Story: Two students and a cat (chapter 1)

The circle of fifths. It should be easy, just listen to the excerpt, identify the key, and find its counterpart on the chart, yet here Lyn sat unable to comprehend the music that trickled from her CD player. A trilling melody danced to her ears; its soaring flutes supported by the deep throated calls of the horns. A crash of a cymbal ended the excerpt. She rubbed her eyes and tapped her pencil against random keys that circled the paper. As the letters and symbols blurred in her vision, she sighed, her pencil dropping from her hand. She just could not focus on the assignment.

Lyn turned away from her cluttered desk, half pushing her music theory textbook over her homework. Piles of books littered the right side of her desk, and a lamp and some folders along with her laptop sat atop the left side. A few trinkets from home decorated the side of the desk that pushed against the wall; most of the trinkets just sculptures of cats.

“Rumi?” her light alto echoed in the small apartment, and was answered by a meow just to the left of her chair. A black cat squirmed free from under her desk and jumped into her lap. He rubbed his face against her cheek, his whiskers tickling her nose. Her fingers stroked his soft, short fur, and she smiled shakily at her cat. “Rumi, am I really cut out for this? This should be easy material, but I just can’t focus.” The cat purred in response and rubbed his head under her chin. “You saying I should keep trying, eh?” The car purred again, and Lyn sighed. Rumi provided some comfort, and his soft fur did tickle her fingers, but it brought her no closer to understanding her homework. Perhaps it was time for a break.

She looked out her window across from her desk. Branches from a tree blocked most of the view, their green leaves bright in the light of the setting sun. The sidewalk and grass lawn that surrounded the building could barely be seen through the gaps in the branches. Perhaps a walk could clear her mind. “What about that, Rumi?” She stroked his fur and rubbed the top of his head. “I’ll go for a walk, and perhaps bring you a treat.” In response, the cat meowed and hopped onto her laptop. He curled into a ball, the end of his tail twitching to some unheard beat. Lyn laughed softly and stood with a stretch. Surely the fresh air would do her some good.

Her jacket still lay atop her bed, and her shoes by the door. The small alcove where her kitchen and table lay was still cluttered with the dishes from last night that she had yet to clean. She turned her back on the mess, slid her jacket on, and paused by the bookcase next to the kitchen alcove and the door to her restroom. Her messenger bag hung on a tack on the side of the bookcase, still filled with her piano music from practice this morning. She grabbed it, tossed it around her shoulders, and quickly slipped on her sneakers.

Being on the second floor of the apartment building, she had a short flight of stairs to the exit, but as usual it stank of smoke from one of her neighbors. She locked her door, shoved her hands into her pockets, and hurried through the stench, her head bowed and her eyes averted from the half-open door of her neighbor, whose heavy metal music could barely be heard through the crack.

One push against the exit door and a swift wind pushed her back against the stairs. She pulled the collar of her jacket up toward her ears and fished her scarf from her bag. Wrapping it around her neck, she tucked one end into her jacket, zipped it up tight, and stepped outside. The wind slammed into her, almost offsetting her balance, but she ducked her head and moved forward against the cool breeze. Cars buzzed by in the nearby street, and a few people wandered down the sidewalk on the other side, where a few restaurants were still open. Lyn kept her gaze on the sidewalk, her feet in motion. Everyone always seemed to be in a hurry to reach their destination, or else in a hurry to relax in the park-like lawns in front of the halls where classes were held. Most had someone at their side if not two to three, and those who sat alone either read or talked on their cell-phones. A luxury Lyn did not have.

Caught in her usual people-watching, she didn’t notice the tall blonde until she slammed into her. Lyn stumbled and fell on her rear startled by the sudden collision. “Aw,” she said embarrassed, her face reddening, “sorry…”

“No worries!” The blonde woman laughed and held out her hand. “You looked like you were deep in thought.”

“Em.” Lyn took the offered hand and allowed the woman to pull her to her feet. Shyly, she slid her hand free and glanced down at her feet. “I… I should be on my way…”

“Where you heading?” The blonde made no move to step out of her path. Instead, she stood with one hand still extended toward Lyn. “To class?”

Lyn shook her head. The blonde wore white sneakers with shoelaces that had violet and blue sparkles. Her blue jeans were plain as was her white shirt, but her blue jacket was lined with fur, and studded with embroidery. Quite an expensive jacket for a student. “Just walking,” Lyn admitted. She awkwardly fiddled with the cuffs of her leather jacket and tapped her left foot against the ground. This wasn’t something she was used to, for usually people ignored her. Especially those with expensive clothing, the kind Lyn enjoyed looking at but could never afford to buy.

“Hey, don’t look so shy!” The woman laughed again. “I’m Shari. Shari Kvard. How about you?”

“Lyn Kapatos.”

“Lyn Kapatos... that’s a cool name.” Shari held out her hand again. Reluctantly, Lyn shook it, then quickly slid her hand free and shoved it in her pocket. “So out walking, eh?" Shari continued, "You mind if I join you? I was just wandering about for some exercise.”

“Em. If you want.” Lyn glanced at her, and blinked at the woman’s simple beauty. Shari’s green eyes sparkled in the light of the setting sun, and her streamlined nose accentuated her sharp but smooth features. Her full lips upturned in a smile that showcased her straight white teeth, and dimples appeared in her rouge cheeks. Lyn quickly looked away unsettled by butterflies that smile gave her. It was just a walk. Maybe talking with this gal will clear her mind and help her focus on her studies tonight.

“Any particular place you’re heading?”

Lyn shook her head. She felt plain and short next to the tall, beautiful blonde. Her unruly if curly hair was pulled back in a ponytail from this morning, but a few locks had escaped and hung around her face like a veil. Her dark brown eyes were hooded by her thick eyebrows, and her dark skin made her stand out in a town whose majority had a much lighter shade. Ducking her head, she started walking again, this time with Shari at her side. It unnerved her, for she was used to being alone, yet at the same time, it was almost comforting.

“You been here long?”

“Em. Not really.” Lyn wasn’t sure how to respond to that question. Was Shari asking how long she’d been in town? Or at college in general?

“You a freshman then?”

“Junior."

“Ah. Transfer I take it.” Shari smiled brightly and placed a hand on Lyn’s shoulder. “I’m a junior as well. English major to be precise. Though I enjoy Japanese, Spanish, and German as well. And sports.” She laughed, a soft, rumbling chuckle. It was contagious almost, and Lyn found herself smiling faintly. Shari glanced at her. “What about you?”

“Music.” Lyn glanced at the trees that lined the street, each one swaying in the heavy wind. She brushed a lock of her hair from her eyes, and slid free from Shari’s grasp. The warm presence of the girl’s hand on her shoulder was a bit disconcerting.

“Oh, that’s awesome! Do you play an instrument? Sing?”

“Piano.” She felt obliged to avoid any misconceptions since she wasn't a performance major anymore. “But I’m music theory.”

“Ah.”

The whistle of the wind through the trees punctuated the sudden silence between them. Lyn wondered if she had said something wrong, but Shari’s smile was still present. Guess not. She looked away and kept her gaze focused on the sidewalk. Each crack they walked over, she began to count.

“It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?”

The sudden question startled Lyn, and she slid to a stop. Shari stopped as well and glanced at her. “Em, it is.” Lyn shifted nervously from foot to foot. For the first time since her transfer, she realized just how lonely her time here was. Such feelings had come and gone, but now that she stood with someone genuinely interested in what she had to say, she wasn't able to push aside the loneliness like she usually did. Was Shari seeking her friendship? Or was this just a one time deal? She wasn’t sure how to ask without seeming presumptuous.

“Eh?” Shari raised her eyebrows. Her gaze seemed to bore into Lyn, like she could see into her soul and inner thoughts. “You’re really shy, aren’t you?”

Lyn blushed and looked down at her feet.

“Hey, it’s alright. Look, if you’d like to be left alone, just let me know, okay? I didn’t mean to intrude. Just thought, since we did run into each other, that we could maybe get to know one another. You know, make a new friend.”

At the word friend, Lyn’s head snapped upward and she stared at Shari. “Friend?”

Shari cocked her head to one side, puzzled. “Yeah. You alright?”

“Em, yes.” Lyn colored and looked down at her shoes again. “Just surprised. I…” She hunched her shoulders unsure whether to continue or not.

“I what?”

“Would like a friend,” Lyn blurted out before she lost her nerve.

Shari smiled warmly and lightly punched Lyn’s shoulder. “Alright, you’ve got one.” She received another shy smile from Lyn in return. “So… you want to finish our walk?”

“Okay.” This time Lyn fell into step beside Shari. The path led into a thick set of trees, which clustered around the banks of the river that flowed through the edge of town. The park was sparsely populated in the afternoon, where most students where at class, and it was at this time that Lyn most enjoyed its serene beauty. Walks here normally cleared her mind, but with Shari at her side, she found it hard to focus on the thick tree trunks and their heart-shaped leaves.

The path left the grove of trees and wandered along the banks of the river, whose waters lightly slapped the rocky shore. Lyn stole a glance at her new friend, and was glad to see the smile still present.

“It’s so beautiful today.” Shari laughed and held up her hands toward the cloudless sky. “Can you smell it? The sweet waters of time.”

“Em.” Lyn couldn’t really smell anything but a mixture of pine, maple, and fish. “Of time?”

“Sure.” Shari walked over to the nearest rock that jutted out into the water. “Water flows past us, and its journey covers miles. Takes time to do that. Time flowing by us. That’s what it makes me think of, you know?” She turned and smiled.

Lyn awkwardly shifted from foot to foot. Her smile was so endearing. It was hard not to stare. She looked down at her feet. “Never thought of it that way.”

Shari laughed. “Most don’t. I’m silly like that.” She turned to face the river and raised her arms to the sky with a happy sigh.

Timidly, Lyn edged onto the rock next to Shari and knelt on its rough, grey surface. The water flowed lazily past her, it’s color a bluish-green. She dipped her fingers into the water, and watched the tiny eddies that formed around them.

“Peaceful, isn’t it?” Shari squatted beside Lyn and curled her arms around her knees. The wind blew her blonde hair away from her face, and a smile twitched her lips as she glanced at the shy girl next to her.

“Em.” Lyn nodded. “I…” She swirled her fingers in the water. “Em, come here a lot.”

“Really? So do I!”

Startled, Lyn straightened, her fingers dripping water, as she glanced at her new friend. “You do?”

Shari nodded. “I call it my hideaway.” She laughed and twirled a finger in the water. “The rock’s a perfect place to sit and think. Timeless in a way.” She winked and flicked water Lyn’s way. It fell short and hit the rock between them.

Lyn smiled and nodded. “Do you… come here often?”

“Yes.” Shari abruptly stood and hopped to the rock on the other side of Lyn. “Ever hop the rocks? See how far out you can go?” She pointed to another rock that lay half submerged a few feet offshore.

Lyn shook her head. It had never occurred to her. She mostly came here to relax and read.

“One of my favorite things to do.” Shari hopped toward the rock, and landed on its edge. She tilted forward, but then righted herself. “See?” She turned and bowed. “A perfect jump.”

“Nice.” Lyn slid her hand under the water and lifted it upward to watch the droplets fall from her fingers and thumb. “Em, be careful?” She blushed unable to meet Shari’s gaze.

“Don’t worry about me!” Shari spun on her heel and jumped toward the next rock a little further downstream. “I do this all the time.” She hit the edge of the rock, but then her foot slipped. “Woah!” With a resounding splash, the woman vanished under the surface of the river.

“Shari!” Lyn jumped to her feet and scrambled over the rocks, closer to where she say Shari fall. To her relief, the woman sputtered to the surface and grabbed the rock she had missed.

“Hey, it’s alright.” She gasped and spat out some river water. “It happens sometimes.”

Lyn leaned forward, one hand firmly planted on her rock, the other outstretched toward Shari. “Em, here.”

“Thanks.” Shari pushed away from the mostly submerged rock and grasped Lyn’s hand. The current tugged briefly at her clothing, but then Lyn pulled Shari closer to the banks and into the eddy the cluster of submerged rocks had created. With her other hand, Shari grasped the edge of a rock and pulled herself onto the bank next to Lyn. She released Lyn’s hand and leaned forward, her hands pressed against her knees. “Forgot to lean forward. That usually tips me onto the rock.”

“Em.” Lyn awkwardly sat back on her heels. “You okay though?”

“I think so.” Shari pulled her feet out of the water and rested them in the sun. She winced as her right foot touched the hard surface. “Well, I think I twisted my ankle.”

Lyn frowned. “Not good. Em…” she hesitated and glanced back the way they had come. The path was shrouded in shadows, but sunlight inched through the thick leaves to leave patches of light atop the dirt. “Hey, maybe you should dry off?” She stood and offered her hands. “I live nearby.”

Shari smiled faintly as she grasped her hands and pulled herself to her feet. “Ah, it’s alright, Lyn. I’m just a little wet.” She tried to take a step toward the park trail, but she stumbled, pain etched on her face. Lyn grasped her arm to keep Shari from losing her balance and falling back against the rock. “Damn. It hurts worse than I thought.”

“My place,” Lyn said firmly. She slid Shari’s arm around her shoulders. “It’s not far.” The frown on Shari’s face troubled Lyn, and she wondered if she was being too pushy. “You’re hurt, and I… I do live…” her voice softened to a whisper, “by this park…”

Shari grimaced in pain. “Alright, you got me there. I’m on the other side of campus. You got a good plan, thanks.”

Lyn blushed at the praise. Gently, she led Shari around the trees toward the park path. Shari leaned heavily against her, their pace slow due to the blonde woman’s injury. The dirt path was empty, only a few insects fluttered amongst the fallen leaves and the branches that hung over the narrow trail. Their sneakers crunched on the dirt as they slowly made their way up the hill toward the apartment buildings at the edge of campus. Lyn carefully measured her breathing, for the touch of Shari’s hand on her arms was giving her the butterflies again.

“Algae," Shari said suddenly. "That’s why.”

Startled, Lyn glanced at the girl, and bit her lip at the closeness of Shari’s face. Troubled, she looked away. “Why what?” It came out as a harsh whisper.

“I forgot about the algae on those rocks.” Shari sighed. “Got too excited I guess.”

“Oh.” Lyn wasn’t sure what else to say. Only a few minutes ago they had just met, and now here they were, Shari wet and hurt, and Lyn confused and flustered. She just wanted to get Shari to a safe spot and get her into some dry clothes. Beyond that, she had no idea what would happen next. Maybe it was better not to think that far ahead.

The wind held a bitter tint and slammed against their forms as they left the shelter of the trees. Lyn could feel the woman shivering next to her. “Almost there,” she whispered. Shari grunted in reply as the pair stepped onto the sidewalk that led to Lyn’s apartment.