Adore *Nate Maloley*

chapter 3

I wasn't surprised that Sammy didn't get up to hug me, I knew he resented me after finding out I was here the whole time and didn't contact anyone. And I also knew Nate was getting tired of my bullshit. I had been playing with his emotions for too long.

After the jacks were done hugging me they sat down and it was silent until Johnson spoke up

" What the hell Cat what are you doing here? "

I sighed putting my head in my hands. I knew I was caught and they wouldn't let this go

"Shit" I whispered "well I owe all of you an explanation " I paused looking at the strangers in the room " this isn't the best time. I'm not making excuses either it's just something I wouldn't want strangers to know"

"Then well all go for a walk" Gilinsky suggested

"Good idea, but I need to talk to Nate alone first" everyone whipped their heads in Nate's direction probably knowing that I always try my best to avoid him.

He slowly got up and started to walk out the door leaving me to follow him. We walked silently for a few blocked before we got to a park

"We should sit" I suggested. Nate still didn't say anything but sat down on a bench

I sat next to him leaving a reasonable amount of space between us

"We were really good together you know" I smiled thinking of everything before I started going out more and eventually left

He nodded agreeing " I just don't understand why you'd throw it all away then" the smile disappeared

"Alright this is where I start explaining. Well you remember Carla's 18th birthday party?" I asked "well I remember you didn't feel like going out that night and you never did like me going out alone" I said remembering how protective he was "Well I should have listened to you. I should have just stayed home and made dinner for us and watched movies all night with you. " tears we're streaming down my face now and I didn't even get to the part that fucked up my life " I showed up and I got a drink then I went to go dance. I didn't dance with anyone, it didn't feel right to dance with anyone but you " I looked up at Nate my vision was blurry from the tears but I was positive he was smiling " some guy came up to me and he tried to dance with me but I told him I wasn't interested"

"He didn't get the hint and continued to keep trying to dance with me and so I tried to walk away. He grabbed my wrist and -and-and" I was shaking so bad at this point.

Nate started to rub my back so help comfort me so I could continue

" he hit me" I finally breathed out " he punched me in front of everyone and when I started to scream his friends showed up and grabbed me. I kept screaming and screaming but no one was paying attention to me. They just watched it happen. They took me upstairs and into a room, they all left after that except two of them. One kept watch at the door and the other" I paused again trying to catch my breath through the tears "the other raped me. They took turns for 3 hours. That's why I fucking left that's why I avoided you guys!" I was screaming now, I hated thinking of that night and of what they did to me

Nate grabbed my hand and started to rub my knuckles. I heard him sniffle and I looked up from the sidewalk to his face. He was crying. I fucked up and made him cry again causing me to cry even harder

" why didn't you tell me baby? I would have beaten the shit out of them for you I would have helped you get through it " he asked

"That's exactly why I didn't tell you. I know you and when you get mad there's no stopping you, you would have literally killed them. I couldn't let you ruin your future like that. I knew you were going to make it big someday and I also knew that couldn't happen if you were in jail"

I was looking at the ground again when Nate wrapped his arms around me and for once I wrapped my arms around him too. I took in the scent of his cologne. I missed being on his arms and I missed talking to him. I let go remembering that there's more to the story and that this was the worst part of everything

"Nate?" I asked hesitant

"Hmm?"

"There's something else I need to tell you"