Little Wet Cat
1071 Words
Chapter Five
“He's going to kiss me?!” Katherine thought shockingly as she froze, her eyes staring at his full lips, the edge of his nose and those icy blue eyes.
She could swear his lips were almost above her, his breath right in her face, the small of his mint soap filling her nose.
For a split second, she closed her eyes and waited for his lips, but it never came.
Vladimir pulled away abruptly and rubbed the back of his head with a frown.
He stared at the water, then back at her, his silver eyes turning dark. "Cleaning services for that pool cost more than your bus fare, little Cat. Don't do that again."
"Then don't smoke around me. And my name is Katherine, not Cat or Little Cat or Little Girl. Now, open the book and let's study."
"I can call you whatever I want, I'm your employee,” he retorted, smirking.
Katherine ignored him and went straight to business.
The lesson was a disaster.
Vladimir was stubborn, refusing to follow her steps and insisting he knew a "faster way" to solve the equations that ended in the wrong answer every single time.
He wasn't listening to her and his mind seemed everywhere but in the class.
"You’re not even trying!" Katherine finally shouted, slamming her hand on the table.
“Maybe you're not such a good teacher."
"If you’re going to waste my time, I’ll just go. I could be giving lessons to people who actually appreciate it. Caleb has been asking me for help for weeks, and at least he knows how to follow instructions."
The mention of Caleb made Vladimir’s head snapped toward her. "What did you say? Why are you so obsessed with that boy?"
"I'm not obsessed! He’s just... he’s not a jerk to me every five seconds!"
Vladimir stood up briskly. "You know what? Lesson is over. Get out."
Katherine blinked, stunned. "Are you kidding me? You said you’d pay me!"
"I will pay you," Vladimir snapped, grabbing his wine glass. "I’ll bring the cash to school tomorrow and give it to you there. But I don't think I need your services anymore. You’re more trouble than you’re worth."
"Good!" Katherine shouted, shoving her things into her bag so hard a zipper got stuck. "I can't even stand your confusion! Just because your father has money doesn't mean you can buy everyone. Look at you! You live inside this fancy little palace, but you can’t even do basic math. What does that say about you, Vladimir? You’re just a spoiled brat playing at being a king."
She turned to walk toward the exit, but Vladimir’s voice stopped her.
"Don't you dare talk about my family like you know what I’m going through," he said.
Katherine turned around, her face flushed with anger. "You’re going through nothing! You’re just an arrogant piece of s**t who thinks the world revolves around him because he has a fast bike and a big house. You don’t know what real problems look like!"
Vladimir moved faster than she could see.
He was suddenly right in front of her, grabbing her arms and spinning her around to face him. “Shut up, little cat."
"Stop calling me that!”
Out of pure, blind anger, Katherine swung her hand and slapped him across the face.
Vladimir’s head snapped to the side as he stumbled back, the shock of the blow catching him off balance on the slick marble tile near the edge of the pool.
He staggered and tripped, his arms flailing for a second, and then there was a loud splash as he fell backward into the deep end.
Katherine stood there, her hand stinging and her heart racing. "Serves you right," she muttered, turning to walk away.
But she made it three steps before she heard him crying out for help.
It was the sound of someone drowning.
She looked back and Vladimir was in the middle of the pool, but he wasn't swimming.
He was fumbling, his arms splashing uselessly against the surface.
At first, she thought he was being dramatic, trying to make her feel guilty. But then she saw his face. His eyes were wide and filled with paralyzing terror.
He wasn't even able to stay afloat, he was sinking, his body stiffening as if he’d been struck by lightning.
"Vladimir?" she called out, her voice trembling.
He went under once and the bubbles rose to the surface, but he didn't come back up.
"Vladimir!"
Katherine kicked off her sneakers without thinking and dived into the water.
The cold was a shock, but she pushed through it, swimming down to where his dark shape was drifting toward the bottom.
She grabbed him under the arms, kicking with everything she had. And oh, he was heavy, made of pure muscle, and it felt like trying to lift a lead weight.
She finally struggled and broke the surface, gasping as she dragged him toward the marble steps.
She hauled him onto the tile, her own lungs burning.
Vladimir lay there, his face turning blue and his chest not moving.
"Oh my god," she sobbed, pressing her hands to his chest. "Wake up! Vladimir, wake up! I thought you could swim! I saw you in the pool before I even got here!"
She started pushing on his chest, trying to remember the CPR she’d seen on TV.
"Come on, breathe! Don't you dare die on me!"
Then she turned and screamed, "Help!”
He wasn't waking up and hips were turning blue.
Desperate and terrified, Katherine tilted his head back, pinched his nose, and pressed her lips to his.
She blew air into his lungs repeatedly as she laid on his chest.
Vladimir suddenly convulsed and coughed, a spray of water hitting Katherine’s face.
He rolled onto his side, gagging and retching up the pool water.
“Please, help me!" He cried out from what seemed like some kind of nightmare.
He was shaking violently, his silver eyes wide.
"You're okay," Katherine whispered, still half way draped on him "I'm sorry…"
Right then, the glass door to the lounge slammed open.
"What the hell is going on here?"
Katherine looked up, her lips still inches from Vladimir’s, her hands still on his wet chest.
A pretty blonde was standing in the doorway with a murderous glare.
"How dare you kiss my boyfriend, you little slut!"
- Writer
