Copy Cath

Chapter Three

A gorgeous Cavalier King Charles Spaniel runs up to me and starts barking at Mr. Nice Dress who is still holding my wrist. The dog snarls at him. He starts trying to calm the dog.

"Hey now, I'm not gonna hurt you," he says but it did nothing to appease my savior.

The dog continues barking. Mr. Wrist Grabber looks at me, maybe hoping I would help in calming the dog because surely I'm scared too. Nah, I love dogs. We couldn't keep one though since both grandma and mom are allergic.

Another set of footsteps. Gasp, another dog? Yes, please.

"Hey! Let go of her!" Oh, it talks. A human, how disappointing. He appears from the shadows.

Disappointing Human stops in front of us, his chest rise and fall heavily. "Hey, Caitlin." Would you look at that, he knows me.

Mr. I'm Immature For My Age stiffens up. Though he looks like he could be in his early thirties, apparently the sight of a teenage boy scares him more than a snarling dog. He runs. Disappointing Human barely bats an eyelash at him.

"Caitlin," he says. I don't move from where I stand. He knows me. Disappointing Human knows me. No wait, he couldn't. I'm- I'm Catherine.

He kneels down next to the dog and pats him on the head. "Great job, Cait."

Oh, he meant the dog, I thought.

"Excuse me? Are you okay?" Human Who Has A Dog With The Same Name As Mine asks.

"Your dog's name is Caitlin?" I ask because that's the answer his question was looking for.

"She's actually my aunt's but yeah."

Oh-kay, I don't really know what to reply to that so naturally I say what any normal person will say in this kind of situation, "It was probably just a coincidence but thank you for saving my life." I turn toward Caitlin and rub her fur, "Actually, thank you, Caitlin."

I turn toward the direction of my house and started walking. Guy I Just Thanked had other plans. He starts talking. To me.

"Hey, uhm, would you let us walk you home? Or to wherever you're going? I feel uncomfortable sending you alone after all that," he says.

I continue walking. I do not need a part two of what just happened. "How do I know you aren't a psychotic murderer and that was all a part of your plan?"

He grins. Human Who Won't Let Me Go actually grins after being accused of being a psychotic murderer. "I'm Oliver Harris. You're not from here are you?"

I hesitantly shake his hand. "Uhm, I am? This is where I grew up."

He gives me a questioning look. "Really? Then how come you didn't know what to do to the guy earlier?"

It's my turn to give him a questioning look. "Oh, so, being from here means you know what to do when a guy like that starts dragging you?"

We both turn left. Does he know where I live?

He stops walking. We're only a few houses away from Cath's place. "You're the girl who lives there right?" He points to my current residence, a white two storey with a dark green roof. The light in Robert's room is on.

I turn to Oliver. Before I can accuse him of being a stalker this time, he adds, "I moved here two weeks ago. My mom almost hit you with her car on our way to my aunt's."

I mentally give myself a high five. I remember Cait talking about that!

"I thought I was gonna die then, my life was starting to flash before my eyes," I say. He laughs but then he notices I was serious and he stops. Cath did say those exact words to me when she was recounting the incident. "I should go. Thank you again."

I start walking from him and Caitlin. I start walking towards home, but Oliver Who Always Has Another Thing To Say, says, "You didn't tell me your name."

I turn around briefly to face him. He hadn't moved, nor did Caitlin. The lamppost beside him casts shadows about them. "The two times we've met were both... life-threatening situations. Heavens know what would happen when you actually find out my name."

I turn to go but he says, "We've actually met more than twice."

I stop mid-spin. I look at him, my face probably showing that ugly look it does when I'm thinking of what to say. "Oh yeah, right!" is all my brain could manage to get out.