Cat POV
"Hope your doing better today Cat. Sorry yesterday was so hectic. See you this afternoon!" –Robbie
"Yay! Can't wait! And you get to come back tomorrow!" I replied, trying not to smile while my World Cultures teacher lectures.
I simply can't believe how amazing and wonderful Robbie is. Last night for instance, I send out that text and within 15 minutes I'm basically home. Plus the fact he wants to see a movie with me next Saturday when Prome is going on, and keeps driving me to and from work.
I'm over the moon.
And he's so irresistible!
The way he dressed yesterday…whatever his mom does, she probably had to beat the girls off of him. He looked amazing! So preppy and professional.
I posted the pictures I took yesterday of us onto the slap, and everybody liked them. Robbie even texted me later saying he liked them.
What I really want to know is what he was wearing yesterday. Not like clothes, but his cologne. He smelled great. I loved it when I hugged him and it's still all over my apartment and clothes from last night.
I'm so in love.
With Robbie Shapiro.
The boy with the hot blonde chick.
Riiinng!
Yay lunch!
I bounce out of the classroom and to the Grub Truck, trying to be patient and let Robbie text me first.
Not easy I tell you, when all you want to do is jump on him and kiss him.
Speaking of kisses, he seemed kind of shocked when I kissed his cheek. I don't know why…I've been doing that a lot recently. Four times in the last 2 months! That's more than ever before!
Shouldn't he be getting used to me kissing his cheek?
Maybe I should step it up a little.
Maybe wear shorts to work today? I know Robbie likes girls' legs. Which is nice in a way.
Better than the guys who always stare at my butt or boobs.
At least Robbie isn't thinking of taking advantage of me.
If only he knew how much he could get. Just by asking.
"Heya Cat…salad I take it?" Festus asked.
"Uh huh, please!" I reply happily.
"Would you like the chicken or the fruit?"
"Fruit please."
"Ok…that'll be $3.82."
I handed him a 5 and he gave me change. I waved happily as he took the next order.
"Blink."
YAY! Message!
Please be Robbie…
I move off to the side and check the message.
"Hey Cat. Hope you're having a good day. Things are boring here. See you tonight? We can go to a fancier place today if you want, getting off earlier today. Miss you and your awesome hugs." –Robbie
Oh my gosh…he misses me? And he likes my hugs?
I have to start doing something. I cannot let some grunge get him.
Assuming the blonde bitchshell doesn't already have him.
If she does…I'm calling Jade in.
"Aww thanks Robbie! I'd love to eat earlier today! I'm having a good day. Miss you too :(" –Cat
If he were here now, I'd feel a lot more comfortable walking up to the lunch table. I always feel like I'm intruding.
"Hiiii!" I say, sitting next to Tori.
"Hey Cat." Beck smiled.
"Little Red." Andre smiled, biting off a French fry in a funny way.
I laughed and looked at Tori, who was looking at her phone and didn't say hi.
Jade's not here yet.
"No Robbie again?" Beck asked, looking around as I poured dressing on my salad and took a bite.
"Guess not." Tori said.
Jade suddenly sat down with the same salad as I have.
"Ooh Jadey! We have the same salad!" I smiled happily.
"That's right…"Jade said with a frown.
"You don't like salad?" Tori asked.
"I like real food. But the scale today made me mad. So…salad."
Tori simply looked away as my phone blinked again. I quickly dove for it.
"Hope it's not too bad at HA. What do you say to me picking you up at school? Instead of whatever you usually do to get home. It's ok if you decide not to. I'll just meet up with you later then." –Robbie
Why does he always give me an out! I don't want an out! He never just asks if he can pick me up. Always a catch.
I wish he was more confident.
"I'd love that Robbie! You're the best guy EVER!" –Cat
I sent that off and looked up to everyone smiling at me fondly.
"What?" I asked, as they kept smiling.
"Who ya talking to?" Beck asked with a smile.
"Nobody." I immediately reply.
"Oh I don't think it's nobody. I saw you blush girl." Jade smiled at me.
"How is he?" Tori asked, sounding legitimately concerned.
"Who?" I played dumb, taking another bite.
"Robbie." Jade said plainly.
Crap. Was I that obvious?
"It's not Robbie…" I mumble, making sure I keep looking at my salad.
Suddenly I hear the 'Blink!' and Andre darted his hand in and snatched my phone away.
"ANDRE!" I yell, getting to my feet and moving to snatch it back.
"Ah hah! It is Robbie!" he said loudly.
"Gimme my phone back!" I said, clawing to get it back.
Finally I retrieved it and sat back down happily. Everyone else was still smiling.
"Cool, sounds like a plan. See you later then." –Robbie
I can barely hold my smile in.
He's the greatest.
"So…" Tori asked, smiling suggestively at me.
"What? Shouldn't you be eating or something?" I say, stabbing my cantaloupe.
"Cat…" Beck said softly. "Talk to us."
"We're kinda worried." Andre continued.
"The only person that's talked to him in like two weeks is you, and we only know that by the pictures yesterday and you acting weird." Jade said.
"I'm not acting weird…"
"Yeah you are Cat. You keep blushing randomly and jumping to your phone when it goes off. Plus you're just…off." Tori explained.
"That's weird Cat." Jade said.
"Well isn't that normal for me? I've always been the weird one. What makes this weird so weird?" I snap angrily.
"You're not weird Cat…you're unique." Andre pacified me.
"Why are you so defensive Cat? It's perfectly alright to like Robbie. We already knew remember?" Jade said calmly.
Oh yeah.
"Well…I think he's with someone else." I say quietly, feeling miserable.
Beck and Andre both looked stunned, but Tori and Jade look confused.
"Really? I thought he had his eye on you." Beck said.
WHAT?
I can barely hold back from peppering him with questions, but instead just ask "But he's always with a blonde girl."
Again, Beck and Andre give me a odd look. "You stalking him Cat?"
Before I can answer, Jade jumped in "Yes. She did it at the mall when we were shopping."
"Not since then…not on purpose at least." I mumble, feeling ashamed.
He trusts me.
And I go and creep on him and Ms. Blondie.
Ugh. She is disgusting!
"So you do care about Robbie." Beck confirmed.
I nodded and speared a grape.
"Does he have any clue?" Tori asked.
"I…I don't think so. He and the blonde girl were at the mall when I was getting dinner there once. So I wasn't stalking. But she was all lovey dovey with him…" I trail off, not wanting to say anymore.
I'm pretty sure she kissed him goodnight too.
I kissed him goodnight last night.
Well, kinda.
"I'll keep my eye out for her. If I remember right she's from North Ridge." Tori said with a frown.
Andre and Beck shuddered. "Robbie…"
Riiinnng!
The rest of my classes were normal ish. I would say normal, but Sikowitz is always weird.
Thank goodness I'm gonna see him earlier today! I have missed him.
It's gonna be extra hard to hold myself back today. I just want to kiss him so so SO much.
Wait, why is everybody crowded around that car?
I make my way over to where Beck, Jade, Tori, Trina and Andre are all standing.
"I don't understand why you won't take me home Robbie. You know I've always had a thing for you." Trina gushed.
Robbie!
I finally get close enough to see Robbie sitting, leaning against the passenger door and looking disgusted.
"Trina, go try your charm somewhere else. I'm not in the mood." He snapped, sounding very irritable.
"But what about my ride?"
"I told you. I'm not taking you and that's final." He said strongly.
With a final glare, she marched off, Fazzini boots clattering all the way.
Hah!
"Nice one Robbie, you successfully beat off the Trina." Beck joked, causing everyone including me to laugh.
"Thanks."
"Can't believe you live with her." Andre said to Tori.
"You have no idea. She's so much worse at home."
"Speaking of which, why can't she drive her normal car?" Robbie asked, as I snuck behind him.
"She got into a wreck and it's either riding with me, which she refuses to do, or finding a ride."
"Ahh." Beck said, putting one finger in the air.
"Why you so dressed up Rob?" Jade asked suddenly, looking hungry.
NO HE'S MINE!
"Mom needed me today at work and I had to dress like this. I couldn't change if I wanted to get here on time. Sorry."
"No problem, who are you here for?" Tori asked.
"Cat…what?" He asked, as everybody exchanged knowing smiles.
"Boo!" I surprise him. He promptly jumped up and scurried away before realizing it was just me.
"Cat! How'd you get of the roof of his car?" Andre asked, smiling.
"Climbed."
"So you knew about his new car? And didn't tell us?" Jade asked, smiling.
"Only by accident…" I said quietly.
"Cat was running in her neighborhood and when I drove thru, she noticed." Robbie explained, smiling.
"I'll say , that's a nice car." Andre said, looking it over.
Robbie smiled and nodded his appreciation.
"It's an awesome car Robbie." I said quietly, smiling at him.
"Thanks."
"You gonna be back soon man? Or you gonna keep skipping out on us?" Beck asked, causing the others to chuckle.
"I'll be back for a day or two Friday."
"Friday?" I can't help but blurt out.
"That's a bad thing?" Jade asked me.
"You said you'd be back Thursday!" I snapped at him, moving to whack his arm.
"I said I might be back Thursday. Today I found out its going to be Friday."
I crossed my arms, trying to show how unhappy I am.
I want my Robbie at school and I want him NOW!
"Someone's upset." Tori picked up, seeing me glare at Robbie.
"Humph."
"Humph is closed Cat. Can we go somewhere else?' Robbie joked, causing me to break and laugh as everyone else did the same.
"That's a good one!" Jade laughed, as Andre and Tori's eyes flashed to me.
"Eh, it's ok." Robbie shrugged.
"Well, I better go, traffic's pretty light now." Beck sighed.
"Yeah…it was nice seeing you guys and catching up. Sorry I've been gone so long." Robbie said, looking away.
"No problem, it happens. See you Friday I guess." Andre clapped him on the back.
Tori hugged him and Jade already was going to her car. No wave or anything.
I passed the moments by climbing into the passenger seat and buckling in.
After he and Beck said goodbye, he climbed inside as well.
"Hey there, how are you?" He asked, smiling happily as he started the car.
"Happy to see you." I said, trying not to sound sad.
He's not gonna be here tomorrow.
Thursday is already a bad day.
"Ok…someone's mad at me." He said, pulling onto the road.
"I'm trying not to be Robbie…but I missed you." I pout, trying to get him to do something.
What exactly I don't know.
"I know…and I'm really sorry ok? I don't want you to miss me. But I have to miss tomorrow. It's just how things work." He said kindly, reaching over and patting my leg right at the knee.
And somehow I blush.
I see him suddenly look miserable, snatch his hand back and refocus on the road.
"Sorry…shouldn't have done that." He said quietly. "I um…I got you something."
"You did?" I ask, closing my eyes already.
I hear him laugh and say "Yeah."
Plop.
"Open." He said quietly.
More flowers.
"Oh my gosh…"
It's a bouquet of pink roses. Just like the one he gave me last night.
"Do you like it?" He asked, sounding very nervous.
"I love them Robbie…they're gorgeous."
He opened his mouth to reply, but obviously changed his mind and simply said "I'm glad you like them." with a look on his face like he just failed a test.
"Everything ok?" I asked him, as he pulled into my complex.
"Huh? Oh yeah Cat. Everything's great." He said in a rush.
"You sure, you looked like you changed what you were going to say just a minute ago." I pressed.
"Nope, I just changed the words around. It wouldn't have made sense at first." He said, parking flawlessly.
"Robbie…you were gonna say something different."
"No I wasn't."
"You suck at lying. Tell me!" I cry out.
"Cat—"
"ROBBIE!"
"Geez, hold your horses girl. If you really must know lets get inside your place first ok?"
Yay.
I nod and march to my door, opening it for him, only for him to hold it for me.
"You're so sweet…" I say, walking inside and setting my purse down.
I'm still nervous about him being here. Not because he'd like take advantage of the situation, but because how little I have.
Anytime a card table is your dinner table you know you're down on your luck.
Or a 16 year old girl trying to make it on her own.
Robbie's house is amazing. Probably the nicest out of the group's. Only Jade's compares and she has tons of depressing stuff everywhere.
Robbie's house is nice and warm and inviting…nice marble counters, wood floors and pristine bathrooms.
This place doesn't compare.
But what makes it amazing is that Robbie doesn't seem to care.
He seems relaxed.
I hear him shut the door behind me and put something back into his pocket.
"You thirsty Robbie?"
"Water's fine if you have it. I'm not really thirsty." He said.
I quickly grabbed a bottle of water from inside the fridge and handed it to him.
"Now, what were you gonna say?" I asked, trying to force his hand into answering.
"I uhh…" he sputtered.
What if it's mean? Or bad?
"What? Is it mean?" I squeak out, fearing the answer suddenly.
"No! No no Cat…it's not bad. It's not that at all…"
"Then what is it?"
He opened his mouth, but again changed his mind. "Cat, if I say it, it'll sound creepy. That's why I didn't say it in the first place."
"Creepy? How?"
"I dunno…it sounds like I'm hitting on you or something. Which I'm not."
Why is he so nervous?
"Ok…can you tell me what you were gonna say?"
He looked resigned to a sad fate when he said "Well, you said the flowers were gorgeous. My response was going to be 'You're gorgeous.'"
He looked away and was blushing madly.
But it still melted my heart.
"Aww Robbie…that's not creepy. That's the nicest thing anyone's ever told me." I said, coming for a hug.
"Thanks…" He mumbled as I wrapped my arms around him.
He smells like…
I don't know.
But I just wanna kiss him.
Saying he smells like sex sounds horrible.
But that's the first thing I thought of.
Sex appeal maybe.
"I just didn't want to scare you…especially since it's just us. I don't want you to be afraid of me or anything."
"You didn't scare me Robbie…you're being silly. That was amazingly sweet. And don't worry about creeping me out ok? Please?"
He looked away and I pressed myself right up against him.
He nearly went cross-eyed.
I don't think he's used to a girl being so…physical.
Or he's extremely nervous I'm so close to him. Like…I don't know how to say it without sounding horrible.
But I'm right next to him and…
Yeah.
It's not noticeable, but he's a guy and I'm a girl after all.
The pieces fit. Literally.
"Ok…" he mumbled.
"Good!" I say happily. "I'm gonna go change really fast."
I impulsively gave in to my heart and rose up, grinding him incidentally and kissed his cheek before walking back to my bedroom.
"Ok…" he said quietly.
I close the door behind me and instinctively lock it and start searching for the shortest but most appropriate shorts I have.
Not hard you say?
Choice is the issue. Do I want to change my shirt, or keep it? What color shorts? Do they go with the flats?
I don't know.
I just want Robbie.
To be happy and relaxed.
Which I might have messed up by basically getting all up on him.
I need to stop thinking about him in bed and focus on us now.
We'll get there.
Hopefully.
I walk out of my room and see Robbie sitting with his back to me, looking at his phone I think.
"Hi…what do you think?" I asked, standing in front of him.
Again, he tried to say something but this time went red and simply said "Very nice. You look pretty."
"You did it again." I smirked at him, sitting opposite him and scooting closer to him.
"Did what?"
"What did you wanna say? I won't tell anyone." I said quietly.
"Cat…I really don't think that's a good idea."
"Why not? It's not like I'm gonna run away screaming for you to leave."
He suddenly looked guilty and turned away.
"Robbie…I just want you to not be afraid of me."
"I'm not afraid of you can. Believe me. I'm not. I just need to control my thoughts better."
"Ok…you don't have to tell me. We can go if you'd like."
He silently stood up, still looking incredibly guilty and marched over to the door, holding it for me.
We were silent until we both had buckled up and he was pulling out of the parking lot.
"So I was thinking about an Italian place tonight. What do you say?"
"Yummy." I reply, trying to get him to laugh.
Italian sounds delicious.
"Great." He smiled.
He still looked like he got caught with his hand in the cookie jar though.
I wonder why.
I think it's that he has tons of comments like the one about the flowers, he's just afraid to tell me.
He doesn't want to scare me off.
Makes sense. I was the one that kept this apartment and everything that's been going on a secret until he stumbled into the truth.
He thinks that if he messes up I'll tell him to go away. He doesn't want that.
Which means I'm really important to him.
Oh my gosh.
How'd I do that? I worked through the facts and came up with a conclusion that makes sense and is AWESOME!
"We're here Cat." Robbie said quietly.
I've never been here before. It looks nice.
I keep quiet as Robbie leads me inside and we get a nice table in the back near a window.
"What do you think?" he asked quietly, not looking at me.
"I love it. Thank you for bringing me."
"Of course. By the way, I want to ask you something."
"Sure, what's up?"
"Do you mind stopping by my house with me before you go to work? My mom wants to know who I'm taking back and forth. It'll help to have you there as proof."
"Sure…she isn't giving you a hard time is she?" I ask, nervous for the answer.
"Hi, can I take your order?" The waitress pops up, completely stealing his thunder.
Gank.
I ordered the ravioli and he did the lasagna and salad. We're splitting breadsticks. Oh, and drinks. I got lemonade, he got iced tea.
"What were you saying Robbie? Sorry she interrupted us."
"It's fine…not your fault. I was just saying I want to introduce you to my mom so she knows I'm not driving around a psycho murderer with a chain saw or have a secret girlfriend.
My heart immediately sank.
I wanna be that girlfriend.
Secret or not. I want it to happen.
"Oh, sure then! Hopefully I don't embarrass you." I laugh nervously as the waitress dropped off our drinks.
Robbie laughed and smiled at me. "Cat, you can't embarrass me. She's my mom. I've got to stop her before she shows you my baby pictures."
"Hey, I bet those are adorable." I pout.
I would love to see baby pictures.
He shrugged. "Eh, it's more the embarrassment factor sweetie."
Then he went red again and sipped his iced tea.
Poor guy. He's really nervous.
He shouldn't be. It's gonna take a lot more than calling me sweetie and ogling at my legs for him to creep me out.
"Robbie?" I asked after a moment of silence.
"Uh huh?"
"Why don't you have a girlfriend?"
His eyes suddenly went wide and he coughed on his tea.
"Robbie?" I asked quickly, ready to call somebody over.
I don't know how to help him if he's in trouble.
He held his hand up, signaling he's ok before coughing hard.
"Ok…here you guys are…you need anything else?" The waitress asked, putting our food down, clueless to Robbie's coughing.
GANK!
"Some extra napkins please." I said politely. She nodded and walked away.
Robbie finally cleared his throat and looked at me funny.
"Well, good thing I wasn't like choking or anything. Otherwise she'd been fired for having a customer die on her watch." He said, sounding angrier than I've ever heard him.
It scares me. But it also excites me.
He has a temper.
Which means he is competitive.
Fight for me!
He's already won…what are you waiting for?
"You're ok right?" I asked, still worried but starting to eat.
"Yeah. Why'd you ask about not having a girlfriend?" he replied.
I really should have kept my trap shut.
Now I have no good answers.
"I...umm…" I mumble, stalling until I take another bite.
"Cat…"
"Well…um, I was just wondering because you look so nice and cute and you never mention going on a date or anything…I was just curious."
"Oh. You think I look cute?"
"Um, don't tell the others…but yeah."
He suddenly went pale but recovered quickly. "Thanks."
"No problem." I smiled at him.
Soon we both began eating and were quiet. At first I wasn't worried, but the longer it went, the more I could tell how deliberate everything he did was.
He doesn't know what to do.
Did I mess up somehow?
Suddenly his phone blinked and he glanced at it before speaking up.
"Mom's not home, so I guess I'll introduce you guys another time." He said quietly, quickly taking a bite.
"Oh. That's too bad. What's she doing?"
"She's showing a house. Thinks she's gonna get a sale today, otherwise she would have pushed it back. She told me to say sorry for her." He said quietly, not looking up.
"It's fine Robbie. I understand. Sometimes work gets in the way."
He slightly moved his mouth in a gesture I don't know.
I just know his confidence is gone.
And it's all my fault.
It has to be. He was fine at Hollywood Arts, and I've been pushing him all day to tell me stuff.
He probably has had too much of me for one day. At least me being so demanding.
We finished in silence and the drive to the mall was filled in by the radio, something that hasn't happened before.
I can't stop sneak glances at his face.
He just looks miserable.
"Thanks Robbie, see you later?" I asked, leaning over the dash for a hug.
He returned it half-heartedly, barely hugging me back. "Yeah, just text me when you get off. Good luck."
"Thanks Robbie." I said, getting out and closing the door.
He sped off pretty fast. Not like in a dangerous way.
He just got out of here in a hurry.
I try not to think of Robbie when work starts, but it's a slow day at the registers, so that makes it difficult.
Plus I keep yawning.
I need to stop by Jet Brew. Must. Have. Caffeine.
I make it all the way to the little stand and am waiting patiently when I see a familiar guy with his blonde girlfriend.
"Hey Cat!" Tori piped up, smiling, Beck right behind her.
I mumble "hi." as I realize that's…
Them.
"Who ya looking at?"
I can't bring myself to say it aloud.
So I barely mumble "Robbie and his girlfriend."
Both of their jaws fell open as they realized the couple holding hands is indeed Beauty (Robbie) and the Beast (Blondie).
"Oh Cat…" Tori said quietly.
"Why are you here?" Beck asked quietly.
The barista suddenly called out my drink and I go to collect it.
"I think that answers my question." Beck smiles at me, looking positively depressed.
Tori quickly gives me a shoulder hug. "C'mon. Let's go sit down. Away from them."
I nod and follow as they go in the opposite direction to the very edge of the mall and sit outside in the sun.
Well, it's kinda overcast and the sun is setting. Kind of pretty.
"Did we walk up just as you saw them?" Beck asked, obviously trying to be very nice.
"Yeah…" I mumble, sipping my drink.
"I'm so sorry Cat…you must feel awful."
I nod.
"Do you want us to go away?" Beck asked kindly.
Tori quickly hit him. "Beck!"
"What? When Jade and I broke up, remember how I left like 30 minutes after everything? I just wanted to be alone." He said.
I never knew that.
"Umm…" I said quietly, and they turned back to me. "No. It's nice to see you guys. I don't really want to think about them."
"This has happened before?"
"Uh huh."
"How many times?" Beck asked.
"4 or 5. Just like that. I wasn't stalking or creeping or anything. It's not my fault!" I cry out, unable to hold it back.
Beck quickly hugged me and kissed my hair. "It's ok sweetheart. It's not your fault."
I just cried into his shoulder the rest of my break, then Tori helped my fix my makeup and I went back to work.
"Robbie, my coworker offered to take me home tonight, so you can stay home and relax. Thanks again." –Cat
I think I need to let him be happy.
Even if that means being without me.