See Chapter 2 for disclaimer.

A/N: I enjoy that so many people are adding this to their story alert list, but please also review.

Chapter 4

I was back at school getting ready for class. I was trying to put my incident with Kurt behind me. I hated school, but my mom always wanted me to go to college and I did like journalism.

My phone rang. From the ring tone and the caller ID I knew that it was Karen. I wondered what she wanted. She didn't usually call me in the morning because mornings weren't my best time of day.

"When were you going to tell me about your little adventure the other night?" Karen asked.

"What are you talking about?" I asked. I wasn't going to give her any information that she didn't have.

"Going out with AJ and his friends," Karen said. I knew exactly who told her. It was Kurt. It was something that he would do.

"It wasn't that big of a deal. We went out and had fun," I told her. I wanted to gloss this all over. She was like a mother to me and I didn't want to disappoint her.

"Katie, you know how I feel about you going to bars and drinking. Not only is it dangerous because someone could drug your drinks, drinking isn't good for you," Karen said. "I just don't want anything to happen to you."

"I didn't drink that much and I was with people. I wouldn't have been able to get out without someone noticing," I assured her. "Don't worry they took good care of me."

I talked to Karen for a few more minutes before having to go to class. I sighed when I was outside the building for my class. AJ called me. Apparently I programmed my number into his phone when we were drinking the other night. Okay so maybe I'm getting close to inappropriate territory. Possibly a little to close for comfort. AJ talked to me for a minute and he asked when I was coming back to the Impact Zone. I wasn't really comfortable with that question considering both school and the fact Kurt was there. I didn't commit to an answer and quickly made excuses to get off the phone.

I distractedly made it though my morning classes. School wasn't really my passion, but I promised my mom that I would get an education. I enjoyed working on my school's newspaper when I was in high school so I decided the major that sounded most interesting to me was journalism. Granted Penn State wasn't exactly known for the journalism program, but I was only an all right student.

I was sitting outside eating when I checked my phone. Kurt left me a message, which I deleted without listening too.

Kurt was something that I had struggled with all my life. I always was trying to make him happy and make him see that I was worth caring about. Needless to say it didn't work. Then I thought that if I did enough things that he didn't like we'd have at least some sort of relationship even a bad one, but that never really worked either. Sure my dad and I had some sweet moments like when I started preschool, but they were few and extremely far between. For the most part my relationship with Kurt was not horrible in the sense that he was as cruel as he is now, but he just didn't give a damn. He was so hot and cold and most of the time he was cold. I know now that my mom sheltered me from some of his broken promises and stuff, but it still hurt. I knew that other people's parents decided not to stay together, but both of their parents wanted them. I don't think I ever truly felt like Kurt wanted me.

I decided that I couldn't go to my afternoon class. It would be a waste of my time to try to focus right now. Nothing was a big enough distraction to make me feel better.

"Katie, aren't you supposed to be at class?" my roommate Sarah asked. Sarah and a I had been roommates for our entire college experience and were actually pretty close.

"I can't Sar, not today," I told her cryptically before disappearing. I had to have some alone time to process. It wasn't just the AJ thing now it was Kurt too. How do I seem to always meet toxic men. Not that I thought that AJ was always toxic just in this situation. My life had been filled with them since I started dating at about 14. And my own father was probably one of the most toxic men in my life, but I still cared. Maybe I just needed to develop tougher skin.

My eyes glanced at the calendar on my wall. I noticed the date that was slowly creeping up. I was the anniversary of my mom's death. My birthday was only about a week later, but it was always overshadowed by the other event. I couldn't believe how bad this week was starting to be.

I don't know how long I was just thinking and trying to process when I noticed my phone vibrating again. I could only imagine the calls that I might have missed. I checked the caller ID before opening it and accepting the call.

"Katie, what's going on? Karen's been trying to get ahold of you all afternoon," Jeff said.

"I've just been busy with homework and school stuff," I fibbed. I hoped that Jeff wouldn't see through it. I wasn't ready to open up to anyone and I didn't want to hurt his feelings by not opening up to him. I didn't want him to go away like Kurt did.

"Katie, you have to let whatever is stressing you out, out. I can hear that your stressed in your voice," Jeff said.

"I don't want to talk about it Jeff. I'm just not ready," I told him. I could only hope that he understood. I wasn't ready to let these raw emotions out.

"Karen said that Kurt wanted to see the kids but they had to come to Florida to see him. She wanted to know if you would go with them so she wouldn't have to worry," Jeff said.

"I never want to see that arrogant, selfish, arrogant SOB again," I said. "I don't want Kody and Kyra to see how much of an ass he is either. I don't want them growing up with the same thoughts about him as I have."

Jeff didn't say anything for a moment. He let my words sink in. "Just talk to Karen. I'm sure she know how you feel about him, and if she doesn't the only way she will is if you tell her."

"Thanks Jeff, I have to go now though. I really do have school stuff that I need to do," I lied. I knew that he was right and that he was going to accept it. His oldest daughter Lindsey was a year younger than me so he had lots of experience with this kind of thing.

"All right, Katie. Take care and don't forget to call Karen," Jeff said before hanging up.

This threw a monkey wrench in my plan to never see my father again. I didn't want Kyra and Kody to see him alone. He doesn't travel as much as he did in WWE, but he was still on the road. They would be like extra wheels and probably wouldn't get the supervision a 7 year old and 3 year old needed. I suppose I've come to an impasse.