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Kat heard the pebbles hit the glass, she smiled as she jumped off her bed and went to her window. She opened it and saw Ray on the ground below.
"What are you doing?" Kat asked in a low voice.
"I couldn't wait to tell you something, come down." Ray told her in a loud whisper.
"Come up!" Kat said.
"Your Dad would kill me if he found me in your room. Come down!" Ray said, Kat sighed as she caved. She had a huge crush on Ray, he was older than her by four years and so cute. She just wished she was old enough to date and be seen as a woman. But her Dad was surprisingly strict about it. He wasn't against her being friends with Ray, he just didn't want Ray around unless he or an adult were present. Something that really made it hard for her to not feel like a kid.
"Ok, ok, I'm coming down." Kat caved, she quickly pulled on her sneakers and climbed down the trellis outside her window. She stood before him, her heart pounded in her chest from how illicit it felt to be outside alone with Ray. "So what's the news?" she asked.
"I got into the Navy." he said excitedly. Kat squealed in delight and without thought embraced him.
"That is amazing, congratulations." she said, she breathed in enjoying the rich scent of his Lynx body spray. He always smelt so good, his body was so strong and warm.
"Thanks, I start basic next week. I couldn't have done it without your help." Ray said, he let her go, Kat's cheeks burned as she wondered if he noticed her smelling him or maybe her hug was too long?
"That's not true." she said embarrassed that he thought she was pivotal to his success.
"It is, just accept the compliment." Ray said as they walked over to the swing set in the backyard.
"Ok." Kat said as she settled into one of the swings and Ray did the same next to her.
"So what are you gonna do?" Ray asked.
"I don't know, it depends on what my Dad and Jess want. I think I'll worry about it after I finish high school first." Kat said as she gently swayed in her swing. She had her dreams but wasn't ready to share them. She was afraid they'd seem childish.
"Does it bother you that he's moved on from your Mom so quickly?" Ray asked.
"My Mom and Dad were divorced before I can even remember. Like they still loved each other, but like how friends love one another. You know?" she asked, she wished she could explain it better but it was hard to explain when they didn't see it firsthand.
"Kind of." Ray said diplomatically. Kat didn't take offence as she knew Ray's parents had a very angry and messy marriage before the virus took them. So, he didn't really have a great frame of reference to lean on.
"But I know Dad misses Mom," Kat swallowed her own grief as she didn't want to cry, "but him being Jess was never about moving on from Mom or replacing her. It's him living his life and Jess is a part of his life and mine now. And you know, she's a pretty cool for an adult." Kat said with a shrug.
"You have a pretty mature outlook for a 14 yr old." Ray said, Kat smothered a smile and played it cool.
"Well, that's how Dad explained it and it made sense to me." Kat told him.
"You still didn't tell me what you wanted to do with your life." Ray said, circling back to their earlier conversation.
"I honestly don't know." Kat lied, she nervously smiled and hoped he didn't press it. A light in the kitchen turned on and they both jumped off the swings and ran for cover. Which just happened to be behind the nearest tree as the backyard was bathed in the glow of the light.
"Who is it?" Kat asked as Ray peeked around the side of the tree to see who was in the kitchen.
"It's Jess and your Dad, why are they even up?" he asked.
"Did they see us?" Kat asked, her heart pounding in her chest as they were standing so close to each other.
"No, looks like they are getting something to eat. We're safe for the moment." Ray said in relief, he pulled back and looked down at her. For a moment, she hoped he would kiss her. It was the perfect moment but instead much to her disappointment, he peered back around the tree. Kat pouted as she watched him spy on her Dad and Jess in the kitchen.
"We need to get back to your room before they check." Ray said.
"They won't check." Kat assured him.
"I don't want to risk it. Your Dad said he'd wear my balls as earrings if he caught you with me without his supervision. I kind of like my balls where they are." Ray told her, Kat sighed and nodded in agreement as she needed Ray to stay on Dad's good side.
The end.