"Five years and that's all you have to say to me?" he asked. Standing so close she could taste his breath.

She wanted to move away from him. But she didn't want him to know just how much he affected her. So she stood right there. She wasn't going to let him intimidate her.


"Well... Is there anything else you want me to say?" she asked 

The side of his mouth moved upwards.

He was smiling? Why the hell was he smiling like that? She thought. She didn't remember saying anything funny.

"You left... Kitty" he said. "I asked you to stay... Begged you to stay... And you left anyways.. With him. And now you come back... Acting like everything is okay between us...?"

There was something about him... She thought. Something about the way he called her 'Kitty' that made her heart flip. He was the only one who called her that. She hadn't even realized how much she missed him calling her that. 

"You shouldn't have gone with him". He said. 

"Oh really? Why not? Because you didn't want me to?" she asked. She was starting to get angry. 

"Yeah that's right" he replied. "And because of what you felt for me -what we felt for each other. When I came near you, you felt an excitement so intense that you ceased to breathe --like you are feeling right now. You wanted me just as much as I wanted you. And that should have been enough to make you stay"

ALWAYS BEEN YOU 

"Oh really?" Katherine replied. "Well then, I am your mother and I'm going to make sure that you start to care from now on". 


Tim stared wide eyed at her. The expression on his face showed that he knew exactly what was coming next. 


"What?" Tim asked like he couldn't believe what he had just heard. 


"Yeah" Katherine said. "You heard me. You are grounded. And don't even act surprised. You should have known this was coming since you have been acting like a brat. So from now on, apart from school, and football games and practice, you are not allowed to leave the house for any reason. You will go from school, to practice and back home. You are not allowed to have any friends over too. You will stay at home and work on those assignments you missed " 


"I can't believe this" Tim said, shaking his head. "I'm sorry mom" he said, trying to look sincere. 


"That is not going to work young man. You know me. I'm not falling for that" Katherine said. 


Chapter Ninety Six