used.
We got to the hospital and I hurried into the emergency ward. Kaitlin was taken into a secluded room for observation. I couldn't go with her, so I just took a seat in the crowed waiting room.
"Excuse me sir?" A middle aged nurse came up to me with clip board in hand. "Are you kin to the girl who came in just now?"
"Well..uh..She's living with my family but..I don't know much about her. She's a family friend.." I stammered as the woman handed me the clip board and a pen.
"Just right down all you can about her please. We need it for the records," She said and walked away. I began filling out the information the best I could, but I could only get as far as her name.
Luckily, my parents came in with Issac in tow. The younger kids were left with some neighbors at home.
"Honey are you okay?" My mom asked me as I stood up in anxiousness. I stuffed my hands in my pockets, like Tay does when he's nervous.
"Yeah.. It's just Kaitlin. They took her back and I don't know what happened," I said as my father continued filling out the information forms.
We sat in the waiting room for what felt like hours when a doctor came out and started toward us.
"Excuse me. Are you the family of the girl who was just brought in?" He asked and my father stepped forward.
"Yes. What's wrong with Kaitlin?" He asked the doctor.
"She's just had to much to drink and her body can't take it. We've found vodka and alcohol in her system. And we also found some savere bruises on her back and arms. Do you know anything about that?"
"No. She's just a friend of the family and she's staying with us for a while. She will be okay right?" My dad asked trying to act as calm as possible, but I could tell he was very angrey.
"She'll be fine but we need to keep her here for observation. Until tomorrow morning," The doctor said and kept talking to our parents.
Ike and I walked outside into the warm night air.
"What was she think drinking that stuff? We should have done something. I knew that it smelt bad but I had no idea it was vodka. We should never have let her get near that stuff." Ike replied when I sat down on the sidewalk.
Our father came through the glass sliding doors and glared at Ike and me.
"Who gave her vodka? Vodka! Where we you guys? Zac?"
"Why are you glaring at me? We were just at Tulsa Teen and Jarrod and the other guys were playing. Mark Johnson gave her some Dr. Pepper," I answered and stood up.
"Zac it wasn't Dr. Pepper. He spiked her drink," Ike looked at me with his hands in his pockets.
"I know. I just thought she was having fun dancing around, until she fainted. Then we called the ambulance and brought her here.
"Well I don't want you hanging around with that guy anymore. And I don't want you going to that night club either, no matter how safe it may be. Let's go and see Kaitlin," My dad said and we all went inside.
Kaitlin was lying with lots of tubes in her arms and her hair was plastered to her forehead. Her skin looked so pale that I was almost afraid to look at her. My mother was holding her hand and dad had sat down beside her in an arm chair.
Ike was sitting on an air conditioning vent and I just leaned up against a wall.
"Kaitlin honey. How are you? You want something to drink" My mother asked and my dad poured her a cup of water.
"Where's Taylor?" Kaitlin asked in a weak voice. She turned her head to look for him and winced in pain. "My head hurts."
"Taylor's not here sweetie. He's on his honeymoon. You talked to him earlier remember? He won't be in until Friday," Mom tried to smooth Kaitlin's hair down but it was just a mass of auburn red curls.
The heat in the room was getting to much for me, so I went down to a vending machine and bought a Coke. I drank the cool liquid and thought about Taylor on his honeymoon.
I talked to Tay after we finished supper and he didn't even mention Kaitlin. I don't really remember her but she seems to be highly interested in Taylor, despite his new marriage. I just hope she doesn't try to screw up their marriage cause I know he really loves Natalie and she loves him.
I turned the corner to see Ike and my dad coming toward me.
"We're gonna go home and check on the kids. Your mom's gonna stay with her tonight, so you want to go say goodbye?" My dad asked me in a serious tone.
I went into the room and found my mom in the same position as before with her hand on Kaitlin's head. She really is a great mom, despite all the crap we used to give her when we were little. I remember running around all dirty with mud until my dad came home from work. Then we all knew to behave or we were in trouble.
"Hey Zac you leaving?" My mom asked.
"Yeah. I just wanted to say goodbye. How is she?"
"See for yourself. I think she's awake. Kaitlin?"
"Mmm?..." She mumbled and opened her eyes. "Zac?..."
I was suprised she acknowledge my presence and I took her hand gently. She felt warm from being under the blankets and sheets. I looked at my mom and she gave me a reassuring smile.
"Yeah, it's me," I replied and my voice cracked.
"Can you call Taylor and tell him I'm okay?" She asked and I was taken aback. Yet again she was talking about Taylor.
My mom must have sensed my suprise because she said "Okay Kaitlin...you just rest..Taylor will get the message." I squeezed hair hand again and excused myself from the room.
Isaac and my dad were already waiting in the van when I came out. "Is she sleeping?" My dad asked as we drove through the dark Tulsa streets.
"Yeah, but she keeps talking about Taylor. We're they really that close? I don't remember her that much."
"I remember her from church and she used to come over on Sunday afternoons. We used to play tag and have water wars. I think her mom was our Sunday school teacher," Ike replied from the front seat. He was tuning the radio and found an old Arosmith song.
"Her dad was Gary Thomas from my work. He was practically my boss and they went to our church. Then they moved to Indiana when Gary died to be with her mother's family," My dad said and pulled into the driveway.
Jessi, Avery, Zoe and Mac were all asleep in the living room with our neighbor Linda. She woke up and my dad thanked her for staying. I just sat down on the couch beside Jessi and crashed out.