She rested her head upon his lap, her vibrant hair splayed out around her as she giggled at the show on television. Beck looked down at her and smiled softly, knowing she was the only reason he even considered watching such a mind numbing program. It was getting late and, with the blanket pulled up over her, he could see her getting tired. Cat kept catching herself drifting off, yanking her eyes open and keeping herself awake. He started to rub her back gently, running the tips of his fingers from the top of the spine to the bottom, before back down it again. Goosebumps formed on her arms and he watched as, very slowly, her eyes closed.
It had been a few minutes since she'd nodded off when he clicked the TV off, leaving them in the dark of his trailer. Only the moon trickled through the window as a light source, falling across her face like a veil. Being careful not to wake her, Beck shifted to lay her head on the pillow. It wasn't long before she was adjusting to her new position on the bed, snuggling down tight into the mattress and floating into a deeper sleep state. This was the sixth night in a row she'd slept over. If Jade knew, she'd go crazy.
But Jade didn't know. She'd been forced to go on a vacation with her family, against her and her father's will. They'd be away for a month, she told him, along with strict instructions to "be good" or she'd cut all his fingers off with her favorite pair of scissors. At the time, he hadn't taken the orders seriously, just laughed them off and given her a kiss on the lips before she drove home. However, the words swam around in his head more and more lately.
A few days after Jade had left, Cat's family had a pretty big problem with her brother. Everyone knew he was a little off his rocker, but this time he'd gone a little too over the top. They were headed somewhere to get him help and, with Cat completely oblivious, they left her behind with her Grandpa until their return. At first, the girl had been excited. Her grandpa smelled off "newspaper clippings and coffee" and told her things like, "Cat, you're the smartest cookie I've ever known," and "One day you'll have your name in lights." He made her feel better, from what Beck had heard.
Except soon, Cat started to miss her parents. Her grandfather was more busy than you'd expect an elder gentleman to be and she was left alone, all by herself more often than not. So, Beck let her spend time with him. When he was fixing cars or working on building his mother the rocking chair she wanted, Cat was around. If he just planned on watching a movie or taking a dip in the community pool, she wanted to tag along. He loved her to pieces and didn't mind the company.
It was certainly a change from Jade's normal attitude. She was the exact opposite of his girlfriend- bubbly, cheerful and bright. Never once did she yell at a small child or say that she hated something or someone. In fact, most of the time she could make him smile no matter what shape the day was in. It seemed like the world was happier when Cat was around, whether it wanted to be or not.
Looking over at where she slept in his bed, he wondered if he should pull the sleeping bag out from under the bed and just sleep on the floor tonight. One too many times in the same bed with her would be a problem, he knew that. But there was something about the bubblegum smell of her perfume and soft sighing of her breath in the quiet night that lulled him into a gentle sleep. He'd become so accustomed to her and her ways that he didn't know how he could live without them. Chewing on his lower lip, he decided it couldn't hurt to sleep one more night in bed with her.
Beck pulled off his t-shirt and tossed it aside, not able to sleep in too many layers of clothing. He'd promised her, and himself, that he'd always have pants on and that she had nothing to worry about. "It's not going to be that kind of sleepover, Cat," He had reassured her when she asked her panicked questions, "Cross my heart, hope to die."
Recalling back on this memory, he sighed and tried to get comfortable in bed. Beck looked up at the ceiling of the trailer and bit the inside of his cheek. He thought about Jade barging in any minute, yelling, telling Cat she was a betrayer, making her cry. Maybe both of them would cry. It twisted his stomach up so tight it was difficult to breathe- he wouldn't be able to handle that. Calm down. Nothing's happening. You're both just sleeping- this is innocent. He told himself these things over and over again but it just didn't feel right.
With this continuing on, it was going to be a long night. He raked a hand through his hair and clenched his jaw. Cat turned and snuggled up against his side, her legs wrapping around one of his and her smooth skin brushing up against his. Beck's heart beat a million miles a minute and he lay tense until about fifteen minutes later, when his muscles cramped up and he finally let them loosen. At one point, she was talking in her sleep. "Beck- Beck, c'mon, the pancakes are dancing.." She dozed off into a quiet slumber again and he smiled down at her.
His hand lifted off the bed sheets and stroked her soft hair. She was so small compared to him, so innocent and sweet. "Goodnight Cat." Beck placed a kiss atop her head and went to sleep, trying his hardest to think of nothing but Jade West.
