The Bad Boy Returns

Chapter 40: The R Word

KAT'S POV
After mulling over Shane's request for a week or so I finally built up enough courage to talk things out with Brit.
Pulling up to the school parking lot, I stare out the windshield feeling nervous to see Brit for a whole different reason than I usually do. I look to my left to find Shane already watching me intently with a warm smile. I smile back leaning over to him. He reaches me halfway catching my lips between his. We break apart as the warning bell rings for first period.
He groans against my lips causing me to smile. "Let's go." He sighs.
Getting out of the car we make our way down the hall making a quick stop by his locker. I lean against the locker watching him pull his book out. I watch a single strand of hair fall into his eyes. He softly pushes it back, itching his nose.
Having P.E first period this semester I get to be book free in the morning.
"Hey." Shane says making me pull my eyes up to his face. He nods his head to across the hall. I follow his eyes to see Brit standing at the end of them making her way to P.E as well. "There she is, go for it." He tells me, shutting his locker lazily. I groan loudly, pushing my body against his chest. "I don't want to." I mumble against his chest.
His body rumbles with laughter as he pulls me up. "No you're gonna do it." He demands, pecking my lips quickly.
"No." I give him a quick kiss back, pecking his lips multiple times.
"Yes now go...come on." He chuckles, holding my cheeks. "Go." He says sternly.
"Okay....Okay I'm going." I back up slowly, reluctantly making my way to P.E. I look back over my shoulder to see Shane still watching me making a motion with his hands for me to go faster. I roll my eyes preparing myself.
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"You guys had amazing mile scores last week...well most of you did." Coach Lindy looks pointedly at me with disappointment.
I smile sheepishly as she gives up on my athletic abilities. "So as a treat you guys can have a free day. You can walk or play on the field, anything as long as you're doing something. No sitting down." She says throwing a netted bag of a different variety of balls. I walk over to the side of the field, not having  anybody to hang out with during this class.
I slide my eyes over to see Brit begin to walk around the field. I walk far behind her trying to think of a way to approach this. I never thought I'd be in a situation where I'd have to talk to her ever again. I didn't really think we'd ever speak again. I guess you really never know how your life is going to end up.
I secretly am grateful that Shane adamantly pushed for me to talk to her because no matter how mad I tried to be I knew I had too and I really wanted to.
Swallowing my pride I shut my eyes for a quick moment before lightly jogging over to catch up to her.
"Brit..." I say softly slowing to match her pace. She turns at the sound of her name shock evident in her face when her eyes land on me. "Can we talk?"

"I'm not really sure where to start." I chuckle humorlessly after a long, awkward pause. We had walked in silence for a while before coming to a stop in front of the bleachers turning to face each other.
"So much has happened I don't really know where we stand. You've been acting differently lately and I was so baffled but I guess I know why now." I explain to her.
"I felt bad for what I did to you, it's partially my fault." She says with a somber look.
"So you only felt bad about how you treated because you found out what happened." I ask.
"No-yes...I don't know you were my best friend, no matter how badly I treated you, I still cared about you. I know it doesn't justify everything that I did but it's true." She admits, running a hand through her hair, the wind moving it in odd ways.
"You really did hurt me...a lot." I emphasize to her.
"I know and again I'm sorry. I guess finding out what happened to you kind of showed me the reality of what I did to you and how it affected you. It's been killing me to know that something I deemed as a dumb prank, put you through something so traumatic. It put everything in perspective. That's why I stopped." She tells me truthfully.
I smile at her for the first time in a long while. "It wasn't your fault." I shake my head at her. "It was Nate's fault, and only his. Not yours or Shane's." I say quickly trying to breath evenly.
She smiles although I'm not sure if she believes me.
"Do you think we can ever be friends again?" She asks causing me to reel back.
Can we? After everything? We'll see.
"I don't know if it could ever be how it used to but I'm willing to try." I give her a genuine smile. She smiles widely breathing with a relief. She is automatically more relaxed than she had been since we started talking again. She pulls me into an embrace by surprise. I hug her back glad to have finally made it past a giant hurdle that caused me so much turmoil. Hopefully we can become great friends again.

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"So did you forgive her?" Shane comes up from behind me as we make our way to his car, poking my cheek. I turn to look at him with a wide smile. "Yeah I forgave her. We talked about everything. We're going to try and be friends again." I say proudly, grinning. He smiles looking excited. "That's awesome. Didn't I tell you?" He shrugs his shoulders, pulling a smirk. "Yeah you were right." I sighed as he pulls me into his side, wrapping his arm around my waist. "Thank you." He looks at me smugly.
"Look at you, we've been together for a week and you've already got me talking about my feelings." I mock him.
"I know, I'm that good. You don't have to say anything." He turns his nose up jokingly.
"Just get in the car." I say sassily, pointing to the door impatiently.
"Yes ma'am." He salutes me before ducking into the drivers seat with a chuckle. I laugh sliding into the passengers seat.

Pulling up to his driveway, I hear yelling coming from inside the house. I glance over to Shane as he mirrors my reaction. We both quickly get out of the car and rush into the house in search for the problem. We make it into the the living room where we find Shane's mom, step-dad and brother all arguing with each other.
"Are you an idiot! Why would you even think of taking this case?" Cassandra yells pointing to Shane's step-father. "Do you actually believe him?" She continues, he stays silent giving her the answer. The door slams behind us and they all turn to face us.
"Oh! Kat dear I'm so sorry. I can't believe I didn't see it sooner. The pain you're going through." She pulls me into and embrace. I hug back with one arm while my other is interlocked with Shane's. I back up from her with bouts of confusion.
"What are you talking about?" I ask nervously.
"Oh god! You didn't hear? Nate got arrested again. Some anonymous person told the department what Nate did to you. That he....hurt you." She says thankfully evading the R word.
I stumble backwards her words hitting me like a punch in the stomach.
"W-what?" I stutter. They know. Everyone knows?
I look to Shane silently asking him if he told. He shakes his head vigorously looking as surprised and angry as I feel.
I dare to look back at them finding Alex's eyes on me, giving me the pitiful look that I resent. I force myself not to start crying and screaming, or run away. I tried to keep composed.
"What did that have to do with why you two were yelling?" Shane asks between clenched teeth. He grips my hand tightly, his knuckles turning a shade of white. She sighs, looking angrily at her husband. "He's decided to be the lawyer defending Nate."

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