Always Late Kate - Chapter 3

Always Late Kate – Chapter 3

(Writing Prompt - Choose a key object within your story and center the chapter around that object in some way.)

          Kate woke up with a throbbing headache and her entire body felt like lead.  Looking around she tries to make out her surroundings.  The place smelled of disinfected cleaner and rubber gloves, as her eyes began to focus the knot in her stomach grew.  She knew where she was and that realization made her remember how she got there. 

          She remember driving somewhere in a hurry, but she couldn’t quiet remember why.  Then she remembered lights flashing in her eyes and a loud noise and then an impact.  “Oh no” she thought to herself, “If I am in the hospital, what happened to the person that I hit?”  As images of pregnant women and small children flashed in her mind fear and dread rose up and gripped her tight.  She grabbed at her chest trying to breath and was able to take in one deep breath before she got sick all over the bed and herself.

          “Well isn’t this just great” Kate thought to herself, “Now I can add smelling to the list of horrible things that seem to be happening to her!”

Not wanting to smell herself Kate decided it was time to get up and clean herself up but as she went to stand her leg gave out and she fell to the floor.  As soon as she did an alarm she had not seen went off, looking down at her wrist she saw it had a tag on a wrist band that said fall risk.  “Now ain’t that something” Kate thought to herself as she tried to stand.  However, before she could get any type of control of her legs two nurses were in her room to help.

          “Miss. Carven, what are you doing!” the older looking of the two nurses snapped.

          “I, ah…. I was just trying to get cleaned up” Kate stuttered.

          “Well young lady, you are not to get out of this bed for any reason, do you understand me?” The elderly lady said.

          “Oh, Mrs. Janet she just woke up she probably doesn’t even remember what happened give her a break, will ya.” The young nurse replied.

          “I guess you are right Mrs., Janet said, soften her tone as she gave Kate another look.  Now don’tcha worry dear, I will help you get cleaned up.  In the meantime you get to know this bed honey because you will be in it for awhile ok.”

          Kate looked down at the bed and sighed to herself.  What had she done so very wrong in her life that had allowed for so many bad things to happen to her?  I mean she was a good girl….most of the time.  She tried to go to church, and help people when she could.  Why did it seem fate was out to get her?

          As that thought went through her head she looked up to see two different nurses wheeling in another patient?  The young man pushing the bed smiled at her and said, “Kate this is Celine and she is going to be your roommate for awhile.  She was in the car behind you when that truck plowed into you.  I am sure you both will find plenty to talk about!”

          “Celine” Why does that names sounds familiar to me, Kate wondered.  As she looked at the young women she just knew she had met her somewhere before.  But where?  “Oh why can’t I remember anything!” she screamed.

          Mrs. Janet was right there patting her arm.  "Don’t worry dear the doctors say it is from the bump you got during the accident; they say you should remember everything again in a few days.  Just give it time deary.  Now let’s finish getting you cleaned up and back in bed shall we?"

          A while later Kate was clean and in a new hospital gown and stuck back in the bed.  Mrs. Janet had told her not to get up without hitting the call button for help.  She explained that along with a good size bump on the head she had done some damage to her left leg which is why she could not seem to stand on her own.  The doctors had set it and said it would heal in time.  Seems everything would “heal in time” Kate muttered to herself.

          As she laid there once again trying to remember the details that lead up to her being stuck in the hospital in a bed she was not allowed to get out of, Celine awoke.

          "Hi Celine, glad to see you awake.  How are you feeling?" Kate asked.  Celine smiled and half-heartedly laugh.  “Well I feel like I was just hit by a car but other than that I am ok, how about you?” Celine looked at Kate like she was really seeing her for the first time.  “Wait, you are Kate Carven right?  You are the reporter who is covering my wedding aren’t you?”

          Well it seems Celine was not suffering from the same type of memory lost she was, Kate thought to herself.  I did just get a new job; I guess that is why I remember her.

          “Yes, I guess I am”, Kate said.  “In truth I don’t remember much of the past week.  But, if you remember me than I guess I am the one covering your story.  It is nice to meet you again; Kate reached out her hand to shake Celine’s and started to loss her balance.  Remember the bed rule she once again muttered something to herself and took her had back.  “I would shake your hand but I am not allowed to get out of the bed.  You know I always pictured myself beginning stuck in beds for different reasons”, Kate laughed.

          Celine laughed and nodded her head in agreement, “I hear ya girl – this just stinks!”

          “So what would you like to talk about?” Kate asked Celine.

          Celine thought for a few minutes and then said, “How about clothes?  I love to talk about fashion.”

          Kate laughed a good hearty laugh and said, “Well this hospital gown was so last season for sure!”

___________________________________________________________

          The two girls laughed and talked for hours before finally given in to exhausting and calling it a night in the wee hours of the morning.  They spent the next few days hanging out in their room just chatting. 

          Kate really liked Celine, she was witting and friendly and she hoped that they would keep in touch after they were both released from the hospital.  Celine made being stuck on bed rest bearable and she really enjoyed her company.  She had enjoyed it so much she had stop worrying about the how’s and whys of what put her in the hospital in the first place and just enjoyed the company.

_____________________________________________________________

         

          Kate awoke the next morning feeling refreshed and happy.  Today Celine was getting released and while she still had a few more days before she too could go home, she was happy for Celine. 

          Celine had promised her she would come back and visit her and they had just got through exchanging phone numbers and all of the other normal “Let’s be friends” information you give out.  Just then Celine’s fiancé, Caleb, showed up to pick her up.  As soon as Kate seen him she remember!  She remember why she had left in such a hurry, she remember her secret promise to herself to get him and Kendyl back together and she remember she told herself she was not suppose to like Celine.  After all she was the other women.

          As everything came rushing back to her all at once, she felt like she had betrayed Kendyl!  What was she going to do now, she thought to herself?  

To Be Cont....

(Note - Car Crash is a X-box screenshot, since I didn't know how to stage one in game.)

Always Late Kate - Chapter 2

Always Late Kate – Chapter 2

(Writing Prompt - You can’t outrun the past. Include at least one flashback detailing an event of your protagonist’s past.)

It had been a week since Kendyl told Kate that she decided to not tell Caleb about their past.  It was for the best Kendyl told her, Kate could tell she was fighting back tears but she listened quietly as her friend gave her a list of reasons she felt it was best to not tell him. Kate could tell that not one of them made Kendyl feel any better.  But being the PIC, or partner in crime as her mother always called them, she listened to her friend and tried hard to not shake some sense into her. She knew it was not an easy decision Kendyl had made and she was trying her best to respect it.  Matter of fact she had been trying so hard she realize it was officially seven days since she spoke to her about it. 

Sure they had talked, they always talked but not about him …. Not about Caleb or the heartbreak Kendyl went through when he never came back. Not the tears in her eyes as she talked about the past and not the earth shattering epic love they once shared.  Katie had been fighting with herself all week, trying to understand why Kendyl would knowingly let him marry another woman when she clearly still loved him.  Sure Jeffery was a nice guy, he was sweet and romantic and the kind of guy most girls would kill to have in their life but she just didn’t think he was right for Kendyl.  It wasn’t because she secretly wanted him! No that wasn’t it at all she told herself as she stared in the mirror; or was it?  Was she fooling herself into think Kendyl and Caleb were meant to be together because she wanted him for herself……?

NO! She screamed in her head!  No! She was not being greedy! It had nothing to do with Jeffery. It was about Kendyl and Caleb and the love they once had.  As the thought crossed her mind she thought back to the day Caleb proposed to Kendyl.  Closing her eyes she remembered that day like it was just yesterday…..

“Shhhh, she will hear you if you don’t quiet down”, he scoffed!  Caleb was pace back and forth and Kate could tell he was a nervous wreck!  He was so cute she couldn’t help but giggling at him!

*standing up straight Kate took a deep, stop giggling breath and smiled*

“Oh relax already! You could stand on your head wearing a clown suit in the middle of a crowded room and Kendyl would still say yes. She loves you Caleb, and no matter what you do she always will. So if you want me to stop giggling then stop acting like a fool and relax.” Even as Kate was given him the speech she could barely contain the giggling fits.  She couldn’t help herself, he was such a love struck fool. It made him do the silliest things.

Caleb gave her that look. You know the one that says “I don’t find you the least bit funny”.  Kate just laughed again and reached out to straighten his tie.It looked like it had been pinned in place by Caleb’s 5 year old cousin.

“Look at me” Kate said.  I have never ever seen her as happy as she is with you and she will be thrilled you are finally asking her for her hand in marriage so just take deep breaths and think of how much you love her and everything will be fine!”

Caleb nodded and took that deep breath and went to ask the women he loved more than life itself for her hand in marriage.

Kate of course waited till he walked out of the room and was down the hall before she started to follow him, no way was she going to miss this!

The room had been done up with flowers everywhere and a special dinner had been prepared just for Kendyl, all her favorites of course.  Caleb still looked like a nervous scientist waiting for his experiment to blow up in his face but he was doing his best to hide it.

Thinking that the dinner would never end, Kate started to nod from boredom when she heard him clear his throat this was it she thought!

“Kennnndyyl”

*he said softly before taken a deep breath*

“Kendyl, I know I can’t promise you a big house, expensive jewelry or nice cars but what I promise you is that no one will ever love you move than me!”

*taken another deep breath to steady himself he went on*

“I love you Kendyl and if the world ended or alien took over my body I would still love you; nothing will every change that – I could never love another person like I do you and I pray you feel the same way!”

*One last deep breath*

“You are the girl of my dreams, the woman who I have waited my whole life to find and I never want to let you go.  Please Kendyl, my love, will you spend the rest of your life with me.   Marry me!  Be my wife and I promise I will spend the rest of my life doing everything in my power to make all your dreams come true!”

“Kendyl Margiotta, he said determined now and full of love, will you marry me?”

Kendyl leaped in Caleb’s arms and screamed yes! 

As soon as the word was out of her mouth Kate began to jump up and down, so excited for her friend. 

Decided she had ease dropped enough she walked tip-toed slowly away from the door and backed right into Jeffery who was coming to the wedding hall to drop off a batch of fresh flowers. 

Kate quickly apologized “I am so sorry, I am such a klutz please forgive me”

*holding her hand out and trying to keep from blushing she looked up at Jeffery and smiled*

“Hello, my name is Kate”. 

But, Jeffery didn’t see her, following his gaze she seen her was staring at Kendyl who had left the dining room to freshen up and use the rest room.

As the memory fade, Kate wiped a tear from her face!  No, it had nothing to do with Jeffery; Kendyl was wrong plain and simple!  Kate couldn’t let Caleb marry Celine, determined she knew she had to do something to fix this mess!  She just didn’t know how but she felt like it was the right thing to do with every fiber of her being!

Unable to stop herself Kate found herself grabbing her car keys and headed for the door.  If she was going to do this she needed to do it while she still had the nerve to do so!

She got Caleb’s address off the information packet he filled out for his wedding.  She knew she should feel bad for taken it, after all she could loss the job she had just worked so hard to get or worse but it didn’t stop her from snagging it that day she interviewed him.

With so many thoughts racing through her head she did see the truck lights till it was too late........

*tires squealing and then a loud crash that was so loud it could be heard miles away*

Kate knew she had been hit all she could feel was pain and a cold numbing sensation.  As the blackness seemed to close all around her all Kate could think of was that she would never get the chance to fix everything.

To Be Cont……