Too Close For Comfort (LH) (PT1&2)

10. Taken

All I remember is falling back into bed. Ashton  drove me home that day. Sense then he's come by everyday to check on me. Everyday finding me in the exact same spot he had left me in the day before.

We never talked.

He just sat there, holding me, while I stared at Luke's side of the room. I'd give anything to become numb.

Somehow I saw more of Ashton in a weekend then I had of Luke in a week. I quit answering my phone and told everyone I was sick. For the most part they all believed me.

"Kate," Jack tapped on the door one random morning. The light stung my eyes when the standing piece of wood creaked open. I wasn't sure what day it was. I had turned my phone off and lost complete track of time, "mom wants to see us all in the kitchen."

Liz had been so kind as to make me soup every night. Never failing to bring it the next night even if I had failed to eat it the night before. The least I could do was get up,  go to the kitchen, and listen to what she had to say.

I slumped out of bed, dragging my feet to the door. My legs felt weird from laying down  for so long. All I had been doing was showering, cuddling with Ashton, and staring at the ceiling, sleeping only when my mind allowed it. My hair was in an oily bun, my old gray sweatpants were raggedy, and my oversized black t-shirt completely swallowed me: I looked thrown away, which was a perfect representation of how I felt.

Jack didn't comment. He held the door for me, giving me a sad smile. I'm not sure if he knew exactly what was going on, but he definitely got the gist of it. He always pokes his head into the room to tell me when he's leaving, peaking in again when he gets home. This was his way of checking on me, but still giving me space until I was ready to talk.

Everyone was standing misplaced in the room: Connor and Ben at the table, Liz by the sink, Daniel by the front door. Jack joined them, taking a place next to Bradly.

Once my eyes landed on Luke he was all I could focus on. He was standing between the hallway/walkway. Not too far from the living room. Directly  across from me and Daniel on the opposite side of the kitchen.

He looked tired, but it was six in the morning, everyone looked tired. Other than that he seemed completely unfazed. He really didn't care, and it sucked that I cared so much.

I wondered if it was as hard for him not to look at me as it was for me to keep my eyes off of him. If it was he didn't show it. He didn't even acknowledge my entrance. I wondered where he had been: probably with her! Despite the fact we shared a room it was like he completely vanished.

"He's happy," my demons snickered, "you're pathetic."

"There she is!" My dad smiled brightly at me, pulling me out of my trance. Even with Daniel's announcement Luke didn't flinch. His eyes locked in on his mother who was gittering with excitement by the sink.

"Katie," Liz also smiled at me, calming herself so she could address me, "feeling any better?"

I shook my head no. My voice was low and raspy  from not talking: gross! It helped with the sick act though, "think it's the flu."

"That's not good," Daniel frowned. He squeezed me against his side. I snuggled up to him under his arm, appreciating the comfort.