Intimate Stranger (Editing)

Chapter 4: Katie

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Part Four

Saturday, February 6, 2010

6 days before the party

The next morning - or afternoon, I should say -  I was still in bed at 1:30. The night before, I was thinking about what happened while I was showering too much to get to sleep at a half decent time.

I jolted awake by a pounding on our front door of the house. I sat up groggily, rubbing my eyes. For a moment, I felt dizzy and lightheaded, but it passed.

It was possible that the door had been ajar and the wind blew it open. I decided, thinking about it again. So, I put my foot down, and vowed not to think about it anymore. I wouldn't even have time to think about it, with my party coming up.

I slipped out of bed, pressing my feet onto the cold hardwood floor of my bedroom. The knocking on the front door continued, and from downstairs, I heard my mom shout, "Katelyn! Get out of bed! It's Trace!" She must have peeked out the window to see who it was.

"I'll be right there!" I called back, slipping on my robe. I couldn't answer the door for Trace, wearing booty shorts and a tank top, now could I?

I ventured downstairs, yawning. I reached the bottom of the stairs and looked to the right, to see my parents sitting in the kitchen. I veered left to the door and sighed.

I yanked it open, only to come face to face with the inevitable, Trace Hayward. He grinned as soon as he got a look at me, then smirked. "Hey Katie," he said, walking in, without being invited. "Didn't wanna put clothes on for me?" He teased. I blushed, folding my robe up tightly.

"Shut up Trace," I stuck my tongue out.

"Katie, if Trace is staying, you guys need to go down to the basement," my mom said from the kitchen.

I grabbed his arm and yanked him to the basement door, which was only a couple feet away. "Okay," I replied. Trace was becoming way too comfortable in a house that wasn't even his. Not that I didn't enjoy having him around. He just assumed he was always welcome.

I held my robe shut as we walked down to the basement together.

"Trace," I said, frowning. He had sprawled himself out on my basement couch, shoes and all.

"Katelyn," he mocked. I rolled my eyes. He sat up, and plunked his feet onto the table in front of the couch. "What's up?"

"You're the one who came here," I replied, standing awkwardly near him.

"Yeah, well, I was just bored," he informed me. "Now I wanna know whats up with you, Miss. Lazy," I rolled my eyes, sitting down beside him.

"I didn't sleep good last night," I told him.

His playful expression turned into a concerned one. "Oh, how come?" He asked.

"I don't know... just a lot on my mind," I said, not wanting to tell him about what happened. "You know, with the party coming up and stuff..."

"Oh, yeah, I forgot you were having that birthday slumber party thing, which, by the way, I'm completely offended that you didn't invite me to," he flipped his hair like a girl and pouted.