Falling Apart

Chapter 12

David's shoulders sink as he sees my hands on Ian. I quickly pull away and back away from him but David slams the door shut, making the room shake.

"What the hell are you doing here?" his voice echoes throughout the small space. My head is aching and I don't know how this will end up. He pushes Ian forcefully by his shoulders and I find myself in between them both.

"Stop!" my small hands are on both of their heaving chests. My head turns to face each of them; David looks at me with confusion and Ian has his eyes glued to my hand. I pull away and sink to the chair beside me. "Ian, please just go. Now."

Ian takes one last glimpse of me, then proceeds to walking out of the room. The second he leaves, David falls onto my bed and closes his eyes, pulling on his hair. "Katherine, tell me why he was here." he attempts to sound calm.

I stand, trying to gain confidence. I don't want to admit out loud that I've been thinking about forgiving Ian, but I don't want to lie to David either. "I," I walk around the room, "My aunt was in town and I had to act like I was friends with him."

"I don't see your aunt here."

"David, stop. She left, and Ian followed me up here. We were just talking. I really think he's sorry about what he did and---"

"No." he interjects, "He's not sorry. Don't be stupid enough to fall for his lies, Katherine. Nothing he says is true."

"Stupid?" I gasp at the name but move on from it, "And how do you know so much about him? How are you so sure he isn't sorry?" I press on.

"I...just trust me!" he stutters and his eyes shoot back up to me, who is now kneeling beside him.

"David, I don't even feel like I know you. From the beginning, I was drawn to you. Then my friend Jenna told me about how you and your girlfriend broke up, and I've never even asked you about that. Now, I feel as if you might have some part in all of this Ian drama. I like that you're a little mysterious and all, but I don't even know you." I try to soften my words but he continues staring at the floor. "Tell me anything." I beg.

He finally stands and steps past me, edging to the door. "You want me to tell you something? Stay the hell away from him."

With a slam of the door, I'm left alone and my fingers begin to dial Ian's number.

David's POV

I'm furious with her. If she honestly thinks Ian can be forgiven, she's not as bright as I thought she was. She doesn't know him like I do, and I know he isn't finished with his little game yet. I can't have her getting hurt, but she needs to understand that she can't see him anymore. I probably shouldn't have left her, but she needs to think about it. If she'd just listen to me like I told her to, none of this would be a problem. On the other hand, if Ian were to ever do to Katherine what I've heard he's done, he wouldn't live to know the consequences.

Why am I sitting here in my dorm thinking of all this and not telling her? I knew I shouldn't have left her. I grab my keys and drive back to her familiar building, regretting my previous harsh words that I told her only an hour ago.

Katherine's POV

Ian shows up shortly after texting him. As I begin to regret my decision, there's a knock on the door.

"Hey baby." he answers as I let him in.

"Don't call me that. I just want to talk."

"So lets talk." he says and we sit down.

Through all the thoughts swimming in my head, all I can think about is David yelling at me. He so desperately doesn't want Ian anywhere near me but maybe if he had told me in a nicer tone I would've been more understanding. But here I am, with Ian sitting with me on my bed.

"Earth to Katherine?" he waves a hand.

"Sorry," I say and ask my first question, "Why did you get drunk that night?"

"My friends offered me some and I accepted. I didn't think you'd have a problem with alcohol."

"I don't, I was just wondering." I lie, "Do you know anything about David?"

"Only that he's got you doing whatever he wants."

"That's not true. I'm with you right now, aren't I?" I raise an eyebrow.

"Touché." his famous grin takes up his face, "Do you want to get out of here?"

"What?" He can't be serious.

"Lets skip this drama and we can continue these questions somewhere else."

"I don't know. It's late and I have classes tomorrow."

"You're in college, Kath. You're old enough to do what you want." he moves closer to me, spreading his hand onto my leg, "And right now, you want to go out with me."

His hot breath fans across my face, much different than David's cool, minty breath. He leans in closer and I stand up before letting anything happen. However, I have more questions to ask him and if going out somewhere with him is what it takes, I'll go. "Lets leave." I say and grab my purse.

"Great." he smiles and we walk out to his van.

David's POV

I walk up the stairs and finally get to her door. The whole ride here was filled with preparing a long speech about how sorry I am about earlier. I only want her to be safe, and if she'd listen to me that wouldn't be an issue. I knock on her door and after standing there for five minutes, looking like an idiot with flowers in hand, there's still no answer. She wouldn't leave would she? If she went with Ian, I don't know what I might do. She wouldn't though. She probably just went out for a walk or something to calm down.

I really wish I didn't yell at her. Now that she isn't where she usually is, I'm getting more worried by the second. I knock on the door one last time and turn to go downstairs. On the way to my car, I see a girl who looks vaguely familiar. "Hey!" I call to her.

She turns around. "Hi?"

"You're friends with Katherine, right?" I distinctly remember seeing her next to Ian the other night at the football game.

"Yeah." she states and suddenly her eyes grow wide, "Wait, are you and Kath together? You went to the game with each other, right?"

"Yeah I did but," I pause and look at the excited girl in front of me. Why should I be telling her any of my personal thoughts? "It doesn't matter. Do you know where she is?"

"I'm about to go up to her room to hangout." she starts walking towards the dorm building that I just left.

"Don't bother, she isn't in her room. I don't know where she'd be." I lift my arm up and nervously scratch my neck. I don't want to think of the possibility of her being with Ian.

"Don't start freaking out, you don't own her." she laughs at my anxiety and I glare at her. "Look, I'll call Ian and see if he knows where she is. They're kind od friends, I think."

"They're not fucking friends!" I yell aloud and she flinches and takes a step back. "Just call him." I give in after a few minutes. I don't care what I have to go through to get to her; I just need her with me so she can be safe.

After the girl who's name I don't even know calls Ian, she sighs and brings her phone back to her pocket. "He didn't answer. I'm going to call Katherine." she begins to dial.

I walk to my car, punch the side door and lean my head on the window. Where the fuck would she be? The girl comes running up to me with her phone in hand. "She didn't answer either. She's probably just at the library or maybe talking to a teacher about an assignment. It's only Monday, she's not going to be out at some party. Trust me, I've known her for a while and she wouldn't go out somewhere she shouldn't be." she advises me and I get in my car.

She walks around my car and I watch her get into the passenger side. "What do you think you're doing?" my eyes narrow on her.

"Isn't it obvious? I'm coming with you. You're freaking me out and we both don't know where Katherine is. Lets go. Drive." she widens her eyes at my feet and instructs me to go. By my own surprise, I step on the gas, not knowing where our destination will be.