Dear Ocean Sky

Chapter 16 | Kata

"Hey Kata K!"

Kata froze what she was writing. Only one person called her Kata K, and that person only called her that when none of her friends were around. Kata slowly pivoted on the cafeteria bench. A smile broke out on her face.

"Katie!" she half squealed, feeling like a little kid who wanted attention from their big sister. She had to stop herself from running up and embracing the taller girl. "What are you doing here?" Kata asked her friend cautiously. "Is Hunter around?" Kate beamed at the mention of her boyfriend but shook her head.

"I don't think so, he said he was going to be in tutorials for about twenty minutes but that he would walk me home afterward, so I figured I would come to visit you in rehearsals." Kate came to sit down next to Kata, and Kata wouldn't admit to anyone, even herself, how happy that made her. She missed Kate like crazy. They had just been so close at the beginning of middle school and then they drifted apart. Kata hated it.

Kate looked at all the notes written down in Kata's stage manager binder. "So," she said slowly. "What's this job?" Kata knew that Kate was only trying to make conversation, but she didn't like the way the blonde girl had asked the question.

Kate didn't think tech was an important aspect of theatre and when Kata became interested in it in sixth grade, she told her what a waste of time it would be. The fact that Kate asked this question also made Kata realize that they really hadn't talked a lot lately. She had been so excited that she got to be the stage manager, and she thought she had told everyone she knew. Now that she thought about it though, she really hadn't told that many people. It's not like she had that many to tell. This made Kata's blood boil and she turned her gaze back to her binder and began writing with frustration. "I'm the stage manager," she said through gritted teeth, then immediately felt bad about it. It wasn't Kate's fault she was mad, but she was in the wrong place at the wrong time so some bitterness came out on her. Kata tried to swallow her anger. "It's a huge leadership position and I'm really proud of myself for getting it," she said meekly, hoping that Kate would understand how important this was to her.

"Well then I'm proud of you too," said Kate with kindness. Those words made Kata's chest swell with pride. The two girls talked for another ten minutes then Mr. Benj called for Alex, a girl named Maria who was playing Sharpey, a boy named Alejandro who was playing Ryan, and Carson to get on stage. As Alex walked to center stage from the wings, she had that bunny look about her that Kata had noticed in ILA before they picked groups for their project. Kata gathered that whenever Alex looked like that, she was at least somewhat uncomfortable with her surroundings and that was her way of quietly observing them. Alex caught Kata's eye and Kata stuck her tongue out at her. Alex laughed, and Kata smirked in return. Kate watched the whole exchange.

"Kata," she said, placing a hand on Kata's leg. "We really need to talk." Kata gulped but hid her nervousness and put a mask over her emotions.

"Sure, what's up?" Stay cool. It's okay. It's just Katie. She thought, talking herself down. Kate took a deep breath and looked Kata in the eyes, seriousness written all over her face.

"That girl up there-"

"Her name is Alex," Kata said defensively. Kate sighed in annoyance.

"Alex. Is she your girlfriend?" Kate asked, keeping a perfectly straight face, being completely sincere in her question.

Kata didn't know whether she wanted to punch Kate, laugh at her, or just be relieved. She had no clue what this conversation was going to be about but she was expecting worse than what Kate had just thrown at her. However, Kata felt her fists clench and her jaw go rigid. She had every right to be mad at this.