I'm back with a super long chapter! Hope that makes up for the wait. Leave a review, they're always encouraging. The more, the better, and the faster I will be to update! Enjoy!
"Kaitlin, what are you doing here?" Ryan asked in schock.
"What, can't a little sister visit her big bro?" she asked rhetorically, "Now invite me in." Kaitlin walked passed Ryan into his room. She stopped in her tracks as she saw Jed and Jess already inside. "Who are you?"
"Hi, I'm Jess," Jess said, offering her hand.
Kaitlin was hesitant to shake it, but decided to not leave her hanging. "Jess, Ryan hasn't mentioned you before..."
"Aww Ry, are you that embarrassed of us?" she laughed.
"And who's that?" Kaitlin asked, referring to the sleeping Jed. "And what's wrong with his face?"
"That's Jed, I kind of hit him in the face with a ball while playing pool," Jess giggled. Ryan chuckling a little as well.
"O..kay."
"Ryan, you never said you had a little sister," Jess told him.
"Oh, I'm not actually his little sister. Just a little thing we have going on. Eventually I will be, when him and my sister get married."
"Kaitlin," Ryan groaned.
"What? It's true."
"No, it's not."
"Ohhh," Jess said, finally clicking in, "You're Marissa's younger sister."
"So Ryan does talk about her," Kaitlin said smiling.
"Okay, changing the subject... Kaitlin, what are doing here in Berkeley?"
"I told you, I wanted to visit you," she replied. She smiled, but Ryan was not having it.
Jess could feel the atmosphere growing thicker, "Umm, I think I'm going to go, it's getting late and a school night." She turned to Jed who was completely out.
"It's okay, he can spend the night here," Ryan offered.
"Okay, umm... Goodnight then. I'll see you around," Jess said, getting up and walking to the door, "It was nice to meet you Kaitlin." And with that, Jess left the two alone to talk, with Jed sleeping in the room.
"Kaitlin, it's a school night."
"Yeah, but I'm just missing one day of school tomorrow; Friday there's no school."
"Well, how long did you plan on staying here?"
"Just till Saturday, I'll be home in time for Thanksgiving dinner with my mom on Sunday."
"You could have called or something..."
"I know, but I wanted it to be a surprise," Kaitlin said, wandering around Ryan's dorm. She saw the guitar in the corner, "Oooh, you're learning the guitar?"
"You know that I'm swamped," Ryan said, ignoring her trying to change the subject, "With homework and tests, I can't just skip school tomorrow."
"I don't expect you to. I'll just hang here. And when you're done, we can hang." Kaitlin stopped at the bed, "I thought you chose to not have roommates?"
"He's just staying the night after his little accident."
"Okay, well," Kaitlin started to move Jed until his was on the other side of the bed, "That'll do."
"What are you doing?"
"Making room, I'm not sleeping on the floor."
"You're staying here, with me?"
"Ryan, you really expect me to sleep in some random haunted motel? No. And plus, this is for free!" Kaitlin grabbed an extra pillow and threw it at Ryan, "Here."
Ryan stared at the pillow and then turned to Kaitlin who was already getting ready for bed.
"I'm going to change in the corner, don't look." Kaitlin said, grabbing her PJs from her bag.
Once she was finished, Kaitlin went up to Ryan, who was facing the other way, "All done!" she said. She started getting into the bed and making herself comfortable. He rolled his eyes and put the pillow on the ground. He went to turn off the light and then laid himself down on the ground.
Kaitlin rolled to face Ryan who was lying on the ground beside her, "So tell me about Jess. You two like, a thing? Are you already over my sister?"
Ryan whispered, "You do know your sister now has a boyfriend."
"Yeah, she told me about Daniel... But still, like that will last."
"You never know, maybe it will."
"Do you want it to? I thought you were going to wait for her."
"Look, dating's not on my mind..."
"Yeah, but, if it were ever to be, I won't get mad or anything," Kaitlin said quietly.
"Oh now I have your approval? Thanks, I'll definitely explore my options now..." Ryan said sarcastically.
"Ryan, you know what I mean."
"Look Kaitlin," Ryan said facing her, "I actually got an email from your sister and when she told me, I will be honest with you as I was to her, I'm happy for her."
Kaitlin searched his eyes and saw truth. But it confused her. "How?"
"How could I be happy for her?"
"Yeah, given your history, how you feel for her, how could you be happy for her seeing another guy?"
"It's not just her relationship with Daniel. She's doing great things, meeting new people, seeing the world," Ryan returned his gaze to the ceiling, "And given our history and how I feel for her, I can't help but feel happy for her."
"Wow."
"What?"
"That's so romantic and heartbreaking and..."
"Whatever," Ryan said. He turned to his side, so his back was facing Kaitlin.
"So... Jess?"
"Goodnight, Kaitlin," Ryan said.
Kaitlin just laughed, "Night Ry."
The next morning, Kaitlin stirred in her sleep. She slowly opened her eyes to see an empty ground beside her – Ryan wasn't there. She looked down to see an arm wrapped around her waist. She turned and saw a man snoring in her face. She tried her best not to wake up, as she took his arm and tried to release herself from his grasp. However, she was unsuccessful as she started to see him awaken.
"Hmm?" Jed said aloud. He looked around and then saw who his arm was holding. "Well, good morning to you too," He said with a cheeky, lazy grin on his face.
"Umm, okay." Kaitlin said, getting up from the bed and finding a sweater of Ryan's she can borrow.
Jed sat himself up on the bed and took in the sight before him. Kaitlin was in PJ shorts and a loose top, looking through Ryan's closet. Once she found something, she pulled over the sweatshirt and turned around to see Jed who was staring at her the whole time.
"What're you staring at?" she asked him.
"How did you end up in my bed?"
"Umm, you're in Ryan's bed right now actually..."
Jed re-examined his surrounding and realized Kaitlin was right, "What? Why am I here?" he shot up fast only to have a pain hit him right back down on the bed, "Ohh, my head."
Just then, the door unlocked and Ryan walked in with a brown bag and a takeout tray with 3 cups of coffee.
"Breakfast?" Kaitlin asked him excitedly.
"Yeah," he said, handing him the bag and coffee, "How're you feeling?" he asked, turning to Jed.
"Why am I sleeping in your bed? And with a pretty young lady too," he smiled flirtatiously at Kaitlin, who only rolled her eyes in response.
"Whoa, watch it," Ryan said.
"The name's Kaitlin," she told him.
"Jed, nice to meet you."
"I'd like to say the same..." Kaitlin said in sarcasm.
"Oooh, ouch," Jed smiled.
"Jed, don't even think about it," Ryan said to him.
"Whoa, man, if she's yours you know I'll respect the bro code."
"What? No, she's not mine."
"I'm her soon to be sister-in-law," Kaitlin explained.
"Dude, you never mentioned a fiancée."
"Kaitlin!" Ryan said. "No, look, I'm single."
"There's a back story here," Jed said.
"You bet there is!" Kaitlin replied, sipping into her coffee.
"There's nothing!" Ryan interrupted them.
Kaitlin smirked and Jed started to laugh until the pain in his head hit him again. "Ow.. Dude Ryan, please, can you explain to me this pain I'm feeling? Because it's definitely not a hangover."
"Jess and I were playing pool and she hit the ball into your face. You started to bleed and since your apartment is too far, we took you here instead. You eventually fell asleep so we decided not to move you. Jess thinks you've got a concussion."
"Oh great."
"Here," Ryan said, passing him a coffee and a muffin, "I got you breakfast."
"Thanks," Jed said, accepting the food.
"I've got class soon, but I can skip it if you want..."
"Ryan, we all you know skipping class will kill you. Go," Jed told him.
"I can go with you to the doctors," Kaitlin offered.
"Thanks."
"You sure?" Ryan asked. He wasn't a big fan of leaving Kaitlin alone with Jed.
"Yes, I'm sure. I'm a big girl, I don't need you to protect me."
"Okay, then. But after class, we're going to sit down and you're going to explain why you're really here?"
"Whatever, fine!" Kaitlin said, practically pushing him out the door.
"And Jed," Ryan called out to him before leaving, "Don't you dare." He warned him, referring to the idea of him and Kaitlin.
"Yeah, yeah!" He waved his hand.
Ryan grabbed his bag and jacket and headed out the door.
"Don't worry about him," Kaitlin said.
"Oh I'm not worried..." Jed ate his muffin and talked with his mouth full, "Is he always that protective over you?"
"Not me. He's like this with my sister... but because she's not here, he's chosen me as an alternative, I guess."
Jed finished his breakfast and got up but his head was hurting too much, "Oh god, Jess got me pretty bad."
"C'mon, let's get you to the doctor."
The two made their way to the clinic which wasn't too far from Berkeley. "Finally, we're here," Kaitlin said as they arrived.
They walked to the front desk where a receptionist was talking on the phone, "Hey, we're here to see the doctor."
She held her finger up continuing to talk on the phone. The two stood there awkwardly waiting for her to be finished. After a while, the lady was still talking on the phone. She saw Jed who was in pain and offered them a clipboard of papers to fill out.
Kaitlin helped him fill it all out and returned it to the lady at the desk. She motioned over to them to take a seat and wait to be called.
"How's the nose and head?"
"Hurts." Jed said in pain, holding his head in his hands.
"Shouldn't take too long..." Kaitlin said, grabbing a magazine on the table beside her and started flipping through the pages.
Jed turned his attention to Kaitlin, "So tell me about you?"
"What do you want to know?" she replied, showing almost no interest.
"Like how I woke up to have you sleeping right beside me?"
"Like I said to Ryan, I'm not staying in some random motel with lice."
"Okay... why are you here?"
She shrugged, "Just to visit Ryan."
"Lies," Jed shot back.
She put down the magazine and stared at him, "Okay then, Mr. Know-It-All, tell me why I'm here?"
"Guessing with Ryan being so protective of you, you need his help?" Kaitlin turned her attention back to the magazine. "Hah, I'm right, aren't I?"
"Whatever, it's not of your business anyways."
Jed shrugged and continued to look at Kaitlin.
"Stop staring at me," she said, not taking her eyes off the magazine.
"Why? You're very pretty to look at."
"Oh please..."
"Just trying to make conversation, I guess."
After a moment of silence in the clinic, Kaitlin put down her magazine, "Fine, you want conversation?" Jed smiled, "Just as long as we stay away from the topic of why I'm here."
"Deal."
"Okay..."
"Okay," he continued to smile.
Kaitlin tried not to smile back but felt the grin creep in. She turned her attention away from him and cleared her throat, "So what're you doing here in Berkely?"
"I don't know. My friends wanted to come here and I just tagged along."
"Well, what are you studying?"
"I'm just taking a bunch of random stuff, really. I don't really give a crap about school."
"So you're just here for your friends?" Kaitlin asked.
"Yeah, I guess... I don't really know what I want to be yet so..."
"Just passing time for now?"
"Sure, you could say that," Jed laughed. "How about you? What school do you go to?"
"Harbour, Ryan and my sister's high school. It's back in Newport."
"Ahh, right on, where are you going in the future?"
"I don't know," Kaitlin said, "I'm still in the 10th grade."
"You're what?!"
"What, how old did you think I was?" Kaitlin giggled.
"I just, you don't look that much younger..."
"Well, yeah, still got a long way to go."
"Damn," Jed cursed, "Now I could never ask you out."
Kaitlin started laugh loudly which got everyone in the waiting room's attention. She saw this, and quietly calmed down, "Did you not hear Ryan?"
"Ryan doesn't scare me."
Kaitlin then wondered, "How do you know Ryan?"
"We're in the same History class. I always saw him around and he was a huge loner, I felt bad."
"Aww, so you became his knight in shining armour?"
"You bet I was. Chivalry's not dead, sugar."
"And who's this... Jess?"
"Jess? How do you know Jess?"
"She was there when I arrived at Ryan's dorm," Kaitlin explained.
"Oh she must have helped Ryan get me to his dorm..." he thought out loud, "Jess is my best friend. Her and Ryan have become good friends as well. She's cool."
"Do you think her and Ryan... are..."
"What? Like, like each other? Hell no. Trust me, Ryan's not Jess' type."
"What do you mean?"
"With the time that you're here, if you're ever with her, you'll know why."
"Okay?" Kaitlin didn't know how to respond.
"A Mr. Jedidiah in the room?" A doctor called out holding a clipboard.
Jed stood up and smiled in the doctor's direction. The tall man in the lab coat directed him down the hall. Before they entered a room, Jed looked back, "You coming?"
"I'll wait here..." she told him.
Ryan was finishing up his last class of the day. Once it was over, he hurried back to his dorm. As he unlocked it, he went inside and hung up his bag, "Kaitlin?" he called out. He looked around and she wasn't there. He checked his watch and it read 3:46PM. Her and Jed left for the doctor's in the morning, they couldn't still be there? Ryan wondered. He grabbed his phone from his pocket and tried to call both her and Jed but they didn't respond.
"Damn," he cursed to himself. With that, there was a knock on his door. He swung it open, hoping it to be Kaitlin, but was greeted instead, by Jess.
"Hey you," she smiled.
"Hey," Ryan replied frustrated. He went back into his room, leaving the door open for Jess to come in as well. He tried to call Kaitlin and Jed again.
"Is everything okay?" Jess asked.
"It's just Kaitlin. She went with Jed to the doctor's this morning and I was expecting her to be here once I got off school, but she's not. And her and Jed aren't answering their phones."
"Knowing Jed, she's probably with him right now, making out back at his apartment," Jess teased. But Ryan only glared in her direction.
"I'm kidding," she said in defence, "Jed's a flirt, but you're his friend, he'd never try something like that."
"Yeah, he better not."
"C'mon, I'll drive you to Tommy's. They might be there grabbing a bite," Jess told him.
The two walked to Jess' car, which was parked near the student lounge. The distance was short, but Ryan was getting anxious.
Jess observed Ryan and saw that his leg was shaking, "Ry, calm down. I was just kidding about the whole Kaitlin and Jed thing..."
"I know, I'm not worried about that. All day today, in class, I was distracted just thinking about Kaitlin. Why is she here?"
"You guys are close, aren't you? She probably just misses you."
"No, something's up. She's got Julie Cooper's blood, after all."
"What?"
"Never mind," Ryan said, and shortly after that, they already arrived at Tommy's. Ryan got out of the car quickly and made his way into the restaurant. He scanned the room and surely enough, Jess was right. Kaitlin and Jed were seated at a booth together.
"Ryan, hey!" Jed waved in his direction. Kaitlin turned around to see Ryan walking towards them.
"Hey Ry, how was school?" she asked.
"Good. Jed, how's everything?"
"Just a concussion, thank God not a broken nose..." he laughed in relief.
"Hey guys!" Jess said, now entering the picture.
"Well if it isn't Rocky Balboa," Jed joked.
"Hey, I didn't lay a finger on you. Technically, if the boys weren't distracting me, I could've sunk that shot and no one would have gotten any injuries."
"No worries, Jess, doctor said I'll be good in a few weeks or so."
"What were you guys doing the whole day?" Ryan questioned.
"We just went to the doctor's. I gave Kaitlin a tour of Berkeley and around town. Then we got hungry so here we are."
"You guys want to join us?" Kaitlin asked Jess and Ryan.
Jess immediately knew what Ryan was thinking just by the look he gave Kaitlin and Jed. "Umm, Jed, why don't we go back to the lounge? Mitch and Pete are there."
"What? But I just finished my burger, I want dessert!" Jed complained, not cluing in to what Jess was trying to do.
"C'mon!" she demanded, grabbing him on the arm and dragging him out of the restaurant.
Ryan silently thanked Jess and took Jed's seat in the booth. He made himself comfortable then looked up to meet Kaitlin in the eyes.
"Don't give me that look, Ryan."
"What?"
"That look as if you're babying me."
"I didn't give any looks," he said in defence. She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, "So Jed..?"
"Ryan, Jed and I were just hanging out."
"Okay, okay, whatever..." He said, not buying it. He took a sip of water and cleared his throat.
"Just say whatever it is you're trying to say."
"Look, Kaitlin, what's going on?"
"What are you talking about?"
"The surprise trip to Berkeley?"
"I wanted to see how you were doing."
"No one just takes a bus to visit their older sister's ex-boyfriend."
Kaitlin raised her eyebrows, "So I'm just Marissa's little sister to you?"
"No, I..." Ryan sighed, "That's not what I meant. I just want to know why you're here. Does your mom even know you left?"
"Don't worry, dad, I told mom about my plans."
"Just please, tell me why you're here."
"I–"
"And don't lie to me."
Kaitlin leaned closer. She opened her mouth as she was about to say something, but hesitated. Finally, she spoke, "School sucks right now. I hate it. I miss the summer, where it was me, you, Seth and Summer. I actually miss Marissa. I was never really close with you guys, but still... you guys were family and now it's just me in Newport."
Ryan softened up a little, "You can come and visit me whenever you want." Kaitlin's eyes lit up, "But, I could use a little heads up next time okay?"
She laughed, "Okay deal."
"And we'll all be back for Christmas," Ryan added, "Just hang in there, things will get easier, it just takes a little time."
"Fine."
"Good," Ryan said. He grabbed the menu and looked through it, "Want dessert?"
Kaitlin smiled.
After eating, Ryan and Kaitlin decided to meet up with Jess and Jed back at the student lounge.
They walked in and found Pete and Mitch playing Pool, while Jess and Jed were seated at the two couches nearby, in front of the fireplace. They were having a conversation while Jed was playing the guitar.
"Hey again," Kaitlin smiled. She made her way over to sit beside Jed, but Ryan was behind her and cleared his throat. She looked at him and rolled her eyes. He went to take her spot beside Jed, so Kaitlin seated herself beside Jess on the other couch.
"Oh Ryan," Jess laughed, shaking her head.
"I know right?" Kaitlin agreed.
"Is he always that protective over you?" She asked Kaitlin quietly, so only the two of them could hear each other.
"Ugh I don't know. I think being protective is just in his blood." She looked over at Ryan who took Jed's guitar and was concentrated on what he was playing while Jed was instructing him on what to do. "I mean, my sister's not here and he's single, so I guess I'm the only option he can protect. But eventually, maybe you'll have Ryan to be your knight in shining armour."
"Oh please, I don't him to protect me," Jess giggled at the thought.
"So you two don't have any attraction for one another?" Kaitlin asked, testing her.
Jess gave her a confused look but then realized Kaitlin was not aware, "Kaitlin, you don't need to worry about me and Ryan. We're friends."
"I know. And I'm still rooting him and my sister once she gets back. But still, while she's travelling and he's here in Berkeley, don't you think that eventually you two will hook up?"
"Kaitlin, I think Jed and Ryan didn't tell you because they respect me and believe it's up to me to tell people. That's why I love the two so much."
"Tell me what?"
"I'm gay. I like girls and girls only."
"What? Oh... Wow... I mean, cool. That's pretty cool," Kaitlin said. Jess just nodded her head awkwardly, "Sorry for being nosey and all... it's just, there's this part of me that is so sure Ryan will marry my sister."
"And you didn't want me to get in the way, hey, I totally understand," she smiled.
"So does, like, everyone know?"
"All my friends... Not so much my parents."
"Well, why not?"
"I don't know," she shrugged.
The two girls sat there in silence, until Jess changed the subject, "I gotta pee, you?"
"Yeah, sure." They stood up from the couch, "We gotta pee, we'll be right back!"
"What's with girls always going in groups when it comes to peeing?" Jed said with a confused face.
Jess and Kaitlin just rolled their eyes at Jed's comment.
While they were gone, Ryan continued to practice the guitar.
"You're getting better man, I swear. You're a quick learner," Jed told him.
At that moment, Ryan heard a vibrating sound and saw Kaitlin's phone on the table ringing. He passed the guitar to Jed as answered the phone, "Hello?"
"Kaitlin? Who is this?" the voice on the other end said, he didn't sound too happy.
"Who is this?" he shot back.
"This is Bryce, Kaitlin's boyfriend," the voice started to soften up.
"Kaitlin just left, can I take a message?" Ryan asked.
"Tell Kaitlin, to not push through with this idea. Please, tell her I was wrong. Tell her that I'll do anything for her and the baby."
"What did you just say?" Ryan asked, completely stunned.
"Look, whoever you are, just please tell Kaitlin to come home. Her mom's worried, I'm worried, please."
Ryan looked to see Kaitlin and Jess making their way over to the group.
"I will make sure she gets home as soon as she can," he said as he flipped shut the phone.
"Hey Ry, wanna play some pool?" Kaitlin asked. As soon as the words escaped her lips, she could see the change in emotion on Ryan's face. "What's wrong?"
"I just got off the phone... with Bryce," he said.
"Who's Bryce?" Jess asked, coming up behind Kaitlin. She could see the fear creeping up on Kaitlin face and the fuming anger on Ryan's.
"Kaitlin's boyfriend," he told her.
"Ex now," She corrected him.
"You lied to me!" Ryan said, starting to raise his voice. "After I specifically told you not to."
"Ryan, calm down, not here," Jed said trying to intervene.
Kaitlin remained silent and ashamed. Ryan shook his head, "This is like high school all over again. I can never escape this stupid drama."
"Stupid drama? Ryan, this is exactly why I didn't tell you!" Kaitlin shot at him.
"But I found out anyways. And now what am I supposed to do?"
Kaitlin scoffed, "I never asked you for your help or for your protection."
"Yeah, but here you are, in the middle of the semester and completely out of the blue, visiting me. Do I need to remind you that you came to see me?"
"Yeah, you're right. I came here to see you! Clearly, that was a mistake." Kaitlin's eyes started to well up, but before she could cry, she ran and left the lounge in a hurry.
Ryan felt like a complete ass and tried to chase after her when Jess stopped him, "Wait, maybe you shouldn't."
"I will," Jed volunteered.
"Like hell you will!" Ryan told him.
"Ryan, after you being a complete dick just now, Jed's way better off to go after Kaitlin than you," Jess told him. Ryan knew she was right and sat right down on the couch while Jed ran out and tried to catch up to Kaitlin.
Jess looked at Ryan who had an expressionless face.
"Hey Jess, Pete and I are gonna grab a bite, we'll see you guys around," Mitch said. The two left the lounge, to leave Jess and Ryan alone.
"Hey, want to explain what happened back there?" Jess asked. Ryan just ignored her and remained silent. "Like, why you were being such a dick?"
Ryan glared at Jess, but Jess glared right back, not phased by Ryan's death stare. This was the first time someone challenged him like this, so he turned away.
"Ryan, talk. You not talking... You said it yourself, it'll be just like high school."
Eventually, Ryan sighed and gave in, "I answered the phone and a guy was saying these things like he'll do anything to be there for Kaitlin and the... baby..? And that everyone back home is worried."
"Baby?"
"Yeah... I wish I heard wrong, but definitely heard the word."
"And?"
"And what? She lied about just visiting me. She lied about her mom being fully aware of her vacation to Berkeley."
"Yes she did. But can we not think about that right now? Look at the bigger picture here!" Jess yelled at him.
Ryan looked over, "What do you mean?"
"She's pregnant, ran away from her boyfriend and mom back in Newport, and came here. Here. To you. I don't know what your deal is with the Coopers but they clearly trust and depend on you." Jess stopped talking to see Ryan registering everything she just said. A wave of disappointment in himself came over him and she could see that. "Ryan, I'm just saying. You saw the mistakes Marissa's made in the past and forgave her. You told me all these regrets you have now with how you dealt with everything. I really don't want to hear you regret this moment right now. And make the same mistake with Kaitlin. I used to think you only care for Kaitlin because she's Marissa's little sister. But this whole day I've seen the way you really care for her as if she's your younger sister.."
"I can't help being protective," he shrugged.
"Yeah, and that's a good thing. It's just sometimes, you being too protective comes off aggressive and full of anger. Kaitlin doesn't need another parent, she just needs an older brother."
Ryan continued to sit there playing with his fingers. He finally meets Jess in the eye giving her a look. With no words said at all, Jess replies, "You're welcome."
Ryan cleared his throat and stood up.
"Where are you going?"
"Going to find Kaitlin."
"Wait, let's go back to your dorm. Give her a little time. Then before it gets too late, I'll find Jed and Kaitlin and I'll bring her back to your dorm safe."
"You–"
"Ryan, trust me."
"...Fine."
Meanwhile Jed was running all over Berkeley trying to find Kaitlin.
"Hey man, have you seen a young, brown haired girl anywhere?" Jed asked a passerby.
"No, sorry man."
He continued to walk around but there was still no sign.
He finally made his way to the sports field. He looked around but only saw cheerleaders and the football team practicing. Before he turned around to look somewhere else, he saw a familiar figure sitting on the top bleachers.
He made his way quietly towards her as she continued to cry to herself.
"Hey," he said quietly, with a sad smile.
Kaitlin looked up and saw Jed. She pulled her legs close to her chest and wrapped her arms around them.
"You okay?" Jed asked.
"Terrific," Kaitlin scoffed.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"Ryan's a dick," she said.
Jed laughed, "Back there, kinda. But just remember, he cares for you a lot."
"Only because I'm Marissa's needy little sister."
"No, he actually cares for you. All of the guys I know wouldn't care less if I asked their ex-girlfriend's younger sister out. All except Ryan. Trust me, he looks out for you whether you see it or not."
"Yeah, but he's just overprotective sometimes."
"Yeah..." Jed agreed silently.
After a moment of sitting in silence, Kaitlin observed Jed's face to see him thinking. She immediately spoke to get him out of his thoughts, "We're not together."
"What?" he asked in shock.
"Me and Bryce."
"You don't have to explain–"
"I'm not explaining myself to you or anything... You just asked if I wanted to talk so I'm talking..."
"Okay then... talk," Jed said to her.
"He's my ex. We broke last week. I was... I was pregnant. But I'm too young to have a baby. We talked about it and he wanted to get married and start a family, which is crazy. Because like I said, I'm too young. We both are... So... I got an abortion and didn't want to face him just yet, so I took a bus here."
"Wow."
Kaitlin started to cry and Jed immediately took her in his arms, "I wish I didn't though. It was our mistake, we should have been more careful. But it was still a life in me that I took away. I wish I didn't."
"Shh, it's okay."
"I could have given he or she up for adoption but I just gave up in general," Kaitlin continued to sob. Jed held her in his arms as she cried into his shirt.
After a while, Kaitlin eventually calmed down. She started to shiver as it was getting later in the night and colder, "Let's get you to Ryan's dorm."
Kaitlin silently nodded.
As they were entering Ryan's building, the two met with Jess, "Hey, I was just going to find you guys. Is everything okay?"
Jed was about to speak up, but Kaitlin did instead, "No. But it will be," she smiled sadly.
Jed and Jess escorted Kaitlin up to Ryan's room. When they arrived, they opened the door and Ryan shot up from his bed. He ran over to Kaitlin and gave her a big hug and Kaitlin started to cry again.
Jess and Jed backed away slowly as Ryan looked over Kaitlin's shoulder to thank them quietly. They closed the door, leaving Ryan and Kaitlin alone.
"Hey, it's okay. I'm not mad." Ryan lead them to his bed and sat them down. "Kaitlin, I'm sorry."
"I know..." she whispered, looking down. "Ryan, I have something to tell you."
"Bryce told me." He said.
"No, that's not the whole story."
"What is it then?" Ryan asked, worry starting to take over.
Kaitlin told him everything just as she did to Jed. Her sobs made it hard for her to speak but after a while, she was able to get the whole story out.
"I just create stupid drama. You were right." she said.
"No I was wrong. You're not stupid. Yes, you and Bryce should have been more careful, but you are not stupid. I was stupid helping Trey steal that car. We were all stupid at some point and made dumb mistakes, but every single one gets us to where we need to be. We learn from them and that's how we grow."
A moment passed and Kaitlin finally looked up to see Ryan, "What do I do now?"
Ryan took a deep breath, "Unfortunately, I'm pretty you sure you know the answer to that question."
"I just really don't want to go back there," Kaitlin said.
"I know. But we have to face our problems not run away from them, right?" Ryan told her. "Hey, Christmas is less than a month away. I'll be home sooner than you think. And Summer and Seth will be there. It'll be great this holiday. You just need to be strong for these next few weeks."
"Okay..." Kaitlin agreed.
"C'mon, it's late, we should get some sleep."
Ryan got up and made his bed on the ground as Kaitlin made herself comfortable on his bed.
"Goodnight," he said as he turned off the lights.
"Ryan?" Kaitlin whispered in the dark.
"Mmm?"
"Thank you."