Chapter 2: Near catch

Kathy was the only child of her single mother, Angelina.

When she was sixteen, she used to tell her mom how much she wanted to meet her dad but things changed when she turned eighteen.

She stopped asking and even drifted from her mom. Kathy was few months away from turning twenty-two and she no longer cared about either of her parents.

Angelina wished things was different with her daughter, Kathy. No one would believe she could barely stay in the same room with her daughter.

It’s like they’re both constituents from the big bang theory waiting to explode each time either of them wanted a conversation.

The breakfast she made for Kathy was left untouched on the dinning. She wasn’t sure which annoyed her more; her new relationship or that she tried fixing an abusive relationship.

Maybe she should be ashamed of herself for asking her daughter to endure the whole bullshit she’s been through but—Sigh, parenting isn’t any easier job.

She had a panic attack few hours after Kathy left. She used up her inhaler and needed to get another one.

Her house was visibly a clean space with a white painted wall characterized by a monochromatic color palette.

The lines in the room form a rectangular shape. Portraits of Kathy decorated the sitting room. A piece of artwork Angelina worked on years ago was still hung carefully on the wall.

Angelina could pass for Kathy’s elder sister. Aside the fact that she had Kathy when she was Twenty, her features made her look incredibly beautiful for a woman her age.

She was about 5’7ft tall, slim and curvy. She had a black long straightened hair and often wondered why Kathy chose to cut hers.

Her smoky eyes, her ivory skin, slim legs all caused doubts whenever she was asked her age and she said forty-two.

“Ourgh Kathy,” she grimaced when she touched the plate and felt the coldness of the food. “The least you can bloody do is respect me!”

*********

The drive to the hospital was not short, neither was it long. Angelina was caught up in traffic a few times and had to look at her cell phone. When she finally arrived the hospital, the familiar smell hit her.

The smell profile was of antiseptic, artificial fragrance contained in soaps.

On arrival, the reception was silent but in few seconds, the silence was broken by the approaching footstep of a nurse.

After a quick nod and smile with the nurse she headed to the hospital pharmacy.

She took her steps calmly till she got to the counter and saw Mia.

“Mia?”

“Lord,” Mia mumbled trying to hide the packet of the contraceptive she had taken from the Pharmacist.

“Stay safe Ma’am," the nurse told Mia but she only gave a nod and walked towards Angelina.

“Hi Miss Lina.”

“Mia. Are you alright?”

“Yes— I just needed some multi vitamins,” she explained.

“Alright,” Angelina replied believing her.

If only Kathryn could engage in such conversations with her, she could definitely play along and pretend to believe her even if she was lying.

“Your inhaler?” Mia asked looking at her hands.

“Yes, ran out of them. Have you heard from Kathy?”

“I was with her earlier. She’s beating her tough time quite well.”

Angelina gave a nod and Mia left. For Mia, it was a near catch. Being 21 didn’t mean anything as far as her mum and Kathy’s mum are concerned.

She picked up her phone to call Kathy, to ask how her day was going and most importantly, to tell her about the near catch.

She raised the phone to her ear but there was no response.

Hey there, it's Kathy. Leave a text if it's so important.

"Fucking hell," Mia cussed and slid the phone back into her pocket.

Mia was the exact opposite of her best friend but that made them closer.

They had similar childhood and trauma of a broken home. She had no idea why it happened but all she held onto was the memories of her dad.

Whenever she wanted, she tried remembering unclear images of her father teaching her to kick and punch.

She was barely eight; about fourteen years ago.

Mia's father was an FBI agent. He loved his work and to prove commitment left his family for California.

Mia would never understand why he left, never.

Often times she wondered how her father would react if he knew she could barely kick like he taught her.

All she ever did with her legs was to open them wide during missionaries or some shit. Yes, you got the picture clear. Mia was a sex freak.

She never had time for relationships, never been in one and never had a plan to get in one. She lusted over guys, got them and left. Her life was that simple, quite eventful.

"Miss?" A voice called and she shook her head back into consciousness.

"Do you need help with something?" The security man asked.

She must have gotten lost in thoughts while waiting for Lina to leave.

She turned to look at the exit door and Angelina was walking out with a small bag.

She smiled briefly and turned back to the security man. "Not really, I better get going."

Mia was only trying to not create the bad impression of herself to Lina. She  actually liked Lina a lot but Kathy didn't enjoy talking to her mother.

She always made an excuse for everything and sometimes, she stayed over at Mia's place just to escape from her mother's presence.

Mia clutched her bag tightly and reached for her phone again. She knew Kathy was having a busy morning but she still needed to talk to her.

The call went to voice mail again.

Hey there, it's Kathy. Leave a text if it's so important.

She rolled her eyes and heaved.

Kathy wasn’t taking any of her calls. I mean who would take calls in the middle of an argument?

Kathy was right at the coffee shop, preparing to leave when this tall guy with a broad shoulder ordered for a vanilla latte, she was handing it to him when he missed it and it spilled on his clothe.

“Fuck, I’m so sorry.”

"Oh shit," he said staring down at his pants.

"I'm really sorry sir, I—"

“Of course you should. Who works in a coffee shop when they’re blind?” he fired without giving a moment.

“Maybe me cause I’m blind and I can’t see this one go on your jean too,” she rudely replied and let the remnant pour on this trousers.

“Fucking bitch,” he cussed. "You're a fucking bitch!!"

“That’s right. What else, asshole?"

Their little heated argument got Interrupted with Jack walking in.

“You good?” Jack asked Immediately he saw Kathy scowl at the young man.

Kathryn turned to him and swallowed hard. “Yes, let’s get the hell away from here.”

The young man, Stone stood there pissed at what just happened. He turned to Jack. “Your girl is a Pyschopath.”

“And you’re an asshole!” Kathy yelled back.

Stone gritted his teeth and ran his hand through his thick dark hair. He needed to keep his cool if he was to achieve anything.

As soon as they got into the car, Kathy heaved a sigh and held her head to avoid an explosion.

Jack thought of the smartest thing to say. “You need to relax.” “We don’t always get the best customers.”

After a few seconds of silence, Kathy turned to Jack.

“I’m sorry, I should have called you before now.”

“It’s fine, we agreed to hook up after work—"

“Hook up,” Kathy replied. “That’s it, I was drunk. Fucking high and had no control over my words.”

Jack stared at her, raising an eye brow. He looked at her like he was hearing her speak another language entirely.

“Listen, I was so broken, so hurt, high and all I could think of was to do something to get back at my ex. The whole call, everything…”

“The sexting too?”

Now at the mention of that, she swallowed the lump in her throat. She didn’t remember much when she woke up but sexting sure sounded familiar.

“That too.”

Jack swallowed hard. “I understand.”

She wasn’t cancelling this whole hook up thing because Jack wasn’t a hot catch or whatever but she’d rather heal the normal way.

Jack was a dark skinned hot guy while Mason had a medium tanned skin. They had striking similarities and—not again. She was comparing Jack to her ex boyfriend.

“I’ll drop you off,” Kathryn offered and Jack gave a nod.

He had been a friend from high school and had a huge crush on her, aside the sex, he was ready to take anything she offered, the sex inclusive.

“Call me later,” She said to ease the awkwardness as he climbed down her car.

“Sure, take care.”

Now she was alone in her car, she gave a loud sigh and drive away.

Getting home, she pulled her shoes and went straight to the dinning. She was famished and hoped her mum left something, anything for her.

“Thank goodness,” She brightened at the sight of the plate Lina left.

Although it was cold, she was glad she met it. Lina was a darling after all.

Her phone rang again and when she checked the screen, it was Mia.

She already missed three of her calls and she definitely owed her an explanation.

“Hey,” she said as she picked up her phone. "Tell me you made it out of there alive.”

Mia chuckled. "Back from work?"

"Yeah but I almost killed this asshole who walked in and made me mad."

"Damn. What happened?"

"Forget about it and tell me the gender. Boy? Girl? Twins?”

“Shut up. I’m not pregnant,” Mia laughed.

“Good to know.”

“Are you home?”

“Yes. I arrived few minutes ago.”

“Oh. But I thought—”

Kathy scoffed. “Yeah, I cancelled. See Mia I can’t go on with it.”

"What do you mean?"

"What would anyone think of me when they hear I fucked a random guy because I wanted to get back at my ex for cheating on me with my friend?”

“Crazy. That’s all they’d say. Plus Charlotte should not be called your friend. She ceased to be called that the moment she let Mason fuck her.”

“That’s right,” Kathy said picking up a glass of juice. She washed her food down with fresh orange juice.

“You’re right Mia.”

“Got to go. I love you baby,” Mia said right before the call ended.

She was definitely the only friend Kathy had. She was supportive, Confident, classy and obviously sexy.

She decided to call Kathy to know how she was feeling.

Although revenge was a shitty advice to give a hurt friend, it was definitely the fastest route to get a grip of her life.

It was the ninth day since the party; the party responsible for Kathy’s constant black out.

At about 9pm that day, the three friends arrived at the club with Kathy on the sexiest gown she’s ever owned. Charlotte was stunning too, Long brown hair, Olive skin and green big eyes.

She was modelling a skin-tight gown with an impressive six-inch heels. 

It was Mason's birthday and he told her he had a gift to make up for the days he’s been acting strange.

Kathy has never been a drinker, just a vibe and leave person.

The party was going fine till Kathy needed to use the restroom and found Mason and Charlotte having sex in the restroom.

Mia wasn’t aware of the entire thing but the moment Kathryn ran out looking like she was about to have a panic attack and walked straight to the bar man, she knew something was wrong.

Kathy raised the glass to her lips and blitzed the entire whiskey, she then grabbed her purse and stormed out of the club, wiping tears from her eyes.

Mia stood discombobulated for a minute then ran towards the direction only to see Mason with his boxers down and Charlotte bent over, taking him.

That was it, the night that changed Kathy's life.