Chapter 7

Song: Everything You Want by Vertical Horizon

"Katherine Austen, where did you get such a bea-utiful motorcycle?"

"Libby!" Kate squealed. "You're finally back!"

"Yep, but before I tell you anything about my trip, you better tell me who the tall, handsome, mysterious stranger that's fast approaching is."

Kate turned and saw James walking towards them. "James, she said when he reached them, "This is my best friend, Libby Westfield. Libby, this is James Ford."

Libby grinned and shook James' hand.

"So," James asked, turning to Kate. "How do you like your bike?" It had taken him four days to get it back in running condition and on Saturday they had painted it together, which resulted in Kate having to wash her hair three times to get all the blue paint James had throw on her out of it. She had cleaned and polished the bike just last night and today it was making a debut. Many peoples' eyes widened as they saw the sophomore getting off the dark blue motorcycle and it was obvious Kate had gone up a rung on the high school social ladder.

"It's great," Kate replied sincerely. "I still wish there was something I could do to repay you."

'I know what you can do to repay me,' he thought, but for once, he kept his suggestive comment to himself. Libby was already staring at him with a mischievous look that could rival his. He didn't want to give her anything else to gossip about.

"Anyway," Kate continued, oblivious to the silence of her two friends. "I'm staying at Libby's tonight." She glanced at Libby, who nodded. "So I don't need to keep my bike at your place 'till tomorrow. Okay?"

James nodded "No problem, Sassafras."

"Great," Kate replied. She was used to his nicknames by now, but Libby clearly was not. Her eyes widened and she started to say something, but was cut off by the sound of the warning bell.

"Well, that's my cue. See you after school Kate. Bye Tex." Libby winked as headed inside, leaving behind a bewildered James.

Kate laughed. "She takes some getting used to. Don't worry, she scared me too when I first met her. So come on 'Tex,' let's get to class."

"Girl, you better tell me everything." They were in Libby's bedroom and Libby showed no sign of going anywhere until she found out all she could about this new entry into Kate's life. "When did you meet? How did you get a hot cowboy like that to fix that old bike you showed me? For free?" Libby paused to take a breath and Kate laughed. She then launched into the story of how they had met, and what had happened in the month Libby had been gone. Libby was a very good audience; she oohed and ahhed in all the appropriate places.

"Dang girl," she proclaimed when Kate finished. "I leave you for a few weeks and when I come back, you've got a new 'friend,' who, by the way, could break the hearts of every female in this city, who adores you and is just begging to be asked out. How do you do it?"

Kate blushed. "Not on purpose. I just kind of stumbled into him a few weeks ago."

'Man, I wish I could 'stumble' into guys that looked like they just walked off the cover of a bad boy magazine," Libby sighed wistfully. She suddenly jerked up. "Wait…what does this mean?"

"Huh?" Kate asked puzzled.

"Does this mean you don't like Tom anymore? I mean you have had a crush on him since, like, forever." Libby looked at Kate curiously.

"Yeah, I know. He always seemed like just the perfect guy. But then I met James. He's actually friendly and doesn't spend half his life making out with varsity cheerleaders who just want help with their homework. And even thought I just met him like three weeks ago, I feel like I've known him for so much longer, you know? There's just...something about him that I can identify with."

Libby laughed and rolled her eyes. "I think somebody has a crush," she said in a singsong voice.

Kate blushed again. "Yeah, I guess I do, don't I?"

Libby grinned. "Yeah, you gonna do somethin' about it?"

Kate's smile faded. "I don't think so. I don't…I don't think he deserves to have to deal with the problems I have in my family."

"What! Don't base your decision on that! Base it on your feelings. If he likes you, he'll deal with them whether you want him to or not." Libby stared at her friend in sheer disbelief.

"I don't know. I don't want to get him mixed up in that. He's probably screwed up enough as it is..."

Libby smiled. "Well then that just means you know he can deal."

"I guess you're right. I'm still gonna wait though. Get to know him a little better. That sort of thing." Kate smiled mischievously.

Libby caught the smile. "That's my girl. Lets go eat dinner."