Chapter Fourteen
Katie had the best time of her life. Jessica took them to the hottest club in London. Looking as good as they did, Jessica wearing a mini skirt and a barely there tank and Tamara wearing skin tight skinny jeans and a midriff bearing top, they got tons of drinks sent in their direction. What Katie didn't drink, because she was the designated driver, Jessica and Tamara finished.
After she was good and smashed, Jessica brought up Sabina.
"So how do you like Sabina?"
"I hate her."
"Really? Why? She didn't seem that bad to me when I met her."
"She treats me like shit and I don't think she likes Paige." She then told her how Sabina turned up her nose whenever Paige was in the room.
"Why don't you tell Alex?"
"I'm not about to tell him that his precious girlfriend is a skank. He's a big boy; he can find that out for himself."
"Why don't you call her on her shit?" Tamara asked above the music.
"I did."
"And?"
"She's backed off a little after accusing me of being a whore. It doesn't really matter, though. I've been thinking about moving out."
"Why?"
"Alex and Sabina are getting serious. I knew it was only a matter of time before someone came along to steal his heart. I can't still be living there when he gets married. That's totally weird."
"That's true. Enough about Skankzilla. Let's party!" Tamara exclaimed as she turned to the nearest available guy to dance with.
Following her example, Katie did the same thing and had a blast.
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Katie stumbled through the door a good six hours later. Slightly tipsy, she made her way up the stairs. When she reached the top, she saw that Alex had his door open so she walked in without a second thought. She wished the door was closed or that she had waited long enough to knock on the door frame.
In the middle of the bed, a topless Sabina was straddling Alex using her mouth for something other than kissing. For what seemed like eternity was only a few seconds. Even though she felt her heart break into a million fragments, Katie could not turn away. She thought her feet were frozen to the floor, until she saw Sabina pause and smirk in her direction. Katie adverted her eyes and walked to her room in a daze. For the first time in a long time, Katie cried herself to sleep.
The next morning, she was gone before the other two woke up. Alex found the note she left in the kitchen.
Sorry about last night. I have something to do today so I left early. Your breakfast is in the oven and you can eat one of three things in the fridge. I probably won't be back until late so you might want to order take out. Katherine.
Alex thought that was odd. Of all the years he had known Katie, she never signed her notes with her full name. He peeked into the oven and sure enough, there was food. Enough for both of them, if he shared. He ate half and left half for Sabina when she woke up.
Sabina was shocked to find an empty house when she awoke. She half wished that Katie was there just to aggravate her and point out her latest conquest. As she sat down with her breakfast, she thought about the look on Katie's face last night. It was priceless; she couldn't have done her job any better. Now that Katie was going to back off, she could go full steam ahead with her plan. She would be married by Christmas.
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Katie's absences started to form a pattern. She would leave before they got up and come home after Alex got off from work. She would then get dressed and go out.
Sabina was ecstatic. No Katie meant that she had all the time in the world with Alex. She didn't have to worry about her walking in on them in the throes of passion.
Alex, however, was worried. Katie never sat still long enough for him to read her face. Whenever she was asked where she was going, she would reply the "gym" in the morning or "out" at night. If she didn't go out, she was always busy doing something around the house. Alex didn't want to be the possessive friend, but the compulsion of calling her friends was almost too strong to bear.
Katie on the other hand, was walking around in a daze. She couldn't get that image out of her mind. She tried to get it out by staying busy around the house but that didn't help because she realized that it was the house and what went on in the house that plagued her dreams. So instead of putting herself through that, she stayed away. She knew it was childish but when she stayed away, it helped her to think. Since she didn't have Alex to talk to anymore, she turned to the next best person, Jack.
The first morning Katie showed up at Jack's house unannounced, Jack thought something had gone wrong. After Katie assured her that all was well, she relaxed but she stayed curious. Then Katie started turning up every other day with the excuse that she wanted to see Paige. Jack let Katie continue on with fooling herself until she came over with the same lame ass excuse on a day that Paige was spending time with Shane's sister.
"Katherine, sit down."
Katie had never heard Jack call her by her full name so she sat immediately.
"What are you running away from now?"
"Nothing."
"Bullshit."
That one word sent her walls crashing down. That was the word Alex always used to help her see straight. And it was that one word that brought all of the images, words, and feelings that she had filed away in her memory back to the forefront of her mind.
"Oh, honey, what's wrong?" Jack asked as she rushed over to wrap her arms around Katie.
"Everything," Katie sobbed.
Jack let Katie sob on her shoulder until she was ready to talk.
"I caught them a few weeks ago."
"Caught them?"
"Sabina was doing what she is best at and I walked in."
"Oh dear."
"Yes."
"Did they not know you were there?"
"I went out earlier that night. When I got home, I saw the door open. An open door means that it's okay to walk in without knocking. Well, I walked in and got an eye full. The worst part about was that she smirked at me. That bitch smirked and my heart broke."
"That little tramp. I'm sure she planned the whole thing," Jack said getting to her feet.
"She probably did. She warned me to stay away from Alex. I guess that was my punishment for going to the gym with him for a few hours a few weeks ago," she said following Jack into the kitchen.
"If I tell you something, will you promise to listen?"
"Yes."
"You love him don't you?"
"Yes."
"No. I mean you love him. More than just a friend."
Katie couldn't deny it any more and she just nodded.
"That's what I thought. Obviously, Sabina saw straight through your denials and she used it against you. She knows how much you care for him and that you want what's best for him. She's convinced you that she is what he wants."
"They look happy together, Jack. I can't deny him that."
"Happiness is more than just looking good together. Happiness comes from enjoying the other's company."
"Oh they enjoy each other's company all right," Katie griped.
"I don't mean sex, or just sex. I mean genuinely wanting to be in that person's company doing the most basic things. Cleaning, cooking, watching TV. Happiness also comes from knowing that the person you love has your back. Now, I know that Alex deserves his bit of happiness, but you have to tell him how you feel."
"And have him hate me? Jack, I can't."
"Well, why not?" Jack asked in a huff.
"I'm his friend, Jack. If his girlfriend hates me, then she hates me. I can't change that. All I can do is be there for him."
"At what cost? Are you willing to place his happiness over yours?"
"Yes."
"Even if that means that he can find his happiness with you?"
"Jack, he doesn't feel the same way," Katie protested as she paced in front of the kitchen windows.
"How do you know how he feels?"
"Do you know how he feels?" Katie fired back.
"I can see it on his face every time he looks your way. Love isn't always direct; it can come at you from all different angles."
Katie just sighed. "Can I stay here for a few days until I can figure this mess out?"
"Of course. I've got the guest room ready," Jack said as she led the way upstairs.
"You knew I was going to come?" she asked genuinely surprised and Jack just gave her a look.
"Of course. It was only a matter of time."
Poor Katie. Once again, she's running away. Just when she thought things were going to be okay, she falls into a black hole of heart break. Drop me a line and tell me what you think.
I would just like to thank everyone for reviewing. With the way things are going, I'm going to have to ask the plot bunnies to give me something to work with. Until then... -RC