Kat683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrefZl0Wwhl
683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjxEbvOMSt
February 14, 2005
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2 weeks later
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683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrVP6ea0NC
"Do I really have to go?" I plead with my best friend, hoping to stay in tonight. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡethiOKyDK9
"Yes." She gives me a "don't question me" look that I'm sure she will use on her children someday. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnyNsOkPE7
"But... will he be there?" She knows exactly who I'm talking about. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMx2spOvKwe
"Oh, I don't know... Probably not?" I can sense her hesitation.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuGf3TaQz2
"You are a terrible liar." I roll my eyes as I continue getting ready.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwZ2xbbny9
"Listen, just don't think about that jackass tonight. Have fun with me!" She grabs onto my arm, bouncing with excitement.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvH1IaVhhV
"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." 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0rbYgpSQC
"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. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMBHJc0FEM
"Crap... He is totally going to be there." I figured he would be, but knowing everyone else would be there only cemented it.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkRmYQhTwZ
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. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TQWAo1ezg
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.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg30JW9xQ05
This is so not what I need tonight.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiv2nyrRTP
"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. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIhUyjMaKX
"Ness... what are you talking about?" I'm not actually sure I want to know. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtm4I3ZZzOd
"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.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySLFtvgxIa
"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.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKnmU4Gd9b
She scoffs, sitting next to me. "Come on, Katie-bug... Even you aren't that dense."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAY8cSZiJG
I just stare at her, completely confused.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NGbboQpS7
"Ugh... Seriously? He thinks you are hot and he wants some of that." She gestures towards me. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxGByJGrmB
"What?!? Jeez, did you really have to put it like that?" I can feel my face burning from embarrassment. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcVDbS6dx3
"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." 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLo2mPiCZG5
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.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQptmBrMgBZ
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.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRRQv6qKra
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.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfUIZ1pD1b
"Fuck! That fucking hurt you fucking bitch!" She hops back up on the bed, punching me in the arm before joining in my laughter. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4crjQJOAd
"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!" 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaRDaWzLcA
"Well, at least you got the rug burn a different way this time." I smirk, proud of my quick wit.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibee1BGCmN
"Ah! You skank!" She throws her pillow directly at my face. Even though it's soft, it still stings.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0poauuOBZ
"Pretty sure, I'm not the skank in this room, whore!" I throw the pillow back, but miss. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubznYiI3Rr
"Pretty sure Ben would disagree!" The proud look on her face immediately vanishes. I feel like I've been punched in the stomach.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSYptNDrS4
"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. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCF9HEjiCJ
"Don't worry about it." I run out the door, into the safety of a bathroom stall. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGXPv68zjc
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.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1ncDjFcGt
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.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWQTR5WGXH
"Kat?" I hear Sophie's voice echo through the bathroom.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3Y24tGvWY
"Yeah, Soph?" I almost didn't respond, but she obviously knows I'm in here.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzDDJEUZIQ
"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. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xvQ54zGOY
"Yeah, just a second." I flush the toilet to make it seem like I wasn't just a weirdo sitting in here. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9szOwUW4C
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. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4j7zu9d8T
"Are you okay?" She seems concerned and I wonder if Ness sent her to check on me. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVyX9QI9iy
"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. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuDEt0wHtT
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."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcBSwZuQie
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. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7etFqX9Uv
Yes, he's a jerk, but seriously it's not that big of a deal. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxp4jyxt3bM
Yeah, keep telling yourself that. Maybe someday you will actually believe it.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjWd2LX9oB
"I'm good. Really." I try to give her my most convincing smile as we finally make it out the door.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwoaUfTvqS
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.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9lODUDd9t
I spot him, across the room sitting at the kitchen table. Surprisingly, he's alone, engrossed in his phone.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVf6QgoqibY
Yeah, like that's going to last. Cue the blonde bimbo who's probably on her way back from the bathroom right now.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmLQIct35F
I sit on the couch with Sophie and Vanessa, as Nate hands us each a drink and squeezes next to my best friend. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MrjrYiBOJ
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. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkW53tJCkP
"Here, sit here." I stand, gesturing to my seat. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgvJpT6rBS
"Oh no, Kat. Don't worry about it." He's so nice, but I honestly don't want to sit there anymore.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kyADOTLYu
"Please, I insist. It is Valentine's Day after all." I smile as I step away. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6vLattuyx
"Okay..." He hesitates, but only for a moment. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjL9PxuFcz
I move to the love seat to sit alone. How pathetic am I? 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpMDjk37VR
"Hello, my lady." I feel the seat move next to me. I look up to find Kai, smirking. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4kgsG9uSX
"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.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vqW64xZ7D
I look over at him, out of habit. I try not to watch him, but for some reason my eyes always find him. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KKvjyCrgT
Because I'm a stupid girl.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJvlhEntAb
Our eyes meet, for just a second and I feel the air rush from my lungs.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJn89mlp86
Wait... was he just staring at me? No way, he must have just happened to look up at the exact wrong time.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9FqDpWn2Y
I totally didn't notice that he's still sitting by himself. Nope, I didn't notice that at all.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKnGhHtqZM
I head to the bathroom, annoyed with my unusually small bladder. I barely drank anything. I try to mentally count the cups. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6txb5W0K8p
Okay... so maybe I drank more than I realized. Oops. What would Dad say?683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkSa4VzI4O
Nope, not going down that mental path...683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezLCvd2TX7
When I return to my seat, I find it's taken. Kai looks at me apologetically. "Katarina, this is Barbie." 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMbVnFMlYt
"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.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwT1SjuR3XR
"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. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmw0iL8mg2
"It's Kat. And my best friend is dating Kai's roommate." I guess that's who I am? Hopefully it's good enough.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRG8H45fpG
"Babe, your kinda in Kat's seat." Her face falls slightly. Oh god, now I feel awkward. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vNEgVgrfY
"Oh no, don't worry about it. It's all yours." I back away, hoping she doesn't see me as a threat.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWxCWqaBMl
"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. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3H1I9M8rgA
"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?683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6T43NWvkw
Well, there goes all my friends, lost in the daze of their significant others... I need to get out of here. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAddIwHxusa
But where can I go?683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnY7jReCBk
I find my feet leading me to a familiar room. I open the door slightly.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuC4DodXm5
"Hello?" No answer. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtS5m7Cugs
I don't even bother to turn on the light as I crash into the bed. 683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyxcrSfPOS
Thank God. Alone at last.
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