Catch Me

Chapter 8- Bridging the Gap

I woke up alone. My tan sweater had slid off of one shoulder, and my lower half was only covered by a pair of black lace underwear.

I know I didn't put myself in this last night... I rubbed my face trying to wake up and push the wine headache away.

I slid my bare legs out of the bed and suddenly the events of last night all came rushing back into my mind, pushing through the fog of me just waking up.

The phone call. Walter. The pounding. The stalking. The fear. Safety....wait where was he?

I walked into the living room and there he was. Over-sized for my couch his feet dangling off the arm of the couch, his arms over his face he looked so peaceful I didn't want to wake him. I leaned against the doorway, arms folded over my chest, smiling to myself.

I wish I was wrapped up in those arms. I thought to myself, thinking it was best to let the gentle giant sleep even though he looked semi-uncomfortable.

Thankfully it was Saturday. No work, no responsibilities other than cleaning this mess of an apartment I called my home.

Should I be making him breakfast or something... I thought to myself as I tried to brush my tangled hair out. Seemed like the type of thing girlfriends did but I wasn't his girl, just one of his work friends.

I brushed my teeth and washed my face, changing into some leggings and a tank. My usual cleaning attire on the weekends. I opened my curtains to let some light in, and opened the window for some clean morning air. I looked out over the parking lot, not the best view and just watched some of my neighbors.

I had always been inquisitive, wondering what went on in other people's lives behind closed doors. I watched a couple go for a walk, a mother return from the store, a grandpa shake his fist at a teenager that had almost cut him off in the parking lot on his bike. The normal suburban things that happened in a normal neighborhood on a normal weekend.

But why wasn't my life normal? Why couldn't I escape the weird events that kept happening.

Okay Kat these are far from weird, more like scary? Horrifying? Needing protection type shit.

I knew that but also I knew that without concrete events such as assault of outright stalking, that the police wouldn't be able to do a damn thing. And was I even sure that I was being stalked? Maybe the scary call with the woman/girl voice asking for help was just a prank call. I hadn't received another restricted call since then.Maybe that SUV had been a neighbors. Maybe the SUV that got hit in front of me at work had just been checking the weather or looking at good restaurants in the area. Maybe the two events weren't even connected. Maybe the guy pounding on my door and following Walter last night hadn't even meant to bang on my door. Maybe a disgruntled ex of a neighbor or a case of mistaken identity had occurred.

All these maybes were semi-possible and probable but they didn't convince my inner self of anything.

Bad shit followed me like a shadow. It always had. Sometimes it was self inflicted like my career choice. I put those haunted kids in my life to try and help them. But this creepy stuff that had been happening was all happening against my will. It was just all around me.

I was so lost in my thoughts that the sound of a throat clearing had me jumping out of my skin. Walter was leaning on the doorway watching me. While that sounds creepier than it really was, it made me melt watching his chocolate eyes drink me in.

"I told you I would keep you safe." He said with a small smile.

"I do remember you saying something like that. I'm sorry you had to sleep on that couch...seemed a little too small for you." It was truly humorous how he had been overtaking that couch with his six foot-five body.

"What do you mean I fit perfectly." He said sarcastically coming closer to me at the window.

I turned back around to face the parking lot and felt him behind me. it was insane how close he was. So close to touching our bodies together that I could feel his body heat on my back. And yet he didn't reach out for me. I looked up at him over my right shoulder with my doe eyes. I hoped that they conveyed my longing for him.

He looked into them, I had trouble reading the expression that was on his face although what I did see, was the same wish that I had went fleeting across it.

"Walter..." I turned to face him, my nose barely an inch away from his chin. I was craning my neck to get even closer to him to feel his warmth on my skin.

"Kat I can't." He said putting distance between us with a concerned look on his face.

"Why. I have had feelings like this since I started. I have never felt like this before about anyone." I implored, reaching my hand out to feel his jaw under my fingertips.

When my skin made contact with his it was electric. I almost pulled my hand away. I knew he felt the same thing I did because he leaned into my touch. I hadn't even had my first consensual kiss. My father had stolen the real first kiss from me. He had stolen everything from me. I used to feel like I had nothing to offer but with Walter I felt like maybe I could have a chance to start again. He didn't know anything about my past of course, but I felt like he would know how to handle my heart.

"I don't know, you're younger, so beautiful, so innocent. I'm not a perfect man Kat. I don't have it all together. I haven't been with a woman in so long..."

I didn't let him finish. I bridged the distance between us and stood on tip toe pressing my lips against his.

He hesitated. I felt him almost pull away. Then he leaned into me. Into the kiss.

My world melted away.