Okay, this is chapter 8. I'm hoping it actually makes sense because I've gone back so many times re-writing parts, altering words or taking out things altogether and I'm still not sure I'm entirely happy with it. I'm not sure if I should have changed the rating for this chapter because of a certain word. There's only one so just be warned that it's there.

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Catherine was flirting unashamedly with Tyler. As his hand crept onto her knee under the table she shifted slightly closer, allowing him to proceed further. She twirled a lock of hair around her finger and smiled seductively as Tyler's fingers worked their way to her thigh. He leaned in as though to kiss her but instead skimmed along her cheek to whisper in her ear, causing her to blush and lower her head. Using his other hand, he raised her chin and slowly moved in to kiss her.

Just then, there was a startling ring and everything faded to black. Gil drifted back into consciousness and became aware of his surroundings and the fact that his phone was ringing and vibrating violently against his bedside table. He sat up, shaking his head in an attempt to rid himself of the images of Catherine still visible in his mind and reached out for his phone, taking note of the ID. He answered feeling slightly confused and concerned at the same time.

"Cath? Are you okay?" There was a brief silence before Gil heard a sniffle followed by Catherine's wobbly voice.

"Gil, I'm sorry. Did I wake you?" She sniffled again and cleared her throat. Gil could tell that she was trying to hide the fact that she had been crying which only made him more worried at what had caused his friend to cry in the first place.

"Uhh yeah, but it's fine. I think I was about to wake up anyway," he answered, thinking back to his dream. "What's the matter? Where is Tyler? Did he do something to you? Do you need to me to come for you?" Gil pushed his blanket aside and swung his legs over the edge of the bed, ready to get dressed and go to find Catherine if she was in trouble.

Catherine squeezed her eyes closed, withholding a wave of tears as she sensed how concerned Gil was and that she had unsuccessfully hidden her distress. Taking a deep breath, she replied quietly, "umm no, just… Is Lindsey asleep?"

Gil listened for any sounds of the younger blonde being awake but heard nothing. "I think so. Cath, tell me what's happened, do you need me to help you?"

There was a pause on the other end. "Can I come to yours? I'll explain everything."

"Of course, where are you? I'll come for you." Gil answered without hesitation and began pulling on his trousers.

"I'm actually on my way in a taxi," Catherine sniffled and continued. "I'll be there in a few minutes."

Gil felt relieved that she would soon be in his house where he could keep her from harm and let out a breath. "Okay, I'll see you soon." Catherine hung up without a goodbye. Gil hurriedly pulled on a t-shirt and went downstairs to unlock the door for Catherine then into the kitchen thinking that she may want a cup of coffee when she arrived. He knew it calmed her down so he put on the kettle.

A couple of minutes later, as Catherine had promised, he heard his front door being opened and closed carefully and the sound of Catherine's heels against the laminate floor of his hall. Abandoning her coffee, he went to her, taking in her unsettled appearance and weak smile. She lowered her eyes to the floor and swallowed. "He's married Gil," she told him in a quiet voice. Gil's heart sank at how hurt she was and was immediately enveloping her in his arms. She willed her tears not to fall but a couple still managed to escape, rolling down her cheek onto Gil's shoulder. She held him closely and continued to tell him what had happened.

"We were having such a good evening, so much better than last time and I actually felt like we had something going," she sniffled. "We talked and flirted the whole time over dinner and," she paused, "if I'm honest, I couldn't wait to go home with him," Catherine pushed her face into the crook of Gil's neck, making her blush evident. Gil kept quiet, letting her continue and comforted her by gently circling the small of her back with his thumb, trying to ignore her breath on his neck and the fact that she was still wearing that dress. Catherine sighed with a shudder and went on. "Anyway, we finished dinner, he picked up the tab and we caught a taxi to my house. Things heated up a little in the car and by the time we got home, we were both pretty wound up." She sniffed and pulled out of Gil's embrace and headed towards the sofa with her head lowered, not daring to look Gil in the eye as his gaze followed her. She began removing her shoes. "We got in the door and before I knew it, he had me pressed against it. His hands were everywhere," she rolled her eyes, "and actually his lips felt really good. He was kissing me and-" Catherine caught a glimpse of Gil's uneasy shifting out of the corner of her eye and realized she was disclosing too much information, making him uncomfortable. "I'm sorry," she sighed, leaning forward, her head on one hand. "Next his phone rang. He didn't stop what he was doing when he answered so I was a little distracted. That was until I heard the word 'babe'," she scoffed, slumping back into the sofa. Gil took his cue to sit beside her. "Afterwards, I asked who it was and he just told me it was his wife like it was the most acceptable thing in the world. I couldn't believe it. Then he said she wouldn't find out and we could carry on having fun. As though I wanted to be the 'other woman'…" Catherine shook her head and looked at her hands, biting her lip. "Is that what other people see me as, Gil?" Gil was slightly taken aback and became angry at how much Tyler's actions had knocked his usually confident and sassy friend's esteem.

"No, definitely not Cath." He wanted to reach out and hold her again and tell her how amazing he thought she really was but stayed put and watched her, despite his heart aching. She looked up to him.

"Then why do I always end up with men who treat me like this? I must put off some kind of vibe that makes them think I want to be cheated on or used or," she swallowed as she contemplated her next words, "…thrown around." She lowered her head again and leaned in towards Gil's side. He automatically slipped his arm around her shoulders, feeling her bare skin against his palm and feeling strangely comfortable with the contact.

"Bastards like that don't see real beauty in women, Cath. They look at an attractive woman like you and think that you owe them something or that they're entitled to do what they want with you. They don't care about the qualities you have that make you truly beautiful and that is why they treat you like that. It's nothing you do. They will never experience a meaningful and fulfilling relationship based on love and they're not worth your time." He paused. "'Love looks not with the eyes but with the mind.'" It occurred to him then that Catherine was the only person he could act this way around. He knew he couldn't have given that speech to anybody else without feeling self-conscious or awkward.

Catherine's mind was reeling. Gil was acting so unlike himself and if her ears hadn't defied her, he had used the words 'beautiful', 'attractive' and 'love' whilst talking about her. She understood what he was saying though. Guys like Tyler and Eddie only ever wanted her for what she looked like and not who she really was. She thought back to the quote he had used and glanced up at him. "Shakespeare?" He met her eyes.

"You got it," he smiled softly. She returned a small smile and laid her head back against him with a sigh. "Why can't there be more guys like you, Gil? You know, I think you're the only man I've ever fully trusted. You've been by my side through everything and despite all my mistakes and stupid ideas, you've never abandoned me. I just wish I could find somebody like you to spend the rest of my life with instead of-" Catherine continued but Gil began to lose himself in his own thoughts. He replayed her words and realised perhaps he could be the one to make her happy. She had said herself merely seconds ago that she wanted somebody like him. Maybe she didn't have to look for that person and could just have him. He contemplated giving in to her but he was reluctant to make a move. Perhaps he was generalising too much and she didn't actually want him. As his thoughts wrestled in his mind trying to establish a clear understanding, Gil became aware of his own feelings towards the strawberry blonde now snuggled into his side and felt his heart leap. He couldn't even hear what she was saying anymore but watched her lips move as she spoke. Surely he wasn't in love with Catherine? He had known for a long time that he cared deeply for his friend and always wanted to protect her but had he really been so oblivious to his true feelings?

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Well it might be evil stopping there but for the next part I wanted a new chapter haha. It keeps my mind going if I have a clean page to start on. But tell me what you think of this so far anyway. I've already started on the next chapter but I need the encouragement to keep going so please review. Thanks x

The quote used by Gil is from A Midsummer Night's Dream by Shakespeare.