« Catheriiiiiiine ! » screamed Kono when she saw Catherine in the hotel reception. The two of them remained very good friends, even after Cath and Steve broke up ! They kept in touch but the rule was to never talk about Steve if Catherine wouldn't ask questions.
« Kono ! It's so good to see you again ! » said Catherine while hugging her « Adam ! Hiii ! » she continued, hugging Adam who did the same « Glad so see you Catherine ! »
Kono turned to the man next to Catherine « You must be Jake ! I'm Kono, welcome to Hawaii! I'm sure Catherine told you about me ! And this is my husband, Adam »
Jake nodded « Nice to meet you both ! And indeed I've already heard about you ! »
Catherine felt really stupid at this very right moment. What had she in mind bringing Jake with her ! She just realized how weird it was to introduce Jake to her friends. He just met two of her friends in Hawaii that she already wanted to go back in time and to travel alone. Then, Catherine felt guilty to think like that. Jake was nice to her but he was too gentle, too naive, too comprehensive with everything. Of course it would never last, he was just kind of a toy she played with to forget Steve. And she felt a bit terrible about it. Because today was the day the reality hit her in the face. Their « relationship » was doomed to failure. He wasn't meant to be with her, and she wasn't meant to be with him.
« Ok Adam, here what I suggest » said Kono « Catherine and I will unpack my stuffs in our room, you can see it later, you've been there before you know what this place looks like ! You and Jake you just go and help the other at the wedding reception, they need help to install the overheard projector for tonight ! We'll meet you there in...let's see... like 45 minutes-1 hour ?! »
Both men nodded. Adam was a very friendly guy and he would make Jake feel comfortable. Jake was not a shy man neither, so there wasn't any problem for them to walk together to the Ko'olau Ballrooms. The girls stared at them as they left the Paradise Bay Resort.
« Well, Miss Rollins, I can say you still have a great taste in men ! This guy is H.O.T ! » said Kono, laughing in the same time !
Catherine rolled her eyes and smiled « Okay, we don't need help with your little bag, let's take this in your room, what's the number Kono? »
« Number 20, second floor, but don't change the topic I want gossips ! »
« I missed you Kono ! » said Catherine quietly « And there's no gossips, it's nothing serious you know... »
The girl arrived in Kono and Adam's bedroom. It looked almost the same that Catherine was sharing with Jake.
« What do you mean by nothing serious ? » asked Kono
« Well, we're just hanging together, sharing a few moments, but it stops there ». Catherine couldn't believe she just said that. « It's just that you know...after I saw Steve with Lynn last year, I realized I had to write another chapter in my life, so when I met Jake, I found him attractive, he sounded nice, and one thing leading to another...you know...now we spend some time together..I try to start something new and good in my love life » she said, sounding a little bit sad
« Did he say he loved you ? » asked Kono, curious
« Gosh yeah, he did say those words 3 times already. He told me he will let me some time to be ready to say it as well » sighed Catherine
« And ? How do you feel with that ? »
Catherine suddenly felt she had to talk, she had to say what she had inside her, and Kono was the right person she could trust.
« Honestly, I feel that he's a great man but he's not for me, he's like a Band-aid I put on my heart so it will stop bleeding ! Tell me I'm awful, tell me how mean I am Kono » said Catherine sharply.
Kono could feel her friend was overwhelmed « Look Catherine, maybe you should give him some time to...». Kono said as Catherine interrupted her « I'm going to see him today ! Steve ! With her ! Lynn. I'm going to see them as lovers and I'm just glad Jake is here so I won't be on my own »
Kono raised one's eyebrows « Hum, well good news my friend, Lynn is on a trip, so Steve will be alone »
« What ? Are you sure ?! » shouted Catherine, surprised.
« Yeah totally. Sorry I just know it since last Wednesday ! I should have text you...but we said we shouldn't talk about him unless you're the one to ask questions, remember ?» Kono replied.
« Yes, yes I remember. So it means he's going to be at the wedding alone, and I will be with Jake ! oh this is just great, this is perfect ! This is gonna be soooo uncomfortable ! » Catherine said as she sat on the bed and put her head in both of her hands.
« Catherine don't be so upset ! You have the rights to be with someone else ! Look, he's with another girl as well, why would you feel guilty ?! »
Catherine stood up and went to the window. She looked at the sea, the waves, the wonderful landscape she missed so much « I don't feel guilty...I feel lost Kono, being back here, it brings out too much memories, memories of Steve...I feel stupid I brought Jake with me ! ».
Kono stared at her friend, she looked so vulnerable...« You still love him, right ? You still love Steve... »
Tears began to form in Catherine's eyes. « I don't know Kono...I don't know what to think anymore...look, I already took way too much of my energy trying to forget him. Today is a big day for Chin and Abby. Steve is with Lynn, and I came with Jake, I have to keep my head clear ! I feel like I'm teenager sometimes! »
Kono didn't know what to say, so she just gave Catherine a gentle hug and whispered «Yeah, you should think like that ».
Catherine was so happy she was able to talk in total honesty with Kono, she realized how much she missed her when she was abroad...
« We should unpack your stuffs so we could join the other » said Catherine
« That's a great initiative ! By the way I love your outfit ! Dresses fit you really well, you should wear them more often ! » Kono replied, while looking at Catherine.
She was wearing a short purple dress, a casual one, and her hair were tied in a ponytail.
« Aww you're too sweet to me ! »
They continued to do what they had to do...until it was finished.
« Okay, I'm done unpacking, should we go then ? » Kono asked
« Yes, YES, let's go ! I can't wait to see everyone ! » Catherine said. If she was being honest with herself, she just wanted to run, to take a plane and to leave Hawaii, but she had to not lose her cool and to do the rational thing : stay calm and be composed in Steve's presence. Not to choke with sadness or anger.
Kono and Catherine then began to walk towards the wedding reception place.
In the meantime, Steve was still confused by the feelings he had. He was mad at her. He was mad she was coming with someone, he was mad she was actually seeing somebody else but him ! I'm going to spend such a bad day, he said to himself. Okay calm down Steve, you're a grown up, stop acting like a spoiled kid, she doesn't owe you anything...
« Jake, his name is Jake ! I found him on the seating plan !» Danny said louder
« What Jake ? What are you talking about ? Weren't you suppose to be with Melissa on the phone ? », said Steve sharply
« Catherine's date, boyfriend, lover, whatever...his name is Jake, Jake Foley...that's a good name don't you think ?! And yes I was on the phone with Melissa, she won't be there until the ceremony begins ! ».
Steve felt like he could lose his temper but he tried hard not to « Leave me alone with this Danny, I told you I was okay with it ! »
« Then why do you look like you're pissed off ? »
« Because you're the one who piss me off with this story Danny ! Just let it go okay, today is an important day, I don't want it to be ruined by your stupid comments ! »
As they were talking, they saw Adam approaching with another man. Steve knew who it was the second he saw him.
« Hey guys ! You have new hands to help you ! We heard you had issues with the overheard projector ! » said Adam loudly ! He then greeted Steve and Danny. Jake decided to do the same.
« Jake, nice to meet you! »
Jake shook Danny's hand, then Steve's one which were kind of a hard handshake.
« Nice to meet you too Jake ! I'm Danny, and this is Steve ! »
Steve just nodded, but remained silence. He hoped this guy would be ugly, but Jake was the total opposite. He could have been a model. And he was taller than him, even this little detail will make him even more jealous ! This guy didn't do anything to him but Steve wanted to smash his face !
« So Jake, are you related to the future married couple ? » asked Danny who already knew the answer.
« Hum, no, not at all, I never met them ! but my girlfriend knows them very well ! Her name's Catherine, maybe you know her ! » said Jake in a simple way
Steve had a lump in his throat. Hearing somebody referring to Catherine as « my girlfriend » was something so hard to hear.
« Ooooooow you're Catherine's boyfriend ! Yes yes we know her very very well ! Actually Steve used to be with her for several years but don't worry now it's just an old story ! Isn't it Steven ? » Danny asked, knowing he made Steve angry.
Steve wanted to kill Danny, he gave him a devil glance, but decided to keep his pride « Yes, yes..sorry for this Jake, Danny has a very big mouth, he can never shut up ! How do find Hawaii ? »
Jake felt kind of awkward « Hmm...Hmm yeah yeah it looks like a beautiful island.. I'm sorry I hope you don't feel uncomfortable or... »
« Don't worry man ! It's fine ! But just don't listen to Danny too much, he's a pain in the ass ! » Steve replied
« He's mean, he's really mean don't you think ?! » Danny interrupted !
Jake laughed, but he felt really uncomfortable. So this was Catherine's ex-boyfriend. Steve. He looked good, very handsome. But she never really talk about him, he just knew she had a relationship with a guy who would be there at the wedding and there he was. This ex had an impressive stature...but anyway, Catherine was with him now and he wasn't the « jealous guy » at all.
« Okay I'm going to help Adam over there ! See you later ! » said Jake
« Yeah... » Steve said in a whisper...Why felt his heart so painful all of a sudden ? Why all he could think about was Catherine dumping this man and coming back to him ? Why didn't he even care about Lynn right now ? Steve had a lot of pride, and knew how to hide his real feelings, but seeing this guy, this Jake, things were getting worse. How will he deal when he will see him with Catherine ? This was supposed to be such a beautiful day...
« He looks nice » said Danny quietly
« Shut up Danny ! You're such a child sometimes ! I wanted to strangle you, you know that ?! »
« You said you were okay with it Steve ! »
« Yeah but you didn't have to make people feel uncomfortable like this ». Steve rolled his eyes and decided to go back to the things he was doing. Everything was ready, except for this overheard projector, but Adam and Jake were trying to install it properly. They didn't seem like they needed help.
Steve was angry. He was mad at Danny. Mad at Catherine. Mad at Jake. But mostly mad at him. Because he had no rights to feel that way. He was the one who said to Catherine that he wouldn't wait for her when she went on that mission 2 years ago. He's the one who never trully admitted his real deep feelings to her, he's the one who slept with another girl just 4 months after Cath was gone. He was the one who was with Lynn when Catherine came to his house a year ago, asking him to help her to find Doris. He was the one to blame. She wasn't the one to blame. She had to go on this mission, it was her job. He could have wait, she would have said yes...
He then heard Adam « Oh look who's here ! Two beautiful ladies ! ». Adam was watching the door where Kono and Catherine had enter. Catherine smiled at Adam and Jake, as she already saw them in the morning, she went straight to Danny, who was close to the door as well.
« Look at you, still so pretty after 2 years Catherine, c'mon give me a hug » said Danny.
« It's nice to see you Danny, really » said Catherine with a soft voice. It was so good, indeed, to see him again. At this moment, she already knew Steve was looking at her. She was so nervous !
When Steve saw Catherine walking towards him, his lungs made contact with something unreal, like there wasn't enough oxygen in the room. He felt stupid as his heart rate speed up.
« Hi » she said, thinking she sounded ridiculous. Her face spread into a shy smile. He smiled back.
« Hi Cath...it's good to see you... »
It was like the time had stopped. They were lost in each other eyes and they both hope nobody was noticing this...
« Hmm, I assume you already met Jake » said Catherine
Steve took this as a provocation but decided to remain calm.
« Yeah, yes...looks like a good guy ! » Steve said but wasn't looking in her eyes anymore
Catherine could feel the tension « Kono just told me Lynn couldn't make it, I'm sorry ! »
« Nah it's alright, think I'll have a lot of other things to do tonight ! » Steve said, he actually couldn't look at her anymore, he was definitely hurt « Hmm I need to head back home, see you later at the wedding ! »
Catherine noticed that Steve acted really weird, she felt guilty to be with Jake but she wasn't cheating on Steve. They weren't together anymore. But seeing him again made her realize that all the efforts she has done this whole year were now destroyed. She still loved him. Otherwise she wouldn't feel like she almost couldn't breathe.
« I have to go to my place, seems like everything is ready here for tonight ! I have to go home and to take my stuffs to the Paradise Bay Resort !» said Steve to the others
He walked away and sat in his car. Steve took a deep breath. This woman, she still had an effect on him, a huge effect. He was jealous, he was mad, he was sad. That's when he understood. He understood he would never love any other woman than her. He wanted to tell her so many things, he wanted to tell her he still loved her, he wanted to apologize, but what was the point ? It was too late now...
To be continued...
