In Your Arms Again
Katey Miller sat at her desk in her two-bedroom apartment that she shared with her best friend and collage roommate, Eliza Gellar. They had rented the apartment a few weeks before they graduated from Radcliff together.
They had met during freshman orientation and had become fast friends. Eliza was the only person who knew all about what had happened in Havana four years ago, but she didn't know the extent of Katey and Javier's relationship. She just told her that they were good friends.
Katey and Javier had written each other almost everyday after she had left. Almost three years after they had last seen each other, Javier had to stop writing because of the revolution. Katey was depressed for weeks and the only person who knew why was Eliza.
During junior year, Katey and Eliza were out at one of the clubs when a boy came up and asked Eliza to dance. The next day, he called and asked if he could take her out to dinner. She agreed and they were inseparable ever since.
His name was Duke Harding. His father owned one of the biggest dance clubs on the plaza. He was very handsome and sweet. He had short-cropped dark brown hair and bright green eyes. He tried to include Katey in everything they did but Katey didn't want to ruin Eliza's good time.
Katey hadn't been seeing anyone since Javier. Every time she was asked to dinner, all she could see was Javier. It was too painful. Duke's best friend Carter had asked her out on numerous occasions, but she always declined, claiming she had other plans.
She was pulled out of her thoughts by the slamming of the front door. She turned in her chair and stared at Eliza. Eliza smiled happily at her. "Katey, how would you react if I told you we were moving to Havana?" Katey gapped at her. If she hadn't have already been sitting she would have fainted. "Katey? Are you still with me? Katey?" Katey shook her head and looked up at her. "I would say 'What gave you this idea?'" Eliza laughed lightly and sat down, flipping her shoulder length black hair over her shoulder.
Eliza was beautiful. She had shoulder length black hair that contrasted wonderfully with her pale skin. She always wore red lipstick and black stiletto pumps. Her face was perfectly heart shaped and she had a small beauty mark on her upper lip that Katey new she painted on with an eye pencil.
Eliza smiled at Katey and said. "Well, Duke's dad bought a club down there and is too old to travel. So, he asked Duke to move down there and you know it's safe enough for American's now. Anyway, Duke doesn't want to go alone and wants me to come with him. My parents won't mind 'cause they're, hello, dead." Eliza was always treated that topic lightly. Almost like she could care less. "And you know I don't know anyone and you probably know a few people, right? Well, Carter's parents don't care what he does anyway, they're to busy with their country club parties and their rich friends. So, Carter's moving down there too. I just don't want to go alone. You've been there before I'm sure you parent's will be fine with it." Katey looked doubtfully at Eliza. "I don't know. I'll call them and see if it's okay. Where are we going to live?" She asked. Eliza perked up with happiness. "Duke's dad owns a whole apartment building. We'll be living on the top floor." Eliza said. "Do they have jobs lined up?" Katey asked skeptically. "Well, Duke will get 50% of what the club makes and Carter is going to help with the club so…" Eliza didn't finish her thought. Katey sighed. Maybe she would see Javier again. The thought brought a smile to her face. "Come on, Katey. I know what you're thinking. You could see Javier again. You know you want to." Katey laughed. "Well, I'll call my dad tonight and ask him, okay? Does that you make you happy?" She said. Eliza jumped up and squealed. "Yes it does because there's a fifty/fifty chance that'll he'll say yes." Eliza said before running off to the kitchen. Probably to call Duke and tell him to plan for four. Katey shook her head and sat back down.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I don't know, Katey." She heard her father say. "Come on, Daddy. I haven't been since we left four years ago." She whined. Katey wasn't one to whine. "I know, but what if something happens to you? How will I know?" He asked. She sighed and leaned against the wall of the kitchen. "Dad, we'll be living in the good side of town just a few blocks from where we lived last time. We get the whole top floor to ourselves. Duke's dad owns the whole building." She said. She heard her dad sigh. "Katey, I know you. You don't do things like this." Katey gapped. How could he? "Daddy, it's a beautiful country. We'll be safe. It's different now. There aren't revolts in the streets and people aren't killed in their homes. It's not like it used to be." She said. "Is there a certain reason you want to go? A certain boy you haven't seen in, oh, four years?" She heard him ask. She smiled. It was in the bag. He never asked questions about her personally life unless he was going to say yes. "Dad, I don't even know if he still lives there." He chuckled. "Well, I don't even know why you asked for my permission. I mean, you are a legal adult. You haven't lived at home for four years. You could have just said 'Dad, I'm moving to Cuba.' End of story." Now that he brought it up, Katey wasn't sure why she had asked his permission. She could've have just said she was moving to Cuba and let him deal with his own feelings about it. "Okay. Okay. Dad, I'm moving to Cuba." He let out a full-fledged laugh. "Just be careful, okay Katey?" He asked. Katey nodded. "I will. You know I will." He sighed again. "I know. I love you, Katey. Try to write as often as you can." She agreed before hanging up. She just stood there for a minute before she smiled and twirled on the spot. She had to go tell Eliza. She had to pack.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Katey, Eliza, Duke and Carter were sitting in the airport waiting for their plane to start loading. Katey hadn't been on a plane since they'd left Havana. She was wringing her hands together. Carter leaned over and covered her hands with his. She whipped her head around and stared at him. "You'll be fine. Just relax." He said, massaging her hands with his.
She never really liked Carter. His hair was too long and he put to much grease in it. He was infatuated with her. Every time he saw her, he made a move to ask her out. She turned him down, politely, every time. But he never seemed to take a hint.
She gently slipped her hands from his. "Thank you, but I'm sure I'll be fine." She said. He leaned back in his chair. "Flight 37A to Havana, Cuba. Flight 37A to Havana." The woman at the front desk announced over the intercom. They stood with their carry on bags and walked over to the entrance.
"Are you excited?" Eliza asked, as they took their seats. She and Eliza were sitting next to each other and Duke and Carter were sitting behind them. "Yeah. I am." She said. "Maybe you'll see a certain someone when we get there." Eliza said. Katey laughed. "I don't know. He may not even live there anymore." She said. Eliza shrugged. "It's worth a try." She said. Katey nodded as the plane started." She was really doing this. She was going back to Havana. She was going back to her heart.
