These are my favorite lyrics from the song "The Only Exception" by Paramore. This song is so perfect for Caskett and I'm glad that caskettshipper3 suggested it. It isn't finished yet but here is a good chunk of it.
"And up until now I have sworn to myself that I'm content with loneliness…"
I bite my lip and squeeze my nails into my skin. The minute I felt the sting, I was able to relax. Here I was stuck with all my aunts and uncles and cousins, and etc… Face it, my entire family was here. I was in the center of the room in a chair that should have been used to torture people. The only person I knew that wasn't there was my best friend, Madi. She didn't believe in interventions. That or she was waking up inside some random guy's apartment.
I lost her last night at the bar and I hated how she left without me. She was the reason I went in the first place. I could just as easily buy my own beer and binge watch my favorite TV shows, in the comfort of our apartment. But nope, I went out with her, every Friday night even though I usually studied on the weekends so I wasn't completely lost in class. But that's why she was my best friend.
She is everything that I'm not. She is my other half. And now I was left to face my entire family feeling incomplete. It sucked. I didn't even know why they all gathered here. Why would I need an intervention? I don't have a drinking problem, not a drug problem, and certainly not a boy problem. This was pointless. Madison should be forced to endure an intervention not me.
"This is a safe place. Ok? So just listen what everyone has to say before you zone out." My mom sat back in her chair, very uncomfortable with it all. Her hand is squeezing my dad's and I try to not get pissed off at my Aunt Teresa. She says this is a safe place? Really? She will tear people up one way and down the other. I love her don't get me wrong but she just doesn't fully understand things before she goes and acts on them.
"I am worried about you Kate." My older cousin, Veronica, who wears more makeup than a clown, frowns at me. "I mean, you are twenty one years old and you haven't had a boyfriend yet? Just admit that you are gay and we can all move on." She claps to herself as if she was all proud that she found my problem.
"I'm not gay. I just haven't had a boyfriend yet but I am attracted to men!" I fight to keep control and the only thing that does get me to calm down is my little cousin, Kellie, who looks at me like she completely gets why this is so stupid. She is starting to get pissed as well and Veronica feels the need to get closer to me.
"Honey, it's ok. Gay is in right now, we will all accept you. I promise." She lays her hand on my shoulder and smiles in front of my face. I can't control myself anymore. I shove her back and she falls to the floor. I ignore everyone gasping and worrying about her and I happily head outside and climb the stairs in the back of the house.
They lead to my apartment. It is completely separate from my parents place and I pay my own rent and utility, well Madison and I do. I slam the door shut behind me and call for Madi but she doesn't answer. Which is fine by me, means she is having more fun than I am at the moment. I hear footsteps up the stairs outside and I already know it's Kellie before she opens the door.
"So, thank you for doing what I have always wanted to do to my sister. God, she is such a bitch." Should I mention that Kellie is sixteen? Well she is. "Who cares if you haven't screwed anyone like your slutty roommate."
"Kel, you know her name is Madi, and you also know that she isn't a slut." I kick my shoes to the door and laugh when they bounce off the wall.
"Whatevs. So what are you gonna do about the whole family down there freaking out? Tell them all to go fuck themselves?" I look at her but she just shrugs. "I know it's what you wanna do."
"Yeah. But I won't be able to face them right now seeing as how I am the mean girl who hurt poor little Veronica." I make a mock sad face and she just elbows me and laughs.
"So wanna go to a club? Drink a ton until we pass out? Go get fucked?" Kellie has always been more mature for her age and now it's proof. She isn't a virgin while I still am. It's not that I don't want to have sex, I just want to wait for marriage. Kellie doesn't believe in waiting. She has already had five partners since she lost her virginity last year.
"No I don't wanna get fucked." I just shake my head and soon my hair is too tightly wound in my ponytail. I shake it out and let it cascade down my back.
"Come on." She gets off the couch and kicks my leg. "You can't wait till marriage! Do you not know how amazing and orgasm feels? It's like you are out of your body and in it at the same time. It feels so good! I respect the old tradition that you wanna keep but if you knew. At least give yourself something." She shakes her head like she can't believe that I haven't even helped myself out before.
"That doesn't make me a prude, wild child." I follow her to the fridge where she pops two beers for us. She just rolls her eyes like yada yada yada. I love her but I fear that I'm the only thing that's keeping her sane.
See my Uncle Chris died when she was only two so her only male influences were brought to her by my father. She doesn't consider him to be Uncle Jim, she calls him dad. And her mom, my Aunt Donna, is everything for her. She is a good woman who cares about her daughters. Veronica is a lost cause, even she knows that but Kellie, she is her only hope to not feel like a bad mother. She still doesn't know that Kellie drinks, she knows about the sex but not the drinking. One thing at a time.
"Listen rose bud, I want more than anything to settle down but no guy is ever good enough." She laughs at her own joke and I can't help but join her. "I know it was funny. But seriously," she swallows her last bit of beer and takes mine from me and begins to finish that off as well, "we need to at least get those precious lips unvirginized. I will gladly help. You have no type which makes it kind of easy."
I watch as she scrolls through her phone and the last thing I want is underage, sloppy seconds of hers. "Don't. Everyone in that phone is off limits."
"Fine but I was actually reading all Brant's texts." Brant is her friend with benefits, they have been best friends for as long as I can go back and remember. But even though they have sex, it's just sex for them. Nothing more.
"What does boo bear want?" Yeah he's sort of my friend too. That was Kellie's nickname for him that I accidentally used once but it sort of stuck and he likes being called that. I take my beer back and finish the last sip.
"His older brother is coming back and he is bringing his friend. Brant is freaking out because giving up his room for his brother is one thing but to give it up for his friend too? That's too much for him. God, he can sleep with me. Mom doesn't know." She slides her phone back into her pocket and rips the bottle out of my hand.
"Don't look at me, I barely had a sip. I'll get more. Let's run." I grab my bike keys but she takes those away and hands me my car keys. "I am not picking up Brant too."
"But come on Katie Kadoo, please for me, your little sister." She gives me her puppy dog face and unfortunately I cave. "Yes! Thanks sis." She skips her way down the stairs and my folks are still here. Surely they are waiting on me but I just climb in with Kellie and we speed away.
"Turn it up." I happily jam out to "Dark Horse" by Katy Perry featuring Juicy J and pretty soon, Kel and I are singing at the tops of our lungs.
"So you wanna play with magic?" Kellie whips out her phone and records a snap chat video for Brant and she sticks her tongue out and gets me actually trying to sing the song in a normal way. "Are you ready for, ready for, a perfect storm, perfect storm…"
She turns it down a bit so she can record me over the song and I rap the entire part and she happily kicks her feet into my side. I shove her away and try to concentrate on the road while she finishes the video. "Nice future idol." She puts her phone away and turns completely to her side so she can look at me. "But honestly Kate, you are meant for better things. And I don't mean with the whole love thing, you have a chance to change the future with your voice."
"Yeah ok. I'll become the next Taylor. Sure, that is so in my future." I speak with such sarcasm but that's one of the things I love most about Kellie, that she believes in me wholeheartedly. She can think I can do anything and do no wrong. "Sis? Believe in yourself." She tells me that all the time and she is the only person who has never teased me about my belief in fairytales, she believes in them too.
"K. Go get whiney pants." I turn my car off and undo my seatbelt. She just gives me this look and the last thing I wanna do is go and listen to him whine on and on about his brother coming home. But I have always had a hard time telling her no. "Fine. God, you could always get me to do whatever you wanted." I lock my old, Ford behind me and head straight to the back. No way am I dealing with Meredith, his mom. She is such a fruity and flighty bitch that no one can stand.
"My life is over." Brant was always big on the drama. "Seriously? Staying with you is cool if my mom would back off. But Jeff coming home? He makes my life a living hell. It is so frustrating. And he's bringing his best bud home. Why? Because Rick doesn't have family to stay with. If you ask me, it's a bunch of bull. His family lives in the same city we do. Why isn't he staying with them instead?"
I couldn't blame Rick for not wanting to come home and face your family right away, I was feeling the same thing. I completely understood him and yet I didn't know him. I wanted to though.
"What's Rick's last name?" They both looked at me like that was the stupidest thing I could have asked.
"Castle. He is twenty five and has the same rank as Jeff. I don't have a picture of him, so sorry." He gets my stink eye and apologizes right away.
"Why is my little bud ready for some blooming?" Kellie teasingly nudges me in my ribs and my face turns bright red.
"Shut up, but seriously? His friend coming over is gonna ruin your life?" I kick my shoes into his leg and he laughs.
"You're right. No biggie." He wipes his brow and I know he is about to go off. "Of course it's a big deal!" He begins to pace around his room and nervously mumbles to himself.
"Look what you did Kate." Kellie gives me a dirty look, like him losing his cool is my fault. I ignore her trying to console him and head to talk to Jen. Jen is his older sister, she's my age. I mean we're friends but not best friends. But anytime I come over, I make sure I say hi.
"Hey." I lightly knock on her door and she waves me in. I flop onto the bed next to her and watch her stare at her computer. "Working on your next masterpiece?"
"They aren't finished. I can't even get the chord right. It all sounds terrible. You have no idea what I'm going through."
Did I mention that Jen is a music student? She plays a total of ten instruments and she writes all her material. I couldn't imagine doing all of that. So on the weekends, she comes home to relax and get some actual work done.
"It will all be ok. You always manage to get it done, so chill. How is Taylor doing?" I grabbed a chip from the bag tossed on her purple duvet and began to munch away.
"We broke up." She slams the lid to her laptop closed and begins to play imaginary instruments, it helps her to write.
"What?" I toss a chip at her and she automatically shoves it into her mouth. "You guys were inseparable. Did she cheat?" Ever since I've known Jen, it has always been Jen and Taylor. They began dating at the age of eleven and well, amongst other things.
"No, I did. This guy in my dorm, Kyle, he was so interested in me and well, I wanted to explore a little bit. I've been with Taylor my entire life and I wanted to know what else was out there. And well, Kyle and I had sex and she walked in on us. I didn't regret sex with him, I really enjoyed myself. But Taylor freaked. I told her that it was just sex but she wouldn't forgive me." She took the bag from me and I leaned on her shoulder.
"I am so sorry about that. Taylor really loved you. But didn't she screw that one guy at prom?" I leaned up on my elbow and watched her shake her head.
"Yeah. And I didn't freak out on her. I was ok with her exploring but when I want to, that's not okay? Fuck that!" Jen turned to me and smiled. "Would you wanna?"
"I already told you that I'm too straight for you." I pull her head to me and kiss the top. "I got to go, your brother is in a crisis."
"Yeah. I can't wait for Rick to get here. Maybe he'll want a taste of what I've got." She winks at me then rests her hand on her private.
"Haha." But as I walk away, I get jealous. I haven't even met this guy and already I can't imagine sharing him with anyone. But I shake my head. I don't want anyone. I like being alone.
"God! Where the hell did you go?" Kellie is dragging me out of Brant's room and back to my car.
"I was talking to Jen." I kick at the pavement as she continues to drag me behind her.
"Let me guess. She was still trying to seduce you." Kellie drops my hand and catches me off guard. "Ha, she was! Wow, that girl doesn't know when to quit." She hops in after me and I drive off, I don't know where I'm going but I just drive.
"What do you say Kate?" Brant's face is in mine and I get thrown off. "You weren't paying attention were you?"
"I'm sorry. What did you want now?" I am stopped at a red light and Brant smiles, devilishly to me.
"Oh God." I slam my head back into the head rest and can only imagine.
"I need you and Mads to occupy Jeff and Rick. As is, Mads already slept with Jeff. You can keep Rick company. It would really help me. What do you say?" He nudges me and I wasn't expecting that.
"Uh, sure. Whatever you want Brant." But inside I was giddy with joy. I couldn't wait to spend time with Rick! Wait, what is wrong with me? I like being alone. Don't I?
"Thanks Kate. You are a life saver." He gives me a quick kiss on the cheek and even Kellie thanks me. I just nod back but inside I am all confused. I like Rick already, before I have even met him? That's weird right?
"Hey, are you ok? You seem a little off." Kellie takes my sunglasses off my face to cover her own eyes. I don't mind, she is always doing stuff like that.
"Um, sure." I can't say no and I can't say yes. I am a terrible liar and she knows that. All she does it lightly kick at my side. "Hey, watch it crazy! I am trying to drive you know." I just try to focus on my unknown location when she does it again. This time, I let the car swerve.
"Shit Kate! Why did you do that?" She looks over at Brant who looks like he might throw up.
I quickly pull over to the side of the road and the minute I do, Brant hops out and tosses his breakfast. Kellie hops out after him and rubs his back while be barfs. I try not to gag myself and try to figure things out. I am all confused inside about how I really feel. I was all happy to be alone and not worry about men then this guy, whom I've never met, comes along and suddenly I'm head over heels? That is nuts. I take a breather and park my car. I pull my knees up to my chest and try to calm myself down.
"Kate! Why did you do that?! You could have killed us all!"
"You're the one who kept kicking me, you moron! You should just leave me alone. I'm not okay." I shove myself to the back seat and I let Kellie drive. I am in no mood to go have fun, I want to be balled up in my room, with a half gallon of ice cream on my lap.
Kellie doesn't hesitate to drive and I watch Brandon stick his head out the window incase he might throw up again. She keeps checking on me through the rearview mirror but I don't bother to look back at her. Inside of me, my stomach is in knots and I'm pretty sure that my heart is beating like crazy. I can't stop thinking of Rick. And that makes me pissed off. I don't know this guy, I like being alone, I've turned tons of guys down because they weren't what I wanted but Rick? I already want him.
"Kate? Are you coming?" I was so wrapped up in thinking of Rick that I hadn't noticed that we stopped at B.A.D. Burger. I love this place and I know that's why she stopped here. But I wasn't in the mood for a dairy free milkshake today.
"Yeah, sure." I take back my keys and let them order. Kellie orders for me as I slump in one of the few chairs that they have. She knows that I'm trying to become a vegan but that doesn't stop her from ordering burgers for me everywhere we go.
"Here we go my love." She plants a burger in front of me with pickle chips and a diet coke. "Before we go and freak out, your burger is a veggie burger. I still can't believe you are serious about going vegan." She bumps me with her hip as she slides in a seat next to me then takes a big juicy bite out of her burger.
"It's not fair to the animals." But inside I am trying so hard to not rip that burger out of her hands and munch away. It's just so juicy that my mouth actually waters. I quickly pop a pickle chip into my mouth and focus on the task at hand, convincing them I actually like this shit.
"Oh please. Do you want to get a dairy free milkshake to go?" She was waving her French fry in my face so I took it and ate it. "What the heck? Now give me a pickle chip." She reached over and popped one in her mouth.
"Not today." I don't care about her taking my stuff or messing with me, that's the way we've always been. She isn't my cousin, she's more my sister. I love her more than words can express. She's always been there for me, no questions asked and I have done the same for her. It's almost hard to believe that I'm the older one. She has done so much more than me and has experienced so much more than me, that I almost feel pathetic at times. I try to not let it get to me but it's hard. That's why I swore myself to loneliness. It's easier that way. I will never be hurt again and I'll never feel foolish or dumb again. I will be the strong Kate I have dreamed of becoming all my life.
"Earth to Kate!" I snap back to now and see that Kellie is waving her fries in my face. "What is going on today? Ever since we got to Brant's house, you've been off. Is it the fact that you have to baby-sit some hot ass guy?" I can't help but blush and hate that she sees that. "Ohmygosh! That is why you are so off! You already like him don't you?" She seems so proud of herself and I've suddenly lost my appetite.
"I don't want to talk about this. Can you just eat so I can go home then?" I grab my diet coke and head back to my car. Once I am safely tucked inside, I slip out her cell phone. I scan through Brant's texts and I see a small picture. I don't know what it is and I kind of feel bad that I'm snooping but I am desperate. I need to see what this guy looks like. I try to enlarge it but when I do, it's grainy. "Shit!" I drop her phone back on the passenger seat and lean back into my seat.
I know that after this, I have to go back home, back to my parents who let my family bombard me. Intervene me, even though I needed no intervening. I am not gay, never have been, I've never been curious either. I don't understand how they could have let that happen. I feel betrayed and awkward. Did they think I was gay? Why would I need in intervention if I was anyway? I just don't know how to feel and this guy? This guy whom I've never met, or have never seen, is bombarding all my thoughts. It's frustrating.
"I promised I'd never sing of love if it does not exist…"
I woke up with someone waving a flag in my face. I smacked whoever it was and I heard my mom yelp. I jumped up in bed and grabbed my head. I had a serious hangover. The sunlight peeking through the curtains smacked my retinas in a harsh and cruel way.
"I'm sorry. Didn't mean to hit you." I still try not to look at her, being as I might throw up on her. That and the fact that I am still mad about yesterday. I can barely get those words out and I realize that I'm still hurt.
"It always used to wake you up in the past. Still works." She waves the little purple flag that she got me when I was four. "I didn't see you all last night. When you stormed off, your dad and I were worried. You weren't answering your phone and you didn't come home till midnight. We were very worried Katherine." She goes to lay her hand on my arm but I am still disgusted.
"So sorry if I didn't want to hear how I was gay. I can't believe you let them do that to me. Do you know how humiliated I was? I bet you didn't because you didn't care about my feelings. So I'm not fucking ever guy out there, or having amazing one night stands, or having a boyfriend. That doesn't make me gay, that makes me a good person! A wise adult! Something of which you don't seem to have! I can't believe you let them do that mom, you and dad fed me to the fishes!" I slide out of bed and stumble. Forgot that I had a serious hangover. And by yelling, my head feels like a kick drum.
"Katherine Houghton Beckett! Don't you dare talk to me like that! I'm sorry!" And then her voice cracked. That stopped me. Her voice rarely cracked. That only happened when she was really hurting. "Kate. I'm sorry. Your dad and I are really sorry. We didn't know that, that was going to happen. I am being honest with you. I'm so sorry honey." And then I heard her tears. I couldn't let her feel bad for too long.
"No. I'm sorry. I lashed out on you. But if you and dad had nothing to do with it, why didn't you stop it? You just sat there. I was embarrassed mom." I sit down with her on the bed and I feel like my whole world is spinning.
"I did. I told them to back off. Didn't you hear me? Veronica was in your face and I yelled for them to stop. I had no idea what was happening. I honestly didn't. I'm so sorry Kate. I'm so sorry." She grabbed me in her arms and kissed my forehead. "I thought that they were messing with you at first but when Veronica got in your face, well…" She rubbed my head which still felt like helium was being blown into it as a kick drum played on.
"I forgive you. But I'm not talking to Aunt Theresa or Veronica for awhile, just so you know." That got us both to laugh and I grabbed my head again. I bend over in her lap and begin to spin out. "I think I'm gonna…" I run to the bathroom and get there just in time. I begin to hurl everything I consumed yesterday. And let's just say that a veggie burger and tons of alcohol doesn't taste good coming out. I feel the burn in the back of my throat and I swear that I will no longer want to consume tons of alcohol. I wretch and wretch over the toilet.
"Katherine?" My mom comes in and sees me slumped up against the wall. "Ohmy! What happened?" She immediately kneels down on the floor with me and pulls me close.
"Mom don't. I threw up on myself and I stink of alcohol." But she does anyway. "I had too much, I've learned my lesson, I promise." And then I lean right back to the toilet.
"I warned you as did your dad. You have to be careful." She holds my hair back from my face while I hurl everything that lays in my stomach. "You need to shower and take medicine. And stay hydrated. Wait here." She tucks my long hair into my shirt as I continue to let everything go.
Next thing I know is my dad is picking me up while my mom runs bath water. Then he brings me water and medicine the minute before I get in the tub. I feel like I'm gonna pass out. I'm not a lightweight so I know that I consumed too much for me to feel like this. My mom helps me get undressed and into the tub.
"Mom, I got this." But even I don't believe myself. I am slurring my words now because throwing it up, I tasted it again and at the thought, I want to hurl once more. I can feel me being off and wondered how I was even able to talk to my mom earlier while feeling like this. All through this, my mom is right by my side. But I kind of wish it was Rick. Damnit, no, that's what got me here in the first place. As she is shampooing my hair, I recall what happened last night.
I got home late after dropping Kellie and Brant off at Brant's place. And all the while at home, as I was trying to watch "Bones", Rick kept flooding my head. So I stopped my DVR and began to pace my living room. Madi was already fast asleep when I got home and I didn't bother to bug her, she was sleeping off a sexathon. She does that sometimes, if she really likes sex with a guy, she begs for it over and over again.
So there I was, by myself, feeling like crap. I couldn't stop thinking about Rick, even though I had no idea what he looked like nor what kind of person he is. He could be the biggest asshole of them all. I mean, maybe he just is hard to get to know. I don't know a damn thing about him. And yet I was willing to drink him away. I make no sense and that fact pisses me off. I need him to be out of my life, look what he's doing to me.
"Kate? Are you ok to finish up?" My mom hands me my bath scrubby and I just nod. She kisses my head before she leaves me to wash my body. I sink into the bathwater and try to calm myself down. But there he is again. I can't help picturing how tall he might be or the eye color that could drive me crazy. No! I have to stop myself from these thoughts because I can't become an alcoholic over a guy whom I've never met.
"Hey bitch! Get up!" Kellie is standing at the bathroom door, with her hands on her hips and she is wearing a really pissed off grin.
"What the hell? Get out Kel!" I sink back into the tub and try to not get uncomfortable with the fact that she had just observed my naked body.
"No! You can't do this to me!" She pulls me out of the tub and forces me to look at her.
"What the hell are you talking about?" I see she is wearing her comfy sweats and that means one thing, shopping. "Shit! That was today?"
"Duh, so now you need to get up and get ready because I need to get something really nice for when I meet Rick. Ok? So stop depressing over something that I have no idea about because you don't tell me but who cares…" I can't listen to her stupidity anymore.
"Kel? I am not depressed. I'm worried. I like him, I like him so much and I don't even know him, I haven't even met him but that doesn't stop these feelings I have. I haven't felt this way about anyone. Why someone whom I've never met? Why can't I have a Brant? Why do I have to be such a prude?" I force myself to climb out of the tub and still feel a little dizzy.
"Here." She hands me a towel and I quickly cover up with it and sit on the edge of the tub. She hops up on the bathroom counter and taps her nail against her teeth, her nervous habit. "You aren't a prude Kate, you just aren't a slut like Mads and I. That's a good thing. And you are so into Rick. You guys are gonna hit it off and he'll take what you are so worried about protecting. And can I just say that why are you into him, you don't really know him." She beings to rummage through my makeup and I shove her aside so I can brush my teeth.
"I don't know. But, I can't stop thinking about him. I want to like him, I want to love him but Kel, that's crazy right?" I begin to brush because I'm not even sure if I really want an answer. But knowing Kel, she'll give it to me anyway.
"It's not crazy because you are falling for the idea of him. Who knows if you'll still feel the same once you actually get to know him? So, while Madi is keeping Jeff busy, and I'm keeping Brant busy, you can get to know Rick. And when you two fall madly in love, I can tell this story at your wedding." She finishes messing with my makeup and leaves to pick me out clothes no less.
I don't know if she's right or wrong but I have to carpe diem it all. Why waste valuable time having fun by worrying about things that I don't have yet or might never have. But at the thought of not having Rick, my heart hurts. It's a muscle it can only ache, learned that from Bones, but still… I slide into the jean romper and white t-shirt she picks out and leave my wet hair down.
"Where are we even going?" I put the car into drive and take her directions. She rambles off things she wants but that doesn't help me in the least. I decided to pull by the curb at Teddy.
"I'm sorry but have you bumped your head. I have three hundred dollars to spend, I am not getting a dress from here. Kate, tell me you aren't serious."
"I can afford this place besides, I don't want to dress too slutty." I grab my boho bag and drag her in behind me.
"Can I help you?" A tall, slender woman stepped right up to us and didn't judge us by our clothes. Her nametag read Susan.
"Yes, we have a special occasion coming up and we both need an elegant dress. I want something that says, here I am but also that I'm a little reserved. Does that make sense?"
"I have just the thing. And for you?" She looks to Kellie but she just laughs.
"I'm kind of a slut so…" She smiles like she is so proud of herself.
"Got something for you too." Susan grabs a dress, or should I say a tad bit longer version of a shirt. But Kellie clung to that orange dress like a life saver.
"Ohmygosh! Thank you!" She twirled the dress around and ran to try it on.
I stood still, more like frozen. That was until Susan showed me thee dress. It was a black chiffon skirt attached to a red and white striped shirt. The sleeves were a tad long but I loved it. I ran to try it on and when it slipped on perfectly, I smiled at myself. I loved myself in this dress and I silently hoped that once Rick saw me, he would too. I wasn't even sure if he was right for me but that didn't matter. I already loved him.
"Kate, see me!" I emerged to see Kellie twirling in the long t-shirt that actually made her look like a model. But when she saw me, all she could do was shake her head at me. "Oh no! That is not the dress you are meeting Rick in. You look like your mom picked it out." She marched up to the nearest dress rack and tossed a cream colored dress at me. "Try this on. At least this hugs your curves and shows off your arms."
I tried it on and she was right, it did make my body more pronounced but I wasn't sure that I liked that.
It was too late, Jeff and Rick were arriving in ten minutes. I stood in my backyard, nervously shaking. It was my idea to have their welcome back party at my house. My mom and dad loved Meredith and Brant. Thank goodness Jen stayed home. Rick was mine to attract. That was until the spawn showed up.
That's right, Veronica emerged with her full cleavage out into the world. I was so suddenly embarrassed by my slightly revealing dress. I watched as Kellie tried to get rid of her but that wasn't going to happen. At all. I was doomed. I watched the car pull up and I wanted me to be the first person who saw Rick but with one elbow jab, Veronica took that away from me. I fell into the dirt and I couldn't help but feel like shit.
No one paid any attention to me. I watched Rick emerge and my eyes began to blur. Why would he want me when he could have Veronica, she wasn't a prude. She wasn't scared of love. She was ready for anything, I was the one who wanted to always run from people. But I was going to be different with Rick. I felt things for him. I did. I watched him walk into Veronica's arms.
He had the bluest eyes I had ever seen and his hair shook slightly with every move he made. She pulled him into the crowd and everyone left me alone. I was still in the dirt and I suddenly felt very foolish. I ran up the stairs to my place and tried to get the dirt out of my dress. But wiping it was only making it worse. And as I looked at myself in the mirror, I felt foolish.
Who was I to fall for someone who I didn't know? So I stood crying, trying to get dirt out of my dress. That was until someone walked in on me in the bathroom. It was Rick.
"Oh sorry."
"No, it's ok. I was just trying to clean my dress." I dropped the wash cloth and walked past him.
"Why are your crying? Hey wait. I don't think I've met you yet. I'm Rick." He held out his hand for me and the minute I touched his hand, I felt it. I felt that spark like electricity pass between us.
"It's nothing. I'm Kate. Nice to meet you." He didn't drop my hand. He pulled my hand closer.
"Nice to meet you too. I have to use the bathroom, but when I'm done, promise you'll be here." He left me standing there and I blushed. He made me blush.
I was still trying to remove the dirt when he emerged from the bathroom. He came right up to me and propped me up on the kitchen counter.
"I don't think that will come out without some dish cleaner. Watch." He squeezed a little on my dress and took the cloth from my hand. I watched him try to rub it clean. "Ok, so it's still gonna need a dry cleaners but…"
"No, it's good. Thanks. This wasn't the dress I wanted to wear anyway. I only wore it to impress you." I immediately regretted opening my mouth.
"No, don't take it back. Why would you need to impress me?" He brushed my hair out of my face and brought himself closer to me.
"Because I'm not that, I'm not special enough to get your attention. Look at me." I suddenly feel very foolish and I have to get away from him. "I heard so much about you that I already like you." Shit Kate! "Sorry, ignore that."
"Wait, you like me? If you like me, why not be yourself? Give me a chance here Kate. I feel different with you. But your cousin out there is a real piece of work." We both laugh and I feel less childlike. "I didn't even want this party, Jeff forced it on me. I want to see my family."
"But I thought that you didn't want to stay with them." I watch him sit on my couch and I fight the urge to join him.
"I don't. But only because I wanted to get to know the girl that Jeff talked so much about. Madi sounds pretty fantastic but it's a shame he barely mentioned you. I want to know you." He was a charmer but I felt that he was sincere.
"You want to know me?" I took a step closer but stayed put. "I have to change. Be right back. Promise you'll still be here?"
"You'll just have to trust me." And the crazy thing was that I did.
TO BE CONTINUED…