p style="text-align: center;" data-p-id="59111005a99ff8c6fad2ddba3ce391e2"em-/embr /emShawn's POV /embr /em-/em/p
p data-p-id="4bce938281f49e3b738e81d545f1a21f"I was waiting on Kat to get ready. She was done with her hair and makeup by now, she just couldn't decide on what to wear. I sat on the edge of the bed with my chin resting in my hands as she modeled for me./p
p data-p-id="281d227d4a48f92770b6764f5034a2ca"She came out of the bathroom this time in a modest dark red dress. It looked beautiful on her, just like the first five./p
p data-p-id="56b72d220900822a0a64751f55c55c98""What do you think?" She asked, spinning in a circle. This one looked warmer than the others, with long sleeves. It didn't make much of a difference to me. She looked great in all of them./p
p data-p-id="cc62c44c8c2043eb03715218db6924ed""It looks fine," I told her./p
p data-p-id="5d0fa1e03fce180f850450018c04c82c"From her face, I could immediately tell that was a mistake. "Just fine?" She turned to look in the mirror, apparently looking for the flaw in it./p
p data-p-id="1d3b0708f5657e1a16ec5bb808e3cf15"I stifled a groan as I stood, breaking the space between us in a couple steps. "Kat, you look great. You look great in all of them." I wrapped my arms around her from behind, both of us staring into the mirror now./p
p data-p-id="3ee3044220c0378135b885cd6471272b"She sighed. "I'm sorry. I'm just worried about what my family is going to think."/p
p data-p-id="1d79eaec40ef82374ad7418dfc4bdcae""Why would they care?"/p
p data-p-id="7fe507bef321bd3ce76410077013f743""My parents are... judgy," she explained. "Most of the time, Mom will just turn up her nose if she doesn't like what I'm wearing. Which is all the time."/p
p data-p-id="c6b6c66a9d214bbf608da38ced01aef6""Who cares what your parents think? It's not their business. I think you look gorgeous." I turned my head to give her a kiss on the cheek. "I like this one, and you can wear your little black jacket thingy with it."/p
p data-p-id="36315456a4d8c5afa3e1e9a5beb177a0""My shawl?" she giggled./p
p data-p-id="49f7040bd75f1be9db30da24ad4ecc9d""Yeah, that thing." I brought it over to her and wrapped it around her shoulders. Stunning, like always. "There."/p
p data-p-id="bfa7e57f0cbb9b2be49ef6a25cf5ceb8"She looked long and hard into the mirror before finally letting out a deep breath. "I guess it's this or nothing."/p
p data-p-id="c8e5e35d1c8d2f57f6293c5d98c6338c"I cracked a smile. "Personally, I think you'd look better with nothing."/p
p data-p-id="7a7a680dba049a06fb346f9f45b1918d"She just shook her head at me as she grabbed her shoes. They were flats, I made sure. "Oh, you would think that."/p
p data-p-id="c6125b8152acb231ed51de0acb8a246d""We can pick up your things today while we're there. We'll drop them off at my place-emour/em place tomorrow," I suggested./p
p data-p-id="38d5316233e799030692c1502045b459""I already called Steph, she said she'd box up my clothes and a few other things." Of course, she was always one step ahead./p
p data-p-id="38cddb5adde8ff6dbe9509a6f0e0ddcd"We settled into her car. She didn't seem to keen on driving, with the way her hands were shaking, so I took the wheel. She started fiddling with the end of her shawl thing to calm her nerves./p
p data-p-id="f9f5eb65df148e35268fb0a7b7eded59"With my free hand, I held one of hers. I wanted to help, but I wasn't really sure how. She had been fussing over this night for weeks, and now it was here./p
p data-p-id="69d1de720e05e2ef8bb415bf4f9557c0""I can always just turn around," I told her. "We don't have to go. We can go pick up Paul and have Thanksgiving with just us." That didn't actually sound too bad to me./p
p data-p-id="2a95130487e0c517dd438528a99880f8"She sighed. "Unfortunately, we have to go. But who knows, maybe it won't be that bad."/p
p data-p-id="b047f5234c10892f961f18038ecf9687""I still think you're getting all worked up over nothing."/p
p data-p-id="c5d22f3c1981dade49f893dc8d6de94c""A McMahon family holiday is an ordeal within itself, but here I am inviting a boy into the belly of the beast. I just don't know what's going to happen. I don't like not knowing," she commented./p
p data-p-id="448ce4e13acb75f15ab158d575101aa2""I think I'll be okay, no matter what. Don't worry about it." She was still worried about it./p
p data-p-id="effb18c7ea92a872e49ab3c76f1cab5e"When we pulled up, you couldn't even tell anyone lived there, let alone had a party going on./p
p data-p-id="6920b2c3a99486aff5bfaf36cfc54ca6"I wasn't sure what to expect when we walked in, but Kat seemed to at least have some direction. We were greeted at the door by an older man I'd never met. He welcomed us in before enveloping Kat in a hug./p
p data-p-id="840c0d1fb372ad09e466bb4c839bcf03""Sarah! Or, is it Katherine now? They never tell me these things," he said./p
p data-p-id="8ef3cc8a955f86815d5e5b67e0d3e3a5""It's Katherine, Grandpa Edwards." She smiled sweetly./p
p data-p-id="929e21dbb9912932242598b018c737ed""I've missed you, you haven't been around. How's your schooling?"/p
p data-p-id="1c580636530e75ba9e1340854985fedc""Um..." Kat bit her lip, squeezing my hand tighter. Apparently her grandfather had not been told about her dropping out. "It's great," she finally lied./p
p data-p-id="4d2994380821983bce6efb24942726cd""Of course it is. You've always been a brilliant student. I bet you're acing all your classes." He chuckled and seemed to finally notice my presence. "Who's this?"/p
p data-p-id="422f81233703a3b66509f80a09de15bd"Kat lit up a bit. "Oh! This is my boyfriend, Shawn. Shawn, this is Grandpa Edwards."/p
p data-p-id="81b9f60b0006ecef03896d70c9d9b4b4"I held my free hand out for him to shake. "Shawn Hickenbottom. It's a pleasure to meet you." I was trying my best to be all professional, for Kat's sake./p
p data-p-id="9c6bbac3d46b3a2ec291239546681701""Henry Edwards. I hope you're taking good care of our Katherine," he joked./p
p data-p-id="45eca287ec42ead2eda6fafc5d164a1e""Oh, I am," I assured him. I pulled Kat a little closer. Any excuse I got to do that, I was going to take./p
p data-p-id="f373c19b192b5ecd15462be32910ef3c"He chuckled and told us his wife was calling, so he'd better get back in the kitchen./p
p data-p-id="90a995b6185ef905fee47076fd70237e"I whispered to Kat as he left, "You didn't tell me your grandparents would be here."/p
p data-p-id="0f60b06b48142b69bc89d9fdbad05f77"She simply whispered back, "I had no idea."/p
p data-p-id="afbf5b7f5effaabfc4ad92c51440ee48"The house was all done up and decorated, I assumed Linda's doing. My mom always put up festive decorations during the holiday season, too. Maybe it was just a thing./p
p data-p-id="2ff65109a981c955a3c15ea736d45e9b"Speaking of Linda, when she noticed us, she made her way right over. She'd come from upstairs. She looked over the both of us with a look I didn't really care for before finally making a "Hmm" expression./p
p data-p-id="401085d2fa15202e8ec4008d1c1eac3a""Hi, Mom," Kat greeted. She was so desperately looking for her mother's approval. It was almost painful to watch./p
p data-p-id="a49343a87c61fb3bfc3909d1a5ece934"Linda I guess decided we didn't look too awful. She gave Kat and I a smile. "Hi, Sweetheart. Do me favor: Stephanie is upstairs having a crisis. She can't decide what to wear, and she absolutely hates everything I show her. Go talk some sense into that girl, and drag her down here if you have to." She seemed pretty disappointed that Steph had not joined the party yet./p
p data-p-id="f0aa52ff142b9e7d64fae312178d3e1c"Kat nodded. If anyone was going to get Steph downstairs, it was Kat./p
p data-p-id="693f6544ac8d85dc0f00e921dcb29e9a""I'll be right back," she told me./p
p data-p-id="d077f0f66ace9be887723192cf4d5f8d""What am I supposed to do?" I asked./p
p data-p-id="d6b8a96b7e30d3e2a222ed9bf2577847""Um... mingle. Meet my grandparents. Talk to my family. Not Shane. Anyone but Shane. I'll be down as soon as possible." After giving me a peck on the lips, she hurried upstairs./p
p data-p-id="454e8e9816543186567296ab1de4027d"Well, she told me not to interact with Shane. So, naturally, he was the first person I sought out./p
p data-p-id="f0f04f6db0b05bf4bfb1897db9527ec1""Hey, Shane! How are you doing?" I put on the brightest, fakest smile I could muster./p
p data-p-id="9765fbfd90178f8680f804fcb963dcd9""Hello, Shawn." He immediately looked like he hated my guts. Man, did I love when people just hated me. It was quite common, actually./p
p data-p-id="e641072e2941f27fdfa86ec3dc5a60b9""So I was just thinking, is it weird to know your little sister gets more action than you?" Oh, cut me some slack. I had to do emsomething/em to rile him up. Where would the fun be if I didn't?/p
p data-p-id="090a63fc5c64ee7705478431166dd940"Shane's face turned red as he tried to not just flat-out deck me in the middle of the living room./p
p data-p-id="dc39775352a5e15e9dc11cc94d7b14fa""You know, I don't know what she sees in you. That's her decision. But if I ever hear about you hurting her in any way, I swear-"/p
p data-p-id="36062731f8a194ac513ab0b174b71b85"I held my hands up in surrender. "Easy, easy. I would never hurt Kat, okay? She's my everything."/p
p data-p-id="e364a9213675726337ebacdbbd29b506"He seemed to settle some. "I'd like to hear that from her."/p
p data-p-id="e1a689701270457fae4105567b19bc82"I shrugged. "Ask her yourself."/p
p data-p-id="5192672163f848c3a6d6ff52f6ec120c"Kat picked the perfect time to be making her way back to us. She entangled her hand in mine, stopping between Shane and I./p
p data-p-id="efe70bdb59e15baa64cf8c6b3fa777c5""Is there a problem?" she asked. She gave me a look like "What did I fucking tell you" to which I just smiled innocently./p
p data-p-id="1a6f232e9aa792a1e1f40c87d759b2f3""No problems here," I assured her. She didn't look so sure, but she wasn't about to argue./p
p data-p-id="7861768cf310d2951991aa309663f017""Kat, what's that bruise on your knee from?" Shane questioned./p
p data-p-id="17170c404b45a0ddfb5780162e4ac538"She looked down at the bruise be forcing back up at us. "Oh, ask Shawn about that one."/p
p data-p-id="58acfbc9e80bd4805de8e3026357f4ee"Shane gave me a look I really didn't like. "What?"/p
p data-p-id="770b34906d362e56d745a6d7047cbe3d""He loves this story," Kat finished. "He's only told every single person we've met up with since." She rolled her eyes./p
p data-p-id="caaf15d77576335af08fa4c3165ba40b"I chuckled, trying to shake off Shane's glare. "So we're walking in the airport, right? Completely flat surface. There's no steps, no bumps, nothing. This woman still manages to completely wipe out, in front of the entire airport. She wasn't even wearing heels or anything like that. She was in sneakers." Thinking about it still made me laugh. I couldn't believe she managed to pull that one off./p
p data-p-id="5acd78ce4cfd9732b91c5ff658bf5240"Shane seemed relieved and warmed up to us somewhat after talking to him for a while./p
p data-p-id="5d0d59c3311a3349fee539889958cb1b"Stephanie finally came downstairs, in a nice brown dress. She and Kat could've been twins. I had to look back and forth to make sure I was holding the right hand./p
p data-p-id="8a854ac132938fcbfce72c804865a15c"I told her she looked very nice, to which she thanked me and blushed. Kat let us know that Steph was actually wearing one of her old dresses. She was pretty proud of herself for choosing her sister's outfit./p
p data-p-id="2fdf0d2aa13728ef0d02535b6d363c08"Stephanie let us know that we could take the boxes from Kat's room and load them into the car./p
p data-p-id="f182d60a626a29a46262b883c9dac02d"The three of us climbed the stairs to do so. I had to stop in Kat's room just to look around. I'd never been in there./p
p data-p-id="1c2c1fa543ad6ffd2c342ebe724cde57""Pink, huh?" I asked, teasing./p
p data-p-id="b8c1c7f5566e885077dcf94cbb3c0218""Shut up, I was five," Kat replied. "We're lucky it isn't painted leopard print."/p
p data-p-id="e642671e755e26da98d6847f932deef8"I laughed at how awful that would be as I grabbed a box. With the three of us all carrying them down, we loaded the car fairly quickly before rejoining the family./p
p data-p-id="c7e1dc2bcb97a87ff131a1b60878ad7b"The real fun began when we sat down to the meal. The food had apparently been cooked by Kat's grandmother, whose name I learned was Evelyn, but that wasn't the interesting part./p
p data-p-id="ce38915141083d25352ae3e6eeb36cb8"Somehow we had managed to avoid Vince up until then, but there was no ignoring his presence at the head of the table./p
p data-p-id="c08c8e24a5767719f65b4fb651660e46"And, of course, everyone wanted to know about Kat and I./p
p data-p-id="a28b7c9f97d04fa651fa5e576bc0d92b"We made good enough small talk, even with her mother staring into us. Shane seemed to be okay as long as Kat was happy. Steph was herself, sitting on Kat's other side. The grandparents seemed fine, even if they were clueless to the latest family gossip./p
p data-p-id="4306f2be28aac8a5598a7afa7d33b5ba"I couldn't put my finger on Vince. He didn't despise my presence, but he didn't exactly make me feel the most welcome./p
p data-p-id="3f14cbfe9bd8277a735c9b942aef69d4"At some point, once everyone was pretty much done, Kat decided to break out some news./p
p data-p-id="49e1ea9a89faf9b6ec4f995532cbbb0d"Her hand squeezed mine tighter in nervousness as she began. "So, I'm moving in with Shawn. He has a place down in Texas, it's wonderful-"/p
p data-p-id="fc890aa87c4d13596186c7baa1a46994""Well, I don't know if it's that great. It's just a small place," I cut in./p
p data-p-id="d20cc5f88b7eb663ca17168a20a2170d""Don't be modest, it's perfect." She flashed me one of her award-winning smiles. "We've already packed up my things so I can move in as soon as possible."/p
p data-p-id="4fa5282089af879fceefeabb22f66469"The air went dead around the table. For everyone except us and Stephanie, this was new and unexpected information./p
p data-p-id="fe31baa8096c273d2ee0fc8f499bd335""I don't know about this. Maybe once you've been together a bit longer," Vince eventually said. The wrong move./p
p data-p-id="7cb9359e8aecc570be0d7f1971094b3c"Kat stiffened beside me. My first thought was "Oh shit". This was not going to end well./p
p data-p-id="b790c6f6eaca6b79ea589ab27127d9f4""I wasn't asking permission," she declared./p
p data-p-id="9be9e8d1026d05414543030d43767e64""Excuse me?" Linda asked./p
p data-p-id="98338e26c6352c3afde1080655f17aa1""I said, I wasn't asking permission. This is what Shawn and I are going to do," Kat told them again./p
p data-p-id="0bfc9480580046db36dfa6bbe99dec6b"You could hear a pin drop. Suddenly I wished I had turned around earlier and just driven us back to the hotel./p
p data-p-id="eadbad2e2bdf712c1ab43029297f16f0""What did you just say?" Vince's temper was spiking./p
p data-p-id="f1f251b5871ea061f9d3741fee19dea9""I am not a little girl anymore! I'm an adult. But the only person around here who treats me like one is Shawn!"/p
p data-p-id="c7c5b21f945d3a50f3ea8c5108153490""How dare you speak to your father like that?" Linda demanded./p
p data-p-id="a3db7f91289991f3e6d51b85b92adbec"Everyone other than those three very much wanted to be excused from the table./p
p data-p-id="4c6c3047b5e06b0d7e5fd0a223312713""I will speak to my father however I damn well please. And I will wear whatever I damn well please. And I will live wherever I damn well please!" Kat shouted./p
p data-p-id="a640d9d78132b03748eaf828f4942afa""Sarah Katherine McMahon, you are not going anywhere!" Vince yelled. "You are under my roof, and you will listen to me-"/p
p data-p-id="19e1c742e2220b5d52f60b32908de08f""I am not yours to scold anymore! I am a grown woman, and I can make my own decisions." She stood, pulling me up with her. "We're leaving."/p
p data-p-id="b57e9c3826e6419efc902bbe3dde2638""If you leave this house right now, you are not coming back!" Vince shouted. I bet you could hear him from Texas./p
p data-p-id="a05b62f87282bf2be9c6a2bafc2735cc""Fine!" Kat shot back. She practically dragged me out of the house and into the car./p
p data-p-id="9192eb19c9108ab122fdbc3282b54abc"As soon as she slammed the door shut, she was sobbing into her hands uncontrollably. I felt awful for her. She'd obviously been holding all of that in for a very long time. I hated seeing her this upset. I don't think I had seen her this upset./p
p data-p-id="3a8c77d79ae4dcfb0096ed228c95c528"I put an arm around her to try to comfort her, but she pushed me away and angrily put on her seatbelt./p
p data-p-id="3f008d134bf1f9768d02170ce223ac3b""Just go. Just get us out of here," she muttered./p
p data-p-id="b92da18d1c3c43117cafd08c378489ed"I did as she said. I was going to have to make this up to her. Make the next week amazing. I couldn't keep her in this mood./p
p data-p-id="4b174df0ccf453dc53119fa999c3b1fb"This wasn't her. This wasn't Kat. I hoped she'd be the bright, bubbly Kat I knew and loved soon enough./p
p data-p-id="4bce938281f49e3b738e81d545f1a21f"I was waiting on Kat to get ready. She was done with her hair and makeup by now, she just couldn't decide on what to wear. I sat on the edge of the bed with my chin resting in my hands as she modeled for me./p
p data-p-id="281d227d4a48f92770b6764f5034a2ca"She came out of the bathroom this time in a modest dark red dress. It looked beautiful on her, just like the first five./p
p data-p-id="56b72d220900822a0a64751f55c55c98""What do you think?" She asked, spinning in a circle. This one looked warmer than the others, with long sleeves. It didn't make much of a difference to me. She looked great in all of them./p
p data-p-id="cc62c44c8c2043eb03715218db6924ed""It looks fine," I told her./p
p data-p-id="5d0fa1e03fce180f850450018c04c82c"From her face, I could immediately tell that was a mistake. "Just fine?" She turned to look in the mirror, apparently looking for the flaw in it./p
p data-p-id="1d3b0708f5657e1a16ec5bb808e3cf15"I stifled a groan as I stood, breaking the space between us in a couple steps. "Kat, you look great. You look great in all of them." I wrapped my arms around her from behind, both of us staring into the mirror now./p
p data-p-id="3ee3044220c0378135b885cd6471272b"She sighed. "I'm sorry. I'm just worried about what my family is going to think."/p
p data-p-id="1d79eaec40ef82374ad7418dfc4bdcae""Why would they care?"/p
p data-p-id="7fe507bef321bd3ce76410077013f743""My parents are... judgy," she explained. "Most of the time, Mom will just turn up her nose if she doesn't like what I'm wearing. Which is all the time."/p
p data-p-id="c6b6c66a9d214bbf608da38ced01aef6""Who cares what your parents think? It's not their business. I think you look gorgeous." I turned my head to give her a kiss on the cheek. "I like this one, and you can wear your little black jacket thingy with it."/p
p data-p-id="36315456a4d8c5afa3e1e9a5beb177a0""My shawl?" she giggled./p
p data-p-id="49f7040bd75f1be9db30da24ad4ecc9d""Yeah, that thing." I brought it over to her and wrapped it around her shoulders. Stunning, like always. "There."/p
p data-p-id="bfa7e57f0cbb9b2be49ef6a25cf5ceb8"She looked long and hard into the mirror before finally letting out a deep breath. "I guess it's this or nothing."/p
p data-p-id="c8e5e35d1c8d2f57f6293c5d98c6338c"I cracked a smile. "Personally, I think you'd look better with nothing."/p
p data-p-id="7a7a680dba049a06fb346f9f45b1918d"She just shook her head at me as she grabbed her shoes. They were flats, I made sure. "Oh, you would think that."/p
p data-p-id="c6125b8152acb231ed51de0acb8a246d""We can pick up your things today while we're there. We'll drop them off at my place-emour/em place tomorrow," I suggested./p
p data-p-id="38d5316233e799030692c1502045b459""I already called Steph, she said she'd box up my clothes and a few other things." Of course, she was always one step ahead./p
p data-p-id="38cddb5adde8ff6dbe9509a6f0e0ddcd"We settled into her car. She didn't seem to keen on driving, with the way her hands were shaking, so I took the wheel. She started fiddling with the end of her shawl thing to calm her nerves./p
p data-p-id="f9f5eb65df148e35268fb0a7b7eded59"With my free hand, I held one of hers. I wanted to help, but I wasn't really sure how. She had been fussing over this night for weeks, and now it was here./p
p data-p-id="69d1de720e05e2ef8bb415bf4f9557c0""I can always just turn around," I told her. "We don't have to go. We can go pick up Paul and have Thanksgiving with just us." That didn't actually sound too bad to me./p
p data-p-id="2a95130487e0c517dd438528a99880f8"She sighed. "Unfortunately, we have to go. But who knows, maybe it won't be that bad."/p
p data-p-id="b047f5234c10892f961f18038ecf9687""I still think you're getting all worked up over nothing."/p
p data-p-id="c5d22f3c1981dade49f893dc8d6de94c""A McMahon family holiday is an ordeal within itself, but here I am inviting a boy into the belly of the beast. I just don't know what's going to happen. I don't like not knowing," she commented./p
p data-p-id="448ce4e13acb75f15ab158d575101aa2""I think I'll be okay, no matter what. Don't worry about it." She was still worried about it./p
p data-p-id="effb18c7ea92a872e49ab3c76f1cab5e"When we pulled up, you couldn't even tell anyone lived there, let alone had a party going on./p
p data-p-id="6920b2c3a99486aff5bfaf36cfc54ca6"I wasn't sure what to expect when we walked in, but Kat seemed to at least have some direction. We were greeted at the door by an older man I'd never met. He welcomed us in before enveloping Kat in a hug./p
p data-p-id="840c0d1fb372ad09e466bb4c839bcf03""Sarah! Or, is it Katherine now? They never tell me these things," he said./p
p data-p-id="8ef3cc8a955f86815d5e5b67e0d3e3a5""It's Katherine, Grandpa Edwards." She smiled sweetly./p
p data-p-id="929e21dbb9912932242598b018c737ed""I've missed you, you haven't been around. How's your schooling?"/p
p data-p-id="1c580636530e75ba9e1340854985fedc""Um..." Kat bit her lip, squeezing my hand tighter. Apparently her grandfather had not been told about her dropping out. "It's great," she finally lied./p
p data-p-id="4d2994380821983bce6efb24942726cd""Of course it is. You've always been a brilliant student. I bet you're acing all your classes." He chuckled and seemed to finally notice my presence. "Who's this?"/p
p data-p-id="422f81233703a3b66509f80a09de15bd"Kat lit up a bit. "Oh! This is my boyfriend, Shawn. Shawn, this is Grandpa Edwards."/p
p data-p-id="81b9f60b0006ecef03896d70c9d9b4b4"I held my free hand out for him to shake. "Shawn Hickenbottom. It's a pleasure to meet you." I was trying my best to be all professional, for Kat's sake./p
p data-p-id="9c6bbac3d46b3a2ec291239546681701""Henry Edwards. I hope you're taking good care of our Katherine," he joked./p
p data-p-id="45eca287ec42ead2eda6fafc5d164a1e""Oh, I am," I assured him. I pulled Kat a little closer. Any excuse I got to do that, I was going to take./p
p data-p-id="f373c19b192b5ecd15462be32910ef3c"He chuckled and told us his wife was calling, so he'd better get back in the kitchen./p
p data-p-id="90a995b6185ef905fee47076fd70237e"I whispered to Kat as he left, "You didn't tell me your grandparents would be here."/p
p data-p-id="0f60b06b48142b69bc89d9fdbad05f77"She simply whispered back, "I had no idea."/p
p data-p-id="afbf5b7f5effaabfc4ad92c51440ee48"The house was all done up and decorated, I assumed Linda's doing. My mom always put up festive decorations during the holiday season, too. Maybe it was just a thing./p
p data-p-id="2ff65109a981c955a3c15ea736d45e9b"Speaking of Linda, when she noticed us, she made her way right over. She'd come from upstairs. She looked over the both of us with a look I didn't really care for before finally making a "Hmm" expression./p
p data-p-id="401085d2fa15202e8ec4008d1c1eac3a""Hi, Mom," Kat greeted. She was so desperately looking for her mother's approval. It was almost painful to watch./p
p data-p-id="a49343a87c61fb3bfc3909d1a5ece934"Linda I guess decided we didn't look too awful. She gave Kat and I a smile. "Hi, Sweetheart. Do me favor: Stephanie is upstairs having a crisis. She can't decide what to wear, and she absolutely hates everything I show her. Go talk some sense into that girl, and drag her down here if you have to." She seemed pretty disappointed that Steph had not joined the party yet./p
p data-p-id="f0aa52ff142b9e7d64fae312178d3e1c"Kat nodded. If anyone was going to get Steph downstairs, it was Kat./p
p data-p-id="693f6544ac8d85dc0f00e921dcb29e9a""I'll be right back," she told me./p
p data-p-id="d077f0f66ace9be887723192cf4d5f8d""What am I supposed to do?" I asked./p
p data-p-id="d6b8a96b7e30d3e2a222ed9bf2577847""Um... mingle. Meet my grandparents. Talk to my family. Not Shane. Anyone but Shane. I'll be down as soon as possible." After giving me a peck on the lips, she hurried upstairs./p
p data-p-id="454e8e9816543186567296ab1de4027d"Well, she told me not to interact with Shane. So, naturally, he was the first person I sought out./p
p data-p-id="f0f04f6db0b05bf4bfb1897db9527ec1""Hey, Shane! How are you doing?" I put on the brightest, fakest smile I could muster./p
p data-p-id="9765fbfd90178f8680f804fcb963dcd9""Hello, Shawn." He immediately looked like he hated my guts. Man, did I love when people just hated me. It was quite common, actually./p
p data-p-id="e641072e2941f27fdfa86ec3dc5a60b9""So I was just thinking, is it weird to know your little sister gets more action than you?" Oh, cut me some slack. I had to do emsomething/em to rile him up. Where would the fun be if I didn't?/p
p data-p-id="090a63fc5c64ee7705478431166dd940"Shane's face turned red as he tried to not just flat-out deck me in the middle of the living room./p
p data-p-id="dc39775352a5e15e9dc11cc94d7b14fa""You know, I don't know what she sees in you. That's her decision. But if I ever hear about you hurting her in any way, I swear-"/p
p data-p-id="36062731f8a194ac513ab0b174b71b85"I held my hands up in surrender. "Easy, easy. I would never hurt Kat, okay? She's my everything."/p
p data-p-id="e364a9213675726337ebacdbbd29b506"He seemed to settle some. "I'd like to hear that from her."/p
p data-p-id="e1a689701270457fae4105567b19bc82"I shrugged. "Ask her yourself."/p
p data-p-id="5192672163f848c3a6d6ff52f6ec120c"Kat picked the perfect time to be making her way back to us. She entangled her hand in mine, stopping between Shane and I./p
p data-p-id="efe70bdb59e15baa64cf8c6b3fa777c5""Is there a problem?" she asked. She gave me a look like "What did I fucking tell you" to which I just smiled innocently./p
p data-p-id="1a6f232e9aa792a1e1f40c87d759b2f3""No problems here," I assured her. She didn't look so sure, but she wasn't about to argue./p
p data-p-id="7861768cf310d2951991aa309663f017""Kat, what's that bruise on your knee from?" Shane questioned./p
p data-p-id="17170c404b45a0ddfb5780162e4ac538"She looked down at the bruise be forcing back up at us. "Oh, ask Shawn about that one."/p
p data-p-id="58acfbc9e80bd4805de8e3026357f4ee"Shane gave me a look I really didn't like. "What?"/p
p data-p-id="770b34906d362e56d745a6d7047cbe3d""He loves this story," Kat finished. "He's only told every single person we've met up with since." She rolled her eyes./p
p data-p-id="caaf15d77576335af08fa4c3165ba40b"I chuckled, trying to shake off Shane's glare. "So we're walking in the airport, right? Completely flat surface. There's no steps, no bumps, nothing. This woman still manages to completely wipe out, in front of the entire airport. She wasn't even wearing heels or anything like that. She was in sneakers." Thinking about it still made me laugh. I couldn't believe she managed to pull that one off./p
p data-p-id="5acd78ce4cfd9732b91c5ff658bf5240"Shane seemed relieved and warmed up to us somewhat after talking to him for a while./p
p data-p-id="5d0d59c3311a3349fee539889958cb1b"Stephanie finally came downstairs, in a nice brown dress. She and Kat could've been twins. I had to look back and forth to make sure I was holding the right hand./p
p data-p-id="8a854ac132938fcbfce72c804865a15c"I told her she looked very nice, to which she thanked me and blushed. Kat let us know that Steph was actually wearing one of her old dresses. She was pretty proud of herself for choosing her sister's outfit./p
p data-p-id="2fdf0d2aa13728ef0d02535b6d363c08"Stephanie let us know that we could take the boxes from Kat's room and load them into the car./p
p data-p-id="f182d60a626a29a46262b883c9dac02d"The three of us climbed the stairs to do so. I had to stop in Kat's room just to look around. I'd never been in there./p
p data-p-id="1c2c1fa543ad6ffd2c342ebe724cde57""Pink, huh?" I asked, teasing./p
p data-p-id="b8c1c7f5566e885077dcf94cbb3c0218""Shut up, I was five," Kat replied. "We're lucky it isn't painted leopard print."/p
p data-p-id="e642671e755e26da98d6847f932deef8"I laughed at how awful that would be as I grabbed a box. With the three of us all carrying them down, we loaded the car fairly quickly before rejoining the family./p
p data-p-id="c7e1dc2bcb97a87ff131a1b60878ad7b"The real fun began when we sat down to the meal. The food had apparently been cooked by Kat's grandmother, whose name I learned was Evelyn, but that wasn't the interesting part./p
p data-p-id="ce38915141083d25352ae3e6eeb36cb8"Somehow we had managed to avoid Vince up until then, but there was no ignoring his presence at the head of the table./p
p data-p-id="c08c8e24a5767719f65b4fb651660e46"And, of course, everyone wanted to know about Kat and I./p
p data-p-id="a28b7c9f97d04fa651fa5e576bc0d92b"We made good enough small talk, even with her mother staring into us. Shane seemed to be okay as long as Kat was happy. Steph was herself, sitting on Kat's other side. The grandparents seemed fine, even if they were clueless to the latest family gossip./p
p data-p-id="4306f2be28aac8a5598a7afa7d33b5ba"I couldn't put my finger on Vince. He didn't despise my presence, but he didn't exactly make me feel the most welcome./p
p data-p-id="3f14cbfe9bd8277a735c9b942aef69d4"At some point, once everyone was pretty much done, Kat decided to break out some news./p
p data-p-id="49e1ea9a89faf9b6ec4f995532cbbb0d"Her hand squeezed mine tighter in nervousness as she began. "So, I'm moving in with Shawn. He has a place down in Texas, it's wonderful-"/p
p data-p-id="fc890aa87c4d13596186c7baa1a46994""Well, I don't know if it's that great. It's just a small place," I cut in./p
p data-p-id="d20cc5f88b7eb663ca17168a20a2170d""Don't be modest, it's perfect." She flashed me one of her award-winning smiles. "We've already packed up my things so I can move in as soon as possible."/p
p data-p-id="4fa5282089af879fceefeabb22f66469"The air went dead around the table. For everyone except us and Stephanie, this was new and unexpected information./p
p data-p-id="fe31baa8096c273d2ee0fc8f499bd335""I don't know about this. Maybe once you've been together a bit longer," Vince eventually said. The wrong move./p
p data-p-id="7cb9359e8aecc570be0d7f1971094b3c"Kat stiffened beside me. My first thought was "Oh shit". This was not going to end well./p
p data-p-id="b790c6f6eaca6b79ea589ab27127d9f4""I wasn't asking permission," she declared./p
p data-p-id="9be9e8d1026d05414543030d43767e64""Excuse me?" Linda asked./p
p data-p-id="98338e26c6352c3afde1080655f17aa1""I said, I wasn't asking permission. This is what Shawn and I are going to do," Kat told them again./p
p data-p-id="0bfc9480580046db36dfa6bbe99dec6b"You could hear a pin drop. Suddenly I wished I had turned around earlier and just driven us back to the hotel./p
p data-p-id="eadbad2e2bdf712c1ab43029297f16f0""What did you just say?" Vince's temper was spiking./p
p data-p-id="f1f251b5871ea061f9d3741fee19dea9""I am not a little girl anymore! I'm an adult. But the only person around here who treats me like one is Shawn!"/p
p data-p-id="c7c5b21f945d3a50f3ea8c5108153490""How dare you speak to your father like that?" Linda demanded./p
p data-p-id="a3db7f91289991f3e6d51b85b92adbec"Everyone other than those three very much wanted to be excused from the table./p
p data-p-id="4c6c3047b5e06b0d7e5fd0a223312713""I will speak to my father however I damn well please. And I will wear whatever I damn well please. And I will live wherever I damn well please!" Kat shouted./p
p data-p-id="a640d9d78132b03748eaf828f4942afa""Sarah Katherine McMahon, you are not going anywhere!" Vince yelled. "You are under my roof, and you will listen to me-"/p
p data-p-id="19e1c742e2220b5d52f60b32908de08f""I am not yours to scold anymore! I am a grown woman, and I can make my own decisions." She stood, pulling me up with her. "We're leaving."/p
p data-p-id="b57e9c3826e6419efc902bbe3dde2638""If you leave this house right now, you are not coming back!" Vince shouted. I bet you could hear him from Texas./p
p data-p-id="a05b62f87282bf2be9c6a2bafc2735cc""Fine!" Kat shot back. She practically dragged me out of the house and into the car./p
p data-p-id="9192eb19c9108ab122fdbc3282b54abc"As soon as she slammed the door shut, she was sobbing into her hands uncontrollably. I felt awful for her. She'd obviously been holding all of that in for a very long time. I hated seeing her this upset. I don't think I had seen her this upset./p
p data-p-id="3a8c77d79ae4dcfb0096ed228c95c528"I put an arm around her to try to comfort her, but she pushed me away and angrily put on her seatbelt./p
p data-p-id="3f008d134bf1f9768d02170ce223ac3b""Just go. Just get us out of here," she muttered./p
p data-p-id="b92da18d1c3c43117cafd08c378489ed"I did as she said. I was going to have to make this up to her. Make the next week amazing. I couldn't keep her in this mood./p
p data-p-id="4b174df0ccf453dc53119fa999c3b1fb"This wasn't her. This wasn't Kat. I hoped she'd be the bright, bubbly Kat I knew and loved soon enough./p