40

Katherine Thornes:

I was later discharged and asked to go home, Katie drove me home and took care of me before leaving. She cooked some food and we ate and watched some movies before it started getting late and she had to get home.

Katie bid farewell and left. I was feeling quite lonely after Katie had left and it was sometime in between my boredom, I realized that I hadn't met with Alexander yet and thanked him for all he did for me.

For caring for me. And for that note of encouragement, I really needed it. I stepped out of my house and went to his apartment, I knocked on it and waited for a response.

I remembered I still owed him a date, and a kiss too. It made me feel nervous, excited, and scared at the same time. I knew he would talk about it the moment he opened the door.

But he never did.

I knocked on the door again and didn't get a response. It was almost nine pm, and I wondered why he wasn't home. But then again, it's Alex we're talking about here — he's most likely in some gathering or the other, either playing sports, drinking, or hanging out with his friends.

Or he might be with other girls.

My subconsciousness reminded me, and I felt a little bit down at the realization that that logic may actually be true. All the butterflies I felt in my stomach died down that instant.

How was I so sure that Alexander had changed? For all I knew, he might still be the playboy, skirt–chasing Alex we all know him to be. And he might be with another girl right now.

I sighed pathetically at myself, I really hope I don't fall in love with this playboy and get my heart broken, or that would be disastrous. Here I am getting jealous that Alexander may be with another girl when I had promised myself at the beginning that I won't develop any feelings for him.

But I think I might've started breaking that promise.

I turned around and left Alexander's front porch, walking back to my apartment with so many thoughts scaling through my mind.

Alexander Walters, what are you doing to me?

-:-

The next day was a school day, and having already missed two days of attendance, I was up as early as possible to get dressed and ready for school.

I decided to change my appearance today for the first time in like, forever.

Instead of the usual baggy jeans and shirts two times the size I usually wear, I went for something completely and entirely different.

A boyfriend jeans with cuts on the knee, and a white T–shirt MY size.

Okay, maybe I was exaggerating when I said I was wearing something completely different, but at least it's a noticeable change from what I usually wear.

Alexander always says I dress like an unfashionable dork. And then he proceeds to say that all dorks are unfashionable.

I would roll my eyes and attempt to leave, but then he would grab my arm and draw me back. He would make me face him and he'd look deep into my eyes before telling me I was the prettiest unfashionable dork on earth.

Till date, I really don't know what to make of that supposed 'compliment'.

I put on my black sneakers and pull my hair into a ponytail. Afterwards, I applied a bit of mascara to make my eyes 'pop', as Katie would excitedly say — and that's a far stretch for me because I never wear makeup. In addition to my mascara, I applied some strawberry lip gloss. I thought it was a clear lip–gloss when I bought it, but apparently it gave my lips a kinda white–washed pinkish color.

I can live with that.

I stared at my final look in the mirror and smiled at my slightly–different appearance, I did look more flattering this way.

Today, slightly–different Katherine makes her debut.

-:-

Katie came to pick me up later and we drove to school. We arrived at the school early, unlike the last time I was here. But immediately we got to the school building, I began to feel nervous and frightened.

I wondered what made me react that way, but then I remembered that today, the general test results were going to be out. The results for ALL the tests we wrote, and my heart was particularly panicking about the scores of my Chemistry test.

"Don't panic Katherine, you're going to pass everything. I trust you." Katie said to me, noticing the apprehension I felt.

I smiled at her, "Thanks, Katie."

"Alright! Let's head to school. And have I told you that I'm loving this new you? I really hope it stays and improves." Katie winked and I chuckled.

"Yes, you have, Katie. You've told me like a million times today."

"Great, so I'll say it again. You look beautiful, Katherine." And she pulled me into an embrace, I hugged my best friend back.

God, I love Katie so much.

-:-

"WHAT THE FUCK?" I practically screamed the moment I had the balls to check my test results.

Our results were uploaded online to our student portal, and I didn't have the guts to slot in my password and check them, so I had Katie do it for me. And when she read the results out, my insides did multiple summersaults — the bad kind, and I began to panic.

"What? Katherine! These are good test results, congratulations!" Katie said with a grin and made to hug me but I wasn't interested.

How can she call those good results? She knows my situation better than anybody and she knows very well you–know–who won't accept that as a 'good test result'.

"There's nothing good about those results, Katie. Let's face it, I'm not for." I heaved a huge sigh and reclined into my seat, shutting my eyes and thinking up the different ways my mother was going to kill me when she heard these results.

Katie frowned, "What do you mean that these aren't good results?" I don't know why Katie is pretending like she doesn't know my fate with those results. "You got a hundred percent on all your tests, apart from Math and Chemistry where you got a ninety–eight. These are great results."

I gasped, "Good results? That's a whole four points from having a perfect grade! My mother would kill me."

Honestly speaking, I'm very happy I landed these results. They were good and better than whatever I pictured in my head all these while. I expected to score much lower than that, especially in Chemistry. But I actually got an A, but not a perfect score.

I'm so dead.

"Don't worry, Katherine. I'm not sure your mother is going to be that bothered about four flimsy marks. Besides, you're still maintaining an overall grade of an A, so it doesn't matter. People like us are very thankful we got a C! And here you are bothering about four marks."

"Everything will be fine, Katherine."

-:-

Turns out Katie lied. Everything did not turn out to be fine.

"Katherine, are you joking?" My mother questioned, unable to believe her ears after I had just told her my test scores.

I was fidgeting and trembling at the spot, melting even. The angered look in my mother's eyes and the way she looked overwhelmed made me fear my fate.

"N— no, mum. These are really my test results. I know I got ninety–eight percent on two but I really tried my best Mum and I—"

"Shut up! Shut up, Katherine!" My mother spat, anger marking every inch of her face and she looked like she was going to tear out of rage.

"All my life, I've tried my best to raise you to be perfect! And here you are getting a ninety-eight on your tests? You failed two courses! What have you been doing? Why would you get anything less than perfect, Katherine?" My mother thundered. I decided to keep shut and say nothing, it won't change anything. So I'd better keep quiet and not make her angrier.

"It's because of that boy, isn't it?" My mother referred to him with so much disgust. Every day, I regret the fact that she had caught Alex and I together.

"No Mum, he has nothing to do with this!" I defended myself.

Are you so sure about that Katherine? My subconsciousness asks me and I am unable to answer. One problem at a time. I need to address my mother's issue first.

"Of course, he has everything to do with it. Because of that delinquent, you allowed yourself to get distracted and fail two of your tests!" My mother retorted and I was losing the battle against restraining myself slowly.

How can she say I failed those tests?

"Mum, I didn't fail. I got ninety-eight!"

My mother rose from her seat in anger, "Why do you keep talking back at me Katherine? Have you lost all your respect? What rubbish has that criminal deviant been feeding —"

"He's not a criminal deviant mum!" I shot back, defending Alexander. I also rose from my seat too, my fists clenched and fresh anger surging in my veins.

And the next thing that followed was a resounding slap on my face. I clutched the paining spot, in utter shock and bewilderment that her mum raised her hand to hit me. For the first time ever.

Because of two stupid marks.

I stared at her, my body was overwhelmed with so much rage, I was vibrating. "I hate you."

And with that, I turned around and left that stupid house. I was sure I'd never return back again. The anger was so much, it made me cry.

My mum followed after me, "Katherine, you little brat. Did you just say you hate me? How many times have you said you hate your father, meanwhile he left you when you were just four and this woman you hate so much, worked multiple jobs to ensure you have food on the table!"

I ignored her and by this time I was about to cross to the other side of the road but then my mother said something I will never forget in years.

"You're just an ungrateful thwart! Just like your father!"

I froze in space.

I was trying to process it, comprehend what she had just thrown in my face, and in the middle of all of that, I heard car horns and urgently turned around to see that an incoming car was advancing towards me at full speed.

I moved my legs to run out of the way, but I figured I won't make it on time even if I did.

But suddenly, I felt a pair of familiar arms push me out of harm's way.