Oh Cat. Poor, sweet, innocent, naïve Cat. She was the easiest to put in her role. She's my best friend. I truly do love her – she's like the sister I never really wanted (because even I wasn't cruel enough to wish what happened to me in that house growing up to happen to a younger sibling). And whilst there are some unkind or unflattering things that could be said about her, and even more kind and flattering things could be said, one thing I will always admire her for, will always value her for is her loyalty.
Cat is the most loyal friend a person could ever have. She'd have my back, even if I was in the wrong, and has even managed to rationalise some of my worst moments to make me seem like I was in the right, to herself and to others. And believe me, I try my best to always return the favour. If someone ever upsets Cat? Well, heads will roll and I'll gleefully laugh as they do. If I'll kill for Tori, just imagine what I'd do for Cat.
Getting Cat on board with thinking Ryder was the stalker was easy enough. I claimed I needed knew boots to Cat and invited her with me, knowing she'd post it on the slap – she always did. And I spoke to Ryder that morning, asking him to meet me at Milanos at Slausons Super Mall. And I knew Andre was working in the food court that day. It all lined up perfectly.
When I saw Ryder, standing looking like a male model outside Milano Shoes, I ducked behind a pillar and explained that the previous night, Ryder had forced a kiss on me – well, we kissed, but as far as he knew, it was totally willing on both sides – even showing the hand print bruise Beck had purposefully left for this little show and tell. And within seconds, sweet and loyal Cat was a believer. She has the most adorable glare, have you ever noticed?
And Andre? Well, I couldn't exactly go and meet him or speak to him at all when I was meant to be scared of him, not in front of Cat. So a little text to Andre and he comes rushing to my rescue like the white knight he is. I won't lie, it gave me a thrill to see Andre against Ryder; much like with Tori, I always figured that, if Beck didn't exist, there would have been a chance for me and Andre to be together. It'd be sweet and sugary and he'd probably just give in to most of my demands. Or maybe without the sexual dynamic between me and Beck, I wouldn't be so bratty and act out so often to get a 'punishment'. Who knows, but it's kind of a moot point anyway – Beck does exist.
Still, I knew I was going to have to go to Beck's after this little mall trip was over, later on tonight. Because violence or even just the threat of violence always got my engine revving – even if I wasn't physically involved. Soon enough, Andre had got Ryder removed; which meant I was safe to go over to see the musician with Cat. Cat even managed to slip up and mention the kiss I told her about, as if against my will. What a brilliant girl she is.
Being the mother hen he is, he checked me over and then ushered us to his work, the Froyo shop in the food court. His boss wasn't exactly happy that he'd ran out midshift for 10 minutes. I felt guilty about that; I didn't want him to loose his job! So I did what I do best; I acted. I simpered and gave the manager big watery eyes, going on about how a boy who'd been harassing me lately had followed me to the mall, and it was my fault Andre left so suddenly, but I didn't know what else to do. And, because the manager didn't have a heart of stone, he melted and caved in quickly.
After getting Cat her strawberry froyo (with extra jelly bean toppings, which was apparently Very Important in Cat's mind) we left the mall, with me saying I'd get boots a different day. As I drove Cat home, I could see her eyes flickering to me and her neat little teeth digging into her lower lip. Obviously worried about me. So, in order to help calm her fears and give her a little reward for playing her role so well, I reached over and clasped her hand in mine – what I knew she had been wanting to do since I told her about the kiss with Ryder, but would never do on her own because she knows I don't like to be touched.
We sat for the rest of the trip back to her house in silence, one of my hands on the wheel, my other still holding hers over the parking break. After dropping her off, I drove back towards Beverly Hills. The second I got into my room, I pulled out my walkie talkie – hidden at the back of my underwear drawer – and spoke into it.
I pretty much just demanded to know where he had been, that I was stuck hanging around like a looser for about an hour (the time it took in the FroYo shop) before I left. And he explained that he was there, but 'Beck's Attack Dog' had been there and got him thrown out of the mall. I expressed my apologies, and he ate them up with a fucking spoon, like the idiot he was. I said that Beck was acting super sketchy, because he'd seen us talking at school a few times when he'd come to drop off books or coffee for me on days he didn't have classes, and it was like he was suspicious that I was pulling away from him. I stroked that fucking idiots ego for about 15 minutes, saying that Beck was intimidated by him and his oh so very close friendship with me, how Ryder had known me longer. That must have been why Andre was angry to see him, even alone.
And by the end of it, Ryder had no idea what had really gone down. In fact, he was now even more secure in our little secret tryst. He liked thinking he intimidated Beck enough that he had set Andre into attack mode upon sight.
It was almost too easy.
So these chapters are all going to be shorter than the chapters they reference - it'll be going in the same order as the first story arc - meaning; Cat, Robbie, Sikowitz, Andre, Shawn, Beck, Mr West and then finally the night itself. But because it's more just the reasoning/explanation behind each interaction, it's not quite as wordy or long.
Hope you liked it!