BeSwitched, Paranormal Romance (10 page)

Todd was horrified by what he saw: Cathy face down in the mud. Her cotton underwear clung to her wet body. “Cathy! Oh, God, please don’t let this be what I’m thinking.” He lifted her head and listened for breath. He was happy to feel the cool exhalation on his cheek. He turned her over, sliding one arm through the mud and under her back. His other arm held under her knees, so he could cradle her in his arms. Slowly, he lifted her limp body, then jogged to the truck.

“Open the door!” he called to Chrissy.

Chrissy obeyed immediately. Her hands shook tremendously as she helped drag Surla inside. Todd shut the door and the fainted sixteen-year-old’s body laid across their laps.

“Is she alive?” Chrissy asked.

“Yes. She’s still breathing. She must have fainted, walking so far in this weather. Cathy!” he said, trying to wake her from the deep state.

“Cathy!” they both said over and over. Chrissy held and rubbed her icy hands. Todd turned on the heater, then proceeded by shaking her shoulders.

“She needs something warm. Why is she in her underwear?” Chrissy said, then instantly pulled off her own sweater-jacket to place over Surla.

Color was coming back to her cheeks and lips. Her wet eyelashes fluttered and the first vision she saw was Todd’s green eyes staring down with delight. “She’s awake!” Surla heard him say.

“Oh, good!” Chrissy exhaled in relief.

“Meow?” Surla uttered.

“Did she just say ‘meow’?” Todd asked.

“She must be delirious.”

“Wh-what just happened?” Surla sat up dizzily.

“You fainted, but you’re all right now,” Chrissy said.

“Craig and Tiffany need the daylights knocked out of them for doing this to you,” Todd said, heated.

“Why Tiffany?” Surla asked.

“She was behind the whole idea of leaving you there,” Chrissy revealed to her. “I found out at the football game. That’s why Todd and I came as quick as we could.”

“Boy
, did I mess up.” Surla held Chrissy’s sweater tightly.

“It’s not your fault,
” Todd said.

Surla saw the di
gital clock above the radio said 11:25. “Oh no! I’m supposed to be home in five minutes.”

“It took us a half hour to get here.” Todd pulled out of the parking lot, heading back down the highway. “You’ll never make it in time. Maybe we should take you to the hospital. You don’t look so good.”

“Thanks, but really I’m feeling better!”

“Hey, I have an idea,” Chrissy said. “Tiffany was going to spend the night at my house tonight, but no way is it going to happen after what she did to you. D
o you wanna come over instead? It will be a good way for your mom to not worry about you.”

“Yeah, that does sound smart.” Surla smiled.

“Here, you can use my cell phone.” Todd handed it to her.

The rain was still coming down hard.

“Mom?” Surla said after reaching an answer on the other end.

“Yes, Cathy. You’re supposed to be here any minute. What’s going on?”

“Well, um, after the school’s football game, I ran into my friend Chrissy and, well, I was wondering if I could maybe spend the night at her house tonight.”

There was a sigh
. “Well, I don’t know. Is it all right with her parents?”

“Yes. I know for sure.”

“I guess it’s okay then, but I was really interested to hear how your date went.”

The horrible night’s incident flashed through Surla’s mind again. “I don’t think there will be a second date.”

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. At least you went and gave it a shot. Have fun with your new friend Chrissy. I’m glad you’re being more social lately, honey.”

Surla just smiled, then Cathy’s mom continued
, “Be home around noon tomorrow.”

“Okay, thanks, Mom. Bye.”

Surla hung up and returned the phone to Todd.

“Cathy, there’s some sweats in the backseat you can put on. I’m sure you must be freezing.” Todd pointed to the red pile.

“Thanks.” Surla quickly put them on and maneuvered her wet bra off without anyone seeing.

“Um, Cathy…” Chrissy turned in her seat. “Do you mind me asking what happened to your clothes?”

Surla laughed. “No, I don’t mind. I know this situation looks really bad, but it’s probably not what you’re thinking.”

Todd was especially interested in what the explanation would be.

“Well, I went swimming in the lake with Craig. He talked me into taking off my clothes, since I was wearing a silk shirt. I’ve seen less in bathing suits, so I didn’t think much about it, but when he tried to go further than that I wouldn’t let him. That’s when he sped off with my clothes. I should have scratched him or bit his ear like I wanted.”

“Oh, I’ll do more than that to him when I see him,” Todd said, angered. “I hope you don’t think all guys are like that.”

“No, I don’t think all guys are jerks. Especially not you! Tonight you saved me, Todd, and so did you, Chrissy. You two are like my heroes.”

“What do you say about your ‘heroes’ wanting to take you out to eat?” Todd looked at Chrissy and she agreeably smiled.

“That is an offer I cannot refuse.” Surla was feeling warm again and her spirits were lifting, but her stomach growled of hunger. “It has to be a place with chicken though. I love to eat birds.”

“Oh yeah, and I love burgers, so let’s go eat some cow and birds,” Todd quipped.

Chapter 13

The three sat at a booth next to a window. They were lucky to have such nice seating, since Rita’s Grill was a popular diner. There was always conversation and laughter twenty-four hours a day. Surla ordered a chicken sandwich, Chrissy ordered a soup and salad, and Todd sat across the table, chomping down a burger with fries. After a half hour passed, the food was eaten off their plates, with much help from Todd, and conversation was dying down.

“Well, Cathy, are you feeling better?” Todd asked.

“Yes, I am.” Surla stretched her arms over her head and leaned back. In doing that, she caught a glimpse of someone outside resembling Craig. She looked again and sure enough it was Craig—entering his red sports car with Tiffany! “He’s here!” Surla blurted out.

“Who is? Craig?” Todd and C
hrissy said in unison. They looked out the window into the rainy parking lot.

“Yes! He just got in his car with Tiffany.”

“That’s him all right.” Chrissy knew from all the rides home.

“I’m gonna have a talk with him,” Todd said threateningly.

They instantly rushed toward the door.

“Wait!” a woman’s voice called from behind. They turned to see the heavy-set waitress who served them. “You aren’t leaving without paying.”

Craig’s headlights were seen leaving down the highway. “Man!” Todd said loud enough for some people to stop eating to see what the problem was. Disappointed, he walked to the register with Chrissy and Surla. “What’s the bill?”

The waitress ripped the receipt loose. “It comes out to nineteen dollars and sixty four cents.”

Todd pulled his wallet from his back pocket, paid, and took three chocolate mints before leaving.

The rain slowed to a soft pitter-patter when they drove away from Rita’s Grill. Surla fell asleep easily; her head, at first leaning back, found its way to Todd’s shoulder. Chrissy was wide awake, staring ahead. There was a car stopped at the side of the road, down the way a bit. Chrissy turned around in her seat to look at it. “Hey, Todd, that was Craig’s car back there.”

“What?” He slowed down. “I think you’re right.” He did a U-turn on the slippery road. His truck stopped in front of the red sports car. They let Surla sleep, so she could rejuvenate, while Todd went to settle the situation.

Todd ran his hands through his dark
, wet hair before approaching the driver’s side window. He knocked on it, then Craig rolled it down.

“Hey, Todd. I’m having some car trouble. I was coming home with Tiffany and it just stalled.”

The blonde leaned forward and smiled. Her lipstick was smeared across her cheek. “Do you think you can call someone for help?”

“Call for help? Yeah right. Why don’t I just leave the two of you stranded like you did to Cathy
?” His eyebrows furrowed.

Craig turned to Tiffany. “Um, Craig, I think Chri
ssy might’ve told him.”

“What?! I thought Chrissy wasn’t gonna know about it.” He then turned to Todd again. “Listen, man, it’s not like it sounds. You should’ve seen the way Cathy was acting.”

Todd gripped the collar to Craig’s polo shirt. “I think we better take this outside.” His muscles dragged Craig through the open window and onto the wet concrete.

“What the heck is your proble
m?!” Craig stood, looking down at his ripped shirt.

“You’re my problem and I think it needs solv
ing quickly.” He punched him in the face, causing his nose to bleed. “That’s for Cathy.”

Craig shook his head and felt the blood. Then, like a dry twig
, his anger snapped. He punched at Todd, but most throws were dodged.

Todd punched him back in the stomach. “Say you’re scum. Say it!”

Craig was getting weaker. His body hunched over, but still no words came out of his mouth. Todd pinned him against the hood. “Say it!”

“No,” came the choked response.

Todd punched him once more. Craig’s blood stained his white T-shirt.

“Stop!” Tiffany yelled. “You’re really hurting him!”

“Okay, I’m stopping.” Todd clenched his fists in retreat.

Craig moaned
in pain.

Cathy was still sleeping deeply when Chrissy exited the truck. She walked to the passenger side of the car and opened the door. Tiffany’s eyes were wide with surprise as she scooted over to the driver’s seat. “I’m just taking Cathy’s clothes back,” Chrissy said and reached to the back seat where she saw the silk shirt and khaki pants.

Chrissy protected the shirt from the rain by sticking it under her own as she ran back to the truck and tossed it inside.

Todd was still busy arguing with Craig when she returned to Tiffany. The car door was still open. Chrissy smiled and reached to the ground
. With a light laugh, she then showed Tiffany a handful of mud.

“What are you doing? I’m wearing a velvet shirt. Do you know how much this costs?” she asked, pressing her fingers against the fabric.

“A million bucks?” Chrissy said like she didn’t care. Then the slimy, brown stuff slammed across Tiffany’s face, dripping onto her shirt.

“I hate you!” Tiffany shrieked and charged at her, landing on top of Chrissy in the mud.

They sloshed and rolled in it, ripping and tearing anything they could get a hold of. Their hair soon looked like clay and their bodies like they were dipped in dark chocolate.

Craig watched
in amusement. To him, it was like a pay-per-view mud wrestling show and he had front row tickets. Still, he kept an eye on Todd, just in case!

It all seemed to end too soon. Chrissy and Todd had their sweet revenge, while Surla witnessed nothing. They decided to let her rest, and even during the sleep-over, Chrissy did not mention the occurrence. So
, you can understand Surla’s surprise when she came back to school Monday, seeing Craig with a black eye.

Chapter 14

After Friday night, Craig and Tiffany demonstrated their exaggerated lust for each other openly, in an attempt to upset Surla. In the hallways, the cafeteria, even outside the library, hands were roving and tangoing tongues taunted her.

The next day in History class, Tiffany bragged to Surla and whoever else could hear, that she and Craig were going dressed up in matching costumes for Revere Park’s Halloween bash. “It’s going to be perfect.”

“Are you going?” Surla cleverly changed the topic to Todd.

“No, I can’t,” he responded. “I have to take my sister out trick-or-treating. It’s her last year of going door to door, so I know she’ll want to stay out until way past her bed time.”

That information made her feel in a bummer mood, so she tried to focus on the lesson. The teacher was speaking about pirates. It was interesting enough. “These bandits of the sea were ruthless, often taking treasured possessions from other ships by force. They stole anything of value, gold and even food. Ships sunk from firing cannonballs and sword fights ended by death.”

She imagined for a second, Craig arriving at the Halloween party as a pirate, his black eye hidden with an eye-patch.
The rude attitude that goes with the costume wouldn’t have to be an act and Tiffany could be his squawking parrot. Mmmm, a parrot
, Surla licked her lips subconsciously.

For the period of time that Pussface snuck away from Cathy’s, the scrawny cat roamed the dark streets and alleys without any namable reason. Why didn’t he go back to Idis? He wasn’t sure himself. He just knew he felt confusion, and eating scraps from tin garbage cans didn’t help him think clearer.

A few other hungry and homeless felines crossed paths with him, most of whom were punks fighting over basically
anything: rebels without a cause. Pussface imagined what they would look like if they were human. They would have super-spiky Mohawks and fake leather pants. Instead of switchblades, these cats had switch-claws.

Hoping for a little refuge and romance, Pussface peeked through a typical hole in a backyard fence. “Why am I even doing this?” He watched Diamond prance around flower beds, chasing little flies. One blue moth in particular seemed as if it was playing along and thinking ‘catch me if you can
’! It even loopdy-looped and landed on her nose a couple times.

“Hey, Peeping Tom Cat,” a deep and lazy voice said from behind Pussface.

He turned to see Lenny, another black cat. (Remember, all black cats can talk, with a witch or without.) Lenny was surrounded by three of his buddies—two were skinny, showing ribs, their eyes big with hunger and the third was an orange and white fat cat.

“What do ya boys want?” Pussface spoke with a tough accent, which comes
out whenever he aims to sound threatening.

“We was wonderin’ whachoo were doin’ lookin’ at our Cat Woman.” Lenny stepped closer, his posse following closely behind.

“Your Cat Woman? Who says she’s yours, Batman?” he joked. “And what’s up with Garfield here? Has he been swiping everyone’s portion of fish bones?”

Like a trigger, Lenny and the posse’s front right claws shot out.

Pussface flinched, arching his back. “Come on now, why does there have to be this black-cat-on-black-cat crime?” the cornered and now scaredy cat pleaded.

The
orange cat moved forward, like it was a personal invitation to hurt Pussface.

“This isn’t fair. It’s three against…” He stopped suddenly, hearing someone coming down the sidewalk. It was a midnight jogger. Not wanting the guy to suspect anything weird, Pussface continued to act like a normal cat until he disappeared around the block. “Hiss! Hiss! Meow! Hiss!” was followed by flailing of paws and spitting.

Lenny and the posse looked at each other with amusement. “That wuz pretty funny, wuzn’t it?”

Pussface’s snaggletooth poked out in his grin. “Does that mean you’re gonna let me go?”

“No.” They cornered him, still intimidating him with their razor-sharp switch-claws.

“Wait, I have an idea.” Pussface thought quickly. “Let’s have a contest.”

“What kind of contest?” They were skeptical.

“You know, to see which one of us Diamond would go for.”

All their claws retracted with thought. “Yeah, what do we gotta do?” Lenny asked.

“We each have to go hunting for the best present to give her. Whichever gift she enjoys the most, then whoever caught it will win.”

“So, you mean like catchin’ a mouse for her?” Lenny was warming up for competition.

“Yeah, you got the idea.” Pussface’s muscles relaxed. “We’ll meet back here in twenty minutes. Sound good, boys?”

“Okay, but no cheatin’, loser. I better not catch you with her until we’re all here and ready,” Lenny warned, and then took off down a dark road, with his posse following closely behind.

Pussface once again peeked through the hole in the fence. Diamond was
still fervently chasing flies. He almost forgot time was ticking, absorbed in his admiration for her.

The other cats were seeking rodents in a dirty alley. Many rats were skittering around through garbage.

“This will be easy.” Lenny crouched down, singling out one that was fat with light brown fur. Its eyes were black and beady; its tail was long and scaly with scabs. Not noticing it was being snuck up on by its worst enemy, his long pointed and twitching nose sniffed at an old jelly donut with hunger. Before it could take a nibble, the black cat had it in its paws.

“Bring over the tray of goodies!” Lenny meowed to his three obedient alley cats. The lid to a tin garbage can was slid over in a hurry. Already laying lifeless on it were three rodents.

Right before the twenty minutes were over, Lenny entered Diamond’s backyard with his tin platter.

“Ha ha! We’re here first. I wonder if the loser gave up.” He strutted toward the white
-as-cotton kitty, the food being pushed along by his buddies. Diamond backed herself up into a corner of the wooden fence.

“Hey, we ain’t here to cause no trouble,
miss. I just came to bring you a gift. A very tasty one. See, these four rats were caught in only fifteen minutes. I’m givin’ ’em to you.”

Lenny leaned to the feast, snagging by the tail a half-hairless rat with his teeth. The carcass wagged to and fro as he stepped closer to Diamond. “Here, take it. It’s for you,” he mumbled through a clenched jaw.

The rat was held only two or so inches from Diamond’s face. The foul odor, which could almost turn the air green with its stench, seeped up through the kitty’s nostrils and suddenly, without warning, she puked. Her Fancy Feast cat food came out in chunks all over Lenny.

“Eeeew
!” The black cat dropped the dinner and looked down at his now orange-colored fur. Diamond took that moment to run to the flowerbed and lay low.

“Come on
, boys, quick! Let’s head to the Smith’s; they have a swimming pool.” Lenny was utterly disgusted by the incident, and so was Diamond.

Yes! I’m here first
, Pussface thought, until noticing the smelly gifts sprawled next to the garbage lid. “Where is everyone? Oh no, maybe Diamond actually fell for the sleaze. I’m a lot better looking than he is! But of course, I wasn’t here on time.” He sighed deeply, looking around the dark yard, which was illuminated by bright foliage.

With head down, he
sulked away, then returned with a brown paper bag in his mouth. A light was flickering from within, and he set it in the middle of the grass.

After Pussface left, Diamond approached the glowing bag curiously. With a paw, she carefully opened the top. Yellow glimmered out and across her pale fur. Inside
, the bug’s wings fluttered and its body lit up like a light bulb.