Kitten?

Chapter 12

CHAPTER SONG: Saturday Nights by Khalid

Steven's POV

We got back to the dorm around 6 pm. She plopped on her bed with an exaggerated sigh revealing her exhaustion. I shrugged off my jacket as I watched her rub her eyes from under her glasses; she seems tired. I didn't look away once she averted her eyes to me from her sitting position.

"Wanna see what I got?" she asked, finally removing her glasses and setting them on the side table between our beds.

I nodded walking in her direction to sit next to the multiple bags on her bed. I smiled as she went through each bag showing me individual articles of clothing and talking about how much she liked the color or texture of the fabric. I could tell she had a good day.

Referring to our previous conversation about giving her a few pointers on how to drive I asked, "so when are we starting your training?" she got up to hang the newly bought clothes in her closet. A sheepish smile grew on her face as she hung a burgundy sweater on a hanger, glancing at me before speaking.

"Whenever you're free I guess"

We discussed our schedules and decided we're going to start tomorrow, since Monday is our short day and she doesn't have work.

While the girls were at the mall I turned in a couple of assignments for school and had lunch so there wasn't much to do. As I waited for Kitten to get out of the shower, I settled on watching TV.

She joined me 30 minutes later, sporting a baggy t-shirt and a pair of black sweatpants with her wet hair set in a side braid. We talked for bit, the TV becoming background music.

"So what's your guilty pleasure?" I inquired casually adjusting myself on the couch.

"What do you mean?" She laughed not completely understanding what I was asking.

"I don't know something odd that brings you joy...actually it doesn't have to be odd just something you do for yourself to relax or like a weird fetish?" I countered, I'm curious about her and want to get to know her from a deeper perspective; I figured this would be the best way since family is a 'classified' topic to mention.

"I have no idea" she laughed after a few moments of thinking about an answer, "okay how about you tell me yours and then maybe mine will come to me" she added pointing to me then to herself.

I paused taking a sip of my beer before answering, "alright so when I'm stressed and I need a break I cook" she smiled tilting and resting her head on the hand that leaned against the back of the couch, "The first time I cooked was when I was in high school, I made lasagna with the most insane garlic bread and I've been cooking dinner for my family every Saturday since then" I spoke moving my hands around, attempting to describe the mouth-watering dishes.

"Wow you have to teach me how to cook one day" she paused, "well I can cook a few things but not full meals you know?" she squinted her eyes trying to get her point across. Giving a small smile, I nodded for her to go on. "Umm... I don't know I guess swimming would be the equivalent for me of that"

I chuckled at her uncertainty, "alright when did you start swimming"

She blushed in embarrassment before explaining, "My parents took me, my sister and my brother swimming for my birthday one year since I didn't have friends for an actual birthday party...not that I cared my siblings were my friends. Anyway, after that day my parents enrolled us in swimming classes and I felt the most zen underwater believe it or not, I even competed in our town's swimming tournament once"

Her speech kept faltering, not use to talking about her family but surprisingly keeping eye contact with me the entire time. She's becoming comfortable with me. It's strange of me to care about what she's feeling but I've never met someone like her so I guess my curiosity has peaked because of her secretive personality. At the same time I want to help her; I don't know what the whole story with her family is but I do know that now she's here, at Grandview and I feel as though I should be here for her as a friend. I began to think about it from her perspective and conclude it would be easier for her to let go of things if I opened up to her about my personal life. So her dumbstruck expression of my next words didn't surprise me.