Moving Forward (Completed)

Chapter Two

    The school had been perfect. The move had been easy. The divorce was final. Katherine was pretty content with how things were working out. She had been living in New York for close to a year, having leased the railroad apartment in Amanda's building. It was tiny but she loved it. The length of the apartment ran along an exterior wall allowing for more windows than she had expected. Her view was of the adjacent building, but still, it allowed for a certain amount of sunlight. The front door opened to her living room and to the left was a small kitchen with a door leading to an extremely tiny restroom just beyond that. The living and kitchen space had been painted white so the space seemed a bit roomier than it actually was. She had a small sage green table with two chairs in front of the window by the kitchen, a light gray couch and wood grain coffee table just beyond that. A media console that matched the coffee table and small television on the wall opposite the couch. There was a built in shelving system that lined the entire wall, with the exception of where the door was, between the living room and her bedroom. The built ins were tastefully done and meant Katherine didn't have to buy a bookshelf. Her bedroom was also white, though one wall was left exposed brick. She ended up with a queen size bed, which was more than enough for just her and allowed room on each side to place nightstands with drawers that she used in place of a dresser she didn't have room for considering the closet lined one wall, windows another, and there wasn't room to put anything along the wall across from her bed, at least not if she wanted to walk around it. After throwing in a bit of lavender and green to make the place a little less stark, and getting her furniture just how she wanted, the apartment felt like home.

    The elementary school she had taken the position at was completely different from her old school but she had found the same kind hearted people working within it. She loved her kids, but she knew she would. It seemed like every year she taught, she taught her favorite group of kids yet, always remembering that first year when she feared she'd never like a group of kids as much as them. It wasn't long before she realized that each years group had their own unique personalities. It was always as the school year was winding down that she realized how much she was going to miss even her most challenging students. Sure most would be back the next year but it was always the kid that she didn't expect to leave that she didn't see in the halls a fifth grader.

    "I brought liquor." Amanda smiled as Katherine let her into her apartment. This had become a Friday night ritual between them. If Amanda wasn't working late, she and Katherine would either meet up at a bar or have a few drinks at one or the others apartments. Apparently tonight would be at Katherines.
    "You've been busy the last few weeks." Katherine chuckled as she closed the door behind Amanda. "
    It's this case. I think Barba finally has something he can use but not without a lot of effort on our part." Amanda sighed.
    "Good... I think." Katherine smiled.
    "We work in different worlds," Amanda said dismissively, "What's new with you. Have you started seeing someone yet?"
    "In the last three weeks, no." Katherine chuckled.
    "Ok, I'm beginning to worry about you. You at least need to get laid. It's been what two years now since you've had sex?" Amanda asked.
    "Something like that. I didn't write down the exact date." Katherine replied.
    "I don't see how you could go that long." Amanda sighed.
    "I've needed to just be me for a while. It's been good." Katherine smiled.
    "I will say, you look fantastic."
    "I know. I didn't even notice the weight come off until I had to buy new clothes. It's amazing how just being happy can change how you eat. Of course all the walking doesn't hurt." Katherine chuckled.
    "How long are you going to 'just be you' for?" Amanda teased.
    "I don't know. I'm not opposed to meeting someone now, I'm just not necessarily looking either." Katherine said.
    "He really did a number on you, huh?"
    "Who, Scott?" Katherine asked, her mind briefly going to Rafael since she'd occasionally ask about him. She had never mentioned the kiss to Amanda, despite the fact that she thought about it from time to time.
    "Who else?" Amanda questioned.
    "I'm starting to feel like my old self again, but I still find myself second guessing my decisions, worrying that I'm going to do something differently than he would, a small twinge of fear that I'll be told why my way is wrong or stupid. I know it's irrational, I don't even talk to him anymore but the thought still crosses my mind." Katherine sighed, hating the fact that he still had lingering effect on her mood nearly a year later.
    "When does school end?" Amanda asked, changing the subject.
    "Wednesday." Katherine smiled.