Chapter 2

After an encounter with Jaylen she decided to do some window shopping since it was a Saturday and there was no school. She tried calling Jess but she wasn't picking up her phone. Sadness cocooned her because she never did window shopping without her best friend and here she was not even picking up her calls. 'This is my day to relax, I won't let anyone ruin it not even Jess.' She kept reassuring herself. As she was busy strolling around the mall, an outfit caught her attention. 'Wait, this is the same two piece Jess wanted and its forty percent off. This is a great deal. I have to get this and surprise her.' Her mood instantly changed, her beautiful smile was replaced by a frown. 'But what if she isn't home or she doesn't like the surprise? No Katie stop with the negativity, she will like it and moreover this is the best excuse I could give for coming to see her.' She bought it and headed to Jess's house.

The door was already open so she just burst in. 'Surprise!' she exclaimed as she entered the living room, no one was in the living room, only the sound of the TV could be heard.

'Who is it? I am in the kitchen; I will be with you in a few.' Someone called from the kitchen. Kate recognized the voice; she went straight to the kitchen.

'Hey it's you. What a wonderful surprise. I missed you.' 'Aww I missed you too aunty E.' She said going in for an embrace in Jess's mom spread arms. She has been calling her Aunty E ever since they have known each other, the E stands for Erica. Jess also calls Katie's mom aunty E because her name also starts with an 'E'.

'How have you been, is everything okay.' She asked in concern. 'Yeah, everything is okay.' She said looking away.

'You sure? You look_ I don't know_ tired. You even have black under eyes, are you eating well?' She just nodded. 'You sleeping well? Is everything okay at home?' she asked with Katie's cheeks cupped in her hands. 'Everything is fine, I promise, I am eating well. I am fit, see.' She said flexing her muscles.

'And you very well know that I love sleeping, with every little chance I get I sleep. All is great at home, I can't complain. Anyway enough about me how are you? Where is Jess by the way? I came by to give her this.'

'She said she will be spending the weekend at your place. She left with her stuff this morning.' 'Oh yeah how could I forget, I thought she meant she will come by to my place next week, maybe she is already home by now' She lied. 'Well let's hope she has reached safely, anyway my life has been very busy. I am always in meeting after meeting at work, it's really tiring, today they gave me a day off; I really needed it. I made coffee do you want some?'

'Yeah sure, don't worry your hard work will surely pay off one day and you will be like Mr. Donut Belly; you will just come to work where necessary and handle all the business from the comfort of your home.'

'I can't believe you still call him that, he has gotten even fatter so it's no longer donut belly, its parachute belly now.' She said in between laughter, Katie also joined in.

'Really! I thought you were going to say he has become slimmer, his belly is gonna explode.' 'Yeah right, thanks Katie.' 'Thanks for?' 'Well for the motivation, for giving me a good laugh. I really needed that.' 'Trust me, I needed it more.' 'Kate!'Her voice was filled with so much sadness that Katie suddenly looked up to look at her; even her face gave it away. 'Yes' Katie answered as she observed her aunty E closely, something was really bothering her. 'Nothing, I just wanted to look at those beautiful eyes one last time before we say our goodbyes.' Katie gave her a mystified look.

'Is that what you really wanted to say to me? Something is surely bothering you, I can see it.'

'Me? Nothing is bothering me sweetie, well I am a little sad because I am always alone with no one to keep me company. Jess is always busy with her study sessions and never has time for some quality time and you are also leaving.'

'Study sessions seriously Jess, that's the lie you could come up with.' She said inside her head. 'Come on aunty E, I will surely come by and I am so sorry for not making it a point to spend time with you.'

'Its okay honey, maybe the pressure of exams are keeping you as occupied as they are with Jess. I am just happy you guys are about to finish grade 10, soon my girls will be seniors.'

'Yeah, bye Aunty E, thanks for the coffee and cookies. I will call you when I get home, bye.'

'Bye sweetie and please take care of Jess always.'

'I will, I love you aunty E. Take care.' She said leaving the house, everything felt weird, this was not how Erica was, and something was surely bothering her. On her way home she kept thinking about her and replaying her conversation with her in her head and it bothered her even more because she didn't know what was stressing her Aunty E. She suddenly remembered something; she fetched her phone from her bag and called Jess. She called her thrice but no one answered so she decided to leave her a quick message;

Hey Jess, you better start picking up my calls or else I will tell your mom how you lied to her about a sleepover weekend at my place.

Immediately after the text Jess called.

'Katie, you know you can't do that.' 'Of course I can Jess, what is wrong with you? Your mom is lonely at home while you are sleeping around with your disgusting boyfriend. And seriously Jess, I am tired of having to cover up for you, for lying for you to your mom. Next time think of a better lie and don't include me in your lousy schemes to spend time with your boyfriend. 'Oh please Kate I ain't sleeping around, in fact we haven't done the deed yet. We were planning on doing it today but being a destroyer you are you ruined the whole mood. And for your kind info, it's not my fault that mom is lonely; her love life sucks and that's her fault so why should I be stuck at home with her.' 'Are you even hearing yourself Jessica? The only man your mom ever loved passed away, your father Jessica and her life has never being the same ever since. So instead of saying that, you being a good daughter could be making sure that she don't feel lonely in his absence.' 'This is manipulation Kate, I also have a life. She has to get over dad's death, its being five years now. Since you like playing the good daughter, why don't you go to her and offer her some company?'

Tears started cascading down Kate cheeks; she couldn't believe what she was hearing. She kept reminding herself that this can't be her best friend talking.

'Please Jessica, I really don't know what has gotten into you but this is not the same girl I befriended years ago, who couldn't even stay away from her mom for even a second, who would even cry for her when she dropped her off to school. I feel sorry for you Jess, you are so blinded by infatuation and lust that you don't realize who truly loves you.'

'That girl was bound to grow up at some point, it's clear that you are really against me dating I get it.' She said in total annoyance.

'I am not against you dating Jess but losing yourself and your loved ones trying to please someone who you just met is what I am against. I hope one day you realize what you are losing. Bye Jess! I will always love you and will be there for you, remember that.'

With that being said she hung up and made her way to the bus stop. She sat down and howled at the top of her lungs not even bothered about who was around her, she felt as if the whole world was against her. Tears continued to stream down her face as she howled; some people even turned to look at her. After a few minutes, the bus arrived. She wiped her tears and tried her best to hold it together but the tears kept on cascading down her face even in the bus. Luckily they were few passengers and all were minding their business. When she got home she went straight to her room, locked it and threw herself on the bed and cursed the day Mat came into her best friend's life. Things were great between them till Matthew came into the picture. A feeling of nostalgia showered her as she stared at a picture of her and Jess, how happy they used to be. Her crying increased as she glared at the picture. 'Why?' she muttered softly as tears continued to escape her eyes.

'Honey food's ready, come downstairs.' Her thoughts were disturbed by her mother's knock. 'I am not hungry mom.' She mumbled wiping her tears which were already mixed with snob with the back of her hand. 'You sure? I can bring them up to your room. Your dad even bought your favorite dessert.' 'No thanks mom, I am really not hungry. I ate at Aunty E's.' She could sense that something was surely bothering her but she decided to give her some alone time. 'Okay, I will leave you alone, but if you need anything, I mean anything. Please don't hesitate to call me.' 'Okay good night mom.' 'Good night sweetie, I love you.'