The next day I woke up to a drained and bruised body. Every move I made was countered by an agonizing pain in about 50 different parts of my body. I turned to look at Cleo, she was still sleeping and the serenity that emanated from her made me reluctant to wake her up. So, I decided to give her a few more minutes of blissful rest. That also meant I had a few minutes to remember what happened last night.
Some of the details were fuzzy - God knows why - but I got the main idea. Cleo ran away from her dad and we met a boy.
A beautiful boy.
He was the only thing that wasn't fuzzy in my good for nothing brain. I still remember every curve, line a flick of shape and details.
The thought of not seeing his again caused an odd pain. It was sharp and nearly brought to tears to her eyes.
"Katarina?" Cleo's mumbles awoke me from my rêverie.
"Mmmhmm?" I said, not quite out of it.
Cleo gulped, "What- what happened?" the confusion and pain in her voice made me sit up and look at her. She mirrored my movements.
"You don't remember?"
"I- I think I do. B-but. I- I don't know"
I filled her in on what happened. I spared the gruesome details but I could see in her eyes that she remembered them.
I sighed and lied down again with her face in the pillow. She groaned and I sensed I wasn't going to get much out of her so I got up and made my way to the shower.
* * * * *
I was wringing the water out of my hair on the way down stairs with towel when I ran into Kyle. "What are you looking at?" his voice dripped with malice.
"Really? You don't even care a little?" I snapped at him.
"Why would I?" he said sounding both bored and angry, "You're both fine. Everything's sorted and we'll all live happily ever after" His voice turned venomous then as he spat out the words.
"WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?" I completely lost it then. I'd put up with years of abuse from him and right then I couldn't handle it anymore.
"You- you get everything! You get-"
"Kyle" Michael's soft voice echoed through the halls, "Don't you have anything better to do?"
We both turned to face Michael. The seriousness on his face made me turn to Kyle. What did they know that he didn't? Kyle just sneered at me then stomped down the stairs.
"Michael?"
"Uh, yeah... I don't know what was going on with him... but... I have to go so talk to you later sis'"
He gave me a quick huge then ran down the stairs. Missing out half the steps.
I sighed quietly and made my way back up the stairs to talk to Cleo.
* * * * *
"I don't know, that sounds pretty normal for Kyle" Cleo said after I finished telling her my story.
"Yeah, for Kyle it is but it isn't for Michael!" I exhaled noisily and started pacing again.
"Honestly! Stop over thinking it. He's probably just worried, we don't know how my dad is going to react! Or maybe it's because you're acting weirdly and you have been for a while"
I stopped and looked at. I thought through how I was acting weirdly. I did growl more often then I ever did, I had become far more overprotective and had a hard time controlling my temper.
"But it's nothing important! It's probably just the stress and stuff!"
Cleo didn't say anything. She just nodded and made her way downstairs. And I followed her.
* * * * *
Once we'd had breakfast and Cleo had cleaned herself off we decided to head out and go for a walk. It wouldn't be a particularly interesting walk as we basically just had the streets to walk through.
It was a small town but there was always someone on the streets so we had to be careful what we said. Gossip travelled like wildfire.
Any land in our little town that was pavement would either be fenced off or private land. So basically, wherever we went we'd either be shot or fined.
On our walks we always stopped at our favourite cafe so today was no exception.
Everything seemed normal. The barista gave a flirty wave to Cleo, she smiled politely back. The oldsters read their assorted books and newspapers or did some kind of game. It was all very stereotypical but that's why I loved it.
I made my way to our window seat while Cleo ordered. As I sat down I noticed something outside.
It was him.
I gasped quietly and willed him to see me. I don't know what it was about him that made me feel and act this way but it was happening. I saw him laugh with what I presumed was one of his friends and then walk into a shop.
Cleo's setting down of our drinks startled me back to reality and I looked up to see her smirking at me.
"Did Katarina see something she likes?" Cleo's jokey voice made me smile. But for some reason I didn't fell inclined to tell her the truth. I don't know why but I felt as if this wasn't meant for her ears.
I gave a small laugh and said, "No, I was just lost in a daydream"
Cleo laughed and picked up her hot chocolate. She took a sip as I picked up my own.
Our chatter was light and humorous and all the while I kept my eye on the shop door. And just as we were leaving I caught a glimpse of him.
He was looking at me with a small smile on his face.
