Everlasting Bond (20 page)

“What are the two of you doing Friday night? I mean I don’t know anyone else in town, besides my Aunt Stella. It might be nice to get out and see the sights with some locals.”

“Sure, we’d love to hang out Friday.” Excitement poured off of Stacy and she barely let him finish asking.

“What about you, Katrina? Are you up for showing me your little town?”

“Uh, well, actually I, umm, OUCH!” Katrina yelled, feeling Stacy’s pointy heel jab into her skin for compliance. “Yeah sure.” She quickly gave in, before she felt the tip of Stacy’s shoe poke her again.

“Great, I’ll pick you guys up around six-thirty. Does that work?”

“Definitely.” Stacy ripped a piece of paper from her notebook. “Here are directions to my house. You can pick us up there.”

Donovan smiled, and bowed his head. “Ladies.” Then he made his exit to his next class.

“Can you believe it?” Stacy shrieked in excitement. “He’s only been here a day and I managed to get him to ask me out! Imagine what I could do given a week with him—” She sighed heavily closing her eyes in anticipation.

“Ouch, why did you kick me?” Katrina rubbed her shin. For a tiny girl Stacy could sure kick hard.

“I’m not going out with him by myself. I need my partner in crime! It would be too nerve-wracking to go out just the two of us this soon.”

“So, injuring your best friend helps?”

“Oh, quit being a baby. I didn’t kick you that hard.” Stacy playfully rolled her eyes in Katrina’s direction.

“But that hurt.”

“For someone as tough as you, I think you’ll live.”

“Doubtful.”

“Meet me after school and you can help me figure out what to wear.” She snickered, exiting to her next class.

“Can’t wait!” Katrina sarcastically shouted after her.

“I’m sure you can’t!” Stacy waved without looking back, as she disappeared around the corner.

Walking to class, Katrina felt the pressure in her chest ease. The burning diminished and she could breathe again. She sighed in relief and rubbed her chest, but wondered what the hell was wrong with her body today. Before she could absorb herself in curiosity the bell rang and
it became a forgotten memory.

The rest of the school week went by in one big blur for Katrina and she soon fell into a different type of routine. Stacy had stayed the whole week with her and kept Katrina from feeling completely going crazy with worry. Things went pretty smooth for the most part. The only major pain she had to deal with was Andrew and his annoying phone calls. Every time he would check on her, their conversations never ended well, but she wasn’t going to dwell on it. Friday had finally arrived and she had never needed a weekend off more.

At the end of the day, Katrina waited in the front of the school for Stacy, as promised. Katrina was still a little livid that Stacy had managed to sucker her into going out later. She couldn't hold against her, though. Stacy would have done the same for her no questions asked.

“There you are. I thought this week would never end. Let’s go. My mom’s missed me so bad, she’s about ready to call a search party,” Stacy teased and grabbed Katrina’s arm, as they dashed towards the bus.

The bus was a form of transportation Katrina hadn’t missed since she and Jake had gotten the truck. Rows of black vinyl seats overflowing with prepubescent, malodorous teenagers and the obnoxiou
sly loud crowd in the back put Katrina in her own personal hell. Katrina couldn’t wait to get off. She practically flew out of her seat as the bus neared Stacy’s home.

“Race you.” Stacy darted to her front porch. Katrina paced herself to the off white and ivy painted farmhouse. With its freshly refurbished cream paint and its intense garland green accents on the trim and shutters, it was bursting with as much energy as Stacy herself.

“Come on, Kat!” Stacy shouted in between her heavy breathing.

“I’m coming. A little patience would be nice,” Katrina said, as she neared Stacy.

“No one ever got anywhere by being patient and waiting for things to come to them. So, hurry up.”

“Yes, ma’am,” she giggled.

Stacy barely waited for her to catch up before she ran through the front door. Katrina kept her relaxed pace and followed her inside. Stacy’s house was as unique as her. Instead of neutral colors most would use, Stacy’s home was more like a vivid rainbow of life. Every room was bursting with vibrant colors and many bizarre themes of décor.

“Hey, mo
m. We’re here.” Stacy practically ran her mother and the laundry basket she was carrying down in the midst of her excitement. “Oh, sorry.”

“Whoa! Slow down there
, tiger,” her mom laughed and put the laundry basket down. “I missed you.” She threw her arms around Stacy in a giant hug. Her blue eyes sparkled at like her daughters. Her features were vibrant and bubbly just like Stacy's. And she was always smiling.

“Missed you too!” Stacy squeezed her mom tighter.

Seeing them hug, Katrina felt a twinge of sadness. It made her miss her own mom even more. Before a tear could escape Stacy’s mom turned her attention to Katrina and the cast on her arm. The chubby apples of her cheeks immediately became tight and her blonde eyebrows scrunched together in a frown. “Stacy told me what happened. How's your arm?”

Katrina held her cast up to give her a better view. “It's a little awkward and itchy, but I'll manage.”

“I'm sure it'll be off before you know it. How's your mom doing?”

“She
's good, just been resting.”

“We wanted to go out tonight
. Is that okay?” Stacy interrupted and managed to ask in one long.

“
I suppose. Just don't be out too late.” Her mom nodded making her head full of short blonde curls bounce around her chin. “Well, I'll let you girls get ready. I've got a few more loads of laundry to finish anyways. If you girls are hungry, help yourself to anything in the fridge.”

“Thanks, mom.” Stacy gave her an excited kiss on the cheek. “Love you,” she a
dded, as she ran up the stairs.

“Love you too, honey. But I want a mother-daughter night soon.”

“Promise mom,” Stacy shouted back from upstairs.

“
It was good to see again, Mrs. Reynolds.”

“You too, Kat.” Mrs. Reynolds smiled and headed towards the laundry room.

Katrina headed up the stairs. She took them one at a time because she was in no hurry. She already knew Stacy would be ransacking her room for supplies. Finally on the last step, she saw Stacy dashing across the hall to the bathroom. Toiletries in hand, she turned to face Kat.

“Hey, I’m going to hop in the shower real quick.” Stacy bounced towards the doorwa
y. “You can relax or whatever.”

“It’s
4 o’clock. Do you have enough time to shower and look presentable?”

“Shut up,” she laughed. “You know we all don’t just roll out of bed looking like this,” she gestured towards herself. “It takes a lot of prepping and hard work,” Stacy giggled, as she sashayed inside the bathroom.

While Stacy showered, Katrina helped herself into her room. Bored and exhausted, she plopped onto the bed. The satin, dusty rose-colored bedding and pretty much the rest of Stacy’s room screamed “Girlie Princess.” To Katrina, it always looked as if someone had thrown up pink medicine all over it. She liked pink, but there was a fine line between tactful and tacky. Katrina thought Stacy had gone into overkill with the blending of all the different shades and tones of pink.

She tried to relax as the shower water pounded against the other side of the wall, but instead her mind wandere
d. Everything that happened the night before Cole left replayed itself over and over in her mind like a bad rerun. She wasn’t sure if she should tell Stacy any of it. And if she did, would Stacy believe her? Katrina rolled over in an attempt to shut everything out and try to sleep it off. It felt as if seconds had passed when Stacy’s voice chimed into Katrina’s thoughts.

“Kat, wake up.” Stacy placed a hand on Katrina’s shoulder and made her jump.

“I’m not asleep. I’m just thinking.” She tried to look as awake as possible.

“Whatever. Tonight, you’re going to have fun and take your mind off everything. I promise.”

“Sure thing, whatever you say.”

“It’s
5:30, go get ready. I mean it. Your bag’s right over there.” Stacy pointed to a black duffel bag by her dresser.

“Are the clothes clean?”

“Of course. My mom washes them for you every time after you leave. Granted you haven’t been over since Cole started stalking you, but none the less they’re clean.”

“What’s that suppose to mean?”

“Oh, nothing. I’m just wondering if this means you might be considering your options?”

“Meaning?” Katr
ina arched her eyebrows at her.

“I can’t help but wonder if this means you’ll reconsider and not leave us behind after all?”

“Right now, that’s the last thing on my mind.” Katrina shifted herself upright to face Stacy.

“Is everything okay?” Stacy sat down next to her.

“Yes. No. I don’t know.”

“Want to talk about it?” Stacy put her hand on Katrina’s shoulder.

Katrina just stared at her naïve friend. She wanted more than anything to tell her what was going on, but couldn’t. “It’s just everything with— my mom.” Katrina only half lied.

“Trust me, she’ll b
e fine. Your mom is one tough cookie. She survived cancer; a little fender bender won’t stop her.” She gave Katrina a big hug.

“I guess you’re right.” Katrina rested her head against Stacy’s boney shoulder.

“Of course I am. Now, go get dressed.”

“I will, just let me lay here and relax a little while longer.” Katrina attempted to lay back down when she felt Stacy’s arm catch her.

“Katrina Marie Davenport, go get your butt in that bathroom and change. I need you to help me figure out what to wear.” Stacy’s annoyed voice took on an authoritative tone, as she tried to yank Katrina to her feet.

“I’m going.” She finally stood to her feet and grabbed the duffel bag.

“You better.”

“I’ll be right out.” She let out a sigh of protest and closed the door. Truth be told she had no desire to go out tonight. She wanted to stay home and wait for any news from Cole. But Cole had yet to contact her, and with her mom recovering at Dr. Aldrich’s, there was no way Stacy was going to let her stay home alone. Resigned, Katrina rummaged through the bag for what to wear. She quickly found some jeans and one of her favorite crimson colored blouses and tossed them on. She barely had time to brush her hair when she heard a light knock on the door.

“Kat, are you dressed?”

“Yeah, come in.”

“It’s still so stuffy in here. Remind me to leave the door open longer after I shower next time.”

“Feels good to me.”

“Of course it does. You’re like a lizard when it comes to heat.”

“Hot be
ats cold any day.” Katrina shrugged and glanced at Stacy. “Did you need something?”

“Your help. I tried, but I have no idea. Nothing seems to be good enough.”

“Let’s go find you the outfit of your dreams. Lead the way.” Katrina followed Stacy back into the pink room. Stacy swung the door open to reveal her eclectic wardrobe. Clothes were Stacy’s favorite past time. There were outfits from every decade inside her closet.

“That’s a huge relief. I was thinking about this one.” Stacy held a plain top and jeans.

“No, that’s not you.”

“How about this one then?”

“That one looks good,” Katrina nodded in approval.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. You look fine,” she insisted, dying to be relieved of her involuntary duty as the fashion police. Fashion and accessorizing was Stacy's thing, not hers. She turned to go back and find her phone when the scorching in her chest returned. It caught her by surprise and Katrina bent over in shock; the pain was unbearable.

“What did you do? “ Stacy ran over to her.

“Nothing, I just bumped my foot on something.” She bit down on her bottom lip to suppress the pain.

“You’re not trying to do this to get out of going tonight are you?”

“No. I’m fine, honest.”

Trying to focus on Stacy instead of the pain, she reassessed her friend’s outfit. She did have to admit the simple long sleeve lace top went nicely with Stacy’s beaded jean pants. Katrina had begged her not to get the pants, but Stacy had to have it. To Katrina, it looked like an eight year old got carried away with adding beads; to Stacy, it was sparkly and she couldn’t resist anything that glistened.

“GIRLS! COMPANY!” Mrs. Reynolds shouted from downstairs.

Stacy immediately went into hysterics. “Oh my God! He’s here! Mirror check!” Stacy turned and ran over to the mirror and fixed any stray pieces of hair. Then she turned her attention to Katrina. “Come on, Kat! Let’s go!”

Katrina grabbed her phone and followed Stacy down the cherry-colored staircase. The burning in her chest was throbbing. Like a bad toothache, it made her entire body ache. Part of her wanted to go lie down and forget about going out, but she knew Stacy would be crushed. Being the friend that she was, Katrina sucked it up and forced herself to continue down the stairs after Stacy.

Mrs. Reynolds was in conversation with Donovan in the foyer when they stopped and turned their attention to Stacy and
Katrina. “There you girls are.”

Stacy was so excited she looked right past her mom and e
agerly waved at Donovan. “Hey.”

“You ladies look nice.” His lips curved into a large grin.

“Thanks. You don’t look so bad yourself.” Stacy bit her bottom lip and eyed him up and down.

Looking at Donovan, Katrina had to agree. With his seamless black jeans and olive green shirt, he looked like a male model. Against the green of his shirt, there were subtle hints of yellowish undertones in his eyes. For a moment she felt she could get lost in those childlike oceans, but she was distracted by the burning sensation in her chest, as it intensified and throbbed uncomfortably.

“Ready?” Donovan held the door.

“Of course,” Stacy gleamed. Her excitement was blatantly obvious.

“How about you, Katrina?”

“Yeah. I’m ready.”

“It was nice to meet you, Mrs. Reynolds.”

“Same here.” Mrs. Reynolds nodded her head at him and then looked over at Stacy. “Don't be home too late.”

“Actually, I was wondering if I could spend the night at Kat's tonight?”

“That's fine, just text me when you guys get in.”

“Sure thing, mom.” Stacy was already pulling Katrina towards the door.

“Have fun,” Mrs. Reynolds said, as she shut the door.

Following Stacy out the door, Katrina started to sweat. Her insides felt like they were on fire with anxiety. Trying to get a handle on her nerves, she wasn’t paying attention and walked right into Stacy.

“Kat, you don’t look so good.” Stacy gave her a worried look.

“It’s nothing,” Katrina brushed off. When Stacy wouldn’t stop staring she added, “I’m fine, honest.”

“If you’re sure,” Stacy let it go and turned back around. “Wow!” she gasped in shock. “Kat, look. Is that what I think it is?”