Fooled

Chapter 18

Kathryn was screwed.

The day started off with absolute urgency. She woke up at a quarter after nine meaning she only had fifteen minutes to make herself look as unattractive as possible without looking like she was trying hard even though she really was. Because it was winter, she doesn’t bring out a cute cardigan. Instead, she takes a bag grey sweatshirt. It made her look top heavy.

        Not surprisingly, he was right on time. Oliver was the type of guy to be so punctual. Before she answered the door, she braced herself for a horrible, horrible day. The moment she opened the door, a smile was placed on his face and he was ready “to sweep her off her feet”.

        He took her to the park to play baseball but instead of actually playing baseball, they played catch. For awhile they just talked and it was completely normal.  She forgot how she was supposed to be warning him off. Instead, she enjoyed herself.  He listened to her speak and responded to prove that he was listening. He was caring and loving; he made her feel important and worth more than just a pretty face. She wasn’t wearing makeup and she didn’t put much effort into her appearance but he still treated her like she was worth talking to. He makes her feel intelligent and funny and even beautiful.

        “So what college have you decided to enroll in?”

        “I don’t even know,” She frowned , “What about you and Shelby?” She threw the baseball back at him and he caught it with ease.

        “We’re going to New York University,” He responded, “You should come with us. I mean the three of us in the same college!” He threw  the ball back at her and she had to jump to catch it.

        “Please, my dad won’t let me leave the state,” She shook her head, “And I don’t really want to leave, you know? I’m all he’s got.”

        “You got to cut ties some time,” He shrugged.

                When their arms start getting tired, they just sit down in the grass and talk. It was so casual because they had been friends for so long. They didn’t have to worry about impressing each other on their first date. It was like they knew each other so they could talk about anything without the pressure. They laughed and confided in each other.

                “Kathryn,” He sighed, “I have to admit that I asked you here on a date.”

                “I know,” She admitted.

                “And I really like you,” He spoke honestly, “I mean I really like you and I have for awhile now.”

                “I know that, too,” She admitted again.

                She wasn’t really expecting it, but he leaned in and kissed her gently. It was sweet, romantic, and caring. Oliver really knew how to court a girl and it was a little confidence boost for Kathryn to endure. She felt loved; she felt safe and cared for. She left like someone could really love her and provide for her.

*.*.*

“Are you kidding me,” She yelled at him, “No I’m not doing that.”

She crossed her arms and furrowed her eyebrows in her anger, “Damien! Stop it!”

Damien was trying to push her onto the ride that she really didn’t want to go. It was the ride that moved quickly in a circular motion when you are fastened to the fall. Kathryn had been on this ride only a handful of times and she swore she enjoyed it once, but she was never going to go on a ride like this at a carnival. The metal was rusted and it could break down at any second. “Damien,” She stomped her foot angrily.

“Don’t be such a baby!”

They had just started the date and they were already at each other’s throats. It was easy to fight with him and Kathryn always found herself bickering with him just like she did last year. She wasn’t really having the best time when he finally was able to force her onto the ride. She ended up puking in the trashcan right outside the exit of the ride. He grabbed her hair as she did so and spoke softly, “Now doesn’t it seem like your having the time of your life?”

“I hate you,” She groaned, “I really hate you.”

“Ahh,” He smiled, “Already making awful memories.”

She ended up running to the restroom and washed her mouth out for a good five minutes. She threw in a stick of gum in her mouth and went to go find him. He then took her by her wrist and dragged her to a game that he found. “Okay you have to shoot the pink bottles down in one shot, are you ready?”

She ended up not being able to shoot them down but in the next round Damien did it in a heartbeat. He won a stuffed panda and gave it to her to keep. For awhile, they went around the carnival doing absolutely everything they could in the carnival. He made her laugh at his childishness and he made her fight with him because he’d pick tiny little battles with her. At first, she hated the date but somewhere caught in the middle of the rush, she loved it. She loved the thrill of fighting with him and the feeling of being able to let go and just laugh about anything. It was always and adventure or a rollercoaster with him.

“So you’re stating in state because your dad wants you to,” He teased her, “Such a daddy’s girl.”

“Shut up,” She shook her head, “It’s not like I can really leave him.”

                “Yeah, I know,” He shrugged, “Might as well just go to a two year college with me and then transfer out later on.”

                “I don’t think I’m going to a community college,” She snorted, “Dad thinks it’s for people who are too lazy for scholarships.”

                “So I’m lazy?”

                “That’s not what I said,” She fought back trying not to laugh, “But yeah you are lazy!”

                She noticed how he wasn’t afraid to push her to her limits. He wasn’t afraid to challenge her beliefs so that she’d believe in herself and her ability to be intelligent and to be beautiful.  It was hard for her not to enjoy the time she spent with him. He reminded her why she started dating him in the first place. Because push past his arrogance and his ability to fight over everything, he shows another side of himself. He’s loving, sacrificing, funny, charming, and intelligent.

                At the end of the night, he walked her home and again, they just talked. They talked about the year they were going through. They talked about people at their school. And because they knew what they were interested in, they talked about each interest. They talked about traveling and photography which was a love that they both shared. They talked about her writing which wasn’t really going anywhere the last year or so.

                When they finally got to the door, they still had so much to say to each other. Instead of trying to cram it into one night, they both agreed to a date next weekend. To say goodnight, he pushed her up against the wall gently and kissed her passionately.  She couldn’t help but smile through the kiss and feelings from last year came back so easily. She thought about how she couldn’t really forgive him for what he did but she might be able to move on from it. In her head, that made a lot of sense. Anything that let her date him and still be angry with him was THE dream in her mind.

                He walked away and she went inside her house going their separate ways for the night.  

Oh boy, was she screwed.

NOW WHICH TEAM ARE YOU??? LOL I KNOW WHICH TEA M I AM