AN: Thank you so much everyone that took the time to review this story! I definitely wasn't expecting that big of a response…because of the complete AU-ness of the fic. So thank you, here's the next chapter, I hope it's somewhat decent. And I know that for some of you it was a little hard to adjust to Jack's character, I figured that at 18 he's still not sure about what he wants to do with his life, and Christian is still an authority figure that he hopes will one day just be happy with him. Well he's not that naive but yet he still hopes. Further along in the story I hope that Jack will be more comfortable to read, he'll start showing more signs of the good doctor he is now later on. Also if anyone has any questions feel free to ask away, because I know AU fics can be confusing at times. Once again thank you for reviewing:)

Chapter 2- Ballad for the Lonely

Jack stood in silence as he watched her. He wanted to go over and help her any way he could. Kate was turned around so all Jack could see was her back rising up and down slowly as she breathed. Jack closed the lid on the washing machine and took a step in Kate's direction. They were strangers. The only time he actually got eye-contact from her was when he let her in Amherst Hall earlier, and when he revealed that he knew they were on the same floor. Jack's eyebrows furrowed low over his eyes. She probably wouldn't approve of him trying to offer his help, after all who was he to her? The boy that babysat her ground beef that was pretty much it.

Jack swallowed. It was hard for him to walk away from anything. He almost resented the fact that he cared so much about someone that he didn't even know. There was no way he could just walk out of the laundry room without trying to help in some way. Jack opened his mouth but he had no idea what to say. The room was unbearably quiet. He had to do something. Jack had been around his share of drunk girls to know the difference between 'an alcohol induced emotional fit' and the real thing. Kate wasn't drunk. She was deeply bothered by something.

Jack took another step in Kate's direction but then he stopped again. At this rate she would leave before he could even attempt to help her. Jack gazed around the laundry room. Piles of clothes rested on top of washing machines and dryers, and a quarter machine was positioned next to the sink with a napkin dispenser beside it. He walked over to the sink and grabbed some napkins.

Kate was a stranger but this wasn't the first time he noticed her. There was something about Kate that caught his attention. Not just the fact that she was beautiful, but there was something mysterious and reserved about her nature. Jack had never shared any of this with Mark, even though they were best-friends there were some things better left unsaid. Jack couldn't even understand it himself.

He felt the need to put on some pants and a shirt before he approached her. Jack didn't want Kate to leave at least not until he showed her that he cared. He had observed her long enough to know that there was something slightly tragic about her, but yet he still wanted to know her.

His cheeks flushed with warmth as he got close enough to touch her. Jack hesitated before extending his arm outwards. "Tissue?" He asked hesitantly.

Kate remained with her back facing him.

Jack felt like an idiot. She probably didn't want to be bothered and here he was bothering her. He watched as her hand slid from the door and then dropped to her sides. Jack stepped back as Kate slowly turned around. She was beautiful but he had realized that a long time ago. He was at a loss for words. Jack couldn't imagine why a girl as gorgeous as Kate was so sad. The only time that he saw her smile was in the lounge a couple of minutes ago. She had a beautiful smile that was beyond captivating.

Kate stared back at him as if he was intruding on her space. Her eyebrows were furrowed low, and her lips were fixed in a tight grimace. She stared at him for a while and then her eyes softened ever so slightly. Her cheeks were stained with tears, and her eyes were red rimmed. Kate stepped away from Jack pressing herself up against the door. "What do you want?"

Jack blinked once then twice. He was surprised by her reaction. All he wanted to do was help. Jack bowed his head and then looked down at the napkins. "I just thought that you could use these." He raised his hand and motioned the napkins in her direction.

Kate stared at the napkins in his hand. She seemed to be contemplating whether she should take them or not, but instead decided to cross her arms. Tears started to fall once again. "Thanks…but no thanks, I just kind of want to be alone."

Jack nodded in defeat. "Well I'll leave you alone then," He stepped aside her and grabbed his robe which was resting on the dryer closest to the door. Jack pulled it on, and then walked back in Kate's direction. She moved away from the door. Rejected twice in one day. Well that definitely didn't make him feel to good. Jack tried to keep his head up high as he took the stairs back up to the 5th floor.

She probably saw right through him. Jack never did have the best track record with women. His thoughts followed him back into his dorm. Mark was ready now. He looked back at Jack incredulously.

"Did you decide not to go to the party?"

Jack shrugged and then sat back down in his computer chair. He placed his hand against his cheek. Now he had two things to occupy his thoughts, dinner with the parents, and a disastrous run-in, with the only girl he thought he wanted to know in Haven. At least Amber wasn't in the room. Jack raised his head and turned around to face Mark. "No. I need to clear my mind so I'm going."

Mark nodded, "You do, so get dressed."

Jack wanted to tell Mark about Kate but then again it hurt too much, and he knew that Mark wouldn't understand. Because he didn't quite get it himself. Who falls in love with someone that they don't know. Who does that? Jack felt disgusted and ashamed that he had put himself in that position. If he had seen anyone crying in the laundry room he probably would've helped because that was the kind of person he was, but with Kate she wasn't just any regular person. Jack winced as he flashed back to the way she looked at him as if he was crazy. They talked tonight for the first time but despite their first two run-ins, the night was going to end like this.

That hurt. It hurt a lot.

"Amber picked out something for you to wear," Mark chuckled as he pointed to a burgundy button down shirt and jeans, "She said something about you two color coordinating can you believe that?" He shook his head in disapproval, "Jack you gotta to kick her to the curb before she goes all psycho on you."

"She's not my girlfriend," Jack pointed out with an edge of anger in his voice.

"I know that, but she doesn't. Something's up are you still thinking about your dad?"

"Fuck him," Jack mumbled sitting down on the edge of his bed. He placed his arms on his legs and looked down at the floor. Did he disgust Kate that much? She seemed not to mind him when they were on the elevator, and talking in the lounge. Why did he care about this! "Mark have you ever fallen for a girl that you've never talked to?" He couldn't look at his best-friend as he asked.

Mark smiled, "If she has a sick body then sure,"

Jack looked up on the verge of irritation. "I'm talking about love love,"

"A random girl?" Mark shook his head. "You mean like that love in first sight crap?"

Jack scowled. His best-friend was going to think he was lunatic so he was going to keep his mouth shut. After all he was starting to think he was crazy himself.

He could have any girl he wanted on campus. Jack knew that because of the way girls looked at him with lust in their eyes. At parties random girls always tried to hook up with him, and get his number. They thought he was attractive and it boosted him esteem to know that they did….but Jack feared that there was nothing else good about him. It didn't seem like the girls that approached him wanted to get to know him, they just wanted to have his body for one night.

Maybe there was nothing special about him.

He was destined to live a meaningless life of caring about people that didn't care about him. Alone and miserable with this secret desire to save everyone else in order to hide the real person that needed to be saved…himself. Jack looked up at Mark who was now spraying on a load of cologne on. Jack would've made a joke about Mark's 'foul cologne' suffocating all the girls at the party with its potent scent of old man and dollar store aftershave. Jack wanted to laugh but he couldn't. Mark's antics weren't enough to bring him out of this funk.

"Jack, you love some random girl? Who is she some girl you met in the Commons, some hottie that sits behind you in your boring Coastal Systems class. Details dude,"

"She's no one."

"So you were joking right," Mark sprayed one last mist of cologne. "The girls are going to come to me in droves. Jack I will be getting lucky tonight." Mark pumped his hands in the air.

"I was joking," Jack said flatly.

The door opened and Amber strolled back in uninvited with company. Jack stood up and walked towards them. Jack figured that he would go to the Commons and play pool or video games, anything to distract him long enough until Amber left. Amber grabbed his arm on the way out.

"Jack where are you going?"

"I need some air," Jack sighed. He looked down at Amber's hand on his arm and she let go.

"I thought we were all going to the frat party." Amber replied holding her hands up in the air and doing a quick dance movement. When she noticed the dead serious expression on Jack's face she stopped.

"I changed my mind. You go ahead and maybe I'll see you there," Jack reached in his pocket to make sure that he had his wallet. Amber looked back at him in concern. The way she was looking at him made Jack angry. Amber didn't deserve the right to be concerned about him. Jack looked away. "Why are you wasting your time here with me?"

"What do you mean?" Amber stepped back. "Jack, you're barley a waste of time."

"What I meant to say is why are you here with me. There is nothing that I can give you that some other guy can't." When he was upset or feeling practically down Jack had a habit of loosing his cool, but he was determined to stay levelheaded at least now. He didn't want to hurt Amber but he needed his space. "I'm not your boyfriend."

Amber placed her hand to Jack's head, "Jack are you feeling okay?"

Jack stepped back and her hand fell, "No not really, and I don't feel like playing these games anymore." He watched as Amber's friends walked over to her. They linked their arms inside of hers' and then led her away. Jack didn't get a chance to say anything else. He leaned against the wall and stared at the floor in uncertainty.

Mark stepped outside with a beer in hand and gave it to Jack. "Man, you deserve this. See how easy that was"

Jack shook his head. "I just didn't want to feel like I was using her."

"If you didn't 'dump' her then I was going to have to do the job for you. She was so annoying." Mark stared after Amber and her friends, "Bye Amber!" With that he turned back to Jack with a wide smile. "Well now that Ms. Needy is gone let's find you another girl that's less prone to digging her claws into you and labeling you as her man."

"You have a date with the ladies Mark. I got a date with my car."

"Where are you going?"

"New York, Connecticut, the moon. At this point it doesn't really matter I just need some time to myself." Jack shrugged indifferently.

Before Jack could grab his keys off of the press Mark intercepted him.

"You're turning down ladies…Amber I could understand…but hot sorority girls just falling into your hands," Mark brought his hands together. "Sorority girls Jack, and not to mention you asked about falling in love with random girls that you've never spoke to. Friend to friend I'm a little concerned."

"I don't care," Jack groaned. He pushed past Mark and headed out of the door. His cell phone vibrated. It was in his robe. He was still wearing his robe? God, he was really out of it. Jack turned back around and walked back towards his dorm.

Mark was chugging down a generic beer. After he was finished he burped obnoxiously and then tossed the can into the trash. "You changed your mind bud?"

"No, I'm just changing my clothes,"

Mark nodded. He patted Jack on the back. "Whenever you want to tell me what's up you can, just to put the offer out there in the universe." Jack didn't even look at him so Mark retreated. "I hope you don't mind if I bring a girl back tonight," Mark turned to see if Jack would respond this time but since he didn't Mark just continued on.

Jack pulled off his robe and tossed it onto his bed. He still couldn't believe the run in he had with Kate. Jack put on the shirt Amber had picked out for him and buttoned it quickly. It was too cold out for shorts so he slid on a pair of jeans. Jack had no idea where he was going but as long as it was away from Haven, his parents, and Kate, then it was good.

Kate stood in the laundry room with her head resting against the door and her hands at her sides. She hadn't moved since Jack left. Her eyes slowly drifted to the spot where he had been standing in regret. Kate didn't mean to come off so cold to him. After all he was just offering to help, but he couldn't help her. No one could. Kate wished that she had treated him a little nicer. The look in his eyes after she told him that she wanted to be alone stuck with her. For some reason he looked shocked. Kate wasn't sure what Jack had been expecting, but the reaction that she had given him wasn't it. All it seemed to take was one look, barely any words, and she had ruined him for at least that second.

Kate didn't expect to have that affect on him. She didn't know much about Jack, but she did know that lots of girls liked him, and people looked up to him. He was admired and popular, so Kate only assumed that he was confident as well. How could she, a random girl that meant nothing to him have such an impact? She was truly sorry for shooting him down when he was just trying to help. Kate raised her head from the door and looked around once more. The sound of clothes whirling in dryers, and washing machines filling with water reminded her where she was. The laundry room in Amherst Hall, six dryers, and six washing machines, someone was bound to come in to wash their clothes.

Hopefully Tom was gone so she could go back to her room. Kate walked over to the napkin dispenser and grabbed some napkins. She placed them down and then splashed some cold water on her face. She wanted to apologize to Jack, but at the same time it was better for him to think that she was this monster. It was only the truth anyways. Kate gripped onto the edge of the sink and tried to steady herself with shaking arms. She felt weak and emotionally drained.

It was time to go back to her dorm. Kate exited the laundry room and took the elevator this time back to the 5th floor. Her stomach was twisting into knots and uneasiness clouded her subconscious. She wasn't sure what would happen if Tom was still in her room. Kate couldn't deal with him, because she felt betrayed, and besides her emotions were too raw. If Tom was still there she had no idea what she would do or say.

Kate just needed to be alone so she could reflect and find some way to piece herself together. It was going to be hard to erase Tom from her life but that was what she needed to do. It seemed like just yesterday when Tom had told her that he wanted to marry her. When he told her that Kate had laughed and told him she wasn't the marrying kind, but then Tom had repeated it.

"Katie, I want to marry you one day,"

Those were his exact words. Tom was about as good of a liar as she was. Kate placed her hand to the side of her face as she walked past Jack's dorm room. She turned her head to the side and looked at his door. His message board was filled with notes. Kate heard his room door open. Her eyes widened. She rushed past his room and walked towards her own which was three doors down on the opposite side.

He was shuffling with his keys. The door closed and then Kate heard him open the staircase doorway. At that moment she turned around and watched him with regret. He probably was a nice guy, but it was best that he didn't get involved in her tangled life. She did him a favor by not explaining to him the real reason why she had been crying.

Kate took out her keys and started to open her door but Tom beat her to it. She looked back at him speechlessly. Her heart was beating rapidly and she wasn't sure if she wanted to cry again or hit him. Kate waited for him to move and without saying a word she slipped back into her room.

"Katie…"

Kate held up her hand silencing him. He had no idea what he was doing to her. She hoped that if she ignored him long enough then he would get the message and just leave. Starting over didn't even seem like a possibility anymore. Iowa was behind her, and so were her parents, but yet she never expected to have to erase Tom out of her life as well. Kate searched for something to do, she couldn't just sit on her bed and watch television, because he would look at her and she would start crying, so her back had to stay to him at all times.

Kate wanted to believe that she was tough, because coming from the family that she did she had to be. She could fight back, and lie all she wanted too, but at the end of the day her ghosts still lingered. There wasn't anyone in this world that could save her from herself, at least not any longer. Kate glanced over her shoulder at Tom and then turned back around.

Tears stung her eyes as she reached for the book that she had to read for her English class. She would just go to the lounge and pretend to study Tom would leave her alone then, because he would have choice.

"Can you talk to me," He begged.

She didn't have anything to say to him. As Kate walked past Tom placed his hand on her shoulder. Kate stopped in her tracks she hadn't planned on being stopped by him. She stared ahead lifelessly as she waited for him to say something. It was in her best interest to keep walking after all there was nothing to say that could fix what he had broken.

"Don't shut me out…please," Tom said quietly.

He stood in front of her but Kate couldn't look at him. Tom placed his other hand on her shoulder and brought his face closer. "Please don't touch me," Kate said.

"Just because I called things off for now doesn't mean that…"

"It doesn't mean what Tom!" Kate screamed unexpectedly. She pushed Tom's hands away and stepped back. "There is nothing else to say so just go back to Brown,"

Tom stood there with his shoulders slumped and a defeated look on his face.

Kate couldn't understand what he was still doing there. He ripped her heart out of her chest, stomped on it, and laughed in her face, and now hanging around to see what she would do next? The reality was too painful. Kate couldn't recover with him still there. Tom approached her once more. He was really messing with her head.

Tears fell down Kate's cheeks once again. She no longer had any control. She was sobbing again, crying like a little baby all over the place. Through blurry eyes Kate could see Tom's pity…it wasn't love anymore, but pity. He pitied her. Kate turned away from Tom. "Just get out of my room!" Kate screamed.

"I'm not leaving, I can't leave you like this."

"Just get out!" Kate turned around and lashed out at Tom once more but he grabbed her arm. "Don't touch me!" She was irrational and on alert. Kate had to protect herself from the world and now from him as well. There was no where safe haven to run to any longer, and no one to hold her…she had to be strong enough for herself.

"Kate!" Tom begged. He struggled with her but she was strong.

Kate struggled to make Tom let her go, she didn't want him to touch her, or look at her. She just wanted him out. He didn't love her anymore…maybe he never did. She just wanted him out! Kate cried as Tom tried to hug her as if all it took was one hug to fix this. "I'm not your problem anymore,"

"You were never my problem Kate," Tom placed his hands on Kate's face, but she forced him away by pushing him roughly on the shoulders. He stumbled and then fell to the floor. Tom stood up quickly and looked at Kate. He debated whether he should go over to her once more.

She stood by the window. Her hair was in a disarray and she was breathing hard. The pain in her eyes spoke volumes. Kate really was shutting him out.

After a couple more seconds Tom passed Kate one last heart wrenching glance. "I don't have to be your boyfriend to love you. All I asked for Kate was some time…not from us, because I want to see you. But time to be single, I never wanted to stop being your friend because…"

"I have a test on Monday and I was about to study. You're off the hook Tom, no questions asked." Kate cut off.

Tom closed his eyes as he accepted the realization that he had just made the biggest mistake of his life. With no other choice he turned around and walked towards the door.

Kate watched as he walked out. Tom turned around one last time before closing the door. She walked back towards her desk and placed down the book. There would be no studying tonight. Like a zombie Kate crawled underneath her covers. It was best not to think about what happened or else she would cry all night, and she was all cried out.Two plates of uneaten spaghetti rested on her desk with cans of Coke beside each one.

She couldn't go to sleep with that still there. Kate pulled back her covers and scooped up the paper plates and threw them in the trash bin between her and Lauren's compact closets.

Kate opened her closet. She had a box of Tom's belongings. She no longer had any use for them. Kate opened the box and tossed out the contents. Never in a million years did she think Tom would betray her. Betray was a strong word but she did feel betrayed.

Kate picked up a toy airplane, a duplicate of one Tom had buried a couple of years ago. The time capsule they made suddenly seemed ridiculous and like a big waste of time. Kate closed her hands over the airplane. She wanted to throw the toy from the 5th floor along with the rest of his stuff but she couldn't.

Kate closed her eyes. How could he do this to her? How? She fell back against the bed and curled up like a child. Looking around the room feeling so small, and vulnerable. Tom had told her that she couldn't be a one man island. Kate remembered telling him that she could.

Kate bit her lip. And then he had kissed her.

"You don't have to go through this alone," Tom said afterwards.

But she did have to go through this alone. His promises were empty and they always had been.

Jack stared out at the crashing waves beyond Haven look out. The stars twinkled brilliantly in the sky and a cool breeze wafted around him. Jack sat on the trunk of his car with a beer in his hands. Haven look out, was a popular hangout for mostly horny high school students, but some students from Haven University came as well. Tonight Jack was by his lonesome. He assumed that the high school students were preoccupied with some dance like homecoming or something, and the college students were probably all at the Frat party on Frat row. He tilted his head back and took another swig of his beer.

He wished that he didn't do a lot of things. Like care about what his dad said, and how his mom seemed to always ignore him, unless he did something to upset her. Jack placed down the empty can, and then crossed his arms over his legs. Most people would be happy to have what he did, money, a nice car, friends. Jack never had to worry about working but he wanted to just to feel as if he was doing something useful with his time.

He had everything he could want. Everything but love. Jack wasn't really sure what that was like. He smiled at how pitiful he sounded. Even in his own thoughts he embarrassed himself. For now he would blame his troubles on the beer, he was drunk, so he could use that as a scapegoat.

Kind of like Kate.

"That's what you get Shephard for caring about a girl you don't even know," He stated underneath his breath. Jack picked up the can and hurled it over the side of the cliff. The view up there was beautiful. The Atlantic seemed to extend forever and at some point connect with the sky. He wondered what Haven would look like when it snowed.

Maybe by that time he would feel more at ease with his life, and handle the transition of college the way he originally planned. Slacking was only going to give his father another reason to come down on him, and not only that but Jack really did want to succeed. Even with straight A's his dad wouldn't be pleased, but Jack had to do something for himself.

Jack hoisted himself up slowly. The world spun ever so slightly. He steadied himself by placing his hand on the trunk of his car. How many beers did he drink? Luckily for him Haven University was right up the street because as shitty as he felt the last thing he needed was to get in a car accident or get arrested for DUI. Before lowering his body back into the car Jack paused. He placed his hand on the roof of his car and watched as the ocean waves rippled, and the moon shined down on the quiant New England town. Haven could be the perfect place for him to start over. Only if he allowed himself to.

The cool breeze tickled his cheeks and a small droplet of rain cascaded down his nose. It was time to get back to the University. Jack got in his car and closed the door, when he turned on the ignition his car was flooded with 'Broken Wings.' Jack forgot that he had been listening to his 80's CD…the CD Mark gave him so much flack about. He rolled down the windows and then reversed out of the parking lot.

Jack reached for another can of beer. He would have to start over tomorrow because tonight he was just going to be miserable. Drink and think about all the things he wanted to improve in his life. Tomorrow, yes tomorrow he was going to live for himself and no one else.

Jack tilted his head back and took another swig of the beer. Drinking and driving was something he never approved of but here was doing it. Jack scowled. He placed down the can in the cup holder and placed both of his hands on the steering wheel. Bordering between drunk and pathetic Jack sung along with the words.

He was a horrible singer but he was the only one in the car so he would sing in order to release the rest of his frustrations.

Broken Wings. How fitting. Jack thought to himself in amusement.

Broken Wings was on the radio. Kate held the covers up to her chin as she tried to go to sleep. The radio wasn't helping. For the third time that night Kate got out of bed. She believed that she was finished crying now. At least she hoped so. Kate turned off the radio and then walked over to Tom's box. Earlier she had thought about getting rid of it, but yet everything still remained inside. The plane, a hat of his, all of the sweet letters that he had written to her, all of it was still in the box. Kate wasn't sure what she wanted to do with that box, but tomorrow she would decide.

Lauren still hadn't come back.

Kate was so used to Lauren being in the room with her, and now that the tears had stopped flowing she didn't want to be alone. Alone with her insecurities and regrets for leaving her mom back home in Iowa. Kate crossed her arms as her eyes laid on Lauren's side of the room. Unlike Kate's side…Lauren had pictures everywhere. Pictures of her family, and friends. Lauren was loved.

Often Kate found herself looking at the pictures. Lauren talked about her mom a lot. She was a single mother, and she had three kids. Lauren was the oldest. Kate stepped back. Whenever Lauren asked about her family Kate would lie.

She told Lauren that she was from Iowa, but that was the only truth she gave. Everything else was lies.

Kate grabbed her toothbrush and toothpaste on her press. It was definitely time to rest her tired mind. She opened the door and stepped outside. Kate's mouth dropped open in surprise. She wasn't expecting to see what she did.

He was passed out in the middle of the hallway.

Kate thought about acting as if she didn't see him and going back into her dorm room, but yet she couldn't just leave him there. Kate stepped back inside her room and closed the door. She placed down her toothbrush and paste and crawled back into her bed. Maybe she could.

She should've been nicer to Jack earlier but she didn't owe him anything. He showed a little concern for her and she appreciated that, but she didn't have to do anything for him. Kate closed her eyes. She didn't want to give anyone else the opportunity to crush her the way Tom just had.

Her thoughts were dark until she flashed back to the laundry room. Jack stood there in his boxers in silence. Anyone else would've walked away at the terrifying sight of an overly emotional girl, but he stayed. For some unbeknownst reason to her he stayed and tried to help.

Kate opened her eyes and she got out of bed. She couldn't just leave him out there. It wasn't her duty to be Amherst Hall's Safe Ride but at the same time it would be horrible of her to leave him out there when their R.A., 'the beast' was on duty for the night.

The beast was a very sadistic junior by the name of Herman Moses. The residents teasingly called him Hermes the enforcer, just because he was strict when it came to drinking amongst the minors especially in Amherst a dry hall. Kate questioned what the hell she was doing as she walked back towards the door.

Regardless she opened the door and walked towards Jack's sleeping form. Kate looked down at him in silence. She despised drunks. Even though he was passed out like this as Kate looked down at him she felt hesitant to call him a drunk. She held her hands outwards in uncertainty. Now that she was here with him Kate wasn't sure what she planned on doing? Waking him up so he could walk back to his dorm? Well that was a start.

Kate dropped down onto her knees. "Get up,"

He didn't budge.

She tried. Kate stood up and got ready to walk back to her dorm.

"I have a feeling a lot of people are going to be coming in drunk tonight, I'm going to tell the CA to give me a call once they come stumbling in so I can be ready." Herman said loudly from his dorm a couple doors down.

Kate stopped in her tracks. She really couldn't leave Jack there. Maybe if she helped him out then that would make her feel better about being so mean to him earlier. Kate rushed back over to him.

"Jack,"

He muttered something incoherently.

"You're in the middle of the hall get up before you get in trouble," Kate warned.

"I don't have the bunnies," He mumbled.

"Bunnies…what?" Kate placed her hand to her head. The alcohol was talking. He reeked of alcohol, how much did he drink. Herman's door opened. Kate quickly bent down and wrapped Jack's arm around her shoulder.

What was she doing?

He was heavy. Kate held onto his hand as he unsteadily stood up. At least he was working with her. They swayed towards his room. Kate's heart was beating at the speed of light as she knocked on his door. Jack's roommate must be out with the rest of the campus partying and drinking themselves into a stupor that would last until next week. Kate thought in disdain. She tried the doorknob, the room was locked.

Herman would be out in any second. Kate had no choice but to take Jack into her room at least until the coast was clear. She walked in that direction. Jack rested his head on hers.

"You're not that light you know," Kate reminded as she led him inside. She closed the door behind them. Jack released his arm from around her lower waist and walked deeper inside the room. "After the beast goes downstairs you can go back to your room, Jack"

"What are you doing in my room?" Jack stated with a half smile. He walked over to Kate and she watched him silently. Jack placed his hands on her face and leaned forward. "You shouldn't be in my room, because you don't like me."

Kate placed her hands on his wrists and dropped his arms to his sides, "This is actually my room, but I couldn't just leave you laid in the middle of the hallway. After Hermes goes downstairs or wherever he's going you should go back to your room." Realizing that she was still touching his wrists Kate moved her hands away.

"This is my room," Jack said not hearing a word she just said.

Kate watched as Jack pulled off his shirt and then lowered himself onto her bed. She was steps away from throwing him out of her room, but for some reason she couldn't bring herself to do that. Maybe he was a drunk, but at least he was a harmless one. Jack started to unbuckle his belt.

"Hey, hey," Kate said walking over to him. "My room," she repeated.

Jack stopped and then grabbed onto her pillow. He buried his face in it. "Then I won't get nakey,"

She expected to be mad. After all this stranger…who just so happened to be drunk was lying in her bed shirtless, with her pillow pressed up against his face. He was violating every rule in the book, but Kate didn't have the will to toss him out. Not after fighting, and breaking up with Tom. She would let this slide.

Jack could sleep in her room tonight. Kate didn't mind taking the floor.

From underneath her bed she took out a sleeping bag. Kate placed the sleeping bag by Lauren's bed and then walked back over to her bed to grab one of the two pillows underneath Jack's head. She still couldn't believe that she was letting him sleep in her room. Kate reached for one of the pillows careful not to disturb him.

"I would kick you out…but I just can't deal with anymore drama tonight," Kate whispered. "Just don't pass out in the middle of the hallway again because next time I might not be so nice," She watched him for a second. He looked so handsome just lying there like that. Kate stepped away.

"I know…you're ashamed,"

Jack turned over on his side. His cheeks were red and had pillow marks on them.

It was dangerous to trust a stranger to stay over her room, but judging how Jack treated her earlier she would give him the benefit of the doubt. Kate crawled in her sleeping bag and slept facing Jack. She trusted him enough, but not to the point where she could sleep with her back towards him.

Kate closed her eyes. She was beyond ready to put tonight behind her.

"I love her smile,"

Kate sat up and looked at Jack. "Who's smile? And if you're up now you can go back to your room."

"I wanted to know her Mark,"

"I'm not Mark," Kate sighed. She vaguely remember seeing Mark Silverman's name on the door, Mark was Jack's roommate. "My name is Kate," She realized that it was hopeless to talk to him in his current state so Kate laid back down.

"That girl you were talking about…Kate,"

Kate sat up and looked at Jack surprised. Did he hear her?

"She's beautiful,"

That's the last thing Jack said before his snores filled the room.