Because she was different

When I Look At You

Chapter 10. 

 This chapter goes on with the 9th

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 Rick was sitting in his office, trying to write but failing because his mind constantly wandered to Kate. And how rude she had been, he understood, and he knew there was something wrong, but what he didn’t understand was why Kate hadn’t called him, or told him what was wrong. Didn’t she trust him? Okay, they had only been friends for 11 days, and then there’s the day they met, but he didn’t count that as them being friends. But he remembers it perfectly, Friday the 23th of December.

He just started writing again, when he heard knocking on his door. He sighed, got up and made his way to the door, not bothering to turn the lights on. Who would come to visit him at this hour? He had already put Alexis to bed because the little redhead was so tired after the day of fun that she fell asleep watching a movie. His mother wasn’t home yet, he was used to it though…

He looked through the peephole and as soon as he saw Kate standing there, shifting from foot to foot, arms wrapped around her, he turned all the locks as fast as he could and opened the door.

He didn’t even get a word out before she launched herself towards him, hugging him as she sobbed against his chest.

“Kate, what happened?” he said after a while just standing there as he led her towards the couch. She cuddled up against him and he put an arm over her, never taking his eyes off of her.

“I don’t want to talk about it.” she almost whispered so soft.

“Okay Kate. We’ll talk tomorrow.” he said and she could hear the worry in his voice. He started tracing patterns on her arm to sooth her.

Kate knew that talking about it tomorrow, might be even harder than talking about it now. She sighed, “When I walked into the house I found bottles of booze everywhere.” Rick immediately understood more of what had happened, but still heard her out. She needed to get this off of her shoulders, and he needed to know she was okay. “I found my dad blacked out on the couch.” She swallowed, trying to get the lump away, but that didn’t work. “I put him to bed and started cleaning.” He held her closer as she continued. “I threw everything I found out, and cleaned the house. When I was done, you came. I’m sorry about slamming the door in your face by the way.”

He smiled, “It doesn’t matter Kate. You don’t have to be sorry.”

“Yeah I do! I pushed you away while you just tried to help.”

“Kate don’t worry about it. What happened next? Did you get into a fight?”

“Yeah…” she nodded, “He woke up and was mad that I threw everything away. We fought, said some ugly things and I left.”

“I’m glad you came to me.” He sighed and suddenly realized something, “Wait, how did you get here?”

She bit her lip at that, not wanting to admit it to him. “I ran.”

“You ran?” he asked in shock, “You ran all the way?”

“Yeah, listen Rick it’s no big deal.” She sighed, really not wanting him to worry.

“It is!” he said as she moved away from him. “Kate, what were you thinking, running all the way?” he also sat up and turned on the big light and turning of the smaller one that had lighted the room with a soft orange color.

“I’m going to bed. Night” Kate said as she stood up and started walking away, stopping when she felt Rick grab her wrist.

“Kate, did he hit you?” he asked, voice full of worry and kind of angry. He stood up right in front of her.