The first time I laid eyes on her, I knew - she was the one.
I knew I’d never need anything else in my life, but her. Everything people said about true love and finding your soulmate was true, she was my lobster. All I needed to do was convince her of that and my life would be set. What I didn’t realise was how hard that would be. It seems the more I pushed for a proper relationship the harder it pushed her away.
But lately, our relationship has become more and more estranged.
I’m unsure of what to do about it. I can feel Katie drifting away but I don’t understand why. I was under the impression that things between us were going great, smoothly moving forward with our relationship. Then I blinked and everything’s suddenly spinning out of control, I missed it all and woke up in the midst of this tornado. What’s worse, I can’t talk to anyone. I try broaching the subject with Katie when I actually get to see her, but her only response is to tell me that it’s all in my head.
Lie. It’s clearly fucking not. When someone’s avoiding you, and dodging your calls, you quickly take the hint. Something is clearly fucking off.
Despite going to university for a business degree, I’m happy enough with my job as a mechanic. Cars are my passion. Unfortunately, my parents don’t care about any of that - one of the many reasons we’re not on the best of terms. Although we’ve always been a close-knit family, Ellie and I were the closest - inseparable. And that’s just the way it’s always been. I don’t know if it’s the twin thing or not. Would we have been just as close if we didn’t share a womb for nine months? I have no idea.
I’m guessing if I didn’t already share a house with my sister I would’ve had a roommate, I’m just so glad that I’ve got my sister.
It was actually Ellie that introduced Katie and me. I remember the night as if it were yesterday when in reality, it’s been years.
It was Ellie’s first real college party. When she told me she was coming to Alex’s party my immediate reaction was wanting to chain her to her desk chair. After one of the worst fights we’ve ever had, I caved. I’m out nearly every weekend, sometimes not even by choice, so I know how the social scene is. I didn’t want Ellie entering it at all, but I was told that I had no choice. I had planned to never leave Ellie’s side the entire night but one step through the door, and she pushed me away as soon as she spotted her friends.
I spent the whole night keeping a close eye on her but every time I crept too close Ellie would shoot me a glare making me reluctantly back away. Thankfully the night was uneventful. She had a few drinks, she danced with a few other girls, only one of which I recognised from class. As we were leaving Ellie stopped to chat to a girl who was sat on the front porch. It annoyed me, I was eager to get home to my own dorm - tired and hungry.
I recoil from the blow to my chin. I curse and wipe at my mouth hoping when I pull my hand back it’s not covered in blood. It’s not.
I look up to see a shit-eating grin spread across Danny’s face as he bounces on his feet in front of me.Fucker!My boxing trainer laughs, clapping the pads on his hands together.
“Pay attention. Again.”
I run through the 4-punch combo once, twice more, with power behind my punches this time hoping it appeases him. Fortunately, it does.
“Grab a drink. So, how’re things at work?” He slips his hands from the pads and scoops up his bottle from outside the ring.
I follow suit, undoing one of my gloves to reach for my already nearly empty shaker cup. I take a quick swig and shrug off his question. “Busy. The usual.”
Danny rests his water bottle on the floor before stepping back up to the center of the ring. “How’s the family?”
“Annoying as ever.” I roll my eyes at his question, I’m not really in the mood for talking. Usually, he’s not so chatty.
“Okay then, how are things with Katie?”
Woah, hang on. What the fuck. “Why you asking, man?”
“Because I am a concerned friend and trainer.”
“There’s absolutely nothing to be concerned about, so just drop it with the questions already.”
“You sure about that, buddy? Because you almost took my hand off with that hook. You do remember that this isjusttraining, right?”
My hands drop to my sides. Okay, so maybe I’m going after those pads a little harder than usual. “Sorry.”
“Where’s your mind at?”
“Katie,” I sigh dejectedly. Really, I’m kind of glad to have somebody to talk to about it. I don’t know if he’s ever been in the same situation, but it’s good to talk nonetheless.
“Ahh. I wish I’d known, I would’ve taken you for a beer, not a sparring session. So, what’s the issue?”
“She’s just been distant lately, I feel like something’s off with her but I don’t know, she won’t talk to me about whatever it is.”
“Women are complicated, I’ll agree to that but it could be nothing,” he says with a shrug as he pulls the pads back onto his hands. “She might just be having a hard time at work or something. You can’t think of anything you’ve done that could’ve ticked her off?”
I’m completely lost. I’ve held nothing back from Katie, I’ve made every effort to show her how much she means to me. I only wish I knew what I could do to make it better. I shake my head at Danny with genuine confusion. I know Katie, I know what usually ticks her off. So, I’m confident when I say that I would know if there was anything I’d done that would cause her to stomp around like she’s been doing. “Nothing.”
