Tequila & Birdcages

Only I can |k.h|

Katherine (Kate) Haber [The Runner]

Today is a rare slow day; we have no meetings or press announcements to attend. As Kate's assistant, it's my job to know her schedule back to front and help her with anything she may need, but it doesn't feel like work most of the time. Only occasionally do I go home exhausted and even then I'm happy because I always feel like I'm doing meaningful work. Not to mention that Kate is always praising me, even for my simplest of job requirements.

She's always so appreciative of the things I do and it gives me more initiative to overachieve and make her happy. She would always tell me when I first started that I didn't have to be here. Originally, I thought it was a dismissive comment yet I quickly learned it was anything but. Her saying that meant she understood I could find an easier job, but the fact I stayed made her happy. Ever since I began to figure her out, I've not been able to get away.

Kate has this way of drawing people in, a charm she knows she possesses and has honed to work in her favor. Her smile is contagious, her energy magnetic, her mood infectious. Simply put, if Kate is standing in a room? There's no way you could miss her. After a while of us knowing each other, she felt comfortable enough to be silly with me. It started off as little jokes during our late nights at the office prepping speeches. Until eventually we took playful jabs at each other throughout the day.

She had thick skin due to her training and experience, I'm definitely not as versed in that skill but I can take a joke. With today having bored us to death, we've been even more playful than usual. She's walked by my desk at least five times now, knocking something over or 'accidentally' kicking my chair. I've tried to trip her numerous times but she expects it and expertly dodges them, effortlessly making me look uncoordinated.

"I dare you to knock one more thing over"

I narrow my eyes at her and she spins around on her heels with an amused smirk. Her hands lay flat on the front of my desk and she leans closer.

"Or what?"

She taunts me, staring into my eyes.

"Do it and you'll see"

I challenge her, knowing that she's going to do it. She lifts her hand slowly, pressing a finger against the metal pattern of my pencil holder.

"Like this?"

She gives it a gentle push and it rolls off my desk, the sound of pens scattering being heard immediately after.

"Must you give in to every whim?"

"Well when you so boldly dare me, who am I to deny? Unlike you... I'm not a pussy"

I stare at her for a moment, she raises an eyebrow as if to say it's my move. The imaginary clock is ticking down, our little game consists of quick remarks; if one of us fails to have a response then we lose.

"And here I was thinking pussy was a good thing — but I guess for someone who doesn't get any... it could be a little frustrating"

Her tongue rolls in her cheek and she snickers, her gaze leaving mine momentarily as she tries to hold it in. We're both extremely competitive which makes this game all the more fun to play.

"Is that your sad attempt at flirting? If you wanted to get under my skirt you could just ask"

I raise my eyebrows high, my lips pursing, showing that I'm impressed but I've got much better.

"If that's your way of saying you like me, it's cute but no thanks — you're not my type"

"Oh right... you like people who look like they snuck onto earth, my sincerest apologies"