Wedding Bells

06| house arrest

•Jamie•
I grabbed my blazer and wore my watch as Katherine sat on the couch eating the popcorn that I had made for myself.

'I thought you weren't going to leave? But after an episode you're getting all dressed up to say goodbye,' she hollered from the couch.

I smiled to myself and told her that I was just messing around. I looked around the kitchen counter for my cuff links- I was sure that's where I'd kept them last night but I still couldn't find it. Katherine paused the TV and came towards the counter, asking me if I wanted some watermelon juice.

I politely declined, continuing to look for my cuff links. She popped the fruit into a blender and went at it, adding sugar, salt and lime. She poured it all out in two glasses and pushed one towards me.

'Let's watch a season. I'm liking this show. The maid will be here in a bit and when she's cleaning up, I'm sure she'll find whatever it is you're looking for.' She shrugged lightly as she played with a tiny bouncy ball that she randomly found in a kitchen cabinet.

I reached for the glass of juice and as I was drinking it, I saw her smile wide.

'You're sweet,' I said, taking another sip, 'and soft too.'

She made a gagging action before throwing the bouncy ball my way and crossing her arms. She must have great aim, it hit my Adam's apple and I nearly choked on the drink while she watched me with a smile.

'I could kill you with a bouncy ball if I wanted to. How can you call that soft?' She threatened, trying to snatch the glass from my hands. I let go of the glass when I felt her tug at it and she tripped and fell backwards, spilling the red, sticky watermelon juice all over my shirt.

The juice was almost everywhere. From my shirt to her hoodie, from the floor to the walls and countertops. She immediately grabbed a tissue and started cleaning it as I joined. I could see her brows all furrowed in annoyance as she frowned at the sticky juice (and also at me).

'After it's all dry and sticky, it would be hell cleaning this up,' she explained, rubbing the floors as hard as she can. I grabbed a tissue as well, cleaning it as fast as my hands could handle. Halfway through cleaning, her maid entered the house and took over. Katherine said a small 'thanks' and was about to go change when she saw my red stained shirt and sighed.

'I'll give you some clothes and a towel. You'll get sticky too if you let the juice dry up. Give your clothes to the maid, she'll clean it up for you.' She rushed up the stairs and a few minutes later, she was rushing down the stairs with a little basket in hand.

I opened the basket to see a towel, a t-shirt, a pair of joggers and a bottle of body wash. The basket was very pretty.

'I think this should fit you fairly well.' she smiled at me and pointed to the bathroom where I had emerged from in the morning. 'You should go take a shower. I'm sure your fiancée, Ms. Coatrack, must be waiting for you,' she teased, rushing back up the stairs to get changed. I rolled my eyes a little, smiling and shaking my head.

I got out of the wet clothes and stepped into the cold water. I tried to make it as quick as I could but I suppose, it wasn't quick enough because the next thing I heard was someone impatiently banging the bathroom door. I hurried and rushed and put on the clothes. The joggers fit well but the t-shirt was too tight.

I put the towel around my neck and stepped out of the bathroom. As I dried my hair, I was just about to ask Katherine for another t-shirt when I noticed Anil standing in front of me with a black bag in his hand.

'You asked me to get you a change of clothes. Sorry I'm late and um,' he hesitated for a few seconds but before he could continue, Katherine's mother came into view.