Most of Nikki’s constant fighting was to protect Karen. Nikki made sure that Karen walked to and from school with her.

“Why is she always around?” Nikki’s friend Kelsey Crimmons asked one morning on the way to school.

Nikki whirled around and knocked Kelsey to the ground. She stood over her menacingly.

“Shut the fuck up!” Nikki screamed, her fists clenched.

Karen was about six feet behind them, and she froze in fear. Nikki turned around, walked over to Karen and took her by the hand.

“Come on Karen. Everything’ll be all right…you’ll see.”

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Karen turned around and saw that Mrs. Tellerman had each girl by the arm.

Then Karen looked up at Mrs. Greeley. “But it’s Kerry’s fault!”

Kerry was able to turn her head toward Karen. “I’m not done with you or your fuckin’ sister!”

Mrs. Tellerman shook Kerry.

“Kerry Cooper! Swearing too! I’ve had enough of you! It’s detention again young lady!”

Mrs. Tellerman shook both of them and led the two back toward the school. Mrs. Greeley was walking behind them. Karen watched them as they disappeared.

“I’ll tell Mom it’s Kerry’s fault!”

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It was February, and it had been unusually cold. February was typically rather nice. But this year it was different. Nikki stood next to her mother wearing a black dress. Jean was sobbing uncontrollably. Nikki’s father Thomas walked over and put his arm around Jean. The priest finished and the coffin was lowered into the grave. Several friends turned to leave. Jean flinched as she heard the dirt hit the coffin. Nikki stood frozen, trying to understand what was happening. She reached for her mother’s hand. Jean jerked away from her. Then she pointed at Nikki.

“Karen was perfect! Now look what I’m left with!”

Jean and Thomas turned around and walked toward the cemetery gate. Only the three of them were left. Jean turned around.

“Nikki! Get over here!” she screamed.

Nikki didn’t move. Her parents reached the car and got in. Suddenly Jean opened the door.

“Get over here dammit!” she yelled.

Nikki took one last look at the headstone. “I’m sorry Karen. I think I have to go now.”

Karen Marlowe

Karen is the youngest daughter of Jean and Thomas Marlowe, and Nikki's little sister. By the time Karen is born, her mother has slipped further into her delusions and has developed a strong hostility toward Nikki that at times seems akin to hatred. Jean's feelings toward Karen are the opposite. Jean repeatedly states that Karen is the baby she really wanted. Eventually, Jean comes to believe that Nikki is plotting against her and Karen. Karen excels in school, but she is also sickly and suffers from a severe form of asthma. As a result, she always has her inhaler in her pocket. She also suffers from epilepsy and must report every day to the nurse to take her medicine.

Karen plays a key role in the story. Nikki, despite her mother's constant praising of Karen and expressing disgust with Nikki, nonetheless is absolutely devoted to protecting Karen. This is the cause of Nikki's continual fighting, and as a result, she develops a fearsome reputation as a brawler. Nikki walks with Karen to school and keeps a close eye on her whenever Karen leaves the house. Karen's locker is next to Donna's locker, and one day Donna overhears Karen making fun of Kerry. It comes as no surprise that Donna tells Kerry, and, intending to teach Karen a lesson, Kerry catches up with her after school one day. Before Kerry can do anything, Nikki suddenly appears. This leads to the feud between Nikki and Kerry, with the two repeatedly fighting with each other. But it also leads to a sudden peace between the two, and Nikki, a drummer, joining Kerry's band. Later, Kerry expresses guilt about her intention to take revenge on Karen. Unfortunately, the feud between Nikki and Kerry never really ends and ultimately leads to a tragic conclusion.

The Marlowes' family doctor is Dr. Frederick Lowe, who fails to recognize a condition that appears quite suddenly with Karen. Her death pushes Jean even further into her delusions. Nikki blames herself for Karen's death, strangely seeing it as her failure to protect her little sister. Still, thanks to Kerry, Nikki is saved from her situation at home, and in David, Nikki finds someone who is walking her same path.

But then Kerry appeared from around the corner, carrying her backpack. Seeing her, Nikki ran toward her. Kerry dropped her backpack and charged. The two collided, falling to the ground, rolling around on top of each other and calling each other all the obscene words they knew. This was something that had been going on for some time. David asked Courtney once what caused this violent feud between Kerry and Nikki. She told him that it was Nikki’s sister Karen’s fault.

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“So, you’re a tough chick, huh Karen? Talkin’ shit about me!”

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t lie! Donna said you called me a freak and said my mom hates me!”

Karen was not particularly surprised. She knew that Donna overheard her, and that Donna talked a lot. If she told Courtney, then Courtney would tell Kerry. Well, that’s what Karen thought. But she made the mistake of not saying anything to Nikki about it.

“I…I’m sorry,” Karen said. She became very scared, and kept her hand in her pocket near her inhaler.

“Sorry’s not good enough!” Kerry yelled at her.

Karen began looking around, and it seemed that she was about to start crying.

“Who you lookin’ for Karen?” Kerry growled. Then she stepped closer to her.

Suddenly, Nikki came charging from around the storage shed. Kerry didn’t see her coming. She slammed into Kerry from behind, knocking her to the ground.

“But Nikki!” Karen screamed, “You’ll get in trouble again!”