Cast & Fall (18 page)

I
took out my phone and texted Brody to thank him. I was actually
planning on going to his place instead, before heading out to see
Josh. But now, Tristan had saved me the trip. I was still holding on
to the sketch, when someone came in.

“
Did
you like the sketch?” Tristan whispered behind me as I grabbed
my bag and slowly headed for the door—his voice hesitant—his
tone deep. I twisted myself to face him. He walked next to me
cautiously. He wasn’t as close as he was that day at the
botanical garden. I curved my lip a little—awkwardly. My heart
skipped a beat. I flushed crimson. “It’s very
lovely...but…Is it supposed to be…
me
?
My throat suddenly felt dry. I almost had to yank the words out.

“
Well,
you were definitely an inspiration, but I don’t think I could
quite draw you.” The depth in his eyes seemed to deepen. I
found myself staring in them, finding myself lost in his mesmerizing
glare. His eyes seemed a tinge different than even the last time, but
I couldn’t be sure. Everything about him was always so
beautiful that
a
subtle change in anything couldn’t erase that.

“
Definitely,
this is not helping both our causes,” he added.

“
Causes?”
I immediately caught his odd choice of words.

“
Well,
I meant to say, my notes might not be sufficient. I’m not very
good at being thorough.”

“
Well,
I disagree. It‘s very thorough…besides, you saved me a
trip…so thanks,” I said politely.

“
I
don’t know if I’m actually doing you any favors here,”
a sudden hesitation was in his voice.
You
lost me again. I really can’t keep up.

“
I’m
not sure what you mean. I don’t think you should sell yourself
short. the study notes are a definite help. Look at your amazing
handwriting.”

He
smiled, curling his lips. This was the most pleasant he’d been
since our initial meeting. We were both walking out this time when I
realized his shift had ended and he was also on his way to his car.

“
Are
you going home now?” he asked casually.

“
No,
I’m visiting my friend, Josh a little later. But I do need to
study. I‘m going to Andrews.”

“
Do
you mind if I tag along? I’m on my way there. Maybe we could
grab something to eat at the cafeteria before you hit the books?”
Oh…that’s
a real surprise…tag along?….with me?
…
I was suddenly
tongue tied. But I think I can manage one word.

“
Sure,”
I said. Though, I wasn’t sure why I agreed to eating. I
suddenly realized my stomach was already full…full of
butterflies. We walked side by side. I noticed he put a great amount
of imaginary distance between us. He got in his motorcycle and I in
my car.

As
soon as we got to the cafeteria, I ordered a chicken sandwich, then
grabbed an apple and bottled water.

“
I’ll
have the same.” He told a large-chested woman wearing an all
white top and bottom from behind the counter. He also grabbed an
apple and a bottled water. I smiled suspiciously, raising an eyebrow.
I wasn’t really sure if this was some gesture from his part to
mimic my order or he wanted to annoy me. I haven’t completely
forgotten his previous rudeness. Though looking at his face, I didn’t
sense that he was purposely irritating me, I let the whole thing go,
not wanting to be anymore paranoid than I already was.

As
we sat down, his stare made me uncomfortable. It felt like he was
reading my mind—and if he was, he will soon realize the affect
he has on me.

“
So,
Is everything okay now with…your personal problem?” I
questioned. His face was suddenly brilliant.
“
Well,
something is in the works and hopefully things will work out.”

“
Good,
I hope so, too.”

T
he
following day, the hours passed quickly. I still had half an hour
before I started my shift at work, I just wanted to leave a little
early. I was excited to see Tristan, but I ignored the thought, lying
to myself. I didn’t like the idea that his sudden change of
mood toward me gave me that much of a satisfaction. The mere thought
of him sent uncontainable butterflies in my stomach.

When
I got to work, I headed toward the employee lounge and placed my
purse inside the locker. Sitting down at the left corner table, I
fidgeted my hands as I looked at the big clock waiting for another
fifteen minutes.

The
lounge was much bigger than a typical space for employees. The room
had six round tables. On one side of the room were mini lockers. Five
feet from it were two snack machines that housed sodas, chips and
assorted candies. On the west corner was an extended room toward
another lounge with two chocolate brown leather sofas and coffee
table. Next to it was a pool table and above the wall sat a 60 inch
flat panel television. Both rooms had many potted plants in varying
heights. Lonnie had made this place an extension of her home since
she spent so much time here; once in a while, I’d catch her
watching T.V. or even having friends over.

I
got up and headed to the dining room. The restaurant wasn’t
packed yet as I took orders from a family that was having an early
dinner. On my way to placing them with the chef, Tristan caught me.
But before any of us could say anything, I heard Becca’s voice
from a distance.

“
Hey
Kat, about those tickets, did you get a date yet? Becca was grinning
more than usual as she approached us.

“
No,
not yet…” I blurted a response automatically, feeling
clueless about what she was asking while trying to recall a vaguely
familiar conversation we had in the past. Her face went down in
disappointment.
Turning
her down might be difficult
.
By that time I had remembered her previous invitation about the
concert.

“
I’ll
be busy though, Josh might need me to…”

“
Nonsense,
why don’t you ask Tristan, she chimed, cutting off my excuse.
My eyes widened then narrowed. Embarrassed. I was pissed.

What
the…so much for being able to count on Becca. I can’t
believe she’s doing this to me. She didn’t give me time
to respond before…she focused her attention on him.
“
Tristan,
I got four tickets to see Coldplay would you like to take Katheryna
out?”
Noooo…what
are you thinking? Are you crazy!…Tristan?…me?…on
a date?
The
voice in my head was so loud, It dizzied me
.

I
stared at her in subtle fury but she refused to meet my fiery glare.
The frenzied garble in my head swam around. I was shocked. Red.
Really red.

“
I
would love to, although it might not be good for her…I mean
she might not want to…” The last words sounded more like
a question. He looked at me, assessing my expression as if he was
hoping I‘d turn him down…or maybe that was just my
imagination!
His
eyes were so hard to read all of a sudden.

“
Well,
why don’t you ask her!” Becca commanded. My heart
stopped. My ears—a burning flame. He glanced at me with his
piercing eyes and with his soft spoken, but masculine voice, he asked
so formally—

“
Katheryna,
would you like to go out… with me?” His words broke mid
sentence. His eyes sparkled in what seemed like a layer of hope.

“…
and
me and Jeremy,” Becca continued as if she was going to get away
with any of this. I hyperventilated inconspicuously.
The
thought of going out with Tristan! I couldn‘t…there‘s
no way. I could hardly be in the same room with him without looking
mentally handicapped.

“
Pleeeeaaase
you owe me more than once, remember?” Becca, reminded. Her
shriek went two octaves higher. My eyebrows just went up in protest
again. I couldn’t think.

“
So?…”
She’s staring at me now for a '
yes'
answer, but
obviously completely ignoring
my
previous protest. She knew, I couldn’t hold this against her.

“
O…kay.
Yes.” My voice was light as a feather. My lips quivered
nervously. My ears, hot. My brain was suddenly clogged with chaos.

“
It’s
settled then. Meet at my house at eight,” Becca said
victoriously.

“
Don’t
worry, it‘s four weeks from now, I will get everybody a day off
that night. Lonnie is practically my mother,” she boasted as
she sprinted quickly away from me, before I could probably lash out
at her.

A
fter
paying and grabbing the brown paper bag which is now sitting on my
passenger seat, I drove to the hospital. It had been my regular
routine to visit Josh, and like everyday, I was glad to see his
progress.
“
I
brought you soup and a roast beef sandwich…hope you’re
hungry!” A huge grin, greeted me as soon as I came in his room.
I placed the brown bag on the table next to him and took out a
Styrofoam cup and the wrapped concoction.

He
took it eagerly and gave the sandwich a big bite. I laughed at the
way he chomped at the huge pile of meat. “
Thenk
Yu,”
he
said in a mouthful.

“
You
saved me,
dey
have horribol food heer.
”

“
You’re
welcome,” I said, laughing. I yanked the seat next to him and
pulled it closer. He looked really well and from his tone I could
tell he felt way better. His foot was still in a cast. “How
long are you gonna have this thing?” I grumbled.

“
Actually,
It’s coming off tomorrow…you‘ll have to take me
out dancing,” he said excitedly.

“
Absolutely…
NOT
…
unless
you want the cast to go back…I’m a klutz…or
haven‘t you met my two left feet!” I warned. He laughed.

“
I
think we should stick to less dangerous activities just to be sure,”
I countered.

“
Or
I could just teach you…besides you spoil me too much…I
don’t know how I’m going to recover from all your
pampering once I’m all healed.”

“
Well…we
will have to worry about it soon, then.

Hiding
in the
Wings

H
esitant,
I packed my small, black suitcase for California. Jen had invited
everyone to her parents beach house. I was half-hearted about going.
A big part of me wanted to stay with Josh who obviously was still
recovering—the other reason, the bigger reason was—Tristan.
I didn’t like the idea of not seeing him for a few days. The
thought of Tristan taking me out…
how
did this happen?…
the
thought was making my head spin…
I
would need a few days to wrap my mind around it…maybe even a
week…I could kill Becca!…or I could hug her right
now…I’m not sure.

Everyone
had been so excited, including Lonnie who insisted that I take a
little break. I boarded the plane anxiously. I tried keeping my
thoughts clear from anything unpleasant, but my mind kept returning
to that night. I consciously blocked the memory, unwilling to give my
panic attack a solid foot hold.

Sam,
Sue, Avril, Airi and Michella all had decided not to bring up
anything that had anything to do with the accident, at least while we
were on the plane. I wanted to get away from everything that has
happened, even if for just a little while. Though, a huge part of me
couldn’t connect the logic to the fact that being high in the
sky was the best idea to make me forget my near falling-to-my-death
experience.
Could
this plane really go down?
…
with
all these people in it?
I
quickly shut the dark thought. I couldn’t allow myself to even
think the possibility to that.

I
sat uncomfortably in my seat as I filled my head with all sorts of
happy, pleasant places—the beach, the mall, my room. Yes,
that’s it. I’m in my room. I’m under the soothing
warmth of my blanket and I’m having a beautiful dream.
Why
is there a buzzing sound?
…