Falling Apart

Chapter 8

The second week of college was over and my heart still ached for Jenna. She doesn't know anything about him and if he hurts her, I won't have any other choice but to blame myself for not warning her. I haven't seen her since the day I ran into Ian, and I've been dreading to meet up with her. She told me that she wanted me to meet her date and I know if I see her again, Ian will be with her. Somehow, I know that he is only with her to get closer to me, that for some reason he wants something to do with me.

I've only seen David in chemistry for the remainder of the week and we haven't talked once. I've been forced to make myself believe that he's just busy and sooner or later he'll come to me with a good excuse. I've been lonely ever since the day David dropped me off, but now it's the weekend and I can relax.

I sit down in Starbucks after ordering my iced coffee and wait for the barista to call out my name. The last time I was here things were so different; it was my first week of classes and I had met Ian here, thinking he was a normal guy. Now, I've barely been out of my dorm other than going to classes and I'm terrified of seeing my own best friend.

"Katherine!" the woman behind the counter yells, placing my coffee to the side. I run up and grab it. When I return to my seat, David is sitting at my table.

"You always show up like that." I laugh.

"Like what?"

"Just, out of nowhere and randomly," I look at him and he watches me with intense eyes as I take a sip of my iced drink, "Where have you been all week?"

"What do you mean? I was in chemistry right next to you."

"I mean, I don't know. We haven't talked for a few days. I thought maybe you were avoiding me." I look down.

"Oh, that. I was busy with some things. Work, mainly. I'm sorry. So tell me about your day." he suggests.

Halfway through enjoying my coffee, he looks down at his phone and appears flustered. I stop halfway through my story about how I almost fell in the shower and he looks up at me with those icy eyes I've become fond of, telling me he has to go. He rushes out of the coffeehouse and I finish my drink, trying not to think of why he would want to ditch me so suddenly.

On the way back to my room, I spot Jenna from a distance and try to walk the other way until she notices me and yells my name.

"Oh hey!" I try to sound surprised.

"Dude, where have you been for like the last week? Whatever, okay here's what is going to happen. Tomorrow is the first football game of the season, I'm bringing Ian and you are going to meet him! You'll love him, Katherine, he's perfect for me." she beams.

"That sounds like a lot of fun but I think I'm going to pass. I have a lot of studying to do and don't have time to be out and about."

"No, not going to happen. We are in college now and you're coming with me to this. It'll be fun, there's no harm in fun. Besides, you told me before college even started that you wanted to be different and start going out more. What happened to that idea?" she whines.

"Alright, alright. I'll go," I sigh, "but can you not bring Ian?"

"Why do you care?" she pesters on, "Do you know him?"

"No, I just don't want to have to bother trying to look nice for boys." I lie.

"Fine. Meet me tomorrow at seven when the game starts." her ponytail swings as she walks off and I'm left regretting the decision I just made.

After walking around campus for a while, I hear a familiar voice. David.

"No!" I hear him yell. "Fuck, Darren I swear to god if any of you come near her I'll..." he spits into his phone, spinning on his heel and notices me staring.

"This isn't over." he tries to whisper but I hear everything.

I walk towards him. "Who was that?" my voice breaks.

"No one, it was---"

"Work?" I cut him off, "Is this what you've been doing for the past week? I don't understand, who was that?" I feel tears emerging.

"Katherine, lower your voice, please. Lets just go inside somewhere and talk about this." he tries to calm me down but I've put up with enough this week.

"No, you're telling me right now. Who was that?" I yell again.

"It was someone that knows Ian."

"What else? There's more you're not telling me. David!" I push against his chest when he doesn't answer me.

He pulls at his hair and his eyes grow big. "I'm don't fucking know! I'm the one trying to protect you!" he fires back, making me shrink in fear. Suddenly I feel unsafe again, this time worse. I thought David was the one person who could calm me down but now he's giving me anxiety with the phone call I just overheard.

"Katherine, please. I'm sorry but all I'm trying to do is protect you."

"Protect me? Yes, David, you saved me that one night but we barely know each other enough for you to even consider whatever we have as protecting me."

"Well then whatever we have is going to have to speed along because even though I don't know what Ian is planning, it's bad and I'm the only one willing to protect you. Got it?"

I gulp and nod; I was hoping he'd give me a speech about how he felt about me, that whatever our relationship is meant something to him but all he seems to care about is getting me away from Ian. From the things I said, hopefully he doesn't think I feel anything towards him.

"Why don't you tell me anything?" I ask, hoping he'll give me an honest answer for once. "I'm sick of the secrets."

"There's not always time to say what needs to be said."

Before I can say anything else, his lips crash onto mine. He brings a hand to the small of my back and I feel him push myself closer to him. Minutes ago we were screaming at each other and now he's kissing me. Though I can barely keep up with everything that has happened to me since starting school here, this moment is my favorite. I lean into the kiss, taking in the taste of mint on his breath and my mind runs wild.

All too soon, he pulls away, licking his newly swollen lips. "Whatever you decide we are, I'll be okay with that."