What's up, everyone? Sorry it took so long to post, but here is the next chapter! Shout-out to Jaelina-RouxSimm2396 and Snowball A.K.A. WinterWolf for favoriting/following my story! I love hearing all the comments and that you guys are enjoying the story. Onto the next chapter!
Legend: Speaking in thoughts purposely aimed at Edward
Thinking
Emphasis on a thought/word
**** swear words
Disclaimer: I don't own anything Transformers or Twilight, all I own is Katherine, students that were hurt/died in the attack, and the plot.
Talk about being on the spot
I had maybe slept for a hour before I woke up in a cold sweat with my fist clenched around the bed sheet I was laying on top of and the cover had been thrown off me. I flinched when Esme suddenly appeared beside me and I cried out in pain as I accidentally jostled my leg. I gritted my teeth as Carlisle came in and gently checked my leg, "I'm sorry, Katherine, but let me move your leg. You shifted it during your nightmare."
I muffled a scream as he moved it and Esme gently smoothed my hair, "It's okay. Want to talk about your dream?"
I shrugged with one shoulder and looked away while muttering, "It's nothing to talk about. It doesn't matter."
She shared a look with Carlisle before getting up and they both left me alone for the rest of the night. I didn't fall back asleep because I was terrified of what dreams or memories I would see next. Thank my lucky stars for the fact that Edward is always over at Bella's during the night cause I know he would have blabbed my dream to them. Esme came in around 9 and helped me eat some cereal, but I didn't eat much. She called Carlisle and whatever he said must have soothed her because she stopped trying to make me finish the bowl. She had to go shopping for some food, but didn't want to leave me alone, "Jasper will stay with her, Esme. It'll be fine!"
We stared at the pixie before Esme nodded and everyone left, except for the blonde male, "What do you want to do, darling?"
I quirked an eyebrow before sarcastically responding, "I want to go wrestle with an alligator," he chuckled and I gave a tiny smile, "Can you tell me about your history?" He nodded and settled on the floor beside the bed before beginning his tale and I was enraptured by it.
Surprisingly, I didn't notice how late it had gotten until Rosalie came in with a sandwich, "Hey, Kat. Thought you'd want some lunch." I grinned and we made small chat over some of our favorite cars as I ate.
About a month and a half had passed by and I was finally able to sit up on my own, but I still wasn't allowed to use my arm or leg yet because they were healing. Carlisle said I should be able to start using my leg in two weeks if I didn't do anything to upset the healing process. Emmett and I were chilling in the movie room at their house when Edward slowly came in, "Katherine, the memorial service is on Friday. The mayor is requesting you to come if you're well enough." I quieted instantly and thought hard because I should go and pay my respects the the kids that died, but I didn't want all the attention since most of the town was calling me a hero.
I finally nodded and Edward gently ruffled my hair before leaving as quickly as he came while his brother immediately stole my attention. All too soon, I found myself loaded in the back of the Mercedes and I was quickly loaded into the wheelchair before Carlisle pushed me towards the front lawn, where the school was holding the memorial. The Cullens thankfully stood at the back of the crowd with my uncle and cousin as the mayor began speaking.
"We're all here today to remember the tragedy that feels like it happened just hours ago. When that man opened fire on our kids in a place they should be safe, it rocked our town. We couldn't contemplate what had happened and then we all prayed that our kids were safe. I lost my son that day. Matt...he was a great boy with a promising future like his four classmates that died that day. However, we could have lost so many more if it wasn't for the actions of one girl. Chief Swan's niece attacked the man and saved most of those children in the cafeteria. She almost lost her life in order to save them. I would ask Chief Swan to help Katherine up here."
Everyone turned towards us and parted as my uncle began to push me up there while I whispered, "Please, Uncle Charlie, don't make me go up there."
He didn't respond as he pushed me onto the small stage and parked me beside the mayor before standing behind us, "Katherine Lennox, I know nothing can ever repay you for what you did that day, but know that you have this entire community here to support you as you heal and that you will always have a home here with us. It would be my extreme honor and pleasure to give this award for your actions and I would like to invite you to say something."
I paled as I accepted the award and he lowered the microphone in front of me, "Um...I didn't know I was supposed to speak, so let me first apologize for stumbling over my words. That day...I didn't wake up that morning deciding that I wanted to save someone or that I wanted to get shot. Many of you are calling me a hero, but I'm not a hero. The heroes are the emergency teams and the teachers that rushed to help all of the students and that saved most of our lives. Many of us were injured that day and we all bear scars, whether they're physical or mental or emotional or all three. I know nothing can replace the hole that was created when some of you lost your children, but I can promise that the pain lessens when you realize they don't want you to keep mourning them."
Pausing slightly, I gathered my thoughts quickly, " I didn't know them that well, but Serena and George were always kind to me and Todd was always making everyone smile. I saw how Matt was nice to anyone and he always took time to talk to someone if they were by themselves, he was a friend to everyone. And Amelia...she amazed me at how she showed all of her emotions through her music because she seemed so calm, but her music always revealed what she was truly feeling. We lost some amazing people, but remember them in your actions and in your hearts. They'll never truly leave us. Thank you for listening and I am so sorry that they died."
The mayor began clapping and I soon had a standing ovation, even as tears burned my eyes. I faintly saw the news crew filming as the mayor pushed me over to a tree they had planted and I sprinkled a handful of dirt over it before smiling at the plague that stated what had happened, who had died, and who had been injured. Uncle Charlie pushed me away from all the prying eyes and Carlisle quickly loaded me into the Mercedes before taking me back to his house. He gave me my medication before leaving me in peace and I cried myself to sleep. The nightmares were horrific as I relived that day, but I could hear the five kids asking why I didn't save them.
Two weeks passed by like this until Carlisle gave me good news one day, "Your leg has healed remarkably well and I believe you're ready to begin some light physical therapy."
My grin stretched across my face as he made quick work of the stitches and he slowly helped me stand, which I almost collapsed as soon as I was upright. We worked every day for at least a hour until it had been two more weeks and he let me go back to school. I always had at least one Cullen with me to help me carry my stuff and to keep nosy kids away, so I found it fairly easy to resume my schedule until lunch. Bella and I were walking to the cafeteria and I started to walk in, but was hit by flashbacks and I balked.
I threw myself backwards and fell onto my butt from the force, which really hurt my shoulder and leg, before scooting until my back hit the wall opposite of the cafeteria, "Kit-Kat! Katherine! Look at me!"
I was almost hyperventilating as my cousin grabbed my good shoulder, "I-I-I...don't make me go in. P-P-Pl-Please, Isa!"
She hummed softly, "Don't worry, we'll go eat down the hall, okay? Edward is grabbing us lunch and they'll all meet us down there. Come on, sweetie." She ushered me down the hall until we couldn't see the cafeteria and I saw a few teachers give me sad, pitying looks as they had watched my reaction.
I forced myself to eat some of the lunch Edward had brought me as his siblings filled our lunch with jokes and laughter while they tried to cheer me up. Thankfully, I only had one more day before I was flying to California to stay on base for a week and a half on fall break.
