Runaways and dreamers

Chapter 20- Remnants of regret

The sun ducked below the horizon's edge, shadowing the sky as it got dark. Jace fell asleep quickly, having locked his door to ensure peace and quiet and keep him from getting involved with James and Romona.

Katie, meanwhile, tossed and turned uncomfortably. Everything felt wrong. The cabin, the people in it, the smell of his cologne, the fact that she'd had to ask for help from them of all people. That she had to put Jace in the middle of it all. Around midnight, she still hadn't slept a wink. That left two people in the cabin asleep and two tossing and turning.

Both of them were angry, both upset, both resentful and both unwilling to admit any of this except anger. It was the common problem with people who'd hurt each other but couldn't say they still cared for fear that it was only them feeling that way. Feeling as though they, in some way, weren't allowed to feel how they felt because of their own fear of being perceived as weak.

Faintly, both of the two awake could hear the other across the hall, the creaks of the old beds giving away their sleepless states. The restlessness of the other fueling their own restlessness. Neither would cave and admit anything to the other. Neither would talk without the other starting it. Neither wanted to be the one to give up and walk accords the hall.  They were both, at the moment, full of resentment and a cynical attitude. But they both knew they couldn't avoid talking forever.

Finally, at three AM, one of them gave in.

Slowly opening her door, James cleared his throat. Katie glanced up, wrinkling her nose in partially forced disgust.

"Oh it's you." She sneered as he stood in the doorway, though an unacknowledged subconscious part of her had probably known all along.

"You think it was Romona?" He replied, his tone for once genuinely curious like he might want to have a real conversation.

Katie nodded, looking away from him, but she was surprised at his demeanor that was so normal and not tense and sarcastically mischievous, "I thought it was her but I was hoping it was Jace."

James pursed his lips in thought, "Yeah, they're both snoring. I can't sleep though."

"Me either." Katie replied shortly, wanting to talk but not to him. Even if he was for once being genuine, that didn't excuse what he'd done to her. Though maybe it would help, to confront her betrayer and get closure. She decided to chance it, laying there restless wouldn't help her any.

"James?" Katie started, taking a leap of faith and praying it wouldn't turn out to be a bad choice.

"Yeah?" He glanced at her, keeping his arm up against the door frame as he leaned there, moonlight hitting his bare chest.

Katie took a silent deep breath, the question had been hurting her for years, she had to know, "Why did you do it?" She didn't have to explain, he knew exactly what she was talking about. Why he had broken her heart for Romona.

James took a long deep breath before sighing and coming to sit next to her. Katie hung her feet off the bed as they sat next to each other. There was silence for a minute while he thought. It took everything in her not to react; not to scream at him, not to cry, not to say screw it and storm out before he could answer. To allow herself the chance to heal, and him the chance to explain. It took her all to not give up without even giving it a chance. The pain begged her not to hear him out, but she knew it would hurt more to go on not knowing.

She had wanted to know why for years now, finally she had asked, she couldn't leave without an honest answer. Her life had been run by lies and betrayal, and it had ruined most of her life; now she wanted the truth.