I waved at the Toyota as my uncle cut the engine. The door to the passenger side opened and my cousin stepped out. My mouth almost dropped open, I know that Taylor's did. Katrina looked totally different from the last time I saw her. Her hair had been bleached blond, her eyes were now blue, and she was skinnier. Katrina was wearing short shorts, a tight, red babydoll t-shirt, white sandals with three inch heels. Ske had a little cat backpack hanging on her shoulder.
"Kate! Hi!" she said in a high, phoney sounding voice,"I haven't seen you in a long time!" She rushed over and gave me a hug.
"Wow, Katrina, you look different," I said, stepping back. Katrina laughed.
"Yeah, daddy let me change the color of my hair and he got me color contacts. I went on a diet a few months ago and lost some weight. My boyfriend is worried now that I might be picking up other guys,"
"Mmhmm....cool," I said. Inside, I was a little disgusted. She had gone on a not needed diet. She looked almost way too skinny.
"So, who's this Kate?" Katrina asked, looking at Taylor, who smiled like a idiot.
"Oh, yeah. Katrina, this is Taylor. Taylor, Katrina." Katrina walked over to Taylor and held her hand out. The two shook hands.
"So, we'd better get my bags," she said, turning towards the truck. Sam had shown up and was talking to Uncle Rick. I began to walk over to them, but I noticed that Katrina and Taylor didn't move. I glanced into the backseat of the truck as I got over there. Five suitcases were piled in the back.
I sighed. It was going to be a long week.
After bringing in all of Katrina's suitcases, with no help from Katrina, or Taylor for that matter. They just stood on the front lawn, chatting. I stood inside of my house, looking out the window at the two. They were both laughing. I felt my face heat up, which usually happened when I was upset, and was always followed by tears.
What's wrong with them? He knows that she has a boyfriend, she knows that she had a boyfriend. She's fifteen, he's thirteen! I thought angrily. My faith in love was then shattered. I watched as Taylor made puppy dog eyes at Katrina. A tear rolled down my cheek.
Hearts will never be practical until they are made unbreakable, I thought, remembering the verse from one of my favorite movies. I watched as Katrina pulled a peice of paper and pen out of her backpack and handed them to Taylor. He scribbled something down and handed the paper to her. He then began walking down the driveway, he turned to wave, Katrina waved back, a big smile plastered on her face.
I turned away from the sickening scene. I sighed and wiped my face with my hand. I heard a soft meow. Fudge crawled out from under my bed, covered in dust. He sneezed and trotted over to me. I smiled and picked Fudge up. He rubbed his face into my neck.
"Yep, you're a little sweetie, now don't go under my bed again. It's dusty and messy under there," I cooed and scratched behind his ears. I heard the door slam downstairs. I put Fudge back on the floor and looked in the mirror. My face was a little red, but it was nothing really noticible. I left my room and went downstairs. Katrina was standing in the livingroom, looking a bit lost.
"Whatcha looking for?" I asked.
"Oh jeeze, you scared me," she said, turning to face me,"You look a little flushed, are you okay?"
"Oh, I'm, uh, fine. I was sick a few days ago. Plus it was hot outside," I made up a quick excuse.
"It wasn't that hot outside, I was perfectly comfortable," she said.
"Yeah, well," I stammered. Well, you weren't the one dragging around a 70 pound suitcase, without any help. And plus, I'm not the one wearing small, tight, items of clothing, was what I really wanted to say. Of course, I kept my thoughts to myself.
"So, where's my room?" she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Over here," I said, leading her over to another doorway down the hall. I opened the door to reveal the guestroom. I knew that I guestroom was probably one of the best rooms in the house.
The queen size bed was covered with a blue and green comforter, with matching decorative pillows. The mahogany headboard was large, carved with different animals. My grandfather had carved it a few months before he passed away. There was a large chestnut dresser across from the bed, with a large mirror. On both sides of the mirror, there were little shelves, filled with statues of little animals, people and furniture. There was a green leather chair with ottoman across the room, by the large window, complete with window seat. There was a small coffee table with carvings similar to the headboard, also made by my grandfather. There was a multicolored crystal lamp sitting on the table. I would give any excuse to sleep in the room.
"Hmm, this room needs more color," Katrina said, running her fingers over the green and blue striped wallpaper,"Is there a tv in here? Where's the cd player?"
"This room doesn't have one," I answered, a little mad that she didn't appriciate the room that much.
"Oh well. I'll get by, I think...." she said, running her finger over the polished wood of the dresser,"I guess I'd better put my stuff away,"
"Do you need help?" I asked.
"Nope," she said,"Now you go run along and have fun," Katrina motioned to me to leave the room. I supressed a sigh and walked down the hall.
About two hours later, I was watching tv in the living room, Fudge curled up on my stomach, asleep. I was drifting off, when Katrina walked in.
"Well, I'm done," she said, sitting down in a recliner.
"That's good," I said, not taking my eyes away from the tv.
"What are you watching?" she asked. scrunching up her nose.
"Rocko's Modern Life,"
"You're watching that? That show is on Nickelodeon. Ya know, for kids? You're a teenager!" she explained.
"So? I happen to like the show," I said.
"Oh! Is that a kitty kat!" she exlaimed, scooping Fudge off of my stomach. Fudge whined in protest.
"Awww, she is sooooo cute!" Katrina cooed, hugging the poor cat.
"It's a he," I corrected. She ignored me.
"Awww, what's her name?"
"HIS name is Fudge."
"Fudge? I would have named her Cuddles, or Stephanie, after my best friend."
I sighed, giving up. Fudge let out a pitiful wail, which gave Katrina a hint that he didn't like to be squeezed to death. She practically dropped him on the floor. He scampered under the couch and hid there.
"So, what are we going to do this week?" she asked in a bored tone.
"We're invited to a pool party tomorrow."
"Really? What time?"
"I don't know. Taylor is supposed to call me,"
"Oh, okay. Good thing I bought my new bikini. I don't know how I lived without it," she paused,"You and Taylor didn't have anything going, did you?"
"No," I said flatly, not anymore.
"Okay."
I knew what she was thinking, and I could tell by the way she smiled. In that smiles, I could tell that the future wasn't going to be very bright.
An hour later, I had gone into the kitchen to get some Ritz crackers. When I got back, Katrina had taken the remote and had changed the channel to some soap opera. I stared at the tv for a second and decided that soap operas were as exciting as actually watching a bar of soap. I grabbed a magazine and went back into the kitchen, to read and eat the crackers.
"Hey Kate!" Katrina called from the living room,"Is there a mall around here?"
"Yeah," I answered.
"Great!" she appeared in the doorway of the kitchen,"When can we go?"
"Not today."
"Why?" she whined.
"Because my parent aren't home, and when they do get home, they'll be too tired to drive."
"Can't you call someone to drive us? Can we walk? Please? Daddy gave e his gold card, and I need a new pair of shoes," she babbled.
"I'm sorry, but we're not going today."
She scoffed and crossed her arms across her chest. Katrina turned around and walked back into the living room, practically stamping her feet. I wouldn't have been surprised if she threw and fit right there and then. You could be thirteen years old and still be more mature then a fifteen year old.
I was beginning to become a little worried about what tomorrow would bring.