Hilf Mir Fliegen 2 Part 27

(Gustav)
It was about an hour after Bill revealed his new hair that Kate came back. It was strange. Whenever I was around her, I got the sudden urge to take my hat off, but I couldn't because I was numb. You would think that would be frustrating, but I loved it.
     “Hello, again,” she greeted with a million-dollar smile.
     “Hi, Bob!” Bill replied, grinning. “Like my new hairdo?”
     Kate raised her eyebrows. “Wow. You're. . .bald.”
     “Not bald. I have a shaved head.”
     “Oh, okay. Looks good.”
     Bill smiled proudly and glanced at Tom, who rolled his eyes.
     “Hi, Gustav,” Kate said, looking at me. The hairs on the back of my neck loved that.
     I was going to reply, but all my thoughts came to me in German. I didn't know if she spoke German, so I just sat there with my mouth open and my tongue swelling.
     She smiled at me knowingly, causing the butterflies in my stomach to flutter like their non-existent lives depended on it. Knowingly. Did that mean she knew how I felt around her? I wanted her to know, but I didn't want her to know, because I was afraid she didn't feel the same. My mind was in a German turmoil.
     Bill started talking to Kate, but I wasn't paying attention to the words. I thought I heard something about Kate wanting to bring a friend to meet us. But, I was thinking in German, so I can't be sure.
     As Bill and Kate talked, she kept stealing looks at me. I was just staring at her. I didn't even bother to do the discreet glancing thing.
     After a while, Georg, Tom, and Abigail joined in the conversation. It was all very casual. I kind of wanted to join in, but I don't think my tongue would have let me. Or my German brain.
     I was starting to feel uncomfortable. I bit my lip and crossed my arms, shifting slightly in my seat. I wanted to talk to Kate, but I also wanted to leave the room. That feeling I didn't love too much. I kind of hated it.
     “Gustav?”
     I heard Kate say my name, causing the hairs on the back of neck to stand up again. I looked at her blankly.
     “Did you want to say something?” she asked, smiling softly.
     I gulped, not trusting my own tongue. “I, uh. . .” I started nervously and in English. “I don't know. I don't think so.”
     “I know,” Tom jumped in, smiling.
     “Tom,” I said with warning in my voice.
     “Gustav wanted to—”
     “Tom,” I interrupted with stronger warning.
     “Gustav wanted to ask you—”
     “Tom!”
     “What?” Tom said defensively. “I'm just trying to help.”
     “Yeah, right.”
     “Gustav wanted to ask you if you wanted to—”
     “Tom! Stop it!”
     “He wanted to ask you if you wanted to go to—”
     “Tom!”
     “He wanted to ask—”
     “Tom, shut up!”
     “Both of you shut up!” Anna Lucia shouted.
     “Um, maybe I should go,” Kate said, starting toward the door. “I'll see you guys later. I guess.”
     “Wait,” I called, following her into the hallway.
     “I'm sorry, Gustav, I really should be going,” she said nervously.
     “Kate, I don't know what Tom was trying to do—he was just trying to be funny or something—I'm not sure—he's an idiot—he doesn't know what he's talking about.”
     “I-it's okay, Gustav,” Kate said with a shy smile. “I know how Tom is. He—he says things—I'm sure you had nothing to do with it—Tom was just—”
     On impulse, I put my finger to her lips. She looked at me in shock for a moment, then she softened and just stared into my eyes.
     “Oh,” I said, pulling my hand back. I felt my face getting hot once again. “Sorry.”
     “Me, too,” she said quickly.
     “What for?”
     “I don't know. Just, sorry.”
     I smiled. She certainly was an interesting person.
     “Well. . .good-bye, Gustav,” Kate said, holding her hand out to me. I took it numbly, but didn't shake it. Like the last time, I just held it in mid air, not wanting to let go.
     Finally, coming to my senses, I gave her hand a light shake and let go.
     “Good-bye, Kate,” I said quietly. I quickly turned around and walked back into Tom's hospital room, leaving Kate alone in the hallway.
     I was relieved to be away from her and the weird pressure she seemed to put on my heart, but I was also angry at myself for leaving her like that. It was too straightforward, don't you think? But, I didn't know what else to say or do. It's like my mind switches off when I'm around her.
     “Hey, Gustav,” Tom greeted. “What happened out there?”
     “None of your business,” I replied softly, sitting in a chair.
     “Curiosity killed the cat, Tom,” Bill said with a smile. “The Tomcat, that is.”
     Tom pouted a little, then just shook his head in disappointment. “'Curiosity killed the Tomcat,' my. . .” he mumbled through clenched teeth.
     I gave Bill a grateful smile. He smiled back.