Everlasting Bond

by Christine M. Besze

  Lunch was also uncomfortable for her to get through. With Stacy ogling at Donovan the majority of the time, it left Katrina feeling like a third wheel. She had hoped to be able to tell Stacy everything that had happened last night, but it looked like that would have to wait. So much for them being able to spend some “girl time” together.

  The jocks at the other table began to make noise. Katrina looked at them, but saw no sign of Brody. Even though she hadn’t heard any rumors about their incident, it was always in the back of her mind. It had been awhile since he had been at school and for him that was odd. Wondering if and when he would be returning, another thought crossed her mind. His absence gave her a little break from any other problems. She counted herself lucky for that much.

  “Earth to Kat,” Stacy’s whimsical voice chimed in, waving her hands in front of Katrina’s face.

  “Oh, sorry. Was just daydreaming I guess.”

  “Are you worried about your mom?

  “A little.”

  “I’m sure she’s going to be fine.”

  “What happened?” Donovan asked, joining the conversation.

  “Her mom was in a car accident last night.”

  “Was she hurt?”

  “She’s going to be fine,” Stacy explained. “Dr Aldrich’s taking her to his place till she gets better.” She gave Katrina a knowing smile.

  “She was driving home from work last night and some kind of animal ran in front of her car. She swerved to avoid it I guess and hit a tree head-on,” Katrina attempted to explain as best she could, mostly for her own purpose.

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” Donovan said.

  “I have an idea,” Stacy said.

  “What’s that?” Katrina tilted her head in Stacy’s direction.

  “Why don’t you come stay with me until your mom gets better? You’re coming over after school anyways, so just stay.”

  “Thanks Stace, but I don’t think so.”

  “Why not?”

  “I’m sure my mom wants me to take care of the house stuff for her, while she’s away.”

  “Fine. Then we’ll stay at your place.” Stacy raised an eyebrow and Katrina stared at her, out of excuses. “What’s a matter? Not up for company?”

  “No, it’s not that. I just have a lot on my mind and I might not be much fun to be around.”

  “Don’t be silly. I can help you take care of the house and this way you won’t be alone. It’ll be fun. Girl time!”

  “All right, sounds good.”

  “That’s settled then.”

  “Sure thing.”

  “Good. So moving on,” Stacy turned and batted her eyes at Donovan. “Donovan here was telling me earlier about his school in L.A.”

  “Yeah, it’s rather crowded, very different from this place. I must admit I do like things much better here.” Donovan shot a playful look at both girls.

  Feeling the blood rush to her cheeks in embarrassment, Katrina lowered her head. She pretended to pick up something out of her bag to distract herself. Donovan’s comment made her feel awkward. The less she made eye contact with him the better.

  “Ouch!”

  “Is something wrong, Kat?”

  “No, I’m fine. Just poked my finger that’s all.”

  Katrina forced an uneasy smile, as she tried to remain calm. The same burning sensation that tore through her chest earlier was back. Had it been just the two of them, Katrina wouldn’t have a problem telling Stacy about it. With Donovan’s company, she felt it was a conversation best saved for later.

  She focused on Stacy and tried to take her mind off the pain. Watching her best friend be her obnoxious giggly self helped to calm her nerves a bit. Stacy’s over-the-top performance was rather comical. Katrina knew her well enough to know she was attempting her best to be flirtatious.

  “So, what’s there to do in this place for fun?” Donovan asked.

  “Not much.” Katrina’s sarcastic comment flew out of her mouth before she had time to think. Instead of trying to apologize, she bowed her head and let Stacy explain. The smoldering fire she felt wasn’t getting any better and she was finding it hard to concentrate.

  “What she means is there’s not as much to do, like in a big city such as L.A.” Stacy cut in.

  Everything around Katrina started to echo and her vision felt like a narrow tunnel of darkness. Feeling the sweat trickle down her body, Katrina’s head started to spin. The pain was beginning to suck the air out of her. Just when she thought she would pass out, she heard Stacy’s voice bring her to.

  “Kat, hey Kat!”

  “Hmm.”

  “You don’t look so good.”

  “I’m just a little nauseated, but I’ll be fine.”

  “Are you sure? Because you look pale.” Donovan gave her a worried look.

  “Uh-huh. It was a long night, just a little sleepy that’s all. What were you guys talking about?”

  “I was about to tell Donovan all of the lovely options our town has to offer.”

  “Right. And I was waiting in intrigue for your response,” Donovan said, smiling at Stacy.

  “There’s the old Cineplex Theater, or there are places to go stargazing and watch the sun come up. And in a couple weeks the school’s having our annual Fall Festival.” Stacy couldn’t contain her excitement.

  “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.

  Chapter 12

  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 obnoxiously 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, mom. 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 added, 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 doorway. “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 wandered. 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?” Katrina 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 be 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. Sh
e 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 beats 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.