Bad Taste (Part I) // Colby Brock

59 - Rebecca

          I woke up the next morning and Katrina was on the opposite side of my bed. Part of me was glad, though I had a bad feeling she'd moved for a reason. My dreams, thanks to the scent of Colby wrapped around me, had been worse than they usually were, intensely driving me mad as I just watched. I wasn't buzzed anymore, yet my body and mind still yearned for Colby.

Where was the nearest wall so I could punch a hole through it?

As much as I wanted to, I didn't, because I knew that damaging my own property was stupid. Instead, I thought about the sturdy walls of the studio and how empty they would be, depending on what time it was. Then I started thinking about those mannequins, which were perfect for hitting and pretending they were human.

Katrina was fast asleep, but that didn't stop me. I almost leaped out of bed, throwing Colby's shirt off before the scent could attack me again. I threw it down with his backpack and rushed to my bathroom with an outfit that I hurriedly got together.

I showered and changed into a pair of black combat pants with a chain hanging on the side and a black t-shirt with a small graphic design on the front. It was slightly cropped, but nothing like what I usually wore.

I curled my hair and added a pair of basically-flat black boots before walking back to my bedroom. Katrina was still sleeping, curled up into a ball on her side of the bed. I noticed that her hair had waved a little from the braids Tara had done in them. 'An experiment', I thought I'd heard her say to Cassie when she'd asked about it.

I gathered my phone, wallet, sketchbook, and laptop into a backpack, busying around the apartment like a bee. Which was fitting, because when Katrina unexpectedly crept out of my bedroom, I almost knocked her out with my backpack. That would have stung.

"Woah, watch it!" Katrina said, for the first time angry toward me. As if she realised, she straightened and cleared her throat. "Um, mind if I use your shower?"

My head flicked back to Colby, when he'd helped himself. I didn't answer aloud, nodding my head. Katrina disappeared into the bathroom and I shouldered my backpack as I walked to the kitchen. She had made me breakfast once, I supposed it was time to return the favour.

The shower ran quietly in the background while I made us some bacon — sometimes I thought that was all I ever ate in the morning, if anything. I put the meat between some bread and left her a plate on the kitchen island, taking mine to the couch. As I sat down, I caught a glimpse of something on my balcony. My head snapped in it's direction, eyes narrowed. But nothing happened.

Deja vu.

Just then, the bathroom door opened and distracted me. I turned my head to watch as Katrina walked out only in a towel with damp hair wavy down her back. It looked completely brown because of the water, and she looked so much different. She crossed the room for the sandwich, taking a seat next to me in silence.

Of course, I couldn't be quiet with her like I was with others.

"Thank you for everything last night, Becky. I know you didn't want me to stay over that much, but I'm glad that I did. I... I don't like being around Sam when I'm tipsy."

I frowned at her.

"He makes a fuss of me. I mean, I like attention, but not when I'm sleepy." She frowned at herself now, looking at the food. "And thanks for this."

"Katrina, stop saying thank you or I'll kick you out looking like that."

Katrina's head snapped up, her eyes meeting mine. She smiled. "Right. You're not tipsy anymore."

My bitch was back, was what she meant to say.

"Well, okay. Let me speak your language... I'm borrowing some clothes whether you like it or not."

I raised a brow. "I don't fucking think so."

"I do." She smirked. "And I'm coming with you, wherever you go. You can't stop me."

"Why?"

"I don't want to be alone and getting into bed with Sam will make me fall asleep — I don't want that either." She shrugged. "I like your company, even when you're... you."

My eyes narrowed. "Who says I like your company?"

She just gave me a look. And she was right, I did, just a little, like her company. Because Katrina was the easiest to get along with even to me out of everyone. Maybe Kevin or Jake or Corey made you laugh, but something about Katrina drew you in to begin with, before the laughter and jokes.

"So," Katrina said, crossing one leg over the other to avoid flashing me, "where are we going today?"

I was hesitant. "Studio."

"Really?!" The excitement on her face was clear, and I instantly regretted suggesting it. Was I ready to take her to the studio? I was still against the place myself, just a little bit, and I couldn't beat the shit out of the mannequins if she was there... oh, fuck it. I was making friends with her now anyway.

"Yes."

"Wow, I can't wait. Give me some time and I'll be ready!"

I realised that she had finished her sandwich when she dropped the plate on the coffee table and darted out of the room into mine. I stared at the closed door for a second, wondering if I really would take her to the studio. A part of me actually wanted to: she would be a good judge of my work.

I did the dishes while she took her time getting ready. My stomach was fluttering nervously. I hated the feeling because it reminded me of more than just a couple of moments I'd had recently with the blue-eyed jackass.

I finished the dishes and waited. And waited. And then, finally, Katrina walked out.