Reality

Chapter 20

The bell rings and I walk to class, well, I try to, but the hallway is too crowded at the moment so it's just a bunch of shoving and pushing.

And so I lean against a wall and wait until the crowd scatters and make my way to my first period.

The only problem with that is that on the way to class, I will pass Ethan's locker.

I take a deep breath. He won't even be there.

I walk with my head down, when I feel a hand grab my arm.

"We need to talk," Ethan says, his voice low.

"I don't need you tell me I'm a mistake," I say bitterly.

He stays quiet.

I look up at him, at his eyes. "Why? Why would you say that?"

Ethan sighs. "I don't know."

I roll my eyes and begin to walk away. "I'm going to be late."

"No, Catherine wait!" He calls, his tone upset.

"What?" I ask.

"I never... I," He pauses to take a deep breath. "I never pretended. It wasn't an act, just know that. I never wanted to hurt you. Just... remember that."

"You're not making any-" I begin.

"I'm sorry," he says.

"Are you at least going to tell me why it was a mistake?" I call.

He doesn't look at me. "Not here."

And the final bell rings to signal I'm late for class.
***
"And so you will have to do that work packet over break," says Mr. Dons.

Break? But it isn't even December yet...

Or is it? Oh God Cathy where are you?

"Tomorrow, the last day of school, will be a "free time" day," he continues. "No work."

Kids cheer, but I don't even think I was actually paying attention. I have no idea how to do that work packet.

The bell rings, and it's time to go to my next class.

I walk to my locker and switch textbooks, but while I locked it again, I drop my binder.

"Shit," I mumble, as I bend down to pick it up.

Then someone else bends next to me, and I could've sworn it was Ethan.

But it was Chris.

"Be careful," he says, handing me my math homework.

I look at him. "Thanks," I say awkwardly.

He nods. "I haven't seen you in a while," he says.

"Yeah, well," is all I can manage.

He stands up, just as I do. "Yeah."

"I'll just, uh, get going," I say.

"Right," he replies.

Well this is awkward.
***
"Mom! I'm home!" I shout as I throw my backpack into a corner and head for the fridge.

My mom meets me at the kitchen, wiping her hands with a dish rag.

"Hello," she says as she kisses my cheek.

There's nothing in the fridge. Well not like nothing, just...nothing.

I turn to the stove, where my mom is cooking the most delicious freaking pasta ever.

I take the lid off and reach for a noodle, but my mom smacks my hand and puts the lid back on the pot.

"Ow!" I pout.

"That's for dinner!" She says.

"I'm going to end up eating it anyways," I say.

"Yeah, but Jane is coming tonight, so you can't pick at the food!" She chides.

All of a sudden my day just got better.

"Aunt Jane? With Will and Eleanor?" I ask excitedly.

My mom nods.

"Yes!" I cheer. "We haven't seen them in years!"

"I know! They'll be staying for the holidays!"

"I can't wait to tell Lily!" I say, running up the stairs.

"She's still in school," my mother reminds me.

"Right," I say, now walking to my room.

I sit on my bed, and I realize how tired I am.

But I also have homework. Then I kinda want to read, but then there's so many episodes on Netflix I have to watch.

I groan. I'm such a busy person.

I turn on Netflix on my TV, and take out my math homework.
***

"Will!" I greet him as he walks through the door.

"What's up?" He says with a grin, running his hand through his shaggy light brown hair.

"Will! Help me with the luggage please!" Aunt Jane calls out.

Will walks out of the room, and begins to bring in suitcases.

Aunt Jane walks over to me and plants a kiss on my cheek. "Oh look at you, a woman. Look how much you've grown!"

"Thank you..?" I say. I never know how to respond to those comments.

Then she continues to organize the things she brought.

Aunt Jane looks a lot like my mother, with brown curly hair, green eyes, sharp cheek bones, and their smiles decorated with red lipstick.

As soon as they get settled we begin to eat.

"So Cathy, when can I meet that boyfriend everyone's been talking about?" Asks Aunt Jane.

I nearly choke on my pasta.

Everyone looks up at me.

I swallow. "Its not official yet."

Why did I say that?

Aunt Jane furrows her eyebrows. "Well that's too bad."

I must look upset because when I look over to Will, he mouths the words "Are you okay".

I shrug.

Lily and Eleanor haven't stopped giggling since we started dinner.

"Can we be excused?" Will asks, pushing his chair in and standing up.

My mother and aunt look up him, and so do I, pasta hanging out of my mouth in confusion.

"Catherine and I have a lot of catching up to do, don't we Cathy?"

I stare blankly up at him. "We do?"

He gives me a look.

Oh...

I nod. "We do."

Aunt Jane and my mom look at each other suspiciously.

"Okay," says Aunt Jane.

I get up and take my plate to the kitchen.

We exit the house and begin to walk towards the park.

"What did he do to you?" Will asks with concern.

"Huh?" I ask, confused.

"That guy, who we thought was your boyfriend. You're obviously upset with him, aren't you?"

"Oh. Yeah, I guess I am."

"Why?"

I shake my head. "I don't even know what's going on."

"Maybe he's secretly into guys," he says.

I laugh. "I doubt it."

He pulls me into a hug. "It'll turn out fine."

"I really hope-" I'm cut off.

"Catherine?" Ethan's voice says my name.