Whimpering, Cat pulled herself up to a seated position. School had been out for some time now. The buses had left. The halls were empty. What if no one came and found her?
“Help!” Cat called out. “Please, help! Somebody!”
No response.
Finally, Cat heard footsteps and saw Rachel emerge at the top of the stairs.
“Oh, my gracious! Cat, what happened?” Rachel was by her side in an instant. “Luke sent me to get you out of the locker room when you didn’t come to the bus. When you weren’t in the locker room, I started walking the halls to find you.”
Cat winced as Rachel gingerly lifted her knee to elevate it on top of her duffle bag.
“Clarissa,” Cat said, clenching her teeth. “It was Clarissa. The bitch pushed me!”
Rachel looked at her with wide eyes, “No way.”
“Way,” Cat closed her eyes in pain as Rachel looked at her knee.
“She will be in huge trouble for this, Cat,” Rachel said with certainty. “We’ll make sure of it. You try to relax for a second and I’ll go get Coach Foster.”
Rachel returned with Coach Foster, Luke, half the cross-country team, and the medic from the football team. After Cat had recounted what happened to them at least twice, Coach Foster got on the phone to call Principal Weaver about the situation. While the medic had re-positioned her knee, Luke held her hand tightly. Cat didn’t even know it was possible to dislocate a knee like that. She felt nauseous just thinking about how sickening it had looked before it had been popped back into place. At least everyone else had had the decency to leave them alone while he re-set it. It was embarrassing enough to cry in front of all of them, let alone scream out in pain. Luke had given her two Advil to take right before he did it, but they hadn’t begun to work yet, of course.
Coach Foster came over with a furrowed brow, “Principal Weaver just spoke to both Clarissa and her mother over the phone. According to them, they were halfway home by the time your accident occurred. They have three of Clarissa’s friends who were with them, as well. All claiming the same thing.”
“Of course, they’re all claiming the same thing,” Luke stood up. “They don’t want her to get in trouble.”
“That’s what I told Principal Weaver,” Coach Foster nodded in agreement. He turned to Cat, “He’s set up a meeting with all of them for first thing Monday morning. You’re sure it was Clarissa, Cat?”
“Positive,” Cat said definitively. “I know it had to be her.”
Cat knew she had said the wrong thing the second it slipped out.
“You know it had to be her? I thought you saw her?” Coach Foster questioned.
“I did. Part of her. Her shoes,” Cat knew it sounded lame, but she also knew it had been Clarissa, “I know it was her, Coach Foster.”
“I’m afraid we can’t expel her with only her shoes as evidence, Cat,” Coach Foster sounded annoyed as well, “I’ll call Principal Weaver back and let him know about this new development. Luke, did you get a hold of Cat’s grandmother?”
“She’s on her way,” Luke nodded.
“What?” Cat turned to him confused. “I’m not going home. I’m going to the meet.”
“Cat, you know you can’t run,” Luke soothed.
“Well, duh. But I can still watch you,” Cat implored. “This is the State Championship, your senior year. This is important to you … and to me. I don’t want to miss it.”
“Cat, you dislocated your knee. You’re going to be on crutches for a least a couple of weeks. You need to rest,” Luke kissed her sweetly on her cheek. “I promise we’ll video tape it or something.”
“That’s not the same,” Cat started crying again, this time for a completely different reason.
“I know, but it’s better than nothing,” Luke took her hand in his. “I’m just glad you’re not hurt worse.”
“Except that Clarissa’s getting off scot free,” Cat fumed. “I can’t believe she’s going to get away with this.”
“Just wait,” Luke said with a vengeful look crossing his face. “Hell if I’m going to let her get away with this. Just let her think she has. For a little while.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Being stuck on the couch with ice on her knee was not how Cat had envisioned spending this weekend. She’d had it planned out perfectly in her head: Luke would come in first at State, he’d be overjoyed, of course, the team would celebrate … maybe they would be able to sneak away and get some time to celebrate on their own, too.
Cat focused back on her grim reality and shifted uncomfortably on the couch; adjusting the ice pack on her knee with a groan that came more from what she was missing than the actual pain. Mimi came in with a tray of piping hot pancakes. Cat tried to look appreciative as she set it down, but all she could think about was the fact that she should be running right now with Luke there to cheer her on.
“She hasn’t messaged yet,” Mimi answered the question that hadn’t been asked. She was referring to Mrs. McKinney, Rachel’s mom, who had promised to text Mimi’s cell and give them updates throughout the meet.
“Thanks,” Cat forced a smile and tucked into the food that sat before her.
The morning dragged on for what seemed like an eternity. She would receive a short update from Mrs. McKinney and then would sit and wait five or ten minutes for the next message to come through.
Rachel had come in 3rd place. She was disappointed, even though Cat assured her over the phone that 3rd in the entire state was a very respectable position. She would undoubtedly be able to receive a scholarship with that. Rachel called Cat during the men’s race. Cat appreciated that Rachel called every two or three minutes — it made the wait a little more bearable.
Cat heard from her as the men were completing the final mile of the race. Luke was in a dead lock with four other guys. Cat reluctantly got off the phone with Rachel, so she could cheer him on during the final stretch of the race. Rachel promised she would call in a matter of minutes so, grudgingly, Cat had said ‘goodbye’.
Two minutes passed. Five. Ten. Cat started feeling antsy. If she could have walked, she would have started pacing the room. She had called Rachel back four times already and each time it had gone straight to voicemail. Something had gone wrong — terribly wrong. Cat was sure of it. Otherwise, why hadn’t she heard anything yet?
The phone rang, and Cat answered almost immediately, “What the hell is going on? I’m freaking out!”
“Freaking out?” It was Luke’s voice that came through the other end. “Well, you should be, because your boyfriend is the State Champion!”
Cat squealed and dropped the phone, but quickly scrambled to recover it, while bouncing up and down as best she could while reclining on the couch. Anyone watching would probably guess she was having a seizure; she was so erratic. Her movements also caused the pancakes that were carefully poised on the tray in her lap to slide onto the floor.
Mimi hurried in and looked at her with disapproval.
“Sorry!” Cat cried, as she tried to lean over and clean it up with her napkin, which only spread the syrup.
“Thank goodness I have hardwood floors,” Mimi scolded kindly, as she shooed Cat’s hand away and cleaned it up herself.
“Luke. I am so so so proud of you!” Cat exclaimed, once her squealing had subsided.
“Really? You didn’t sound the least bit excited,” Luke joked. “I wish you could have been here, Cat.”
“Me too,” Cat responded, a lump caught in her throat. “This meant so much to you. It’s such a big deal … I just feel so bad I couldn’t be there.”
“I’m glad you’re resting,” Luke replied. “I want your knee to get better. You’ll have other opportunities to support me in the future.”
Cat felt a warmth in her cheeks, “Like when you open your gallery?”
“Yeah, maybe,” Luke laug
hed. “I’ve gotta run, babe. The awards ceremony is about to begin … which Rachel told me to tell you that she is going to video on her phone and send it to you.”
“Perfect,” Cat said happily, “Love you!”
“Love you, too,” Luke responded.
Cat happily spent the rest of the morning and afternoon with Mimi’s cell phone in hand, trading picture messages, text messages, and video messages back and forth with Luke and Rachel.
Cat really hoped that Mimi had unlimited messaging. She would offer to pay a portion of her phone bill if not, Cat decided. If only she could have her own phone back. It was a little embarrassing always having to borrow someone else’s. She had asked her parents about it during their last phone conversation a week prior, and they had quickly reminded her why they had taken it in the first place. This had only dissolved into yet another argument; Cat had gotten off the phone feeling frustrated and defeated.
Her parents didn’t seem to understand anything that had taken place in her life over the last year. They knew what had happened, they knew about the events themselves, but they didn’t understand them. They still thought the actions she took after Landon’s death were suicidal, and they still believed her decision to sneak out to the party to go after Lili was done out of rebellion and not a genuine concern for her sister. She was baffled. She was no longer angry with them for sending her to North Carolina. It was that decision that had helped her put the pieces back together, had helped her to feel like a whole person again. But, the reasons behind that decision still upset her. She still felt betrayed. She didn’t know whether or not their relationship could ever be what it had been before. She hadn’t seen them in months, and they gave her no signs or hope of seeing them anytime soon.
To be perfectly honest, Cat didn’t mind at all. As long as she had Luke and Mimi, she would be just fine. Life is funny that way. Only a few months ago, she couldn’t imagine spending the holidays without her family; but now with Thanksgiving just a few weeks away, she couldn’t imagine spending them anywhere but here.
Cat looked at her swollen knee and smiled. She’d endured so many injuries this year. Her heart had been wounded the worst of all, and yet, it had healed. A sprained knee was nothing compared to what she’d come through to get to where she was today. Indeed, everything was going to be fine, fine, fine.
Cat let herself doze to sleep, with some old Alanis Morrissette song playing in her head.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The bell on the front door sounded cheerfully as Luke stepped into Mimi’s home. He had gotten so used to the sound over the years that he didn’t notice it anymore. But Cat, who had spent considerably less time here, had recently made the comment that it was her favorite sound in the morning because it meant that he was there to pick her up. Ever since then, he couldn’t help but notice the little bell, too. He smiled as he walked down the hall through to the kitchen.
As always, Cat was sitting at the table with Mimi, but there was something different about today. She didn’t jump up to greet him, but that wasn’t entirely unusual, considering her sprained knee. It was the look on Cat’s face that worried him the most.
Mimi turned to him as he stepped into the kitchen.
“Why don’t you sit down, Luke?” Mimi smiled, getting up to offer him her seat. “I made some blueberry muffins. Would you like one?”
“Uh, sure,” Luke tried to sound pleasant, but the glower on Cat’s face distracted him. He reached automatically for her hand, which she squeezed in turn. Cat looked up from her half-eaten muffin to give him a smile.
At least she’s not mad at me, Luke thought to himself. He kept his eyes on Mimi, so he could move his hand away before she turned around. Even though Mimi knew they were a couple, they had been careful to tone things down significantly after the morning make-out session she’d interrupted. As Mimi turned towards them, he tried to slide his hand away, but Cat held it fast as he looked at her in confusion. She had a resolute look on her face. Luke braced himself for whatever might be coming next.
“Mimi,” Cat spoke up, “you know what we were talking about before?”
“Um-hmm,” Mimi responded with her body half in the fridge. “Do you want butter, Luke?”
“If you can’t find it, don’t worry about it,” Luke answered, his eyes darting back and forth between Cat and Mimi.
“Mimi, it’s on the table,” Cat said in amusement. “As I was saying …”
“Oh, silly me,” Mimi interrupted, and set about to pour herself some coffee.
“Mimi!” Cat nearly shouted in frustration.
“Catie,” Mimi turned to her, glancing at their fingers laced together and then to their faces, her eyes softened with a smile. “I’m not going to tell them. I will continue to pretend that I don’t know anything and I won’t tell them. Okay?”
“Really?” Cat sounded incredibly relieved.
“Now, you better get to school before you’re late,” Mimi shooed them out, giving Luke his muffin to-go, along with a certain look of motherly concern.
Luke waited till they were out of ear-shoot before turning to Cat.
“She got a call from Principal Weaver about a certain public-display-of-affection,” Cat informed him before he could ask. “Principal Weaver suggested that he should maybe call my parents, but Mimi said that she would pass along any information they needed to know.”
“Ahh,” Luke responded in understanding. Since Cat had been using crutches the first few days of the week, Luke thought it would be sweet to carry not only her books to class, but to carry Cat to class, as well. They had both received detention for it, unfortunately. They were also supposed to get the detention slips signed by parents, which Luke’s father had grudgingly consented to, but Cat had forged hers, instead. Luke could only guess that Principal Weaver had called Mimi in suspicion.
“She played along with him,” Cat smiled with gratitude. “I feel so bad that she had to do that.”
“What exactly happened?” Luke asked, as he opened the door to the truck so she could hop in.
“Principal Weaver got a ‘tip’ that I signed my slip instead of Mimi, so he called her to check. When he asked, she just told him that she had given me permission to sign it for her and that she had just forgotten to do it before school. Then, he went on to say how much he liked both you and I, and that he had to be fair and give all couples detention for PDA’s.”
“What did she do?” Luke asked.
“She asked me this morning if I thought she should tell my parents,” Cat frowned, “then you came in.”
“Whew,” Luke sighed, “saved by the bell.”
Cat chuckled and then grew serious once more, “It would be over,” she shook her head, “if they knew I was in a relationship … a serious relationship. They just don’t think I’m ‘stable’ enough to be involved with anyone.”
Luke frowned, “Cat, you’re stable. I think you’ve always been stable. You were just acting the part. If enough people tell you that you should be messed up by what happened, you will be.”
Cat scooted over to give him a quick peck on the cheek before fastening her seat belt.
“So, Mimi’s not going to tell?” Luke nodded approvingly.
Cat nodded, “Thank God!”
“But, will she leave us alone as often?” Luke looked at her with a sideways glance.
“That remains to be seen,” Cat narrowed her eyes thoughtfully.
They had been enjoying many evenings alone lately. Mimi and Jim spent every weekend together and went out for dinner several times during the week.
“So, I wonder who tipped Principal Weaver off that you signed your slip?” Luke changed the subject.
“Well, I was stupid enough to sign it in front of my locker, and then asked Rachel loudly if it looked real,” Cat winced.
“Cathleen Rhodes!” Luke reprimanded.
&nbs
p; “I know!” Cat said defensively. “I said I was stupid!”
“Well, as long as you know you are,” Luke joked.
Cat punched him playfully in the arm as a response.
“Cat, was Clarissa at her locker?” Luke asked.
“Ugh! I didn’t even think to look! I just checked that there weren’t any teachers around,” Cat replied.
“Her locker is right across from yours,” he said thoughtfully, “wouldn’t surprise me in the least.”
“Evil BITCH!” Cat exclaimed.
“Cat, tone it down baby. We don’t know it was her,” Luke said.
“I know it was her, Luke,” Cat was suddenly very certain. As certain as she was that Clarissa had pushed her down the stairs nearly a week ago and hadn’t been punished at all. She had to pay.
“You know what I said?” Luke said suddenly, distracting her.
“What?” Cat asked.
“That she would pay for it, for what she did … what do you say to a little covert op tomorrow night?” Luke looked mischievous. It made Cat want him all the more.
“You already have a plan,” she smiled eagerly.
“And I already have Rachel in on it,” Luke smiled.
“Do I get to push her down any stairs?” Cat laughed.
Luke frowned, “Cat, I only want her to be exposed for who she is and what she did to you … not inflict any harm on her.”
“Luke, I was joking!” Cat shook her head. “I thought Christians were supposed to turn the other cheek?”
Luke looked uncomfortable, “Yeah, well, that was Jesus who said that … and I’m not Jesus.”
“So, what’s this plan?” Cat’s voice dropped to a deadly serious tone. She loved a mission.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Cat sat on the back bleachers; it was almost halftime at the final home football game of the season. She was absolutely freezing. People who claimed New York City was cold should come to Boone, the wind blowing through the stadium was absolutely biting. She had been sipping her hot chocolate slowly and now that had gone cold, too. Cat frowned. As soon as the halftime whistle blew, the plan would be in motion. Clarissa always walked past the back bleachers on her way to the concession stand. Cat heard the distant whistle blow from the field below. She readied herself to get into ‘character.’ Grabbing a handful of crumbled Kleenex from her coat pocket, she began wiping her eyes and heaving her shoulders with sobs.
What Cat Lost (The Last Life of Cat Book 1) Page 23