Always & Forever 2: On The Road

Chapter 3

"Thanks for cheering me up, Ethan." Katherine said with a warm smile.

"Sure thing." Ethan responded.

"By the way," Katherine sighed. "I want to see my mom."

"How can you see her? Do you even know where she lives?" Ethan asked and raised an eyebrow.

"Yes," Katherine answered with a nod. "She lives in Virginia Beach." Katherine explained.

"And how did you find that out?"

"Google and Facebook."

"Still can't believe it's that easy to find someone," Ethan sighed. "I miss the old days where you could disappear, and no one could find a trace of you. Oh, what a time to be alive... or dead, in my case." Ethan chuckled.

"Ethan, I am being serious here. I tracked her down, I know where she works and I'm going to want to see her." Katherine said.

"Are you sure this is what you want?"

"I have always wanted to see her."

"I'm not sure if this is a good idea, didn't she walk out on you?" Ethan asked.

"She was young." Katherine answered.

"Your dad was too but he raised and loved you." Ethan pointed out.

"Maybe she was scared and maybe she regrets it and wants to see me..." Katherine trailed off. "I mean that is possible, right?"

"Maybe." Ethan mumbled and nodded.

"I have to at least try and ask her."

"If this is something you really want to do, we'll go see her." Ethan responded.

"Really?" Katherine beamed.

"Yeah." Ethan answered and nodded.

"Thank you! Thank you!" Katherine squealed and hugged Ethan.

Ethan hugged back and smiled. Deep down, he didn't want to do this, but he wanted to see Katherine happy. He knew after the year she had, she deserved happiness. Ethan wanted to make her happy. Ethan cared for Katherine and the two of them grew closer as the days, weeks, months had passed.

"Okay, I'm going to go to my house and pack my things, you should pack too." Ethan suggested and let her go as he headed for the front door.

"I will... good night." Katherine said and watched Ethan walk out the front door.

"Good night to you too!" Ethan called out and waved at her.

"See ya!" Katherine giggled and waved back.

Ethan didn't say anything but smiled and got in his car and started it and after a few moments, he drove off and headed home.

The next day, Veronica stood in front of Katherine's front door with a wrapped present in her hand. She knocked on the door with one hand and waited for the door to open. After a minute, Katherine opened the door and saw Veronica holding a present.

"Hey." Katherine greeted with a small smile.

"Congrats on graduating," Veronica responded cheerfully. "I got you something." Veronica said and handed her the present.

"Thank you," Katherine replied and took the present. "You shouldn't have done this, this is too much." Katherine finished and started to open it.

  "I wanted to." Veronica said with a warm smile as she watched her open it.

"Oh my goodness," Katherine gushed as she saw a gold necklace with Katherine's name on it. "This is so beautiful."

"I thought you would like it."

"I love it." Katherine said and smiled.

"I'm glad you do, Kat, you deserve it."

"Have you heard from Noah yet?" Katherine asked and furrowed her eyebrows.

"No," Veronica answered and frowned and slowly shook her head. "I'm sorry, I know it isn't what you wanted to hear." Veronica finished. Veronica had missed her brother and wished he would at least call her and let her know he was okay.

"I just don't get why he just left."

"I don't know why either, Kat."

"I miss him." Katherine mumbled and looked down at the ground.

"I'm sure he misses you too."

"No, he doesn't."

"What do you mean?" Veronica asked and raised an eyebrow.

"He doesn't love me." Katherine answered. I'm not in love with you. I was just having fun. I lied. I'm sorry I didn't break it off sooner. Our worlds are too different. I don't have feelings for you. I want you to move on and live your life. Pretend I never existed. Promise me that you'll go to college, get married, start a family and grow old... can you do that? Goodbye, Katherine. Noah's words echoed in her mind.

"That's not true." Veronica responded.

"It doesn't matter anyway," Katherine said and forced a smile. "I'm going to wait a year to go to college so I can go on a road trip." Katherine finished.

"That sounds like fun." Veronica replied and smiled.

"Yeah, it will be."

"Are you going with any friends?"

"I'm going with Ethan... actually."

"Are you two just friends or something more?" Veronica asked.

"We are just friends, nothing more." Katherine answered.

"Well, I hope you two have fun and I wish you well." Veronica said with a warm smile.

"Thank you." Katherine whispered and pulled Veronica in for a hug.

"Of course," Veronica mumbled, hugging back. "You deserve happiness."