Chapter Four

"I won't be here tonight." Levi told Cath before she headed out the door. "I'm studying at the library." He didn't mention Jessica. He didn't want to mention Jessica. That would just bring up too much drama and concern.

Cath creased her eyebrows together. "Why don't I just help you study? That's what we did last year."

"I want to expand my horizons." Levi was still on Cath for not writing her short story. It's not her fault that she and Wren are in the mists of creating a new Simon Snow fanfic. Something neither of them have ever done before. No romance between Simon and Baz. It was hard for them to decide this, but maybe it was for the best. It would strike people back up, having them read about Simon's adventures.

Cath left the room, shaking the thought out of her head. So what if Levi wants to study by himself. It's not like Cath did anything wrong, it's not like she's been fired. She didn't even have a job to begin with.

"Hey." Nick said, clicking into the same walking pace as Cath. "Have you thought about it at all?" He said, way to anxious to make small talk.

Cather was taken aback. She completely forgot about what Nick had said to her. That he wanted her back as a writing partner. "I can't do this right now, I need more time." She said, straining herself. She really didn't even want to set eyes on Nick.

"Well, here's my number incase you change your mind." He responded, handing her a small piece of paper. His number was neatly written in purple calligraphy, almost making Cath laugh. He didn't picture Nick to be interested in neat penmanship.

Nick walked away, going a different route. Ever since he turned in his and Cath's story, he hasn't been aloud to take the higher up creative writing class. Professor Piper has insisted he take the same course over again. She thought it would be beneficial. She was very mad at Nick for showing up to Cath's class the other day, he wasn't supposed to be there.

Cath dropped her purse into the passenger seat of the car, making sure her computer was in there. She didn't want to leave for the coffee shop without it.

The weather was still pretty warm outside in Nebraska. Cath didn't even need to wear a coat. She was so used to wearing sweaters and jeans, though, that it was hard for her to find an outfit that didn't make her feel like she was dying. That's what happens when you stay inside all summer writing, Wren would say.

As she stood in line for her coffee, she noticed a girl from around campus. She had bright red hair, long hair, the type Wren envied for. Ever since Wren cut her hair last year, she secretly wished she had long hair at points. She missed doing braids and top knots. She's told Cath many times at night how she would kill for her hair, and wanted to switch. Cath didn't want to switch, she didn't have enough confidence.

Sitting down at a small table, Cath got her computer out as she sipped on white hot chocolate. I'm ready to finally write it, she thought to herself.

"Have you worked on anything since class started?" Jessica said as she sat in front of Levi. He shook his head, resulting in a disappointing look from her.

"I don't know what to write about." He said simply. It was true. He's tried and tried to write, it just never sticked, never flowed.

"This is what I've been working on." Jessica said, taking out five sheets of paper. Her handwriting was neat in black ink, filling up the pages in cursive. Levi scanned through her work carefully, not seeing a single flaw.

"Why does he just leave in the end like that?" Levi asked carefully, not wanting to make her mad about her decisions.

"He doesn't appreciate her enough to stay." She said, like he should have known that. Levi took out his computer, trying to start writing at least something. Jessica looked behind his shoulder, nodding in approval or changing what he wrote completely. After thirty minutes they stopped, closing up for the night.

Jessica thanked him many times as they exited the library.

"Do you want me to walk you to your dorm?" Levi said, it escaping his lips before he could even fully think about it. Jessica said yes, and they started walking down the steps. Levi could've sworn he saw…

He was there. With her. The girl she saw in the cafe. He was there. He even had his arm around her, pulling her in close so she wasn't cold. He was there, with her, not even telling Cath.

Cather ran home as fast as she could, not even caring if he was going to be there minutes after she arrived.

"Why didn't you tell me." She said the moment he came in. He was startled. Tell her what? "You know what I'm talking about."

"No, actually, I don't. What do you mean, Cather?" Levi said, scared. Why would she be so mad, what could he have possibly done?

"You were studying with a girl, and you didn't tell me."

"Her name is Jessica, and she's my friend.

"Was the girl you kissed at your party last year your friend too?" Cath said, Levi could hear how hurt she was by her voice.

"Cather…"

"Don't call me that. My name is Cath."

"Cath… she was helping me with my creative writing project."

"I could of helped you with that."

"She offered."

"I offered too." Cath said, on the verge of tears. "We don't have much in common to begin with. You're older than me. You're smarter than me. You drink, you smoke, you're more experienced than me. Now you're snuggling up with girls as you take them home. I don't know if I can deal with this." Cath rambled, falling on her bed. "I don't know if our relationship was a smart idea."

"You studied with Nick all the time last year."

"We weren't snuggling all the time. He didn't offer to take me home, and he writes in purple calligraphy. It's obvious he's gay. Why else would he honestly be okay with writing gay stories with me?"

"You can't get everything you want." Levi said, his voice snarling. "Why do you have to be so overprotective, Cather? It's not like I'm getting high with her. I offered to take her home, so what."

"You don't offer to take Reagan home."

"Reagan doesn't need to be taken home."

"Then why does she need to." Levi couldn't answer that question, he didn't know the answer. "Exactly." Cath said, tears burning as they threatened to spill. "Goodbye Levi." She said as she swung the door closed. In her pocket, she found Nick's number.

"Nick?" She said when he picked up.

"Cather?" His voice was groggy, like he just woke up.

"Can you come pick me up? I need a place to stay."

"I'm on my way." Then he ended the call, and Cath stayed outside her door, hoping Levi felt as badly as she did on the other side.