Quality Time

Cathryn descended towards the stairs from the apartment with Blake trailing behind her as they arrived at the front porch.

She breathed deeply from the physical exertion.

Damn, she had taken a break from working out that a simple task such as this had her dog-tired.

She shook her head in regret, thinking that she had to get back to her fitness program and organize her schedule.

That would be another plan on another day because she was still a bit sick from eating too much and she couldn't even sleep lately.

She was about to step towards the sidewalk but Blake—lol, she forgot about him for a second there-- pulled her back to the threshold.

With his hand on her wrist, she glanced up and narrowed his eyes at him.

Blake tilted his head, his lips curling upwards and his light blue eyes twinkling with mirth.

"Cat." He pulled her closer beside him then whispered in her ear. "Didn't you notice that it's about to rain?"

"Oh." Cathryn stretched out her hand in front of her and felt sprinkles of rainwater landing on her arm. "I guess I didn't notice. I needed my glasses but I left them at my room." She drew her arm back and wiped it on her dress. Then she looked him in the eye and shrugged, "Good that you have brought an umbrella then."

"Hm. Yeah." Blake said absently as he opened the umbrella and raised it above their heads.

Snaking his around her waist, he brought her closer to his warm presence.

Cathryn's body froze in place because didn't know where to put her awkward hands at first.

She settled one around his back because that seemed to be the right thing to do.

Cathryn tried matching with Blake's long strides as they walked a few steps toward the sidewalk.

Her eyes never strayed on his shoes just so she could keep up.

Cathryn ended up almost stumbling because she wasn't focusing on her own path.

Blake clasped her midriff and caught her right before she could fall face-first to the slippery ground.

"Are you okay, Cat?" They stopped walking. She straightened her spine and pulled herself together, a tell-tale flush creeping across her cheeks.

"Are you drunk?" Blake removed his grip from her body and enfolded his large, muscular hand in hers. He smiled, "You're unusually clumsy tonight."

"Just tonight, Blake." Cathryn said sarcastically. "Don't forget that you were clumsier this morning at Hard Rock Hotel."

"You really wouldn't let me forget about that, huh?" Blake asked, laughing.

It was contagious that she couldn't help but laugh too. "No."

A strong gust of wind whipped through her hair and she shivered, wrapping her jacket tightly around her as they sped down the pavement.

She remembered it was Blake who gave this to her and now what's left of him was just a loose long-sleeved shirt and casual ripped jeans. "Are you cold?"

"It's fine." Blake pulled out something from his pocket and wore a pair of expensive sunglasses to cover his eyes.

Well, she can conclude that teenage rockstars never run out of sunglasses to cover their face.

He didn't forget to put on a black face mask either.

It must be a necessity for celebrities to carry them at all times when they were out and about so that the paparazzi wouldn't recognize them in public.

But who says they were no paparazzi following them at the moment?

Blake squeezed her hand to get her attention and hauled her away from greasy-looking puddles. Cathryn thanked him sincerely because she wasn't paying attention to her tracks at all.

"So what's the plan?"

Cathryn's eyebrows knitted in confusion as she looked at him sideways. "Plan?"

"Are we just going to walk in the rain for no reason?" Blake asked as they kept going.

Cathryn said. "I thought you were going to buy something outside."

"I am not going to buy anything," Blake replied. "It was an excuse to accompany you."

"Hmm."

Blake was handsome, so damn handsome.

Every fangirl of Mild Savagery must want him, but Cathryn didn't know why he was wasting his time with her.

He must have had a bad reputation with girls along with Alexander.

It was her secret assumption that every single one of the band members must be players.

Cathryn glanced around at the graffiti and mildew staining the brick walls of nearby buildings.

Newspapers and leaflets were blown into piles in corners.

They passed by grimy barred windows, doorways, and streetlamps which didn't fully penetrate the darkness.

"Where do you want to go then?" Blake asked.

"I wanted to walk to the park and sit around for ten minutes then come back."

"But it's raining and who knows when it will get stronger." Blake laughed good-naturedly, amused at her antics. "Fancy sitting on the park bench in your wet clothes?"

Cathryn sighed as a car passed on the street, washing them with brilliant light. "Should we get back to the apartment then?"

"The drizzle is fine. We can keep walking if you'd like—" Blake informed her,"--then we turn around and go back if the rain gets stronger."

"Nice." Cathryn frowned, stress rolling through her as she remembered what had happened with Alexander earlier. "My head ached inside the apartment."

Blake arched an eyebrow, "You need fresh air?"

Cathryn replied quickly. "Yes."

"Are you sure you aren't allergic to visitors?"

She almost couldn't hear Blake when they passed by a crowded area where people were coughing and talking in loud voices.

Horns honked, tires squealed and shoes clapped against the sidewalk.

Blake had to repeat his question for her.

Cathryn changed the subject, annoyed at Blake's accusation.

"You gave me a gift basket filled with pineapples." She said. "Why is that?"

Blake gave her a look, a cocky grin. "You don't get the joke?"

Cathryn blinked as she looked at him.

Edward had told her but she can't tell Blake that.

It was just a joke that might turn into a huge misunderstanding so she didn't respond.

It was better that way.

A street cat meowed went past them.

She asked the first thing that came to mind.

"Do you have a pet?" Cathryn just blurted out to clear out the awkward silence.

"I have a cat." Blake peered at her suspiciously and asked. "How about you?"

Cathryn shook her head and responded, "I wish I could have a pet but I'm afraid I don't have time to take care of it."

"Good." Blake said softly, "Don't raise a pet if you can't even take care of it."