Chapter 21: Making Amends

"Don't say anything, just hear me out," Nick replied as he let himself in my apartment.
I tossed the towel on the counter top as he sat down on my loveseat and put his hand on his eyes and rubbed them gently.
I walked into the kitchen and turned the burner off and poured the noodles in the strainer.
"Okay, first of all before anything, I didn't invite Kaylee in my room last week in L.A."
"Nick, whatever you do is your business and -"
"No Kate, I didn't invite her in there. I dunno, she got in my room and it was all just perfect or not-so-perfect timing I guess you can say."
"Nick," I sighed as I sat down on the chair across from him.
"Kate, I love you," he replied sitting forward on the couch. "And I want to...no I DO believe you didn't say those things."
I sat staring back at him, not believing what was happening.
"Nick you were so angry...why did you forgive me so easily?" I asked, pushing my hair out of my face.
"I didn't forgive you I guess you can say, at least not yet. That's why I'm here...to hear you out," he replied as he sat back.
I reached back and untied my apron as I collected my thoughts. I'd gone over and over in my head so many times these past few weeks what I wanted to say to him and now my mind was blank. I got myself together and opened my mouth to speak.
"Oh and Kate, I want to know this whole story with Kaylee because that's the only way I'm going to understand," he added.

~AT THE SAME TIME~

"Damn, why is that babe at her place? I thought they'd split up. He ruined my freakin' plans for trashing Kate's lovely night at home. Rrr..." Kaylee growled as she looked up into Kate's apartment.

~AT THE SAME TIME~

"Okay, first I want to talk about us," I started as I sat back comfortably in my chair. He nodded.
"That night Felicia and I were in one of the dressing rooms and everyone else was rushing around getting you guys ready to go up on stage. It was only a few minutes until show time. We sat down and started talking about you and Brian. She was saying how Brian wanted to wait to have sex and how she was okay with it. And I told her what I felt about you, that I'd never felt like this before and that I usually wasn't this fast of a person at all. That we connect on a level I can't explain. And that it was sad that a lot of people thought that I was just fucking you for my job. That it wasn't that, that my job is the way fate brought us together. I guess Kaylee must have been recording it and had it edited. Nick I would never say those things. And if I did, why would I say them to Felicia? That's Brian's girlfriend and he's your best friend. And if I did want only that I would have stopped fighting for you when you found out," I tried to be strong and not let my guard down so he knew I was serious.
"I understand I guess. I mean it was fishy that she happened to get it on tape and you're right, it did sound a bit like it was edited. But why did you come back to New York? I mean you came back here because you have a job and you're happy, but in L.A. - " he started.
"Nick right now I don't have a job. I'm suspended until further notice," I quietly said.
"What? Kate, I'm so sorry."
"No, it's not your fault, it's Kaylee's. And the worst thing about it is that I lost you and my job. Losing you will haunt me forever and whatever happens with my job is permanetely on my record, so no one will want to higher me. Well unless it's a small local newspaper," I sighed. "But anyway, I'm not going to pity myself."
"Let me talk to your boss and set things straight. And as far as we go, you didn't lose me and if you'll take me back, I'd be so honored." He sweetly replied.
"Of course I'll take you back, but aren't you taking me back?" I teased. We both smiled. "As far as talking to my boss, thank you, that's nice of you, but does it really matter? Kaylee's going to do everything in her power to ruin me Nick and there's nothing I can do to stop the inevitable."
He got up from the couch and sat on the edge of my chair. He draped his arm around me and pulled me into his chest. I looked up at him. "You cut your hair," I replied quietly and smiled.
He looked down at me sweetly.
"I'm sorry Kate. I was stupid and hurt and I should have given you more of a chance. I shouldn't have been so mean, but when I get hurt I can't help it. The anger takes over me completely."
I nodded and smiled up at him. He leaned down to press his lips against mine.
*RING*
The doorbell sounded. We looked at each other as I released myself from his arm and went to answer the door.
"I wonder who it could be?" I asked Nick as I opened the door to see Kaylee standing before me.
"Oh Lord, what did I do to be blessed by your presence?" I mumbled as I began to slam the door in her face. She pushed it back.
"Hello Kate. Nice night isn't it?" she asked with a fake smile. "Oh I'm sorry, I just didn't know you had company," she innocently replied.
"Sure you didn't. Can this wait Kaylee, I'm busy?" I asked.
"Aren't you on probation while you're suspended? And looky whose in your apartment Kate. Shame-on-you," she childishly spat.
Nick walked up and pushed me behind him.
"Kaylee, why don't you leave, there's no reason for you to be here. Go," he replied. His thin rimmed glasses set on his face with determination.
"Oh Nickay, you don't want me to leave," she teased as she grabbed onto his tie and pulled him into her. Steam came out of my ears. I started to push forward to claw her eyes out when Nick grabbed me and pulled me back. He released himself from her grasp.
"Good night Kaylee," he added as he stood back and slammed the door in her face. He locked it and pulled me back into the living room.

*AT THE SAME TIME*
"Oh Nicky, you didn't want to do that. Don't worry, you won't be that angry for long. Not when you see the next part of my plan," Kaylee smirked as she spun around and made her way down the elevator.

*AT THE SAME TIME*

"I'm sorry, where were we?" I asked, now sitting on the couch with him. "I want to know the story between you and Kaylee," he almost pleaded.
I sighed as I got comfortable. He put his arm around my shoulders as I took a deep breath.
"I already told you that we went to college together and that she made my life a living hell, well there's a reason for that. It's funny because all of the reasons seem to pile on top of one another to make more reasons and it's never ending. It all really began one night when we were sophomores. Kaylee and I were friends and we met in the library to do some studying. We stayed there for about an hour and right before we were to leave a guy approached me and began to strike up a conversation. Kaylee, who is always the jealous type, waited impatiently. The guy was really sweet and nice and wanted to take me out for coffee. I told Kaylee that I'd meet her back at our room when I got done. But I did ask her to make sure she was okay with it. I mean this never happened to me, it's not like it was a regular thing for guys to ask me out. Annoyed she said that it was okay. I just dismissed her jealousy and figured she'd be fine. Well she wasn't. She was walking back to the dorm by herself when she had to cross a dark area. We were told to always use the buddy system at State Colleges and I thought she would. I mean, she was popular, she knew two dozen girls and guys in the library that night. But because she was angry with me for leaving she just left the library alone. When she made it to the dark area she was walking when a man jumped out of a dark corridor and grabbed her. There was no one around and so when she screamed no one heard. He took her to a place on campus and beat her up and raped her. He was never caught because she didn't see his face. Anyway, so that night I found out when I'd returned my room and I rushed to the hospital to see her and she wouldn't see me. From that day on she's never forgiven me for leaving her. From what I hear she still has nightmares and has been in therapy for a few years now. So starting from that night on she just kept finding more reasons to hate me and make my life hell. It's just like a chain reaction to more and more things. See me being with you makes her jealous all over again and she'll do anything to trash it. She doesn't want me happy because she can never be. She's trapped by the past and she can't let go." I looked up and searched his eyes.
"Wow, well Kate what happened was not your fault. It's simply being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Even if you had gone with her or someone else had, the same thing still could have happened. But it sounds like this anger and pain she has is really internal and she's convinced herself that it's your fault and no one else's and she's never going to change her mind," he replied as he pulled me closer to his chest.
"The whole dorm turned their backs on me. Everyone hated me as she continued to twist the story more and more. Saying that I told her to walk alone and that I hoped she'd get attacked. It was just horrible," I replied with a sigh.
We laid there for a few hours talking about everything. The band, Kaylee, my job, his job, our families. He sat and rubbed my head gently until both of us had fallen asleep on one another. That night I'd felt content for the first time in weeks and I felt safe knowing he was right beside me from here on out. Although tomorrow was a brand new day..

Next

Contents