Head Down

Chapter 24

A/N: IMPORTANT AND SHORT. I wanted to make it clear I'm about halfway through the story, the end is far from here.

Comment, Fan, Vote, if you like!

XOXO

KATIE'S POV

Once everyone's laughter quieted down -and I got back to my chocolate pudding, which was just so freaking good I could feel myself back in Detroit- I feel a small, soft tap on my shoulder. I turn around, in the process leaning my shouler on Nate's arm who is propped up against the counter, as well as pleased with my wide comfort zone in touching him, and am met by a literally bone crushing hug by none other than Claire.

She squeezes and shakes me in the most uncomfortable way possible, with her arms entrapping mine by forcing them to my chest and bringing hers around my back. She jumps up and down and brings me with her, ripping my stitches open and bonking our heads together. I feel my ribs creak a little bit with the absolute force her tiny body -which is still bigger than mine- and my bruises ache. Of course, the extremely sweet scent of her perfume is assaulting my nostrils and hairspray firm hair is sticking me in the eye, but I can't honestly say any of that bothered me. Partly because I knew it was out of friendliness, and partly because of her kind words blasting through the room.

"Oh my gosh KATIEKATIEKATIEKATIEKATIEKATIE you're awake we came as soon as Nate told us but you seemed so hurt yesterday though I think you're better now right I mean Laura let you up to take a shower by the way how did you do that with the stitches I've heard you can't get those wet and wow Nate isn't carrying you you go girl why the chocolate pudding how are you feeling cause like I just said you look better and why were you talking about Robert Downey Junior he was kind of cute in Mad Science oh my god Mrs. Cloister was evil Friday did you know you smell like cinnamon?"

My reply is so much infinitely shorter I feel inadequate about it, "Claire, I don't want to ruin your dress. Please step away."

"Huh?" she says, confused, but then pulls away enough to see the blood from the reopened wounds soaking through my shirt. "Excuse me," she says quietly, and gallops out of the room with a wretching sound, followed by Everett with a distressed look on his face.

"That could have gone better," remarks James.

No shit.

Nate ignores him, picks me up ever so carefully with his hands on my thighs instead of midsection, and places me delicately on the counter. His careful movements strike a cord within me, but worse is his face. Terrible sadness stares at me from his eyes, along with the deepest kind of worry and concern. The slightest of sheens covers his strikingly green irises from added moisture. His lips are quirked to the side in the most stricken expression I've ever seen. Everything about his posture screams defend, so much so that I'm not surprised when Laura approaches he growls threateningly.

But for the first time in my life, I am not afraid of an angry man. There are other people here and they are the first priority now -I'm practically a dead person walking anyway.

"Nate," I say at normal volume, infusing every ounce of calm and solidity left in my wrecked form into the word.

To my surprise, he looks up from my bleeding torso. "I. Am. Fine. Breathe," and my voice is more sure than I've ever heard it. He inexplicably heeds my advice, but doesnt change his stance. "Please stand up, and let Laura come take a look at me."

He whines, but it sounds natural. I don't care, and am starting to realize another reason I'm not scared: This Is Nate. He wouldn't hurt me. There's no time for me to question how I know this fact, there will be later, but not now.

"Please," I repeat, and take his hand, which feels incredible.

He wearily straightens his posture, cautious and guarded, and I squeeze the palm in my hold encouragingly. His next move is to sit on the counter beside me and lean foward a bit. I know he's just being precautionary -and overprotective which I will talk to him about later- so I only squeeze his hand again for my own tension relief. Laura comes a step forward at that, and in response Nate takes a shaky breath.