Close and Closer

"Kate, Kate honey, what are you doing on the couch?" 

I blinked, unable to process what Aunt Hilda had just said. 

I found my Aunt's face hovering above me, once again that worried expression plastered on it.

Couch?

What was I doing on the couch?

Pieces of what transpired the night before came to mind. 

"Um," I started, still disoriented. My eyes caught the television set and uttered the first thing that came to mind. "I uh watched movies." I lied, then stared at the television safely unplugged and not running. 

My Aunt stared at me, brow raised. I cleared my throat.

"Then I got too lazy to get to my room, so I decided to sleep here." I shrugged and stared down at myself.

Eff, who am I fooling? I was wearing a full going-out attire except for my sneakers which had been taken off and placed on the carpet.

"Hmm," Aunt Hilda eyed me, smelling the little white lie.

I bit my lower lip.

"Sorry," I said, sounding really guilty. Aunt Hilda shook her head at me and smiled brightly.

"It's okay. Just don't fall asleep on the couch next time, and hey, I would allow you to meet up or date someone or something. Just don't be secretive about it. Okay?"

"Okay," I said, not even trying to defend myself.

"Go shower and change; we'll be having breakfast in a while," I nodded and followed orders.

I let out a sigh of relief upon reaching my room. It wasn't a complete lie; it was close to the truth but still slightly skewed.

I grabbed my towel by the back door and fished my phone from my back pocket. I was about to place it by the mirror when I accidentally pressed the lock button and saw that I had one message.

I instantly opened that one and smiled upon reading it.

'Katie, you fell asleep. But don't worry. I'll see you again soon.'

-Kyle

--

The whole morning passed too quickly. I didn't even realize it was already six in the evening until Aunt Hilda knocked on Allen's door and broke our chess game. He was about to win anyway, so I didn't mind the interruption.

She poked her head and beamed at the two of us.

"Dinner's ready," she announced.

"Just a minute, Mom," Allen said while I bounded off his bed and had the chess board tumbling through the floor, making my cousin let out an annoyed sound.

"Fat face, you're not playing fair, " he whined. I shrugged and ran towards Aunt Hilda's side for defense.

"You already won two games, and you said it yourself; it isn't nice to keep the food waiting." I laughed and rushed for the stairs knowing Allen would never let me off the hook until he got his revenge.

He could easily forgive people who tripped him and pulled his hair, but he will never let you get away when you have destroyed his chance of winning.

"Fat face! You're going to get it this time. I swear!" 

I heard my cousin's voice coming closer while Aunt Hilda barked a laugh.

I ran outside and let Allen chase me by the pool. It went on for a few minutes, but eventually, he caught me holding my stomach securely and lifted me off my feet which sparked images to pop into my head. 

This time they were clear, crystal clear.

There was Kyle. He chased me at a playground and caught me as Allen did. I laughed, enjoying this significant moment with him.

The images receded, leaving me light-headed.

I knew for certain now that yesterday's blurred image was also of me and Kyle.

The way he greeted me yesterday and the images I saw right now made us a couple. That one came clear already. The question of how I knew a lot of things about him was finally answered.

But if Kyle was my boyfriend, why wasn't he at the hospital when I woke up?

Why does my family seem to be keeping many things about him and the accident from me?

"Kate, are you okay?" I felt my feet touch the ground. I stared at my cousin and forced a smile.

"Yeah, I am."

--

"Hello?" 

Kelsea's voice sounded tired. Obviously, she just got out of bed. 

Early morning in California while late in the evening here, but I had to confirm my theories which had started to scare me and wouldn't allow me to close my eyes even just for a second or two.

"Hey, Kels, it's me, Kate," I almost heard the phone fall from her hands.

"Kate!" 

She practically shrieked.

"You freak! Why did you call just now? If Aunt Hilda didn't update us on your whereabouts and whatnot, we would have no idea how you are doing there. You almost gave me a heart attack!"

I sighed.

"I sort of wanted Mom and Dad to suffer for their decision to ship me here, but I guess that was a wrong move." I bit my lower lip and stared at my toes.

Aunt Hilda was already snoring, and Allen was not home. He and his friends went out to get wasted.

He offered to take me, but I declined.

Aside from hating disco places and bars, I was waiting for Kyle to contact me. I needed more than him reminding me about us meeting each other. 

I needed him to tell me what had happened that night and asked him about something else.

But I had second thoughts on that one, so I decided to go for my sister. Even when I knew there was only a 20 percent slim chance that she would tell me the truth, I'd like to take the risk.

"Oh, I don't blame you, but I wish you did not include me."

I felt guilty, but I had my reason not to contact any of them aside from the rebellion act, and yes, it was all about Kyle.

Why was it so hard for them to tell me what had happened and about Kyle being my boyfriend?

"You were part of it. You wouldn't talk to me about Kyle, about anything. You all know something I don't." 

I wasn't surprised by the sudden silence. I was right.

From the very beginning, they all shut me off. They only told me that I had an accident and that I should be grateful I was still alive and breathing, end of story.

"Kate, it's very complicated." 

I groaned.

"Could you just tell me anything? Anything at all just to clear the fuss in my head because Kels, I might go crazy if I don't find out what happened." 

I listened carefully, knowing that in her silence, my sister was already contemplating either telling me the truth or keeping the pact with Mom and Dad about the secrecy.

"Okay. Just one. Just this one." 

I knew I had a slight chance on that risk.

"Okay," I bit my lower lip for the nth time, bracing myself.

"That night, you were begging Dad to allow you to go and watch movies with your friends. But it was pretty late, but you told Dad that Kyle would be there and he won't let anything happen to you." 

My sister paused, and it sounded like she was stopping herself from crying.

"Dad would never have allowed you if Kyle wasn't there. He trusted Kyle enough to let you go." Kelsea sniffed. I remained silent.

"You were riding his bike Kate, but you never made it to the movies," Kelsea said in a whisper. Then I heard her break down into sobs.

So on the way to the movies, Kyle and I met with an accident. And then what?

"Okay. I turned out fine, just a little crack in the head, but what about Kyle?" 

My heart hammered hard against my chest.

He's fine. He's fine. Please say he's fine because if Kelsea told me otherwise, that would make me question who I was talking to last night and all sorts of others headed for my sanity.

"I'm so sorry, Kate," I stared at the telephone, hearing the loud tune of being hung up on.