Part Five

In the morning she wakes fresh after the best night’s sleep she’s had in years. She slowly moves into the kitchen and makes coffee. She settles into the couch and flips of the television. For a few minutes she manages to avoid the computer before she checks her messages. She knows there won’t be one from Nick, but she can’t help herself. She feels so much better after their exchange last night. She feels like they really connect. The snoring starts upstairs.

“Jesus, can’t he snore when I’m asleep,” but she’s not really annoyed. She smiles at poor Dave through the ceiling. She stretches and relaxes into the sofa. Her phone rings.

“Ok, so I let you ditch me last night, but today I need your help,” Hals starts in before she’s even said hello.

“Ok, what is it,” Cat looks at her finger nails.

“I need something to wear tonight,” a siren wailed in the background.

“Where are you? Are you walking around?”

“Yes, I’ll be at your building in five minutes, so get dressed.”

“Oh, alright,” Cat sighs.

“I have coffee,” Hallie offers.

“I have coffee too,” Cat teases.

“I have better coffee.”

“I know you do,’ Cat hangs up. Hallie is known for her taste in coffee. She’ll take the subway and two buses if it means the perfect espresso. The buzzer rings. Cat leaves the front door ajar while she changes out of her pajamas. She throws on a pair of shorts and a light t-shirt.

“Hey,” Hallie shouts from the foyer, “thanks so much for helping me today. I’m at a total loss.” She passes Cat a warm cup of coffee and kisses her cheek.

“No problem,” Cat smiles.

“Don’t you mean, I owe you after I ditched you at the last minute last night?” Hallie pouts.

“Ouch. I guess I deserve that. I said I was sorry, I just didn’t feel like going out.” Cat puts down her coffee.

“Oh my god, what is that noise,” Hallie looks around the apartment.

“It’s my neighbor–snoring! Can you believe that?” They are both silent for a moment and the loud breathing fills the room.

“Which neighbor,” Hallie tries to stifle her laughter.

“Right upstairs from me, can you believe how loud it is? You might like him actually, he’s cute and nice, new to New York. Oooh I think I’ll invite him tonight,” a deafening snortle cut her off. “You can only hear it in here. Come here.” They walk into the bedroom and the noise miraculously disappears.

“At least you can sleep in peace,” her eyes drifted to Cat’s outfit hanging on the closet door, “oh crap, we better get shopping. This is amazing.”

Cat held up the short white shorts, a navy and white striped shirt and a red hankercheif, “it is a boating themed party. I’ve even got docksiders. I think it looks like I was boating in Antibes or some place in France.”

“It looks like something Freddie Mercury would wear,” Hallie laughs, ‘it’s hot. Some how boating and hot do not go together in my mind. Let’s go. I’ve got a lot of catching up to do.”

Four hours later, exhausted and hot, they sit down for lunch. The girls laugh and talk and Cat accidently brings up Nick.

“Cat, you need to get grip,” Hallie reprimands her, “have you even spoken to him?’

“No,” Cat won’t meet her eyes, “not yet, but we will I’m sure,” she picks at her napkin.

“Uh huh, what other relationship do you have where you don’t even actually speak to the person, huh,” Hallie waits for an answer, “that’s what I thought. None.”

“Ok, ok, point taken. It’s just a guilty pleasure,” it was really, she knew that. But she had let it become something else, Nick was filling too many of her thoughts, and even Cat knew it wasn’t healthy.

“I’m not trying to beat you up, honey,” Hallie says sweetly, “I just don’t want you to drift off in to imaginary land. I like having you here.” They hug after lunch and Hallie disappears down the street.

Cat runs upstairs and jumps into the shower. She’s looking forward to Mark’s party. She said she’d be there early to help set up and she can’t wait to get going. She pauses to look over her thin shape in the mirror. Her outfit does look hot. She trots up the stairs with a post-it with Mark’s address and her phone number. She considers inviting Dave her good deed for the day.

She grabs a cab and heads across town. Mark has a great ground floor apartment with a small backyard. She knows he’s going to love her outfit. He greets her at the door with a captain’s hat and a martini.

“Where’s the pipe,” she laughs.

“Well get a look at you, damn girl.” She twirls around before embracing him.

“I’m happy to see you too,” he laughs.

“I love you,” she smiles, “you’re the best!” He smiles at her.

“All aboard, honey,” and she walks through the door.