Next Door Lover

13.

Katie's POV
As I step out of the amazingly accurate changing room that's built into Scarlett's 'closet' I can sense a weird tension in the room. Leah won't really look at Scarlett and Scarlett, as great as an actress that she is, I can tell is mindlessly pretending to tidy up to keep busy. What just happened?

"Katie, I gotta go, my mom's on her way. Apparently Kevin broke his arm." Leah shrugs her shoulders at me as she looks at her phone.

"Oh man, okay. I'll walk you out." I say placing the clothes I just had on the top of the island counter so I can walk Leah downstairs. I give Scarlett a look like I'll be right back and she nods her head. It looks like she is still going to be up here so I make a mental note of which door it is when I leave the room.

"Tell Kevin I hope he feels better. And be nice to him! He's only 10 Lee." I tease my best friend about her little brother.

"I know I know. I will. Good luck tomorrow. Let me know how everything goes!" Leah says happily.

"I will. Goodnight." I hug her and watch as she walks over to my yard and into her mom's car.

I head back upstairs and find my way back to the closet. I see Scarlett holding up a long black dress against her body and tucking it around her hips. I could just imagine what she looks like in that and my mouth starts watering and my heartbeat rises.

"That would look amazing on you." I say and she jumps a little but smiles when she turns around.

"It did. I wore it to an Avengers premiere. I think the second to last one." She thinks aloud.

"Remind me to look that premiere up." I say quietly but of course she hears me because she's cheesing hard.

"Do you have everything else ready for tomorrow?" She asks

"Umm, social security card and drivers license?" I question and she giggles a little and shakes her head.

"Good, what about banking info? So they can deposit your checks into your account." She asks and I tense up.

"Umm can't they give me a paper check and I'll cash it?" I ask nervously. I don't know why I just got really nervous.

"Why wouldn't you want it in the bank? It can collect interest and grow?" She asks

"I- uh I don't.." I pause and she tilts her head making me calm my nerves by just her sweet and loving look. "I didn't want my mom to see the money in my account. She has access to it." I explain and see how Scarlett nods her head at me.

"Let's set you up with a new account." She says as she walks a little closer to me.

"How do I do that?" I ask and her smile turns to a sad smile. Am I supposed to know how to do that? Clearly my mother taught me a lot.

"Okay so tomorrow when they start handing you papers or talking about direct deposit tell them you want to take the papers home to fill out and when you have them, I'll bring you to the bank and see what accounts they have available to you." She explains.

I sigh in defeat, a little frustrated with not knowing what to do and I think Scarlett can sense that. She wraps her arm around my shoulder and nudges me closer to her.

"Hey, it'll be okay. I'll help you with anything you need help with. Remember this is a safe place. You can always come to me." She gently runs her fingers through my hair and I immediately feel safe. My nerves calm a little but also stay because I'm literally laying in Scarlett's chest and I could just turn my head and bite down on her....no. Stop. She doesn't want you Katie.

But I turn my head anyway and inch it back so I can look her in her eyes and she smiles at me.

"I feel stupid and useless" I whisper and she furrows her eyebrows and opens her mouth to talk but I speak first. "But when I'm around you, I don't feel that way. Even when I have no idea what to do, you don't make me feel like it's a big deal."