Warning. Once again, if you like Kat's character, you may not enjoy this chapter. I do portray her as a conniving bitch… or whatever so DO NOT read if you like her.
Endless Roads
Chapter 18 - Fighting Back
Kat barged through her apartment door, with tears running down her cheeks and the heat of anger raging through her body. She slammed the door shut behind her, and threw her car keys onto her coffee table, then turned and headed towards the bedroom. The feeling of betrayal was absolutely painful for her to bear. While she walked, she combed her fingers through her hair in frustration and let out a loud growl. The one thing that she feared had come true, and she couldn't believe that Tommy had done this to her.
After a lot of thinking during the drive back home, she finally realized the reason why things between her and Tommy were going so well during the past few days. It was all a plan to distract her from what was really happening. Her suspicions were right when she thought that there was something going on with Tommy. He didn't usually go out as often as he did, and he for sure never came home late the way he had been. But now the question was, was he lying this whole time? And the sweet things that he had done for her the past few days, were they sincere?
She couldn't believe that she was fooled. And the worst part of it was that Tommy would never pull something of this sort, until now, until Kimberly came back into town. Her biggest fear. Just thinking about what could have went on between the two of them made her sick.
Suddenly, she remembered what had happened between her and Kim earlier that night. She remembered the conversation that they had and the things that she said to her. Could it have been possible that the reactions on Kimberly's face were not a matter of jealousy, but a matter of betrayal? Was it possible that Kim felt betrayed by Tommy for showing her affection and then turning around and going back to Kat?
The more she thought about what happened back at Rocky's party, the more she was convinced that something did happen between her boyfriend and his ex. She recalled the awkwardness between herself and Kimberly. Could it be that she was the reason why Kim left dinner so quickly? Did she leave because of the obvious affection clearly displayed in front of her? Suddenly it became all clear. Tommy ran after Kim right when she got up and left the table. What was the reason for that? Because he knew he hurt her feelings, and he had to make her feel better. Yes… it was crystal clear.
Ever since Kat came to Angel Grove, she had always been jealous of the connection that Tommy and Kim had. It took her years to get between that connection, and just when things were finally going her way, Kimberly just had to return, only to ruin the one thing she had worked so hard for.
No! She wasn't going to let that happen. Kim left years ago, leaving Tommy heartbroken and hurt. Kat was there for Tommy all those years to help him, while Kim was on the other side of the country falling in love with someone else. Who the hell did Kim think she was to just reappear again and steal Tommy away from her? No! She wasn't going to let that happen, not without a fight.
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Another hour had passed by, and again Jason, Lacey and Tommy sat in the waiting room for more news. Not a single one of them would leave until they heard that Kim was going to be all right.
As Tommy sat, a million thoughts rushed through his mind. He couldn't stop thinking about what Kat was up to at that moment and what she was feeling. He had the urge to run home and talk to her, convince her that she was upset over nothing; but then again, that would have been a lie. Even he couldn't believe that he had lied to the one he loved, and went as far as kissing someone else. It wasn't like him, and he knew it.
On the other hand, that someone else was Kimberly. Not just some stranger he had just met, but a girl whom he had lots of history with, and of course feelings for that he just couldn't ignore. The agony from waiting for more news was overwhelming, he just wanted to run into the surgery room and see her, but of course he had to be patient. He then thought back to earlier that night when Kat called him to tell him the news about what happened. He recalled of how time stood still for that single moment, how his heart stopped from the shock of the news. It absolutely took him by surprise, as he was unable to believe that more horrible things could have happened to that girl. Soon thinking back to his highschool days, he remembered how he swore to make sure nothing ever happened to her, how he would protect her. Funny how as soon as she left him, her life took a dramatic turn. Getting addicted to drugs, getting abused by a boyfriend and getting involved in a deadly car crash… so many things had happened. Now to add her most recent to the list. Tommy gently shook his head in disappointment.
"What are you shaking your head at?" Lacey quietly replied.
Tommy turned his head to look at her, noticing the pale color on her face.
"You don't look so well." He muttered.
She gave out a little chuckle. "I guess… it's all this waiting. It's really making me nervous."
Tommy nodded.
"She's going to be okay though." Lacey said. "I know she is."
"You sound very sure of yourself."
"Why!" She quickly spat out. "You don't think she will?"
"I didn't say that, calm down." Tommy replied, uncomfortable with Lacey's tone of voice.
"I'm sorry." She sighed. "I guess I'm a bit edgy as well."
"I think we all are." He answered, which was soon followed by minutes of silence.
Tommy looked over at Jason who sat across the room, looking out of the window, staring up at the dark sky. He noticed him gently tapping his fingers on the armrest of his chair, while tapping his foot against the floor.
"So what are you going to say to Kat when you get home?" Lacey asked, suddenly breaking the silence.
Tommy paused. "I have no idea."
"I am so sorry about blabbing that out in front of her." Lacey whispered. "I know I've said it before, but I feel really bad about it."
"It's okay." Tommy muttered as he blankly stared across the room.
"Do you love her?"
"Who Kat?"
"Kim."
Tommy took a moment before answering. "Is it possible… to be in love with two people at the same time?"
"I can see that happening." Lacey smiled.
"You guys…" Jason quickly interrupted as he got up from his seat.
All three looked up to see Doctor McCarthy walk into the room, and immediately the tension could be felt.
"How is she?" Jason quickly replied.
A smile slowly formed on Doctor McCarthy's face, which was soon followed by an assuring nod.
"Well…" He began. "It's good news."
Instantly the nerve-racking feeling started to fade away.
"The scans came out positive. There were no signs of damage to any part of the brain… surgery went very well. The doctors were able to stop the bleeding, so all in all… it looks like she's going to be fine."
A gigantic smile appeared on all faces.
"When will we be able to see her?" Tommy asked.
"Well she's in recovery right now." Doctor McCarthy replied. "She's still unconscious… so I'd say we give her a couple hours of rest before we let any visitors see her."
"Okay." Tommy nodded.
"In the mean time, why don't you guys head home. You've been here all night; it'd probably do you some good to get some rest. Come back in the morning."
"He's got a point you guys?" Lacey spoke up.
"Yeah, I guess we should." Tommy agreed.
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"Kat?" Tommy quietly called out, gently closing his apartment door behind him. It was three o'clock in the morning, so he expected her to be asleep in bed, but to his surprise, she was sitting in the living room couch watching TV.
Soon as she noticed Tommy walking through the door, she quickly grabbed the remote, shut off the TV, and stood up looking at him.
"Hi… you're home." She replied, looking nervously.
"I thought you'd be in bed by now."
"I couldn't sleep." She muttered.
Tommy could feel a slight awkwardness between them.
"Look… about what Lacey said…"
"Never mind that." She quickly interrupted. "I forgive you."
Tommy paused in confusion. "What?" He replied.
"I ran off because, yes, I was upset, but I know it's not your fault."
"Not my fault? What are you talking about?" Tommy asked.
Tommy looked at her, seeing a pair of soft and gentle eyes staring back at him. There was no sign of anger at all which caught him by surprise.
"Tommy… you know how I bumped into Kimberly just before she got hit?"
"Yeah." He nodded.
"Well…" Kat sighed. "She said some things to me that I think you should know about."
"What did she say to you?"
Kat took a moment before answering.
"Tommy, she's toying with you."
"What?"
"When I saw her, all I asked was how she was doing, and then all of a sudden she began this huge speech about how I don't deserve you, and that you belong to her and not me." Kat explained. "She's deliberately trying to break us up."
Tommy didn't know what to say to this. It couldn't have been true. Kim would never manipulate anyone, would she?
"Tommy, you should have heard all of the hurtful things she said. She said I was worthless, and that you and I don't belong together."
"Kat… I-I don't know what to say."
"Say that you won't give into her manipulation. You see that's why I'm not mad at you Tommy, because I know now. I know the reason why you were with her, was because you were tricked into a scheme of hers. And I know that if we stick together, she won't win this."
Tommy just couldn't believe what he was hearing. This couldn't be true. He could have sworn that the times he spent with Kim were sincere. There was just no way Kim would do a thing like this.
"A-Are you sure?"
"What? You don't believe me?" Kat asked, with a look of shock on her face.
"I just don't see Kim doing something like this."
"Tommy who would you rather trust! Me! Or Kimberly whose been lying to all of us ever since she got here!" She exclaimed.
"No, no… I believe you. It's just… I can't believe she would do something like this."
"Well she has. And I will not let her ruin us." Kat sternly replied. "Tommy promise me you won't leave me for her."
"I won't… I won't." Tommy assured her, as he gave her a hug to calm her down. A look of confusion appeared on his face, still unable to believe that such a thing was true. He didn't know whom to trust.
