Thump Thump. Thump Thump. Thump Thump.
I just listened to my heart. And look where that got me. Cat curled up under my arm.
Looking up, I see something dangling off my ceiling fan. I chuckle at the memory, but am brought out of the memory by the young lady who single handedly created it.
"Hi Robbie." Cat mumbled sleepily, kissing my cheek.
"Hey sweetie, I have a question."
"Yeah?"
"How'd your bra get up there?"
She laughed and smiled, pausing only to kiss me deeply.
"I don't know, but you were there, why don't you tell me?" She laughed.
I sighed, placing my head on her collarbone. She wrapped her arms around me and whispered "I'm never taking your ring off. Until you give me the real thing. Then I'll just swap fingers."
I smiled. "Your skin is so soft."
"You would know, you had your hands on every inch." She smirked.
"Hey, you were pestering me for months about that, and I finally gave in. You should be happy!"
"Yeah, you were stuck between me and a rock…and I won. He he." She giggled.
I sighed and got going with my routine. Cat seemed like she was floating a couple of inches off the floor the entire way to school.
Apparently I wasn't the only one to notice.
"What's with her?" Jade asked.
"She's been a good mood all morning." I replied.
She gave me a mysterious look. Luckily, I was saved by class starting.
Sikowitz described a new play that was approved by the board, something about 19th century knights. Sounds exciting. Beck, Andre and I signed up for the trio of leading knights.
"Now, for something a little weird." Sikowitz called out. Everyone froze. Many people looked curiously cautious, while Tori, Cat and Jade simply looked scared at the prospect.
"Calm down, it's not dangerous…" he called out while walking into the storage room.
"FENCING!"
"YES!" Beck, Andre and I yelled, rushing forward. For the most part people looked relaxed while grabbing a sword or a saber whatever it is and a face guard.
Tori and Cat ended up paired together, and the thought briefly crossed my mind that there was good chance that they would go do their nails instead.
Andre and I ended up together, along with Beck and Jade. The two of them fought with a surprising bitterness, mostly from Jade's sword. Beck at times, looked to be hanging on by his fingertips, with a limit of 10 touches per partner.
Andre and I were a pretty even match, even though we moved around a lot. Most people ducked, and we slowly made our way across the room, and at one point pinning Sikowitz against the wall.
Unfortunately, one slice of my sword took off a small puff of Sikowitz's blow away hair.
"Hey! Easy on the hair! I don't have much left!" He called out to us.
"Sorry!" Andre called back. I tried to capitalize, but Andre fended off my attack.
Cat and Tori had gotten into it after all, with both girls showing surprising courage in risk taking. I don't quite think they got it though, because when Cat knocked Tori's sword away, Tori yanked Cat's out of her hand and Cat tackled her into a hug.
I barely noticed as Andre and I slowly proceeded over to them. Cat, who had knocked Tori to the ground was just starting to stand when Andre and I got into a skirmish right over their heads.
"AAH!" Tori yelled, dropping back down to the floor.
"Robbie!" Cat yelled, whacking me in the leg. I didn't reply, trying to beat Andre. I did steer the battle away from the girls. At least I thought I did, when Andre took one last swipe at me.
Unfortunately, I ducked just as Cat stood.
"Swip."
Cat gasped, as a strand of red hair came back with his sword.
"Run." I said, as both of us ditched the fight just to get away from Cat, who was bound to be furious.
The bell rang, and I was bracing for a lecture in front of everyone at lunch. She didn't come out, and I had no idea what she was thinking until my phone vibrated,
I want to talk to you tonight after I eat at home. You are in trouble, just saying that now.-Cat
Oh my, she is still steamed. Andre needed a ride home, and I showed him the text.
"Dude." Her replied, handing my phone back.
"Yeah."
"You're gonna need a bodyguard."
"I know."
"It was just one hair." He said adamantly, with a hint of desperation.
" I know, but that hair is like gold to her."
"Well, good luck. If you need a body cast you know who to call." He smiled, stepping out.
"Thanks man." I replied, turning back for home.
I had barely gotten inside the door when the landline rang.
Weird, almost nobody has that number.
"Hello?"
"Robbie! Hi sweetie! How are you?"
Mom.
"Not bad, is dad on too?"
"Right here, nice to hear from you." Dad replied.
It was nice to speak to my parents for the first time in a long time. Things sound fun in Barcelona, and Dad has made good impressions. I did hear numerous jokes about house parties and Cat, but they were joking and seemed genuinely concerned about the rise from Cat's ex's. They asked for her phone number, saying they miss her and might call sometime.
I have the best parents.
Afterward, I checked my email. Nothing big, except for another email from IMG saying how pleased they are with the agreement and…
Hold the phone. I might be wrong about nothing big in the email.
The last message is from
Oh Boy.
It reads: Hi Robbie! It's Freddie from iCarly. Hope everything is going well in LA. Anyway, our school, Ridgeway, is paying for Carly, Sam and I to go somewhere this year and do an on location show. Long story, but they're paying. We (Carly and I in particular) were wondering if you wouldn't mind if we came down again and did the Hollywood Arts thing for a few days and shoot the show there? Email back anytime.
Nice talking to you, and hope to hear back soon,
Freddie Benson
iCarly Technical Producer
Sounds good to me, wonder why he isn't emailing Tori, they really seemed to hit it off at Kenan's. Doesn't matter, I'll talk to everyone and bounce the idea off them.
I start brainstorming for idea when my door comes flying open and sharply hits the backstop. Cat is in the doorway holding a gigantic pizza box.
"Sorry, I can't get the door."
"It's ok, did you kick it open?"
"Uh huh." She said, sounding proud.
After applying our cheeses, this time from my fridge, we inhaled the pizza. No small talk, just eating.
I did the dishes, and after coming back from the bathroom, Cat watched in silence.
Once I finished, she yanked on my arm, dragging me towards the door. "C'mon, we're talking now."
We took off in the general direction of the park. She maintained a silence until we had walked for a solid 10 minutes and reached the sidewalk that leads straight there.
"Robbie."
"Yes sunshine?" For once, she didn't looked pleased.
"Do you have any idea why I'm mad?" She asked hotly.
"I accidentally sliced off one beautiful hair off your head." I replied. She whipped around to face me.
"When you say it that way it sounds like I'm overreacting and that I'm spoiled!"
"You're not, didn't mean it that way." I quickly said.
"Good, glad we cleared that up." She bluntly said, kicking a pebble.
A moment passed. "So what did I do wrong?" I asked.
"You didn't care that I was in danger."
"I did too! And you weren't in danger, you just happened to stand up at the exact wrong moment and I'm sorry."
"You are completely missing the point! You kept on slicing away at each other, knowing I was below you. I hit your leg! I thought that would say 'hey, stop and let me clear out!'" She exclaimed.
"Cat, it isn't that simple." I stated, passing under a tree.
Suddenly, a gloved hand was placed over my mouth and a elbow was around my neck.
"MMMMPH!" I yelled for Cat, scared and being dragged backwards.
"Yes it is!" Cat continued, not looking back at my escalating situation. "If that situation ever arose again, I don't know that you'll protect me!"
Suddenly, a familiar voice started speaking into my ear.
"Listen to her, babbling on about you protecting her. You stole her from us, and she's going to pay. And you're the first victim you bastard."
I tried to kick him, only to have him hit me really hard in the stomach and for me to see stars.
"I know Beck and Andre are bigger than you, but I still rely on you to protect me I—"
A sharp object suddenly went into my back, and I yelled as my attacker twisted the object in deeper.
"Hurts, doesn't it. Now you know how bad it hurts to lose something you love. You're here, helpless and we're going to take her and there isn't anything you can do about it. Don't mess with Cat Valentine jackass, you get what you deserve."
"c'mon Robbie, I know you can do it, you don't have to put up a valiant fight or something, just give me enough time to get away and—"
How ironic, that's what I'm trying to do by yelling into the glove.
Th eworld suddenly stared going dim. Audio, visual, everything.
I'm running out of air…I'm going to die.
Without further thought, my attacker let me go and I started to fall. I saw a figure in a mask dart toward the unsuspecting Cat.
That's it. I failed. I didn't save her. God save her now, there isn't anymore I can do.
I start my face plant towards the concrete when it all goes dark.