Fated by chance (AU)
Chapter one: Random Events
'Katie, you're breaking my heart...' Tom's aching words drew tears from her eyes.
'I'm sorry Tom...'
'I just, I don't understand...why now? Why are you leaving now?'
Kate fought back tears, 'Tom, I...' she couldn't bring herself to say it, she couldn't bring herself to tell him she wasn't in love with him.
'Tom, please...just let me go.'
Tom shook his head, 'no, Kate, we've been together and apart so many times...but you always come back to me, I'm not gonna let you make a mistake and go-'
'This is not a mistake. We're over...' her cold tone softened the moment her eyes locked with his again, his warm brown eyes looked wounded. Then something inside him changed.
'Go. Leave, I'm not gonna try to stop you...' he shook his head, he was mad at her, but he was angrier at himself for letting himself care, 'you know what Kate? ' Kate looked at him, 'you always do this...you're so...convinced that you're not good enough for me, you're so certain that you're not capable of being in love-'
'Tom-stop it-' she pleaded, but he continued.
'You're not LIKE HIM Katie-' his patience had left him as he fumed, 'WHY can't you see that?!'
Kate turned away and headed for the front door, how could Tom bring Wayne into this?
She reached for the door knob as Tom gave her one final ultimatum, 'If you leave now, if you run from this...then I'm wrong about you.' He sighed, he knew that she had stood trial for her father's murder, but he also wanted to believe she wasn't guilty. 'You're a good person...'
She let his words sink in, he watched her pause, his heart leapt in his chest, maybe there was hope. Maybe she was strong enough to face her feelings. Kate felt a tear stream down her cheek, she had murdered Wayne in cold blood. She had lied to a court of people and gotten away with what she had done, but whenever she looked at Tom, whenever she tried to remind herself of how she felt about him. She couldn't. She didn't want to think of Tom, or Wayne, or anything from her past, now that her name had been cleared, she just wanted to run away.
'No I'm not.' She whispered as she opened the door and walked out on Tom.
'Katie...' he said softly, his heart sunk in his chest as he watched the empty doorway.
Elsewhere:
Margo stared at Jack, Jack shook his head, smiling sadly, 'No Mom, I won't go...I won't bring him back. This is his mess, he can clean it up.'
Margo looked stunned, 'what's happened to you Jack? This is your FATHER we're talking about-'
'Yeah,' Jack nodded angrily, 'this is MY father we're talking about, the same father who used to force me to be someone I wasn't, the same father, who used to come home drunk and break your heart mom, so yeah, if that's who you're talking about...he is my father. He can fix this himself.'
'What has gotten into you?' she demanded, Jack shook his head, laughing softly, she was exasperating.
He gave her a tired look, 'I'm done...with dad and his mind games, and his drinking problems...he's a hypocrite mom, and we both know it. He's done nothing but hurt us both, and I'm glad he's gone. I hope he never comes back.'
With that, Jack walked out of the Shepherd manor, he needed a drink.
An hour later:
Jack walked into the club, his head throbbed as he reached the bar, he frowned at the random strangers dancing and laughing, he wished he could be like them and just let go...Just turn his back on life and reality, just for one night...
On the other hand, he did enjoy being able to come here to hide, it amused him that he could hide in plain sight, he could just become nobody in a club and forget his issues...After this he'd probably head over to his new apartment and unpack, if he was sober enough...screw his parents, screw Sarah, he needed a drink.
He raised a hand, calling the bar tender over.
Kate walked into the bar, her heart stung in her chest, not because it was broken, but because it felt guilty. Tom wasn't the first guy she'd crushed because she'd given up trying to be in love with him, or giving up trying to be good enough for them. The more thought she gave it, the more she agreed that she was better of alone, her mother was right. People like her and Wayne were better off alone. She glanced at the crowd of people dancing and joking as techno music blasted throughout the club, she found herself almost grateful that she wasn't like them. She didn't need people in her life. She felt so frustrated with herself, and her emotions right now, she just needed to be okay with herself, she needed to know that she was the one who was in control of her heart . She needed to prove Tom wrong, she needed to show him she wasn't in love with him. She needed a drink.
Two hours later:
Jack stared at the several empty glasses infront of him as he chugged down his last drink, he closed his eyes for a moment, and rubbed his hands over his face, he felt a pair of eyes on him.
Glancing up, he saw a stunning brunette sitting a few stools away, just like him, she had been drinking for a while by the looks of the empty glasses infront of her. She broke into a playful smile as his eyes met hers.
Kate straightened slightly as the cute guy approached her, his soulful eyes had her full attention, there was a soft smile on his lips. She studied him, why not, she thought...she planned on leaving town anyway...
'Hey,' he said, 'can I get you a drink?'
Kate smiled at him as he casually sat besides her, 'I think we've both had enough to drink...' she replied. He suddenly turned to face her, his eyes searching hers, Kate found her heart pounding in her chest, why did she feel so nervous? And why did he look so sincere? He was thinking as he studied her, after a moment, he furrowed his brow in a way that Kate found surprisingly adorable, 'Good point.' He nodded, he looked to the bar tender, 'put her drinks on my tab...'
Kate frowned, surprised by the kind gesture, 'Thanks...' she looked at him for a moment as their eyes locked, was he just trying to get her into bed?
Jack smiled at her, nodding politely, 'you're welcome, have a good night...'
Kate suddenly sat up, have a good night?! He WASN'T trying to get her into bed?
'That's it?' she asked blankly.
Jack shrugged, 'You're stunning, I'm sure there're plenty of guys here who're better catches than me...'
Kate stared at him, kind AND modest? What was he doing in a club? She watched the handsome stranger pull on his leather jacket, Kate noted that it was leather-and this guy therefore couldn't be THAT much of a goody-goody...
'Wait, I'll walk with you...' she said, Jack frowned, 'But I'm fine,' he said defensively as he stumbled into a bar stool. He smiled sheepishly, for the first time in weeks, Kate felt her lips smiling, she laughed softly, linking her arm with his, 'come on...' she said as she marvelled at the idea of a man not trying to get into her pants, she couldn't help but smile alittle more as she realised it made her want him even more.
They walked in an awkward silence, neither of them knew what to say. Jack glanced at her, god, she was beautiful, what was she doing with him. If she knew what kind of a guy she was, if she knew how messed up he was, she'd run a mile. He stumbled again, she reached out and caught his hand, pulling him to her, he smiled as he looked down at her, she suddenly seemed flustered as his hands rested at her waist. He quickly pulled them away, 'thanks...'
'You're welcome.' Kate replied, he looked away from her and set his eyes on the road infront of him, Kate realised what it was that was so different about him when compared to any other guy she had met. He looked her in the eyes. It was as if he saw her, not her body.
'It's on the top floor, I can go from here...thanks, Miss...Mrs...-?'
Kate smiled slightly, he was so busted, he wanted to know if she was single.
'It's Miss...I'll take you to your apartment...'
Jack didn't bother arguing, he knew he had a better chance of waking up in his apartment if he let her take him.
'I can go alone though, just so you know.'
Kate grinned at him, 'Did I wound your ego?'
Jack grinned at her, Kate felt a tug at her lips, he managed to draw another smile out of her. How was he doing this?
Jack's apartment:
Jack pushed open the door, Kate's eyes drifted over the several boxes in the apartment, 'going somewhere?' she asked.
'No,' he said as he pulled off his jacket, 'Moving in...just got myself dumped...'
Kate studied him, 'ouch...' so THAT'S why he was drinking tonight...
Jack nodded as Kate smiled, 'If it makes you feel better,' she offered, 'I was drinking away my troubles too...'
'Did you succeed?'
Kate smiled sadly, his expression changed as he saw the sadness in her eyes, Kate shook it off, what was she doing?! What was wrong with her? This was a complete stranger and she was actually opening upto him??
'Do you ever decide...that, life would be so much easier without people...and-'
'Feelings.' She finished his sentence. He stared at her for a moment, 'yeah,' she nodded.
'I do.'
Jack walked towards her, Kate gazed at him, any defences she had seemed to have melted away, it must have been the alcohol, she wasn't in the mood to fight her heart tonight, she would do what she wanted to. And right now, for some unfathomable reason, she wanted him.
Jack brushed past her as he reached for his phone, 'want me to call you a cab?' Kate felt her heart pound in her chest as the warmth from his body was detected by hers as he brushed against her. Why was she so nervous? She could do what she wanted to, she was leaving town tomorrow.
'Sometimes, some of us are meant to be alone I guess...' he was saying, but Kate wasn't listening, on instinct, Kate leaned up against him, kissing him hungrily.
He didn't hesitate as he pulled her into his arms kissing her passionately, she grabbed his collar and pulled him closer as the kiss deepened, Jack's hands drifted to her waist as they fell onto a box, they pulled away, his forehead was pressed against hers as they tried to catch their breaths, Kate let out a small giggle as he stared at her, looking stunned.
On seeing her playful response, he broke into an intrigued smile, leaning in again, he kissed her deeply as she led him into an other room, hoping it was the bedroom.
Jack pushed open the bedroom door as she refused to pull out of the kiss, not wanting the moment to end, the sensation of adrenaline and heat between them was driving her crazy, he pushed her down onto the bed as she cupped his face, kissing him with greater passion than before.
For now, their problems seemed miles away.
End chapter one: