Battle Scars

Chapter 4// Good-bye

Katherine awoke from her deep slumber by the little rays of sunlight that shone through the window. She pried open her eyes and groaned at the pounding sensation in her head.

Katherine could hardly recall last nights events. All she could remember was going to a party with Michael and meeting an insanely attractive and sweet guy whose name was at the tip of her tongue. Katherine feels guilty for not remembering the mans name, after all they had talked all night. She remembered it started with an 'N'.

Katherine looks around and realizes she was sleeping on Michaels spare bed. She throws her legs over the side and stretches her stiff limbs. Her eyes gaze over the now brownish/yellow colored bruises upon her arms. Katherine's thoughts quickly go to Pete and what he's doing. Is he looking for her? Is he planning to hurt her? What is he gonna say if she ever sees him?

The pounding in her head gets worse and Katherine stands up and makes her way into the kitchen in search for some aspirin.

"Well good morning.. well actually good afternoon sleeping beauty" Michael jokes while sitting on the couch watching some show with lots of shooting on TV.

"What time is it?" Katherine's groggy asks, curious to how long she had been asleep for. She wasn't used to sleeping in and that long nights rest was surely what her body needed.

"1:30" Michael replied with a chuckle.

Katherine made her way to the kitchen and searched through Michaels medicine cabinet. She sighed in relief when she found what she needed. She grabbed a glass and filled it with some refreshing cold water and took the two little tablets that laid in her palms.

After she took them she went and sat on the couch next to Michael. "Sorry I slept so long I-" Katherine starts but stops when she hears the toilet flushing from the bathroom. "Whose here?" She asks curiously.

Michael chuckles before answering. "Oh yeah guess you must've forgot, Norman stayed the night too last night"

Katherine then realized this way the guy she was trying to remember this morning. 'Norman' ... she likes that name.

The bathroom door opens and out walks the attractive blue eyed man shirtless. Katherine tries her hardest not to stare. "He just woke up too so don't feel too bad" Michaels voice says beside her snapping her out of her thoughts. She smiles lightly and looks away and at the tv.

Norman mumbles something inaudible and walks into the kitchen. Probably to take some aspirin too. "Guess I'm the only one who candle handle their drinking" Michael scoffs when Norman walks back into the living room while taking the pills.

"Shut up" Norman grumbles and plops down right next to Katherine. So close that she could feel the warmth of his bare arm touch her shoulder. It sends shivers down her spine.

"Hey Norm.. there's a whole couch here buddy" Michael says and laughs when he sees how close her sat next to Katherine when indeed there was much more space.

Norman gave Michael a cold hard glare causing Michael to laugh again. Katherine felt her cheeks heat up and secretly enjoys the fact he sat so close to her.

"Sorry" Norman grumbles before moving away from Katherine, now leaving her to give Michael a glare.

=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=

When 6 o'clock rolled around, Norman announced that he should be heading home. Katherine felt slightly disappointed for she enjoyed his company.

"Here, we should hang out sometime" Norman says and hands Katherine a small piece of paper that had his number on it. Both Katherine and Norman blushed when their hands touched.

Norman finally leaves after saying goodbye, leaving Katherine and Michael in the large apartment.

"Katherine and Norman sittin in a tree-" Michael starts to sing while pushing Katherine around by her shoulders.

"I'm married!" She informs and points to the ring on her hand.

Michaels smile drops and he scoffs while rolling his eyes. "Norman is a lot better than that asshole"

"I just met him.. plus I should be going home now" Katherine grumbles and frowns, the idea of her getting beat isn't her favorite thing to think about. She can only imagine the beating she will get when she returns.

"Hell no.. I'm not letting you go back there" Michael says standing in front of Katherine so that she couldn't go anywhere.

"Michael I need to.. he's my husband" she whispers frightened.

"I'm going to help you... but you have to let me help you first" Michael whispers to her and lightly holds her shoulders while looking directly into her eyes.

Katherine nods, it's better than arguing. She knows it's bad to involve Michael into her drama. She is well aware of what Pete is capable of and doesn't want to put him in that sort of danger. It was then that Katherine made the heart breaking decision to leave while Michael was gone. She would go home, receive her punishment, and the most hardest one cutting off all contact with Michael. She couldn't bare seeing the hurt expression on his face anytime he saw her scars or bruises and she most defiantly doesn't want to put her best friend in harms way. Katherine knows this will hurt him but he will get over it. He's strong and that's what she admired about him. She wishes she could be strong. She hates herself for not being able to leave Pete.

=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•

"I'm going to get some groceries.. You need anything?" Michael asks while grabbing his keys.

Katherine just shakes her head 'no' and thanks him for offering. She knows she'll be gone by the time he's back.

"Ok I'll be back in about 2 hours" He informs her and walks out of the apartment, leaving Katherine all alone.

Once she is sure that Michael is gone, Katherine searches for a piece of paper and a pen. The least she can do is write a note.

After Katherine finds the things she needs she taps the pen against the counter a few times, unsure what to say. Finally she starts to scribble down some words.

Dear Michael,

I have decided to go back home. It's for the best. I don't want to put you in any kind of danger, these are my problems not yours. It's not fair for you. It's better if we don't talk or see each other anymore. I want to thank you though, for always being there for me. For being my rock. You were there when no one else was and you will always have a special place in my heart. I'm sorry I put you through this.

Goodbye,
Katherine.

She sighs as a single tear falls from her eye and lands on the paper. Before she changes her mine Katherine quickly grabs her stuff and leaves the apartment before making the dreadful walk home.