My First - Jason & Katie (21 page)

So, needless to say, from that day on Chelle and Katie were ‘diamond friends.’

Then, Chelle had to move the summer before their senior year because her dad got transferred. They had kept in touch through letters for the first few months, but by the end of senior year Katie had gotten so busy she hadn’t written...and then she left for California.

She almost couldn’t believe her eyes. They hugged long and hard, and as they pulled away Katie felt tears forming in her eyes. Oh, good! More tears! At least she was consistent. Oh, well, at least these were happy tears. She'd had enough of angst.

“Hi, diamond friend,” Chelle said with a big smile on her face and tears brimming in her own eyes, “How ya been?”

“I can't believe I'm seeing you here!” Katie non-answered.

Chelle smiled and said in her signature dry tone, “Really? Because, since I moved back here a year ago, the word on the street is that it's a lot more rare to see you around these parts than me.”

Katie laughed, “Guilty as charged. So, you moved back to Harper's Crossing, huh? How did that happen?”

“Well, that's a funny story. You know David Price? Remember from high school? He's running for City Planner now. Well, anyway, we reconnected on Facebook a few years ago, and started talking. It just turned into something...more...and now we're engaged!” Chelle said happily, showing Katie her ring.

Katie struggled to keep the expression on her face positive...or, if she couldn't manage that, at least neutral. Katie had always thought that David Price was a supreme douchebag. But, hey, maybe he had changed. Right? As long as he made Chelle happy!

As Katie and Chelle caught up, it seemed like no time at all had passed since the two girls had seen each other. Katie learned that Chelle’s older brother Eddie was in the wedding, a last minute replacement. He and Riley Sloan were best friends, and when it became clear that Riley was not going to be able to make it back, Eddie had offered to fill in so that the ratio of bridesmaids to groomsmen would not be skewed. And since he also worked with Bobby and Jason as a project foreman at Sloan Construction, it seemed even more natural.

Katie, in turn told Chelle all about becoming a lawyer and being on the fast track to Jr. Partner.

“That sounds exciting!” Chelle enthused.

Katie nodded in agreement, but her manner was thoughtful. She replied, “Well, I don't know if exciting is really the word I would use. I mean, it's a lot of work, a lot of pressure. But it's very fulfilling.”

“Oh, that's amazing!” Chelle said with a wide smile, “It must be so cool to help all the people that come into your office, all of your clients. I know you always talked about wanting to help people who were in trouble. Just like you did with me! And now you're a lawyer! Now you can!”

Katie nodded, although it was even more half-hearted than before, and said, “Well, yeah...I mean...I've never really met our clients. I mainly work in corporate acquisitions. I mean...it's pretty much making sure paperwork is in order, preparing briefs and things like that.”

Chelle nodded. There was a moment of awkward silence and then they both burst out laughing. They laughed until tears ran down their faces.

“OK, so I'm just gonna shut up then,” Chelle mocked herself when their fit of giggles was over, “I'm putting my foot back into my Jimmy Choos before I can stick it in my mouth again.”

“No, no,” Katie said, “Really, it's fine. I mean, yes, I know that my life doesn't look like I had always dreamed it would be. But it's nice, you know? I live in a beautiful city, I have a job I enjoy and that I'm really good at, an apartment I love...that's a pretty damn good life, right?”

Chelle nodded enthusiastically, “It is. And are you happy?”

Katie affirmed that, yes, she was indeed happy.

Chelle paused a beat and then said quietly, “Well, why do you look so miserable, then?”

Katie opened her mouth to respond, but before anything could come out, Amber came over and informed them that the party games were getting started. Katie was glad. She didn't have the first clue what she was planning to say.

As Katie and Chelle settled into their seats, which the other girls had formed into a large circle, Sophie announced, “The first game we will be playing is ‘Same-Same-Shoot It-Shoot It’ the object of which is to find out a little bit more about each other. Well...the object of which is to get drunk, who are we kidding?”

A raucous cheer went up from the girls at Sophie's party, and she continued, “The way it works is, you pass around a hat filled with general relationship questions. One person at a time draws, and then answers the question. Everyone who has the same answer has to drink.

“For example, if the question is 'At what age did you have your first crush?' and the person says 6, and 6 is the same answer for you, then you have to yell 'Same-Same!' and then everyone else will yell 'Shoot It-Shoot It.' Then the person who drew the question and everyone who had the same answer has to take a shot. Got it?
"

The group nodded their understanding and the game began. When it came to Katie's turn, she pulled out a card, expecting something innocuous. Her question read, “How old were you when you met your first love?”

She opened her mouth to answer and stopped herself before the reply that had automatically popped into her head had come flying out of her mouth. Good God, what was wrong with her? She had met Nick the summer before 7th grade. So why was the first answer that had popped into her head, 'I was 5 years old'...and why did that realization feel like a punch to the gut?

“I was eleven,” Katie answered quietly and Haley Sloan yelled “Same-Same” with everyone chorusing “Shoot It-Shoot It” immediately after.

Chelle’s turn was next, and her question was “Have you ever had an unrequited love?”

She immediately responded, “Yes.”

Several people yelled, “Same-Same” and the group called out a spirited “Shoot It-Shoot It!”

Katie leaned in close to Chelle, “Unrequited love, huh?”

Chelle smiled enigmatically, “Hey, at least I told the truth.”

Katie was taken aback. Had she been that transparent? She tried to look innocent as humanly possible as she turned to face her diamond friend, but with the buzz she was already feeling, it was a little hard.

“What? I told the truth!” Katie protested

“Nope, you sure didn't,” Chelle insisted.

Katie tilted her head, still hoping to play it off, “Well, what do you think the real answer was then, Miss Smartypants?”

Chelle shrugged, and the alcohol was clearly starting to get to her as well. She replied with a small slur, “Haven't the foggiest. Haha. Get it? 'Cause you live in San Francisco now. Anyway, I don't know what the real answer is, I only know that it wasn't what you said, because YOU, Katie Marie Lawson, still have the same lying 'tell' you've always had.”

“I do not,” Katie argued.

“Then how did I know you were lying? That proves it right there,” Chelle said proudly.

Katie shook her head, “Your so-called 'proof' is based on a faulty premise. I
wasn't
lying, so your logic is flawed.”

“Whatever,” Chelle said cheerfully, “That would work in a court of law. But we're not in a court of law. We're in the court of Tequila. And in the court of Tequila, you and I both know you were lying.”

Katie opened her mouth to continue arguing, but then just sighed resignedly. She shrugged. “Well, dammit. So, what's my tell?”

“You purse your lips together right before you lie. It’s almost as if your body is rejecting the lie,” Chelle chuckled.

“Whatever,” Katie rolled her eyes.

“So what
is
the real answer?” Chelle persisted.

“Eleven,” Katie insisted, not willing to give up the story, “I was eleven when I met Nick. What else could it possibly be?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Chelle said airily, “How old were you when you met Jason?”

Katie's eyes widened, but she was saved again from having to provide an answer by being called back to the game.

“Katie, Chelle! Pay attention!” She heard Sophie's tipsy voice ring out above the music, “You’re missing all the questions.”

“Sorry,” they answered in unison.

Jason looked around the private back room at McMillan’s Pub, which he had rented out for the bachelor party. All of he and Bobby's friends were there in the dark wood-paneled room. They were drinking beer, throwing darts, shooting pool, and smoking cigars. The company was good and the conversation was raunchy.

Jason should have been enjoying himself a hell of a lot more than he was.

He couldn't get his mind off of Katie.

Damn her.

Why did she have to be every bit as beautiful as the day she left? Every bit as smart. Every bit as fiery and funny and....

Jason shook his head. He couldn't continue like this. It was making him crazy.

Of course, there were a couple of aspects of the party itself that were getting on his nerves. Like David Price. That douchebag. He was running for City Planner and he hadn't aged one day (in terms of maturity) since junior high school. He was sloppy drunk and wouldn't shut his yap about how Jason should have “ordered” a stripper. You know. Kind of like you would a pizza.

“I don't know what to tell ya, Davey boy,” Jason repeated for what felt like the hundredth time, “It's Bobby's night, and he didn't want one. This is all about giving Bobby what he wants.”

David threw his arm around Jason's shoulder, which upset the balance of both Jason's and David's mugs of beer. Of course, both drinks splashed onto Jason's shirt, leaving David's completely unscathed. Jason gritted his teeth and made a serious determination to himself that he would not punch this asshole in the face at Bobby's party. That was not an easy promise to keep.

How this jackass had ever managed to land a quality lady like Chelle, Jason would never know.

Jason still remembered when Chelle had moved to Harper's Crossing and transferred into his and Katie's second-grade class. Almost the entire class had been completely awful to her (including this douchebag she was now engaged to). Jason hadn't felt good about it, and he had certainly never joined in, but he never made a move to stop it, either.

His own home situation gave him enough of a sense of “otherness” that he was afraid to call attention to himself with the bullies. God, if they found out about his mother? They'd have a field day.

Still. Every time he watched them gang up on poor Chelle and did nothing, he felt a little sicker to his stomach.

Then, Katie had done the most amazing thing. She gave Chelle a handmade card one morning. She didn't make a big production of it, she just handed it to her while they were all getting seated. Jason only noticed because...well, he noticed everything about what Katie did.

He watched Chelle read the card. He saw her open it up, her expression wary. She probably thought it was going to be a mean trick, something to make fun of her. But as she read over the words once, twice, three times...her expression changed. He saw her smile for the first time.

When the teacher had started class, Chelle had quickly tucked the card inside her desk. However, during the morning as the class worked, he saw her take it out from time to time and clandestinely read it again. Every time, the same little smile would creep across her face.

When the class went out for recess, he saw Katie and Chelle run to the playground together.

Hmmm...

He was staying behind, as usual, because he hadn't gotten his work done in time. He didn't actually mind recess indoors, though. Ms. Lindsley, their teacher, was really nice and always smiled at him while he worked. Sometimes she would ruffle his hair or give him an apple or something. To an all-but-motherless kid like Jason, that attention felt pretty damn good.

When Ms. Lindsley told him that she was going to run up to the office and that she would be right back, he saw his chance. He HAD to know what that card said!

He rushed over to Chelle's desk, looking over his shoulder the whole time, and quickly pulled out the card. He opened it. The first part said “YOU ARE” in bold crayon letters. The second part was a list, one that used little stars, hearts, and flowers for bullet points. (GIRLS! Whatever...)

The list included the items “Really Smart,” “Really Brave,” “Really Funny,” “Really Pretty,” “The Best Speller In Class,” and “Really, REALLY NICE!!!!”

Jason slipped the card back in Chelle's desk and returned to his own, feeling small. It was the first time that Katie had shown him what it meant to be a good and kind person...but it wouldn't be the last.

As if reading his thoughts, David turned the subject to Katie, “So, have you seen that Katie Lawson's back in town? God, she has a great ass.”

Jason tensed his jaw even tighter. He had to remind himself YET AGAIN that this was Bobby's party and he couldn't punch David Price out in the middle of it. Not to mention, if he won the City Planner election...yeah, it wouldn't be great if the future president of Sloan Construction had a history of violence with the City Planner.

Jason nodded curtly, “Yep. She's the maid of honor. I'm the best man. It would be kind of hard to have no contact.”