Thirty five

Katherine Thornes:

"Right now?" I had to question. Why right now? I just woke up from totally blacking out, a missed day at school, and a terrible headache.

Going on a date with Alexander was on the least of my list and I thought we had initially agreed to have it sometime next week.

"Yes, right now Katherine. I've already bought you a dress, shoes, a purse, jewelry everything. All you have to do is say yes and have the time of your life tonight." Alexander offered. My jaw slacked at his statement. Did he buy me a dress? Not only that but shoes, a purse, and jewelry?

Wow. I can't believe he would go to that extent for me. Just for an ordinary date with me, an ordinary girl. Ordinary Katherine.

"You got…all that, for me?" I questioned. I instantly regretted why I got so surprised and flustered by his gifts and let it show in my expression. It was just mere clothing and accessories, but I was so shocked and impressed, I couldn't control my stupid emotions.

It was kind of embarrassing.

"Yes, Katherine. I got all that for you and there's so much more I can give you. You deserve all the good things in the world." Alexander said and as if the surprise on my face wasn't already embarrassing, my cheeks flushed at the statement and I fucking blushed!

I can't control myself around this man and I wonder why.

"I— I have a headache, Alexander. I'm not sure I can go on the date. I need to rest a bit at home." I had to give an excuse, which wasn't an entire lie. I was suffering from a pounding hangover.

"I have aspirin in the car. Come on Katherine, I know deep down you really want this." Alexander said, urging me further.

I sighed in defeat. There's no winning against Alexander Walters. If he wanted this date so bad, to the extent that he bought me a dress, shoes, and all that, then it would be evil of me to say no to it.

"Alright. We can go on the date." I finally agreed and Alexander's face immediately lit up with a bright, happy smile.

"Great! I have so much planned out, Katherine. You'll like every bit of it, just as how I like every bit of you so much…"

"And that's my cue to leave," Amalia said. She had a cheeky grin on and flashed Alexander a wink. Then she opened the door and headed out, leaving Alexander and me alone.

I was still in my feelings about Alexander's last statement. He always knew the right selection of words to say to me that'll make me instantly flush.

"I'll need to freshen up, and I'll need that aspirin too," I said to Alexander and he nodded, noting.

He pointed at the food tray, "Eat first, I'm sure you haven't had anything in up to twenty–four hours. I'll be back with the aspirin in a few moments. When you're done eating, you can shower in my bathroom."

Uh. No, thank you.

My brows furrowed, "My bathroom, please." I disagreed entirely with his plan of bathing here. I've heard certain rumors around school that Alexander and his friends occasionally used to take unaware recordings of girls they invite to their houses or hotels when the girls are naked or in the bathrooms.

I don't know if it's true and honestly, I'm not prepared to use myself as a scapegoat to validate whether it's true or not.

He shrugged, "Well, there's no problem. We're next-door neighbors anyways. Just eat up and swallow the pills first before you leave."

"Sure." I smiled. He mirrored the same, before turning around to exit the room.

Now I was alone in the room.

My attention moved to the tray of food on the bedside table. Whatever food in there must be cold by now, but what bothered me the most was the possibility of it being tampered with.

Did Alex really strike as the one who would drug a girl's drink or food?

Well, there's nothing he can do. Amalia, his cousin is here. But what if they were conniving together?

Oh my goodness, what have I gotten myself into?

-:-

I ended up eating the food anyways. And it's been ten minutes since I finished up and so far, I feel great. No stomach pains, or any side effects whatsoever. So I guess it wasn't drugged, I felt a bit guilty for associating such a callous thing with Alexander. But he doesn't exactly have a good reputation so, I can't be really blamed.

After I took the aspirin, I headed back to my apartment in Alexander's T–shirt. I felt totally ashamed doing that, the shirt barely covered my thighs and I was wearing nothing underneath. My saving grace was that it was night time and it worked hard for the neighbors to see me, but still.

I slotted in my keys and opened my apartment, the staleness of the room hitting my nostrils. I quickly opened up the windows to allow ventilation. I went to the bathroom and brushed my teeth, then freshened up with a nice and refreshing shower.

When I got out of the shower, I got into one of my dresses and neatly folded Alexander's shirt, and lay on my bed. I popped a gumball from my secret sugar stash— I still keep a sugar stash underneath my bed even after moving out from my mother's. When I was younger, up until the very day I left that house, I was never allowed any sugar. Not even the slightest of it.

When I got a bit older, I started spending my allowance on candy, chocolates, sodas, and basically any sugar I could lay my hands on and then I would hide them under my bed. My mother never found out till this day. For some reason, the habit never died off and I still do it.

I needed the gumball to alleviate the repulsive taste that still lingered a tinny–little bit in my mouth even after the brush.

I heard my phone ring and my attention quickly moved to the device laying idle on my bed. I haven't attended to my phone ever since I made the call to Katie yesterday.

I picked up the phone and was greeted with twenty missed calls from my mother, five missed calls from my dad, six from my stepmother— Racheal, and two from an unknown number.

Wow. That's really a lot. I must've scared everyone. How would I explain to them what happened? That I got drunk and blanked out? Hell, my mother would kill me multiple times.

Those were just calls, I have over thirty text messages. Most were from my mother. And she was the one who had just sent the most recent one. I opened it and instantly regretted why I did that.

Mother: Where the hell are you Katherine? I've been at your apartment five times today and you're nowhere to be found!

Mother: Your home lesson teacher is here and waiting for you to arrive. Where are you?

Mother: I've been calling you for ages and the home teacher has been calling you too? I can see you're purposely avoiding this lesson. You're acting foolish, Katherine.

Mother: I just came to your apartment again and you're not here. It's past 7 pm and I also went to your school earlier today and I heard you never showed up. Are you doing this to intentionally upset me? Where have you been since you left my house yesterday?

Mother: It's eight pm and you never showed up. You went against my orders, Katherine. Be ready to get whatever is coming to you.

Oh. My. God. I had completely forgotten about the home lessons my mother arranged for me! The unknown number must be the home teachers. And my mother had come to my apartment, and I wasn't around. Unknown to her I was blacked out on a boy's bed!

She had promised to take away my freedom if I defied her orders and from the look of things….

I had to type a reply of some sort. I can't leave her unanswered, it would just add more fire to the flame

Me: Hi, Mother. I'm sorry I couldn't get home to the home teacher. I just got home from the library now. I didn't go to school because I didn't have any classes today. So I went to the library to have a study session with classmates. My phone was switched off to avoid distractions and I lost track of time.

And send. I think I have given an excuse that should suffice for the time being.

I exited her message chat and decided I won't call her. I don't think I'm ready to hear her verdict just yet. I scrolled down to the next message. It was from my dad.

Dad: Why aren't you picking up, Katherine?

Dad: I'm sure you must be busy with schoolwork. I was just calling to invite you to Rachel's birthday dinner party tonight at eight pm. Please do come.

I checked the time. 8:47 pm. My dad was calling to invite me to my step–mum's party. Rachel is so nice and we bonded easily, I owe her my attendance. I can still make it if I leave now.

But I also have my promised date with Alexander.

Which do I choose?