on the bus

Cathy panted as soon as she had reached the bus stop as her breathing was now increased rapidly. She used the sides of her red skirt to clean off her bloody hand so that people won't get the wrong idea. "You saved me once again" Cathy muttered proudly to the knife she was still holding as she now put it back inside her pocket. Those crazy baboons! She had given them what they deserved and she didn't have any remorse about it. Why would she? When they were trying to do such an unspeakable thing.

If She had allowed them to have their way with her, she would have never been able to forgive herself because she knew she could have done something but she didn't.

She looked at the sky for a minute to have her lips pull up into a frown. She had run out of time and now she would have to wait for an hour before catching on to the next carriage but she didn't have the patience for that one bit which led her to her last option.

She would have to take the trolleybus.she looked ahead of her to see the bus sitting idly in the corner and as her eyes caught on to it,she saw there was only one more passenger they needed before it got loaded and they would ride off. Taking that as her cue,Cathy ran towards the bus not minding the eyes that were staring at her as she quickly got on the bus promptly taking her seat. She heard a slight chuckle beside her to have her turn her head to see a boy about her age sitting beside her who looked ahead of him. She decided to ignore him as she also faced her front.

"Did you run a milestone here? Why are you breathing like a goat? "She heard the boy remark to have her head sharply turn to look at him but noticed he was still faced front. Was he talking to her? She didn't bother asking him who he was talking to as she just minded her business but the boy didn't stop there like someone who was sent to aggravate her as he continued, "I was wondering who the pretty lady that was just outside my window was until she started running. you know, a lady shouldn't be running in such manner"

"What is your problem? ''Cathy finally replied to the boy who had been taunting her all along as she turned to face him and this time,she saw him turn too his hazel eyes meeting with hers. She would have thought he looked rather too handsome for what he was doing right now "I finally got your attention"the boy retorted to have Cathy's brows furrow down at him.

"Don't look at me like that, that was the only way I knew to finally get you to notice me. You are a snub you know"the boy said to Cathy, frowning. When has she ever been a snub? "That's not true.."Cathy said defending herself.she definitely was not.

"Bus 101 moving....."Cathy heard the rider say as she now felt the bus start moving. "Ummmm miss, do you know how many times I have tried approaching you?" The boy raised an eyebrow at her and Cathy couldn't remember ever meeting this boy once.

"Did you ever come to me directly?"Cathy asked the boy who now kept mute for a second before shaking his head "not exactly,but I have sent your sister to you many times now and not only that there are many other times now that I have been trying to get to you on my own but you never seem look my side, you don't even look at anyone" the boy uttered the last words under his breath.

Cathy squinted her eyes wondering when her sister had ever told her about any boy but this was her sister they were talking about here. She probably didn't tell her thinking the boy was from a poor background when she had not even tried checking first. That sister of hers was really something.

"You don't expect me to look at everyone I pass by"Cathy answered the boy who let out a little laugh. "Of course! But yours is different,I know you notice there are people staring at you but you never for once checked to see why they were staring or maybe who was staring? Which makes it difficult for any man to approach you not with such pride"

"Am not proud, '' Cathy said rather sharply. Why was he calling her names she was not? If they were looking for someone with pride it was her sister not her. "Don't get me wrong, I am not saying you are proud just that the way you carry yourself with so much pride makes anyone scared to even approach to talk to you" the boy said to make Cathy grit her teeth. That was exactly what he was saying!

She faced her front not wanting to have such a conversation with him again. "See what i'm saying"she heard the boy say to have a sigh escape from her lips. Was this what people thought? That she was proud? She was a girl who just liked minding her business and thought other people did the same and if they didn't it wasn't her problem but she had not expected them to misjudge everything she did?

Cathy breathed in and out before turning to the boy "Am sorry if my words or actions have offended you in any way" Cathy apologized feeling it was the right thing to do and she saw the boy smile.

"Friends?"he brought his hand out to shake her and she took it. "Am Cathy"she introduced while the boy nodded "I know..call me Daniel" Daniel said as he now brought his hand down to his side. Who knew him deciding to take the trolleybus today would lead him to make friends with the girl he had been eyeing all these while. Coincidences like this could only mean they were fated to be together after all. the boy only smiled inwardly at the thought as he now began to crack his brain on which conversation to start with the girl.

The journey to Hillary town was quite fast as Cathy now came down from the trolley bus waving goodbye at her new found friend while he waved back and the trolley bus started moving again leaving Cathy to find her way from there. She looked around her and adored the clean and fancy environment as she picked up her steps heading to her aunty's house.

Isabelle wasn't actually the only sibling their mother had but what made Isabelle the only person they could turn to whenever they were in trouble? It was because she was the only one who was reachable. While the others cared less about any of them. Isabelle was the true definition of a kind and pure woman and Cathy always adored her for as long as she lived. It was no wonder lord Nicholas fell for her. Who wouldn't?

On arriving at the mansion's gate,Cathy placed a knock on the door to have one of the guards open the door for her to enter. Unlike the time Mona and Hailey had come here where the guard gave them a hostile look, the man's face lit up into a smile upon seeing Cathy as he paved the way for her to enter. "Lady Catherine!" He acknowledged while Cathy returned back the smile.

"You seem to have grown fatter John, what are you eating?"Cathy teased as she entered and the guard's face burned in embarrassment. "I believe the Quinns are taking care of me well enough milady"the guard answered back while he gently tapped his feet on the floor.

"Why don't I believe you?"Cathy chimed while the guard only looked away shyly. "Cause the last time I checked you weren't this fat until you got married. Hilda must be feeding you well I see"Cathy said to have the gateman wave his hand disapprovingly.

"Aiish she just annoys me all day long" John said to have Cathy slightly chuckle.the man had recently gotten married and Cathy was aware of it and already being friends with the man,she didn't waste an opportunity to tease him.

 "I'll see you soon John" she offered him a slight bow before walking away nearing the entrance door of the Quinns residence to have a smile cross on her lips. If everything went well,she should be free from worrying about the king anymore and go on to live her normal life.

She walked in and sighted the servants going about their daily work as no one even bothered to spare her a glance as they were all busy with their business. She climbed the staircase heading to Isabelle's room but stopped when she noticed Nicholas coming from the other end as their eyes met. He looked stunned a bit as he approached her his eyebrows raised at her.

"Catherine? What are you doing here?" He asked as his eyes fell on the sack of clothes she was holding to have his brow raised at her. "Would you mind if I stayed here for a few days?" Cathy asked, letting out a sheepish smile. She had planned to tell Isabelle first but now that he had seen Nicholas instead, she just hoped he would agree to her stay here.

Nicholas paused for a second staring intently at the girl in front of him. "You seem okay" Cathy heard him say to make her wonder what he was talking about. "I don't....."

"Your mother came here some weeks ago to tell me about what had happened but it wasn't long before I heard that the king had released you"Nicholas said as if surprised. And truthfully,he was. He didn't know the reason as to why Ronald had forcefully dragged the girl away from her home but knowing who Ronald was,he doubted the king would have let her go just like that. It just wasn't who Ronald was.

"Oh that.... actually..." Cathy was interrupted when she heard Isabelle call out her name. "Cathy?" The lady smiled upon seeing her younger niece. Her eyes darted to the sack of clothes she was holding to have her look up at her with a questioning gaze.

"Just thought I'd come to pay you a visit. you don't mind do you"Cathy said with a smile.she knew Isabelle would agree right away without even a question.

"Why would I?" Isabelle said as the thought of Cathy staying with them made her somewhat happy. She turned to look at Nicholas who only nodded.

Cathy spent the rest of the day with Isabelle as they both found different topics to talk about and Cathy was grateful she didn't bring up what had happened with the king. She was the only one who didn't pester her about it unlike everyone else. When it was the time of the night,Cathy decided to spend some time alone outside.

She wore her black coat as she packed her hair up so the wind wouldn't fly it around and she would have to take her time fixing up her hair instead of enjoying the night outside.

 She walked down the stairs admiring the beautiful mansion. 

Her hands were crossed behind her back while her feets were steady and just when she had climbed down the last staircase, she saw Nicholas coming towards her direction. Her eyes caught on to him but he didn't look back at her. Though he was aware of her presence.

Cathy's lips pursed together as she now stood in front of him blocking him from moving any further to have the man raise his head up at her. Cathy could well enough see the cold glitters he sent to her but she was unmoving. "If you were to smile for once would it kill you?" Cathy said with a small laugh using the palm of her hand to cover her mouth so as to not show her teeth but she noticed the man was not having any of it.

"Move" was what he said but Cathy shook her head and when she noticed he had brought out his hand to push her to the side, she quickly took hold of it as she now forcefully turned him around. "The night is beautiful isn't it? Are you busy?" Cathy asked and although she had asked the question she propelled him to move his feet along with hers as she was leading him outside with her. 

"Where are you taking me?" Cathy heard him lazily ask to have a smile form up on her lips.  "To the garden" Cathy answered and she didn't hear another word from him again. He didn't even decline.

"You are lucky to have Isabelle you know. Any man would die to be in your position"Cathy remarked as they were now out of the mansion heading to the garden. He didn't answer her while he just walked along with her.

Servants who were passing by couldn't help but look at their master who was being held by a girl as if he would run away. "I mean she's pretty,kind,loving,caring, gracious and not to forg...."

"My my my don't tell me you have feelings for my wife" Nicholas retorted with a hint of cunningness. He knew Cathy here had been unnecessarily obsessed with Isabelle. But he couldn't blame her though, who would not?

"Don't be jealous Nicholas it was if I were a man that you should be worried because I would definitely steal her away from you" Cathy said with a proud tone as if she was sure she would.

"How daunting"Nicholas remarked the side of his lips pulling up.

"Hands off" the two heard the sudden voice come from behind them to have their heads abruptly turn to look at who it was to have Cathy's face drop.

"How silly of you to think you can run away from me"