"I can't believe it is taking me so long to do this! This is ridiculous!" Katherine said in frustration.
"Don't get so stressed out about it. Trust me, the more you focus on winning, the harder it gets to actually do that!" JR advised Katherine.
When JR had suggested to Katherine that it might be fun for them to have their next date at an outdoor miniature golf course, she had thought that it would be something that she would enjoy. Was she ever wrong. It felt like it had taken hours just for Katherine to get past the first five holes, and anyone who had the misfortune of getting stuck in line behind her had started giving her dirty looks after she had taken about twenty swings with the golf club. What made it even worse was that JR was actually quite good at the game. It usually only took him about two or three tries to get the ball into the hole. Katherine was impressed, but at the same time, she was frustrated with her inability to match his skill level. She always liked to believe that they were perfect partners; equally matched at just about anything. Katherine knew that it was ridiculous to expect that she would be just as good as JR at everything and vice versa. But her pride could be easy to wound sometimes.
After coming out of her thoughts, Katherine turned her attention back to her current ordeal in this god forsaken obstacle course. In order to win, players had to wait for the big mechanized dragon to open its mouth at just the right moment so that they could attempt to get the ball through its mouth and into the hole directly under it. After about thirty swings, the dragon was not giving an inch, and Katherine found herself growing more irritated by the second. Every time its mouth opened, the dragon made an annoying roaring sound effect.
JR was starting to look like he thought that Katherine was going overboard with the game. "Honey? Maybe we should just-" He started to suggest nervously.
"Don't talk to me right now, JR! I need to concentrate!" Katherine said distractedly. She glared at the dragon, willing it to let her shoot the ball into his mouth.
JR chuckled. "You're much too tense for that! Here, let me help you." He said gently. JR placed his hands on Katherine's arms; guiding her swing.
Katherine laughed. "You're not exactly helping me right now, JR!" She said; distracted by the pleasant sensation of JR's arms around her.
"We'll see about that!" JR said confidently as he directed Katherine's swing so that the ball finally went into the dragon's mouth.
"We did it! Well, it was really you who did it, but still!" Katherine said happily.
"Ready to hit the next one?" JR asked.
"Actually, I think I could use a break. I feel like I need to sit down for a few minutes before I try the rest. Because god knows it will take me even longer!" Katherine said ruefully.
"Okay. Do you want me to get you a soda?" JR offered.
"Yeah, that would be perfect! I can always count on you to be so thoughtful!" Katherine said.
JR winked at Katherine. "If it's for you, it's easy! I'll be right back!" He said before heading off towards the vending machines.
Katherine smiled to herself as she watched JR leave. She couldn't even remember the last time in her life when she had been so happy. Besides being in love with him, Katherine knew that JR had brought a sense of peace to her life that she hadn't felt since before her parents had died. It was hard for her to believe that her life could get any more wonderful than this.
"Katherine, is that you?" An all too familiar male voice spoke from behind her.
Katherine's insides felt like they had frozen over. She slowly turned around and came face to face with the living nightmare that she had tried to forget for years now.
"Leon…" Katherine said somewhat shakily.
With his tall lean frame, perfectly trimmed short jet black hair, piercing green eyes, and flawless complexion, Leon Varriker had looks that any male model would kill for. But past the surface, Katherine knew that there was nothing remotely pleasant at all about this man.
"I can't believe it's really you! It's been years! How are you?" Leon asked in a tone that would have come off as kind to just about anyone else. But Katherine knew better.
"What are you doing here?" Katherine demanded in a voice that she tried to make sound forceful, but only came out sounding weak.
Leon laughed lightly. "Come on, Katherine! You know me. Work, what else? Real estate is great right now, after all! But I was amazed when I heard about you! You finally got your dream of running your father's company, and from what I heard you're as good as your old man himself! And by the way, I am sorry about your losses. Your parents always were great to me. So, how about we go out to eat somewhere? My treat. After all, we have a lot of catching up to do." Leon said.
"How can you act like everything is normal between us!? The way you talk… It's as if you've already forgotten about what you did to me! Two years, Leon! I was with you for two years and it all meant nothing to you! Hell, you even admitted that yourself after I found out that you had been cheating on me! I loved you, but you were just using me to further your own ambitions!" Katherine said emotionally.
"Look, that was years ago, and I was really stupid back then. But I've changed now. Why don't we just go and have a nice dinner together so that I can explain everything to you, okay?" Leon asked.
Katherine wasn't fooled for one minute. This was all part of how Leon operated. He had a way of convincing people to believe almost anything, and if she hadn't known better, Katherine would have thought that Leon's apology really was genuine.
"Just stop the act, Leon. We both know that that is really what this is. And besides, I can't go out with you, anyway. I'm seeing someone now." Katherine said firmly.
Leon's friendly demeanor evaporated on the spot. His eyes narrowed coldly as he sneered at Katherine.
"I see that you're just as high and mighty as ever! I was only hoping that we could have a friendly chat for old times' sake. Don't flatter yourself by thinking that I hoped for anything more. And I already know about your boyfriend. After all, word travels fast around here. I always knew that you were stupid, but to pick a guy who's probably slept around even more than I have! It's pretty obvious that you have learned nothing, Katherine. Still believing in your ridiculous pipe dreams of true love and a happily ever after. Sorry, but you are headed for an even bigger fall now! I swear, you never cease to amuse me!" Leon said with cruel delight. This was the real Leon Varriker. No one and nothing truly meant anything to him, and life was just one big road trip for him. Katherine had learned that the hard way.
"You're wrong, Leon. Because unlike you, JR really does love me." Katherine said.
"In the end, love is nothing but an illusion. A temporary comfort for naïve fools like yourself. If anything, your parents' deaths should have taught you that. Nothing lasts forever." Leon said coldly.
Katherine found herself unable to speak. Leon's words served as a cruel reminder to her about just how fast her life had fallen apart back then.
JR took that moment to finally return from his trip to the vending machines.
"Sorry I took so long! I couldn't get the-" JR started to say before he noticed Leon.
"Who is this?" JR asked Katherine carefully. He seemed to sense that something was very wrong here.
"Oh, um, this is Leon, JR. We dated for a while back in college." Katherine said in a voice that almost sounded mechanical.
Leon immediately turned on his faux-friendly charm; a bright smile plastered onto his face. "You must be JR Ewing! Katherine was just telling me about you! But I've already heard about you, of course! Dallas always has been a favorite stop of mine, and I know that your work in the oil business is revolutionary! Anyway, it's nice to meet you! Katherine and I go back a bit, but I don't want anything to feel awkward between all of us. You know, being the "ex" and all that! I'm just happy that she finally found someone she can settle down with, because god knows I was too much of a wanderer for her! But trust me, you're a very lucky man, JR. I hope that we can be good friends as well." Leon said with a smile. He extended his hand out to JR.
Instead of shaking Leon's hand, JR glanced at Katherine; taking in her blank expression. He then fixed a glare on Leon.
"It's you, isn't it? You're the bastard who hurt her. You made Katherine terrified to trust almost anyone! Why the hell are you tormenting her like this again!?" JR demanded fiercely.
"My, how rude. I was just saying hello to her. Isn't that right, Katherine?" Leon asked. Katherine did not respond. She felt completely numb.
JR roughly grabbed the collar of Leon's shirt so that his face was only inches away from his. "I am going to make you pay for everything you did to Katherine, you little smart ass!" JR threatened furiously.
Just as JR started to aim his fist towards Leon's face, Leon opened his mouth to shout. "HEY! THIS MAN IS TRYING TO ASSAULT ME!" He yelled loudly.
As everyone around them turned towards JR in alarm, he reluctantly released Leon from his grip.
Leon laughed hysterically. "Well, that was fun! Nice try, JR! But you might want to try that in a place that's just a tad more secluded than this!" He said gleefully.
"Believe me, I will! When I'm through with you, you'll wish that you had never even met Katherine! I will destroy you, Leon. That is a promise!" JR threatened.
Leon shrugged with boredom. "I thought that we could all have a conversation like civilized adults, but clearly, I was wrong. I know when I've worn out my welcome, though. So I guess I'll be going now. It was nice seeing you again, Katherine. And I enjoyed meeting you as well, JR." Leon said.
"Go. And stay the hell away from my girlfriend, or I just might change my mind about breaking your jaw right here!" JR said furiously.
"Okay, okay! Going. But knowing Katherine, I'm guessing that you guys are still in the early stage. So just as a heads up, you should know that she's a huge disappointment in bed!" Leon said conspiratorially to JR; his voice laced with fake sympathy.
"GET OUT!" JR shouted at Leon, causing more than a few people to stare at them again.
After one last smirk at Katherine, Leon walked away; his hand lifted up in a goodbye wave.
When Leon was finally out of sight, JR turned worriedly towards Katherine. She just stood there in a shocked daze as tears silently streamed down her face.
"Katherine?" JR asked softly.
To be continued…
Author's note: My first OC, and he's a total bastard. And once again, it looks like update day just keeps moving around. Thanks for reading!