Disclaimer: I do not own The Red Road.
A/N: This is semi-AU of S2 (mostly because only one episode has aired). Phillip did not cause trouble with the guys at the paving company, and Mac has not been murdered.
The phone conversation had been less a conversation and more a one-sided screaming fit. Jean had retreated to the master bedroom, slammed the door and then proceeded to lose all composure as she very forcefully informed her husband that she was going to get her way. Rachel and Kate sat together wide-eyed and trading glances as they listened to the familiar shrillness of their mother's voice. Neither of them could catch the particulars, but when Jean came storming out of the bedroom smile fixed in place, she was using her overly peppy voice.
"We're having dinner guests, so why don't you girls help me get the table ready and put out a few games," the breathless sigh had both girls frowning. "Junior's coming over, Rachel," Jean smiled bright before she ambled down the stairs humming to herself.
"Okay then," Rachel rolled her eyes, "somebody took her happy pills today."
"She's been like that all day," Kate shrugged, "it's her new normal."
"We could start a pep-squad with all her cheer," Rachel muttered.
"Or a Screamo band."
"So much teenage angst in an adult is not okay," the older girl groaned as she slumped after her mother. "I'll set the table if you get the bean-bag game out of the garage."
"Okay," Kate agreed easily.
Kate had already spent more time with her mother than she felt strictly necessary. While it hadn't been the absolute worst thing to go to the police station, it hadn't been a choice Kate had made for herself. Jean hadn't allowed Kate to refuse. It had been the last thing Kate had wanted. It stung to watch her parents play at being in love, it hurt that she barely existed to them in those moments. A small part of her enjoyed how riled her father got at finding Phillip near her. An even larger part had been utterly thrilled at how Phillip looked at her, how his dark eyes seemed to swallow her whole.
Shivering, Kate forced herself to focus on the task at hand. Thinking about Phillip would only serve to distract Kate to a point of uselessness. Meticulously, Kate cleaned and set up the game. There had been a time when Jean had been the queen of barbecues and dinner parties, time had allowed the alcohol to overcome what small façade Jean had, and that was the end. The games and chairs and hammock had been packed away and grown thick with dust and grime.
With the new façade came a new desire to be the social queen she had once been. Jean was in full party mode, just with less alcohol than usual. That wasn't to say there was no alcohol. Jean had made sure to buy a case of beer at the grocery store, earning more than a few raised eyebrows. It wasn't exactly a secret that Jean was an alcoholic, even if she was "recovering" a bit.
Once Kate had set up the lawn chairs, the folding table, and the hammock, Kate settled onto the weight bench to relax and hide…and maybe think about Phillip…and his arms.
Growling at his reflection, Phillip scraped his fingers through his damp hair. It was too long, he grimaced at how it fell a little too far down his neck and curled out wildly. There was nothing to be done. Short of taking the scissors to the mess himself, Phillip couldn't do much but smooth down what he could and trim his beard. He was fussing like his mother. Well, he supposed, it was a comfort to know he inherited something from Marie.
It was stupid to be obsessing over his appearance, Phillip knew it. He had never been an overly vain man. He had never much cared for the opinion of others, but this was different. Phillip was unwaveringly determined to be charming and handsome. For Kate. So, he refused to look, as Mac had snorted, "a mountain man with a bear for a bride." It was more than a little unflattering, worse still his own mother had agreed.
Phillip could admit that prison had taken its toll on him. It always did. The thought of Kate had helped, the letters and scribbling had helped, but he hadn't had much else. Not hope, just desire. Need. Behind bars normal fell away for Phillip. He hadn't bothered to cut his hair or shave very often. The untamed look had suited his needs. The beast that paced behind his eyes had only made the look more natural. Phillip was a man who terrified men.
There was no need to pretend that Phillip was anything more than what he appeared to be in prison. Phillip had buried any trace of his humanity and let the madman out. The heart that Phillip hid was saved only for the moments he was alone, the moments he wrote to Kate, when he could be soft. He tried to keep her from his thoughts when he played the beast. That part of Phillip needed her just as much, but to let her name her image drift through his head in those dark moments would taint her memory. He couldn't let himself be the animal with Kate, she didn't deserve that.
It was different on the outside. The desperate need for Kate was no longer a secret he struggled to keep from himself. He forced the animal down. Unburying his heart and soul, because that was what she deserved. Kate deserved the man. Not just a man, but the man who would protect her both physically and emotionally. Kate deserved someone who would take her out and dance with her, and set her free.
It wasn't easy. Phillip's instincts screamed around Kate. He wanted to wrap her up in his arms and hide her away from the world, so she would be his alone. Wrestling down his instincts was a feat that Phillip knew he had to succeed in. The conversation that had sustained him and won his heart had told Phillip as much. Kate didn't deserve to be rescued from one prison only to find herself in another.
So for Kate, Phillip pushed the animal down and forced the man out from the forest. He would be charming and handsome, or as charming and handsome as he could be with hair that was too long and the wild look in his eyes. It didn't matter that consciously he knew Kate didn't have a problem with how he looked, and the rest didn't really matter. Phillip was nervous. Not a feeling he was overly used to, but growing more familiar with each day.
Running his hands through his hair once more, a small amount of gel coating the most aggressive curls, Phillip forced them into a slightly tamer look. Phillip smiled into the mirror, trying to make it look natural and not like he was about to eat someone. It was easy with Kate. She made him smile like it was breathing, but it was everyone else.
It was worth it, he told himself. Today he would get to spend hours with Kate right under everyone's noses, and unless Harold wanted to spill the trio's little secret, he couldn't do anything. Tugging a long sleeved Henley over his head Phillip unbuttoned it completely and rolled up the sleeves.
Charming. That was the key, Phillip reminded himself. Charming and irresistible. For Kate.
When Kate finally tripped down the stairs after getting ready, Rachel had already scurried down to answer the door for Junior. Knowing that her older sister would more than enjoy a little time alone with her boyfriend, Kate rinsed the dirt and sweat of the day off and got ready for dinner. Putting on a pair of dark denim shorts and a grey, ribbon-rimmed, tank that draped gently across Kate's curves, she swiped on a little eyeliner and mascara.
It wasn't often that Kate wore makeup, but flirting with Phillip, and thinking about it had her feeling kind of girly, or at least more than usual. If dinner finished early enough, Kate was going to try to slip away and see Phillip. She wanted to kiss him properly. No more teasing, she wanted to feel his arms around her and his lips on hers.
"Kate," Jean smiled as she entered the kitchen, "why don't you go out and play with Junior and Rachel."
"Yeah, sure," Kate smiled tightly, "um, I might go hang out with Sam later, if that's cool."
A knife clattered into the sink as Jean spun around, "We're having dinner guests, Kate."
"I know," the teen nodded, fingers curling into fists, "I meant after, it's Friday, I know Sam wanted to go to the movies."
Jean's frown curled upward into a smile, "Like a date?"
"No," the word was sputtered in shocked horror, "god, no!"
"Sure," Jean laughed, "I've seen how he looks at you, Kate."
"Yeah, well, no," Kate grimaced, and shook her head. "I'll be outside."
Kate made her escape quickly, not willing to continue the conversation of who Kate was or wasn't dating or potentially seeing. There was no way in hell that would go over well.
"That's a look," Rachel snorted as Kate strode out into the backyard and slumped into the hammock. "Mom get to you?"
"Ugh, yes," Kate groaned.
"Hi, Kate," Junior raised a hand.
"Hey, Junior," Kate returned the greeting and rolled further into the hammock, "How are you?"
"I'm better than you, apparently," Junior chuckled.
Rachel shoved Junior, "What did she do?"
"Ugh," Kate groaned again. "Can we just agree that Mom has a weird fascination with our love lives. Or lack thereof."
"Sam," Rachel cooed, "the guy who has had eyes for you since day one of classes this year, and you've pretty much ignored him?"
"Shut up," Kate curled into a ball, hair obscuring her vision as she bounced in the hammock.
"Oh come on," Rachel tossed a beanbag at Kate, causing the younger girl to flinch. "He is kinda cute. I mean if you like the popular, dimpled, athlete look."
"Just no," Kate lobbed the beanbag out of the hammock.
"Okay, as much as I love girl-talk," Junior spoke slowly, sounding thoroughly uncomfortable, "but how about we play a game."
"Sure," Kate agreed, "but we'll have to play two on one."
"Dibs on Junior," Rachel cheered, "we're going to kick your butt!"
"Well if you need a partner, I'm happy to play," a warm, very familiar voice had Kate jerking upright to find Phillip smiling at her.
He stood there in a very tight shirt, hair slicked back neatly, and dark eyes sparkling mischievously. Kate's mouth was dry. Phillip was absolutely the last person she expected to be there. Although, Phillip's presence might explain Jean and Harold's phone fight, Harold certainly would not be happy about this scenario. God, he looked good, hands tucked in his pockets, rocking back on his heels, muscles pressing largely against fabric. Kate hated the shirt he was wearing. Inhaling roughly, Kate bit the inside of her cheek. Yeah, she really hated that very tight shirt, which was really just constricting things that needed to breathe…mostly Phillip's shoulders, and arms, and his chest, and his abs.
"Uh," Kate stared, mentally shaking herself, her mouth parted in awe. Phillip was in her backyard and no one was freaking out, except her. Rachel looked a little uncomfortable, stepping closer to Junior, whose jaw tightened just a tick.
"I'm Phillip, Kopus," he stepped forward, hand extended to both shake Kate's. "I'm Junior's brother."
"Hi, Kate," the redhead slipped her hand into Phillip's, fighting the broad smile that his touch always drew from her. "Junior, Rachel."
"Phillip," Junior returned the greeting coolly. "I didn't think you'd show up."
"I was invited, didn't want to be rude," Phillip tried for pleasant.
Rachel wrapped her arm around Junior's as she forced a smile, "Well, we're happy to have you. And you got to meet Kate!"
"So, want to be my partner," Phillip asked.
"Yeah," Kate agreed, "let's beat those two."
"Okay," Rachel's voice was still a little tight, "um, first team to twenty points?"
Kate nodded and retreated to the far board, Phillip in step at her side.
"Surprised," Phillip asked her softly.
Kate nodded, shifting her path just slightly so she would be pressed against Phillip's side. "That's one way to put it," looking up at him, Kate bit her lip, "I was actually thinking about coming to see you."
"Oh," Phillip grinned, as they began to pick up the beanbags, "did you miss me today?"
Kate turned her back to Rachel and Junior, smiling up at Phillip, "You know I did, and I couldn't stop thinking about you, sitting there in that chair…"
A flush rose on Kate's chest and cheeks, her eyes hazy, Phillip's body tensed, "Kate."
She was killing him. Phillip hadn't expected Kate to be so…honest, so flirtatious, and so hot. If they were alone he would have her flat on her back in the grass, pressing kisses to every inch of her skin, hands running up underneath that little shirt that kept shifting against her hip.
"Oh, Kate," Phillip groaned, stepping beside her, "You're playing with fire."
Kate opened her mouth to respond but was stopped by her sister calling across the yard, "Stop plotting! It's time to play!"
"Game on," Phillip spoke darkly, power and heat rumbling through his voice.
The game was a blur of laughter, smirks, jeering, and a good deal of teasing. Rachel and Junior were really having fun playing with each other, high fiving and hugging when they got points, not really noticing the comfort level of their competitors.
Kate cheered loudly for Phillip, whistling and clapping happily, and Phillip in turn gruffly rooted for her, calling her "Katie" fondly. When they got points they would high five, or Phillip would rub her shoulder, Kate reflexively squeezed his forearm, leaning into him in a half hug.
It wasn't until they were tied at 19, Kate swinging her arm and preparing to throw that Junior and Rachel seemed to recognize the odd nature of the partnership.
"You got this, Katie," Phillip called. "Come on!"
That was passable, it was the moment when the bag dropped into the hole and Kate screamed in joy that Rachel and Junior saw the unexpected. Phillip surged to his feet with a roar as Kate made the point. In one step he had stepped up behind Kate and wrapped his arm around her waist, lifting her off her feet and spun her around. Kate was laughing and squealing happily as she bent her knees and pulled her body tighter into a ball, clutching at Phillip's arm as they spun.
At last when Phillip set Kate down she stumbled into him, fingers clutching at his chest as she tried to catch her breath. "We won," she smiled up at him, green eyes sparkling as Phillip helped her keep her balance.
"Okay," Rachel tossed a beanbag at them, "Rematch. Losers have to sing "I'm a Little Teapot" with the dance."
Junior blanched, but Phillip could only smirk, "It's on, right Kate?"
Phillip wrapped his arm around Kate's shoulder. She smirked and curled her arm around his waist, "Right, Phillip."
Moving back into position, Phillip slid his hand from her shoulder to her hip, squeezing. Phillip wasn't a teenager anymore, he wasn't exactly the sort of guy who sat around and played games and laughed. It felt right though, laughing and playing with Kate. It felt normal and right. Phillip didn't have to pretend to enjoy himself, he didn't have to be the animal, he could just be Phillip.
Kate made everything easier.
A/N: Chapter 10! I have been working on this for weeks, but my headache cycle has been kicking my butt in ways I never knew possible. Tonight was the first day in a long while where I could actually look at my computer screen and not be in terrible pain. All of your reviews have been wonderful, and this story is really for you guys.
I am thinking about writing a few one-shots for this pairing (not in the Every Day universe), and potentially another chapter story. I almost cried when I heard the show was cancelled, so now I have to keep writing for Kate & Phillip.
Sorry for the long wait, but hopefully I'll have the next chapter out sooner, it will continue the dinner. Lots of love!