Beyond the Ordinary

Chapter 11

A/N - Kate's outfit^^

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KATE 

My first day of training was coming up and I felt kind of nervous at the thought of having Axel train me. He was friendly enough, but he also seemed like he wouldn't mind being harsh if he felt it was necessary.

A good thing that I'd learned about being shy is that you can become very observant since you don't talk much. You can also become good at reading people as I have. From the little time that I'd spent with Axel, I was able to tell that he was guarded. His eyes were as neutral as stones, showing no emotion. They were almost two deep pools of darkness, devoid of anything human.

"So, how'd it go?" My father asked once I'd gotten into the car.

"I got the job!" I exclaimed excitedly, showing him the blue t-shirt Axel had handed me only moments before.

"Oh, wow!" My father said, smiling happily.

"I know!"

"Let's go out for dinner tonight to celebrate, just the two of us!" My father said, turning down the radio.

"Sure, dad. That sounds awesome."

We arrived at home and I quickly headed up to my room to change into a more comfortable outfit. I hung up the dress in my closet, before slipping on a white t-shirt with and a pair of faded jean shorts. I took off my sandals and lined them back up in my closet before pulling out a book and jumping onto my bed.

Growing up, I'd always been a big reader. It wasn't ever anything I really told anyone, but I liked the way that you could escape into someone else's world and learn about all of their problems. I'd found comfort in the fact that someone could be going through a lot worse than I was, even if, at the time, it felt like I'd never see the end.

My phone buzzed and I saw a text from a newly formed group chat of all my new friends as well as an unknown number that I could only have assumed was Amy's. I plugged her name into my phone and started reading the texts.

COREY - I figured since our friend group has expanded, this was necessary.

AMY - Corey, ur a real pain in the ass.

KYLE - Sorry, Corey, but I'd have to agree with my girl on this one.

KATE - Corey, what'd u do?

COREY - Wow, who pissed in all ur guys' cheerios?!

COREY - Btw, Kate did u get that job?

KATE - Yea, I did!

I got about twenty 'congratulations' texts before my phone started vibrating from exploding confetti and balloons. I rolled my eyes and tossed my phone onto the nearest pillow beside me, trying to get lost in the story once again.

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"Kate, you ready?" My father called up to me.

"Yeah!" I hollered back, grabbing my phone and a pair of flip flops before heading down the stairs.

My father met me at the front door and I tugged on my casual sneakers and headed over to the car, waiting while he hid the house key.

"Dad, when do you think you're going to get a car?" I asked him once he got in and shut the door behind him.

My father laughed and turned the key into the ignition. "I'm not too sure yet, hopefully soon."

We drove over to a nice Italian restaurant that wasn't too far away from our house.

"How many?" A woman asked once we had gone inside.

"Two please," my father responded.

The woman took us over to a small table in a corner and set down the menus. "Enjoy your meals," she said and left.

I picked up my menu, already knowing what I wanted.

Back in New York, I'd always ordered the same thing at Italian restaurants. Whatever type of food the restaurant served, I'd always gotten the same thing at each. For Italian restaurants though, it was always spaghetti.

I put down my menu, smiling at my father who had always taken a little too long when it came to making decisions.

"I can't tell if I want the cheese pizza or the spaghetti and meatballs," he stated, his head going back and forth between each page.

I laughed. It was always between those two things that he'd get at Italian restaurants and he could never make a decision between either one.

A waitress came by and poured us each a glass of water. "Hi, I'm Carrie and I'll be your server for tonight. Can I start you two off with some drinks?"

My father looked at her with a smile. "Yes, please. I'd like a large diet Pepsi with some ice too if you don't mind."

"I don't mind at all," Carrie said, "and how about you?" she asked, turning to me.

"I'll just stick with the water, thank you."

I'd always ordered water at restaurants because you'd never know how sugary the lemonade will be, or the soda, so I'd just stick with what was safest. It surprises people when I tell them that I've never even tried soda. My father drinks it a lot, Pepsi still remaining his favorite. My mother had offered me soda many times, forgetting like she always did, that my system couldn't handle it. The bubbles always intimidated me and I'd constantly wondered how they'd feel going down my throat and into my stomach, but I didn't wonder about it enough to risk it.

The waitress came back with my father's soda and he thanked her. Once she'd left, he finally decided on getting pizza and I ordered my usual plate of spaghetti, making my father laugh.

"Some things never change," he said lightly, and we clinked our glasses together, saying 'cheers'.