I sat on our living room couch. Liz was in bed… I glanced at the time. One twenty. Buck would be asleep by now. After Eugene and I's argument, my regret had only gotten more severe with time. I didn't want to feel anymore. Eugene had gone to Whit's End, pulling the excuse that he needed to work. But that was over an hour ago now… how did the time go by so fast? The front doorbell rang, breaking me out of my emotionless daze. I forced myself out of my chair, putting on a happy face. Be nice. Be nice.
I opened the door.
"Connie." I quickly released my happy expression. Connie's face told me something was wrong. Something was very wrong.
"Can I come in?" Her voice shook.
"Of course." My heart was pounding. Did someone die? Whit? Is Whit gone? Is it Jack? Eugene! Is Eugene alright?!
"Connie/what's wrong?"
"Maybe you should sit down." I did as she said, practically shaking with fear.
"I'm- sorry to be the one who has to tell you this…" her voice sort of trailed off.
"Tell me what? Connie what is it?!"
"I saw Eugene- "
"Wh- "
"Eugene and Renee. Katrina, they were, intimate. Putting it mildly." I couldn't talk. What was she saying? Eugene was angry, yes, but he wouldn't-
"What exactly do you mean, Connie?" A tear fell from her eye. She struggled to speak for a moment, then,
"I saw Eugene and Renee… shirtless- "
"Who."
"Both of them. Kissing passionately on a bed."
"Where?"
"Whit's End. The guest bedroom upstairs."
"Why would you say something like that? Connie, that's not funny."
"I know. I'm so sorry Katrina."
"No. No you're lying Connie! You're lying!" Hot tears streamed down my face.
"I'm sorry." Connie pulled me into a hug. I had been needing a hug all day- and now. It was all falling apart. Everything. I cried into Connie's arms for an empty amount of time. Wanting nothing more than to wake up from the nightmare I had just been sucked into.
A few hours later, Connie was stroking my hair, as I rested my head on the pillow in her lap. We didn't say anything. I think we were waiting for him to come home. But it was four in the morning. Nothing. I thought he might've completely left town. Ran away with a college student, ten years younger than me, ten years prettier than me, ten years ahead of me.
I woke up the next morning to Buck tapping on my door.
"Miss Katrina?"
"Hm?"
"Please come to the door." I hazily got out of bed and slipped on my robe. The one next to Eugene's. It took all the energy in the world not to start crying. I took a deep breath, then opened my door.
"What's going on?" Buck was scared. I was scared. I felt stuck. What do I do? Do I destroy Buck's image of Eugene, or do I not say, causing at least a week of confusion and worry.
"Well. You and Liz are gonna stay with Connie and Jules."
"Why?"
"Eugene and I are going to have to work through some things."
"Miss Katrina, I'm not a kid. What happened?"
"Eugene cheated on me." His expression was at first one of shock- then anger-
"W- What? He- but that's- did I miss something? You were fine. You have a great relationship- "
"We weren't… And we haven't for a while."
"But- but Eugene wouldn't do that! He loves you!"
"You're- not making this easy."
"Sorry." He took a deep breath. "What can I do?"
"I don't know. Take care of Elizabeth."
"Of course."
"And- don't give Connie too much trouble. She- she's got a lot on her mind too."
"Okay."
"Hey, I love you."
"Love you too. Just- what if you don't work things out?"
"I don't know. But Connie's waiting."
"Yeah. Okay. I'll call you though."
"Okay."