3
The days molded into weeks which molded into months, and before anyone knew it, it was already November.
Matthew looked up from his lunch bag, seeing Katyusha, or Kat as Matthew was permitted to call her, was making her way over. The sun caught in her hair and eyes, she smiled politely, pulling her sweater more tightly around her, despite it being a fortunately warm autumn day. She sat by him, pulling her feet below her.
"So you've finally moved up?" Kat asked.
Matthew nodded, "French I was way too easy, I wasn't benefiting at all. I'm sorry."
"Why are you sorry?"
"For leaving you alone and all."
She touched his shoulder and rubbed it gently. Matthew grinned, feeling himself blush. Their friendship did anything but lessen Matthew's crush on her.
"So you live with your brother?"
"Yeah, why?"
"I was only curious. I mean, I would like to meet him."
Matthew shrugged, looking at the people crossing by. A few boys were tossing around a football and a gaggle of girls were giggling, discussing who was hot and who was not. Kat leaned against the tree and Matthew picked at several blades of grass.
"What's he like?" Kat asked.
"You'll like him more than me. He's tough, big, strong, blonde, tall, the whole package."
"I don't care what he looks like, Mattie, I want to know what's like at home?"
"We live alone, since we don't have parents. He's great. Life's fine."
"Matthew…"
He looked at her, but found he couldn't stay annoyed. His brother was a touchy topic. She leaned over and her lips brushed against his cheek. He blushed more and looked at her, his lips mere centimeters from hers.
The bell tolled and Kat rose to her feet, collecting her bag. "Well I'll see you in seventh period, Mattie, bye." She waved her fingers, a flurry of a good-bye, and rushed away.
The next day, at lunch, Matt was late to come. Heavy bags dragged his eyes down, but he managed to smile.
"Hi," he said, sniffing. His voice was hoarse.
"Are you okay?" She asked.
"Yeah, some allergies is all." He pulled a tissue from his pocket and wiped his nose.
"Okay…"
"So you know about my life at home, what about you?"
"I live with my brother and sister, they're both younger than me, but not by a lot. We live with our parents." She reached for his hand. He took it and squeezed gently. When he held her hand, he felt utterly at ease. He didn't have to worry about his hands sweating too much or squeezing her too hard.
"Do you want to come over tonight?" Kat asked, "We could go on a date?"
"Um, no. No, sorry I can't." Matthew looked away, shamefully. "I have work to do."
"Oh, tomorrow?"
"Work again."
"Oh…"
"I'm booked every day except Sundays."
"So?"
"Yeah, we can meet then," Matthew turned to her.
"Why are you working so much, Matthew?"
"I," he wet his lips, "I want to scrape up some money for something I want to buy. I live only with my brother, right? He has two jobs and even then he hardly has enough money. I couldn't ask him for a loan, so I want to make it on my own."
"Oh! How nice!" Kat said and leaned forward. Matthew didn't understand what she wanted, and sat still. Her eyelashes fluttered, closing. Her lips puckered.
"K-Kat?" Matthew frowned, still not understanding.
"Mmhmm?" She pulled back, looking severely disappointed.
"N-nothing, we should get going." He stood, watching the others who dared stay outside in the days steadily growing colder start to migrate in.
She nodded, dropping his hand and moving in. The grey walls of the school blended with the bleak sky. A cold wind harshly dipped down, causing Kat's skirt to flutter. She gripped it, allowing it to clean to her curves.
"Dude," someone said behind Matthew, pounding his hand with a flat hand. "Why didn't you kiss her?"
"What?"
"She wanted to kiss you!"
"She did?"
The boy scoffed and went in, catcalling Kat. She shot them a disgusted look, capturing a frosty hatred she had unknowingly picked up from her sister. They recoiled. She cast that gaze at Matthew, more hurt than hate.
The next few days went by and Kat hardly spoke to him, until Friday after orchestra class. She waited for the rest of the students to file out. Matthew shifted uneasily.
"So we'll see each other on Sunday?"
"Yeah. And Kat—" He held out his hand, stopping her. She turned, her hand on the door handle.
He rushed over, placing his lips on hers. She blinked in surprise, and before she could kiss back he had already escaped.