DISCLAIMER: I OWE NOTHING
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Crap. The shrieking noise apparently called an alarm clock woke me from my slumber. I hated that thing. You would smack it as hard as you could but it would never stop until you unplugged it. Time to get a new one.
Crawling out of my bed, I threw the nearest piece of clothing on not caring whether it was matching or not. Grabbing my bag, I slipped into some shoes and picked up my jacket off the chair.
"Katherine aren't you going to eat?"
"I am sorry mom; I do not have enough time. I have to catch the bus before it goes past our house again."
I snuck out of the door before my mom could say anything else. I was already ancy, knowing that I had a report due for history and I hadn't even started it. As usual. This was my typical routine, always being late and cramming in the last second.
I rushed into school, late again. I frantically shoved my books in my locker, grabbing my history homework and heading to the library. I was going to spend all day there, knowing that the teachers would not miss my presence. This was one of the positives of being an A+ student. Getting whatever you wanted.
"Check in please!" Ms. Mayhem yelled at a group of obnoxious seventh graders who were sitting in the back of the library gossiping.
"Oh hello Katharine, back again so soon? Never mind, silly question. Do you need any help with anything?"
"Oh no thank you Ms. Mayhem. I have to do my history report today before the end of the day, so I might be spending the whole day in here."
"No problem dearest. Give me a hoot if you need some help, I know how to woo the teachers."
Ms. Mayhem did not realize the affect that she had on people. Instead of luring them with her pointy glasses and frizzy red hair, she simply scared them to death. I would not be asking for her help anytime soon.
Choosing the farthest table away from all of the noise, I sat my books down and began writing.
"KATHARINE! I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU ALL DAY! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?"
Jumping about ten feet in the air, I turned and faced one of my best friends, Kithara. She looked absurd, carrying her backpack upside down and her frantic look about her eyes.
"Oh hey, I was in the library all day working on my history report; did you actually do yours this time?"
A look of confusion swept across her face as she processed what I had just said. Sighing, she recovered.
"Oh drat, I forgot again. I will just do it tonight and hand it in tomorrow, Mrs. Smith won't even notice. Hey what are you doing this weekend? Greg and I thought that we should go to see a movie. It has been awhile since we have hung out."
"Kithara, we just hung out yesterday."
"Oh. Well I think that we should go anyway. It is so boring in school, and I need some excitement."
"I have to work Friday and Sunday, but I think that Saturday is free."
"Great, I will see you then. Pick you up whenever I get around to it."
This is one of the things that people did not understand about Kithara. Always rushing and being klutzy, people just avoided her to stay away from injury. She was sweet though, and she could be really crazy and random at moments. She is always there for me, and we have been best friends since I could remember.
"Katharine, your home! I have some news for you, good or bad?"
"Hi mom. Give me the good."
"Okay so, drum roll please, I got the job promotion! I have been promoted to head of my department!" The smile on her face was irresistible, leading to form a huge grin of my own.
"That's really great mom! I am so excited for you!"
"Well, there is some bad news that comes along with it. There is a lot of traveling involved, and I have a conference coming up in two days. It lasts a week, and there will be more to come after it."
Keeping the happy smile on my face, it was hard to resist the joy that I felt. How could this be bad? I had the whole house to myself, and that is pretty much all you could ask for as a teenager.
Slowly the smile came off my face. "Mom, this is a great opportunity for you. You need to do whatever it takes and I know that you have the best intentions for me."
"Oh thank you sweetie. I was afraid that you would not want to be left alone, so I think that I will call your Grandma Fish and ask her to watch you.
All happiness was erased.
"What?" Is all I could manage to stutter.
"Oh I know what it is like to be left home alone, and I do not want you to be lonely. "
"Mom, I am seventeen and I think I can handle being by myself anyway. I have to work this weekend, and I already made plans."
"I guess you will be alright then. You know how to get a hold of anyone if you need them."
I slowly turned away from her, afraid to show her my joy stricken face.
Friday. The day that I had been waiting for all week. The end of the school, the start of a fun packed weekend.
"Bye honey! I call whenever I can, and I will miss you! Remember, Grandma Fish can take you if you need her. Do not hesitate to call okay?"
"Yes mom, don't worry. Have a great time and don't have too much fun in all of those meetings."
"Oh that won't be too hard to do," she giggled, climbing in the car. Waving to me before she left, I patiently waited for her to pull out of the driveway and turn down the street before I bolted back into the house.
I had never had the house to myself for this long. My older brothers Brian and Brad had always been here with me. Not an enjoyable experience.
I stood looking at my bed debating. Screw it. I kicked my shoes off and started jumping. Ah, the sweet taste of freedom.
The shrill ring of my cell phone ended my childish behavior. Leaping down off the bed, I grabbed it and answered without checking who it was.
"Hello?"
"Hey Kat it's me Greg. I just have a quick question for you. "
"Okay shoot."
"My mom invited some of my family up for the weekend, and I have my cousin here too. He is about our age, and my mom says that I have to invite him. Do you mind if he tags along?"
"Oh no problem. It will only make things more interesting." Panting still, I laughed.
"Okay I am going to warn you ahead of time. He is really annoying. He is some distant cousin or something, and he is really cocky. I can't stand him, and I have only been around him for ten minutes."
"Okay but nothing beats kithara's aunt Lacey. See you guys tomorrow."
"Okay later." Hanging up the phone, I looked at the clock and almost had a panic attack. Realizing that I had to be to work soon, I changed my clothes and headed out of the door.
"Hey Kat, it isn't really busy tonight so I think that it will be an easy one," my boss Linda cheerfully stated.
"Okay, I can run it and close up if you want to head out." I knew how to get on her good side, and I wanted a raise.
"That sounds great. I will grab my things and head out."
I watched Linda grab her jacket and walk out of the door. Quietly rejoicing, I grabbed my favorite book and started to read.
Oblivious to the quiet sound of the door opening and closing, I continued to read not noticing a man standing at the counter waiting.
"Good book?" A husky voice questioned.
Jumping about ten feet in the air, I managed to knock over my chair, book, and a stack of papers.
"I am so sorry sir. I had no idea that you were…"
I stopped completely in my tracks. Looking up from the pile of papers that had fallen over, I was looking into the eyes of the most beautiful creature that my eyes had ever beheld. I was at a loss for words. His hair was a mixture of blonde and brown, trimmed but slightly windblown. I stared at the perfection of his face, admiring every aspect about it. His lips, curving up into a playful smirk were the most desirable that I had ever seen. At last I willed myself to look at his eyes which were butterscotch, and I felt myself caught in a tight trap.
"Can I help you? Or are you going to gawk even more."
Fumbling with my thoughts, I tried to make coherent statements in my mind but failed.
"Excuse me, I was not gawking. I just realized that I was being too kind by saying sir. Judging you. I would say that you are more my age than anything else." Don't keep staring, don't keep staring…
"Well excuse me miss. I am sorry to have misjudged you so soon."
I allowed myself to have one peek at his face as I stood up. Completely baffled, I had to look away before I looked too much more like an idiot. Oh that's right, too late.
"Well how can I help you?" I questioned, not looking at him. I distracted myself by putting the papers into a neat pile.
"Well, I am looking for a book."
"Well you are in a bookstore. Could you narrow it down a bit?" I was teasing, seeing how he would react.
The answering smile was dazzling. Definitely rewarding.
"Well I heard about the great customer service, and I had to find out for myself." He casually leaned against the counter, not noticing the space that closed between us.
"Well," gulping quickly, "I am here to help you find something in this store. If you can't find something, than I think that you should leave." Why did I say that? Don't leave, please don't…
"Well Kat, I will see you around. I am offended by your reaction, and I know that you will come around. You'll see."
I watched his retreating figure, not noticing that my mouth was hanging open. What had he just said? Was I supposed to know what this meant? Who was this guy anyway, and how did he know my name?
Completely baffled, I turned to my work and dove into it, distracting myself.
Rushing out of the door, I jumped into the front seat of the car with Kithara.
"Hey Kat, are you ready? Get this. I hear Greg's cousin is a total hottie. I can't wait to meet him. I call dibs."
"Okay you can have him, I am not interested. I do have to tell you this story though…"
After describing last night's events, I watched her reaction. She started out curious, and then totally baffled, just as I was.
"You have no idea who it was or what his name was?" Obviously perturbed by my story, she kept mumbling to herself.
"I do not have any clue, but I wouldn't mind seeing him again." I was still dazed by the color of his eyes, the smooth pale skin, the lightness of his hair, the curve of his lips…
"Okay we are here," Kithara said completely interrupting my daydream. Damn.
And that is when I saw him.