Friends to Lovers part 2

Song is from Celtic Woman

Sara heard the front door slam and the shouting started. Sara hide in the corner of her room where her step dad wouldn't see her if he came in. The yelling continued and she could hear glass being broken. She was not going to clean that up. She sat there for what seemed like forever when she heard the front door slam again. She looked at the clock by her dresser it was only five fifteen.

"Well shit."

The front door slammed again and she heard angry foot falls coming up the stairs. She pushed her dresser up against the door and tied a rope she kept hidden to the post of her foot board. The knob on her door started turning and whoever was on the other side started banging on it.

"Sara you little fuck open this door."

Sara threw the rope out the window and started climbing down. Her step dad started slamming harder on the door. She jumped down when she figured she was a safe distance from the ground. She started to run across the backyard. She stopped when she got to the street and slowly walked toward school. The sun started to set as she got closer to school and she noticed a crowd of people around the front of the building. She took a seat on the wall like she usually does and waited for the doors to open.

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Sara looked around for Catherine as she took her seat in the auditorium, hoping to get a glimpse of her before the show started. She was sitting in the middle of her row so she couldn't see either wing of the stage. She sat and flipped through the playbill. Looking to see which act Catherine was in.

Christmas Pipes: Lisa O'Fallon, Catherine Ferrara, Amy Thompson, Tara Miller

She was the second to last act. Sara didn't recognize the song but she knew if Catherine was singing it would be a beautiful song. The lights went down and the Principal walked on stage.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen thank you for coming to our annual Holiday Talent show. Tonight you will see a variety of cultural takes on Holiday classics and original songs as well as dance routines and instrumental pieces. We ask that silence be maintained throughout the performances and please no eating drinking or flash photography. Please be courteous to those around you and keep all opinions to yourselves. Thank you and enjoy the show."

The audience clapped and the curtains opened reveling the first act of the schools dance crew. They danced to I saw mommy kissing Santa Clause. Sara bit her lip trying not to giggle at the spectacle infront of her. They were so badly coordinated she thought they must have choreographed the routine this morning. When the girls finished the audience clapped and the friends of the girls on stage screamed and hollered out their friends' names. Sara looked around her and noticed a lot of the adults whispering to each other and she shook her head. The lights focused on the chorus and they sang a medley of classic songs. After them the Italian club sang some Italian Christmas songs and then the Jewish club sang some Chanukah songs. The acts continued to pass each one sending hot needles through Sara's ears. She checked the playbill and noticed Catherine was next. She sat up straight and listened intently.

Catherine and her three friends were dressed in pastel colored dresses and stood side by side. A wood whistle began to play and the chimes sounded and the girls began to sing.

Christmas pipes, Christmas pipes

Calling us calling on Christmas night

Call us from far, call us from near

Oh play me your Christmas pipes.

Catherine stepped forward.

Christmas bells Christmas bells

Over the hills and over the dells

Ringing out bright ringing out clear

Oh ring me your Christmas bells

Sara sat awestruck. The four girls sounded amazing together and they were the best act of the night. Lisa stepped forward.

Christmas strings Christmas strings

Playing the peace that Christmas brings

Fiddle and bow gentle and low

Oh play me your Christmas strings

They sang the chorus of the song with the schools chorus singing along it was an amazing song, so beautiful and happy. Sara felt the tears welling up in her eyes. The Schools chorus started to lowly sing Holy Night as they reached the 'it is the night' lyrics Tara stepped forward.

Christmas Choir Christmas choir

Christmas carols run Christmas heart

Holy night angles on high

Round up your Christmas Choir

Amy was last to solo.

Christmas band Christmas band

You're waiting for me with your Christmas band

Symbol and drum rattle and hum

My judge your Christmas band

The school chorus sings:

Good to be home to your Christmas pipes

And one of the violinists in the orchestra began to play a duet with the wooden pipe and then in a crescendo the chorus the band and the girls began to sing and play the chorus of the song and Sara sat in awe with a smile on her face and tears streaming down her face. The song ended and the audience stood and cheered. The girls bowed and gave recognition to the chorus and the band. They all bowed and the four girls walked off stage. As the last act came on Sara's knee started bouncing. She was anxious to go see Catherine and tell her how amazing she was. As the last act finished everyone that performed came on stage and took a bow and then the principal came back on stage.

"Okay folks you can meet your friends and children in the cafeteria we will be serving drinks and snacks. Please make your way out carefully and slowly."

Sara stood and slowly made her way to the exit with everyone else and started looking for Catherine when she got into the cafeteria. She saw her standing by the back door saying hi to people. She rushed over to her and stopped just short of picking her up.

"Oh my god Catherine you guys were incredible."

"Awe Sara thank you. I am so glad you came."

Catherine threw her arms around Sara's neck and hugged her. There was a commotion by the front door that caught their attention. Sara recognized her mother staggering through the crowd.

"Shara get your assss over here. You are in deep shit."

Her speech was slurred and she was stumbling over her own two feet. Sara walked over to her.

"Mom what are you doing. . ."

Her sentence was cut off by a hand connecting with her face. There was a collective gasp but no one moved. Sara's mother threw a punch and connected with the left side of Sara's jaw sending her to the floor. Only one person moved. Catherine stood infront of Sara's mom as she went after Sara again.

"Don't you dare."

"Get out of my way you little whore."

Sara's mom tried to push Catherine out of the way but Catherine wouldn't move. Sara's mom went to hit Catherine but she didn't move.

"Go ahead I dare you. I am not afraid of you lady."

Sara's mom looked Catherine in the eye and lowered her fist. She turned and left. Catherine helped Sara off the floor and looked around her at all these people just watching.

"That's right guys just stand there and watch don't do anything to stop her or anything just watch her hit her."

Catherine put Sara's arm over her shoulder and helps her out. Grabbing her stuff she takes her to her car and has her sit in the passenger's seat. She lifted her head so that Sara was looking at her. She saw the bruise forming on her jaw.

"Honey we are gonna have to put some ice on that."

Sara looked into her eyes and saw no pity or fear just anger and outrage but it was not directed at her in anyway.

"I can't go home."

"You're not going home your coming with me."

"Are your parents going to mind?"

Catherine looked at her kind of sadly but Sara couldn't tell why.

"Don't worry about them. Come on swing your legs in."

Sara did as she was told and Catherine climbed in the driver's seat and drove them to her house. Well it wasn't really a house it was an apartment. Catherine parked the car and went to help Sara out.

"I'm ok I can walk."

Catherine led them to a side door and she unlocked it and stepped aside to let Sara in. Sara stepped in and she was in a kitchen/living room area.

"Catherine do you live alone?"

She nodded as she walked over to the fridge and got ice out of the freezer. She put it in a dish towel and motioned for Sara to sit on the couch. Sara stepped to the couch and sat. Catherine lightly pressed the towel to her cheek and let up when Sara winced.

"Sorry hon but it will take the swelling down."

Sara took the makeshift ice pack and held it to her own face. Catherine was about to talk when there was knock at her door. She had a confused look on her face.

"Who is that no one knows where I live?"

She looked through her peep hole and sighed. She opened the door to an older woman about 60 or so years old.

"Catherine honey I need your rent and this came for you today."

The woman handed her a big box. She put it on the table and went to get the rent for her landlady. The older woman looked over at Sara.

"Oh my goodness dear are you alright?"

Sara just nodded. Catherine came back with the rent and handed it to her landlady.

"Catherine may I speak to you."

Catherine stepped outside with the woman.

"Yes Mrs. Londen?"

"Honey what happened to your friend?"

"She got into a fight."

"Is she staying with you?"

"I. . . uhm. . . is that alright?"

"It's fine hon."

"Thank you. I can't send her home."

Mrs. Londen nodded her understanding.

"I spoke to your mother today. She was worried about you."

"Well I'm fine."

"Ok why don't you give her a call just to put her mind at ease?"

"I will. Thank you. Goodnight."

"Goodnight dear."

Catherine walked back inside and looked at Sara.

"OK so let's get you something to wear to bed."

"Catherine I'm a little bigger then you."

"Eh what you have in height I have in. . ."

She looked down at herself.

"Other things."

Sara tried to smile but it hurt too much. She sat back down on the couch as Catherine went into her bedroom.

"Do you want a nightgown or shorts and a T-shirt?"

"Shorts and a T are fine."

Catherine came out with the clothes and handed them to her.

"The bathroom is the first door to the right."

Sara went to change and she looked at her face in the mirror. Her cheek was red and her jaw was starting to turn black and blue. She slowly sat on the edge of the bath tub and untied her shoes. She pulled them off and slid her pants down her hips and unbuttoned her shirt. Before putting the pajamas on she decided she wanted to shower.

"Cath?"

"Yeah?"

"Can I use your shower?"

"You don't have to ask honey."

Sara pulled her panties off and undid her bra. She set the tub up and turned the faucets on. She stepped in and turned the shower on. She let the hot water wash over her body and sooth away the aching in her muscles. She took some of Catherine's body wash and washed her body and then did her hair. Stepping out she wrapped herself in a towel and she started to dry off. As she patted her face dry she began to cry. Why did she have to come to her school? She hit her infront of everyone. Catherine must think she is a mess. She just collapsed to the floor and sobbed. The next think she knew she was wrapped in someone's arms and instead of being yelled at to stop crying whoever it was encouraging her to let out her pain.

"Its ok sweetie let it out."

"Why do they do this to me Cat? What did I do to deserve this?"

"Sara you didn't do anything. You are a beautiful, smart, funny, great person."

Catherine kissed her forehead and rubbed her hands up and down Sara's back.

"What did you say?"

"What?"

"You think I'm beautiful?"

Catherine smiled down at her.

"You are."

"No I'm not. I'm tall, lanky, stringy brown hair, no chest, and I'm covered in scars."

Catherine gently took Sara's face in her hands and looked right into her eyes.

"I see a physically fit, brown eyed brown haired girl that has been through a lot and those scars make you even more beautiful."

Sara saw the truth in Catherine's eyes and she wanted nothing more than to kiss her. She wanted to so bad but she didn't wanna push Catherine into anything or make feel like she had to do this because of what she witnessed.

"Sara are you ok?"

"I wanna kiss you."

Catherine pulled back from her a little bit.

"What?"

"Did I just say out loud?"

Catherine nodded.

"Well no that it's out in the open. I am very attracted to you Catherine. I don't want this to make you uncomfortable. I should go."

Sara stood up and started to get dressed. Sara's back was to Catherine and she could see a long scar that reached from her hip to just below her shoulder on her left side. Catherine stood and ran her finger tips along the length of the scar. Sara stopped moving as she felt Catherine touch her.

"Please stop."

Catherine pulled her hand away. She wrapped her arms around Sara's waist.

"You are not making me uncomfortable. I was just taken by surprise. Sara I have been thinking about you nonstop. The more I got to know you the more I became attracted to you."

Sara pulled her bra straps up and she turned in Catherine's arms.

"How has that not changed after what you saw today?"

"Sara I saw a drunken woman hit the girl I like. I didn't see a mother hitting her daughter."

Catherine had tears in her eyes and she once again grabbed Sara's face.

"I am not letting you go back to that horrible place."

Her voice was cracking and she pulled Sara closer and buried her face in her neck. Sara wrapped her arms around Catherine and held her tight.

"Come let's go to bed."

Sara finished getting dressed and went into the living room.

"Where are you going?"

Sara looked up at a robed Catherine standing in the door way.

"Um on the couch?"

"You are not sleeping on that thing my bed is big enough for both of us."

Sara looked up at her with surprise.

"Come on I don't bite unless you want me to."

Sara smiled and walked over to her. She wrapped her arms around her and lent her head down to her ear.

"I actually like being bitten."

Her seductive tone made Catherine wanna pin her to the wall but she didn't wanna rush whatever this was between them. Sara climbed into the bed looking over at Catherine as she took her robe off. She was in a blue tank top and black shorts.

She climbed in next to her and snuggled in. Sara rolled on her side to look at her. Catherine turned the light out and looked at Sara.

"Cat?"

"Yeah?"

"Can I hold you?"

Catherine smiled and snuggled closer to her careful not to hit her jaw.