We spend a few hours looking around town and going over little things for after the year, where I'm going to college and where we will be living. Imelda would like to be closer to Texas and I'm inclined to agree. I tell her about options in between and that gets me a smile, the biggest thing is we have no east coast. Too much distance between us and our families to be a viable option. It's about three in the afternoon when we mount up and head back towards home.
"So what are we doing with the jars," Imelda asks as we ride down the freeway.
"Mailing them to Texas, Carlos, your Mom and my Family down there," I tell her plainly," We're gonna give them a piece of the ocean."
"That is so stupid it's sweet," Imelda says as she continues to beat me down the freeway.
We get home about seven in the evening and almost immediately Imelda tells the other girls that we're back on via text and we all sit down in my room to relax save for Katy who is out at another study group. Imelda talks a bit about what we did today while I sit with her in my lap on the bed and I can see the other girls are happy with the results. We parted ways but not before Kori handed me a note with instructions 'My house, come alone, wear the best suit you have, arrive at 5:30'. I smile as I show them out and get a kiss from each one and a big one from Imelda who takes her jars and follows Kori back home.
I'm settled in my room relaxing when I hear an unfamiliar car pull up; I look out my window and see Katy getting out of the passenger side before going around the car and talking to the male in the driver seat. They talk for barely a minute before she heads into the house. I exit my room and meet her at her door with a smile but she's got a tired expression on her face.
"So did you find a day that we can get together for Valentine's day yet," I ask as she starts to think with frustration.
"Guy I will get a day I swear but right now I'm looking at two projects that make up a lot of my grade in two classes and my study group is being a pain in my ass," Katy
says opening her door and entering.
"Hey I can give you a rub down and we can talk about it," I remark with a smile but she just frowns.
"Not tonight, I've got a massive fucking headache and just want to sleep," Katy says almost closing the door on me," I'll talk with you tomorrow."
The door closes and I'm living in an off state, Katy doesn't want to talk to me and doesn't want me to touch her. What the fuck going on? I head down the hall and catch Mom making a cup of tea in the kitchen and she can tell by the look on my face I'm in a bad state.
"Mom I think something is up with Katy," I tell her as she heats the water," She just got in and she doesn't even want to talk with me."
"She's focusing on college Guy, it's not easy for her and with her study group they are trying to keep their grades up this first year," Mom explains.
"Yeah but she's got to the point where she barely even acknowledges me and now with Valentine's day around the corner she's flaking out on our relationship," I state as Mom listens quietly.
"Let her get past her projects and she'll open up again, she's not good with school like you are," Mom states, giving me a kiss on the cheek and heading off to read.
I think about what Mom said and while it makes sense the cold shoulder treatment is a bit much for me. I head back to bed and settle in for a good night's sleep. Waking up Sunday morning and working out, dad joins me after a bit and we go over basics and Dad has me spend more time on stamina than anything else. No Katy this morning but I figure I'll talk with her later like we agreed. Breakfast has everyone at the table and Katy is talking a little about her projects and one of her groups for a class quitting and her barely finding a new partner. I'm listening but more concerned with us and having a talk about the upcoming holiday. Dad pulls me into the back yard and we get to work fixing up part of the flower beds for Mom to plant when spring finally hits. We're only back there for a few hours and when we get inside I shower and head to Katy's room. I knock and no answer, peeking inside I discover she's gone and her school stuff is half there minus her bag.
"Mom did Katy leave," I ask, stalking my way through the house.
"Yes she left with her project to meet her class partner so they could get more done today," Mom asks but pauses when she sees my face," Did she do something?"
"No, sadly she didn't do anything," I state heading back to my room and slamming the door.
Even Liz in her own little world has made it a point to avoid me as I'm a little put off by Katy's avoiding me. I note the time hit the four o'clock hour and I head into my room to get ready. I suit up in my gray suit and black tie combo and pack a bag of clothing to wear at school tomorrow and after giving my folks a quick goodbye hop on Pale horse and head towards Kori's. getting there is easy and I'm on her front door step almost on time. Her parent's cars are gone and there's a note on the door that reads 'Welcome Home'. I chuckle a little bit and step inside, closing the door behind me. It takes Kori all of four seconds to know that I'm home and she comes out of the kitchen in an old style Suzy Homemaker dress with an apron and her brunette hair done up nice but simple.
"Welcome home honey," Kori says, coming over to me and giving me a kiss," How was your day?"
"Frustrating but getting better," I tell her as she turns and heads back to the kitchen.
"I'm sorry to hear that baby, sit down and watch some TV while I finish dinner. I'm sorry but it's going to be later than I expected," She informs me as I marvel at her happy homemaker mentality.
I take off my suit jacket before sitting down and flip through the channels till I find something on the Science Fiction channel and relax. I can hear her working hard in the kitchen and once the smoke alarm goes off but she stops it with a thud. A little swearing that I'm guessing she doesn't think I'll hear and I can tell she's getting frustrated as I step into the kitchen. Mom always told me too many pots and pans and something burns, Kori is living it right now but she's in full damage control as I roll up my sleeves and start to assist. I'm not a cooking whiz but the extra hands help as I pull a boiling something off of the burner and set it where she points. We get all the different portions cleared and she tells me to go sit down at the table while she plates dinner. I don't get the term but still sit down and wait a little bit when she comes out of the kitchen with a wonderful meal of pork chops and mashed potatoes with green beans.
"This looks wonderful honey," I tell her as we start to eat.