Room 324, Friday Afternoon

[vanillajello]

Kate was just getting around to emailing photos of Fandom to her brother when her phone buzzed, signaling the arrival of a message.

haven’t seen you at school, where r u?

Kate blinked a few times after she read the message. Oh-kay. Not entirely unexpected, but still pretty surprising. She wasn’t going to reply to it, though. He didn’t deserve it. She couldn’t really bring herself to delete the message right away, but went back to picking sendable pictures on the computer.

About five minutes later the phone buzzed again.

i miss you katie-chan

...He was making it really hard not to reply. Kate sat on her bed, looking at her phone.


[Open door, open post!]

Comments

[future_sandworm]

"Ah," he said. "Is he bothering you?"

[vanillajello]

"Not really?"

That was not supposed to be a question.

[future_sandworm]

But it sounded like a question. Leto gave her a look, raising an eyebrow.

[vanillajello]

"He's not," she said. "He just sent me a couple of messages earlier."

[future_sandworm]

"That isn't bothering?" Leto asked.

[vanillajello]

"I think there would need to be more for it turn into bothering," she said.

[future_sandworm]

He shrugged. It was none of his business, really, but... "If he does bother you and you want my help, let me know. How is your brother?"

[vanillajello]

It wasn't going to go come to anything like that, since Benjamin was well aware of the amount of protection Kate got from her family, but she nodded all the same.

"Moosh is good. Wants to know when he's getting the photos of Fandom I took yesterday and what I want for my birthday."

[future_sandworm]

"What do you want for your birthday?" Leto asked with a grin, "And when is it?"

[vanillajello]

"October 1st," she smiled. "And I don't know yet. I hadn't really realized it was coming up this soon."

[future_sandworm]

"How old will you be?" Leto asked.

[vanillajello]

"Sweet, sweet 16," she replied.

[future_sandworm]

"It's supposed to be sweet?" Leto laughed. "I hadn't noticed."

[vanillajello]

"It's a saying," Kate grinned. "Turning 16 is supposed to be kind of a big deal."

[future_sandworm]

"So, are you going to have a party?" Leto asked.

[vanillajello]

"Doubtful," she said, shrugging slightly.

[future_sandworm]

"Why not?"

[bedtime!]

[vanillajello]

"Having a party is such a hassle, and I don't even know where I'd have it or who I'd ask to come," she said. "And it's kinda weird anyway, 'cause I always thought I'd celebrate it with my family, and that's not going to happen. And it's on a Thursday, which can be kind of a bad day for a party."


[Night!]

[future_sandworm]

"As far as I know, people tend to have birthday parties in the common room and invite everyone, or in places like Chilly Boulder," he said.

[vanillajello]

"I'd feel weird inviting everyone," Kate said. "It's good for parties in general, but with my birthday... I don't know."

[future_sandworm]

"It seems to be the tradition here," Leto replied, then shrugged. "But how would you like to celebrate your birthday?"

[vanillajello]

"I don't know," Kate began, and then paused and laughed. "Apparently that's my catch phrase of the day. Anyway. I'd just want it to be special, somehow."

[future_sandworm]

He laughed. "And what would be special? Going somewhere else?"

[vanillajello]

"Maybe. Doing anything out of the ordinary, I guess," she replied, thoughtful. "But good out of the ordinary. for example, going to jail would be pretty special too, but not exactly what I'm looking for."

[future_sandworm]

"I can go somewhere with you," he offered.