Kat775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvqedKk4Wj
775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXZS8rFd0b
February 14, 2005
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2 weeks later
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"Do I really have to go?" I plead with my best friend, hoping to stay in tonight. 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGHsDd0AkE
"Yes." She gives me a "don't question me" look that I'm sure she will use on her children someday. 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBFk5vNK1b
"But... will he be there?" She knows exactly who I'm talking about. 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivId9vqc2R
"Oh, I don't know... Probably not?" I can sense her hesitation.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOLRL8xNZb
"You are a terrible liar." I roll my eyes as I continue getting ready.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9MKOMm3Zy
"Listen, just don't think about that jackass tonight. Have fun with me!" She grabs onto my arm, bouncing with excitement.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeD3AQXfUR
"Oh please, like you will have time for anyone other than your Valentine." She tries to object, but I hold up my hand to stop her. "We both know I will be sitting in the corner by myself, probably watching him with some skank... silently praying for a quick merciful death." 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtlwkTNdFO
"God, you are so morbid. Come on! It's Valentine's Day!" She turns to the mirror to finish her makeup. "Plus Luke and Soph will be there and Kai is really excited to see you." Kai had grown on me, despite our rocky start. 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LY5mhOfWU
"Crap... He is totally going to be there." I figured he would be, but knowing everyone else would be there only cemented it.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPw7Pnneez
I had somehow managed to avoid him, at least directly, for over a month. It was quite an accomplishment since I enjoyed being around his friends so much. 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdeQ9ppHGaX
Must have been by the grace of God. Oh no... now I sound like Mom. Dad would be so proud, the thought leaving a bitter aftertaste in my brain.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qVsh7l1ib
This is so not what I need tonight.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFincK70tSB
"Well, I actually know someone who might take your mind off of him. He's been wanting to meet you for weeks." She isn't meeting my eyes and she's biting her fingernails. Crap, she must be really nervous. 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pxDuaG9Ii
"Ness... what are you talking about?" I'm not actually sure I want to know. 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK044wFyB4E
"Well... this guy... Jonathan... He's seen you around... and well... he kinda wanted me to introduce you... tonight." She paces the room like a caged animal, as she continues to chew the skin on her fingers since there's nothing left of her nails at this point.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlE26g8bBhn
"Ness, calm down. Please stop, at least for the sake of your poor hands." I try to process what she just dropped on me, as I grab her hand, forcing her to stop pacing. "Okay, so, why does this Jonathan guy want to meet me so badly?" I take a seat on her bed.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIXkiZDwyG
She scoffs, sitting next to me. "Come on, Katie-bug... Even you aren't that dense."775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvhtL0gGFN
I just stare at her, completely confused.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdC8QMZh5oV
"Ugh... Seriously? He thinks you are hot and he wants some of that." She gestures towards me. 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3i3zwNll6W
"What?!? Jeez, did you really have to put it like that?" I can feel my face burning from embarrassment. 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOduaLqAiYs
"Oh god, Katie-bug, you are such a prude. I swear! Maybe Johnny can help with that." She giggles and bounces on her bed. "Ooooh, maybe he's into some kinky shit! You know, it's always the pretty boys." 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQX9ZZtEVgL
My mouth pops open as I feel the blush take over my face. I know I'm only feeding fuel to her fire, but I can't even try to hide my shock. I am pathetic.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohvbuJfg7p
Vanessa doubles over in laughter, nearly falling off the bed. "Oh. My. God!" She's barely able to get each word out between her giggles. "Look. At. Your. Face!" She points at me, continuing to mock me.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpXoLCQtfM
I push her arm that's extended, throwing her off balance. She falls, landing face first on the carpet. It's my turn laugh, my eyes water and I can barely breathe, but it's totally worth it.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcmjcVDksn
"Fuck! That fucking hurt you fucking bitch!" She hops back up on the bed, punching me in the arm before joining in my laughter. 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0C3aIiQVT
"Okay, okay." She tries to calm us down. "Alright, if it wasn't me, that would have been pretty good, but seriously that fucking hurt!" 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0pZeAt9aO
"Well, at least you got the rug burn a different way this time." I smirk, proud of my quick wit.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eBvGltwUS
"Ah! You skank!" She throws her pillow directly at my face. Even though it's soft, it still stings.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKioiafMATh
"Pretty sure, I'm not the skank in this room, whore!" I throw the pillow back, but miss. 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBiUrdOpto
"Pretty sure Ben would disagree!" The proud look on her face immediately vanishes. I feel like I've been punched in the stomach.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthg1hR2Kwa
"Shit, Kat. I'm sorry. That was really insensitive. Please forget I said that." She moves closer to me, probably to comfort me but all I feel the need to get out of the room. 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ouWMiIfsb
"Don't worry about it." I run out the door, into the safety of a bathroom stall. 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAK2esZFPQl
Okay, so it's not super private, but when you live in a dorm with a roommate, it's about as good as it gets.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoCFo6tGos
I sit there long enough to calm down, but I'm still not ready to go back to the room. Unfortunately, I know if I wait much longer, Vanessa will come find me.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCD9cyp0XFk
"Kat?" I hear Sophie's voice echo through the bathroom.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOIoslwLaK
"Yeah, Soph?" I almost didn't respond, but she obviously knows I'm in here.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC20uEyNC6X
"You coming? We are all riding together." Her voice is soft and sweet, just like her. Instantly, I feel relaxed and ready to spend time with my new friends. 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyf5YH6qD1
"Yeah, just a second." I flush the toilet to make it seem like I wasn't just a weirdo sitting in here. 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSvDhVsihM
I make my way to wash my hands because it's a public bathroom and it's disgusting not to after touching anything in here. 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQni34cxLI
"Are you okay?" She seems concerned and I wonder if Ness sent her to check on me. 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxQMKCys15
"Of course. Let's go." I don't need her to be worried about me. I will be fine. I'm just being a stupid girl. 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxn5x8V5cRw
I throw the paper towel into the garbage can as I turn to leave, but Sophie stops me by placing her hand on my arm. "Hey, listen, I know it's tough, but I'm really glad you are coming."775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJ5t4bjPNS
I love her to death, but I am so sick of everyone treating me this way. I just want to be normal, but everyone seems to be worried I'm about to break. 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8lOV24HLr
Yes, he's a jerk, but seriously it's not that big of a deal. 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXXaO1zIQ4
Yeah, keep telling yourself that. Maybe someday you will actually believe it.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIE9IEhLlP
"I'm good. Really." I try to give her my most convincing smile as we finally make it out the door.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSw95azUMvk
Traffic was slow, but we finally made it to the stupid Valentine's Day party at Nate's. The house is overflowing with people holding plastic red cups and couples making out everywhere. I can already tell I'm going to hate this.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjNWkWaP3s
I spot him, across the room sitting at the kitchen table. Surprisingly, he's alone, engrossed in his phone.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEGuhzv5p8
Yeah, like that's going to last. Cue the blonde bimbo who's probably on her way back from the bathroom right now.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveB7Eq8ind
I sit on the couch with Sophie and Vanessa, as Nate hands us each a drink and squeezes next to my best friend. 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfIXMbJlpv
As Luke walks in, he only has eyes for Sophie. He leans down to kiss her in greeting and I suddenly feel awkward sitting there. 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2cjkQEBYo
"Here, sit here." I stand, gesturing to my seat. 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtT8e7I0KZE
"Oh no, Kat. Don't worry about it." He's so nice, but I honestly don't want to sit there anymore.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooPEap9TEK
"Please, I insist. It is Valentine's Day after all." I smile as I step away. 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMucCerdAn1
"Okay..." He hesitates, but only for a moment. 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdchMvSmNAt
I move to the love seat to sit alone. How pathetic am I? 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwfcaPTKyw
"Hello, my lady." I feel the seat move next to me. I look up to find Kai, smirking. 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWSB9JdF3F
"Hey Kai!" I lean in to hug him as we continue to make small talk. As happy as I am to see the blockhead, I find myself longing to spend my time with someone else.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtbFJINeoI
I look over at him, out of habit. I try not to watch him, but for some reason my eyes always find him. 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHaXfluKWt
Because I'm a stupid girl.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWylgpf1xHd
Our eyes meet, for just a second and I feel the air rush from my lungs.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIU8rHAUake
Wait... was he just staring at me? No way, he must have just happened to look up at the exact wrong time.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAF8vprmTz
I totally didn't notice that he's still sitting by himself. Nope, I didn't notice that at all.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7TSMiwMOG
I head to the bathroom, annoyed with my unusually small bladder. I barely drank anything. I try to mentally count the cups. 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejVIpDGTfC
Okay... so maybe I drank more than I realized. Oops. What would Dad say?775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡot0a6Z7TDt
Nope, not going down that mental path...775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhazKMWTSdB
When I return to my seat, I find it's taken. Kai looks at me apologetically. "Katarina, this is Barbie." 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LRVnSkDUO
"Oh! The girlfriend. It's so nice to finally meet you." I reach out to shake her hand, but she just grimaces at me like I might give her a disease.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvJs6YjzFG
"And who are you, exactly?" I'm not sure how to answer her... But the disdain in her eyes says she doesn't really care anyway. 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9m6nnWjaG3
"It's Kat. And my best friend is dating Kai's roommate." I guess that's who I am? Hopefully it's good enough.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuVw7nRAk9
"Babe, your kinda in Kat's seat." Her face falls slightly. Oh god, now I feel awkward. 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDexwDv9dF
"Oh no, don't worry about it. It's all yours." I back away, hoping she doesn't see me as a threat.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfGoXl3HDB
"Yeah, well I am his girlfriend, after all." I can't say I disagree with her, but it's still shocking she said it out loud. 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3p13TipEUs
"Of course." I mumble, as I walk away from her hateful gaze. I understand why not even Luke or Sophie can stand her. What on earth does Kai see in her?775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtt7gkGRHcJ
Well, there goes all my friends, lost in the daze of their significant others... I need to get out of here. 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DvImX55vz
But where can I go?775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVvFI8KXW7
I find my feet leading me to a familiar room. I open the door slightly.775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0ThlbjjvI
"Hello?" No answer. 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyjezXf3Fy
I don't even bother to turn on the light as I crash into the bed. 775Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hPUkKEwUo
Thank God. Alone at last.
ns216.73.216.10da2
