Emerald Cove

Chapter 2

Katherine's POV

"You are not going out dressed like that!" my mother screeches at me. "And what in God's name is your hair! When you step outside those doors you represent this family, young lady!" My mother is currently going through my closet with the furry that only a woman on a mission has.

My name is Katherine. I'm the only daughter of Winston and Elizabeth Middleton. My father is a lawyer and my mother... well she is head of the unofficial snob club of Emerald Cove. Don't get me wrong. My mother means good. However, she's a little over the top, especially when it comes to how our family looks in the public eye. Not to mention she hates my laid back, beach bum attire.

My mother shoves a white skirt and a pink polo at me. "Mom, I'm going to look like I'm going to play tennis." I whine. She stares at me. I know that look. "Fine." I huff stomping into my ensuite bathroom. It is easier to look like I'm going to play tennis than to argue and end up looking like I'm on Toddlers and Tiaras about to go into a pageant of some sort. No offense to Toddlers and Tiaras, but that's just not my style.

I change out of my tie dye shorts and black Pink Floyd shirt and into the outfit that my mother has picked out. I run a brush through my long blond hair and throw on a pair of boat shoes. I look like I just stepped out of some twisted yacht club magazine. When I step out of the bathroom my mother gives me a nod of approval. I cringe. I must look worse than I thought. She had no criticism to give.Who cares? Not like I'm trying to impress anyone.

On the way out I grab a biscuit from the Margaret, our housekeeper and my nanny when I was growing up. I give her a quick peck on the cheek. She shoves an apple in my bag over my shoulder, hands me a cup of coffee and then hands me my bat bag. She knows that without her I'd only eat junk and forget my head if it wasn't attached.

Margaret is my sanity. She has always been so much more than just a nanny to me. She is more like my grandmother. She's always been there for me when I needed her. No matter if I needed a shoulder to cry on or an honest, hard truth to knock me back in line. What I love most about Margaret is that she has always accepted me for who I am and what I want to be. She has no expectations of me. My future has been set in stone since before I was born. It has always been determined that I would go to law school and then join my father's firm as his predecessor. Thing is, I don't know if that's what I want.

I pull up at school and groan. "One more year." I tell myself before stepping out of the car. I'm not really one of the clique girls. I have friends from the preppy groups because most of their parents are friends of my parents, but in general I'm just friends with everyone. So it's no surprise when I walk into school various people speak to me as I walk by.

When I get to my locker Colin Henderson is leaning against it. "Good morning, Katey." Colin coos at me. Colin is the classic jock and class clown. He is also my unofficial stalker. I have to suppress a gag every time he asks me out. This is a common conversation for us and one that repeats this morning.

"Katey, do you want to..."
"No."
"But I promise..."
"Absolutely no."
"Baby, please..."
"I am not now nor have I ever or will ever be you baby, Colin."

I slam my locker closed and storm away. Why does he insist on doing this pretty much daily? Why can't he take a hint? Jesus, what's a girl got to do?

I'm pulled out of my internal rank as I come around a corner and crash into the girl I've had a crush on since I knew I liked girls. I take her in quickly. She looks stunned, but what's worse is that she is now wearing my coffee all over the front of her yellow dress. Oh god could today get worse?!?

I grab her by the arm and drag her into the girls restroom. Luckily there isn't anyone else in here. I start handing her dry paper towels so that she can start drying herself off as I start wetting paper towels in order to try to wash some of the hot coffee off of her skin. I turn to look at her and realize she's still just standing there in shock. I start trying to dry her off. In my haste of drying her off I realize I'm just rubbing her breasts. When I realize that I can't help but to laugh. I've dreamed so many times of this girl and of touching her, but never in my wildest dreams was it like this.

"What could you possibly find humorous?" she demand. Between my giggles I can barely think of an excuse for my laughter so I say the first thing that comes to my mind, "Your dress is ruined! God today isn't starting off to great is it? Here I am rubbing all over your breast trying to dry you off and it's just not going to work."

As soon as the words leave my mouth I know I've messed up. Her expression goes from shocked, confusion to red with anger. Shit. What have I done? I'm no longer laughing. "I know this isn't the best situation, but if you want I have a change of clothes in my gym bag. I'm sorry about your dress." I stammer.

She doesn't even respond. She just nods her head ever so slightly and if looks could kills I'd be dead right now. I run to my locker and grab my change of clothes out of my gym bag and run back into the restroom. As I enter the sight before takes my breath. Charlotte is splashing cold water on her face, but something about the disheveled look of her hair and her unguarded posture it's like I'm truly seeing her for the first time and she is even more stunning than I ever knew before.

When she turns and looks at me her posture and face instantly turn back to their normal guardedness that I'm use to. She grabs the clothes, slams the stall door closed to change, and soon comes out in my typical softball practice gear, black running shorts with black short leggings under them and a black t-shirt with a cat on it and the phrase "meows it going". She barely looks at me as she storms out of the restroom. I am so screwed.