smiled.
“This day is going to be so much fun,” she said as she slipped her arm through mine and we started walking again.
Four hours later I had to agree with her. After swimming in the pool and running around the park like little kids, we’d bought ice cream. Then as we walked back into the park looking for a secluded area, I realised that it had been years since I’d laughed so much. Katarina led me through some trees and the path broke into a clearing where a picnic basket and a rug were set on the grass. Katarina collapsed on the rug but I stood there staring at it. After a moment she opened one eye.
“Problem?” she asked.
“How did this get here?” I asked.
“Magic,” Katarina said then laughed at my expression. “I’m joking. My older sister, Rachel, set it up for me.” She pulled me down on the rug and I watched as she opened the basket.
“What’s she like?” I asked as Katarina pulled cold chicken legs from the basket.
“Smart, funny, the best sister ever,” Katarina said. “We look nothing alike. Rachel has dark brown hair and brown eyes to match.” I smiled as I glanced at Katarina.
“Your eyes are so much prettier,” I said and Katarina laughed.
“You’ve never seen my sister’s eyes,” she said.
“You’ve just said that hers are brown” I said. Katarina glanced at me and I saw an emotion cross her face that I couldn’t identify before she smiled at me.
“Harmony, I lied when I asked you to spend the day with me,” she said. I felt my stomach drop.
“Well, what did you mean if you didn’t want to spend the day with me?” I asked. Katarina’s expression turned serious and I felt a little scared.
“It was because you are beautiful and I wanted to get to know you better,” she said. “But it was for another, selfish purpose.”
“What’s that,” I whispered. I found myself leaning closer as I waited for Katarina to answer. She seemed to be struggling to find the words and after a few minutes she looked at me.
“I can show you better than I can tell you,” she said. She started to lean closer as my heart skipped a beat and then her lips were pressed against mine. My mind faded, all I could sense were her lips on mine and by the time she pulled away it seemed as if we had kissed for hours when it was only a few seconds.
“What does that mean?” I asked. Katarina bore a look of uncertainty that I had not seen her wear in the few days I had known her.
“Something changed when I saw you,” she said. “It was like before I met you I was dead. I know we’ve only known each other for five days but I am certain that I love you.” My heart jumped as I realised that I had been waiting five days to hear those words.
“I love you too, Katarina,” I said. I kissed her and nothing else mattered. I didn’t care if no one knew my name. I didn’t care that I had no other friends; she was the only person who mattered.
“I’m glad I found you,” Katarina said after our second kiss. She lay back down on the rug and I snuggled close to her. I rested my head on her ribs and listened to her breathe.
“Would you believe that until today I hated physical contact,” I murmured. Katarina stroked my hair back from my face. “You are the first person I’ve allowed this close to me apart from my mother since I was little. You’re the only person I’ve said more than a dozen words to from school. You’re the only person I’ve wanted.” After a moment of silence I glanced at Katarina and saw that she looked sad.
“Oh, Harmony,” was all she said as she stroked my cheek. “What am I going to do with you?”
Over the next two weeks I had the most fun I’d ever had. Katarina was the best thing that ever happened to me. Aside from drawing me out of my shell by forcing me to talk to other people, she spent numerous hours telling me that I was beautiful. One Saturday morning as we lay together on her bed was no different. Usually I just smiled when Katarina told me I was beautiful before looking away but today I tried a different approach.
“I don’t know who told you that you aren’t beautiful,” she said as she ran her fingers through my hair. “But they were lying. You are the most beautiful person I’ve ever met.” I bit my lip before replying.
“Why do you think I’m beautiful?” I asked her. Although I had grown more comfortable with Kat during the two weeks we’d spent together, this was the first time I’d confronted her.
“What do you mean?” she asked. I rolled onto my back and my fringe slipped into my eyes. Almost subconsciously, Kat brushed it away.
“I mean I know why I think you’re beautiful,” I said. “You’ve got the most interesting eyes I’ve ever seen. The colour of your hair is unlike anything I’ve come across. Every time you speak, you find another way to make me feel special. But why do you think I’m beautiful?” Katarina smiled and I knew she wasn’t upset with me. On the contrary, she was pleased with me. She crouched over me with her legs either side of my waist, her hands beside my shoulders. She leant over me, her face inches from mine.
“I love your eyes,” she said. “Sapphires are my favourite gemstone and your eyes are the exact colour of them. Sometimes I look into your eyes and feel as if I’m looking into your soul. I can see how hard it is for you to let someone get close to you and I’m glad that you let me in. The person under that shy exterior is someone worth knowing.” I cupped Katarina’s face in my hands and pulled her lips down to meet mine.
“Every time you speak, I fall more in love with you,” I said. Katarina brushed a piece of hair out of my eyes before kissing me again. For several minutes we exchanged kisses before Katarina pulled away, leaving me grinning but breathless.
“Hearing you say that makes me fall more in love with you,” Katarina said. A blush crept over my cheeks as I turned to look at the clock. In the next second I sat up so quickly that Kat fell off the bed.
“I’m so sorry,” I said as I got to my feet and pulled her off the ground. “I promised Mum I’d be home half an hour ago.” Katarina pulled me close to her and kissed me. Several minutes passed before I was able to pull myself away.
“It makes it dreadfully hard for me to leave when you do things like that,” I said. Katarina grinned.
“Stay,” she murmured before pressing her lips against mine again. I pulled away more quickly this time.
“My mother will be getting worried,” I said. I gave her one last kiss before grabbing my bag from beside the bed.
“See you at school on Monday,” Katarina said. I frowned as I slipped the bag over my shoulders.
“What about tomorrow?” I asked. Katarina slipped her hand into mine and we left her room. As we walked toward the stairs, she answered my question.
“My family and I are going away tomorrow. Dad’s mother is ill and we’re going to visit her for the day,” she said. “We’ll be back late tomorrow night.” I tried not to look too disappointed as I opened Kat’s front door.
“See you Monday,” I said. Katarina laughed at my expression me before pulling me close and kissing me fiercely.
“Enjoy your day tomorrow,” she said. “I’ll be thinking of you every second.”
Sunday passed in a blur as I tried to keep myself busy. I wasn’t able to concentrate or focus my energies on anything specific. I spent the day constantly changing activities and trying not to think about Katarina too much. I tried to read a book, then attempted a school assignment, and eventually I zoned out in front of the TV
On Monday morning before school I headed to the spot where I had sat every school day for the past five years. I pulled a book out of my bag (Katarina had recommended a new series, The Mortal Instruments). I was lost in the story and jumped when I felt a pair of hands cover my eyes.
“Guess who,” a voice whispered in my ear, I felt warm breath tickling me as they spoke. I smiled and reached up to pull the hands off my eyes.
“Good morning,” I murmured as I turned around to face Katarina.
“You were supposed to guess,” Katarina said, pretending to be upse
t before leaning and kissing me. As her lips gently touched mine, I knew I would never grow tired of kissing her.
“How was your grandmother?” I asked as I pulled away. Katarina smiled, I was beginning to know all her facial expressions well.
“She is getting better,” she said and I knew that was all the information I was going to get out her. Katarina glanced at her watch and slipped her hand through mine. She pulled me to my feet and led the way down the footpath.
“Are you still coming over tonight?” I asked Katarina as we walked through the school to our homeroom. My voice held it’s old unconfidence, which stopped Katarina immediately. She pulled me close to her body before speaking.
“I’m not going anywhere, Harmony,” she said softly. “I’m yours forever.” She kissed me so quickly that I almost missed it. I smiled to myself as we continued on our way. After two weeks we were old news and people barely looked up as we walked into the homeroom with our hands intertwined.
“Thirty centimetres between you girls,” Miss Bells said as she walked into the room. Katarina reluctantly dropped my hand and scraped her chair away. As she did, I glanced around the room and noticed that Oakley was staring at us. Or should I say glaring. I spent the rest of home group watching Oakley, despite Katarina trying to get my attention. When homegroup ended and as everyone was leaving the classroom, I moved toward Oakley. Katarina started to follow me; I stopped and turned