Sarah
Two hours later, I was out two hundred dollars. In theory. In reality, Kate had only spend 87.92, but the charge with the rest of the auctions would come down to just over two hundred dollars. Assuming the bids didn't go past what they were.
A big assumption, but then again, Kate showed a lot of restraint. She didn't go for fancy names or anything, just clothes that were her size. Mostly jeans and t-shirts/tank tops. A couple of bras and underwear. One set of PJs. On Abby's insistence, a light sweatshirt.
It never got cold enough to need anything heavier than that in San Diego.
Kate's choices generic to the extreme.
I always believed you could tell a lot about someone by their clothing. Take me. Long super full ankle length skirts covered with flowers, and shirts from Old Navy. Sandals or old sneakers. Clearly, I was a girly girl but hadn't inherited the love of shoes my half of the species was known for.
Kate was obviously trying to look inconspicuous. Part of a crowd. Even though she had to know that she wouldn't be going out in public right away.
Or maybe she just didn't want to spend too much of my hard earned money.
Sawyer had taken an instant liking to Kate. Right now, he was curled up in her lap, purring away as though he didn't have a care in the world.
Well, of course he didn't. He's a cat.
Anyway, while Sawyer napped, Kate shopped, and Abby munched on some carrots and a peanut butter sandwich, I just sat on one of my chairs feeling awkward. Sure, this was my apartment, but it was now being inhabited by a cousin I hadn't seen for years and a supposed criminal. I adored the Kate I saw on TV—I often said that the writers could kill everyone else on the island but if they had Kate and Sawyer get together for good by the end of the show, I'd consider that a happy ending.
It was a little different being with Kate in real life. This wasn't Evangeline Lilly—who I had never met. This was a person who was a fugitive and had escaped the country and possibly killed her own father. Yeah, her father was a creep who had abused her and her mother and probably deserved it, but still.
Actually, she hadn't. This was the alt timeline. So someone…probably Juliet or one of the other characters I disliked…had done the killing. Had framed Kate. So, Kate was still on the run, but she may not have been on the run for several years. I wondered how the police found out. Maybe whoever committed the crime alerted the police.
What if it had been Kate's mom? Now there was a twist.
As nervous as I felt around my favorite character from Lost, I knew Kate was safe. She wasn't a murderer. She was harmless. Humans reacted toward danger with fight or flight. Kate used flight. So, she was as scared of us as we (well, I) were of her.
Except my fear came from celebrity hero worship and not from the fear that I was sheltering a murderer. Because of course celebrity hero worship fear cancels out real fear.
Even though she was innocent.
Now, especially, Kate looked harmless. More than that, she looked kind of scared. As though me and Abby were working for the cops and had a gun ready to use on her if she refused to cooperate. I tried to smile at her, but I think I just ended up scaring her. I tend to do that when I give what I call "awkward smiles". Basically, when I try to do the socially acceptable thing but don't feel it and think I'm just acting and everyone can tell I'm acting.
Yeah, I kind of have self esteem issues. Sort of. I guess this wasn't the best situation to test my normalcy.
Kate gave an awkward smile back, which almost caused me to start laughing.
"Well," I said, for lack of anything better to say. "Abby, did you unpack most of your stuff?"
"Some of it," Abby replied, brushing some hair out of her face. "I don't know where you want me to put everything."
"You start classes a week from Monday, right?"
Abby sighed. "Classes start a week from Monday but I have this stupid orientation thing all of next weekend. It's a requirement. It's so stupid because it's not like I'm even living on campus…"
"Yeah, but you might, so it can't hurt to get to know some of the people you'll have classes with."
Abby rolled her eyes but refrained from commenting. At least audibly. Her stomach began to growl.
I glanced at the clock. It was almost 6:30 at night.
Abby
This whole orientation thing for college was going to suck. Badly. I didn't even have to go to it for another few days, yet I'm already dreading it.
It's like I'm back home, and it's the night before I wake up and go give another school speech. I sit there, try to go over my not-so-greatly memorized paper, and imagine all the embarrassing moments and soon-to-be mess ups. I may talk a lot, but in front of a crowd of people I happen to not like? I talk too fast for even my standards, my words are pronounced incorrectly, and my hands shake.
And orientation…I know I'd be fine back home, where all my left-behind friends were attending colleges where they knew at least one person, and I could stand with them, teasing each other as always. But here in California, I knew like a total of two people. I was going to a new school, in a state where someone was going to know at least three other people in their college.
And like I've thought about tons of times: I could possibly, accidentally give away that we happen to be sheltering someone believed to be guilty of killing.
Though, that's also a slim chance. It's not like I start blabbering away to random people I barely know. To someone I don't know too well, I'm silent, shy, and pretty much hidden in a shell. But when you know me, I'm loud, outgoing, and I let my sarcasm roam free. Kate was basically an exception, as I'd been so hyped up on meeting her, moving to California, all that jazz.
It's funny, because Sarah kind of sees herself in the same way. She's really quiet and reserved until you get to know her. Unless you're even more quiet than she is and then she feels like she has to chat about anything and everything.
Not that I know about this from experience. It's just what she told me.
I sort of fit in right away because I look normal. Sarah…how do I put this? She doesn't. Looks like she came from Little House on the Prairie or Amish country or wherever. It's great because she's easy to spot from a distance and she's happy with being an individual. It's just a little weird.
Whatever. It would only be a problem if the police saw the tapes and realized that one of the people helping the wanted prisoner escape was wearing a long skirt and then saw her and she was wearing pretty much the same thing.
Did guys even notice that stuff? Once, I dyed my hair blue for a week and the only people who said anything were my girl friends. My dad didn't even say anything.
Well, maybe that was because my mom warned him not to. I was kind of going through a funk then.
Anyway.
I stood up, knocking over a bag of forgotten food of some sort. I laughed. I happen to love food, almost as much as reading, but I had such a high metabolism it never really showed.
My sudden laughter earned me several more looks with the hidden meaning of: you are such an odd child. But I shrugged them off and continued on my way to the kitchen, where I threw the food into a cabinet, still thinking about stupid orientation.
I happen to be thinking a lot lately…I'm not exactly sure that I like it. A thought popped into my mind, and I reached into my back pocket, pulling out my phone.
Ten minutes later, I happily bounced back into the room. Sarah obviously noticed my enthusiasm, and raised an eyebrow.
"Okay, seriously! Can you teach me how to raise one eyebrow?" I threw my hands into the air, previous excitement replaced with something new. I've always wanted to learn to do that, it would go along with my smirks I throw at people on an every day basis.
"Maybe, if you tell me what got you so happy. Cause like ten minutes ago, you were staring out the window, looking completely dejected."
"That was before I texted my friend back home asking about the kid he knows in Cali," I shortened the use of my new state. "Apparently, he knows a guy who's going to my new college, same age as me! Now I won't be alone…okay well I will, cause I don't really actually know him, and my friend back home is gonna talk with him and stuff…" I trailed off, looking back at Sarah.
"Hey, where'd Kate go?"
Sarah laughed at my lack of observation. "She went to bed probably…twenty minutes ago? I don't know, but you were in the same room when she said she was tired."
"Oh…well, I was thinking. Be happy at that." I smirked. "Though I don't blame her for goin' to bed so early…must have had some crazy day, bein' in her position."
Sarah nodded her head in agreement. "I'd assume you're not tired…?"
I shook my head. "Nope, not in the least. Partly cause stupid orientation has got my mind running in circles, and partly because it's hard for me to be tired in general, as I said earlier. I think."
She nodded again. "You did. But you'll be fine. You said that one friend of yours knows someone…so you have a mutual friend now. I'm sure sometime soon you'll get a call from one of the two, and you'll talk about…something, and then later you'll know at least one person."
I shrugged. "You said it. That means when it doesn't happen, I can come blame you."
Sarah laughed at my serious tone but smiling face. "I'm sure you will."
"Oh, I will Sarah. Don't doubt me on that one." I was still smiling. On the outside, anyway. I'm one of those people who dread the first day of school, because they hate sitting in a class where they know absolutely no one. I always feel so awkward, seeing everyone else in their own little groups and then I'm sitting there, hoping that in the last few minutes before the bell rings, someone I actually know and like will walk through the door.
I remember for my first year of high school, both semesters of Algebra One, I didn't have someone I felt comfortable with. By the end, each semester in Algebra had given me one more friend, but since it isn't my best subject, going through that class was kinda hard without someone I felt comfortable with to ask for help.
My thoughts drifted towards Kate. I wondered yet again how she was taking all this in. It must've been hard, her life. The man she hates abuses her, and she later finds out he's her biological father, while the person she believed to be her real dad actually wasn't. Though by my standards, your parents aren't defined by blood, they're someone who takes care of you. Like if you're adopted? Your adoptive parents are your real ones, and your bio parents are just that - bio parents.
I pushed my bangs out of my face, and looked at the couch. Sawyer was still there, which kinda surprised me. He seemed like the type of cat that would prefer to stay out of sight. Then again, I've only ever had dogs as pets, never cats. Today is actually the first day in my entire life that I haven't had a dog.
Now that's gonna be a problem.
But seeing as we have all this stuff going down…I'll be dog-less for awhile. But as soon as things cool down, and I got college under control…you can be that I will be annoying Sarah for a long time.
Sarah stood up. Glanced at the clock.
"I know it's early, but I'm going to head to bed too. Stay up as late as you want, but don't make too much noise."
I nodded. "Hey, can we get a dog?"
"No way. I had to work hard to convince my landlord that Sawyer wouldn't be a problem."
"Speaking of which, where is he?"
Sarah shrugged. "Exploring, sleeping. Chasing a piece of string. Cats aren't like dogs, Abby. They don't come when you call them."
I grinned. "Wouldn't it be funny if he was sleeping with Kate?"
Sarah snickered. "It sure would convince the Jaters that Skate is fate. Even the cat Sawyer can't stand to be away from Kate."
"Well, they were bonding pretty well earlier. But that's Sawyer for you. Well," Sarah paused. "I guess that's the ragamuffin breed, really. Sawyer's a sourpuss considering they're supposed to be so friendly."
"Yeah, but isn't that what makes him so cute? It totally fits with his character."
"You know, I'd remind you that Sawyer was fictional, but now that we know Kate is real, it's only logical that Sawyer's real too. I just hope his being a cop doesn't interfere with our keeping Kate safe."
"No way. He may be a cop but he's still Sawyer. He's cool."
"Think we should try to track him down next?" Sarah mused. "Once we get Kate settled in."
I nodded. "He'll probably clear her of everything. Then the two can get married and have a billion babies." I squealed. "They'll be sooo cute."
"Let's make sure they meet first. Also, that she doesn't go to jail because of him. Or us."
Kate
She stared around the room, feeling awkward and uncomfortable with the whole situation. Physically and emotionally. The nightgown Sarah had lent Kate felt short and too tight to be comfortable. She was taller than her, and apparently heavier. Or at least had a different frame. She took off the robe and debated taking off the nightgown, but decided against it. What if she had to get up in the middle of the night? What if the cops came while sje was sleeping?
Kate would just have to be uncomfortable for a couple days. Until the clothes arrived.
The two girls were weird. How they knew about her notwithstanding, who would grab an escaped wanted criminal and say they were rescuing her? Did those girls have no sense at all? Hadn't their parents taught them not to trust strangers?
Well, whatever they were thinking, it worked. For the moment, Kate was free from the feds.
The cat crawled into the room and jumped on the bed. What was his name again? Sawyer?
"Hey, kitty," she cooed, taking a seat on the bed.
He rolled over on his stomach and began to purr. She rolled my eyes, pulled back the sheets, and watched as he settled himself on one of the pillows.
"Hope you're comfortable."
The tone was sarcastic, but Kate was smiling.
Falling asleep wasn't hard. She had been tired most of the day. Running from the cops could be draining. Plus, spending fourteen hours on a plane—and being oggled by the marshal—was hardly relaxing. Really, Kate probably hadn't slept through the night in a few days.
Also, the bed was extremely comfortable. The sheets were soft, and the blankets were warm. The quilt someone—probably Sarah—had placed on top smelled nice. If she had been in the mood to appreciate the room, she would have admired the way Sarah had set things up. The room wasn't exactly big, but it was pretty. Almost spacious, the way everything was arranged. There were two windows that may have provided a nice view, but the shades were down and they would stay like that.
Kate wasn't that stupid.
She slept pretty well. At one point, she was awakened by a piece of fur crawling around my chest, but as soon as the creature purred Kate realized it was just the cat. When she woke up, he was cuddled around her shoulders, partially draped around her neck and her chest. When Kate tried to shoo him away, he just gave her this sorrowful look.
She rolled her eyes. "Fine. Stay."
He quickly got over it, though, and as soon as Kate was out of the bed, he was stretched out where she had been sleeping.
Kind of reminded her like Tom.
Don't think about him, she ordered myself.
Grabbed the robe and left the room. Not sure where she was going, but feeling hungry and hoping there would be food somewhere.
Got a glance at the clock before leaving the room. It was after ten. She had been asleep for over fifteen hours. Well, she must have needed it. Kate felt much more awake than she had the previous day. Also had some questions to ask her kidnappers.
Then again, maybe she didn't want the answers.
One of the doors was closed, so she figured Sarah or Abby was still sleeping. The door to the bathroom was open, so she went in and locked the door. A new toothbrush was lying on the sink, still in its wrapping. With a new container of toothpaste. A hairbrush, also in its wrapping, was next to the brush. Two bars of soap in a box, obviously Kate was supposed to use one for her face and the other for her body. Deodorant. Last of all, two bottles—one containing shampoo and one containing conditioner. Both wrapped. There was a note pointing to these with an arrow and the word "Kate". She smiled reluctantly. That was nice of them.
Maybe it wouldn't be too bad here. The girls seemed nice enough. The cat was clearly in love with her. No idea why, since she had never owned a cat in my life. Just a bunny when she was nine. For two weeks. Wayne probably killed it. He'd had rabbit for dinner a little after the bunny had gone missing. But he often ate rabbit.
She brushed her teeth vigorously for a few minutes and ran the brush through her hair. It didn't look too bad. It wasn't like Kate was going anywhere.
After she left the room, she called out tentatively. "Um, hello?"
No answer. As Kate walked around, she came across the washer and dryer. Her clothes from the previous day were neatly folded on top of the dryer. Relief flooded her. Grabbed the clothes, headed back into the bathroom, and changed.
Much better.
Headed back to the kitchen. There was a bowl of fruit cup on the table, a couple boxes of breakfast cereal, and a note.
Good morning, Kate!
Hope you slept well. I left some things out for you in the bathroom. Let me know if you use a different kind.
Here's all of the cereal I have at home. There's also oatmeal on the shelf above the refrigerator. Milk's in the fridge. We have skim and 2%. There's also orange juice in the back Other food is in the cabinets, but I have to go shopping soon. Let me know if you want anything. The list is on the refrigerator.
I'll be home from work around six-thirty. If you need anything, let Abby know.
Have a great day!
Sarah
P.S. If you have a sweet tooth, there's popsicles and ice cream in the freezer. Help yourself!
Well, the girl was certainly organized. And generous. When Kate had worked for the guy in Australia, he just gave her half of whatever he made. When she told him she didn't eat meat, he stopped giving it to her. Still. Wasn't like he gave her a lot of other options. Considered that she might have a massive sweet tooth. Somehow, that always made her feel like stranger, the hired help. Not at first, but after she had refused to open up, he just figured it was a business relationship. Worked well enough, but this was something new.
But maybe that was her own fault for refusing to open up.
Kate hummed a little as she poured herself a bowl of cereal and filled half a glass with some milk. Checked the other room, but the door was still closed. Abby must be sleeping.
She spent a lot of the morning looking around the apartment. Two bedrooms, obviously. The kitchen was tiny, so Sarah probably ate in the dining room or the family room. The room Sarah must now share with Abby was open, but Abby was inside, snoring loudly. It was a girly room without being over the top. Cute posters of small animals, a few scenic pictures and posters. Some DVDs, a small TV. A lofted bed, which must be where Sarah slept. Underneath that bed was Abby's bed. It was a tight fit. Her head was inches from the desk. She's bang her head if she sat up too quickly.
The closet was open and the clothes were total opposites. On one side hung some jeans and a few medium length dresses…on the other side were long, super full skirts in practically every color. Not that the skirts were solid colors. Mostly, they had various shades and types of flowers on them. Kate remembered that Sarah had worn something like that the previous day. Hadn't Abby made some comment about it? Well, they were pretty, but Kate was glad to use the excuse of height to avoid wearing one. She'd trip over every set of stairs she encountered and then worry about the skirt tangling around her legs. Not to mention what she'd have to put up with whenever she went to the bathroom.
Not worth it. At least, not for Kate.
She wondered if the other people at Kate's job dressed like that. California was pretty diverse, she'd heard. It would be kind of funny if everyone at Kate's job dressed like a hippie version of Little House on the Prairie.
Kate got a flash just then. An island. A very attractive guy. Him yelling about something and her yelling back.
She shook her head. "I'm just tired," she muttered to herself. "Gotta eat something and then figure out what to do."
Kate left Sarah's room and headed for the kitchen. As she ate, Sawyer sat on the table, staring at her intently. Did cats eat cornflakes? When she tried to feed him one, he wouldn't even look at it. Figured.
Kate heard Abby's footsteps as she was cleaning her dish in the sink. Her hair was done in two messy braids and she was still wearing her pajamas. She yawned loudly and then brightened once she saw Kate.
Or maybe it was when she saw Sawyer.
"Hello you silly willy kitty!" she cooed, picking him up from the table. "And where were you last night?"
"He spent part of the night in my bed," Kate replied as Sawyer meowed in protest.
Abby giggled. "He can be friendly when he wants to be. Can't you, Sawyer Wawyer?"
"Meow," the cat practically growled. Jumped out of her arms and left the kitchen.
Abby just rolled her eyes. "He's a real brat sometimes. Likes Sarah, but has real issues with most people. Good thing he's cute."
She opened the refrigerator and took out a container of skim milk. Grabbed the cheerios from the second shelf. Found a bowl without looking and began to pour the food into it. Grabbed a spoon, also without looking, and began to eat.
"Sarah has the best food," she announced, sitting down at the small table. "If you want something and it's not here, just let her know. She'll pick it up for you right away. Unless it's like 2AM. Did you eat?"
Kate nodded. "Just finished."
Abby spotted the stray cornflake on the table. "You try to feed him?" Without waiting for an answer, she plowed on. "Don't bother. He'll meow and look sad but he only eats cat food. He won't touch anything else." She paused. "Well, except chicken, but Sarah doesn't make that very often. Even then, he'll act like he's doing you a favor by looking at it."
Abby gobbled up the rest of the cheerios. "Did you check the auctions? See anything good?"
"Not yet. Didn't Sarah take her computer with her?"
"Naw, she always leaves it at home. Doesn't want to risk it being broken or stolen. But she told me earlier to help you use it if you needed it. Woke me up to tell me, actually." Abby grinned.
She disappeared into the hallway and returned a few minutes later with the laptop. Pressed a few keys and Kate was online, staring at her auctions.
"Cool, you won a few things. You know how to pay online?"
Kate didn't. Or, to be more accurate, she didn't know Sarah's password to finish the transaction. Abby did, though.
"Mmmkay, in a few days the pants and shirt should be here. Not sure about the other shirt, though." She pointed. "That one ships from New York."
A half hour later, Kate had a reasonable sized wardrobe paid for. Good. She was itching to get out of the nightgown.
"Sarah washed your clothes from yesterday. They're on top of the dryer." Abby nodded towards the hallway. "Even though you're not going anywhere, she figured you didn't want to stay in her nightgown all day."
Considerate. Kate nodded. "I'll just change."
She wouldn't shower again, but she would brush her teeth and fix her hair. It was still loose from the night and must look pretty rumpled.
"I'll be here," Abby grinned.
Kate wondered how long she could take this without the claustrophobia getting to her. There was a reason she never stayed in one place for long. Not to mention, her safety in the apartment came at a risk for Abby and Sarah. Maybe she should just leave. Keep them separated from the drama.
Because that's what it was. Kate hadn't killed anyone. The whole situation felt so unreal, it made more sense in a daytime soap opera than as part of her life. Her life hadn't been ideal, of course, but these things didn't happen to most people who went through rough childhoods.
