There are no words for how much I missed this. Her. This close to me.
She's currently dozing next to me, arms unbandaged for the first night. She was crying when she drove back yesterday, desperate to clean off the ugly dead skin.
3 pumice stones and two bubble baths later she was happily curled up to me, watching a movie. Then she fell asleep and we did what we've done for the last week. Her curled up to me, a smile on her face.
She's been very hugful, if that's a word, not that I mind. Tori and Andre were over a few days ago and were surprised at how happy Cat is.
I'm just grateful she's smiling. She went through every girl's worst nightmare and has the audacity to be staying with another guy literally 10 days later.
And here I am, running my hand up and down the side of her stomach wishing I could stop time.
I'm not going to pull any punches and admit to the fact I think I like her again. I'm pretty sure since I was jealous of Alex.
I was going to start making a subtle move the night they met.
Cat quickly shifted closer to me and I swear she purred.
Then she started massaging my lower back.
She's awake.
Let's see how long she'll let me go before she calls me out.
I kept running my hands up and down the side of her stomach, and she continued to purr and massage my back.
And on.
And on.
Geez! We're like 5 minutes in since she started!
I wonder why she hasn't said anything.
"Hmm…"
And why is she purring?
"You awake sunshine?" I ask, mouth tasting like morning breath.
"Yes. But you already knew that." She smiled, looking up at me but still working my back.
"Darn, I'm busted." I rolled my eyes, and Cat laid her head in my chest.
"You're soft."
"Thanks." I smiled.
"Why are you rubbing my side?"
"Uhh…" I sputter.
"Tell me. I won't tell anyone." She whispered into my ear, adding a giggle onto it.
"I…it's bad."
"So? It's not like the world's gonna know."
"I missed having you so close to me." I admit, looking away.
She smiled and moved my hand to the small of her back.
"I missed this too…"
"Why'd you move my hand?"
"I want to be closer to you." She replied, pressing her stomach to me and looking up at me.
"Now I feel like I'm invading your personal space."
"I say this is more like it." She countered, scooting up on my chest.
"Cat…?"
She simply laid her head on my shoulder and purred.
"What am I going to do with you?" I jokingly asked.
"Love me, feed me, never leave me."
Is that a joke?
"I think I can handle that." I smiled, and she simply hugged me.
"No nightmares. Thank you."
"I didn't really do anything." I say sheepishly.
"Yeah you did. Whenever I'm with you I relax more, and when I relax I don't have nightmares. So you stop nightmares."
"Well…thanks I guess."
She then gave me another hug then swung her feet off my bed and marched downstairs.
I just laid there, trying to escape Cat's scent and join her downstairs, but there might as well been chains. I simply couldn't get up.
Then after 15 or so minutes she marched back in.
"Get up."
"I'm getting up." I reply.
"No you're not, your lounging."
"Am not." I reply defensively, right before a throw pillow hit me in the face.
"OW! Cat!"
"Get up."
"Why?"
"Breakfast is ready. Now get up or I'm eating yours first."
"But Cat—"
Again, another throw pillow whacked me in the face.
"OW!"
She didn't reply, just smirked and started back downstairs. I hopped up and met her just as she reached the bottom.
"AAH! Put me down!" She yelped as I scooped her into my arms.
I started spinning her around.
"Robbie!"
"What?"
"I'm dizzy!" She laughed. I put her down, only for her to take one step and stumble into my body, head-butting my stomach.
"Ugh."
"I'm sorry, but I warned you."
"You did. Now what are we having? Better be good since you dragged me out of bed." I smirked, causing her to whack my arm.
"I was lazy and just made omelets. If you want toast and stuff let me know."
"You call omelets lazy?" I ask, incredulous.
That's a lot of cutting of ingredients. Seems like a once a week thing.
"Not long to cook, plus I cut the ingredients at the start of the week."
"You did?"
"Yep. I cut way too much so I could throw this together quickly." She smiled, grabbing a glass and opening the fridge.
"You're a genius. And a awesome cook." I smiled at her.
It didn't take long for us to inhale (almost literally) the omelets and for her to shower. We said we'd discuss our plans once we were clean.
"Robbie?" Cat yelled up the stairs the second I had cut off the water to my shower.
"Yeah?"
Hope everything is alright.
"Can you wait up there for a bit?"
"Sure, why?"
"Nothing…can I call you when I'm done?"
"Sure I…guess."
What could she be doing? And possibly more importantly, why?
I meandered for like 5 minutes, making my bad and eventually relapsing into my 'Fiddle with everything' mode.
What on earth is this ab—
"Robbie! You can come down now!"
I dropped what I was doing, fiddling with my sheets and calmly raced down stairs, trying to prevent myself from riding the railing down like I have been recently.
Cat was not immediately in sight, but a wrapped box, complete with bow and two envelopes was sitting on the island next to the staircase.
"Cat?" I called out. If she's planning on doing something wit this, she probably wants to be here.
"Right here." She said softly, sneaking up on me from behind. I jumped and saw she had a cupcake in her hand, candle already lit.
She placed it on the island.
"Make a wish."
I closed my eyes and blew it out, followed by her clapping happily.
"What'd you wish for?" She asked, pulling the candle out of the cupcake and offering it to me.
"It's not gonna come true if I say it aloud." I pouted, taking the cupcake and biting into it.
Red Velvet.
Why am I not surprised?
"Delicious." I smiled, as she gave me a slightly hurt look as she threw the candle away.
"Thanks."
"When'd you make it?"
"Yesterday when you were running errands."
"Sneaky are we?" I teased her.
"Happy birthday." She replied, looking hopeful and extending her arms.
I put my cupcake down and grabbed her around the waist and spun her around.
"Hehehehehe!"
"Thanks Cat."
"No problem, you know what time it is?" She bounced up and down.
"No."
"BIRTHDAY PRESENT TIME!"
Her expression on her face is begging for me to laugh, but I hold it in.
"Cool, who's?"
It's the return of the 'Really Robbie?' face.
"Oh. Mine. My bad." I said in a monotone, provoking her into a well deserved push towards my present.
I grabbed the present and gently removed the bow.
And…
It's a new pearHome.
"Do you like it?" She immediately piped up, hair in her mouth.
"Yeah, how'd you know I needed one?"
"When I stopped by a while back I didn't see your old one and remembered this when I was shopping for you."
"I have to hand it to you, this is a homerun."
"That's basketball right?" She asked quickly.
I laughed, "No, baseball sunshine. A homerun is baseball."
"Oh. Phoo." She sighed, looking sad.
"What's in the envelopes?" I asked. Cat immediately snatched one up.
"Why don't you find out?"
Anticipation over taking me, I rip it open much rougher than the pearHome.
"Cat…no way. This must have cost a fortune." I immediately say. This is too much.
"So?" She asked testily.
She got me two tickets to the hottest musical festival in California, "Best of LA."
These tickets were impossible to come by. Even with a friend at Ticket Artisan I couldn't get one. They sold out in 2 minutes. And she somehow has procured two out of thin freaking air.
"Cat…seriously, how'd you get them?"
"I know one of the performers and he was happy to hook me up."
"I should've known. Why two?"
"I mentioned that it was a birthday present, and he threw in the extra, wanting me to go."
"Well, you're coming for sure. Like it or not." I smiled, pulling her in for a hug.
She seems to be radiating with happiness.
"And the last one…" I say, grabbing it and opening it.
Well…it's another ticket. But it's customized. I don't exactly know what—
One Private concert for Robbie Shapiro. Redeemable at any time.
Performer: Cat Valentine.
She's an angel.
She wants to give me a private concert.
"Cat…this is…"
She looked eagerly at me.
"You're the best." I sputtered out.
"It's my favorite personally." She smiled shyly.
"It's at the top of my list." I smiled back, pulling her in for a hug.
"Sorry I couldn't give this to you on your birthday."
"It's fine Cat. Sorry I gave the other gift away. I shouldn't have done that."
"I understand. I don't like it, but you were angry and I wasn't there when I should have been. But we're here now and I'm going to do my best." She said, eyes suddenly sparkling.
I pulled her into my arms and we just stood there for a moment, simply enjoying each other.
"Thanks again."
"No problem." She squeaked out.
"So where do you want to go?" I asked, giving her one last squeeze before reluctantly letting her go.
"There's a street fair a few miles away. Can we do that?" She asked.
"Sounds awesome. Let's take the scion, it needs some miles." I turned for the basket I have the keys in.
"Ok, can I drive it? I've never drove it before."
Why? It's just a car.
I don't think it really matters.
"Sure. Here, catch." I said tossing her the keys and grabbing my jacket.
She obviously picked a hot spot, we had to park 4 blocks away and within two it was almost solid people.
"Good choice." I smiled at her.
But my smile fell instantaneously.
She cannot be serious.
Cigarette in hand, lighter in the other.
I immediately want to chuck them. The only positive is that with Alex out of the picture and Jade not present I can start to break her out of it my way.
I started by looking everywhere but at her.
"Ooh look! Magician!"
Nope.
She yanked on my sleeve, smoke drifting into my face.
"Robbie! Look!"
I looked in the direction I assumed the magician to be, but I got a faceful of smoke and couldn't hold my irritation in.
"Cat, can you put that out?" I snapped.
Her jaw quickly fell open and she went pale.
"I…sorry." She said, sputtering. "Wasn't thinking."
"Yep."
"You mad at me?" She sounded scared.
"I just wish you wouldn't do that."
She didn't push it, and quickly stomped it out and threw the remnants away. The smell remained, but I tried to think thru it.
The next minute or two was filled of awkward silence, then me picking her up some cotton candy, and suddenly she was back, kind of.
But it was short lived. And it totally wasn't her fault.
Wait…
"Is that…" Cat said, just as I realized it WAS them and covered her mouth, as if us saying their names would end in them suddenly seeing us.
"Yeah, get down!" I hiss, and we both pretend to occupy ourselves at a dart game.
"What are they doing together?" Cat asked me, sounding unsure.
I know why. The streaks in her hair gave her away. We both saw her at the same time.
"We both know they like each other, so—"
"He likes her?" She said, entirely too loudly.
Damn it.
Good going.
"Yeah, didn't you know?" I shrugged, hoping she would tone it down. We're not on a date, but they clearly are. Their hands were entwined, and she had a bounce in her step unlike anything I've seen in awhile.
"No! Otherwise I would have done something or asked you!" Cat whacked my arm, causing the booth monitor to glance at us.
I grabbed her hand and steered her away from the creepy dude.
"Stay down, let's keep a eye on them." I whispered.
"No! That's spying." She stopped in her tracks.
"What? They have done it to us? It's comeuppance!" I said, extending my arms and almost whacking a kid in the face.
"Sorry." I apologized.
Cat was biting her lip. "Fine. For 5 minutes only."
The verdict is in quite early. This is more than a friendly thing. His hands are too low for friends, but too high for a girlfriend.
I think we bumped into them while they're figuring things out.
"Time's up." Cat yanked me back to the car.
"But—"
"No. I'm hungry."
"Already?"
"It's 6 Robbie! Look, the sun's going down!"
One glance at the horizon confirmed her statement.
"Fine. Where do you want to go?"
"Chuy's and a movie."
That actually sounds good.
"What movie?" I asked. I read the Hunger Games trilogy and want to see the first one in theatres, but haven't had time.
"Hunger Games."
HELL YEAH!
"Awesome! I want to see it too!" I smile.
"Team Peeta."
What? No…Gale.
"No. Gale got robbed. Have you read everything?" I asked her, hopping in the car.
"Duh. And he killed Prim! Peeta just loved her and suffered for her! That's all!" Cat retorted, sarcasm lacing the last part.
We feverishly debated Peeta v. Gale for a solid 30 minutes, taking up the whole drive, plus the time after we ordered to when David popped up, carrying in our nachos with a HUGE smile.
"Hey Robbie, Cat. How you kids doing today?"
"Good." Cat smiled, hugging his shoulder.
"Awesome." I replyed.
"looks great, thank you." Cat smiled again, as I hugged him.
"Thank you sweetheart." He replied. "It's on the house ok? Enjoy."
"David, I can take this." I say, hoping he'll listen.
"Nope, it's my birthday present to you." He ruffled my hair. "Plus you guys came back together finally. You've been alone for a while now. Glad to see you both back." He smiled, then turning back to the room.
One of the most painful parts of the break up was telling David. He loved seeing us, and hetook it ok, but clearly was rattled.
Now he seems to be bouncing like Cat.
Per usual, it was delicious. And I still tipped handsomely, knowing in the back of my mind it'll just end up back at my parents in a envelope with my name on it. But I still want to try. Can't count on it forever right?
Luckily, the 9:30 showing was still for sale as we got there, and took our seats.
Then it hit me.
Déjà vu all over again.
Carnival, Chuy's, now a movie.
And you know what's next. Cat sleeps in my bed.
With me.
I…
I think we've relapsed without even knowing it.
It honestly has been effortless. Just hanging out, having a good time and enjoying each others company.
Can it really be this simple?
The last year and a half, disappears in a single night? All the obstacles? The tears?
I cannot hold it back. Cat's playing with her phone. Some unknown app.
I grab her shoulders and kiss her softly. I can't take it.
She froze for just a moment, but then turns to me and has her hand deep in my hair.
Then it's over. Our faces inches apart, our breathes colliding.
I remember something she said last time.
"Each step we take is like a tiny elephant. Big in it's own right, but in the grand plan a footnote."
Tiny elephants or not, I know what I just felt, and I think she felt it too.
The spark flickered again. The heat, the…natural reaction.
I think I've got a shot.