Kat265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJBGnO0iHo
July 4, 2005
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXJYzrVNaj
*
Same day
*
"What the fuck?" Vanessa's voice pulls me from my depressing thoughts. I look up to see her marching straight towards David. "I leave for two fucking minutes and you fucking made her cry?"
I'm crying? I reach up to feel wetness on my cheeks. I didn't even realize I was that upset.
"I didn't make her do anything. She was just remembering how good we were together. Right, Kat?" His annoying voice breaks though my foggy mind.
I jump when he says my name, but my brain won't tell my mouth to form words. Was I really thinking I should be with him?
Where is my mind? Maybe I'm the one who's high. Something has to be wrong with me.
Why would I give up just a sliver of a chance with Ben to be with this waste of space?
"Come on, baby. Tell her." He rubs my arm, snapping me out of the trance I was in.
Moving away from his touch, I look into his eyes, seeing him for who he really is.
Arrogant.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbGLWGyq8l
Unprofessional.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK00GDLdF7J
Disrespectful of women.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIOaOptpkn
Mentally abusive. 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IcBGy2dRV
Cheating scum.
Before he can touch me again, I stand up, turning around to face him. It feels good to be physically above him, as well as mentally.
His mouth opens to say something, but I hold my hand up in his face, stopping him. "You should leave."
"Baby, you don't mean that. You know I'm the only one for you. I can give you things you'll never experience." His cocky grin makes me want to kick him in the crotch.
"Like chlamydia?" Vanessa pipes up from behind me. I barely contain the giggle that sneaks up on me.
He rolls his eyes. "That was one time."
"What?" Her eyes bulge as her voice takes in a shrill pitch. "You really had it? Gross!"
"It's not a big deal, I took the medicine. I'm fine now. Ready for business, if you know what I mean." He wiggles his eyebrows at me, but all I want to do is punch him.
I scoff. "Gross. Get out."
"Come on, babe. You know I can please you better than that boy ever could." Immediately I see red. How dare he talk about Ben that way.
My hand slaps his cheek before I can stop it. "Fuck you."
He gasps, grabbing his cheek.
I stand above him, shoving my finger in his stupid face. "You will never be half the man Ben is. We've been over since the moment I saw you with that skank and the moment I met Ben erased you from my mind completely."
I vaguely hear Vanessa's voice from somewhere in the room. "Damn."
Stepping back, I try to give him space to get up. "Now leave. Before we drag you out."
He doesn't move, but I see him swallow hard.
Vanessa moves to stand next to me. "Fuck that. If you don't leave, I'm telling the whole fucking school your sleeping with your students. You'll never get another job, you disgusting prick."
He stands suddenly. "No. I'll leave."
She steps closer, poking his chest with her finger. "You know what, maybe I'll just tell everyone anyway. You would deserve it."
"Please, don't." I can see he's shaking from here. "What do you want?"
"It's easy. Be a decent human being and apologize to Kat." She gestures towards me.
"What?" He stares at her like she's speaking a foreign language.
"I said... apologize... to... Kat." She sounds everything out slowly, like he's a complete idiot.
"Why?" He looks almost offended at the thought.
She scoffs, disgust written all over her face. "God, seriously? You can't really be that much of an idiot, can you?"
David's mouth pops open, indignation oozing off him. "I'm not an idiot. I graduated top of my class-"
Vanessa rolls her eyes, finishing the statement we've heard so many times before. "At Brown University, yes we are well aware. You know that's really not that brag worthy, right? Plus your dad bought your way."
He scoffs, but doesn't reply.
"Ness, just let him go. I want him gone." My voice is barely a whisper, but I can't bring myself to speak anymore.
I just yelled at David. I even cussed at him. Who am I? I scoff internally at myself. What would my father say?
Don't go there.
"You're right, baby." I cringe, I hate that he still calls me that. "I'll just leave."
"Fuck no. You need to man up and apologize. And she's not your baby anymore, call her that again and I will hang the pathetic things you call testicles from my rear view mirror."
He clears his throat, at least having the decency to look scared, whether it's pretend or not. "Okay... And what should I apologize for exactly?"
Oh good, the condescending jerk is back. He's speaking to her like she's five, just asking for a slow and painful death by redhead.
"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Can I hit him, Katie-bug, please?" She looks over at me, like I'm responsible for his safety.
I shrug, unconcerned with the face I one cared about.
The door busts open, as a panting Cole appears in the room with Nate trailing behind him.
Oh god, what happened?
I rush over to them, worry taking over my body. "Cole? What's wrong? Did you run here?"
He holds up his finger, bending over, hands on his knees, trying to steady his breathing.
I can't wait. I need to know. "Is Ben okay?"
He nods, but his brow furrows.
Looking around the room, Cole's gaze lands on David. "Who's that?" His voice is barely a whisper, but it's harsh.
I roll my eyes. "Seriously? You rush in here like the world is ending and you're worried about some guy in my dorm room?"
He clears his throat, finally calming down. "They are waking up Ben."
Nate steps next to me. "What? Now?"
Cole nods slowly, annoyance written all over his face. "Yes, despite my objections."
I chew on my fingernails, trying to remember when I started biting them. When I heard Ben was in the hospital, I think? "When is he going to wake up?"
"No clue." Cole shakes his head, but continues to glare at David while answering. "It could be any time now. I figured you would want to be there."
"I do. Let's go." I move to walk out the door, but Cole grabs my arm.
He leans close to whisper in my ear. "Shouldn't you finish up with Mr. Gulso?"
My stomach drops, sinking to my toes. Of course Cole knows him. Why did I think he wouldn't?
I just stare at him with my mouth hanging open, unable to come up with any response.
Before I can pull away, he wraps his arms around me in a hug. "Please don't give up on my brother."
"That's not-" I try to defend myself, but he cuts me off.
"I'll be down in the lobby waiting. Please don't take too long. We're in a bit of a time crunch." He kisses my cheek and walks out the door.
What?
Looking back at a rather smug David, I can't think of a single reason why I would stay here.
My gaze shifts to Vanessa who is giving me a knowing look. "Go. I'll take care of him."
Nate crosses his arms over his chest, showing off his massive muscles, a smirk dancing across his lips. "I'll help."
"Thank you." I rush out the door, unable to think of much other than seeing Ben.
Cole stands up, rushing to hold open the door to the outside world, his face barely hiding a frown. "That was quick."
"He didn't deserve any more of my time." I smile, finally feeling free.
He starts the car, returning my smile. "I know someone who does."
"Yeah, I think you're right." He pulls out heading towards the hospital.
We ride in a comfortable silence as the cd switches tracks. The track is a little loud, but not bad. I'm just thankful I didn't need thrown into Nate's giant truck again.
"Sorry." Cole moves to turn down the volume, but I stop him by placing my hand on his arm.
"No, leave it." It's calming me down to focus on something else.
"You like Taking Back Sunday?" He looks surprised, and suddenly I feel very embarrassed.
I'm the weirdo Christian girl who missed out on all the normal stuff.
"Nope, I wasn't allowed to listen to Devil music." I try to laugh, but it comes out forced.
"Do you want me to turn it off? I'd hate to be the reason you go to Hell." He gives me a sideways smile, almost like he's afraid he may have crossed a line.
"Oh trust me, music would be the last reason." I roll my eyes. If I'm going, it won't be for a little music.
"Yeah, probably all the drugs you do." He catches me off guard, forcing a burst of laughter to erupt from my chest.
The CD switches again. "Oh, I like this one even better."
He clears his throat, rubbing his hand on the steering wheel. "Yeah... it's Ben's favorite song and I guess it rubbed off on me."
"It's pretty good." I'm lying. It's freaking awesome, but I don't want to show him my inner dork. "What's it called?"
He smiles while answering, like it's an inside joke. "Cute without the 'E'."
What a weird name.
"So... cut?" Why didn't they just call it that? That seems much easier. That's like calling me 'Kate without the 'E'.'
"Cut from the team." He laughs at the joke I don't get.
He manages to stop laughing long enough to get out a few words. "Sorry, it's the rest of the title."
"Long title." I join in his laughter. It's contagious, just like his brother's.
Listening to the lyrics and knowing Ben's past, I can understand why it was his favorite song. I don't like that he thinks about Samantha every time he hears it though.
I am overcome with the desire to learn everything about him. I never knew this part of him existed. Of course he has a favorite band, but it never crossed my mind to even ask.
I want to understand him. No, I need to understand him.
When he wakes up I will find out even more about him.
I close my eyes, absorbing the music as it flows around me, the lyrics pulse through me and I feel truly alive.
Why can't I feel anything from anyone other than you?
ns 15.158.61.8da2
