What Cat Lost (The Last Life of Cat Book 1)

by Chelsea Thayer

  They didn’t speak as he drove her home. Suddenly, without warning, he put on his blinker and turned on a side road. Cat knew by now that this was the road that led to Luke’s old barn. What she didn’t know was why he was taking her there.

  “I don’t want to go to the barn,” Cat glared at him. “Mimi will be expecting me home.”

  “Cat, Mimi will still be at dinner with Jim,” Luke said, though Cat already knew that to be true. “I’m bringing you here because I have something to show you.”

  Cat felt as though steam could come out of her ears. She never normally turned down an opportunity to go to the barn with Luke. Ever since she’d given him new supplies, he spent every extra minute there, usually with Cat by his side. Cat took every chance she could to encourage Luke to show his work professionally. He still protested, but with much less fervor.

  When the truck came to a stop, he came around and opened the door for her, as always. Cat stayed where she was and looked at him complacently.

  “I’m sorry,” Luke said sincerely, holding out his hand. “I was mad at myself, not you. I was angry that I lost focus so easily when I was so close to winning.”

  Cat paused. “Apology accepted,” she said somewhat reluctantly, taking his hand. She found it impossible to be angry with him for too long.

  “I’m sorry, too,” Cat admitted sheepishly. “I don’t know what possessed me to say something so ridiculous.”

  “It was a little embarrassing,” Luke smirked.

  “But,” Cat paused again, “it was true.”

  Luke took both of her hands in his and brought them to his lips.

  “I love you, Luke,” Cat whispered.

  “And I love you,” Luke smiled. “I see you haven’t taken your ring off,” he added looking at her ring finger, where the carefully crafted wire ring remained.

  “Not since you gave it to me,” Cat looked at it, too.

  “I thought you might have,” Luke paused, “after the way I acted tonight.”

  “Thought about it,” Cat responded honestly. “But then I remembered what a famous artist you are going to be someday, and I decided I’d like to stick around to see it.”

  “Oh, is that right?” Luke laughed as he led her towards the door.

  “Yep,” Cat gave him a peck on the cheek.

  “Well,” Luke began, “speaking of being an artist, professionally, I mean. I have something to show you.”

  Cat was surprised. She couldn’t imagine what he could possibly have to show her. She thought she’d been with him nearly every time he’d come to the barn since he’d shown it to her. What could he have in there that she hadn’t seen?

  He took her hand and led her into the dark barn. She stood still while he felt for the light. It only took him a second. Flipping on the switch, the light revealed all the beauty Cat already knew existed. She didn’t see anything unusual.

  Cat smiled at him. She hoped she wasn’t supposed to be noticing something.

  “What do you think?” Luke smiled.

  “Wow! Luke, it’s … great,” Cat played along. What was she supposed to be seeing?!

  Luke began laughing. “Cat, I’m kidding! I haven’t showed it to you yet.”

  Cat breathed a sigh of relief, “I thought I was going crazy! That was a mean trick.”

  “I know,” he laughed and crossed to the other side of the barn. The door creaked as he slid it across and stepped into what used to be the old feed room.

  Cat leaned to the side to see if she could peer in.

  Luke emerged carrying a large canvas covered partially in old burlap. He sat it up on an easel about ten feet from Cat.

  “This was what I wanted to show you,” Luke said as he pulled the burlap away and revealed the most intricate and striking painting Cat had ever laid her eyes on.

  Luke let her take it in for a minute, then his feet started shifting from side to side. He was dying to know what she was thinking. She had been gawking at it more than a good minute or so now. First, she had taken it in from where she was standing, and then she had walked forward. Slowly. Cautiously. When Cat had begun to examine the detail an inch from her face, Luke had stepped back behind her to give her more room. He couldn’t see her face now as she studied the painting. It was killing him. If he could see her face, he knew he’d be able to read exactly what she was thinking. Cat was never good at hiding her expressions, especially from him.

  Finally, after what seemed like hours of scrutiny to Luke, Cat backed away. She sighed, and then turned to him at last.

  The tears shimmering in Cat’s eyes confirmed to him that she liked it, loved it even, perhaps.

  Luke smiled relieved, “You like it?”

  “No,” Cat shook her head. “I love it.”

  “It’s us,” Luke looked down at the dusty floor. “I mean it’s the way I feel for you. That’s what I tried to paint.”

  “It’s our love?” Cat asked. The painting took on new levels of beauty with that understanding sinking in.

  “Well … it sounds really cheesy like that,” Luke coughed. “But, yeah. It’s our love, Cat.”

  “It’s the most beautiful painting I’ve ever seen,” Cat said quietly. Her voice held such sincerity that Luke knew she was telling the truth.

  He walked forward slowly and taking her in his arms, he kissed her. He wished that they could start their lives together now — as husband and wife. He wished that he could be with her, touch her, hold her in all the ways he wanted, but they were high school seniors. If anybody knew of their plans to get married, they would laugh. People would call it puppy love, infatuation, or whatever else they call it when people fall in love this young. But Luke knew this was the real thing: the stuff songs were written about, the stuff in movies, or Shakespearean sonnets, or … paintings. Love.

  Cat was adamant about not getting married until graduating college. Even then, she said, it would be unnaturally young for any New Yorker. Luke thought of waiting five more years, he pulled away from her. At the rate he was going, he’d be lucky to make it five more months. Best to take things slow.

  “I’m glad you like it,” he smiled and took a step back, under the pretense of examining his own painting.

  “It reminds me of a fire, with the way the red melts into the blue,” Cat commented.

  “That is partially what I had in mind,” Luke smiled at how easily she was able to decode his abstract painting. “But can you make out what the flames resemble. The red melting into the blue. I know it’s kind of abstract.”

  Cat gasped, “Are they bodies?”

  Luke nodded.

  “They’re unreal,” Cat stepped closer. “I never would have seen it that way if you hadn’t said that. I guess that’s what makes it abstract. They look like their intertwined and falling at the same time. Where are they falling into?” Cat looked to the darker edges of the painting.

  Luke laughed, “You tell me! You’re the one who’s creating this story with it.”

  “I’m getting carried away, aren’t I?” Cat suddenly felt embarrassed.

  “Not at all. You said nearly all the things I was thinking while I was painting it,” Luke stepped up behind her with a bear hug.

  “Then, where are we falling?” Cat asked again.

  Luke caught that the ‘they’ had changed to ‘we.’

  “Love, maybe?” Luke smiled.

  “We’re already in love, silly,” Cat reminded him.

  “Of course. Well, let’s see … deeper into love. An adventure,” Luke thought aloud to himself.

  “I like the thought of that. An exciting adventure,” Cat sighed and turned to him. “You’ll always love me.” It wasn’t a question so much as a statement.

  “And you’ll always have my heart,” Luke confirmed in his own statement.

  They kissed once more. Their bodies hol
ding each other tightly together, like the flames in the painting.

  Luke pulled the truck around to the back of Mimi’s house, turning his headlights off well before they rounded the curve, lest they shine into the windows. Cat was getting back much later than expected.

  “Looks like we were worried for nothing,” Luke commented. “She’s not even home yet.”

  This had become a common occurrence with Mimi as of late. Cat didn’t mind. She actually thought it was quite cute to see her grandmother falling in love again.

  “Can you come in?” she looked at Luke hopefully, though she knew he had homework to do.

  “Uhhhh … just for a minute I guess,” Luke decided reluctantly.

  “Yipee!” Cat hopped out of the car and skipped to the front porch.

  “You sure have a lot of energy for all the running you did today,” Luke shook his head in amusement.

  “I’m happy, that’s all,” Cat bounced. And she was happy. So happy. For the first time in a long time she felt the happiness that warms you from the inside out. She felt like she could glow. She was so happy.

  Luke stayed long enough for Cat to make them a quick Bertolli frozen pasta dinner. Mimi had gotten in the habit of leaving quick fix meals for Cat, since she’d been going out to dinner so often. She also knew that Cat had no real experience in cooking.

  “That was great, babe, thanks,” he said taking both of their dishes to the sink and washing them for her.

  Cat came up beside him with a dish towel to dry them, as had become their routine.

  “Luke?” Cat asked thoughtfully. “What is the painting called?”

  Luke paused, “I don’t know. What do you think it should be called?”

  Cat thought for a moment. “How about ‘The Last Life of Cat?’ My last life will be spent falling into this crazy-love-adventure with you,” she said joyfully.

  “I like it,” Luke smiled. “And when I show it someday, people will just think it has something to do with the whole ‘cats have nine lives’ thing. It’s a good play on words.”

  “When you show it someday, huh?” Cat couldn’t hide the grin that had spread across her face.

  “Yeah, well,” Luke shrugged. “I guess you’ve finally convinced me.”

  Cat embraced him and squeezed him tightly.

  “Hey don’t squeeze me to death, Cat,” Luke laughed.

  “Sorry,” Cat let go, “I’m just so happy to hear you say that. You will be wonderful. Really.”

  “I thought,” Luke began. “Whenever I’m ready to do my first show, I want ‘The Last Life of Cat’ to be the center of my collection. Sort of the piece that defines me.”

  Cat got tears in her eyes.

  “Does our relationship define you, Luke?” she leaned her head on his shoulder.

  “As much as it defines you, I’m sure,” Luke answered in typical male fashion.

  “Wow,” Cat breathed. “That’s a lot.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Cat stared at her finished essay. She’d had just enough time to proofread it before the timer on Mrs. Miller’s desk went off. She wouldn’t mind timed essays so much if she could type it on a computer. At least then she could use spell check. Thank goodness she had an eraser, otherwise her paper would have looked like a war zone from all the scratching and marking out. She gave it another quick once over as Mrs. Miller proceeded around the room to pick up the papers. Luke winked at her when she caught his eye. He was sitting two rows over from her, looking as handsome as ever. She was thankful he wasn’t sitting directly in her view, otherwise writing a passing essay would be quite a challenge. He was wearing his cross-country sweatshirt just as Cat was, well, just as the entire team was. State Championships were coming up Saturday, which was tomorrow, Cat realized with some anxiety. The team would leave as soon as the bell rang to make the short journey to Winston-Salem where the championship would be held early in the morning.

  The bell rang signaling both the end of the period and, to Cat, the beginning of nauseating anticipation.

  “Don’t look so worried, Cat,” Luke spoke, catching up to her on the way to their lockers.

  “I need some Tums or something,” Cat responded, digging furiously in her bag.

  Luke laughed and shook a travel sized container of Tums above her head.

  Cat jumped up to grab them and laughed, “Since when do you carry Tums?”

  “Since I started dating a girl who has more indigestion than a sixty-year-old,” he laughed.

  “Very funny,” Cat smirked, popping a few in her mouth. “But, one of the many reasons I love you.”

  “Mmmm,” Luke smiled as Cat pushed him into the locker and kissed him firmly on the mouth.

  “Ugh! Don’t make me puke,” came the voice of Clarissa passing by.

  “Yeah, get a room!” chimed in one of her sidekicks.

  Cat rolled her eyes at them and turned back to Luke to kiss him with even more fervor, knowing Clarissa would still be watching. Over the last few months, she had made it quite clear that she would be there to snatch Luke away as soon as she got the chance.

  Clarissa had cornered Luke at the Homecoming game several weeks before. She’d obviously started partying before the game had gotten underway, which was not a good thing when you’re the cheerleader on top of the pyramid. After a nasty fall and a bruised ego, she was sitting on the sidelines with ice on her knee.

  Cat had taken the low road and couldn’t help but laugh and mutter the word ‘karma’ as she passed her by. Clarissa hadn’t been pleased, and decided to express her displeasure to Luke by cornering him at the concession stand during half time.

  Cat happened to walk up to find half the senior class listening in on Clarissa’s rant about what a bitch Cat was.

  “How could you date her, Luke?” Clarissa shouted.

  “Clarissa, you’re embarrassing yourself. Maybe you should go back to the field,” Luke said calmly. “Your break is almost up.”

  “But didn’t you just hear what I said about how she treated me?” Clarissa shrieked. “She’s hateful. How can you like someone so hateful?”

  Cat felt her face go pink. Perhaps she shouldn’t have been quite so quick to gloat at Clarissa’s misfortune.

  “I don’t like her, Clarissa,” Luke said as Clarissa’s face became smug. “I love her.”

  Cat swallowed hard. She was pretty good at reading body language, and Clarissa’s said that Luke should duck before he gets slapped. To Cat’s surprise, Clarissa did an about face and made her way back through the crowd, to the field, directly towards where Cat was standing.

  She spotted Cat and walked towards her with determination. Cat braced herself for what she was certain was coming. Luke was already a step behind Clarissa. He’d obviously been thinking the same thing. Instead, Clarissa shocked them all, as she smiled at Cat.

  “Since Luke cares so much about you, I hope we can be friends from now on,” she said with a pseudo-saccharine tone in her voice.

  Cat knew that this front was simply for appearance’s sake. She glanced to where Luke stood, his expression disgusted.

  “That sounds fabulous,” Cat didn’t even try to hide the sarcasm in her own voice.

  Then, Clarissa stepped forward to embrace her. Cat found that her own arms were glued to her side.

  “Watch your back, bitch,” Clarissa hissed in her ear. “I’m going to take you down when you least expect it.” With that, she hobbled back onto the field, leaving Cat and Luke both fuming and speechless.

  Cat shook her thoughts from that unfortunate incident with Clarissa from her mind and back to where she stood, still in lip-lock with Luke. She pulled away and smiled at him.

  “Wow,” Luke said as he composed himself. “Cat, if you put that passion into your running, you’ll be unstoppable tomorrow.”

  “I don’t know about th
at,” Cat laughed as she watched Luke gather his things from his locker. He stood facing it much longer than usual. Cat was glad her kisses could produce such a powerful effect on him.

  “Ready?” Luke turned to her, throwing his duffle bag over his shoulder.

  “Almost. I just need to grab my bag out of the ladies’ locker room,” Cat replied.

  “Want me to come?” Luke took her hand.

  “No, just save us good seats on the bus. In the back,” she winked.

  “Alrighty,” Luke gave her a playful smack on the rear, as she turned to scurry down the hall.

  Cat was on cloud nine. She and Luke had been together nearly four months and things couldn’t be better. She still wore her wire ring, even though it had changed the color of her finger underneath it. Luke kept telling her she should just take it off and let him buy her a real ring. The thought was tempting. But, the thought of what her parents would do if they found out their seventeen-year-old daughter was semi-engaged to a farm boy from North Carolina, whom they had never met, was enough to squelch those ideas. When she was eighteen, she told him, then he could propose. Then it wouldn’t matter what her parents said. It would be perfect.

  These were the thoughts going through Cat’s mind as she began to skip down the stairs, two at a time, towards the ladies’ locker room. These blissful thoughts completely distracted her from the sounds of feet scurrying up behind her. It wasn’t until she felt the force of something heavy against her back and found herself tumbling head-first down a flight of stairs that she snapped back to reality. Just in time to see a pair of white cheerleading sneakers running around the corner — Clarissa’s shoes.

  Cat landed on the tiled floor with a thud. She had been too surprised to even scream out. But, seeing her knee turned in an awkward position had caused Cat to scream out more in shock than in pain. Her head was pounding from hitting the floor, but she was thankful that she’d reacted quickly enough to bring her arms up to catch most of her weight.