*NOT EDITED*
If there's anything I've learned about Katherine since dating her is that she's the queen of avoiding stuff.
I don't hate that about her even if it is a fault but she can't avoids things forever.
After hockey practice she wanted to stop at her apartment to change and then we went back to my house.
And when I suggested we call her dad she avoided it by saying she had homework that she had to get done. Then when she was done, even before I said anything she said she was hungry.
And now we're all eating around the table. I glance over at Katherine and see she's eating extremely slowly.
As if sensing where my mind is going and what I might say she turns to Reid, "Have you signed with the Rangers yet?" She asks, avoiding my stare.
He furrows his brows as he looks from me to Katherine before slowly answering, "Yeah I signed the contract last month."
She nods as if what he just told her was the best news ever.
But she didn't account for Chase realizing something's up. He points his fork at her, "What's going on with you?"
She looks at him, "Nothing." She says too fast.
He narrows his eyes on her, "Spit it out, Kitty."
And now they're all looking at her with questionable eyes.
"What makes you think anything is wrong?" She asks now avoiding all our stares.
Kai answers this time, "Well the fact that you've been, like, ignoring Rohan since you guys got here."
Her eyes go to me and I can see guilt in them. Fuck, she shouldn't feel guilty about trying to avoid this conversation. I would too if I were in her shoes.
She bites her lip, "I'm supposed to talk to my parents about..." She trails off. And they immediately understand.
"Do you want us to go or?" Reid asks wrly.
Her eyes widen, "No, you guys don't have to leave your own house." Now she stats eating faster.
I look up to them, "We'll do it in my room."
Then after eating Katherine offers to do all the dishes and clean the table. Obviously the boys wouldn't let her but she didn't back down without arguing.
I grab her hand, "C'mon, Fly."
She exhales, "Fine." She mumbles before we walk up stairs and to my room. She changes into one of my t-shirts then she goes to sit on my bed but I can see that her hands are shaking.
I sit down beside her and cup her jaw, "What are you scared of?"
She shakes her head.
I rub my thumb over her cheek. "Are scared no one will believe you?"
She slowly nods.
I kiss her forehead, "Your dad won't think your lying. He'll always believe you. Even if he doesn't, me and the others know your not lying."
She shakes her head, "Not just that. It happened more that 2 weeks ago. There is no evidence."
God her small voice kills me. "Don't worry, babe, if your dad can't do anything we can try my mom." She doesn't say anything, "Okay?"
She nods.
I kiss her on the forehead again before she grabs her phone and calling her dad.
Not long before he answers, "Hey dad." She puts him on speaker.
"Hey, princess. What's going on?"
I see her eyes glass over, "Dad, I need to speak to you and mom."
There's rustling and some talking before the sound changes indicating it's on speaker. "We're both here, honey." Cecilia says.
She looks to me before grabbing my hand, "Something happened a couple weeks ago that I never told you."
There's a pause before James speaks, "What happened?"
She looks at me and I nod in encouragement. "Well I had this friend. We met when I first started at Delcour. He seemed nice, little weird but nice. Until we were at a party..." There's a strain starting in her throat, "He offered to get me a drink and I accepted thinking nothing of it."
There's a curse on the line, "Did he drug you and..." James trails off.
There's a tear that falls out of her eyes. I reach out and grab her hand "He did drug me. He did try to...rape me but didn't have the chance." Katherine starts fiddling with my fingers.
"What do you mean, 'didn't get the chance'?" Cecilia asks.
Katherine looks to me again, "I mean he didn't get the chance because Rohan and the boys intervened."
Another curse, "Who was this boy?" James demands.
"Dad I didn't tell you this for you to make a big deal." She says tracing lines on my palm.
"How do you want it handled then?" Cecilia asks.
Another tear going down her cheek, "Discreetly. Nothing that will get out."
A pause before; "Fine. Who was it." James demands.
I squeeze her hand when she hesitates, "Cohan White."
Then there's silence before talking that disappears. "God, why didn't you tell us about this when it happened?" Cecilia.
She sniffles, "Because I just wanted to pretend it never happened but then I couldn't."
I hear sniffling on the line, "Is that why you were sick for those weeks?"
"Yeah." Katherine's voice breaks.
"Oh, honey."
"I'm sorry, mom." A chocked sob breaks from Katherine then Cecilia. I pull Katherine into my arms.
"Do not be sorry, Katherine. Not for this."
I wipe the tears streaming from her eyes.
"Where's dad?"
A pause, "He's talking to David right now."
Katherine nods, "Right now?"
"He's going to talk to the dean."
Katherine wipes at her eyes this time, "Okay." She whispers.
There's silence before, "Are you able to come to New York?"
Katherine smiles weakly, "You know I can't mom. I'll be there for thanksgiving."
A laugh that turns into a sob, "I know."
Katherine hesitates, "I have to go mom, it's getting late but, can you have dad call me tomorrow."
"Yeah, of course. I love you Katherine."
A smile from Katherine, "I love you too, mom."
Katherine hangs up like she's in a trance and when she turns to me there are unshed tears in her eyes.
I kiss her on the lips lightly, "You did good, baby."
"Can I stay here again?" She asks as if she's afraid I'll say no.
"Of course you can."
She shakes her head, "God. I've cried too much." She mutters.
I furrow my brows, "What do you mean?"
She looks up, "Me and Lexi have this thing together. We don't let ourselves cry more then once a year. Because then we don't stop." She whispers the last part.
I pull her against me as I lay against the headboard, "Considering what you went through I think you should cut yourself some slack." I start running my hand up and down her spine, the way I know makes her body relax.
She just laughs.
"What book are you reading right now?"
I look over to my beside table and pick up my half read book. "Indigo Ridge."
She grabs it and looks at the front, "What's it about?"
"You could just read the back of the book."
She smiles, "But I want you to talk about your books. Reading the back isn't like how you'd explain it."
That explanation does something to my chest. Same feeling that's been happening since I've met her.
So I do. I explain to her what Indigo Ridge is about and then she falls asleep while I read.