Freeing Katie

Ch. 12 Testing the Waters

CHASE POV

School started a few days ago, and I feel something is different with me.  I should have never kissed Katie.  I always find myself staring at her lips when she talks now.  It’s so damn distracting!  And we only have one class together, but I wish it was more.  I find myself looking for her when I know we are in the same hallway.  It’s as if I don’t act like we live next to each other, and I’m always seeking her out.

I first realized all of this when a transfer student, Georgia, started hitting on me, and I just wasn’t feeling the vibe.  I played it off since the guys were around me, but I kept thinking of Katie. 

I’ve always liked her, but now the lines are beginning to blur for me, and I don’t know how I feel about it.  I definitely don’t want to treat her like I’ve done the handful of girls at our school.  Katie’s special.  Katie’s different.  She’s never one to flaunt her beauty to gain attention, and she’s a genuine friend.  I love spending time with her, even if it’s for the briefest moments.

But I don’t know how to approach this knowledge.  If she liked me back, I would consider dating her, but she’s a puzzle. 

If it was any other girl, I would just shrug it off, but it’s Katie.  Her mouth was so sweet and I know I could get lost for hours just kissing her.  She’s hesitant with touches and kisses, but I feel like we’ve done that all successfully without her freezing up on me.  But she’s never pushed for more or even mentioned any of it.  It was as if our kiss was just that… a kiss.

Katie let all of us have a cookout in her backyard today.  Me, Nate, Josh, and a couple of other guys we go to school with are playing volleyball in the pool as Brenna, Taylor, and a girl from their math class sunbathe in the shallow end.  Katie and Evan are sitting at the table, monitoring the grill and working on homework.

I see the way Evan looks at her, and I know he has a crush.  A small ball of jealousy and insecurity hits me.  I wish I could call Katie into the pool to play with us, but she says she’s on her period.  I should just tell her to put a tampon in and not worry about it, but I’m not going there. 

I want to test the waters with her, to see if she has any feelings for me.  I would feel like a dumbass if I straight up asked her and she’d laugh in my face, then I would have to turn it into a joke.  No thank you.  Luckily, Josh gives me the opening I need.

“You all down for a movie next Saturday?”

“Ugh, not with you guys.  You always choose the boring action movies,” Taylor complains.

“It has Channing Tatum in it,” he sing songs out.

“We’re in!” Brenna laughs out.  Nate swims over to her and grabs her bridal style to float her around.  They’ve been dating for awhile now, and I don’t think I’ve seen Nate so serious with a girl before. 

Everyone’s in agreement, but I swim around and say out louder than I normally would.  “Can’t.  Taking the new girl, Georgia to the lookout.”  I get a few ‘oh’s’ and ‘of course’s’, but when I look over, Katie isn’t even paying attention.  She’s laughing at something Evan has said.  Part of me deflates, and I guess I have my answer.  We’re just friends.

*

I spend the next week debating my feelings.  I never asked Georgia out, and by the time Saturday rolled around, I’ve psyched myself up to ask Katie out… well, to ask her to hang out and see where it goes.  Maybe if I take her out on something similar to a date, I can get a better vibe out of her.

I put on my best jeans and shoes, and a crisp clean t-shirt.  I walk across the yard with high hopes and knock on the door.  Her mom answers it and looks at me questioningly.  “Hey Laura.  Katie upstairs?”

“Well, yes b-“

“Thanks!” I say excitedly as I move past her.  “Love your new scrubs,” I say with a wink, completely avoiding her questioning look.   I take the stairs in stride and don’t even bother knocking on the door.  “Hey Ka-,”  I freeze, seeing Katie pause mid fluffing her hair. 

She’s done up like she’s going somewhere.   Done up in a way I’ve never expected.  She’s always hiding her body, but not tonight.   A white band t-shirt is tucked into a pencil skirt that hugs her in all the right places.  Even if it goes down to her knees, the outline of her legs is shapely.  She looks polished, and the ankle boots give her that rock flare that she always has.  I’m surprised I don’t have to pick up my chin off the floor.

“Chase?  What are you doing here?”  She goes back to the mirror to look at herself.  She’s even wearing contacts instead of glasses.  She’s hardly ever wearing her contacts.   “Thought you were at the movies with the group?”  My ego bruises.  She didn’t even remember me saying I was going on a date?  “Jason’s spending the night at his friends.  No gaming buddy tonight,” she smiles out.

She’s so damn pretty.

I walk closer to her, observing her head to toe.  Her face is brighter with a touch of make up, and her hair is down and looks so soft.  “You look different,” I say, feeling like I have something lodged in my throat.

A blush tints her cheeks and I give her a half smile.  “Yea, um, I went to get my hair done while at the mall with mom… an ombre they called it... a-and Taylor and Brenna helped me pick out the outfit.”  She bites her lip for a split second.  “Do I look dumb?”

Far from it.  I shake my head no, not trusting my ability to speak.  She gives me a true smile and turns back to the mirror, as if she can’t believe that it’s her either.  I want to hug her from behind and stare at our reflection together.  I know we would look good together.  “Where ar-“

“KATIE!  EVAN’S HERE!” her mom yells from downstairs, and my stomach does a dip.

“Thanks mom!  Be right down!”  Her cheeks pinken more as she turns to grab her purse while I stand there frozen.  “He’s taking me to an outdoor concert.  It’s a cover band for Kiss.  Can you imagine?  Men going through a midlife crisis, painting up their faces, and rocking it out??  I’m so stoked!”  The excitement on her face shines through, and I try not to ball up my fists.  “I’ll make sure I show you pictures!”  She rushes a hug on me, fast enough that I can’t respond, then heads out the door.  “See you later!”

What the hell just happened? 

I stand there, hearing their voices downstairs. 

Laughter. 

The front door closing.

I’m flabbergasted by my feelings.  She’s going on a date… with someone else. 

I feel let down.

I mean, I shouldn’t be surprised.  She’s beautiful, and smart, and witty… and really fun to hang out with.  It was only a matter of time before someone asked her out.

I was just a little too late.

I sigh and slowly make my way out of her room and down the stairs.  Laura is grabbing her purse to leave and I try to perk up and put on a smile.  “So, your daughter finally going on a date, huh?”  Based on her sympathetic smile, I know I’m failing at keeping the atmosphere light.  It’s as if she knew why I was coming over.  So, before she can say anything, I open the door to let myself out.  “See you later, Laura.  Have a good night.”

*

Dad was home so I offered to pick us up some food.  During dinner, I talked about anything not related to Katie- trying to keep my mind off that she’s actually on a date.  But when we sat down to watch TV, my mind was reeling.

Were they having fun?  Is he being nice to her?  Will she let him kiss her like she let me?  I don’t think he has the balls to just kiss her like that, but I don’t know him that well.

Even though it helped that she sent me a couple of pictures and a video of the band, I was still in a state of ‘what-ifs’.  I mean, if they began dating, I would definitely have to shut these feeling out for her.  I wouldn’t even know where to start.

It was after midnight when I heard a car go up the driveway.  I’ve been sitting outside on my back patio, scrolling through my phone for the past hour and waiting up. 

Apparently, I’m pathetic now.

I hear voices and try not to eaves drop.  I don’t want to be a creeper and watch them through the fence, and definitely don’t want to see them kiss.  I didn’t have to wait too long until I hear a car start and drive away, so I went ahead and texted Katie.

Me: Can I come up?

Less than a minute later, she gives me the okay.

My palms feel sweaty as I walk between our yards.  Why am I going to see her?  I just have to know.  Even if it’s uncomfortable, I know I need the answer to the questions I’ve been asking myself all night.  If I don’t, I know I won’t be able to sleep.

Once on her porch, she opens the door with a smile.  “Miss me that much, huh?”

I give her a half smile.  “Something like that.”

She turns on her heel and heads up the stair with me following behind.  I try my hardest not to stare at her ass, but it’s a losing battle.  When we get to her room, she talks over and over about the band and the stupid s**t she saw people do.  I make myself comfortable on her bed as I watch her talk animatedly while she takes her jewelry off and finger combs out her hair.  When she excuses herself to change, I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding in.

When she comes out of the bathroom make up free with baggy PJ’s, I can’t help but find her just as beautiful as she was all dolled up.  Why haven’t I noticed all this before? 

I’m in such deep s**t.

“What did you do tonight?” she questions while putting her hair up.

“Nothing much.  Had dinner with dad, watched a movie, won battles on the game.”  Waiting pathetically outside to see when you got home.

“Well, if you want to watch a movie, we can, but be forewarned, I’ll probably fall asleep soon.  I had a busy day.  Can you believe it?  Antisocial me actually had a busy day.”  

We laugh as we head down the stairs and I plop on the couch.  She sits next to me and curls her legs under her, then pulls a blanket over both of us.  I try to relax as she grabs the remote.  “What are you in the mood for?”

She doesn’t even know that I’m struggling.  “Whatever you want is fine.”

“Aaalllllright… starting second season of The Office…. Now.” 

We get settled in.  I pop the leg rest up and she slouches down so we are shoulder to shoulder.  I just have to ask her.  “How was your first date then?”  Man, I sound pathetic.

I’m looking at the TV, and I can tell she’s doing the same.  After a beat too long of silence, she finally answers.  “We had fun.  Evan’s a great guy.”  Of course, he is.  I really want to ask if they kissed or made out.  Or worse… if they’re together.  I hate this feeling.  She’s right next to me, but I almost feel… alone?  I bite the inside of my mouth, about to force myself to ask what I really want to know, but she exhales loudly.   “But by the end of the night, I think he knew I didn’t like him the way he likes me.”  She avoids my gaze when I turn my head to look at her.  “When he kissed me at the concert, I sort of flinched, and he stopped trying after that.  I hope I didn’t lead him on to believe that just because we were on a date, that we were in a relationship, but I felt his agitation after that, even though he was polite.  I just hope I didn’t mess up our friendship.”

On the outside, I remain cool, but on the inside… I’m just too damn happy!  It even overrides the fact that he tried to kiss her.  I hide my smile as I wrap my arms around her, and she willingly gets closer to me.  I even allow myself to kiss the top of her head.  “At least you’ll always have me.”

“I should be so lucky,” she snorts, and we adjust our positions as she wraps an arm around my waist, both of our legs resting on top of each other.  I can’t even attempt to wipe off my s**t-eating grin.

Before the second episode is up, she’s already snoring, resting her head on my chest.  Enjoying the comfort, I let myself sink into the couch, unwilling to let her go.