Ricks POV
I was woken up by the sound of my phone ringing. I groaned before looking at who was calling me. Lilly? Oh yeah. I'm riding with Her to go get Kate's car. I swiped my phone to answer the call and put it on speaker.
"Hello?'' I said tiredly.
"Hey. Humphrey and I are almost there… Are you still sleeping?" Lilly asked me.
"Perhaps" I answered.
"Rick, buddy get up, we're gonna be there in like five minutes," Humphrey said.
"Gotcha '' I said before hanging up and getting out of bed. I put on deodorant and went to brush my teeth and take a piss. Once I was done I put on black jeans, a white T-shirt, and my brown jacket again. I love this jacket. I zipped it up only half way as usual before heading downstairs.
As i stepped outside Humphrey was just pulling in. i walked over to the drivers side to meet Humphrey. He rolled down the window to give me our usual handshake.
"Hey man" I said as I looked in the car and saw Lilly in the passenger side and Kate was in the back.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, smiling.
"She wanted to come," Lilly said as I sat in the back next to Kate. She moved her crutches to the middle of the seat to make room for me.
"Thanks," I said.
"No. thank you, your helping me out again. Kate said. I shut the door and Humphrey backed up.
"Where's Angel?" Lilly asked.
"Still sleeping maybe?" I answered.
"We can come pick her up when were done" Humphrey said as he turned on the main road.
As we started riding the speed limit Kate grabbed my hand. I guess this was our thing now.
"I missed you" she said. Before I could respond Lilly looked in the rear view mirror.
"Oh fuck, get a room you two" she said.
"Oh don't be like that, they put up with us all the time" Humphrey defended.
"Yes. thank You Humphrey" Kate said.
"They give you an official date when you can take that off?" I asked, pointing to Kate's cast.
"They said it's possible I can get it off by thursday, that's when i go to get a check up" Kate explained.
"You heal fast," Humphrey complimented.
"Not fast enough," Kate said.
"Think they'll give you make-up work?" Lilly asked.
"I wouldnt think so, she got hit by a fucking car" Humphrey exclaimed.
"Hey yeah, Kate is one tough cookie, as Lilly said, you were hit and you were hit pretty fucking hard, and look at you, healing fast and kicking ass" i said.
"Thanks to you," Kate said as she leaned on me.
"You sure your just friends?" Humphrey asked, looking back in the mirror for a second. Kate and I looked at each other for a moment.
"The best of friends" i said. Im friendzoning myself what the fuck? When i said that i could have sworn i heard Kate whimper quietly as she rested her head on my shoulder.
Kates POV
We arrived at the school. It saddened me because I had to pick my head up off of Rick. he was so comfy. I jsat in silence for the remainder of the ride thinking as the other three talked. Did Rick really mean what he said? Maybe he's just nervous. But if staying friends is what we have to do then so be it. I'm not even sure how I feel about him. I let go of Rick's hand and stepped out.
"Got it?" Rick asked me.
"Yeah. I'm fine" I called. I started using my crutches to walk. Lilly rolled down her window.
"Meet up with you two later?" she asked.
"Yeah" I told her. She nodded before rolling up the window as Humphrey drove off.
"Got your keys?" Rick asked me.
"Yeah let me just-'' I went to reach in my pocket before realizing how difficult it was. My car keys were in my sweatshirt pocket but it was a little high up so it was awkward to grab. I went for it and lost balance. I fell preparing to hit the ground but Rick caught me. Once I realized what happened, time seemed to freeze. He helped me again. He helped me to my feet before asking me if I was okay. "Yeah I'm fine, thank you" I said. "Could you…" I started gesturing to my pocket.
"Sure" he said as he reached in. it felt like he was touching me for a second. In a sexual way, it felt nice. I fantasized for a moment before snapping back to reality. He had the keys and started walking to the car.
As I began making my way to my car I noticed a red stain on the concrete.
"Is that?..." I started to ask. Rick walked next to me.
"Has to be," he told me.
"Hey Rick… when I got hit… you held me didn't you?" I asked. Rick's eyes darted to the ground nervously. "You cried… as you held me," I continued.
"I thought I lost you," he said, still avoiding eye contact. I pulled him into a hug. He held me tightly, rocking me side to side. "Please don't do that to me again," he said. I broke the hug and put his face to mine with both hands on his face. We were practically touching noses.
"I'm still here," I said gently. I looked into each other's eyes for a moment. There was something there I just didn't want to admit it.
I let go and started moving to the car. Rick walked ahead of me to get the door. He opened it and I thanked him as I leaned in. Then I saw my phone just sitting on the driver's seat. I gasped as I grabbed it and stood back up.
"I thought i lost it" i told Rick as i leaned on the side of the car in relief. He leaned next to me.
"There's something i-" we both said at the same time before stopping.
"You first," Rick said.
"When I left the hospital I realized I didn't have your number so…" I held out my phone. Rick gave me a confused look. "What?" I asked.
"Nothing," he said, taking my phone and tapping it. "It's dead," he told me. I groaned as he handed it back to me. He then pulled out a small notepad and wrote his number on it. He ripped out the small page and handed it to me.
"Thanks" I said after reading it. "Now what were you gonna ask me?" I questioned.
"Your number," Rick said before we both started laughing. That's why he looked like that. I leaned closer to him before whispering
"give me that note pad" he did and I scribbled my number down and handed it back to him. He looked at it and laughed. "What now?" I asked with a smile on my face.
"My phones not dead," he said walking back to the driver's side.
"Then why would you- ugh" I said as I sat in the car, a smile still on my face. Rick sat in the car and started it up.
"Home?" he asked me.
"Actually… why don't we do something?" I recommend it.
"Like what?" he questioned.
"Lunch?" I suggested. Rick just smiled as he put the car in reverse and backed up.
Ricks POV
I was driving as Kate asked me where we were going to eat.
"What were you in the mood for?" I asked her.
"Well I'm off the liquid diet so I wanted to start off with something good," she explained.
"Off the liquid diet huh? Good for you" I told her.
"Ohh how about that diner by the mall?" she suggested.
"Nathans?" I asked.
"Yes. nathans, I haven't had them in so long," Kate answered excitedly.
"Nathans" I nodded as I turned on the highway.
"You don't mind do you?" Kate asked me. She probably feels like she's dragging me around.
"No. i want to be here Kate '' i told her, hoping she wouldn't feel like she was making me do something i didn't want to.
"You do?" she asked.
"Wouldn't want anything else" I said. Kate smiled as she turned to look out the windshield. It was silent for about thirty seconds before I asked a question. "What made you change your mind?" I questioned. Kate turned to me again.
"What do you mean?" She looked confused.
"I know you wanted to apologize that day at school, which you didn't need to do, but you stuck around, and even took me up on my offer to go out for lunch, why did you do it?" I have to admit I was afraid of the answer I was going to get. I always just took it as a blessing. Never thought about it because I didn't want to, I was just happy it was happening.
"I…" Kate stuttered. I stopped at a red light and took the opportunity to look over at her, waiting for an answer. "I felt guilty," she said quickly.
"Guilty?" I asked.
"Yes…" she answered with sadness in her eyes. The light turned green and I started driving again. We were close to the restaurant.
"Your… not still here for that reason are you?" I asked, praying to god she didn't say yes.
"Rick, I'm here because I want to be, I like you," Kate said. The way she said it was like she was confident in her answer. Not like when she said she felt guilty. Was she lying when she said that? Either way I feel like she's being truthful with liking me and that's all that matters.
"I like you to Kate" I said as I pulled into the shopping center.
I parked and unbuckled my seat belt. Before I could open the door to get out though Kate spoke.
"We're cool right?" she asked nervously.
"Of course," I said. Now I feel bad for asking about why she was hanging out with me. I hope this doesnt ruin anything we have.
"I just don't want any of this to ruin what we have," Kate said. Well at least we think the same.
"I was hoping for the same thing," I told her.
"Good," she said, opening the door. I did the same and stepped out, walking over to the passenger side to wait for her to step out.
"You okay?" I asked.
"Yeah I got it" she said, as she shut the door awkwardly.
We walked in and requested a booth.
"For two," Kate said eagerly. Was it because she was hungry or picturing something? We sat down and looked at the menus.
"Anything catch your eye?" I asked.
"Cheese steak sounds good," she said.
"I'll probably just do boneless wings," I said.
"Sounds like a plan" Kate told me as she put the menu back to the side.
"So Kate… you're a smart girl…'' I started. She looked at me as she lowered her head to her lower right and smiled.
"What are ya getting at?" she asked.
"You play chess?" I asked. One of the best things about Nathans is that they have different board games that they let you play as you eat, you just have to ask for them.
"I love chess. I just never have anyone to play it with, my dad plays but when does that happen? Mom and Lilly dont know, and every time I offer to teach Lilly she just wants to play checkers, and that's boring" Kate explained.
"No challenge." I said. Kate nodded.
"Exactly"
Our waiter came over. A hyped up guy that seemed nice but who really knows in this business. We our ordered food, drinks, and a chess board. As he went to get it I asked Kate,
"how good are you?" Kate looked up at the ceiling as she thought.
"I like to think I'm decent," she answered. Kate made eye contact with me again. I love her eyes. Brown and breathtaking.
"You really think I'm smart?" she asked.
"I know it, you have all the goods. Beauty, brains, and attitude" I explained. Kate smiled.
"You think I'm pretty?" she asked. My heart stopped. Oh fuck what have i done?
"I…" I started but my phone rang. I checked to see what it was. A text from Angel.
"Who is it?" Kate asked.
"Angel," I said smiling.
"What she say?" Kate giggled.
"Hey. thanks for telling me Lilly and Humphrey were coming to get me, really appreciate the heads up" i read. Kate laughed as I got another text from her. It was just one word. "Dick" snickered at the short text.
"What are you gonna say?" Kate asked.
"I love you to sis" i wrote before showing it to Kate.
"Good job," she said. I hit send and placed my phone to the side. I'll have to thank her for the distraction later.
Just then our waiter came back with our drinks and game. We thanked him before setting up the game. I was black while Kate was white. Even though it was more tan than white. It made sense considering our fur colors. Just dont think about how im more light grey than black.
"You want to go first?" Kate asked me.
"White always goes first" I told her with a smirk.
"I… shut up" she told me. I laughed. Our game was quiet, yet suspenseful. We both took about thirty seconds for each turn. I'll give it to her she is good. I never expected anything less. Kate finally broke the silence when I took her queen with my bishop. "Oh come on" she whined. I snickered at her remark.
After a while our food came out. We put it to the side of the table and took bites as we played. It was easy for me. I just had to use a fork. Kate on the other hand had a sandwich to pick up. She managed well though, and after a few bites just ate the fries. After a bit more time Kate managed to checkmate me after cornering my king with her pieces.
"Checkmate" she said.
"Huh… you really are good" I complemented.
"You're too kind," she said while taking a drink.
"Hey Kate?" I asked.
"What's up?" she responded as she put her drink back down on the table.
"So I kind of wanted a picture of you to have for your contact profile," I said.
"You asking me when I look like this?" she asked.
"Look like what? You look cute," I said. I love when she wears her grey sweatshirt.
"Fine" she granted, striking a pose with the drink in her hand, taking a sip. I took the picture and it looked stunning. "Let me see?" she asked. I showed her and her eyes widened a tiny bit. "Oh my god, delete that" she pleaded.
"Not if my life depended on it" I said as I set as her profile picture on my contacts.
"You're so mean," she laughed. I laughed with her, looking at the picture again. I loved it. "My turn" she said, holding her hand out. I gave her my phone and struck a pose myself. My arms were on the table crossed as I smiled from the side. She snapped the picture and gazed at it before cracking a smile. "I love it," she said. Kate then hugged my phone before giving it back to me. "Make sure you send me that," she told me.
"Don't worry i will" i promised as i put it back in my pocket. I paid for everything as we were given boxes for our leftovers. "Anything else you want to do?" I asked.
"So much, but we should probably meet up with Humphrey and Lilly at my place." She told me, walking alongside me as best as she could. What more did she want to do? Either way she was right.
When we sat in the car I made sure Kate was okay before starting it up and driving off.
"Feel good to have some real food?" I asked.
"Orgasmic" Kate responded as she eyeballed me. Did she really just say that? It was hot.
"Oh yeah?" I joked. Kate just rested back into the seat and looked up to the ceiling with her eyes closed, and gave a satisfied sigh. "You like food that much huh?" I questioned.
"Not really, i cant be eating like this every day, i mostly eat salads and stuff, i don't want to get fat, i exercise from time to time but not much" Kate explained.
"I feel you, i do the same thing,i only ever really exercise when i'm working on something" i said.
"Working on what?" Kate asked. I glanced at her before answering.
"Well if you take a look in the backyard you'll see a shed that wasn't there when we moved in. I built it, then the garage was a wreck when we moved in. i fixed that up" i was explaining when Kate butted in.
"So you're good with your hands then?" she asked.
"I like to think so," I said.
"Good to know," she said. I gave her another glance. She smiled and we both laughed at what she had just said.
When we got to Kate's house I walked up the front steps with her, and unlocked the door. I held it for her as she walked in and then followed behind and shut it.
"I'll leave it unlocked, they should be here soon" I explained.
"It's fine" Kate said as she went over to the living room. She sat down on the couch and patted the spot next to her. I accepted the invitation and sat down. "Thanks for helping me out," Kate told me.
"I told you, I'll always help you if you need me," I said.
"Not just that, thanks for taking me out to lunch… again, i had fun" Kate told me.
"I'm glad" I responded.
"You're so good to me" she said, placing a hand on my leg. Time froze again as we were now silent. We slowly looked into each other's eyes before slowly leaning in. it was going to happen finally wasn't it? Nope. Just before our lips met the front door opened and Lilly, Humphrey, and Angel stepped inside.
"Kate? Rick? We're here!" Lilly called, killing the moment.
"In the living room!" I called. I laid back into the couch and waited for the trio to turn the corner. Just then Kate grabbed my hand again. At least there was that.
