Complicated

Chapter 33: Bender

if y'all swipe you can listen to a song that basically describes Damon and Kathy's relationship, as well as most of the relationships in this book while you read. "Complicated."

i apologize in advance for this :(

ok. that's it. enjoy

B E N D E R

———

Kathy's POV

I don't want to die but I don't want to live like this.

~~~

"What. The. Fuck." I heard Roxy startle me awake by shaking my shoulder. Hard.

"Ow." I complained. "What is wrong with you?" I tried to rub the sleep out of my eyes.

"Girl, what is wrong with you?!" She emphasized, continuing to shake me roughly.

I sat up, confused, and pulled my arm away from Roxy's rough hold. "Me? I didn't do anything."

She sighed in exasperation and motioned beside me. That is when I found Damon, still deep asleep beside me. Part of his hair was covering his face and he had worry etched into his face. But goodness he's still so beautiful.

Damn it Katherine. Stop.

I looked beside me at Roxy and saw she was still looking at me, impatiently awaiting a response.

"We didn't do anything. He's dealing with a bunch of shit right now." I tried to explain.

She raised her hand to stop me. "This is the third night he's been here. He hasn't gone to classes. I'm fucking tired of our room smelling like weed and alcohol. Look, I know he's going through an incredibly rough time right now, but what he's doing to you is not fair. He's manipulating you, can't you see that?!"

"He's not manipulating me!" I responded, getting up from my bed. "He simply has no one. Your mother having cancer isn't the easiest thing. It's one of the hardest things."

"I get that. I do. But Nova is also dealing with this shit, and where is she? With her moms, supporting them. As this motherfucker," she pointed at Damon, "should be!"

I pushed her finger away. "Not everyone copes the same!"

"Katherine. You're not listening. He is using this as an excuse to make you feel bad for him and to keep you close. That's the problem." She sighed deeply. "I don't care if he does whatever he wants to do to cope, but he can't use you as a part of it."

"Well, I guess that's my problem then." I responded angrily.

Those words seemed like a slap on her face, I could see her visibly flinch and immediately felt bad for hurting my best friend.

And yet, she boxed up her pain, put it away, and let anger be her main emotion, I saw it take over her face. "Alright. Fine. It is your problem. Excuse me for not wanting to watch this asshole hurt you again. But if you want to get hurt, fine by me. I don't know why I care." She scoffed, walking away from my bed. And yet, she stopped and turned around, facing me angrily. "I love you. You know that. You're basically my sister and I'll do anything and everything for you. But I really don't like this version of you. When you're with Damon you turn stupid. Seriously blind. And if there's something you never were, that's stupid, until you started dating him. And maybe you're not that bad yet, but if you forgive him for cheating on you, you truly might be." She spun on her heel and strutted away.