Chapter One
If she only knew, what I knew but couldn’t say
If she could just see, the part of me that I hide away.
If I could just hold her in my arms again, and just say I love you.
But she’s gone away; maybe she’d stay
If she only knew
– 98degrees, If She Only Knew
Catherine slowly walked down the stairs, clutching a quilt tightly around her body. She was perspiring profusely and her cheeks were wet with tears and sweat. Before she answered the door, she ran a hand through her strawberry blond curls and dried her face. She did not want to look unhappy for Brian. Putting a false smile that she had so often used, she opened the door.
Brian was leaning on the doorway, a grin on his handsome face. Immediately, Catherine felt a wave of love for this boy who was her childhood best friend, this boy who shared almost all her joys and sorrows, this boy who had so miraculously turned from a freckled, thin child who was always picked on, to a handsome blond teen, with perfect teeth and awesome smile. This boy, who had once been known as Freak Brain, now known as Brian Thomas Littrell, a to-be star in a newly formed group.
Slowly, the grin dissolved from his gentle face. He quickly stepped into her house and gave her a hug. Catherine felt shivers; cold icy fingers running down her spine, to the close contact she had with Brian. She always wondered whether he felt the same for her… But even if he did, it would never work out. Brian took her hand and led her to the couch.
“How’s my pet Cat? You’re not looking too good, sweetheart.” He said, taking in her ruddy cheeks and sweaty palms. He brushed off a curl or two from her forehead. “Are you sick? Don’t keep anything from me, girl, I’ve known you ever since we’ve been walking around in our nappies.” He asked, putting a hand up to her forehead.
Catherine let out a smile. “Heavens, no, Brian,” she said, pushing his hand gently off. Brian felt a tingling sensation from the spot where her fingers touched his skin.
He had been feeling this way for quite some time, when he realized that Catherine was not the old Cat. The old Cat wore braces; this Cat had perfect teeth and a perfect smile. The old Cat was very thin. This Cat was thin too, but not too thin. She had a figure now. Her green eyes smiling at him, luscious blond hair, perfect high cheekbones, and full lips...
Brian sighed to himself. God, he loved her into this girl, but did she love him back?
“What are you here for?” she asked, hugging a cushion to herself.
“Well… I, uh, I have to leave for Orlando. I need to sign the contract.” Cat rolled her eyes.
“Duh! I know that, so?”
“So I have to be there for three days, and I won’t be able to be back in time for your birthday.” Brian looked guiltily at Cat, worried that she may feel abandoned. To his surprise, she reached out and hugged him tightly. She forced a smile for him, tried to look happy, but inside her heart was slowly breaking.
“It’s okay.” No, it’s not. “Dad, and some other family may celebrate with me, or friends from school.” Dad won’t be here, I don’t have any family, and I have no friends. I only have you, Brian! Brian gave out a sigh of relief, but the next news was harder to break.
“I have some other news,” he said, taking her hand in his. Electric jolts seemed to flow through her fingers to his. “I may not be coming back after signing the contract.” Cat felt her heart breaking into pieces.
“Wh-what?” Tears started to come to her green eyes, but she blinked them back.
“No, Cat, dear. I won’t be leaving forever, just a few months, and I’ll be back to see my family…and you.” Brian felt the sorrow of leaving her. They had been through so much together.
“Is this a farewell then?” Cat asked, looking up into his eyes. Tears spilled from her eyes but she did not care. She needed to tell Brian how she needed him. Brian gazed deep into her eyes, and not only saw sorrow, but longing… and ... Was that love? But before he could even tell, the look disappeared from her eyes as quickly as it had come. “Brian, I…” she began, but stopped in mid sentence, as the tears flowed freely and her shoulders hunched with each racking sob.
Brian hugged and rocked her soothingly in his arms. When she had calmed down, Brian took out a necklace from his pocket and showed it to Cat.
“This is for you, your birthday present. So that you’ll always remember me,” he said, showing her the silver necklace. Cat ran her fingers on the silver locket, which had the initials ‘CB’ in a heart. He took the necklace and put it on for her, fastening the clasp. Cat shuddered, where Brian’s fingers had brushed against the nape of her neck.
He turned towards her to ask whether she liked it, and that moment too; Cat turned back to thank him. Noses bumped gently, lips met for the first ever time for the briefest of kiss, and both of them could almost feel the sparks. Surprised, Cat pulled back, tears coming back again. But he reached out for her, brushing his lips against her temple, her eyes, and making his lips down to hers ever so softly, giving her a long sweet kiss. Slowly, he pulled back, looking into her eyes, which seemed to reflect his own deepest emotions.
“Cat...” he began hoarsely, stroking her cheek with his index finger. “ Cat, I... I’ve waited too long.” Cat waited in anticipation, feeling butterflies in her stomach. He took her gentle hands in his callused ones. “I... Cat, I lo—” Just at that second, the door slammed open, and a deep voice rang out.
“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING WITH MY DAUGHTER??!!!”
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