The Crossing

Fireworks

Chapter 2

Fireworks - Beautiful, yet dangerous.

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After such an horrid session today, all Katerina wants is some comfort food and her bed. She's been feeling more and more depressed lately and as anyone who has ever felt depressed would know comfort food and laying in bed helps, it doesn't truly help, but it does quite down the black hole that screams within. Katerina decides to go to her favorite burger place. The guy taking the orders has always thought she's pretty, and often flirts with her when she's there. She does flirt back occasionally, however she would never pursue anything, because of her skepticism and trauma. Katerina is still a virgin and to her it means a lot, mainly because when she was small her grandmother made her promise she would save herself for her future husband. 

Food is the one thing that has always been there that would make her feel better and normal again, when she's been feeling like this. "Hey Kat, the usual? You're looking gorgeous by the way." "Hi, yeah sounds good thanks, always such a charmer aren't you?" Katerina quickly pays for her food. " I'm just going to wait over there", she says pointing towards the table and chairs in the corner. "Yeah alright, Kat." Twenty minutes later her food is ready for collection. As she takes the order from the burger guy their hands touch, he looks her deep in her eyes with a smirk. "I'll see you next weekend then, Kat", giving her a wink. "Yeah, no we'll see, don't get your hopes up", she says looking him dead in the eyes, then walking out.

Finally home she puts her hair up into a ponytail, puts on her sweatpants and hoodie climbs under the covers. She's always been one of those women who finds solace in those true crime podcasts and true crime murder documentaries, it's actually quite funny, they always reminds her of her mother. They would always watch crime shows and true crime documentaries while she was growing up. Thus it also helped her to relax and unwind, in hindsight you'd assume it would have the complete opposite effect on her, considering all she had gone through. However it just made her feel safe and calm in her morbid, twisted little bubble. Enjoying her burger and fries she decides to put on a documentary about "Tales of the grim sleeper". Half way through she gets a a text from her friend Lexi, asking if she would like to join her and her boyfriend Damian, they're going to a party. Katerina sits and ponders the idea for a  minute, finally deciding that she is feeling slightly bored and it would be just the thing to spruce up her evening, she accepts. "Hey Lex, yeah I'll see you ten." 

"Alright, Kat. I'll come pick you up with a Uber, see you in a bit." Putting down her phone she gets ready quickly. Fixing her makeup and her wavy hair up, she then decides on a black boob tube and a pair of tight jeans that hugs and accentuate her thick thighs and a**, and finishing off her outfit with a nice pair of black chunky high heel boots. The heels definitely makes her a** pop more, thus giving her a bit more confidence. Her phone pings bringing her attention to the text that had been sent, "Hey Kat, I'm in front." Texting a quick responds back "Alright, I'll be down now." Grabbing her keys she checks herself one last time in the mirror pleased with the results she smiles a little, and she's off. Lexi is a thin short woman with shoulder length purple hair. She's wearing a little black dress that showcases her breast perfectly, she'd decided on thigh high boots to boost her height slightly. "Damn Lex, you definitely trying to get some tonight with that dress." She laughs at her friend when she gives her a wink and says "Well of course, but you know the same could be said about you" she giggles in her soft, yet high pitched laugh. 

At the party they are almost immediately separated once Lexi spots Damian. Laughing at her friend as she walks with such confidence and sway in her hips to her boyfriend. His reaction to her is always priceless though, chuckling and shaking her head at them she decides she is going to  go try and find something to drink. There are a few people at the drinks table and  not really feeling like introducing herself to these people she just stands against the wall in the corner of the kitchen as she waits. Zoning out as she gets lost in her thoughts, thinking of when she last saw her brother Theo. It had been about three weeks ago at a party he had arranged at his and his girlfriend Angelique's house. He had introduced her to his friend Jake that night. He seemed alright, although he definitely seemed very fond of women and overly friendly with just about all the women at the party. Theo and Jake met at work and had very quickly become good friends it seemed. Angelique definitely didn't like Jake though, she could see right through his fake facade. She could tell he was a very fake and manipulating person who had a lot to sort out within himself. He seemed to find validation for his own worth by how many women he could get to fall for him. Always serenading women with the most cliche songs, mainly Ed Sheeran though. Katerina however hadn't seen through his facade. He was definitely a charmer though, he knew exactly what to say and when to say it. Jake had made her blush a few times that evening. 

Snapping out of her memory she heard a familiar voice next her. "Well hello there stranger." Turning her head to face the voice, there he was speak of the devil. Jake was leaning against the door frame, arms crossed over his chest, wearing a black T-shirt and a pair of black chino pants with some black dress shoes, seemed he always dressed to look put together. His short dark brown hair almost black was styled to give a almost wavy appearance. He was staring at her with his dark brown eyes. "Oh hi there, Jake was it?" She said giving him a soft easy smile. "Yeah that's right, Katerina right?" He said with a wink and flirty laugh as he closed the space between them. "Yeah, that's right. I didn't expect to see you here tonight." He smiles saying, "yeah I know the guy throwing the party." Nodding she states, "Oh yeah Gavin is a okay guy, one of my friend's friends. He's definitely a bit strange at times though." Jake laughs and nods in agreement, " Yeah he can be a bit of an odd ball at times." Standing much closer to her now, she can smell his cologne. It's a little strong but has hints of musk and manliness to it. "So you got a drink?" "Oh, no I haven't gotten anything yet." With a smile in his eyes he asks, "Great, what would you like? Pick your poison." He says gesturing to the drinks table. "Well if there is Rosé I'd never say no to that." He checks the fridge and sure enough there is a full bottle in the fridge. "Well aren't you lucky." Jake gives her a wink, laughing softly at him she smiles while studying him as she pours her a glass. Jake hands her the glass, as their fingers graze each other she feels electricity surge through her body. She knows he's a charmer but she can't seem to help but be intrigued by this man, even if Angelique warned her to be careful around Jake. 

The night went by with such a blur as she took shots and had  more than three glasses of wine. She's feeling intoxicated but in all the good ways. She had danced seductively against Jake feeling the free feeling alcohol gives her. The feeling of Jake's hands on her hips and his breath on her neck made her cheeks burn yet for the first time in months she feels alive, like fireworks had woken her spirit again. Taking her by the hand he leads her to a dark corner, as his eyes meet hers, looking her deeply in her eyes with lust and want. His eyes travel down towards her lips and back up at her eyes, almost like asking for her permission. She gave him a flirty yet soft and seductive smile, which gave him the green light. Grabbing her with one hand on her waist to pull her close as his other hand finds her jawline. He kisses her softly first, as she kissed him back with a little bit more passion and slightly biting down onto his lower lip to show him how excited she was feeling, he started kissing her with more force and passion. Kissing her down her jaw to her throat and back up. Her cheeks were burning at this point, this was the first time in a very long time that she'd been kissed and for it to be so passionate gave her butterflies.  Eventually the kiss had gotten so intense that he had pushed her up against the wall, kissing her neck and collar bone with such passion and lust as his one hand was resting on her lower hip and the other finding her a**. She didn't know what was going to happen next and that made her very nervous. She could tell if she didn't stop this now it would go too far and she was not ready for that at all. Pushing him away with her palms against his chest, she gave him a awkward yet apologetic look , "I'm sorry Jake, but I'm just not ready for anything well - too intense." Chuckling nervously at her wording, she continues, "Uhm yeah so if it's fine can we stop?" Jake looking very much disappointed nods in agreement. "Oh uh yeah, we can stop."  Feeling very much awkward now Katerina decides it's time to for her to go home. " Uhm so I actually have to go home now, but yeah uhm have a good night further, I guess." She says stepping away from him, waving and almost running away from this awkward situation. She looks for Lexi to tell her she's going home, but can't find her, so she assumes she's with Damian. Texting her, "Hi Lex, I'm going home. Hope you getting some" with a wink emoji.

Finally home and ready to pass out, she changes into her PJ's and quickly gets ready for bed. Falling onto her bed she remembers the awkward end to the night, flopping over onto her stomach groaning into her pillow as she cringes at herself. Feeling exhausted and desperately wanting the sweet embrace of the dark dreamless sleep she seems to always experience when drinking. Finally quieting her thoughts she slips into the sweet dark abyss that is sleep.