We Rose Up Slowly

Chapter Seventeen

Of course, Katya didn't tell her. It became a kind of routine; making out, Trixie leaves comes back, they get drunk, they fuck. It was delightful, the dream that Katya always wanted, to have the real-life barbie on her bed topless. That until Trixie leaves, and Katya's left with her own thoughts and feelings. Seeing the glass half full, Katya has been painting much more often, completing the paintings faster. She also used it as an outlet, she could tell what she was going through by watching the paintings. Katya watched as the skin of one of the girls in her painting became tainted with freckles. And the other girl's lips became a dark shade of red. 

Katya wasn't in denial, she was accepting the situation she was living with, dealing with it in the way she could. Just like when she was a kid, Katya became an observer. Whenever Trixie decided to come back to the dorm, she became the protagonist, on the stage, the spotlight was on her. Katya, took a seat, popcorn on one side and tissues on the other. She didn't like it, but she couldn't help it when those lips were in the room. All worries and intentions to make whatever this was stop flew out of the window when Trixie was in the room. It was pathetic, how she became the center of Katya's life so easily and quickly. It was unfair.

"What," Katya answered, her hands covered in paint.

"And she finally decides to answer! After ten calls." Bob tried to lighten the mood. "What's up, it's been a while since we went out for coffee."

"Yeah, deadlines, college, you know... they suck." Katya squished the phone between her ear and shoulder. 

"You can't make a little room for coffee?"

"Ehh... not really." Katya squinted as she kept painting.

"What did you have for lunch today?" Bob asked worriedly.

"I... nothing,"  Katya genuinely forgot.

"Kat-"

"No Bob, I don't need your pity, I just want to rot in my room while I paint, okay?" 

"I'll come over," Bob declared. 

"Bob-"

"No, no Katya, no excuses, that stupid blonde dumbass can't be affecting you like this."

"She's not dumb or stupid." Katya stopped painting, her brows furrowed.

"Whatever you say, but I'll be there in two hours."

"Bob, please you-"

"Bye! Love you!" Bob didn't let Katya finish.

-

Trixie smiled at the reflection in the mirror after cleaning her teeth, feeling fresh. Today was a big day, she had a final, which was a wonderful excuse to spend this much time in Kim's dorm. She had pretty much moved in, sleeping over three to four times a week. Kim questioned it the first few days, but with time she learned not to. Trixie was doing great, focused on getting good grades and keeping herself busy. She for once felt at peace with the decision their parents had made for her. That, was until she was faced with that blonde woman that had taken over her dreams and desires. So, to get rid of it, she would attend to her desires and come back to her usual life.

Trixie had accepted living with that part of her, a divergent part of her. She doesn't really acknowledge it, it doesn't define Trixie, it's just a little crush, and then it'll be gone. Once she moves on, she'll be able to find a man, a good-looking, kind man. She couldn't let whatever was happening between her and Katya, which was nothing, get in the way of her academic success. Trixie wasn't running from anything, she was focussing on the right thing, her future. She had been getting great grades, and she noticed how the professors started taking a liking to her. Nothing was gonna send her off track.