Age Is Nothing But A Number

Chapter Twelve

that night when I got home Maudy asked what happened and I didn't want to breathe it to her. I was tired, pissed and disappointed. But I had to accept what happened and I swear to God this Simone woman was getting to me.

I later went to the bathroom and tried to call Katherine, I'm using the word "tried" because when I called at first her phone was off, so because I'm obsessive about people I really like I called her an hour later and she didn't answer her phone she just let it ring.

After the 6th ring(yea I know I'm persistent...) and failing to get a hold of her I went to bed with a broken heart.

My bestie tried to cheer me up but it didn't work. I was thinking all kinds of crazy things. Did she switch off her phone again because they were f*****g? Wasn't she answering her phone because they were still together or coz she was guilty about what they did..?

I mean these people were married for fifteen f*****g years... so I bet they still felt something for each other.. f**k!

I hated my thoughts.

Maudy tried to talk to me but I couldn't. I wasn't in the mood. I wanted to hear Katherine's voice.

I got inside my blankets and my bestie followed, I closed my eyes and felt her hug me from behind. I sighed and whispered, "I love you Maud..."

"Good... you still know my name..."

"f*****g idiot..."

She laughed, "I love you too babe.. it's okay.. you can sleep.."

And just like that.. I was gone. To the wonder world, where dreams are made and you get to wake up to fucken face reality.

...

I was woken up by my phone blurring so loud giving me a headache. I got a push from Maud, "fucken answer that or I'll kill you...."

It rang again and I took it and put it on my ear, "what?" I didn't even check who the caller was..

"Hey... it's me..." She said and I kept quiet.

She sighed, "I know... I probably deserve that, but please tell me you are getting ready.. I'm drinking coffee then after that I'll come fetch you.."

She'll come fetch me? The f**k? What time was it?

I removed my phone from my ear and looked at the screen, yep it fucken indicated that I should have been awake thirty minutes ago but I forgot to set my alarm.

I put back the phone on my ear, "Yea..."

"I'll see you in an hour?" She said and I nodded then hang up..

Fuck.. Did I just do that? She couldn't see me, Why didn't I talk?

I was still sleepy. I took my phone and texted her...

Thandy: I'M SORRY, I NODDED MY HEAD.. I'LL SEE YOU WHEN YOU GET HERE.

She responded immediately.

Kat: GOOD, NOW LET ME ENJOY MY COFFEE..

I rolled my eyes and threw the phone behind me.

"Was that her?" Maudy asked. I even forgot the i***t was awake.

I nodded my head, "Yea.. she's coming in an hour..."

"She's taking you to the airport?" My friend asked and I nodded. She lifted her legs up in the air and started dancing... "I'm starting to like this woman..."

I rolled my eyes while getting up and said sarcastically, "Yea, the same woman who ended our date to go be with her ex, nice.. I'm starting to like her too..."

I got inside the bath and took the quickest bath. I just hated the flights, it was like two flipping flights and I'll be in New York.. we only had one stop. I can't stand 15 hours of flying..

God...

After bathing I put on my track pants and Maudy had my staff ready. My parents were awake too including Cindy..

"I'm going to miss you..." the kid said and I reminded her that I'm just a phone call away and I'll Skype as much as I can.

"I love you okay and don't give Maa and dad problems here.. behave.." She laughed and hugged me.

Maa Sophia came, "you still not sure when you're coming back?"

I shook my head, "no Maa, I'll see my schedule and tell you guys first thing when I get there..."

"Okay hurry up... I need to take you to the airport..." my dad said and I shook my head, "there's no need daddy. My ride will be here any minute.."

Mom ached her brow, "your date...?"

My cheeks flushed, "yes Maa... I'll call and I love you..."

Another hug and then as I hugged my dad my phone started ringing.

"I'm here..." She said in a hoarse voice and I said, "Just a minute...."

I hung up and my family ganged up on me. "We are going to miss you..."

"I too..."

My dad took my bags, "Let me see this boy,"

I shook my head, "daddy please, you can't see her.. not yet..."

It was too late coz he didn't listen to me he just got out. I quickly typed on my phone,

Thandy: PLEASE DON'T OPEN YOUR DOOR NOR WINDOW.. JUST OPEN THE BOOTH, MY DAD IS BRINGING MY STAFF...

Kat: OKAY.

I walked out with Maud and my sister. My dad closed the booth as soon as he put everything in there and came to me, "why doesn't he wanna open the door?"

I rolled my eyes a bit thankful that it was a bit dark outside at to 6 because he couldn't see me do that. Other wise I'd be in s**t, "daddy please... not yet.. please..."

"I just want to see him..."

I hugged Maudy and my sister then turned to my dad, "I don't want you to see her yet..."

He scoffed and left, at the back of my head I wondered if he heard I said "her" and not "him"

I knocked on the window and she opened the door. I opened and got in. Maudy picked her head in and said hi.

"Hey Maud... good seeing you..."

"Nice ride you got...."

Of course it was your X5 BMW... my sister picked her head in too and said, "hi... you must be Katherine..."

Kat smiled, "and you must be the little sister... you look so cute..."

My sister blushed and looked at me, "we have a lot to talk about..."

Oops the interrogation about age.. and maybe the color of her skin? I smiled, "if I wanna catch my flight I better go now..."

The said bye and left. I closed the door and looked at Katherine, she had her work clothes on, "hi.. are you on call?"

She yawned, "yes, but I'm from work... I just came to take you to the airport and then I'll go back..."

I nodded, "okay..."

She then started driving and it was quiet, Just for a while coz then she started talking,

"Look, I want to apologize for yesterday...."

I looked at her, she fucken looked sexy in everything she wore.. I shook my head and looked back at the road.

She continued, "I had the most amazing time yesterday and it was all thanks to you. My phone has been off since I was with you, and while I was listening to Simone I remembered that I asked you to call me when you get home. I switched it on and the moment I did I got called to the hospital.."

I ached my brows, "were you on call yesterday?"

She shook her head no, "I wasn't, I cleared the day and night to be with you... but Simone couldn't leave when I asked her to, so when I got called in I went. And I left my phone on.. I saw your missed calls around one. I figured you were sleeping then..."

I nodded, "I was..."

"So I'm sorry... I am really really sorry that I ruined the ending.."

I shrugged as if it wasn't a big deal I mean to me and how it was making me feel now, it was a big deal, "I know it's not in my place.. but what did your ex wife want?"

She stopped at the traffic lights and looked at me, I looked at her too.

"She Umhh... when we travelled to Turkey, we brought this painting and she says that it got stolen so she wanted the insurance papers and the slip..."

I nodded, "okay... well what a wonderful day to just pitch in...."

She laughed a bit, "I'm sorry... I wish I had just took you home and forget about the file..."

"So did you find it.. what she was looking for?"

She looked at me and shook her head, "no... I still have to look for it..."

I nodded and looked outside as we came across the OR Tambo International Airport..

She found a good parking spot and parked, then turned to me, "Babe I'm sorry okay... I really am. I wish I had..."

I shook my head, "It's okay..." I looked at the time and I had thirty minutes before my flight.. I'm early... great...

"It's hot in here.. can you open the Windows..."

She nodded and opened them. Then turned to me. She looked at me and I could tell how sorry she was and how tired she was. I sighed, "did you sleep..."

"No...."

"Why Katherine?"

"I felt horrible... I still do... I mean the least I could have done was answer your calls..."

"Yea but you were in theatre so I understand..."

She looked at me for a while and then caressed my cheek with her hand. I closed my eyes and concentrated on her touch. It was smoothing and relaxing. I replayed what she was saying and figured she couldn't stop operating a person and answer my calls. Also, that got her away from her ex wife, so I smiled, "I'm okay..."

"I wanna kiss you..."

I opened my eyes, "What's stopping you..."

She smiled and looked outside the windows, "are you sure you want me to kiss you...here?"

I shrugged, I seriously saw no problem with kissing her. I was actually hoping she'd kiss me.

She smiled, leaned in and placed her lips on mine. She did only that, placed them there and pulled away after a few seconds..

'what the f**k was that? She calls that kissing?' I mentally asked myself feeling a bit disappointed.

She held my hand, "when am I going to see you again?"

"That's the million dollar question... I don't know.. and I hate it... we have so little time I wish I had talked sooner..."

She kissed my hand, "me too... but we will have time okay..."

I nodded, "I'm graduating in five months.. so yeah we will have time...."

I looked at the time and cursed under my breath. It was just flying.. She opened the door and I closed my eyes a bit. I felt like crying. My throat hurt like hell.

She opened the door for me and I got out. My two bags were already next to us. I looked at the time, "fuck...."

"Are you really sure?" She asked and I ached my brows in confusion, "what?"

"That you don't mind me kissing you.. are you sure?" I shrugged again, "Yea..."

She held my face and pulled it slowly towards hers and kissed me. By that I don't mean the s**t she did while we were inside the car no...

I mean she immediately deepened the kiss as soon as our lips touched. Pushed me until I was pressed against the car and her.

Her left hand was on my face and her right was on my ass squeezing me a bit.

Wet.. this got me wet in an instant..

"Mhm..." I moaned in between the kiss when she moved her tongue on my lower lip. I swear to God when she did that I thought I was going to have an o****m right there and then..

I pulled away and rested my forehead on hers, "I have to go..."

My voice was cranky it sounded so broken.

She pulled me into a hug, "I want you....so much...."

I pulled away and looked around, of course there were a few people looking at us, "Umhh.. we are in a parking lot and we have an audience.. you can't want me like that..."

She pushed me off playfully, "I don't mean like that idiot..."

I pulled into a hug, "I want you too Katherine..." She pulled away and looked at me,

"Are we trying to say something? Or are we trying to get ourselves into something?"

"I don't know doctor, I mean... I feel sick when I think about leaving you here.. I wish I could take you with me.. that's how much I want you..." I said and she put her hand on my forehead as if checking temperature, she then smiled, "you feel fine to me.. just a bit horny... maybe..."

I pushed her off, "I hate you.."She rolled her eyes, "of course you do..."

Immediately I don't know what hit me but I suddenly changed and spoke my heart, "I don't hate you... I like you.. a lot Katherine and I... God... I don't do this, but with you I wanna do it."

"I haven't done it in a while too but the yearning is too much.. I am willing to give this a try only if you are too."

I smiled, "are we talking ourselves into this at the airport when I'm supposed to be flying off...?"

She nodded, "I know I have been waiting for you to be ready but I can't anymore.. I want this, I want you.. let's give it a try...."

"But I'm leaving...."

"I know.... fuck... I'm asking for too much.. you are still a kid and things are different between us.. the control we have over our feelings.. it's different, the distance will be hard for you, worse when it's a continent away.. I'm asking for too...."

'flight 0116 to New York is boarding... passengers are advised to....'

She was disturbed by the darn announcer..

I held on tight to her, "It's not too much... things are only too much if they are not worth it... so.. whatever this is that we are getting ourselves into... I'm in..."

She kissed me, "call me during your first stop okay... please..."

I turned and took my bags then left. Not even wanting to look back because I was going to cry.

I could feel the distance build in the more I walked away, I felt more empty each time I took a step away from her. Like I was leaving behind a part of me. I know it's crazy, over a month ago we crashed on each other, and now I was crying coz I didn't want to be away from her.

I reached the queue to the gates and took out my passport and flight tickets, a little Part of me said I should turn, and when I did she was here behind me. I dropped my bags and she gave me a hug, "I'm sorry for following you... I'm just... I feel like you are leaving with a part of me..."

I laughed a bit and pulled away, "the part that I crashed and removed your skin a bit.. yeah I know that.. you almost broke my neck..."

She kissed me and then pulled away, "I'm sorry... are you for public display or against it?"

I laughed and pulled her for a kiss,

'next please...' the guy by the gate said and I pulled away,

"okay now I really have to go..."

"Yea... just call me.."

I smiled and nodded then watched her walk back. Before I could cry I turned around and made it through the gate....

...

During our first stop I called Kat and she answered within a second, you'd swear she was waiting for me to call.

"How are you?"

"Eight hours... Kat I can never get used to this..."

"Do you want me to fly to New York.. just to surprise you?"

I smiled, my God she'd do that? That would mean a lot from me. I mean eight hours of flying and being miserable coz I won't see her and then her suggesting this was just brightening up my mood..

"Ohh shucks... is it too soon?" She asked and I realized I haven't actually said anything since she suggested surprising me, "no.. Umhh it's actually not soon, I wish you was flying right now... I'm sorry I got too excited that I kept quiet... I would love that... drop bye anytime.. even tomorrow.."

She laughed, "Yea... I'll do just that.... alright.. and I'm on call tonight, so I'll make time to call you.. you can just leave a message when you can't get a hold of me..."

"Okay... let me call my family... we will talk when I'm there...."

"Bye babe"

...

We landed and Chloe fetched me. I was so happy to finally be out of that plane but I was definitely sure that jetlag was going to kill me.

"My baby...." She said with her strong American accent, "heeey.. I missed you...and get me the hell out of this place I wanna sleep.."

She laughed and took my bags to a nearby taxi. We both got in and we started moving. The traffic was terrible since it was in the morning..

"Ohh God, I forgot how awful traffic is in the US.." I said and she smiled, "you are glowing... friend..."

I smiled, "I am?"

"Yea.. you actually honestly are glowing..." She said seeming surprised, I laughed, "Well good for me I guess..."

She shook her head a bit and poked me, "come on... out with it..."

"Can't a girl just glow without having a reason?" I mean I was saying all this while Katherine's image flashed in my mind making me smile more.

She rolled her eyes, "riight.. talk talk friend.."

I sighed defeated of course, "okay... soo I think I might be in a relationship..."

"Are you f*****g with me?"

I laughed, "girl... if I was f*****g with you you'd be having an o****m by now..."

The driver coughed as soon as I said that and Chloe and I laughed.

"Oh God stop it.. what happened.. I mean who happened? Who's she?"

"Chloe some other time... I need sleep...."

The drive to our apartment was very long and tiring but we finally arrived. She paid the taxi and we got out.. I breathed in the air.. so fresh. I looked around me, God I missed these streets. My friend tapped my shoulder, "come on..let's go up..."

She unlocked the door as soon as we were on our floor, "so I forgot to tell you that Stacy was here everyday.. the girl is obsessed with you. I hope Katherine can live with that..."

My jaw dropped, did she just say Katherine? I don't remember mentioning Kat's name to her. Not even once. I looked at her and she was covering her mouth with her hand,"I'm so sorry...."

"Maudy.... that fuckery... are you guys f*****g each other now?"

Chloe giggled.

My eyes shot wide open, "oh shucks you are! God... Chloe, I hope you have a heart of steal coz Maud is not gay.."

The girl rolled her eyes, "okay missy... you have a three hour sleep before class starts.. so if I was you I wouldn't be wondering about my gay friend, I'd be using this time to rest..."

....

Around 10 am we were entering the campus. It seemed strange, two months away and it looks different. I was praying to God that I don't run to Stacy coz I wasn't in the mood to meet her.

Chloe smiled and rested her hand over my shoulder, "don't stress about Chloe.. if I was you, I'd stress about professor Brooke...."

My heart almost stopped when she said that... fuck... fuck.. fuck.. I totally forgot about the woman...

"Fuck...."

She tapped my shoulder, "she has been looking for you... you messed up?"

I shrugged, "I'll find out when I'm with her...."

We got inside our first class and sat down... Mrs Brooke Lollies or should I say professor Brooke entered the room..

Great...

"Okay guys... I am handing out these papers, and I'm expecting your presentations to go as this follows.. please read these guidelines... please... it's for your own good."

She started walking around the class giving each and everyone of us the copies. She reached my desk, and placed the paper down and then she leaned over,

"I'd like to see you after class Miss Phakathi..."

'I'm in s**t' I mentally said and then plastered a fake smile, "yes professor....."