Falling Apart

Chapter 69

David's POV

I can't imagine what Katherine could be thinking right now. I know she cares for this baby in her, and I know she cares for Jenna. But picking one over the other? Is that even possible? She can't give up her baby, just as much as she can't give away her friend to a rapist. Jenna sees this situation working out both ways, but with one of them involving never speaking to Katherine again. We've all gone months without that before, but can Katherine go with that forever?

"You can't do this to us, Ian. I don't know who died and put you in charge, but you don't make any of our decisions." I warn.

"Well there's always plan B, where I just take the child and have it my way because it's rightfully mine just as much as it is Katherine's."

"Stop it!" The little voice behind me grows loud. "Just stop it. All of you." Katherine continues. "There's no way in hell you're taking my baby, Ian. And you sure as hell aren't making me choose between anyone."

"Well how rude do you think I am, Kath? Of course I'll give you a few weeks to think about it. Just make the decision before my baby pops out of you, yeah?"

"Get out! Get the fuck out, you filthy, pestering piece of shit." I've had it with him. I shove him by his shoulders to the door and he makes his final remarks to Katherine. They're drowned out by the anger pumping in my ears and I throw him out of the apartment. Slamming the door, I rest against it and try to find the peace that was once here.

"Katherine, you know you don't have to make any choices, okay?" My breathing is heavy.

She nods; all the while Jenna is sitting on the couch, picking at her fingertips. Finally, she speaks up. "You know you have to." Jenna laughs. "It's Ian. You don't have much of a choice."

"How can you be okay with this?" I ask her. I know Jenna is only seeing this as a benefit for her, and not thinking of how this will affect Katherine.

"Look. Ian messed me up so bad that I can barely remember when Katherine and I were friends. I barely remember my childhood, because all I can think of is what's happened this year. So excuse me for not thinking of everyone's feelings, when the past few months I've had to fend for myself."

"But you're still expecting me to pick you, aren't you?" Katherine speaks up. "You said you'll leave with Ian if I choose my baby over you."

"It's not even your baby!" Jenna yells back. She stands now, with her hands clenched at her sides. "How can you not see that? Why would you even want to keep something that made your life like this? You never stop complaining about what happened to you, yet you want to keep that with you for life? Why would you want that?"

"You don't understand what it's like." Katherine fires back. She looks exhausted and having Ian over here almost made me forget about Will speaking to her. "You carry a child with you for all these months, and it's with you through everything. So why would I give that up to someone who ruined my life, just for theirs to be ruined?" She walks over to the room and before closing the door, she utters, "I won't do that. I'm sorry."

The look of Jenna's face after that door shuts is dismal but I can't help but blame her for thinking that Katherine wouldn't choose the baby.

Will's POV

"Don't apologize for something you aren't sorry for." I tell Katherine. She continues to look back and forth between David and I. "Don't be blinded by viewing what David wants as what you want. Think for yourself."

She takes one last look at me and I desperately hope it won't actually be the last. I could barely go a week without seeing her, let alone the rest of our lives. Something needs to happen with David for her to finally see that I'm the only one good enough for her.