Tie My Heartstring's ❦

honey

Katie

I tell my dad I am staying with Alice whenever I go to sleepover at Hudson's place. I am still careful, calculated, practiced. I go home everyday, and convince him i'm the good girl he thinks I am. Though, things with Alice haven't been the same since that party. I haven't brought it up, but I haven't let it go either.

That night, she showed me who she really is. She didn't notice I left the party. Didn't even check. Ryan keeps her distracted—thank god. Joseph's vanished too. No messages, no awkward run-ins at school. It's strange. But maybe it's a good thing. Hudson warned me, and once again, he's right.

I finished my last class of the day, and am walking to Hudson's place. When I reach his building, and enter the lobby I pause. There in the lounge area, stands a blonde woman speaking with Hudson. He looks very angry. I walk over, and stand beside Hudson. At first, he stiffens, surprised, but when he looks down at me, his demeanor softens.

I can feel the shock of the blonde's glare burning into the side of my face. "Hello..." I say, attempting to sound casual even as anxiety creeps inside me.
Hudson relaxes slightly, but the woman's sneer remains, a bitter twist of her lips. "And you are?" she tilts her head, her voice dripping with condescension. "I'm Katie. Who are you?" I reply, keeping my tone polite. Hudson clears his throat, his gaze shifting between us. "Nobody," he states firmly, and I can't help but notice the way the blonde's eyes widen in disbelief. "I'm Sofia. I'm his ex-girlfriend's best friend," she declares. I see Hudson's jaw clench in fury.

Something about this situation is making me very uncomfortable. "God you look young, how old are you sweetie?" Her voice is laced with worry, as she glances at Hudson, searching for his reaction. The tension in the air thickens. "The fuck are you still doing here Sofia? Get the fuck out!" I watch her smile drop as she shifts. "I am not finished." I frown. Finished with what Hudson shifts his attention to her with a more intense stare. "I'm telling you to get out of this building, before I fucking force you." She opens her mouth to speak, as he roughly pushes past her.

I stare in shock at the man before me. He briefly casts me an annoyed glance, when I just stand there unmoving. "Can I speak with you for a moment?" Sofia asks me. He nods toward the elevator. "Let's go Katie!" He shouts. I shoot the woman a sympathetic smile before I chase after Hudson, whose long strides make it nearly impossible to keep up.
"This isn't over Hudson! You'll pay for it all when I come back with proof!" she hollers from behind us, her heels echoing against the floor as she struts out of the building.

I turn back to Hudson, who's bent slightly to look down at me. "What?" he snaps, pushing the elevator button aggressively. I raise my eyebrows, exasperated. He has some nerve asking me what. "What the hell was that, Hudson?" I demand, crossing my arms. "Nothing important," he mutters, stepping inside the now open elevator. I scoff, standing in front of him. "Nothing important? That woman clearly seems to know you! I have a right to know, Hudson." The words spill out, my annoyance flaring.  He lets out a humorless laugh, a sound that only fuels my frustration as we go up all the floors. "She's from my past, Katie. Showing up out of the blue like that. I don't owe you an explanation, so stop pushing before you really fucking start to piss me off." 

My phone buzzes in my pocket. I take it out, glancing down. When I unlock it I see a message notification from Alice. About time she apologized.

Alice: Meet up with my friend and me tomorrow night at this club. I'll introduce you to some hot NYU kids. Joseph is MIA still.. Let me know if you're up for it, and I'll send you deits xx.

God, she had no intention of apologizing, she just wanted to invite me out. I frown. I look up, Hudson's eyes are glued to my screen. "The fuck?" he snaps, his annoyance palpable. My heart sinks. I hate this side of Hudson. When something frustrates him, he turns it back on me. "Give it a rest today, Hudson. I've had a long day, and I'm too emotional for another lecture from you." I snap, fed up with his hypocrisy. "Excuse me?" His tone sharpens as I step out of the elevator. I whirl around, my voice rising. "You heard me. Stop being a hypocrite for once." My emotions grip me, pushing me into a confrontation I didn't plan for. His low, stern voice cuts through the air. "Cut this hysterical shit Katie."