Stay Young Forever
Chapter 14
Note: I'm saying sorry in advance. My internet is starting to act up, and I don't know why. My laptop is the only one having these problems. I'm going to wait and see what happens, but if it does keep happening I might not be able to write the stories, therefore I can't upload them. So just in case I miss a day in the future, sorry. Also, I'm going to be painting my youth group's room tomorrow from 9 a.m. to well past noon. So, I don't know if I will be able to upload tomorrow. If I get the time I'll post tonight, but if I can't do that then we'll just have to wait and see what happens.
My first reaction should have been anger. I should have been furious that he would ignore my orders and follow me to my new place. I should have felt like getting one of my brand new knives and cutting off his head with a flick of my wrist. I should have felt all these things. But I didn't.
I felt loneliness.
When I saw him I realized just how much I need company. Being in this new house, I can't help but feel so alone. It's just so big and empty. I'm used to my old house, filled with my brother watching T.V. and my dad cooking us food. I miss being around people. So even though it's only been a few weeks since I last saw him, I felt like it's been a lifetime.
"Beck." I said. It wasn't filled with anger. Wasn't filled with joy. It was just a simple question. He seemed surprised.
"Hey Caterina."
By now the feeling of loneliness was overpowering me, and I felt myself actually smile at the name. My hands were shaking and I felt like a mess.
I walked past him and outside where there was clear air. Then I walked to the rental car and grabbed some more bags. He followed me, also grabbing some.
"Hey, can we talk?" He asked as we set our bags onto the island.
"Hold on, there are still some more bags." I said, careful to avoid eye contact. He nodded and we went outside, grabbing the last of the bags. When they were all in here I started to sort through them, putting them in their respected piles.
After a long, awkward silence, I spoke up. "What are you doing here?" I asked him while opening my box with my coffee maker in it. I then took it out and started to set it up on the counter behind me.
"Well, I was in New York city for some reason." He began, and I rolled my eyes, even though he couldn't see my face. "And I met this girl. Now, this girl asked me for a favor, a very important one. And I told her I'd help her. So I'm making sure I'm doing just that."
"And what if this girl has changed her mind, and she feels like she doesn't need you anymore?"
Beck was silent for a little, and I wondered if I had offended him or not. "Cat, I know your scared. I know you don't want to trust me because your afraid of losing me. But I've already told you, I'm not going anywhere. I'll be where ever you are. I'll spend my whole life in a hotel if I must, just to be where you are."
I turned around then, away from my work, and stared straight into Beck's eyes. "Beck, what if I'm just not worth fighting for?" I said, not even blinking.
"I know your worth it."
"How?"
"Because I know you. I've been friends with you my whole life, and I've been in love with you since I first met you. And I know that the Cat I fell for is in there, and I know she is worth it. Because I've met her before, and she is one amazing girl."
I was forced to look away now, staring at the floor with my cheeks bright red. He loved me? For that long? Or was this just another actor-trick?
Then Beck got up and walked up in front of me, taking my hands and making me look up at him. "Cat, we don't have to start out so fast. We can just be friends, just like in the old times. Before any of this happened. Were just two teenage kids, waiting for their acceptance letter from a performing arts school."
I was silent for a few moments before replying. "Do they make it in?" I asked with a small smile on my lips. He smiled too.
"They better. They stayed up past dawn and drank 20 cups of coffee together to practice for their audition."
I giggled at that. I remember that night. We had popcorn fights, pillow fights, I even painted Beck's toe nails. We were also working so hard, staying up late to make sure we got every part right.
"Deal? Just friends?" He asked, letting go of my hands and stepping back so he could stretch out his hand again.
"Friends." I said, taking his hand and shaking it. He nodded, as if agreeing. Then it was just awkward.
"Well, I guess I better go get a hotel." He said as he started to walk out the door. Just before he opened it, loneliness took over and I suddenly had no control.
"Wait." I said, stopping him. "If you want.. you can stay here. I'm kind of lonely being here alone."
"I thought you'd never ask." He said, and he walked over to the living room, showing me that he already had his stuff in there. I gasped in shock.
"You lying thief! You set that whole thing up just so I'd let you use my house."
"No, I just came here first. I didn't even stop at a hotel, I came straight over to see you. Then you weren't home so I lounged around. It's really empty here."
I sighed, already aware of that. "I know. I went shopping today and got some stuff, and I'm going out again tomorrow."
"Sounds like a plan." He said, and I led him upstairs to his new bedroom.
"I can't believe you tricked me." I said under my breath, yet he heard it.
"I would never trick you." He said, staring straight into my eyes. I didn't answer that, I just moved on to a new topic.
"You do know you'll have to help pay the bills, right?"
"Of course. In fact, I'll pay for everything. This house is really cheap." He said, ignoring what he said too.
My mouth opened wide in shock. "Everything?"
"Yea. And you can use your saved money to buy more stuff." He said, and I smirked at that.
"Okay. I can live with that." And then as I watched him set up his stuff, I realized how natural this was. Just talking to each other, being friends and sharing a house. Allowing him to pay my bills. Something about it was just so natural.
"You know, I'm really glad you came to Florida. I was thinking we'd have to come anyways. Well, either here or California. But I figured you wouldn't go back to California."
"Why do you say that?" I asked, crossing my arms while standing in the door way.
"Because it's more fun down here. Beaches, water parks, all kinds of stuff to do. In New York you don't do anything but work."
"That's not true." I said, getting defensive. "Lots of people dream about going to New York City. It's like a fashionista's paradise."
"Oh, and your a fashionista?"
I just rolled my eyes, letting him know the discussion was over.
"Anyways, I want to go shopping with you tomorrow. Is that okay?"
I hesitated at first, but then decided I can't trust him to be here by himself. He'd probably turn it into a dollhouse. "Sure. But I pick out all our decorations. I had a plan for this house, and your not ruining that.
"Sounds like a plan." He said, finally done unpacking. "I'm terrible at decorating anyways." I nodded and we went back downstairs to put my purchased items away.
Again, just so natural. The sun must be getting to my head.