Despite growing up together, Catherine Simmons and Mattis Reed were never close.
Cat was inseparable from Mattis' younger sister, Chloé, while he was busy running around on the football field.
But when Cat's new dream drags her across the country du...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
I take my car because it's raining and it's faster. I don't bother to knock when I get to the dorm. The door is unlocked, and I steer towards Cat's door without checking if anyone is there.
"Reed, what the fuck?"
My fingers gracing the doorknob, I turn my head and see Blondie standing in her doorway, hands on her hips, looking at me disapprovingly. I suppose I must look a little mad. Even though I ran through the downpour, I still got drenched. My hair is plastered to my face, and my raincoat is dripping on the floor.
I don't give a shit.
"I'm here for Cat," I say. "She needs me."
Ignoring any further objections from Cat's roommate, I step inside my girlfriend's room. It's dark; the only sound is the petering of rain against glass. Cat is lying in the middle of her bed, staring out the window. She looks so small, curled up in a ball, her red hair sprawled out behind her.
I think she's awake, but she makes no indication that she realizes I'm here.
Worry tenses my muscles; my pulse beats loudly in my ears.
Quietly, I close the door, walking towards the bed. I expect her to notice me at any moment, but she seems transfixed by the pouring outside. Removing my wet jacket and boots, thankful that my shirt and pants are only slightly damp, I slip onto the bed, laying on my side facing Cat.
Finally, her eyes find mine. Those bright greens are dimmer than normal like some of the light has died.
I keep my hands to myself because I remember how she prefers to come to me when she's in pain or feeling vulnerable. It's torture, being this close after so long and still holding back. I just want to feel her in my arm to ensure she's alright. To help her be alright.
She blinks. "Hey."
It's incredible what that one little word can mean. "Kittycat," I whisper, afraid my voice might break.
Instantly she moves towards me, and the second her hands grip my shirt, I wrap my arms around her, pulling her to my chest, smoothing a hand down her hair.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." I don't know what I'm apologizing for. Maybe for not being here or for not knowing how to fix it. Perhaps for causing this whole mess in the first place. All of it?
"Matt." There's awe in her expression. "You came."
"Of course, I did, baby. I'm here."
What the hell took me so long? There is no doubt in my mind now that Chloé was right. Cat needs me.
My eyes trace her face, noticing the paleness of her skin, the dark circles under her eyes, how she looks thinner, even in this short time.
"Cat," I say quietly. "What hurts?"
"Everything," she answers on a broken exhale.
It feels like my heart is being fed through a wood chipper. I want to take some of her pain and place it on my shoulders.
