Chapter 2 ONE

**CAT**

My hands are firmly rested on my cheeks, I resist the urge to push my glass up a little while I pretend to listen to some small talk my dad is giving me, it's a good thing he is not right here with me, I might yawn out of boredom. To prove my point, I fiddle with the edge of my nails, roll my eyes a few times and even dance my leg around. Will this torture ever end?

The answer to my question comes shortly as he introduces his closing remarks, those signature words. He talks about boys. Like they have ever been a problem. Tch. With one hand on my nails, I give him another eye roll then toss my shoe aside. I zone out on his final remarks then take a look around. My house is empty except for the pieces of furniture and I look back to my previous birthdays. I take a deep breath then mutter a birthday wish to myself. Happy sweet twenty-three. Today is my birthday and instead of wishes, I got nothing but advice from my absent dad.

My father didn't recall his daughter being born on this day. I'm not surprised, daddy has many more important things to do than worry about me.

I try not to dwell on the pain in the pit of my stomach. As a young adult, I'm not supposed to put much meaning to birthdays, I didn't want something fancy or a huge occasion, a call or one sentence tense would suffice. I will not stretch that far to expect it at midnight, but waking up to one might not have been a bad idea. Guess what I got? Zilch. No one did anything. Then when my cell did ring, I saw his ID and hurriedly clicked answer, he was in the middle of a meeting and had to send them away before speaking to me properly. I have been on the phone for almost thirty minutes, with no mention of a birthday. How pitiful.

Unconsciously, I parted my lips and yawned, he couldn't see me and he sure as hell didn't hear that although I will not mind at this point. I dart my gaze to the clock hovering at the top of the wall. I click my tongue, an excuse pops up in my head and I return to my dad, read to interrupt his lifelong lessons on the evildoers called men.

"I have to go now, dad. I don't want to be late." I spit out as he crosses the top of sex. I'm so glad we did not get there. I'm not going to discuss my sex life with my father. Like I had one anyway. Still, it's not done.

"Alright dear, please don't forget to be careful."

He reminds me of the hundredth time. I roll my eyes, twitching my lips in disbelief. I'm not a kid.

"It's a school for the rich dad. I've survived two years already. I'll be fine."

I set out my reminder then retrieve the phone from my ear, I can almost hear it sigh in relief.

"Bye dear, I love you."

It takes a whole lot of self-control and growth not to scoff at him, shade, or let out that it was my birthday. I simply chuckle then click the send button, toss my phone aside then plop on the couch. I'm late for class.

"So much for a happy birthday."

I murmur as I gathered my things, groaning and complaining to no one in particular, I didn't have anyone to complain to even if I want to. I'm alone in this world.

****

I plug my headset in, playing some music while moving towards my car. I nod my head to the beat of the song, checking the locks in my home once more, courtesy of my dad, I became an extra secure person. Not like anyone is looking to get me, he just acts over the edge, it creeps me out but I got used to it after being with him for a while. College is my escape from his clutch, I dreamt of the day when I get to gather my things and act Independent. I didn't get one hundred per cent of the dream, but at least I got over half.

While in here, my dad keeps a tight lid on me, a close watch and an invisible cage over my body. It sucks.

After a few months, I fought my way into getting my first car. The only thing I'm currently grateful for. I'm a daddy's girl. It's not like I could be anything else. I have no idea where I came from. Babies are supposed to come from a mother and father whereas my mom is just plain non-existent.

As I grew older, I try to ask questions but my dad brushes them off. I try to research but he controls everything about me and it ends up a dead end. I didn't give up, I grew tired. It remains at the back of my mind but the will to search for her just isn't there. My dad reduced it to nothing. I didn't come up empty-handed thought, before he cut me off I managed to find something out.

Two years ago when I got into college, I hired a private investigator and six months later he came back with the same story. The only thing I could find out was her name, Tina Grant. I had no idea how she looks or what happened to her, just two words, her name, her identity. Nothing else. The man who knew it all wants nothing to do with it. At a young age, I learned to accept events, pick up, then move on. I did just that. Occasionally, she pops up in my head and for a second, it wears me down. The thought of her Alive or dead made me uneasy, not knowing drove me crazy and not being able to do anything about it made me feel useless.

Shrugging my mind off depressing thoughts, I pushed my car door open, stepped in and inhaled its sweet musk due to the air freshener embedded in it.

Getting the car was more like the third world war, it took months before he handed the paper, then he hires a driver. I refuse and throw a tantrum. Soon after, he gives in to my demands for that time only. As I ignite the engine, my phone chines notifying me of a text. Only a few persons call or text, so most time I already know who it is. I peak at the lit screen, scanning through the one-line message. It warms my heart. I remove my hand from the ignition, pick my phone up and re-read for clarity. It's just one statement, yet it's more than enough.

*Happy Birthday beautiful, Noel*

My heart did a flip flop staring at the text. Finally, someone remembered my not so special day. I exaggerate a little sometimes, just like earlier; I noted that I didn't know anyone. Well, I know one person in the entire college. He's the only person I speak to, the others are merely a walkthrough. Noel is my study party, that's a thing, he's been like that for a few months. Noel is your typical privileged kid only without the attitude.

If you want a mental picture of him, it's easy. You think of a tall, brown curly, dimpled, and smart boy. That's a little vague, I'll go deeper and say he has the prettiest blue eyes, his hair is sometimes let down, it falls over his face and when his smiles widen at a joke, his dimples go even deeper, you get the picture.

I can't deny it, I may just have a tiny crush on him well not tiny but still, I couldn't help myself. He's the sweetest being.

I closed the screen as well as the car door getting in properly before staring off the engine and driving in the direction of Hart way college.

*****

I arrive shortly later and students are trooping in and out rapidly. My thoughts are of students talking or adding an extra one or two weeks to the break, yet it seems students are as eager to resume as I am for school activities.

The holidays just ended and I spent mine alone. The only time I felt partly better was with Noel keeping me company. My father didn't want me because he will rather go on his numerous business trips. I'm grateful for your life he's provided for me but I still needed a father and he is just a caretaker. He acts like one at least.

I park my car, step out and lock the door inhaling the fresh air. Welcome to Hartway college.

Just then, a bag is placed over my head and a strong figure slowly shoves me into a van or a car I couldn't tell, I was being kidnapped. Scream godamnit!

Like he read my mind, he quickly places a hand over my lips so I will not scream even if I want it.

"You have to come with me. If you want to live."

He says in a gruff voice, at the back of my neck, straight into my ear.

I keep mute, my decision to trust my alleged kidnappers may be questionable. I watch the car drive off wondering how I was just kidnapped without any student noticing.

****

The car drove for a short while then stopped and the bag is placed back on.

"Who are you?"

I shook tenderly asking him a question.

"Your saviour."

He responds leading me somewhere. My hands are not tied, he did not possess a gun nor did he threaten me. Is he saving me? From who or what?

"Saviour, what do I need saving from?!" I voice out my thoughts as he takes the bag off once more.

"From not having the best birthday ever."

He responds and I stood perplexed. What the?

"SURPRISE!"

Loud voices yell and I look forward. Oh, fuck me.

I face my dad and more than fifty people who I'm sure I barely know and about ten which I do yet don't speak more than five words to each semester. I hold my chest trying to control my phobia. I hate surprises and too bad my caretaker has no idea. If he isn't so busy with trips all the time, I might have let him in on this secret. Too late.

"Cat!"

He yells and the room keeps spinning before everything went dark. I slump to the ground catching a few gasps and girly screams before fully passing out.

***