Burnt Ramen

Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

“Katie, why do you sound so sad?” Jeremy asks her late on Tuesday night, the only time he could spare to call her back.

“Because you’re calling me Katie again,” she says, not willing to share her real reasons with him.

“I always call you Katie.” Stupid Jeremy. Of course he would have to be so observant, only when she doesn’t feel like talking.

“Well I’ve always disliked being called Katie. Mom and dad choose Kate for a reason.” It’ll have to do, she’s too tired to even think up a real excuse. Right now, she’s lying in bed with her lights off, and she plans to go to sleep the second Jeremy hangs up.

Jeremy snorts, obviously not buying it. “You barely tolerate mom and dad, and stop avoiding my question.”

She fiddles around on her bed, turning over and gripping her phone tighter.

“Katie? Are you still there?” he asks.

“Yeah, stop calling me Katie,” she mumbles, unable to stop the drowsiness from seeping into her voice.

“We’ve been through this part already,” Jeremy warns her.

“I just miss you, that’s all.” It is part of the truth. She doesn’t only miss Jeremy though, she hasn’t even talked to Alice since that movie night. Not for real, just small texts that remain unanswered. She misses a lot of people.

“I know,” Jeremy sighs. “It’s hard being away from you all the time.”

“How’s your girlfriend?” Kate asks, trying to lighten up the situation. At least she can try to make Jeremy happier.

“Great! Oh, Katie. I wish you could meet her, she’s really sweet,” he says, his voice already picking up with excitement.

She stops herself from growling her real name into the phone, allowing Jeremy to ramble on about her hair, her smile…etc. Finally, she has to cut him off around midnight because she has a dire need for some sleep.

Setting the phone on her nightstand, Kate quickly becomes lost in her own dreams.

*

“Morning, sunshine!” someone cries out, and light is flooding Kate’s room as she hears her curtains being yanked open.

Acting quickly, she pulls the covers over her head and squeezes her eyes shut. Kate reverts back to toddler knowledge, I can’t see them, so they can’t see me. Sadly, her plan is foiled as she feels a rush of cold air over her. She cracks her eyes open and looks up at a grinning Carson, who happens to be holding her bed sheets.