by Kiki Archer
Kat loved to people watch, always wondering at the vastness of life, every single person inside the bar had a story, a life full of issues and experiences and dilemmas and dramas just like her own, no one’s predicament worth any more or any less than the other persons. She believed if someone came to you with a problem then the problem should be treated with absolute care and significance, no matter how irrelevant it could be deemed. It was their problem; a problem and an issue of upmost importance in their life and their world at that point in time. So when Lucy had asked advice about Ben and his desire to spank her - which went against Lucy’s principles - Kat treated the issue with thought and care and Lucy realised she would never be as good a person or friend as Kat was to her. But now after forty five minutes of pondering the possible problems and solutions of the customers of the Lightbag, she had had enough.
‘Not going anyway were you babe?’ Vicky leant down to a shuffling Kat who had been working her way off the trendy but uncomfortable wrought iron picnic bench, she kissed her hard on the mouth.
Kat coughed, nervous by the gesture and slightly overwhelmed by the strong exotic smell of her very dominant perfume. ‘No, no just getting another drink,’ she lied. They had nearly reached their conversation record. Kat always found the first date difficult, especially if the initial meeting had been somewhere loud and busy where confidence was easy to find.
‘Mines a Becks then please babe.’ Vicky allowed her to struggle off the bench and quickly shuffled into the warm seat. ‘Oh and some crisps or something I am starving.’ She put her hands behind her head and cracked her shoulders, nodding Kat in the direction of the bar.
Kat could recall that Vicky was a physiotherapist at a private health clinic. That she had been tall, with dark hair, attractive and fairly complimentary, but now on her way to the posh bar she questioned her initial hazy experience and positive judgement. The service was quick and friendly, but incredibly expensive and she returned to the balcony assuming the next round was on her date.
‘Cheers babe, what a nightmare week.’ Vicky was whining as she put her hand on Kat’s thigh under the table and squeezed her leg.
Kat felt uneasy, kissing someone you hardly knew in a buzzing club after a number of drinks was a lot simpler than this. ‘What happened?’ she asked, slowly trying to edge away.
‘Well I had Mr Peters with the groin strain, and I am telling you now no one wants Mr Peters with the groin strain.’
Vicky was not giving much eye contact and Kat found it hard to connect.
‘Then yesterday I had the swimming pool with the old ladies from the Friary - the old people’s home?’ She looked at Kat as if she should know exactly what the Friary was, where it was and what it involved. When Kat didn’t reply she raised her eyebrows and tutted. ‘And anyway you have to help change them and they are in the pool and it is just a nightmare with their wobbly legs...’
Kat was trying really hard to pay attention, but with her date staring around at whatever took her fancy she was finding it difficult to concentrate, ‘Oh right.’
Vicky gulped her beer and swallowed a little burp, ‘...then we do rehab and the stories, I mean I don’t want to know thanks all the same. There is enough heartache to deal with without someone else’s sob story. So I just do the muscles and say I have to concentrate and then...’
Kat had used up her variety of interested two syllabled sentences -‘oh right, uh huh, really, I see,’ and was now, many anecdotes later, just sticking with ‘right.’ Vicky was boring her and the buzz of other people’s conversations from the nearby tables seemed so much more appealing.
‘Give me a kiss babe.’ Vicky suddenly put her arm around her neck, catching her completely off guard and pulled her in tight for the embrace.
‘Um...’ Kat didn’t have chance to rebuff as large lips pressed forcefully against her own, ‘...ok...’ She kept trying to break it off ‘...mmm...’ but failed.
Vicky wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and let out a small breathy burp. ‘That was nice babe; any chance of another drink?’
Kat looked down at her white wine spritzer still half full and recalled Vicky’s fast gulping between the tiresome self indulgent tales. ‘I have got school tomorrow so it can’t be a late one for me sorry. But yes of course, the same again?’
‘Cheers babe.’ Vicky squeezed her leg once more under the table, moving her hand a couple of inches higher this time.
Kat stood at the bar shielded by a group of ogling businessmen with smart suits and loose ties. She discreetly sent Lucy the message. ‘Give me the phone call in 5.’ Both knew what it meant. She slipped back onto the hard wrought iron bench with her purse nearly empty.
‘ ...and then I had the whiplash guy and I mean I have been seeing him for months and everyone knows it is insurance...’
Had she paused when I went to fetch the drinks wondered Kat?
Nokia ringtone, Kat wasn’t very technical and was perfectly happy with a normal ringtone even after a Katy Perry - I kissed a girl - Bluetooth download from Lucy. She turned to Vicky, ‘Excuse me,’ and reached for her phone. ‘Hello?...Yes...Ok...No worries.’ Kat was an awful liar, the only time when she struggled to keep eye contact.
There was another immediate tutting sound. ‘That was not the phone call from the flatmate was it?’ laughed Vicky looking directly at her for the first time.
Kat realised she was actually really attractive with strong, high cheekbones and full lips, dark wedged hair that reached her sharp jaw line and large deep brown eyes that were now looking sultry. Vicky smiled and her whole face transformed into the person she recognised from Gail’s. ‘Sorry babe, I have just had a hectic week, let me make it up to you?’
‘Um, it wasn’t -’ She couldn’t lie.
Vicky nodded, ‘It was. Look, I remember you told me that you liked tennis.’ She smiled as she noticed the look on Kat’s face.
‘Yes?’
‘See I do listen, anyway I used to play for Coldfield Tennis Club and I would love to book us a court for Saturday.’ She continued to charm and looked up with big brown puppy dog eyes. ‘Please. Let me make it up to you. I was a bit nervous I guess and I just rattled on.’
Kat wasn’t sure whether she believed her, but was always willing to give people the benefit of the doubt; often to the annoyance of Lucy and Jess.
‘Ok, what time?’ she smiled defeated.
‘Ten?’
‘Alright then, see you there. I really do have to go you know.’ She edged out of the uncomfortable seat. ‘School tomorrow, it’s the last day and I cannot wait for my first half term break.’
‘Oh yeah how is that going?’
Vicky was already looking around before Kat got time to answer, ‘Ok than-’
‘Good good, see you Saturday then babe.’
Kat had already got up and Vicky didn’t bother.
‘See you Saturday.’ Kat was not sure if she heard.
Chapter 9
The first day of the October break was glorious and the warm sun was comforting as Kat sat book in hand on the white paint chipped benches outside the old tennis pavilion. She snapped the hardback closed; half ten, historical novel finished and still no sign of Vicky.
‘Hi.’ The voice was gentle.
Kat turned around and saw Freya stood nervously in a black fitted tracksuit with her long chestnut brown hair tied up into a high pony. She looked fresh faced and rosy cheeked.
‘Hello.’ Kat smiled and stood up unsure of how to greet her; she tried again. ‘Hi, how are you? What are you doing here?’ She looked at Freya’s red tennis bag and white shock absorbing tennis shoes and felt stupid.
Freya didn’t try to be funny, ‘It’s my birthday and my mum and dad have barred me from the house for a couple of hours, they are clearly planning some sort of embarrassing surprise and so I just thought I would come and have a bit of a knock about.’ She put down the heavy red bag and stood awkwardly, suddenly unsure of what to do with her hands. ‘We are goi
ng out tonight so I thought a bit of exercise wouldn’t go a miss.’
Kat didn’t know whether it was Freya’s rambling or slight embarrassment that made her so endearing but she felt her heart glow and did the natural thing, ‘Your eighteenth? Wow congratulations,’ she hugged her and for a split second they both closed their eyes, involuntarily marvelling at the way their bodies seemed to fit perfectly together.
Freya’s confidence grew as the smell of Kat’s perfume and the feel of her beautiful hair now touching her face transported her back to their first kiss; her birthday was already complete. She pulled back slightly with her hand still resting lightly on Kat’s waist. ‘Thank you. Look, I just wanted to tell -’
The crunching noise of a weighty bag being hurled into the sandy gravel made them both jump.
‘Hi babe, come here sexy,’ Vicky growled as she grabbed Kat and spun her around into her arms and onto her mouth.
‘Um...ok...mmm...Vicky, stop it!’ She wiped her mouth aghast at the rough contact, literally shaking herself free to create some distance from her. She looked up apologetically. ‘Freya this is Vicky, Vicky Freya.’
Vicky glanced across momentarily, ‘Hi, look nice to meet you, but my babe and I have got some serious sexual tension to burn off. Come on gorgeous get over here.’ She grabbed Kat’s wrist and was about to insist upon another slap dash kiss when the Hot Chocolate Ringtone stole her attention. ‘Wait a minute.’ She reached for the Blackberry in her oversized tracksuit bottoms. ‘Yeah....what...yeah...piss off...ok....right... fine...no fine...bye.’ She shoved the phone back in her pocket and huffed. ‘Bitch!’ She turned to Kat. ‘Look that wasn’t the call from the flatmate but I have to go, Mr Wright with the knee, remember I told you?’
Kat couldn’t.
‘Well I am needed. What can I say? The demands of a good physio! He better bloody tip me this time! Play with your mate or something. Look I’ll text. Maybe you can come to mine later babe?’ She darted off throwing her heavy sports bag over her broad shoulder. ‘See you sexy’
The sound of the crunching gravel faded and Vicky disappeared into the distance. Kat turned back around slowly and shook her head in complete embarrassment. ‘I am so sorry about that.’
‘No worries, it’s fine. Is that your girlfriend?’ Freya couldn’t even look at her because she felt so utterly humiliated at the secret thoughts she had been harbouring.
Kat waited and found her green eyes. ‘No. That is someone I am going to try my best to never see again.’
She looked away. ‘Oh right ok, not that it’s any of my business, I just thought -’
Kat gently took her hand and waited for her eyes to return. ‘I can assure you she isn’t.’ She spoke softly not wanting to question her burning need to reassure.
Kat’s hand finally let go and Freya scuffed her feet in the dusty gravel as she changed the subject. ‘Look I am so sorry about yesterday.’
‘Yesterday?’
‘The note thing.’ Freya had played it over and over in her mind chastising herself for being so childish. ‘Did you read it?’
‘No, why would I?’ Kat had been tempted and it had taken great restraint to stop herself from sifting through the pencil sharpenings and browning apple cores to leave the scrappy note where it sat discarded at the bottom of her metal classroom bin.
‘Sorry, no reason, I am just being silly. Look, I have a court booked. I was just going to use the ball machine but we could play if you fancy?’ Freya looked away again, she could not read the situation - was Kat recognising the looks? Was she feeling the intensely charged atmosphere? ‘Or I understand if you just want to get off.’
‘I would love a game.’ She meant it.
‘Fantastic.’ Freya’s green eyes twinkled, ‘I am good you know.’
She spotted the glint. ‘So am I,’ she smiled.
Kat had started to sweat. Freya had been serious about her ability and on match point she realised her game was up. The pair pounded the yellow furry ball both playing to impress the other. Kat noticed Freya’s agility, speed and focused determination; the way she placed every shot with power and meaning, each ball with a perfectly thought out final destination – just inside the white line. Freya noticed Kat’s body, the way she moved, the way she looked and the way their arms had brushed together each time they passed at the slightly sagging green net.
Kat played with real emotion and feeling. ‘Ah, damn it! Good shot Freya, well played. I believe that is game set and match to you!’ She puffed defeated and jogged into the net.
‘Well played. Good game I enjoyed that, you are really good.’ Freya exaggerated.
‘Oh thanks, but not quite up to your standards.’ They shook hands.
Freya held Kat’s grip, ‘Yes you are.’ Her leading voice and intense stare gave away her meaning.
The pair walked to the edge of the court and slumped against the green wire enclosure. Kat felt in her bag for the high sugar energy drink but found instead her recently finished Historical novel. ‘You might like this,’ she said lifting it out and handing it over.
‘Is it good?’ asked Freya now patting her chest with her small black sports towel.
Kat had not been able to ignore her magnetising figure. The way Freya’s incredible body had moved powerfully across the court, or the way her tennis whites fitted her beautiful body perfectly, or now the way a minute bead of sweat had dripped slowly down her glistening chest. ‘Yes, hang on,’ she rummaged for a pen and opened the inside cover. Dear Freya, Happy 18th Kat Spicer x, ‘Happy birthday.’ She smiled apologetically, ‘I am so sorry, I didn’t realise it was today.’
‘How were you supposed to know? But thank you, that is really nice of you.’ She smiled and once again held Kat’s stare, the atmosphere was electric.
Kat had given Harley a pair of luminous green leg warmers on his 18, one of many lying around the apartment from a promotion Lucy was involved with. She had thrown them his way at the start of a History lesson and this was no different she reasoned. ‘Oh it’s fine, it’s nothing really, I hope you enjoy it.’
‘I will,’ said Freya still controlling the connection.
They stood up slowly and gathered their belongings, heading into the old fashioned changing rooms. It was quiet at the club this weekend as a trip to the NEC’s European Tennis Championships had taken away most of the regular members. Freya would have gone had it not been her birthday weekend and strict instructions from parents to keep it free.
They entered the stuffy changing rooms. ‘I have really enjoyed myself, thank you.’ Kat spoke with a meaning that made Freya’s heart hurt.
‘Me too,’ she added aching inside. There was so much she wanted to say and so much she wanted to do but didn’t know how. Surely she can feel it too she thought? Surely she can sense it, the chemistry, the atmosphere, each look with its crushing, aching effect on my chest, each touch with its electric resonance across my body?
They sat in the yellow tiled changing rooms neither knowing what to do. There were no individual cubicles, just a row of pegs above the long wooden bench that was fixed to three of the walls. On the fourth wall there was a row of open showers. Both had their wash bags and change of clothes. Kat had assumed she would have a drink in the clubhouse with Vicky and Freya needed to look good for the surprise at home, which now had absolutely no chance of beating the fabulous events of the morning. Freya had to get washed and changed, she had no choice, but she felt uncomfortable - why was Kat just sitting there in silence fumbling around with her white laces? Kat felt uncomfortable, she could not just leave without a shower, that would be unhygienic - but why was Freya just standing there messing with her towel?
‘I am going to have to go in, I think my parents have invited the whole extended family to shout Happy Birthday and pounce out at me.’ They both laughed nervously.
‘Yes no worries,’ said Kat trying to sound relaxed, still messing with her laces that were already untied.
Freya turned to face the chipped
yellow tile wall and lifted off her white tight fit Head T-shirt revealing a Nike sports bra and flawless smooth stomach. She breathed in and her heart fluttered; had she read this wrong? She would soon find out. Freya turned around.
Kat looked up and felt a rush of desire.
‘Are you coming in?’ Her green eyes were radiant and the atmosphere was intense, charged with emotion that neither had felt before.
Kat was screaming, her mind and senses in overload. She needed to look away but she couldn’t; Freya looked magnificent, so perfect, so beautiful, so sexy. She had to stop it. ‘I have to go Freya,’ she paused, ‘you know why.’ She dropped her eyes and tried to sound normal, ‘I’ll see you next term and you make sure you have a fantastic birthday.’
Freya watched and waited for her to finish messing and stand up. She found the connection once again and paused, ‘I will, thank you.’ She spoke with confidence, holding Kat’s intense blue eyes until she finally turned to leave.
Chapter 10
The October half term break was passing far too quickly for Kat’s liking. She decided to ignore the temptation that Freya had caused at the start of the week, filling each day with family and friends, desperately trying to forget the issues causing havoc in her head, hoping maybe they would just go away; maybe she would forget the way Freya’s eyes had pulled her close and enticed her to stay. The sun had been shining through the large apartment windows, warming the black leather sofa in the lounge and she lay comfortably, once again slipping into her daydream, only to jump at the sudden buzz of the apartment bell. She pulled herself up and gently padded across the wooden floor to the heavy apartment door, opening it conscious that her cheeks were flushed. ‘Oh hi Gary, how are you?’
He hadn’t been around for over a week and looked tired. Kat had known him for years. He was in his late twenties but today he looked about forty five with dark sunken eyes and pale fading skin. Gary leant down and pecked her warm cheek. He was well over six feet tall, slim with a small but attractive face. Unfortunately his mousy brown hair had started to recede badly and his attempted growth of the good bits to form a modern comb over was simply not working.