In the end, it's only us - Kate Martin

22. Falling

May 12, 2023; Iowa City, Iowa

Chapter 22.

Narrative + Flashback

⚠️ - Mention of Drug Use

3rd POV;

It's only been like 2 days since the confrontation between Liv and Michael, also 2 days after he got his ass beat by Kate.

However, Elle had found out about this from someone in the school who saw, that despite them not talking anymore, she likes to keep tabs on her younger sister.

She was shocked and concerned at first, but it quickly turned into anger. Despite their estrangement, Elle still cared deeply for her sister and felt protective of her.

She still remembers the moment she got the message.

Elle was in her aunt's house, researching for an assignment, when her phone buzzed with a message from a friend. She hesitated for a moment before opening the message, thinking it might just be a distraction. But once she read the words on her screen, her heart sank and her mind raced.

"Hey Elle I know you and Liv aren't on speaking terms for quite some time now but I just wanted to let you know that Michael hurt Liv, but Kate beat his ass till he was almost unconscious, your sister is fine a bit shaken up but she's okay."

Elle felt like she had been punched in the gut, she couldn't think right. Her mind was a jungle of emotions — anger, shock, and relief, relief that someone was there to protect her sister.

She felt a surge of protectiveness and anger, she quickly typed out a response, her fingers shaking with rage.

"Thanks for telling me that, I'll take care of it."

She didn't hesitate, her mind was made up. She opened Michael's forgotten contact number and sent him a message.

"You're so fucking dead Michael."

With that, she grabbed the keys to her car and went to find him. Remembering that she went once to his dorm to break things off with him because she couldn't handle the fact she was going against her sister, but he didn't let her that day.

(End of Flashback)

And now she's in front of Michael's dorm, banging the shit out the door. As he opened the door, Elle stormed in, her eyes filled with fury. Before he could react, she slapped him hard across the face, the sound echoing through the room. Michael winced in pain, his fresh bruises from Kate's beating beginning to throb.

"How dare you lay your hands on my sister?!" Elle's voice was venomous, a side nobody had ever really seen before. "You're a poor excuse of a man!"

"I know, I'm sorry Elle. I was out of control." Michael said, trying to defend himself.

"Sorry? Do you think a simple sorry will fix this? This might've worked on my sister but it is not fucking working on me." Elle spat out, her fists in a ball by her side.

"I know I hurt Liv, but please Elle just listen to me." Michael pleaded.

"Listen to you? You're a controlling piece of shit! You hurt my sister why is there an excuse for that? There shouldn't be!" Elle's anger poured out.

"I was jealous and insecure. I didn't mean to hurt Liv, I love her." Michael tried to explain.

"Love? Do you call that love? You're a monster, Michael! You're lucky Kate got to you first or I would've killed you myself! You need help, some serious help to fix your sick mind!" Elle lashed out at Michael, something she should've a long time ago.