Head Down

Chapter 14

KATIE'S POV

I enter Nate's warm house for the second time this week, and it's cheery and safe atmosphere hasn't waned since Monday. The only differences are that the fire seems even warmer than before (no surprise, it looks to be the only lighting in the room but works substantially well), and there are more people here. Much more people, I count eight all together.

Sitting at the far right of the comfy brown couch I had sat on when Laura took care of my wrist is a boy that looks to be about fourteen with brown hair spiked up in a little front quiff, and blue eyes that remind me of a gurgling stream. Excited and mischievous and happy.

To his left is a man with thinning black-grey hair and tired looking brown eyes, but his aged though not exactly old face has an......in control smile. The man exudes power and confidence, and I immediately assume him to own the house.

The man has his arm around the shoulder of a forty something woman with blonde hair that's put up in a messy bun. She wears sweatpants and a loose t-shirt which I guess to be her pajamas (come to think of it everyone is in some form of night clothing), but isn't at all frumpy. Like the man I assume to be her husband -their love for each other is clear in everything about them, what is up with the true love couples here?- she exudes an air of confidence and control, though the lines under her washed face signal great stress.

On the woman's left sits another little boy, this time with longer sandy blonde hair and brown eyes. He reminds me of a mini Aaron for some reason, though his posture indicates more of a Everett-esque calmness. He is bigger than the other boy, though I think him to be the same age, and holds a mug of hot chocolate in his hands.

On the armchair sits a couple that I recognize immediately to be James' parents. The man has the same fiery red hair and is playfully jiggling his wife (seriously, why does EVERYONE here have the perfect person for them? Clearly these two were made for each other, too) on his jean-clad knee. His hazel eyes are bright with charm and plain silliness, and a smile reflecting those same emotions is present as well. The woman has very pale blonde hair, James' brown eyes, and an altogether MUCH more subtle profile.

I never would've placed the two together but their blissful happiness equals the couple on the other armchair -Luke and Laura.

Nate shuts the door behind us and everyone looks over to see who it is. The boy with spiky brown hair smiles goofily at Nate and raises his eyebrows like 'Nice chick you got there, dude. Can I have a squeeze?'. Nate gives him a stern look, but I can see a small smile that's he's trying to hide.

"Hey guys," says Nate casually. "This is Katie."

Everyone's ears perk at my name and immediately look more interested. In fact, the only person in the room who doesn't seem to be overly excited is the blonde boy with hot chocolate. When I look at him he smiles reassuringly, and waves a tad with his hand.

The powerful man on the couch gets up with a great deal more agility than I expected -in fact now that I see him standing I know he has a good amount of muscle mass- and strides forward with the confident stride I expected of him. His wife follows his lead. Laura pops up off of Luke -who joins her, of course- and runs over to me, but slows respectfully so the man and his spouse reach us first.

I find myself struck by the man's obvious power over her, and after all the abuse I've had over the years immediately suspect him of something. Beside me Nate stands close enough for me to feel the warmth radiating off of him, which makes me comfortable enough to stand tall and look the man in the eye.

He looks surprised, but pleasantly so, and start to doubt my assumption from seconds ago. He doesn't seem like a violent guy, more like a........leader.