In Fate's Hands

By: xxacidxx

Stronger Together

Katelyn awoke again, this time she hadn't screamed, but she was in a cold sweat. She looked up and immediately felt comforted to see Eric stroking her hair and still holding her hand.

It's strange how things like losing parents can bring two people, who would otherwise be strangers, together. Knowing someone was out there that understood them was comforting, and made them stronger.

Eric half-smiled at her and stopped his methodical strokes. Katelyn released his hand and stood up.

"Are you hungry?" She asked, and when he nodded Katelyn, for the first time in days, realised she was hungry too.

"Can you manage to get upstairs?" The brunette questioned, concern written across her face.

"Yeah, I think so." Eric replied he stood up with some help from Katelyn and together they made it upstairs and into the kitchen. Eric sat down and Katelyn opened the fridge, searching its contents. She found some macaroni and cheese and pulled it out. She stuck the heavy glass container into the microwave and then sat down across from Eric.

"Do you have siblings?" She asked curiously. Eric nodded in response.

"She's in foster care. She's ten years old now." He frowned. "Her foster parents won't let me see her."

Katelyn nodded. "I have an older sister, she's 23. She lives in Canada with her boyfriend."

A silence came down on them, the same as someone turning off the lights. It was broken by the microwave letting them know it was done. Katelyn stood up and stirred it, then put it on for a bit longer.

Eric watched her for a minute, and when she sat down he spoke. "You don't look so good."

"Oh thanks." Katelyn said sarcastically.

"No, I mean, you have bags under yours eyes and you look so thin…"

"I haven't eaten in three days, and I don't want to sleep." Katelyn confided with a sigh.

"Nightmares?"

She nodded and looked down at her hands. The buzzer on the microwave went off and the teen girl stood up and stirred it again. It was finished this time and she dished it out and served them both, adding a glass of milk to their meal.

"What's it like living on the streets?" She asked him, taking a bite of the warm noodles.

"Hell." Eric replied, also eating.

"Why did you get beat up?"

"I tried to sleep on a gang-claimed bench. I didn't know it was their's!" For a moment he looked panic stricken.

"It's okay, I believe you." Katelyn said patting his hand. Eric calmed down and continued to eat, soon they were both finished and Katelyn cleaned their dishes.

"Come on, we could probably both use more sleep." Eric said, and with staggered steps he started downstairs. Katelyn followed close behind.

"Why are you doing this for me?" Eric asked suddenly his gaze turning towards her. She shrugged.

"I feel like I already know you."

"Like wise."

Soon both teens were in the bed, their hands adjoined between them as they both fell into a dreamless sleep.

When Katelyn woke up, Eric was gone. She looked from side to side quickly, but found no sign of him. She stood up, and looked around again. Katelyn panicked, her head darting around. Then she heard the running water. He was in the shower. She tried to calm herself with slow, even breaths, as she sat on the edge of the bed. Soon the water stopped and Eric emerged from the bathroom, just in his boxers.

"Don't suppose you have in guy clothes?" He asked her. Katelyn was frozen; she stared at him until he cleared his throat nervously. Her eyes snapped to his face and she coughed awkwardly into her hand.

"Err…No, Sorry." Katelyn managed to blurt out. Her face was burning. Eric nodded and came over to the bed.

"I hope you don't mind I put my pants into the wash, my shirt was too wrecked to do anything with."

Katelyn shook her head, no. Eric sat on the bed beside her.

"Let me check your side." She said and untied the bandage that Eric had put on after his shower. Eric lifted his arm a bit so she had better access.

"Lean back on your arms." Katelyn instructed fixing her eyes on the spot. Eric did as he was told. "It looks like it will heal up well." The teen started to tie the bandage up again when Eric hand stopped hers, he held it.

"Katelyn." He said softly. She looked up at him meeting his gaze. Eric put his mouth in front of hers, hovering. Katelyn closed the gap, meeting his mouth in a chaste kiss. She pulled away put Eric pulled her back, letting their mouths connect again, this time with more passion. Katelyn leaned into him putting a hand on each side of his torso. Now he moved her so she sat in his lap, butterfly style. Eric pulled back this time, then crashed back towards her, she opened her mouth for him, and he touched her tongue timidly. Katelyn put one arm around his neck, and one hand on the side of his face. Eric wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her again. Their bodies were melded together, a perfect formation; yin and yang. Their kissing stopped and they simply clung to each other, all their pain and fear momentarily forgotten.