So, I don't know how productive with my fics I'll be this month on account of the fact that it's a busy month because I'm getting ready to move, but I promise I'll try my best to update before July. Thanks for sticking with me and I hope you enjoy the latest installment. :)

Chapter Five

I didn't know what Catherine's deal was, but it was not a pleasant first night with her. The woman enjoyed waking me up every twenty minutes when one of her limbs made hard, hurtful contact with every part of my body. For hours, she tossed and turned and groaned her disapproval of whatever she dreamed about while climbing on top of me when she'd finally shut up about the giant attacking doughnut.

At some point, she gave it a rest and I could get some sleep, but the sun didn't waste any time rising that morning.

I growled at my rude, and extremely bright, awakening and flipped onto my side to hide myself from the day. The day found me anyway, though, when Dave knocked on the door and crept inside the room without permission.

"Hey," he whispered as he approached me. "What do you two think of a lovely brunch at the park?"

"I wouldn't know what the two of us think because one of us is still asleep and the other wants to be asleep."

"Come on. Steve and I haven't seen you in years. We've got to do something before you leave."

I sighed.

"Brunch is fine...but I don't know when we'll be ready."

"Okay. Take you're time."

He crept out of the room as he'd crept in and I shut my eyes, ready to fall back asleep.

"Mm," Catherine moaned as she slowly rolled closer to me.

I knew it'd be a matter of time before she'd wake. I had no choice but to finally face the day ahead.

"What time is it," she groggily asked.

"About a quarter to eleven," I answered, exhaustion in my voice.

"Did you sleep well," she asked as she stretched.

"Yeah," I lied.

"Mm...I had a dream about Lou."

"Oh...that would explain it," I said as I sat up.

"Explain what?"

"I swear I heard you complaining about a giant doughnut attack."

She bit her lip.

"Did I really say that out loud?"

"You said a lot of things out loud."

She frowned and sat up.

"I understand why you would use the word 'attack' for sex, but I don't get why he's a giant doughnut."

"I compared him to a giant doughnut, something you want that's bad for you, your health."

"So you do want him," I stated, though I was thoroughly bewildered.

"I don't want to talk about this," she hurried out of bed.

I sighed.

"If you're getting dressed, Dave and Steve just invited us to brunch," I informed her after a beat.

"Okay," she coolly said before she bent down and pulled an outfit from her suitcase.

And I'm the one that doesn't like to open up, I sarcastically thought.

Within the next half-hour, she and I were showered and ready to go, Dave and Steve had a picnic basket full of food and waited at the door for us. They smiled at us as we closed the distance between us and them.

"You aren't planning our murders, are you," I asked as we stepped down the last stair.

They chuckled.

"No," Dave started.

"We're just happy to see you," Steve finished.

"Not too happy I hope because...that'd be awkward," I commented.

They chuckled.

"God, we've missed you," Dave smiled as he pulled me into a hug.

Steve offered his hand to Catherine while Dave smothered me and I wondered what the hell was going on in their minds.

Catherine took Steve's hand and he escorted her to the car with the basket in his other hand. Dave let go of me and put his hand on the small of my back as reassurance I'd get in the car. I had a feeling they had something up their sleeves and I wasn't going to like it.

In the car, things didn't get better and the guys wanted to start something I'd make sure they'd never want to finish.

"How'd you two sleep," Dave asked.

We looked at each other with wide eyes and contemplative expressions, trying to read the other in search of an answer neither of us had.

There was a spark in Catherine's eyes, an answer I was sure she didn't know she'd given me.

"Fine," I forced a smile as I turned back toward the guys.

Dave looked from us to Steve and smirked along with him.

"What," I asked.

"Nothing," Steve grinned in response as he steadily drove.

"That doesn't look like nothing," I said with a furrowed brow as I looked from Dave to Steve.

They looked at each other again.

"Should we-" Steve softly tried to ask before Dave cut him off.

"No, no...they can figure it out," Dave whispered.

I leaned in so my head was parallel to the center console as the guys watched the road.

"You know we can hear you, right?"

My question startled them, causing them to yell and jump in their seats and they looked back at me as I slid back toward Catherine. She smiled, as did I, as she watched them express their shock while I admired my handiwork.

"Geez, Sara. Don't give us a heart attack," Dave exclaimed, hand on his chest.

"Then don't talk about us," I waved a finger between Catherine and I, "like we don't exist."

"Fine, then we just won't talk about it."

"Great."

My phone buzzed with a text from Catherine and I knitted my brow before I looked at it, unsure of why she'd text me if she was sitting right next to me.

'Are all your friends like this?'

I smiled and formed a response. Her phone buzzed a few seconds later and she immediately read it.

'Yes and no. Usually these two aren't as suspicious, but yes, most of my friends can be a bit much.'

She typed her response and my phone buzzed again in an instant.

'I can't see why you ever left. ;)'

I smiled, but it didn't last too long. I couldn't understand why I left myself. All I got from leaving was a husband I had a hard time being around and a troublesome addiction to alcohol I left in my past six years ago. But maybe that's not why I left. Maybe the real reason was a reward for seeing the hardships through. Maybe the real reason, the reward, sat next to me at that very moment.

I couldn't think that, though. I refused to believe that was the purpose for leaving San Francisco, the consolation prize for giving up my friends.

Catherine chuckled as she stared at her phone. I knew it wasn't something I had said because I never sent her a second reply.

"What's so funny," I asked.

She looked up at me with a smile.

"It's Lindsey. She just sent me a picture message of her and her roommate," she happily showed me the picture.

I smiled.

"Did she just take that?"

"Yeah, they've been hanging out a lot and have gone to plenty of weird seminars and things like that."

"She seems to know where the fun is," I continued to display my sincere smile.

"Yeah...I'm just glad she wants to share it with me."

I don't know how long I stared at her, but I took my time memorizing how joy and happiness fit perfectly across her face, the way it gave her a glow even stronger than sunlight, so radiant and serene. I hadn't seen that glow in a long time and it soon became contagious. I smiled as I saw my friend finally act the way I always hoped she would, blissful and carefree.

Then it hit me. The way I once cared about Elise, I found I now cared that way for Catherine.

When I was with Elise, I waited with her to hear the good news, tried to help her through the bad, walked around with pride after all her achievements. In fact, she was probably the past relationship that mattered the most. I did love Jennifer, but we made better friends because it was as deep as my love went for her.

With Catherine, I didn't know what name to give the feelings I had, but I knew they were strong. There was even a sense of protection I recognized. When she needed to get away from Lou, I was sold and immediately wanted to take her with me to California, but when she confessed she needed a break from herself, I knew I had to take her. I would've never forgiven myself if I hadn't after hearing her say that.

I blinked a few times before I reentered reality. As we approached the parking lot, all conversation stopped and we all basked in the beauty of the healthy grass, lush trees, and sun-kissed visitors with smiles plastered on their faces. The last time I was at the park, I was running, running fast, running to escape the truth about my life and the truth was: I had to make a decision between Elise and Gil. Years ago, I picked Gil, but after everything that happened since then, I worried I hadn't made the right choice.

"All right," Steve excitedly smiled. "Time to eat!"

He and Dave jumped out of the car, but I remained frozen in the backseat, staring out at the park. Catherine stopped herself before she got a chance to open her door and noticed me in the same miserable position.

"It looks like you've seen a ghost."

"I think I'd prefer that to what I can see," I coolly said like a zombie before I got out of the car.

I didn't look back, but I could hear Catherine get out the car after a few moments of assumed hesitation. I didn't understand why I couldn't find happiness or peace of mind.

"Hey," I heard Steve and Dave exclaim in greeting.

I looked up to see a familiar jogger slow down to talk to the guys and wished I didn't exist. I stopped dead in my tracks as Catherine caught up to me.

"Who's that," she asked as she stared at the fit blonde a few feet away.

"Sara," she called with a smile, followed by a friendly wave.

"One of my exes."

"The ex-boss ex?"

"No," I simply stated as I forced a smile and stared straight ahead at the inconvenience.

"Come here," she beckoned with a light laugh.

"Chloe."

"Which one is that," she asked, the confusion evident in her tone of voice.

I walked over to her with my fake smile, hoping she'd go away quickly. I never expected to run into her again, especially after the way she broke up with me.

"What a surprise seeing you here. Steve and Dave tell me you're in town for the week."

"Actually, it's more like the weekend. I've got to get up to Napa for a thing."

"What kind of thing," she asked, still with a smile spread wide across her face.

"Jenn's getting married," Dave blurted with enthusiasm he apparently couldn't contain.

"Really," she asked, a bit in shock though she attempted to keep smiling.

I clenched my jaw and tried my hardest not to snap and kill Dave where he stood. If I wanted Chloe to know my business, I would've told her right away about the wedding instead of calling it a "thing".

"Well, that's great!"

There was a pause as Chloe took the time to look behind me and see Catherine.

"And who's this," she politely smiled, pointing at Catherine.

"Oh...this is Catherine, my-"

"Girlfriend," Catherine finished for me as she stuck out her hand for a proper greeting.

"Oh, how nice," she struggled to keep up merry appearances.

"Yeah," I smiled as I played along with Catherine.

Steve and Dave furrowed their brows and tried to wrap their head around the lie. Probably trying to figure out whether or not they should say something.

Catherine draped her arm over my shoulder and smiled at Chloe.

"How long have you two...been together?"

"Going on six years now," she answered.

I cleared my throat and dug my nails into the first piece of skin I could gt my hands on. She responded by pinching my neck.

"Wow. That's...great."

I could tell it bothered her to see me with Catherine, but I needed it to sting as long as she knew I was happy.

"Are you seeing anyone," I asked.

"Uh, I was, but...it didn't work out."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. But you look awesome. I'm sure you'll find someone else, someone better."

"Right. ...Thanks," she tried to display a sincere smile. "Oh, before I forget. I went to visit Laura last week."

My smile quickly disappeared.

"And?"

"She made me promise to convince you to visit."

Catherine slowly removed her arm from my shoulder and watched our conversation.

"How is she?"

"Lonely. And she said she really wants to make things right with you."

"Why did you visit?"

"Is it a crime for me to see your mother?"

"It is when you're not my girlfriend anymore."

She looked to Steve and Dave for answers, but all they offered where nervous looks that told me they'd all been hiding something from me.

"Okay, what's going on? What don't I know," I asked as anger started to surface.

Chloe looked at me again, fear in her eyes, worry in the rest of her expression.

"I'm not single. I was dating someone and it really didn't work out, but...several months ago I started seeing someone else."

"Okay. ...Why didn't you say that in the first place?"

There were a few moments of hesitation before she opened her mouth again.

"It's your brother, Sara. I'm...dating your brother."

"Oh."

I couldn't say anything but "oh". I was shocked, and slightly outraged, but mostly hurt.

"My ex-girlfriend and my brother," I stated as a way of trying to get use to the idea.

"That's why I went to see Laura. Matt wouldn't and all she's trying to do is reach out to her kids. I was fragile with you whenever she came up in discussion, because every time I tried to push the subject, one of us would always sleep on the couch. ...I'm not going to let that happen this time."

"And...when were you planning on telling me you're screwing my brother?"

"When we announce our engagement?"

My eyes popped out of my head.

"What?"

"We're sorry we didn't tell you," Dave nervously blurted, searching for forgiveness.

"You should see her. I already begged Matt and-"

"Let me guess. He's already gone to see her."

She nodded.

"He saw her a few days ago."

"What?"

"Sara-"

"I don't like liars. I especially don't like the fact that you're marrying my brother."

"Why is that so horrible?"

"I wouldn't be upset if we hadn't slept together . But we did, for a while, and now you're sleeping with him. It's awkward and disgusting."

"We love each other. We can't help it."

"Did you love me?"

"I still do."

"Then how the hell could you love someone with a penis!"

"I never put a label on my feelings. I never even said I was gay. This is exactly why I didn't say things like that because I know I can't help who I fall in love with."

"Whatever. I guess I'll see you at the family reunion," I bitterly said before I headed back to the car.

I didn't look back, but I could hear footsteps rush after me.

"Sara," Catherine called me. "What about brunch?"

"I'm not hungry."

I opened the back door and threw myself into the car. Catherine barreled in after me.

"Fine. Then we can hang out there until the guys are ready to leave."

"Why do you care about me," I asked as I tried to fight my anger, sorrow, and insecurities.

"Because you're my friend. I can only imagine what you're feeling right now, but clearly you need a shoulder to lean on."

I looked at her shoulder.

"It's a nice shoulder."

She smiled as I slid down to comfortably rest my head on it.

"This trip is turning out to be a mistake."

"I don't think so," she replied. "I think that it's giving you the perfect reason to let go."

"Of what?"

"Whatever it is that blinds you to this place like a prisoner. Every time I think you're going to look at something and remember the good times, you always end up seeing something bad. Maybe this city brought you a lot of pain, but I know you've got plenty of friends who love you here, so I know that not everything about this place is something to hate or run from."

I took a deep breath.

"That's some...pretty good advice. Maybe...you should take it."

"Are we talking about Lou and me?"

"Yeah."

She sighed.

"You only use Lou for your sexual desire, but have you ever considered the fact that he's a nice guy that more than likely has other things to offer."

"And what if it isn't enough?"

"Then...maybe it's time to move on and figure out what you want."

"What if what I want is something I know I can't have?"

"How do you know you can't have it?"

"I just do."

"Well, if you're basing that off of inference I say go for it anyway. You never know what could happen. Life has its ways of surprising people."

I didn't know what she was talking about, but I stood by what I said.

Catherine looked like she had something to say, but Steve and Dave came back to the car with the brunch.

"Hey, everything all right," Steve asked as he poked his head in the drivers side door.

"Yeah, I just...you know what...let's have brunch already. I'm starving."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Catherine smile as I opened the back door on my side and prepared myself for a good meal.

...

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