GLUE - KATE MARTIN

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

March 8th, 2024

Violetta stares at Kate, so many words circling her mind. After her talk with Caitlin last week, she knew it was a conversation they needed to have. And when she had practiced this conversation a million times in her head, it seemed a whole lot easier. Now that it's here, she fears she underestimated just how intimidating it is.

They had just beat Penn State in the quarterfinals and would be playing Michigan tomorrow in the semis. There's no doubt that Iowa is fully capable of winning the whole thing in the end, so the team was in high spirits all night. Now though, Violetta and Kate lay in their hotel room, spirits lower than ever. They're avoiding the conversation they both know they should be having. Kate hasn't been okay, and Violetta can't wait any longer for her to admit it.

"Kate?" Violetta finally speaks up. Laying on her chest, she feels Kate's breath hitch as if she's dreading what Violetta is going to say next.

"Hm?" Kate answers eventually, knowing she probably shouldn't keep running from it.

"I think you think too much." That definitely wasn't the sentence Violetta had been practicing, but she was attempting to lay it on easy.

"What do you mean?" Kate asks.

"You think too much, and you keep it all to yourself, and you're driving yourself—" Violetta pauses to search for the right words. "You're driving yourself crazy, Kate."

"I'm driving myself crazy." Kate asks, her tone changing from confused to slightly offended.

Violetta sits up from Kate's chest, the tone of her voice making her realize she definitely chose the wrong words, but it was too late now. "Yes, Kate. You're driving yourself crazy."

"I don't even know what you mean by that." Kate says now, sitting herself up in the bed as well. "I don't even think I wantto know what you mean by that."

"Kate—" Violetta goes to say but is cut off by Kate abruptly leaving the bed. "Kate, talk to me, please."

Kate walks towards the door before stopping halfway. She turns back to face Violetta, running a hand through her hair. "What makes you think I'm driving myself crazy?"

"Kate, look at you!" Violetta is now standing from the bed as well. "Look at you." She says again, her voice softer.

Kate shakes her head. "There's nothing wrong with me; I'm fine. I don't know why you're all acting as if I'm going to self-destruct or something!"

"We're going to worry about you, Kate; we love you. That's what loved ones do."

"I don't want anyone worrying about me; I'm fucking fine!" Kate exclaims, her voice rising an octave.

Violetta sighs. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry. Don't raise your voice, please; it's late."

"Well, you're the one who wanted to do this right now, so let's do it." Kate was obviously getting upset, which was the last result Violetta wanted from this talk.

"Kate, I'm not trying to do anything but talk to you." Violetta defends.

"Well, who said I wanted to talk?"

"This isn't about what you want anymore; it's about what you need."

"And how do you know what I need?" Kate snaps. To Violetta, the words feel like a slap across the face, and Kate realizes how bad it sounded leaving her mouth. "I didn't mean that." Kate says quietly.

"Sounds like you did." Violetta chokes out. She bites back tears, attempting to hold herself together.

Kate steps closer to Violetta, but she backs away. "Baby, I didn't—" Kate tries again, but Violetta shakes her head, pushing her away. Kate stares in disbelief before realizing she partially deserves it.