Like a Bird (15 page)

On the bus ride home she slumped in the seat like a limp doll with her head pressed against the window. Her phone buzzed away in her purse, but she was
n’
t compelled to pull it out. Staring out the window with glazed eyes, Kitty was oblivious to the constant flow of people.

“Oh my gawd, is that Kitty?
The
Kitty from the
Kat’s Meow
?” A thin man with bleached hair and eyeliner gasped as held onto the bus railing with one hand and pressed his other hand to his chest. He leaned in toward a forlorn Kitty, who slowly turned toward him and his tall friend. The man reached out and took her hand.

“Oh my gawd, I’m a huge fan of your show.” The bus slammed to a halt nearly sending him flying backward. He caught himself in time. “Holy shit, the bus drivers in this city are insane. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve almost died on public transit. It’s a complete travesty. Oh, but darling, your show, it’s amazing. I watch it religiously,” he gushed.

The tall man rolled his eyes. “It’s true,” he confirmed.

Kitty smiled and pulled her hand out of the stranger’s light grip. “Thank you, you’re very kind. It’s nice to meet my fans.”

“I’m Oscar, by the way. Oh, how rude I hadn’t even introduced myself until now. Could we get a picture?” The man pointed at himself and Kitty. Before she could respond, he passed the phone to his companion, who held it up as Oscar squeezed next to Kitty and threw his arm around her. Like a dutiful celebrity she put on her photogenic mask and smiled sweetly for the camera. Oscar insisted on two more photos because he wasn’t showing his best side. When they finished he thanked her profusely.

As the bus approached her stop all eyes were locked on her, examining each movement as she stumbled to the back door and lurched down the stairs with her big purse and bulging plastic bag of paraphernalia from work. She stopped to take a breath just inside the front door of her building, which smelled like urine today.

Kitty’s phone vibrated against her hip. She ignored it and trudged on until she was in the safety of her room and free of the sweaty plastic bag that represented everything she knew she sucked at. Even the purse, its bright blue leather that felt like baby’s skin under her fingertips, was bought with her employee discount. With its delicate gold hardware and absurd price tag, it was harder to hate. She figured she could sell it to buy groceries, if it came to that.

She threw herself onto the bed and imagined the cracks in the ceiling were like the cracks in her career — about to crumble and fall on top of her.

Her reverie was shattered by a crash from the kitchen.

“Doesn't she ever work?” Kitty said out loud, getting up to investigate. As she rounded the corner, Kitty screamed when she saw a man from behind with long, dark hair, raiding the cupboard in search of a coffee mug. Johnathan turned around and Kitty's heart rate began to return to normal.

“Oh, it’s you,” she said.

“Hi,” he replied. “Sorry about the glass. Um, I’ll clean it up. I was just trying to make some coffee. I’m sorry about the glass. I’ll replace it, if you want. It’s just, I don’t have a job right now so . . .”

“Neither do I,” Kitty said. She returned to her room. Johnathan followed and poked his head through the doorway. Kitty dropped onto her bed.

“That really sucks about your job." Johnathan looked confused. “I thought you did that video thing. I heard you’re really popular. Well, that’s what Daniella said.”

“Yeah well, I’m not popular enough to pay the bills. I just lost a good part-time job today.”

“Mm, well you’re smart and pretty. I’m sure you’ll find another job right away.”

Kitty smiled. “Thanks.”

Her phone vibrated next to her. Kitty groaned and threw herself backward.

“You should get that,” Johnathan said.

“I don’t feel like talking to anyone right now.”

“What if it’s good news?” Johnathan leaned on the doorframe.

Kitty lifted her head. “What if it’s not?”

Kitty pulled herself up and picked up her phone. She glanced at Johnathan.

“I’m gonna go clean up the glass,” he said, taking the hint.

“That’s a good idea,” Kitty agreed as she tapped on her phone to hear the voice mail.

“
Hi Katherine, this is Kris from Dream Date. I’m calling to let you know your application has been approved. I need you to call me back right away to get your password so you can set up your profile. If I don’t hear back from you within twenty-four hours I’ll assume you’re not interested and your application will be void. Thanks
.
”

Kitty replayed the message to be sure she had heard it right.

"Holy mother Mary of fucking gawd!” Kitty pranced over to her computer and turned on some music, turned on the video camera, and hit record. “When you get good news, you just gotta dance,” she squealed and proceeded to shake her hips and swish her pink hair. At first, she didn’t notice Johnathan return to her doorway.

“Oh, honey you were so right!’

Johnatha
n’
s face brightened. “I was?”

Kitty hopped over to him and gave him a big squeeze. “I have to tell Daniella.” Bending over to pick up her phone off the floor, she flashed her underwear at the boy in the doorway, who didn’t know what to say or do with the sudden energy in the room.

“Oh, shit!” Kitty ran to her computer to pause the recording.

- -

A bright light broke through the darkness of the woods. Gareth approached the familiar cave and crawled through the small opening, his backpack catching on the sharp rocks and jolting him backward. He removed his rain poncho and then the bag to pass through the entrance. Inside the cave was high enough for even Gareth to stand upright, though he squatted to empty the contents of his bag on the dirt floor. Gareth had visited this cave many times and had stored a generous collection of kindling and wood. He gathered an armful of fire-making supplies and crawled back outside. Running west along the valley floor, he found a sheltered place to build a fire in hopes Sky might be drawn to it.

Gareth started a second small fire near the cave entrance. Fissures in the rock ensured the smoke signal would drift up, as though the gods had intentionally crafted this perfect hiding place. The small fire warmed the cave, and Gareth used it to boil water for another cup of tea. He prepared a place to sleep, sweeping away the small rocks so they didn’t jab him through the thin mat he placed on the ground. He sat down and let the steaming mug warm his hands. Though he couldn’t feel much through his scarred left palm, the heat ran through his body and reached to his core.

Gareth passed an hour or so by whittling rough animal shapes from a large stick. Growing bored with that, he carved an arrow on the end of another thick stick and carefully smoothed the edges and refined the point by the firelight. Outside the cave, the sound of water dripping and trickling back to the creek accented the silence. Gareth left three times to check on his second fire, but even in the darkness, there was no sign of activity.

Inside the cave, red and orange flames created a meditative backdrop that allowed Gareth’s thoughts to settle like a pond after a storm. Though his breath was steady he was still unable to shake the dread that squeezed his chest, and he lay awake long into the night, listening to the rustle of small animals scurrying about in the deep crevices behind him.

- -

Before the sun emerged, Gareth startled awake. His heart raced and his bones ached from the hard ground that was nothing like the mattress he was accustomed to. He tried to wipe the blackness from his eye but still he could see hardly anything in front of him.

A strange rattling sound came from the crevices behind him. Gareth felt around for his flashlight and shone it into the black cracks where shiny little eyes reflected back at him followed by the scraping of sharp nails on the rocks as tiny critters scattered. The rattling abated. Gareth took a deep breath and thrust his arm into the largest crevice, expecting to be bitten or scratched. Instead, there was a small gasp from inside as his hand brushed damp cloth with soft flesh underneath.

“Sky? What are you doing in there?”

The only response was quiet sniffling.

“It’s OK. Please come out. You need to get warm.” Gareth held out his hand to her and she slid out of the awkward hole, one small body part at a time; though stiff and sore she managed to wiggle her way out. Her skin was cold and she was shaking uncontrollably, whether from a chill or fear, neither of them could say. Gareth sat on the ground and directed her to sit in his lap. He wrapped the sleeping bag around her and held her tightly.

“We’re going home,” he said.

Sky may have nodded; it was hard to tell. Gareth kissed the top of her head and she leaned into him, her wet hair making a dark impression on his shirt.

- -

Rose greeted them on the doorstep with her hair a mess and bags under her eyes as though she hadn’t slept. Gareth carried Sky, who had stopped shivering and was now mumbling nonsense.

“We need to get her in a warm bath right away,” Gareth said to Rose, who nodded and rushed up the stairs to run water. Gareth placed Sky on the floor and threw all his gear in a pile before scooping her back up and taking her to her bedroom where Rose was filling the tub.

“Not too hot,” he instructed, “keep it lukewarm and we’ll add hot water as she begins to thaw.”

The two of them peeled off her damp clothes as Sky slurred tearful apologies over and over. Gareth lifted her into the tub and she slid down until the water almost covered her head. Gareth held her under her arms. He swept her hair out of her face and touched her blue lips that eerily suited her. He remained crouched next to the tub for a long while as her skin began to warm and her fingers glowed pink again.

“What are you going to do to me?” she whispered, returning to her senses.

Gareth shook his head. “Nothing,” he whispered back.

Sky turned on her side to rest her head against his arm that was still holding her.

“Don’t ever take off like that again,” he pleaded, the words rolling out more gruff than he intended.

- -

A few days later, Gareth stood on a ladder installing another camera in the basement when his phone buzzed. He stopped to pull it out of his pocket. It was a message from Elise.

Are will still on for lunch today?

I am, are you?

I know I’ve been lousy, I’m sorry. Heading over soon.

Gareth finished installing the camera and cleaned the lens with a cloth. Satisfied with his workmanship, he climbed down and stored everything back in his workshop. He had changed the code on the door and developed a system to alter it each week, although there was nothing left to discover in his workshop.

Sky wandered around the house, eating a sandwich, with Wisdom trailing her. She wore the tight black leggings the wolf had chewed, knowing they were Gareth’s favorite. On top she wore her favorite among his college T-shirts, which hung off her shoulder. She looked out onto the sunlight-drenched garden and let her hand dangle at her side, allowing Wisdom to steal the remainder of her meal. Gareth came up from the basement and stood close behind her.

“I have company coming today. I need you to stay in your room,” he said.

Sky looked at him with annoyance but said nothing.

“It’ll only be for a few hours,” he said softly and leaned in to kiss her deeply.

“Do we have time to watch a movie?” Sky asked, a mischievous grin playing across her face.

Gareth checked the time on his phone.

“I think we can watch a short one,” he agreed.

Sky turned on the large TV that hung on the living-room wall above the fireplace. Gareth sat on the couch and Sky settled in between his legs and leaned against his chest. He wrapped one arm tightly around her, and with his other hand he poked his fingers through the holes in her leggings to caress her bare skin. Wisdom made herself comfortable on the rug nearby.

Sky chose an action flick Gareth liked, though neither of them had ever seen it all the way through. Rose brought in buttered popcorn and drinks before she disappeared again.

Sky reached behind her and stroked Gareth’s hair that had become long and unruly again. Her fingers caught in the tangles and Gareth winced before he pulled her hand out and wrapped his three mangled fingers around her small, flawless hand. He pressed his arm into her and rested his cheek on the top of her head as the movie started.

Gareth’s hand eventually slid inside Sky’s shirt and he gently stroked her breast nestled inside her bra. Sky moaned softly and turned around to straddle Gareth and press against his cock growing firm beneath the fly of his jeans.

Their warm lips sucked and kissed, and Sky reached down to free Gareth from the thick denim between them. She removed her leggings and Gareth slid forward so she could sit on top of him and wrap her legs around his waist. He ate his way down her neck, his rough scars on his cheek rubbing against the smoothness of her skin. Sky writhed on top of him until her legs ached and her knees felt about to give out.