The Bonds of Love (A Covenant Fanfiction)

Chapter Five

"Hey, Katia. What're you doing?" I asked, as Gorman gave me a suspicious look. I stared back until he looked away.

Suddenly, Katia yelped, then laughed. "Hey, Rudy-fuhludy. How ya doing, old buddy? Yes..uh-huh... Oh, uh...Rudy's my cat, by the way. Say hi to Reid, Rudy."

A weird loud purr filled my ear. "Hi, Rudy," I spoke into the phone.

I heard Katia laughing.

"Shoo. Shoo. Go away... Sorry about that," she said.

"How's . . . um, everything?" God, I kinda sucked at conversation with her on the phone.  I winced at my choice of words. I've never had this problem before, chatting up other girls. I needed to see her in person. Yeah, that'd be so much better.

"It's... good." There was a slight hitch when she spoke. It was obvious she was lying. Something was bothering her.

"Is something bothering you, Katia?" I asked.

There was a long pause before she spoke. "I haven't slept in 3 days..."

"What? Why? Katia!" I started.

"I keep having weird dreams about you, Reid," she said quietly. I didn't know what to say.

"About me?"

"Yeah. We're at a barn. Just... facing each other. That's it. Besides the thundering and lightning outside."

I heard footsteps and saw the others heading outside.

It killed me to say it, but I said: "Um, Katia? I'll have to call you back. I'm sorry."

She was silent for a minute before saying, "No... that's all right. I have a test I need to study for anyhoo, so I'll call you later, Reid. Alright?"

"Ok. Be safe, okay? Caleb'll kill me if anything happens to you. You hear me?" I snapped the phone closed after hearing her response of goodbye, then ran outside to join the others.

KATIA (P.o.V)

I called the third number on the paper Caleb had given me. Apparently, Reid and Tyler shared the same phone. Well, that wasn't weird at all.

"Hello?" It was nice hearing Reid's voice, but I had talk to Tyler first.

"Reid? Can I talk to Tyler?"

"Um...sure. Hold on." I heard shuffling, then a voice came on.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Tyler," I said.

"Hey, Katia!" he exclaimed, I heard the excitement in his voice. How to break it to him, gently? Break it to him gently, Katia. Ah, who the fuck am I kidding?

"Um, listen...I need to tell you something..."-- I took a deep breath---" I...uh, like Reid." I winced, then started blabbering. "And I know you like me too...and--and if you hate me...I understand...and--"

Silence. I waited, wondering whether I should continue to run my stupid mouth. When he spoke, I could hear the pain and bitterness in his voice.

"No,no. I understand. I'm fine with that. As long as you're happy, Katia. I don't care."

Why'd I have to a bitch to him? Ugh.

"I'm really sorry, Tyler."

I've never dealt with this type of thing... having two boys like me at the same time... Heck, I've never been kissed by a boy before in my life. That showed you how much my life sucked. I started to say something, my tone apologetic when Reid's voice came back on.

"Reid... Are you alone?" I asked. I hear the sound of footsteps. In the background, I heard Caleb shout: "Reid! Don't do anything stupid!" Which made me wonder what he did. You already know, you dumbass.

"Hey, Katia. What're you doing?" I sighed, throwing an arm over my face. Where the hell do I even begin? Something jumped on the bed and I yelped before realizing it was Rudy, my tabby cat. I scratched his ears. He purred that broken purr of his I loved so much.

"Say hi to Reid, Rudy," I said, after explaining to him that Rudy was my cat. Reid said hi. I laughed.

"How's...um, everything?" Reid asked. My smile faded as I recalled the events earlier. I pushed it back into my mind.

"It's..." I hesitated. "Good."

I hope he couldn't tell I was lying. Apparently, he must've because he asked what was bothering me. Again... I hesitated.

I told him I haven't slept in days, which was true because--- "I keep having dreams about you, Reid," I answered. Every night I closed my eyes... There was me and Reid... in a brightly lit old colony wood barn, rain pouring through the small cracks in the ceiling. It was night outside...thundering and lightning...

Reid listened for a minute, then spoke: "Um, Katia?I'll have you call you back. I'm sorry."

My throat constricted. "No... that's all alright. I have a test I need to study for anyhoo, so...I'll call you later, Reid."

"Ok. Be safe, okay? Caleb'll kill me if anything happens to you. You hear me?"

"Bye," I whispered. I pressed END, then let the phone collapse on the bed.

I groaned loudly. I threw my arms up in the air, then got to my feet. I need to sleep. Maybe a bath will relax my bones. I headed to the bathroom, turning the water to the tub on. I stepped inside the tub, not caring that I was still in my T-shirt and jeans, laying down, my head resting against the edge. I stared up at the ceiling. The water felt so relaxing...

It was up to my neck now.

Just let it run for a second more...

I was so tired...

Just close your eyes for a second...

Just one...

second.