Notes on a Scandal

ELEVEN €

The rest of the day passes and Andrew stays in his study not talking to anyone. Cate has tried knocking on the door, trying to talk to him but he ignores her.

Barbara leaves once she knows Cate is okay, though she knows something Cate doesn't. Cate's cheeks have turned red and purple from the beating. And blood is crusted to her lip where it's cut.

Her eyes are red and puffy from crying. She slowly walks back up the stairs to Andrews study once more. She knocks on the door not expecting him to open the door.

The door does open and Andrew is behind it looking disgusted and disappointed. "Can we talk?" Cate asks quietly.

"What do you want to talk to me about, the fact that you decided to fuck your student?" he says angerly but his voice isn't loud yet.

"Andrew, its complicated. She's eighteen. She is a consenting adult." Cate says, she's so tired. She wants to fight but part of her wants to just give up. But the love for Elizabeth she feels strengthens her.

"She's still your student, that breaks so many rules. You can, no you will loss your job!" he fights.

"I was your student?!" Cate says trying to defend herself.

"You were twenty, Catherine!" He yells, "You were in University, not high school!"

"It's not my fault I feel so suffocated and unloved in this marriage." Cate says, tears start to form in her eyes again, her hands are shaking from nerves and she can't help but breath heavily.

"You never came to me, you never expressed these feelings." Andrew says, he throws his hands up in the air and and turns around, not facing Cate anymore.

He walks over to the desk and pours himself another glass of whiskey, "Do you really have to drink?" Cate asks.

"Do you really have to fuck your student?" he retorts after downing his suppressant.

"Andrew please, if you'd just listen to me!" Cate pleads, all she wants to do is explain herself to the man she once loved.

"What, Catherine, what excuses do you have for me now?" he sighs turning back around to face her.

"I'm sorry, but.. but I think I love her, Andrew." Cate whispers, she looks down at her feet not having the mental ability to look her husband in the eyes.

Andrew steps closer to her and grabs her chin between her fingers making her look at him, "You are a disappointment of a wife and of a woman." he hisses. Cate rips her face away from him before slapping him across the face.

"You have no right to say that to me. I'm going to live with Barbara for a while. Don't try to contact me." she explains, she walks out of the study and to her room.

She quickly packs a suitcase with clothes, sanitary products, and cash from the safe. She quickly leaves the house, she wishes Andrew would leave his study in a rush, begging her to not go, saying he's sorry for the hurtful words he says but nothing comes.

She takes out her phone and calls Barbara, hoping she picks up.

"Hello? Cate?" she asks through the line.

"Barb, me and Andrew had a fight..." She sniffs not knowing what else to say at the moment.

"Are you okay?" she asks with a concerned voice.

"Yes... no... I need some where to stay, I'm really sorry to ask but-" Cate tries to speak but Barbara cuts her off.

"You can stay at my place, I have a spare bedroom, it's all yours." she says.

"Are you sure, I don't want to intrude. I can just stay in a hotel."

"Non-sense, Cate. I insist. You can stay as long as you'd like." she says. "Where are you, I can come pick you up."

"I'm just walking down the road with my suitcase from my house." Cate says softly, sort of embarrassed.

"I'll be there in a couple minutes, don't move." Barbara says before hanging up the phone.

Cate sits on her suitcase a couple blocks away from her house. She would call it her home but it doesn't feel like it anymore. Home is wherever Elizabeth is from now on.