When Different Worlds Collide ✔️

What if? -Erik's POV

I had to hand it to her, she was taking this whole 'make yourself happy' thing very seriously. I was proud of her for it too. Screw whatever her parents wanted from her. They were douche bags anyways. Still, even though I supported her in what she was doing... I couldn't help but to worry about what they'd do to her after they found out about what she was doing. I had a feeling they'd lose their minds.

"Precisely," Kat answered. "I am getting rid of all the clothes that I don't feel good in, comfortable in, and are too small for me. My mother has picked out my clothes for my whole life and I have let her do it. I am almost eighteen... I think I should be able to pick out my own clothes, don't you?"

"Right on," I answered with a large smile.

It was amazing seeing her take charge of her own life. Still, I couldn't miss the small amount of fear that was etched into her eyes though... It was haunting. She was just as scared for herself as I was for her.

"Boys, what in the world is taking so lon- KATHERINE!" Nia exclaimed from the storefront and rushed over to us.

"NIA!" Kat exclaimed in the same enthused voice as her.

"What are you doing here, Katherine?! I'm so happy to see you!" Nia said and hugged her tightly.

"Please call me Kat, Nia," she said nicely to my sister. "I was just trying to get rid of some clothes before I ran into your brother and Chris." Kat paused as she looked in between the box in my hands and my sister. "Nia... what size clothes do you wear?" She asked cautiously.

"I don't know... Like a size one to two-ish pants and a small in tops," Nia answered with a frown. "My whole family has been cursed with no butts and small boobs. It's depressing... Why?"

"Well, I have a whole bunch of clothes in these boxes that sound like they'd more than likely fit you. I don't want them, and I'd absolutely love for them to go to a good home. Do you want them?"

"You want me to take your absolutely gorgeous and expensive clothes?" Nia asked sounding breathless with wide eyes.

I mean, I understood why Nia was freaking out. Some of the clothes in Kat's wardrobe were probably more than our monthly house payment. They were expensive as hell, and she was just giving them away.

"Absolutely! And I have a bunch of shoes too! I mean, if you want them of course... Are you a size seven by chance?"

"Size six," she mourned. "My mom and auntie are both sevens though! They'd probably love them!"

"Perfect, take them all then! And whatever you don't want you can throw away, burn, sell... I don't really care."

"B-but... You could make a lot of money from your beautiful clothes," Nia protested slowly.

"Nia, take them. I was just going to donate them to this resale shop anyways. I'd much rather them go to you," Kat said with a soft smile.

I could see the tears in my sister's eyes as she hugged Kat fiercely. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She exclaimed happily.

After going through your whole life being made fun of for the way you dressed, getting a whole bunch of designer clothes was a big deal. I was so grateful to Kat for doing that for Nia. Kat really was a good person, and no one could make me think differently either.

"Come in and meet my momma!" Nia exclaimed as she wiped her eyes free from the few tears that she had shed. "She really wanted to meet you after what I told her you did to get me into the boutique. We're setting up today! Tomorrow I'll officially be a permanent fixture in her store."

Kat's eyes widened at the mention of meeting mom. She even backed up a few steps. "That's so amazing Nia! You totally deserve it, but um-" she looked around for an escape route. Both, Chris and I could see it on her face.

"My mom would probably really like to see you too; she has no idea that it was you who helped Nia. Plus, we don't want them thinking that we stole all of these clothes or some shit," Chris said jokingly.

He had been trying to make her feel more comfortable by mentioning that Lisa was there too. It also made her know that if Lisa was friends with my mom, then she was probably a decent person. It was great quick thinking on his part, and I was grateful for that. Mentioning Lisa even made Kat smiled a little bit when she had been ready to run for the hills at just the thought of meeting my mom. It made me upset to see how deep her trust issues ran.

"Okay then. I-I guess..." she said skeptically and grabbed a box from her car to follow us into the boutique.

We all walked to the store with boxes in our hands. Kat hid behind me cautiously as we walked, and it made me even more upset for her. I could see the nervousness and fear written on her face when I glanced back to her.

"Would you relax?" I told her softly. "My mom already loves you for everything that you've done for Nia, and she hasn't even met you yet! Plus, Lisa really likes you too. You have nothing to worry about as long as you're nice and respectful, which you always are. They're going to love you," I whispered to her.

"Sorry," she sighed defeatedly. "You've seen my parents though... They have me on edge all the time. Their friends are just like them... I just- I never know if I'm meeting a nice adult or a fake nice adult. It puts me on edge every single time when I have to meet someone new," she explained slowly as the other two went inside before us. "I don't know if you've noticed or not... But I'm a bit fucked up and I have severe trust issues. So, I mean, if you want to run for the hills screaming from me, no one will blame you. Hell, most people would join you."

"Anyone who would run from you must be absolutely insane," I said honestly.

"No," she laughed sarcastically. "Whoever is willing deal with my crazy is absolutely insane," she countered at me.

I rolled my eyes at her and held open the door for her to walk through. I wasn't going anywhere unless she told me to. I was willing to deal with anything that the girl threw at me because I could see the potential of us.

She looked at me for a second before she smirked with a mischievous look in her eye. "But whatever you say... Batman," she whispered before she walked through the door with a wink directed at me.

Everything in my body ceased working. That had been definite confirmation that she remembered, right? I mean, she was acting like she remembered before, but that statement had to be her subtle way of telling me that she remembered before we got a chance to speak about it.

She remembered! Right then, though, my anxiety reappeared with a vengeance. A million things went through my mind. A million reasons why she should turn me down. A million things that could happen between us and make us crash and burn. What if it was a disaster? What if the girl didn't even want me like that? What if... What if... What if...

A/N-

Hey y'all! Sorry this one is a bit shorter with the holidays and everything I have been pretty busy. Tell me what you think please! Also comment your story predictions! I love all of you! Thank y'all for your patience and sticking with me! Please don't forget to vote, comment, and share! Happy Holidays!

-KAF❤️