Too late for Friendship.
Summary: After hitting Cathy during Lockwood's visit, Hareton makes attempts at friendship.
Characters: Catherine Linton, Hareton Earnshaw
A/N: Cathy and Hareton's relationship is always slightly ignored by the intensity of Cathy and Heathcliff's, but as a Team Hareton girl, I thought I'd write this little piece for them.
Hareton stood outside Cathy's room, his face and shoulders stiff as he tried to gather enough courage to knock on her door.
He'd hit her, without ever wanting to. There was something so intriguing yet sad about her that he couldn't help but want to get to know and understand. But she'd pushed him too far and now he'd lost any hope he'd ever had of ever really being her friend.
But still he wanted to try.
He nervously raised a hand and quickly rapped on the door.
'Go away!' came Cathy's shrill automatic reply.
'Let me in.' Hareton said, pushing on the doorknob only to find it locked.
'You!' Cathy's furious voice exclaimed. 'Leave me alone.'
'Look, I'm sorry.' Hareton grumbled, any hope at charming Cathy into forgiveness now dashed as he heard the rough, uneducated sound of his own voice that Cathy had so many times teased. He winced. 'I'm sorry I hit you. It was wrong. I won't do it again.'
'Ha!' came Cathy's unbelieving reply. 'That's what they always say!'
Hareton stared at the door in shocked silence before he forced himself to speak.
'Has someone else hit you?'
'Leave me alone!' He heard Cathy sob, not dramatically for attention as was usual for her, but softly and quietly as though she didn't know how to stop.
'Did Linton used to hit you?' he persisted, his voice cracking.
'Go away!' Cathy screamed, this time unlocking the door and screaming into his face. 'You are no better than he was.' She raged, tears streaming down her face, a purpling bruise just visible on her lip. 'He wanted me to do exactly what he wanted. He didn't care about me at all. You are no better than he was!'
The door slammed shut in his face, the hurt, red and swollen face of Catherine Linton once again shut away from view.
'I wanted to help you.' Hareton growled through the door in annoyance at her words, 'I wanted to be your friend, but your damn mockin' pride ruined that, not me!'
With this Hareton pushed himself away from her room and stomped down the stairs to the kitchen cursing colourfully along the way.
It was far too late for friendship.
A/N Constructive criticism or any reviews in general would be greatly appreciated.
