Cate Meets Kate

By: Laci Dagger

Rating: T

She wasn’t answering her phone.

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Catelyn frowned at her cracked screen as she ended the call, not bothering to leave a voicemail. She’d already left three, but she knew Katelyn wouldn’t hear them. She didn’t check her voicemails unless she was expecting an important call.

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I wonder why I’m not considered important. Catelyn shook her head. That wasn't true. She was important... Right?

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The news had hit her like a ton of bricks. She was up early – insomnia – and was going to town on a second bowl of cereal when the story made her freeze:

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“49 people killed, several injured in nightclub shooting in Florida”

 

As the story went on, Catelyn found herself feeling sick and afraid. In this day and age, who expects to die for their sexuality? How did someone process something like this? Catelyn was not shy about her sexuality, openly flirting with women she found attractive. Of course, she didn’t anymore, now that she was with Katelyn, but sometimes women still flirted with her, and she played along while letting them know she was taken.

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When she and Katelyn were out together, she shamelessly held her hand and kissed her cheek, loving the way Katelyn got flustered and buried her face in Catelyn’s shoulder. Katelyn was not used to open affection. Her ex-boyfriend Michael had been closed off and distant, and even now, months later, she still got embarrassed.

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But what would she say now? She was bound to see the news (she watched it religiously, much to Catelyn’s surprise) and there was no telling how devastated she would feel. Catelyn thought back, to their first month's anniversary, when Catelyn had taken Katelyn on a picnic at the park where they'd first really talked. As always, Catelyn brought her camera along, and Katelyn covered her face every time the lens was focused on her, though Catelyn got a few of them together without it. After a while, Catelyn put the camera down.

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“Why do you do that?”

“Hm?” Kate was distracted, stirring sugar into her little plastic cup of tea.

“You know, cover your face whenever I kiss you, or take your picture, or anything?”

Katelyn looked up. “I'm sorry. Does it annoy you? I'll stop.”

“No, no! It's fine, really. I was only asking.”

Katelyn looked down at her tea again. She paused in her stirring, and spoke. “I only had one girlfriend before you. My parents broke us up. Said it was disgusting, and nobody would love someone like me if they knew. She used to take a lot pictures too… I used to sit and think, after, that maybe they were right. Who wants to love somebody like me, anyway?” She was staring at Catelyn now, eyes unblinking.

“I do.” Catelyn said softly. “I want to love somebody like you.”

Katelyn smiled a little. “You wanna love somebody like me?” She got on her knees, leaning over until her face was inches from her girlfriend's. “If you can love somebody like me, you must be messed up, too.” She kissed Catelyn softly. Then sat back down.

“I won't hide anymore. Not again.” She said, and took a long sip of her tea.

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I won't hide anymore. Not again.

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Catelyn wondered if that would still ring true when they met again. She was jarred from her thoughts when the operator announced the stop. Meadow Glenn Station. She rushed off of the train.

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By pure luck, they lived a 20 minute train ride apart. The sun hurt her eyes as she got to the surface. Katelyn’s apartment was only a block away, but Catelyn found herself pausing. What if Katelyn didn't want this anymore? What if she ran back to Michael because he was safer? Catelyn couldn't handle that. Not from Katelyn. Anyone but Katelyn.

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She reached the Meadow Glenn Complex faster than she thought. Letting herself through the broken gate, she walked to Katelyn’s. Apartment 37, building E.

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She could hear the doorbell ring inside, and it seemed like nobody was home. Had something happened?

 

“Katelyn?” She called. Nothing. “Katelyn! Are you home?”

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The pattering of footsteps, and suddenly the door flew open, and there was Katelyn in all her beauty, curls wild from sleep and still in pajamas. “Catelyn!” She wailed, throwing herself into her girlfriend's arms. Catelyn squeezed her close.

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“I'm sorry. Michael called, and so did my parents, and they were so mean, I couldn't take it, so I threw my phone and I can't find it, but I heard your ringtone...” Katelyn was babbling and crying, and Catelyn maneuvered them into the apartment. Katelyn finally managed to stop crying.

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“I'm scared, Catie.” She whimpered. Catelyn pulled her sleeve up, gently wiping away tears. “What are we going to do?”

 

Catelyn kissed her temple. “Nothing changes. That asshole won't win. Don't give up on me now, Kay, not when we need each other most.”

 

Katelyn nodded uncertainly, but she seemed far away. “But what if-”

Catelyn kissed her hard. “What did you tell me in the park five months ago?”

Katelyn pouted. “That we were messed up.”

“After that.”

Katelyn bit her lip, looking anywhere but at Catelyn’s face.

“Kay.”

Katelyn looked her in the eyes. “I won't hide anymore. Not again.”

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“Not ever again.” Catelyn pulled her close. “I promise, I'm right here. No one is splitting us up. Not terrorists, not your parents, not even God himself. Do you hear me?”

 

Katelyn nodded, shaking as new tears started.

“Thank you.”

 

Katelyn settled down, and they found her phone. She got dressed, and Catelyn muddled around the kitchen, settling on preparing macaroni and cheese and pizza rolls.

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They were halfway through The Way He Looks when Katelyn paused it. “Catie?”

“Yeah?”

“I want to ask you something.”

Catelyn’s fork paused  on its way to her mouth. “What's up?”

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Katelyn stared down at her fingers. “I don't want you to think this has everything to do with the news, but it does have something to do with my decision.” Hazel eyes met brown. “I was just thinking that… Maybe we should move in together?”

 

Catelyn dropped her fork. “For real?”

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“I'm not done. I was also thinking, maybe not soon, but that, maybe… we could… get married?”

Catelyn screamed. “For real?”

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“I want to move in first!” Katelyn said. “Or you move here, or whatever. I want us to see if we're compatible in the same house” Katelyn moved their plates, and scooted closer. “I just don't want to wait and make a mistake. I don't want something to happen and only have just been “girlfriends”.” Katelyn’s eyes watered. “It's dumb, I know, and it's not just the scared part of me talking. I love you, Catie, and I want to start being serious. No one has to move right now, we don't have to get married right now, I just-” Katelyn was cut off by Catelyn’s lips on hers. Catelyn was crying.

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“Holy shit, Kay!” She said. “I don't care how long it takes, fuck yes I'll marry you!”

 

Katelyn smiled for the first that day, and Catelyn couldn't breathe. Her phone beep, and she was going to ignore it, but Katelyn motioned to it, and she picked it up.

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“It's my friend Sarah. There's a vigil going on for the victims. Do you want to go?”

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Katelyn nodded, and they quickly cleaned up. At the door, Katelyn took Catelyn’s hand. “We're not gonna be scared anymore, right?”

 

Catelyn kissed her temple. “No. Not anymore.”