I am trying to make the chapters longer each time so if they lag a little bit in the middle please let me know. And I sincerely apologize for that!!! Anyway once again bless all of you for taking the time to read this and I hope you enjoy.
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Chapter 12:
Katherine
She left before Gabriel woke up. She didn’t want to talk to him, she didn’t know why but there was too much that she was unsure about at the moment.
Getting in her trusty car, she’d picked up breakfast at the local cafe and sat in the school parking lot until it opened. She sat there, eating her bagel and drinking her coffee. Sitting there in silence; no radio or headphones in. Just the blissful silence of the morning.
This was the plan for the day, survive. She was single now, there would be no one to greet her with a charming grin, and no one would swoop in and pull her into a surprise hug or kiss her softly on the cheek. No more of that was going to happen and she had to breathe and accept it.
Finishing her bagel she took a deep breath and got out of her car, locking it and striding confidently towards the school.
Hopefully Emilie would already be here to comfort her. It was a touch and go situation though since Emilie didn’t always get there on time. She liked to sleep in a lot. She was almost always late for early morning cheer practices.
Luckily those were over for the year. Since school was done in about two weeks and they were all graduating this year.
It was all over.
She reached the school and walked into the building, heading straight for her locker. It was the closest to the library and she was happy for that. She put some books away and put others back inside before walking into the quiet room.
There were a few students in the chairs and studying in front of the few computers that were held in the library. Katherine sat in her usual spot near the back in the on the plush chairs. No one could see her from here. There were a few bookcases that blocked off the view from the front, it gave her a nice privacy from the world. A little space all to herself.
She took a random book off one of the shelves in front of her and opened it up. She began reading it, not knowing the story line or who the author was. It was about a war, not one that she knew about just one that someone had creatively invented.
It was a good book to take her mind off her troubles and teach her about something new. Tell her a story she’d never heard a million times before. Experience new ways of thinking.
That’s why she loved books so much, they gave her a new perspective on the world every time. Every time there was a new character that was learning a new skill. And sometimes that skill would be one she needed at that moment and she would learn from it and take away tips that the character learned.
In a way, it was her form of meditation.
Checking her phone she saw she one new message from Emilie. It was asking her where she was.
She quickly told her and then went back to the novel.
Emilie found her about five minutes later. She knew Katherine’s hideaway spot and whenever she asked where she was she almost always already knew where it was she needed to go.
“There you are. I was wondering where you had disappeared to...” Emilie paused and stared at her friend for a few moments “Is everything okay? Why aren’t you with Tom? I saw him downstairs with Kayla.”
Katherine gave a bitter laugh, of course. That was the reason. He’d found someone better and had dumped Katherine like a sack of bricks “Me and Tom broke up.”
Emilie was by her side instantly “No way! Are you okay? What happened?”
Katherine shook her head “He told me it wasn’t working anymore, that we were keeping secrets and that didn’t work. Whatever that means.” She tossed her hands up in defeat her eyes slightly tearing up “I don’t know what I did wrong Em. Maybe I need to start thinking about letting other people know about my life?”
“It would prepare them more. I mean, I know I am afraid of the dark more now but I at least I know how to take care of the creatures in the night.” Emilie said with a small smile.
“Yeah, but aren’t some people better off thinking the world is a happy go lucky place?” Katherine said with a sniffle.
“Then those aren’t the people who you should surround yourself with. You want people who will support you and believe in you. No matter what you say.” Emilie said, placing a hand on Katherine’s shoulder.
Looking up at her friend she gave a thankful smile “You truly are the best friend anyone could ever have Emilie.”
“I’m glad you think so.” She replied “Because I am the best one you are going to get. I am a very possessive friend.” She said with a wink.
Katherine giggled “I’m okay with that.”
Emilie grinned and sat next to Katherine on the chair, it was a little squished but Katherine didn’t mind. It was nice to act like they were children again, not have any worries or cares about what the future may bring. Just sit and laugh at their past mistakes and inside jokes.
The bell rang, signalling that school had begun and from this point on their private lives were over for about six hours.
The two of them walked together to their first class and Katherine avoided Tom’s gaze as he passed them in the hallway. He didn’t try and talk to her either. She didn’t know if it made her relieved or just sadder.
It was truly over and there was nothing she could do about it.
“You okay?” Emilie asked as they entered the classroom and she noticed Katherine’s sad face.
Katherine gave a small shrug “Not yet, but I will be. It will take time I guess.”
The rest of the day was the same as any other day. She travelled to each class slowly and sadly, not saying hello to anyone. Just taking her time and not caring. If someone had asked what they had learned in each class that day, she couldn’t tell them. She was hardly paying attention to learn anything.
Leaving the school at the end of the day, she trudged back to her car and climbed in the front seat. She sat there staring ahead. Suddenly she felt numb, emotionless. As if nothing in the world mattered anymore. Her eyes began to sting and then there were tears falling down them. She didn’t notice until one fell and hit her hand.
Glancing down at it she felt unconnected. Like the hand she was looking at, wasn’t really her hand at all, just an object that was sitting on her lap.
“You look well.” A voice commented suddenly beside her.
Looking over Katherine heaved a sigh of relief at seeing it was just Gabriel. “I feel fine.”
He nodded, “I can see that.” He obviously didn’t believe her and she was actually grateful for that. “How are you really Katherine? Don’t you dare lie to me.”
She lost it, for the first time since it had happened. Her eyes filled with tears and she felt sobs rack her chest.
Gabriel didn’t say anything, he simply pulled her close to him and let her cry. She sobbed into his chest, pressing her face into the fabric of his shirt. Her arms wrapped around his neck and she felt his hands press against her back.
“Shhh, it’s okay. It’ll be okay.” He said, running his hands along her back comfortingly. “You deserve better than him anyway.”
Katherine shook her head “No, he was the best boyfriend ever.”
“Werewolf boyfriend.” Gabriel said with an apologetic expression in his voice.
She turned her head and looked up at him “What?”
“Tom’s a werewolf, his whole family is.”
Katherine stared at him in horror, her boyfriend had been a werewolf? This whole time and she hadn’t noticed? It did explain how he got violent sometimes, moody around the same time of the month… How had she never realized this before? It was so obvious now!
“He’s a werewolf?”
“Yup, I looked it up today and then questioned him just now. You were dating a dog.”
Despite the situation she was in, she couldn’t help but laugh. It was such a joke. She chocked on her giggle and said “You are so bad!”
Gabriel grinned stroking her hair again “At least I made you smile.”
Katherine blinked and let her head back down on his chest. What was going on? She should have pulled away there! It was too soon for her to...for her to what?
With that in mind she gently pulled away, running a hand quickly down her hair and smiling over at the angel. “Thank you, for the millionth time.”
“And you’re welcome, for the millionth time.” He replied still grinning.
Still smiling, she turned on the car and began to drive out of the parking lot. It was quick drive back to the house; she was looking forward to getting home and curling into a ball.
Gabriel seemed to have other plans. When they arrived into town he looked at her and after a moment said “Park over here. We are going to do something fun.”
Katherine shook her head “No, please I just want to go home.”
“Nope, we are going. Park the car little Hunter. Let’s be on our way.”
Knowing it was pointless to argue she pulled the car over and got out with him. They walked up the street toward the diner.
“No, no! I can’t go in there!” She protested stopping and staring fearfully.
“This is why we are doing this. You shouldn’t be afraid. You are a damn hunter and could kill him with a flick of your wrist. Plus I will be right there with you.” Gabriel said; reaching for her hand and pulling her up beside him.
“That’s not reassuring! Everyone is going to think I am some slut who likes older guys!” Katherine protested looking at the ground.
Gabriel gave a small laugh “You humans are so funny. Come on, I know you’re hungry.”
He was right, as always. She hadn’t had a big lunch and could now smell the delicious smell of the burgers, fries and nachos. Her mouth began to water and she looked up at Gabriel with anger and longing.
He smiled at her and gave her hand a tight squeeze, “Come on little hunter. Let’s go eat.”
I nodded, a little too eagerly and followed him inside.
The diner was basically empty, all the kids still being at the school. Gabriel must’ve known he seemed to know absolutely everything.
The chose a booth near the back, but nowhere near where she had been with Tom the night before. A waitress named Sharon came over to take our orders. She looked at Katherine and then to Gabriel.
Katherine knew what was going through her brain. She knew Katherine had been dating Tom and now, seeing her with this guy her mind went to the place Katherine had figured it would. The way all of them would now.
Sighing she said “I’ll have some nachos and an ice tea.”
Gabriel smiled charmingly and said “A burger and ice tea as well please.”
Sharon nodded, writing it down on her pad. She walked away back to the kitchen.
Katherine looked over at Gabriel and said “See? That’s all the looks we are going to get when people see us together now!”
Gabriel raised an eyebrow, “What looks? The confusion you mean?”
“No! The judging, the look of judgement! I just broke up with my boyfriend and here I am with a guy in a diner. People talk, especially in a small town.” She said quietly, making a small gesture toward the kitchen and the windows.
“It won’t matter soon! You will be out here soon and it won’t matter anymore.” Gabriel said with a grin, “Trust me Kat, it doesn’t matter what these people think. They don’t decide your life.”
She blinked at the nickname. Kat... She’d never had that nickname before and she really liked it. “I guess you’re right... I mean I can’t help but care. I’ve lived here my whole life. I know everyone here and everyone knows me too.”
“I know, I know.” He said, reaching out and taking her hand “Not for much longer though. I promise.”
Katherine smirked, “You are sure making me a lot of promises.”
“Don’t worry about that. I am good at keeping them. You don’t need to worry.”
“I’m not.”
“Good, now shall we enjoy our food?”
“Yes.”
While they ate Gabriel teased her with his food; tossing fries at her and stealing her nachos from time to time. She would pretend to be upset, but really she loved the fact that he could act so normal at such a non-normal time.
After they ate, he paid (she didn’t know where he’d gotten the money and didn’t bother to ask) and he led her down the street to the movie theater. It was only around four and she didn’t know what else he had planned.
“What are we doing next?”
“Well I thought it would be obvious... We’re walking into a move theater.” He said with a dramatic sweep of his arm.
Katherine rolled her eyes “Okay, you know what I mean!”
“I am taking you to a movie, that’s all.” He said with a laugh.
Still not sure what was going on, she walked in with him and he paid for some action packed movie that had recently come to their small town. They got a bag of popcorn to share and each a pop. As they went to find some seats she sipped her coke quietly. They sat almost completely at the back, all the other people were in the middle or the front.
“We won’t be bothered back here.” He whispered, taking the seat beside her.
“I hope you’re right.” She whispered back.
He gave her a sassy smile “I thought we’d already established I am always right?”
Katherine could only giggle.
The previews went on for a few minutes before the movie started. It was one of those guy flicks. With a lot of explosions and loud noises. Even with the life she lived she still found it to be one of the most enjoyable movies she’d seen in awhile.
When it ended Gabriel stood up and stretched into the air like a cat. She stood up beside him with a grin. There was just something about this angel, something that made her heart pound the way Tom never had. It was new and exciting. But she didn’t understand it either, there was a fear that welled inside her as well as joy.
Her emotions were one tangled mess and she didn’t know what to do with them.
“Kat? Earth to Kat!” Gabriel’s voice broke into her thoughts.
Looking over at her angel she blinked “Sorry, I was lost in thought.”
“I could tell, care to share what you were thinking about?”
“Nothing important.” She whispered, her cheeks going a little pink.
Gabriel raised an amused eyebrow at her and then turned and walked down the steps out of the theater with Katherine following close behind.
They exited into the warm air of six thirty.
“Where to next?” She asked breathing in the air and smiling.
“Where do you want to go? I can take you anywhere Katherine.” He said, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
Staring into his golden eyes she said softly “Can we just go walk in the forest?”
“Of course, whatever you want.”
She grinned “Great, let’s be on our way then!”
Taking his hand she sprinted down the street to the entrance of her favourite trail. They walked in and the trees took away the fading sunlight instantly. It was still bright enough to see where they were going, but dark enough that no one from the street would see them.
It was a little cooler under the canopy of the green trees, but Katherine didn’t mind. She listened to the few birds twittering at each other and the crunch her feet made on the twigs under her shoes. Everything was so green at this time of year and she grinned as a squirrel scurried up a tree beside her.
Gabriel kept her hand in his, giving hers a small squeeze every once in awhile. It was comforting to know that he was there. She wouldn’t have minded if she’d been alone but having someone with you to enjoy the beauty was always better.
They came to a small clearing where there were small flowers growing in a pasture of bright green grass. The path stopped at the meadow and Katherine leaped forward into it, dragging Gabriel in with her. He made a small grunt as she lurching him forward.
Letting go of his hand she began to twirl around in the flowers. Her hair flying out around her in a sea of red. She spun and spun until she lost her balance a little and tripped over her own feet.
Feeling herself fall through air she went to catch herself and felt strong arms around her. She looked up into the smiling face of Gabriel. He stood there with a curious smile on his face. Not quite happy but it wasn’t sad either. He looked a little... Confused.
“What’s wrong?”
“Everything about you is just... So... Perfect.” He finally came out with.
Katherine blushed “Stop it, Gabriel stop.”
He laughed “Sorry for telling the truth here Kat but jeez. You remind me of someone I used to know.”
“And who might that be?”
“I think I know.” A familiar voice said coming from the edge of the meadow.
Katherine looked over and was horrified to see Lucifer standing there with a smug smile on his face.
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Voila! Stay tuned for the next chapter! :D Please rate and comment your thoughts at the bottom.