"You wanna explain this to me?" George asked the next morning as Kat entered his kitchen. She didn't say anything, she just sat at his kitchen table and covered her face with her hands.
"Okay. Don't then." He was slightly agitated by her and her reactions. He just wanted to know what was going on.
He sat in the chair opposite her and stared at her while she stared at the table. He wondered what could have set her off so much.
"I told him I was in love with him." She whispered. He didn't say anything for a second, his eyes just widened further and further.
"What did he say?" He finally asked, Kat just shook her head.
"That if I had told him that a few months ago he would've felt the same way." George let out an audible sigh and rubbed his forehead harshly.
"Oh, Matty" he sighed. George didn't believe Matty for one second.
"I made a right tit out of myself." She sighed, he nodded and rested his head in his hands.
"Well, you kind of took everything out on Alice." He reminded her, she let out a moan.
"Ugh, I know I shouldn't have yelled at her but she called me an alcoholic." She bit her lip, reliving the argument over and over again.
Ross had texted George when they had reached home to ask where they had gone and then another one, later on, to say that Matty had slept in a different tent to Alice and was in a foul mood.
"You should probably apologise; even if you don't mean it." He shrugged. "Just to make things not awkward between you." He advised. She nodded.
"Yeah, I can't be ass ed for drama." She rubbed her face. "But it's always going to be awkward with Matty now isn't it?" She sighed. "I've lost him, haven't I?" Her eyes were sad, he shook his head.
"I really doubt it. Matty cares too much about you to let you get away."
"Hello? Anyone home?" Alice's screechy little voice entered the room. They heard the muffled curse words come from the hall and low mumbles which indicated that the boys were home. "Ah, Kat. You look better. Do you wanna have a chat?" She was too perky. Kat was waiting for Matty to walk in but the sounds of many footsteps travelling up the stairs made her realise he wasn't coming.
"Yeah, I need a fag anyway. Let's go outside." George took out a cigarette and passed it to one "You want one?" She offered to Alice. Alice's face looked a sight, she couldn't believe how cool Kat was acting. For once, Alice thought she had the upper hand on her.
"No thanks." She said quietly before following her outside into the cold. Kat lit her cigarette and leant against the wall.
"I'm sorry; by the way." Kat started, Alice's eyes widened at her candour. "About yelling at you yesterday" She finished, placing the cigarette in her mouth and blowing out smoke.
"It's okay. I know it wasn't me. Matty explained about the guy you've been seeing and how he broke up with you over the phone" Kat started to cough loudly as she heard the absolute bullshit that came out of her mouth.
"I mean yeah" She played along, "But you insinuating that I was an alcoholic didn't really help" She pointed out. Alice squeezed her eyes shut.
"Oh, I am so sorry about that. I was so insensitive. I had a boyfriend a couple of years ago who was an alcoholic and oh my, I wouldn't wish that on anyone. The way it affected him and his whole family; not to mention our relationship" She expressed. Kat stared at her.
"Your ex was an alcoholic?" She asked, her voice laced with pity. Alice nodded. "I'm sorry. That must've been so emotionally draining" she put the cigarette back in her mouth and watched Alice be unphased by it.
"Yeah, but I helped him through it. It was a long and hard journey but now he's one of my good friends and he's sober" Kat couldn't believe what she was hearing. "God has his ways" She laughed to herself.
"It's cold" Kat shivered, throwing her cigarette butt on the floor and stamping on it. "We should go inside" Alice agreed and they walked back into the kitchen through the back door.
"I'm going to make breakfast! Who wants bacon?" Alice beamed. Ross and Adam were now at the table with George. They all cheered.
"I'm gonna grab my stuff. I have to work at noon" Kat told them, George opened his arms and she allowed him to wrap his arms around her waist while she rested her head on the top of his.
"I'll come round later if you want" She suggested, he grinned and nodded.
"Or I could come to yours" He suggested, she rolled her eyes.
"Fine, whatever" She agreed before turning to Ross. "Did Tammy go back to mine?" she asked, he nodded. "Cool. See you guys later"
Kat jogged up the stairs and opened the door to George's room. In there, she found Matty sat on the bed as if he was waiting for something.
"Kat." He smiled weakly as she walked in.
"Oh, hey" She smiled back. "I have to get going" She informed him, starting to gather her stuff.
"Oh, wait, can I talk to you for a second?" He asked as she sighed. She was not in the mood for this and the things that Alice had just told her made her mad at him
"Why? So you can tell me how sorry you are that my boyfriend broke up with me? You know what Matty? I'm sorry that I told you what I did because you have a loving caring soul saving girlfriend that loves you and would do anything for you." She ranted, Matty sighed and rubbed his face in the same way she had been doing all morning.
"Alice told you" He assumed, she nodded. "I'm sorry Kat, I didn't know what else to say. It's not like I could tell her that you told me you loved me and then proceed to thump me multiple times" He stood up from the bed with passion. Kat scoffed.
"Matty, I can't believe you. All you do is lie to this girl. Did you even know that she had an ex who was an alcoholic? You just assume because of your narrow mind that she's not going to understand anything you're going through." She was close to shouting but didn't want anyone downstairs to hear.
"You're so confusing!" He burst. "One minute you're like oh Matty I love you" He mocked her voice and she gasped.
"I do not sound like that!" She shouted now but he continued.
"The next minute you're like why are you so mean to Alice, she's so perfect. What do you want Kat?" He reached out to grab her so she darted backwards.
"It doesn't matter what I want. It's what you want and I know for a fact that you don't know what you want so when you find the dignity inside of you to reach into the cold heart of yours and figure out what it wants; let me know" She spat, collecting her stuff quickly. "Stop lying to your girlfriend!" She yelled before slamming the door and running out of the house.
She made her way home to find Tammy in a conversation with Angie.
"God, must you be here every day?" she burst at the sight of her sister, Tammy jumped at the sound of her voice and relief spread across her face.
"Are you okay? George filled in Ross, who filled me in. I thought you had run away or something" She attacked her in a hug which Kat received graciously.
"I'm a mess. I've lost Matty completely, I have no idea where I stand with anyone anymore and I have to go to work in a couple of hours" She expressed. Tammy squeezed her tightly.
"Matty's a prick" Angie's voice cut in. "I don't understand why you want him" she shrugged.
"Well no one asked you Angie." Kat snapped at her. She raised her hands in defence.
"It doesn't matter. I'm going out, see you later." She shrugged.
"George is coming round later." She announced, Angie's eyes lit up before moving to the floor as she scuttled away.
"You okay hun?" Tammy asked once they were alone. Kat nodded.
"I just want to get over Matty. I wish I had never met him." She sighed, Tammy pouted.
"Oh honey, no you don't." Kat shook her head.
"I don't." She agreed.
"It's okay. We just have to move on. When you come home; me, you, George and Angie can have a wine and movie night." She suggested, Kat nodded.
"Ugh. I used to be so fierce. Now look at me; I'm having meltdowns in public." She cried, Tammy giggled.
"It's okay. You'll be back to your old self in no time." She supported. "Did you slap him?" She asked.
"No but I really wanted to." She admitted.
"You're losing your spark." She gasped, Kat giggled and pushed her away.