Chapter 9
KATIE'S POV
"You have got to be kidding me" I said in wonderment as I looked down at this mornings paper.
"Whats wrong babe?!" Ross asked, concern lacing his voice.
We were all sitting around the deck table having breakfast.
"Look at this!" I said turning the paper towards him. It would be no big deal, if said paper didn't feature a spread about Ross and I.
"What?! They even got a few pics of our surf date! Thank God they didn't get any from the last 20 minutes" He said cheekily while winking at me. "Its just a paper babe, don't worry about it" He said.
"But if they know, doesn't that mean that people like Ellen will know? And when I have my interview with her she'll probably ask me about it and then its just one more thing the kids at my school will know!" I said. "Am I seriously freaking out about this…. You're right Ross, I just need to calm down!" I said finally coming to the realisation that I was being slightly hysteric.
"Hell yeah you need to calm down and tell me all about these 'cheeky 20 minutes' on the beach!?" Rydel said leaning forward in her chair to me.
"Haha right… Ummm about that…. I have to go to the bathroom, Ross can tell you!" I said before speeding off down the hall.
ROSS'S POV
"Rossss… What aren't you telling me?" Ride said threateningly.
"What!? She's my girlfriend! After surfing we just… Kinda… Made out…. But it was only for like…" I said counting in my head "20 Of those 20 minutes…" I said coming to the realisation that that didn't sound as innocent as I hoped it would…
"Wait to go dude! She's hot!" Rocky said hi-fiving me from across the table.
"Just as long as you use protection…." River said Jokingly.
"Aren't you guys moving awfully fast?" Laura asked "I like her! I want you guys to work out! I just hope that you don't rush into anything and mess stuff up." She said out of concern.
"I know what you mean, but we've talked about it and we both have really busy schedules when we aren't on hiatus like we are now, we just want to build a strong relationship before we go back to life. I really like her, and she really likes me. I think we can handle a little heat." I said truthfully… Ok yeah I totally added an eyebrow waggle with that last part…
"I'm back, what'd I miss?" Katie asked as she sat back down.
"Nothing, just telling them that we aren't moving too fast." I told her truthfully, what, we are building a strong relationship and a strong relationship means honesty.
"Oh, yeah, we've talked about it and we both agree, until I can move out here after high school we won't get to see each other much, we're just doing as much as we can with the time we have." She said a-matter-a-factly.
"Will you be able to move out here after high school? You only have a few months left" Rydel asked her.
"I've already gotten the visa and with all the work I've been doing with Victoria's Secret I have enough cash to make the move, so yeah, I will! And I can't wait! I love it here! And after talking with my best friend last night on the phone, remember how I was locked in Rydel's room after dinner? Yeah, well Sarah was sharing a few things that have been going down since I left, turns out that whole gossip thing was a lot worse than I originally thought, I'm everyones private joke! They now know I want to do modelling, but Sarah hasn't told them anything about work, she's left it up to me. But they all think its hilarious! I've changed my mind about high school, I no longer want to win everyone over, I just want to show them I did what they thought I couldn't do. I know it seems a bit bitchy but I realise how people like that can affect your life! There are so many people I know who didn't follow through with their dreams because of people like that! I just want to show that they don't have to choose your life for you. Anyway i don't want to talk about that, onto some news! Ross I want you to come on the Ellen show with me, I've already spoken to the producer and he's fine with you coming on like halfway through my segment, we may as well be upfront with the rumours and you can talk a bit about the band! And yeah I totally want to gloat about my awesome boyfriend" I said as his face lit up.
"No way! Thats awesome thanks babe!" He said getting excited before regaining his composure "Of course I'll do it, as long as i can gloat about my awesome girlfriend" He said cheekily before pulling me in for a sweet kiss.
"Naw you guys are so cute! But seriously, can we eat now? I don't know about you guys but I'm starved!" Rydel said dramatically as if she thought she'd pass our from hunger.
"No wait a minute, what did you say about the people at your high school? What are they saying about you Katie?!" Laura said worriedly.
"Some really awful things, it made me cry…" I said looking down, I felt the tears pricking my eyes again as Ross wrapped an arm protectively around my shoulders. "I almost don't want to go back, after leaving you guys I'm scared I'll feel alone, and I have no idea what they'll say to my face…."
"Oh Katie, why didn't you say anything?!" Riker asked me as he came and joined the hug I was sharing with Ross.
"Yeah how are we supposed to make you feel better if we don't even know you're sad?!" Rocky said as he joined the growing group of people hugging me.
Suddenly everyone was around me as we hugged it out.
"Hi guys we're home! If you trashed the place while we were gone you're all spending a week cleaning this house!" A female voice said as I heard the front door shut.
ROSS'S POV
"Hi guys we're home! If you trashed the place while we were gone you're all spending a week cleaning this house!" A female voice said as I heard the front door shut.
"MOM! DAD!" We all screamed as they walked through the door.
I kissed Katie on the cheek and pulled her up by the hand then dragged her to the front door to meet my parents. "Come on babe! I can't wait for you to meet my Mom! She'll love you!"
"Haha I can't wait to meet them either!" She said while trying to get rid of the tears running down her face.
"Aww I missed my babies! Rydel honey I hope Laura helped you keep the boys under control! Rocky did you get taller?! Riker my little leader how are those new lyrics you told me about on the phone coming! Aw Ratliff darling did I just see you kiss Laura!? How exciting!"
"Hey Mom" I said interrupting her "I have someone I want you to meet" I said as she turned towards me.
"Who's this?!" She said excitedly
"This is my girlfriend, Katie" I said looking towards my girl, I wiped away a few of her tears with my thumb as my Mom came and hugged her.
"Oh sweetheart how lovely to meet you! Are you ok! Why are you crying?!" She said looking at Katie with concern.
"Oh I'm fine! I was just telling the guys about some stuff happening back home! But it's so great to meet you! i've so many wonderful things about you from Ross and the family! How was your anniversary trip? Ross said you went to Hawaii how fun!" She said beaming.
"It was wonderful but I want to hear all about you! I'm afraid I haven't heard a word about you! Guys why didn't you tell me about this sweet creature?!" She said to us.
"It's Ross's fault Mom!" Riker said pointing towards me.
"Yeah he told us not to say anything!" Rocky said backing my other brother up.
"Guys!" I said.
"Well it is true!" Ryland shot back.
"I didn't want them to hear all this stuff then meet her, I wanted them to meet her and see how awesome she is!" I said defensively as I heard Katie laugh.
"Well all the same I can't believe I'm finally meeting you!" Katie said to my Dad.
"It's lovely to meet you too my dear" my Dad said before hugging her as well.
"Now lets get all these bags upstairs to our room and then I want to tell you all something! Chop chop boys, put them in front of the wardrobe and be careful! If you break something I'll be mad!" She said as we grabbed a suitcase each.
"Race to the top!" Rocky yelled as he shot up the stairs.
"Hey no fair you got a head start!" I said defensively as I bolted after him with my brothers and Ratliff following me.
"No racing boys or you might hit something! Oh never mind I give up…" Mom said as I raced after Rocky.
KATIE'S POV
"Anyway dear, I want to hear everything about you! Come on girls, lets have a quick chat before the boys come back!" Stormie said as Mark went into the kitchen and we followed her out the back door.
"Oh we forgot we made breakfast in all the excitement! Lets eat guys!" Rydel said sitting down.
0o0o0o0o
After 10 minutes of quiet girl talk telling Stormie about myself the boys came racing back down the stairs and outside again.
"I won!" Rocky said triumphently!
"No I won!" Riker said pushing him.
"Boys! Calm down and sit! Katie has just been filling me in and now I'm ready to tell you about our little surprise! Mark honey come out here its time we told the kids!" Stormie said.
"Ah yes! I think you'll all be very excited!" Mark said taking a seat.
"Now we have been thinking, and Ross and Laura don't start filming again for another month, the band just finished recording your 'Heart Made Up On You' album, so none of you have any obligations for the next 3-4 weeks, so we decided that we would take you all on a holiday! We don't know where yet, we thought we'd let you choose since its been so long since you have had a break." Stormie said before the table erupted in cheers.
"THIS IS AWESOME!"
"WHERE SHOULD WE GO?!"
"I KNOW!"
"AUSTRALIA!"
"YES LETS GO TO AUSTRALIA WITH KATIE THAT'D BE SO MUCH FUN!"
"AND WE COULD HELP HER WITH THIS WHOLE HIGH SCHOOL THING!"
"GUYS STOP YELLING!" I said trying to calm them down. "Are you guys sure you want to come with me?! You could go anywhere!"
"Yeah but if we went to Australia with you we'd get to see everything from a local's point of view! Plus we'd get to spend more time with you!" Ross said almost out of breath.
"That'd be lovely! And I'd love to meet your parents dear!" Stormie said to me.
"Well in that case YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY! WHEN DO WE LEAVE?! DO YOU GUYS WANT TO SEE MOVIEWORLD COZ ITS AWESOME! AND CAN WE BOOK FLIGHTS TOGETHER COZ I GET SO BORED ON PLANES!" I yelled mimicking them earlier.
"YES!" They all yelled in response.
