Chapter 25: Twenty-Four

It was Tuesday. Or as I like to call it, the four week anniversary since Rona Holmgren and I have been together. I won't bore you with the details...only that her horizontal tango is on par with mine.

Since we've made it official, we hold hands in the hallway before first period. Where we get glares from our dissenters (i.e. Mack) and smiles from our admirers (i.e. Kat). Or at least, I think she's admiring. She smiles at us easily enough. Although since she reminded me how Halloween is coming up last week, she has been daydreaming a lot.

Now when she smiles, her eyes are dull with no twinkle in them. "Hey, Ro?"

"Yes Kit?" she asks me as she swings the hands which are clasped between us. I look behind me as Kat goes to her locker.

"I need to speak with Kat for a moment. See you at lunch?"

"Sure," she says brightly. Rona is the first one to release her hand from our grasp. Leaving me to look down at my now empty hand. Whatever's bothering Kat better be important enough for what I just said to Rona.

I lean against the locker next to Kat's. "Katrina-Claudia Andersen, you have some explaining to do."

"What?" Kat asks me as she shuts her locker.

"Well, there's the fact you've been daydreaming lots lately." Her eyes widen at my assessment. "What? You thought I wouldn't notice. What's eating you?"

Kat moves away from the hallway but gestures for me to follow her. "There's nothing eating me, Kit," she answers as we get out of the hallway. "There's just been many interesting...things, going on in my life right now."

"Like at home?" I ask her.

She nods and is about to say more, but we both hear the stomping footsteps of John Mercer. What's that asshole want?! "Morning Johnny!" I say with a smile.

"Morning," John grumbles as he looks at Kat. "My older brother Sun wanted you to have this."

"Why are you being an errand boy for your older brother?"

"KIT!" exclaims Kat in shock.

"What?! It's a valid question."

Also, considering John Mercer's called our other classmates worse nicknames than errand boy it was completely justified. John looks at nothing in particular for a second before turning to look at me.

"Cause, I owed him one. Now, I don't owe him anymore."

A snort escapes me before I am sober again. "Well, I'll be damned. John Mercer, has some integrity, Kat."

"You trying to start something, Kit?" asks John Mercer with an evil gleam in his eyes. So much for that speck of integrity. He must've dusted it right off while I snorted.

I laugh as I reply, "Just like old times? You sentimental young man." Kat squeezes her lips together, making me smile. She only does that when she's holding back laughter. John narrows his eyes at me before flipping me the bird and stomping away. When his stomps fade away for good, Kat runs for the exit door and I follow her. As the exit door shuts we burst out in laughter, leaning on each other as we do so.

"Oh my God, Kit! I thought you would get a black eye for sure!"

"I still might," I say. "It was worth it though. Did you see that look on his face. And flipping me the bird was just classic." Both of us laugh again. Kat is still holding her note. "What would a family member of John Mercer want to give you anyway?"

Kat unfolds the paper in time for Rona to come out from the exit door. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes, I just got a note from John Mercer's older adopted brother and wanted to read it in private." Rona glances down at the unfolded paper in Kat's hand and grins.

"Is somebody sweet on you? I didn't even know John Mercer had siblings!"

"Me neither but, he came here once to pick up John early and we met then." Kat giggles as she says, "I can't believe he remembered my name!"

"Yeah, me neither," I reply.

Rona frowns at me disapprovingly. "You must've made quite the impression on him. Is he cute?"

Part of me just wants out of hearing girly talk but another part of me wants to know. Especially since Kat's never been someone who had girly talk stuff till now. Kat looks at me before she answers Rona.

"Well, if you like tall Asian boys who looks spectacular in a private school uniform then yes." Kat and Rona squeal leaving me just feeling awkward being right next to them. While they talk, I can't take an image out of my mind...the note itself: Katrina, let's meet under the stars. -Sun

Along, with his phone number.