by C. A. Kunz
Walking away from her locker heading to the pool, Cat glanced down the next hallway. She saw Isaac and Ryan in a heated conversation. Ryan’s body language screamed anger as did Isaac’s. Wishing she could hear what was going on between them, Cat rounded back behind the corner and hid, still watching them. I wonder if I could read their minds, she thought. Concentrating, she heard nothing. Great, just when I want to hear people’s thoughts, I can’t. She wished she could at least read Ryan’s mind. Since the dance he seemed more distant. When she confronted him about it all he would say was, “It’s complicated”. Complicated? Really? Why do boys have to be so frustrating? Either he likes me or he doesn’t! During a recent study session she asked him if he wanted her to find another tutor. She was strangely happy to hear the resounding “No” he fired back at her.
“Hey Cat you better hurry up and get to the parking lot or the bus will leave without you.” a voice interrupted her thoughts.
Turning, she saw Michelle, Coach Hutchins’s assistant. “Oh crap! Thanks Michelle!” Cat huffed, rushing off.
“Good luck Cat!” Michelle called down the hall.
“Thanks!” Cat yelled back over her shoulder as she struggled with her duffle bag.
“I know what you’re doing Isaac and it has to stop.” Ryan glared at him.
“What am I doing exactly, and to whom am I doing it to?” Isaac replied innocently.
“I’m tired of your almighty attitude. And since when were you made the leader of our group?” Ryan lashed back.
“I guess you didn’t get the memo,” he replied with a smirk.
“I’m warning you, stay away from Cat! Leave her alone!” Ryan growled grabbing a hold of Isaac’s shirt and pushing him up against the locker.
“I’m the one that needs to stay away from Cat? What about you?” Isaac asked shoving him back. “You’re lucky you’re like my brother, or I would’ve decked you just now. Try that again Beckford and see what happens!” he said coldly.
“How many times do I have to tell you that I’m her tutor and that’s all! Anyway, the real question is, were you at the beach Saturday? Taylor said Cat was harassed by a vampire!”
“Don’t be stupid, I hate the beach! Why would I go to the beach! And besides, if it was me or any member of our group, don’t you think she would’ve said so! Besides, I’m tired of playing games with her pathetic little group. Taylor’s just trying to cause problems and of course you fell for it, hook, line and sinker. And if there really was a vampire, maybe it was a good thing he went after Cat! Maybe things should be shaken up more in this crummy town!” His smirk turned to an evil grin.
“How do you think the parents would react, if they knew you were harassing someone protected by our enemies?” Ryan asked.
“I think they’d be more upset hearing you have a crush on her!”
“You can threaten all you like Isaac but you know that I’m right about this. So give it up!” he whispered angrily, slamming his locker and making his way down the hall, leaving Isaac glaring at his retreating back.
Walking into the locker room at the Aquatic Center, Cat almost ran into Amelia. “Watch where you’re going! Oh, it’s you! Miss Catherine Colvin herself,” Amelia said smugly. Cat apologized quickly and walked on to her locker. She was thankful Amelia swam in different events. It was bad enough Cat was in an event with Kirsten. One pre-Madonna was all she could handle.
Quickly changing into her suit and grabbing her swim cap, Cat found her exit blocked by Amelia. “I think we need to have a little chat, you and I. First, about Hannah. You apparently are very stupid, or maybe just naïve, to think you can be friends with her. She belongs to us. Get it?” A melia said pointing her long red fingernail in Cat’s face. “Next, keep your hands off Ryan! I know he’s your tutor, but just know we’re not happy with the situation. If I were you I’d ask for another tutor ASAP. You don’t want to cross me, fire crotch! If that is even your natural hair color,” she whispered snidely with an evil smirk. Putting on her swim cap Amelia continued, “This is your last warning. Now run along little kitty, I’ve got to stretch,” she said letting her pass.
Cat walked to the door shaking her head completely stunned. Why are they so threatened by me? Does she really think I’m going to listen? Well she has another thing coming. I’ll show her! She thought, shoving her hair into her cap and angrily pushing open the door to the pool.
The bleachers were packed. People had to stand around the pool filling all available space. Cat spotted her parents, her friends, her Great Uncle Aldon and Great Aunt Druanna sitting two rows up from the front on the Astoria high side. A bright red haired man slipped through the crowd and took a seat by her mother. It was her Uncle Michael, Rachel’s brother. He was a priest in a small parish in Madison. He noticed Cat watching and began waving, calling out her name. She waved back smiling.
Elle, as the Panther, gave two thumbs up to Cat for a little encouragement and then turned to cheer again. Matt, Amanda and Julie sat in the front row holding a banner reading, “Go Cat Go!” Cat spied Taylor standing by one of the exit doors with his group of friends. She groaned as she saw Isaac and his clique also in the stands. She noticed Ryan was absent. Quickly scanning the room she saw most male eyes were focused on the end of the pool where Amelia and Kirsten were stretching their perfect bodies.
“Cat, Cat!” A voice floated across the pool. She saw Linda sitting by her brother on the Madison side. She thought back to the conversation she had with Linda over the phone the other night. Linda had told her that her brother’s girlfriend Mindy was competing against her and that secretly she was still rooting for Cat. Cat waved as Linda pointed a finger at her and mouthed, “behind you”. She turned and saw Mindy’s smiling face.
“Hey Cat! I heard we’re swimming the last freestyle event together, hope you can keep up!” Mindy said jokingly.
“I’ll hold my own,” Cat replied with a cheeky grin.
“Don’t look now but the Goth Queen is giving you the evil eye. What did you do?” Mindy asked nodding toward Amelia.
“Well, the simple fact that I’m here bothers her,” Cat replied glaring at Amelia.
“At least we don’t swim against her,” Mindy whispered. “Have you ever watched her closely when she swims? I don’t know how she does it. But she starts out neck and neck with everyone, and then all of a sudden it’s like she goes into super human mode and beats them by a mile,” she explained with a serious look on her face.
“Now that I think about it, I’ve noticed that too. But I just figured it was my imagination,” she replied looking at Amelia.
“Well, I better get my butt over to the winning side.
Good luck, Cat!”
“Yeah, you too,” Cat called out watching her walk away, noticing Amelia’s cold stare as Mindy passed her. Ignoring her, Cat scanned the crowd again looking for Ryan but couldn’t find him.
Cat was scheduled to swim in two events that day. Unfortunately for her nerves, they were the last two. She stood by stretching and watching the other races, her team winning most of them. Amelia won both of hers, proving her point, that she didn’t have to attend practices. Kirsten won her first race by a few inches.
At last, Cat stood on the blocks and waited for the starting signal. Minutes later she touched the wall and looked up at Stephanie, one of her other teammates, to see her beaming and yelling, “Cat you came in first!” The stands erupted with cheers as she exited the pool and was immediately hugged by her teammates. Except for Amelia and Kirsten, who looked on unimpressed.
There was no time to think about the next race as she had minutes until it started. At least Kirsten was at the farthest lane away from her. Focusing on the opposite wall, Cat heard the signal and dove into the pool. The water rushed over her, her arms and legs were as one as they propelled her down the lane. Reaching the wall, she quickly turned and pushed off with all of her strength. She heard the roar of the crowd, as she came up for air. Seeing her goal inching closer and closer, Cat
stretched out her arms smacking the wall in front of her. Gasping for air, she saw Coach Hutchins’s face above her, her brilliant smile told her she must’ve done really well. “Colvin, you beat the state record! Well done, young lady!” Cat bent her head and took a deep breath. When she looked up again, a hand reached down to pull her out of the pool, it was Taylor. He grabbed her, swinging her around, not caring about his clothes getting wet.
“Way to go Red Freak! I knew you could do it!” “Thanks Taylor!” Cat choked out, amazed at her big brother breaking his cool, reserved attitude to celebrate her accomplishment. Everyone she loved surrounded her, yelling, screaming and she finally found her mom’s face. “I love you!” Rachel yelled as she lost sight of her in the crowd.
Ryan stood in a dark corner by the bleachers near the exit. Before her first event he saw Cat glancing at the crowd periodically like she was looking for someone. He hoped that the person was him, but after the way he’d been acting lately he doubted it. He’d held his breath during the last race. His eyes focused only on her, not yelling with the rest of the crowd. He was relieved when it was finally over and she had won. He wanted to be the one to pull her out of the pool. He wanted to be the first to congratulate her, but he knew he could only watch from the sidelines. After all he was only her tutor.
Rachel looked at the clock in the kitchen, tired from the excitement of the day. The house had been overrun with friends and family celebrating Cat’s wins. Sam entered the kitchen and grabbed Rachel around the waist startling her. “Boy I’m bushed, let’s try and get some sleep shall we.” Walking up the stairway they heard noises coming from the attic.
“I think I’ll go check on our champion,” Rachel said giving Sam a kiss on his cheek.
“Don’t be too long, I’ll probably fall asleep before I make it to the bed,” he joked as he made his way to their room. Laughing, she climbed the attic stairs and knocked on Cat’s door. The door creaked open. Rachel entered the room not seeing Cat until she sprung up from the side of her bed.
“Young lady, what were you doing?” she asked, studying Cat’s frowning face.
“I’m looking for a little brown book that I’ve apparently misplaced. I can’t seem to find it anywhere,” Cat huffed in frustration.
“Well, I think you can wait until tomorrow to look. It’s late and you need your rest,” she said, biting her lip.
Why is she biting her lip? What is she nervous about? Cat thought to herself.
Rachel noticed Cat staring at her and realized she was biting her lip. Great! I might as well have just admitted that we took the journal and hid it because we didn’t want her to read it! She thought. “Come on time for bed,” Rachel announced cheerfully pulling back Cat’s covers and tucking her in. “Night sweetheart,” she said kissing her forehead and then quickly left the room.
“What was that all about?” Cat asked out loud looking to the ceiling.
12
Winter Solstice
Why did she come this way? It was quiet and isolated. The only sound she heard was the wind moving through the trees. She felt so alone. The winter sun began to set and the snow crunched beneath her every step. Wrapping her arms around herself to keep warm, she buried her face under her pink scarf. Peering through it, she watched the ground for obstacles she might trip over. If only she had stayed on the street. Yes it would’ve taken longer to get home, but at least there would have been traffic and other people. A loud rustling behind her made her stop. Spinning around and seeing only shadows of the tall trees and bushes she kept walking. “Get a grip on yourself. There’s nothing there. Just keep moving,” she said out loud. Her mom and dad would be home by now, starting dinner. If only she hadn’t fought with her boyfriend and stubbornly refused to get in the car with him, she would be warm right now and almost home. The sound of footsteps behind her made her turn quickly. In the distance she noticed a dark figure moving toward her. Thinking it was her boyfriend she yelled, “Kevin, I‘m not in the mood for this right now, leave me alone!” The figure continued to get closer, not saying a word. “Kevin! This isn’t funny! Quit it!” Her voice sounded wobbly and unsure. The figure picked up speed and leapt into the air, disappearing into the tree tops above her. Fear overcame her. She tried to run. Large snow drifts made it difficult for her to move quickly. She could hear something above her, leaping from tree to tree, breaking branches and causing them to fall to the ground around her. “Somebody help me! Please!” she screamed breathlessly. A large branch fell in her path causing her trip and tumble over it. She cried out again. Then the woods went silent. Nothing moved. She was gone.
Cat couldn’t wait for school to end and Christmas break to begin. She was making great strides in Math and because of her performance at regionals she became the talk of the school. It seemed like the fainting incident at the Masquerade Ball was a distant memory. The football team had made it to the state semi-finals, so Taylor had been in an exceptionally good mood during the last month. He even drove Cat and Julie to school every day without complaint. He was also in love. At dinner, nearly every sentence had Trish’s name in it. Sam and Rachel would smile at each other, reminiscing how they acted at his age.
“So, have you all heard the latest gossip about Miss Kirsten Fuller’s alleged cramp? That apparently cost her the swim meet? Amanda asked using air quotations. “I guess it’s actually more serious than we thought. Rumor is, the doc told her she had to be on those crutches for a few more weeks,” she said trying not to giggle.
“Give me a break!” Matt piped up. “Everyone knows she’s faking. She just can’t handle the fact that our little Cat beat her record. She needs to just act like the girl she is, and admit her defeat!” Pretending to be offended, Amanda threw a movie magazine at his head.
“Thanks Amanda, I haven’t read this one,” Matt said grinning and thumbing through the pages.
“So Cat, how do you feel about not being Kirsten’s BFF anymore? Devastated, I’m sure,” Julie chimed in.
“Well Julie, I’ve been feeling a little down lately, but I think I’ve finally come to terms with the fact that I’ll have to settle…for you guys instead,” she replied sighing dramatically with the back of her hand pressed to her forehead.
Elle stood in front of Cat’s full length mirror. “Do you think I’ve put on weight? I think I have,” she said answering her own question.
“Yeah, you have. I noticed yesterday when you had those tight jeans on,” Cat commented looking at her. Elle beamed smiling broadly. Her goal this year was to put some meat on her skinny frame. She hated that her metabolism was so high, and that everything she ate just melted away.
“I wish I had your problem Elle,” groaned Amanda flinging herself on Cat’s bed.
“Elle you should be happy you’re slim and can eat anything and everything. I just look at a brownie and gain ten pounds,” Julie sighed.
Matt, reclining on Cat’s floor pillows, looked up from his reading. “I just don’t get you women. All you ever worry about is your weight. Okay except for Cat, she doesn’t complain…that much. But, hey guys, look on the bright side, you could all be ugly.” Cat laughed as her three female friends picked up throw pillows from her bed and tossed them at him.
“Matt I think you better keep quiet,” Cat said laughing again. “Hey, what’s that on the back cover?” she asked pointing at the magazine. “Oh, my, gosh! It’s an ad for the new Robert Craven movie coming out in the spring! Darkness Awakes!”
“Oh, I can’t wait to see that one!” Amanda exclaimed grabbing the magazine from Matt. Everyone huddled around her looking over her shoulder at the magazine. “Wow, look who’s in it! I think I’m going to faint! I absolutely, positively think he’s the hottest!” she screamed.
“He’s to die for! He’s a God! Not!” Matt responded sarcastically rolling his eyes dramatically.
“I’m so glad we made a pact to see the movies first and then read the books. It makes the movies totes scarier,” Amanda said.
“Readi
ng the books after was meh! Don’t get me wrong, Craven’s an awesome writer but the books were just like the movies. I should’ve just watched the movie again, or read the cliff notes,” Matt interjected.
“Hey Matt, won’t you be driving by then?” Julie asked.
“Oh yeah, that’s right. We could go in my wheels,” he replied.
“What wheels? Your ten speed bike?” Amanda inquired, playfully pushing him.
“No. I have it on good authority that for my birthday, the parentals are giving me the old red Corvette in the garage. It’s supposed to be a secret. But I overheard them talking when they thought I wasn’t home,” Matt said with a mischievous grin.
“I’ll believe it when I see it,” Amanda quipped.
“Wait, isn’t the Corvette a two-seater? How will you be able to chauffer us around in that?” Cat asked.
“Ah come on, we could all just cram in,” Matt replied jokingly.
“Okay class, let’s get started.” Miss Amaya smiled broadly at the faces before her. “Today we’re going to talk about full moons and the winter solstice.” Pulling down a large map of the world, she continued, “as you all know the northern hemisphere is everything above the equator, and the southern hemisphere is everything below. What you might not know though, is that during this month of December, on the 21st, an event occurs which is named the Winter Solstice. This is when the sun’s position in the sky is at its greatest distance from the northern hemisphere.” Scanning the classroom she noticed the confused looks on many of the student’s faces. “That means, it causes our nights to be longer and days to be shorter.” A resounding “Ohhhh”, filled the room. She smiled, gathering her thoughts and realizing that everyone was enthralled with her words. “Now, in the southern hemisphere, the Winter Solstice starts on June 21st. Whether it’s December or June, the 21st is the longest night and shortest day of the year. In many cultures there are festivals which celebrate this event.”