New home & New Neighboor

The ride through the city was long. Not because of the distance, just because of the well-known New York City traffic. Kate didn't talk. She just stared out the cab window. She noticed by the corner of her eye that, from time to time, her grandfather would turn on the front seat to take a look at her. Her grandmother didn't do much other than ask if she was hungry. She was actually, but declined the offer to eat anything.

The cab driver pulled over in front of a tall building. Her grandfather offered to take her suitcases up, but she could handle them alone. She thanked him and followed them to the lobby. Then to the elevator. Then to the apartment door. The way there was a blur. Her grandfather led the way through the loft to her new room. It was slightly big, with bright white walls. It had a bed, a nightstand, bookshelves and a wardrobe. "I, hum, I didn't know how you'd like it, so I left it like this. Feel free to decorate it, sweetie. I'll leave you alone for a moment. Make yourself comfortable."

He shut the door behind him as he left, allowing Kate to finally breathe properly and let the tears slide down her cheeks. It took her a while to compose herself after that, but she had to unpack. She carefully stored her clothes in the wardrobe and placed some of the framed pictures on the top shelf. The ones from the happiest moments. 'It will look better once I have all my things here' she thought

She left the new bedroom, not really caring about the furniture or the colour of the paint on the walls, and went the 1st floor, where her grandmother was cooking dinner, while her grandfather watched a baseball match on TV. She sat down on one of the island stools and watched her grandmother cooking. She remembered how her mother would let her choose what they'd eat on Sunday brunch. She'd have the choice between pancakes, omelets, waffles...

"Do you want anything, Katherine?" her grandmother asked harshly, bringing her back from her thoughts. "If not, go sit by Phillip and watch the game. Dinner's not ready, anyway."

"Sorry." she whispered, surprised for the older woman's tone, as she went and sat down by the man.

"Hey, Kitty-Kat, came to watch the game with Papa, huh?"

"I guess so, yeah."

He put his arm over her shoulders and pulled her closer. She was taken aback but surrended and hugged him back. She wasn't the emotional type, but she needed that. She let herself cry as he stroke her hair. She had finally stopped crying and sobbing when her grandmother said dinner was ready.

"I'm sorry I soaked your shirt." she whispered to him. He kissed the top of her head.

"Don't worry, kiddo. I just want you to be okay."

During dinner, her grandmother was up for some talking. According to Phillip, that wasn't normal.

"Katherine, Phillip and I enrolled you in a school, not far away from here. You'll start tomorrow. I...We have bought everything that's necessary for you to have a great year, so we're only expecting some effort from you. I'll place the backpack with the material in your bedroom later tonight. Our neighboor's son goes to the same school, so he'll walk you there."she stopped for a moment, as if trying to remember something. "Oh, yes. And the principal said that you need to stop by her office to get your schedule."

School? What was she talking about? Neighboor? It was too much information for Kate. It'd would take a while to absorb all of that and she knew, so she just nodded and kept eating the lasagna her grandmother had made. When she finished, she went back to her bedroom, put her PJ's on and went straight to bed.

The next day, when Kate woke up, there was no one home. There was a note on her nightstand.'Kitty-Kat, grandma and I had to go to work and didn't want to wake you up. Breakfast is ready downstairs. Have a great first day! Rick will be there to pick you up at 7:30. Love, Papa'

She changed her PJ's to a light blue T-shirt with a 'Don't bug me' message, jeans and all-stars, combed her hair, picked up the backpack her grandmother left in her room as she had said so and went downstairs. Not to eat, though. She wasn't hungry at all. Just to wait. As soon as the kitchen clock reached 7:30, she heard a knock on the door.

When she opened it, she found herself standing in front of a tall blue-eyed young man, who had a huge grin on his face. She couldn't help but smile back. "You must be Rick."

"Yeah. My mother said that I had to pick up someone in this apartment. Is that 'someone' you?"

"Yes, that's me." she answered shyly. 'God, his eyes are beautiful' she thought.

"And do you have a name, Miss 'It's my 1st day at school'?" he sounded a bit rude and regreted saying it, but she didn't seem to care.

"I'm Kate, Kate Beckett. It's nice to meet you."

"My pleasure Kate." he said, as she closed the door behind her 'Why does she have such sad eyes? They're so beautiful,though.' he thought. "Let me tell you about our school..."

I hope you guys like it! I want to know your thoughts! Please, review or send PM's. i'll try to get back at you!

XOXO

Nina K.