"Urrrgh…" I groan, waking up way too early.
Stupid leg, why are you broken… I thought as I glance at said leg, wrapped extensively and propped up on two pillows.
Wait…I hear shallow breathing…
I glance to my left to find Cat sleeping with her arms around me and her head on my shoulder. I peek back to my leg to find an icepack on top of the bandages.
Mom's Directive… I smiled to myself. Wait…I dropped her off at 1:20ish last night. How the hell did she get back at…I don't know what time it is…
I grab my phone off my bedside table. 7:08 AM.
How did she get into my house so quick?
As if on cue, Cat blinked and yawned. She then hugged me softly and sighed. I don't think she knows I'm awake.
"How'd you get here sunshine?' I asked, causing her to jump slightly.
"Ahh! Don't scare me like thattt." She whined, lying back down onto my bed.
"Sorry, seriously, how are you here right now?"
"Mom isn't happy with you being here alone. I got here right after you came in here, and talked to your parents. Their flight got delayed so they had a bit of a wait." She explained.
"What did they say?"
"They thanked me, your mom cried, your dad hugged me and I promised I'd take care of you."
I rolled my eyes and smiled. "What did I do to have you fall into my life?" I asked, half sarcastically.
"I don't know, but I'm glad I'm here…" She sighed, contouring herself to me.
"Oh Yeah!" She exclaimed. "I'm supposed to take you home later." She added, kissing me lightly.
"More of that and I'll be healed in no time." I quipped, but apparently she thought I was serious, quickly taking the situation into make out territory. Not that I'm against it, I'm just not…mobile enough to respond rapidly. I made it work though, and her mood from last night apparently has carried over.
"Sweetie…please don't take this the wrong way, but with me in this situation I really can't…" I trailed off, as she stopped grinding me rhymically.
She groaned, but not in the good way. "I see what you mean…stupid leg…" She grumbled. She did have a look similar to what happened a week ago in this very bed in her eye, and I am determined to not have that happen while I'm around, or in the very least I can't hear it.
"Are you…" I asked, hoping this could be as normal as possible.
"Yeah…sorry."
"Don't say sorry, it's normal. Let me go grab the protective wrap and I'll take a shower ok?" I told her, causing her to smile.
"Thanks for understanding." She whispered, looking at my pillow. I hobbled my way into the shower, closed the door and prayed she was quiet. I didn't really have to worry because the shower was practically unbearable simply because of the mist, let alone cleaning the area around the gash. I was focused on cleaning up and keeping it as pain free as possible.
After what must have been the longest shower of my life, along with a torturous effort to dry the area I reapplied the bandage to my leg, since it requires a dry area to stick to my skin. God, this sucks…
Finally, I emerge from the bathroom to see Beck, Andre, Jade and Tori all in my room talking to Cat, who apparently was fighting for joint custody of my bed.
"Hi." I managed to get out before I moved over to the bed and sat down, cringing at the now even more tender leg.
"How does it feel?" Tori asked.
"I know you mean well Tori, but not good timing because I just cleaned it and it's hurting worse than ever." I confessed. Tori frowned, but took my gentle attempt at honesty well enough.
"You need anything?" Jade asked.
"No, I can get basically everything myself—"
"No, we're here to help you Robbie. Seriously, do you need anything?" Beck told me sternly.
"Yeah…but it's simple, I can do it—"
"Robbie!" Jade and Tori yelled simultaneously.
"Fine, Fine. Geez…breakfast…I'm hungry." I said, angry I now have 5 demanding nurses. 1 I can handle, but I can do things myself too.
"On it, be right back!" Andre said, leaving the room quickly.
"I'm going to get OJ, you want some Robbie?" Cat asked, standing up.
"Sure, I'll come to you though." I said, glaring at Tori and Jade pointedly.
I am not a cripple; I do want to move…
"Can I have some?" Beck asked.
"Sure!" Cat said perkily, and hurried off to the kitchen. Beck helped me up and I used the crutches to move slowly in there.
"Ok, this click is annoying me." I said bluntly as Beck and Cat sipped their drink.
"I know, you just kinda block it out after about a week.' Beck told me. "I jumped off the swings in third grade, not my best move." He admitted. Cat giggled and hugged him; Beck gave her a warm smile and kissed her hair.
I am well aware of his soft spot for her, everyone has one for her. Instead of the normal jealousy most people would feel I am kinda relieved, knowing everyone cares about her so much.
"ROBBIE SHAPIRO!" Jade and Tori yelled towards the kitchen. The three of us looked at each other, Cat and Beck looking completely confused. I can confirm I am confused.
"Coming!" I said, placing my glass back on the counter and moving back to my room.
Tori was standing by my closet and as soon as I crossed the threshold for the door Jade slammed it shut.
"What?" I asked, wanting to get back to my drink.
"This." Tori said demandingly, opening the door and pulling aside some of my clothes revealing a collection of women's clothing, including shorts, jeans, shirts, tank tops, revealing shirts and…bras.
"Really, you called me in for this?" I said emphatically, making my way over to Tori.
"Why do you have all that stuff?" Jade asked.
"Cat usually stays over on Wednesday nights." I said in a conversational tone. Jade and Tori's jaws dropped.
"So…wait…that day I came over here and Cat was here…that was a Thursday…you mean to say that…" Jade trailed off, but Tori finished her sentence for her.
"You guys are sleeping together every Wednesday?' Tori asked, flabbergasted.
"You make it sound worse than it is." I told them.
"Please explain." Tori said, as Jade crossed her arms. That's an easy way to tell she's annoyed, crossed arms.
I sighed, "We sleep in the same room every Wednesday, but together only once every three weeks."
"Where does she sleep the other two times?" Tori asked, trying to wrap her head around everything.
"In my bed, I sleep on the futon." I told her, turning to Jade. "That you saw out last time you were here." I spoke directed to her.
"You said they were sleeping together!" Tori told Jade.
"I saw Kimberly's pictures on her phone of them together!" Jade retorted.
"That was because she woke us up early and Cat forced me to lie back down with her after that."
"Yeah right, 'forced'." Tori said, putting air quotes around forced.
"Well, she didn't really give me a choice." I responded.
"But you didn't fight it either." Jade smirked.
"Do your parents know about all of this?" Tori asked.
"Yeah…they don't mind, it's easier to have a stash of stuff here so she can just change instead of bringing a bag every time." I said.
"Why isn't there any…" Jade started, but I knew why she didn't finish the sentence.
"She puts them somewhere. I don't know where, but I sure as hell don't go looking for them, answering your next question." I told the two of them.
"So she showers here?" Tori wondered.
"Yeah."
"Is she always…clothed when she goes in and out?" Jade asked, struggling to phrase the question right. I know what she was getting at though.
"Yes..." I told her. Apparently that satisfied both girls, but they still looked worried. We walked back into the kitchen to Beck running around with Cat over his shoulder.
Liar liar, Robbie for hire… for community service at least.
"Beck! Put me down!" Cat said, loudly, but giggling.
"No! I want to see them!" He said, continuing to spin her around.
"No!"
"Then faster!" he said, going even faster.
"Beck!" Cat said, before starting to giggle uncontrollably.
"Any idea on what he wants?" Tori asked me.
"Absolutely no idea." I told her.
"I'm Bac—" Andre said, stepping back inside with two large bags but stopping at the sight of Cat and Beck.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"No idea." Jade responded.
"She has pictures of her and Robbie and she won't let me see." Beck explained, still spinning Cat and smiling happily.
"Pictures?" Jade asked me.
"Oh yeah…" I said.
We took some pictures down at the beach a few weeks ago during a weekend long air show. The pictures are really cute, most of them I have my arms around Cat in some form or fashion, but I can see why Cat doesn't want to show them to Beck. She cherishes those pictures. She should, they're really good.
"Do you have them?" Andre wondered, placing the bags on the table.
"Yeah, come here." I said, going back to my room where I had them in an album under my bed. Don't worry; I had Andre retrieve it for me.
"Here." I said, opening it to the first picture and handing it to Jade. Tori and Andre looked over her shoulder at them.
They quickly fell into the 'Aww, that's so cute!' stage and eventually Beck came in with Cat still over his shoulder. "Whatcha looking at?" he asked.
"The pictures." I said, as Tori and Jade both "Aww"ed for what seemed to be the thousandth time since I gave them the book.
"Robbie!" Cat screeched as Beck leaned over to take a look.
"Sorry sweetie." I said, leaning down to look at her upside down face. She pointedly frowned.
"Those are our memories…" She pouted, causing me to smile.
"That doesn't mean I can't share the pictures with them." I said.
"Robbie…" Tori said sweetly, pointing at one of me with my arms around Cat, and her looking back at me. I was laughing and she was just looking back.
"That's my favorite too." I admitted. It's my new lock screen on my phone.
A few moments later Beck let Cat down, who then proceeded to punch him multiple times in the arm and back.
"AHH! When did she get a temper?" Beck said, fleeing from her blows.
"No idea…she had it when all this started.' I said, following Andre and the girls into the kitchen. Cat continued to beat up on Beck in the living room until he threw her over his shoulder again.
"Let me down Beck!" Cat yelled.
"Are you going to keep hitting me?" Beck asked as I got plates down from the cabinet.
"Yes!" She quickly responded.
"Then no." he told her. I think he started spinning her again because she started screaming. There's a wall separating the kitchen from the living room so I'm not sure.
Andre, the girls and I tucked into the breakfast Andre bought. It was quickly apparent he stopped by the pancake house nearby.
"I love this place, I hope you guys don't mind…" he said, glancing at Jade and Tori. They didn't notice, they were too busy eating.
"I don't think they mind." I told him, and he smiled back. The charade in the living room kept up for another 10 minutes, and when we finished, they finally came in, smiling.
Jade, Andre and I played a quick session of halo while the two of them were eating. Tori declined to join in saying "I'll kill everyone."
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah…right." Jade said, biting her tongue as she and Andre duked it out.
Tori quickly grabbed the controller and followed thru on her promise, massacring us all.
"Trina used to play." Was her explanation.
Jade stood up and pulled Tori and Andre into the living room for a moment.
"We're going to head out…" Jade said abruptly, poking her head into my room.
"Ok…" I said.
They know it's Wednesday.
They left without incident. "What did they want when they called you in here?" Cat asked, grabbing some clothes from the closet.
"They wanted to know about that actually." I said.
"The closet?"
"The clothes in the closet." I told her. She gave it a once over.
"Ohhhhh…."
"Yeah."
"They thought I'm…like being inappropriate or something?" She wondered.
"I think they were just worried about you, have been ever since I admitted to liking you and the whole Michael thing." I said, spitting out a theory that I had dreamed up.
"Well, they should respect that if I want to…show off…then let me do it. It's your room, your rules. Do you care if I do that?" She asked.
"Whatever makes you comfortable…just please wear a towel. Or just warn me so I can close the blinds and leave the room."
"You can stay if you want…" Cat mumbled and blushed.
"Cat…" I groaned.
"What? I told you already, I trust you Robbie."
"But Cat, that's a different kind of trust. That's…I don't know what to call it." I admitted, refusing to take my eyes off the comforter.
"It's love Robbie. I love you. And we already tried that kind of trust and I think it worked out well, what about you?"
"You don't want my opinion."
"Is it bad?" She asked, looking afraid.
"No, it's just very…stereotypical of a guy." I managed to say.
"Tell me." She said, grabbing my hand.
"I had a dream…"
"Me?" She asked, smirking ever so slightly.
"Yeah."
"Was I good?"
"Cat…"
"I'll find out one of these days. Tell me, I won't judge you."
"I wrecked the sheets, ok?" I said, jamming my face into my pillow.
Cat gently lifted the pillow off my face and kissed me softly. "I think that answers my question."
"You're not grossed out or anything?" I asked, incredulous.
"No…I have had the same thing happen so I understand. Just you wait until you get a cast on that leg. Then we'll see ok?" She smiled.
"Why are you so…willing to talk about that stuff?" I wondered aloud. She smiled and sat down on my lap.
"Because you're a teenage guy…and I know you get urges so…I don't know…is it awkward for you? I can stop…" She wondered.
"Hey…" I started, but stopped once I realized that I had no idea what I was going to say. Cat patiently waited for me to speak, face neutral, if anything it was worried.
"I don't want you to feel pressured to do anything. You can do whatever you want." I told her. She seemed relieved, but quickly her face turned optimistic.
"Do you want to see me like that? If you do…I wouldn't mind." Cat told me.
"Cat, you make me sound like all I want is your body." I groaned.
"Well, that was what you wanted at first…" Cat smiled deviously as I glared at her.
"Alright, alright…"
"Robbie, tell me." Cat demanded.
"It sounds so bad though!" I protested. Cat scowled at me.
"I can take it, tell me."
"Fine. You have the best body I've ever seen and…I admit, I wouldn't mind seeing you…with less stuff on." I said, immediately going red and putting my face down into my pillow.
"Ok, not today. Soon, I promise." She said, kissing me on the cheek then proceeding to her shower.
It took me about 5 minutes for me to "calm down". Stupid leg erases all good options for that kind of thing.
I just asked cat to…what did I ask her to do? Be more like Tori? No, Tori's better than that…I don't know, I just know I basically asked her to strip in front of me. Which, knowing her, will be coming soon. I thought, as I pulled up my journal to love for the first time since I yelled at Cat in the SUV. Putting all the recent goings on in my life, it made me realize that a lot has gone on, and we still have some of summer to continue. All the happy memories of Cat and I, hanging out, we were about to make more as time went on.
Can't wait.
"I'm ready." Cat said, fully dressed. We made it out to the driveway, where she prevented me from getting into my car.
"No, you are with me. No complaining." She demanded, sitting me down in the passenger seat and buckling me in, being very gentle.
"Ok mom." I told her as she made her way to her seat.
"I don't think your mom would do this…" She whispered, kissing me gracefully.
"I don't think she would either." I breathed once we separated.
The drive to her house was quick, and her parents ushered me into the house very quickly.
"Thanks for all the help lat night Mrs." I told cat's mom, who was fussing over not getting me something to drink.
"Sucks about your leg Robbie." Mr. Valentine said.
"Yeah."
" So your parents are living in Barcelona for a year?" Mrs. Valentine asked.
"Uh huh, they're setting up a office there."
"That's a big statement on you Robbie, they trust you a lot." Cat's mom told me.
"If you ever feel you need some advice or just to hang out you can always come here. You're always welcome." Mr. Valentine said, as Cat stepped out of the room.
"Are you guys till wanting to see a movie?"
"I want to, but she might force me to stay here…" I wondered aloud.
"You'll go, you need to get out." Mrs. Valentine said.
"Ok."
Quickly I was ushered into a entertainment room where they basically ordered me to stay for the day. I reluctantly agreed, but did make effective use of the time to continue working on the journal, this time adding some of the stuff that sells books, the salacious details. I've already decided to give everyone in the story aliases so nobody will know it is us.
Cat and her parents are in another room, and suddenly the sound of raised voices can be heard.
"Mom! Dad, tell her he can't do that!" Cat whined.
"Sorry cupcake, he is going nuts. You love going with him, why don't you want to go?"
"He's hurt! I can't stop him but you guys can!" Cat defended herself.
"He might be hurt, but he doesn't want to be confined sweetie, you have to let him be who he wants to be." Mrs. Valentine explained
"But,—"
"No buts sweetie, are you ready to go out and have fun without your annoying parents?" Mrs. Valentine said.
"We're coming back later anyway, so no, I can't get away from my annoying parents." Cat said, stomping off towards the TV room. I quickly make it look like I was working instead of hearing their discussion.
"How are you feeling?" She asked sweetly, sitting softly of the edge of the couch.
"Fine, what's up?" I asked.
"You up for a movie?" Cat asked, clearly hiding her thoughts.
"Sure, its 6:30 so we better get going." I said, grabbing my crutches. I made my way to the living room while Cat grabbed her purse.
"You convinced her alright." I said, looking at Cat's father.
"I did." "Have fun you two!" He said cheerily as Cat appeared. We climbed into the SUV and drove off.
The tension in the vehicle was evident. She gripped the wheel tighter than usual and had the radio louder than ever. I took it as a sign to keep quiet.
She did open up a little once we reached the outdoor pizza restaurant that is one of her favorites.
"I'm sorry Robbie." Cat said after liberally applying her favorite mix of cheeses to her side of the pizza.
"Why are you saying sorry? I'm the one who should be saying sorry. If it wasn't for me busting my leg we would be going back to my place tonight."
Cat's eyes widened.
I wasn't supposed to know that…
"How do you know that?" She asked, putting her slice back down.
"I heard the discussion before you came to talk to me." I admitted, busying myself with eating.
Cat was quiet for a moment. I seized the moment to type out a message to both of her parents.
Can she stay at my place tonight? She really doesn't want to see you guys. I understand if you say no.
"I just want what is best for you." Cat blurted out, finally recovering herself to start eating.
"Sunshine, sometimes that's a different thing from what I want."
"You can't always get what you want." Cat responded.
"And I shouldn't. But sometimes you have to relent." I said as my phone vibrated.
I had a feeling you overheard us. Sorry you had to hear that. If that helps out tonight, then sure.-Mr. Valentine
I smiled, and then gave Cat my phone with the message open. She read intently, then looks at me, then went "EEP!" in sheer delight.
I smiled. "How do you do this? They never give in on anything!" Cat asked me.
"They just want you to be happy."
We finished the dinner without further developments, and once we drove to the theater, we realized we had a problem.
"I don't want to see anything that's showing." Cat said quietly.
I nodded. Talk about a bad movie season. We had seen all the good ones and still bumped into some low quality films by accident.
"Have you ever been to a drive in Movie Theater?" I asked. Cat paled and shrunk from me.
I hit something. What is going on…?
"Cat, is something wrong?" I asked. She grabbed my hand and we walked back out to her SUV, but she refused to get in.
"Fine! Don't get it then. Just tell me what's wrong!" I demanded, looking right at her. She mumbled something about "last time…"
I just destroyed her night…without even realizing it.
"It's Michael isn't it." I said suddenly, not even considering I could be wrong, causing her to look at me, frightened.
"That's where it all started. Where he nearly got to you." I said. Cat nodded, then looked away.
"We can do whatever you want sunshine." I reassured her, placing my hand on her shoulder, the least dangerous place I could think of.
"I want to go. I just don't want…"
"Anything you want." I told her.
The place wasn't very far away, and I bought tickets for E.T. Her favorite movie. Once we parked Cat stretched out in the Storage area behind the second row of seats. I moved to sit with her but she said "nuh uh" and pushed me away.
I just sat on the edge of the tailgate, in shock. She doesn't completely trust me. She is willing to let me sleep with her and have sex with her, but won't let me comfort her about a horrible experience. After a moment or two I stretched out on the ground as best I could and watched the movie.
I've seen E.T a million times, it's a great movie, the best 80's movie in my opinion. I've never just zoned out during it, I have basically all of Elliot's lines memorized and I didn't quote him once.
The drive to my house was quiet, and after we got ready for bed she simply hugged me and said "Night Robbie." Then turned on her side, away from me and soon started snoring softly. That's right, occasionally, Cat snores.
I just couldn't fall asleep for a long time. What else don't I know about her? I haven't actually learned a lot about her ever since we got this close. Just that she doesn't like Chinese all that much, loves basically all Italian, mini golfing is her favorite sport and has a fiery temper and a tendency to ratchet things up in bed.
She's an enigma. A wonderful girl, very trusting, but still an enigma.