Running Away
Chapter 5
"So, how have you been?" She asked me from her spot on the end of the couch. She had already made herself comfortable, and even had a screwdriver in her hand.
"Alright," I finally replied to the question, "You?"
"Hangin' in there." Even though I hadn't seen her in years, I could tell she was upset about something and was trying to hide it. To notice it, you would have to have known Catherine for as long as I have. She looked up into my eyes when she noticed I was staring at her, and when she saw exactly what I was thinking in my eyes she quickly turned away.
"Just say it, Catherine." I began, urging her to get whatever she needed to off her chest. "Whatever it is, just ask, or say it, or whatever. Just do it."
I took her a moment, and a deep breath before she began. "I'm trying not to hold a grudge."
I was confused. A grudge? A grudge about what? To who?
"Against who, Catherine?"
She took a deep breath, and stood up. "Forget it, Gil. It doesn't matter."
She started to walk into the kitchen when I grabbed her wrist.
" Yes, it does."
She tiredly looked at me. "Really, Gil, can't we just please not do this?"
"Not do what, Cath? What is it you don't want to do?"
She wrenched her arm away from me, (I'd forgot I was still holding it) and walked quickly into the kitchen. I jumped up and went straight into the kitchen. We were going to talk about whatever was bothering her, and we were going to do it now.
"Cath," I began, wlaking up behind her where she was putting her glass in the sink, "What is it?"
She whipped around to face me. We were nose to nose. With Catherine, you have to know how far,how long, and how hard to push her. I think I may have just over estimated how far I could push her.
"You! Alright, it's you,Gil! I'm trying to be nice under the circumstances, but I guess that isn't working, is it!?"
I was shocked. Me? What did I do?
"Oh.....please!" She rolled her eyes. "Don't look at me like you're so confused about what you did!"
"What did I do, Catherine!?" I didn't mean to raise my voice, but she was screaming at me, and I had not the slightest clue what I did. I'll admit it, 75% of the time when she's yelling at me, I was usually a jerk and deserve it. But, this time, I'm lost.
"You left me!" She screamed, and she looks like she's going to cry. Oh no......Please don't cry! I can't handle it if you cry!
I must've still looked confused, which I was, becuase she elaborated.
"You left me in Vegas, and didn't even tell me where you were going! I didn't even get a phone call!" The tears are forming in her eyes now, and I can tell she's trying hard not to let them spill over.
"You told me you knew before I did!" I yell back.
"Yeah, I knew you were going to leave the lab! Not Vegas, not me, not Lindsey! Not your family!" The tears are spilling over her fave now, and she doesn't even bother to wipe them away. She just lets them run down her face until they reach her neck, where they either fall or keep running down into her shirt.
"What did you just say?" It comes out as barely a whisper, and for a moment I wonder if it is really me saying this, and then I come to the realization it has to be me, becuase she just called herself and Lindsey my family.
".......Nothing, nevermind. It really doesn't matter, and all of this arguing isn't good for your heart......"
I want to finish this, so I grab her by the upper arm on both sides and step into her personal space. I know that she probably wants to slap me right about now. For being in her personal space, but I'm actually quite confident she won't.
"Catherine, what did you say?" As I speak, I feel my breath bounce off of her face and back onto mine. So, I know I'm close.
She trys to be confident, and regain control by saying, "Me and Lindsey are your family, Gil. Whether you like it or not." And usually it wouldn't work, but I decide to let it pass this time. She's stuck here, staying with me for a week anyway, until my next appointment.
"I'm glad to here that. I want you and Linds to be my family, and I do like it." I let this sink in before I continue. "Now, what do you say we igrab a couple cups of coffee, hit the couch, and you can ask me all of those questions you're too afraid to ask becuase you think it will wind up in an argument and we'll lose our friendship?" I know I look smug now as she looks at me in shock, and then smirks and playfully slaps me. I also know that by the sadness in her eyes that you can barely see I'm in for a long, heart breaking, night.
