Dear Ocean Sky

Chapter 2 | Kata

"Hey Zoe," Kata greeted good-naturedly. "Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Aranda."

"Hi Kata," Mrs. Aranda said sweetly.

It was Christmas day, and the Adams house smelled of bread and spices as the scent of seemingly hundreds of candles lit up the air. It was almost time for the Adams's traditional huge Christmas dinner, and the Arandas always had this feast with them considering the fact that they were long-term family friends.

Zoe's parents both worked at the same hospital Kata's dad did. Mr. Aranda was a surgeon there and apparently he was the scariest person at the hospital. Kata never really believed her dad when he said that because Mr. Aranda was one of the nicest men she had ever met, the exception being Mark.

Kata really wasn't sure how Lana had gotten a boyfriend like him.

Mrs. Aranda, on the other hand, had been on her way to go to the Olympics and out of nowhere she just dropped running and decided to go to medical school. Kata found it odd, but whenever she asked Zoe about it she brushed it off and changed the subject.

It was a miracle that all three of the doctors were able to get Christmas off to spend with their families, especially Mrs. Aranda considering the fact that she had just gotten out of fellowship a year ago so she was given some of the more unfavorable jobs and hours.

Kata was very aware that her mom pretty much despised the Arandas, even though she put on a nice face. It probably had something to do with the fact that the three doctors were so close and made medical jokes not too infrequently that neither Kata nor her mom understood. Zoe pretended she didn't understand them either, and she probably didn't understand most of them, but Kata had caught her laughing a few times. Or maybe it was the fact that the Arandas were actually kind people and not afraid of Ms. Adams like most people were. Kata was pretty sure her mother absolutely hated any person who wanted to be a good little angel but absolutely loved spawns of satan considering the fact that she was one herself, at least in Kata's humble opinion.

"Oh Evelyn," Mr. Aranda gushed. "Everything smells absolutely wonderful!" Ms. Adams put on a tight smile as she came out of the kitchen to see the Arandas inside, but not without first shooting a glare at Kata.

As everyone migrated to the living room, Mr. Adams and Lana came in from the backyard where they were smoking the ham. The two dads saw each other and their faces lit up then they- no joke- chest bumped each other. Ms. Adams gasped and pursed her lips. "Surgeons," Mrs. Aranda muttered, but Kata could see her laughing just a little bit.

Lana came up behind Zoe and Kata and quickly dragged them up the stairs while no one was looking. The three girls ran into Lana's room and plopped down on the bed. Lana immediately started raking her hands through Zoe's hair.

From a young age, this had been Zoe and Lana's tradition whenever Zoe came over. Lana loved doing people's hair for some reason, and whenever she tried to do Kata's hair it either fought her or Kata herself fought her. Zoe on the other hand had long thick soft hair that any girl would kill for, plus, she didn't mind Lana doing her hair. She rather liked it because Lana could do some beautiful hairstyles and she was gentle on Zoe's scalp.

Truth be told, Zoe just had an all-around soft spot for Lana. She was like the sister she never had.

"So," Lana started. "How've you been Zo?" Zoe smiled a bit.

"Pretty good, pretty good, you?"

"She's been better than good," Kata interjected, smirking. "She's so gonna get some with Mark." Kata could see Zoe's efforts to keep back her laugh, but she was slowly failing. Lana stopped braiding Zoe's hair and started sputtering, cheeks all aflame. Kata laughed harder. "Lana your face is priceless," she choked out.