Take me away

Chapter Nine: Change

I know I suck at updating so I don't need a reminder 😝👌 Sorry I suck.

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The rest of the day was a blur and all Kat could think about was what she was going to say to Jake after school and how she was going to say it. How would he react? Would he hate her? Would he look at her differently?

She sighed as the final bell rang signaling school had ended and Kat's stomach was suddenly in knots. She swallowed trying to relax and clear her mind though she couldn't. With a sigh and a heavy feeling in her stomach, she walked out and could see him waiting for her.

"Hey." She said grimly as she walked over.

Jake arched an eyebrow with a small laugh, "Why so gloomy? You sound like someone died."

This made Kat smile a little, but the smile didn't stay long because of the whirl pool happening in her stomach. She sat down in the grass after dropping her back pack there. Jake furrowed his eyebrows dropping his as well and sitting across from her in the grass, "Tell me your secrets mystery girl." He smiled slightly.

Kat glanced up at him then down biting her lower lip, "I-I don't know where to begin." She admitted lamely.

"Begin at the beginning." He said giving her an encouraging smile, but this only made Kat feel worst. He wouldn't look at her like that when he knew her past.

Despite all her fear and the sickening feeling in her stomach, she decided to be brave and told her story for the first time and to the first person. Strange how a stranger can get so far into your life and so deep under your skin, somehow they make it to your heart and thats what Jake did.

"I was three." She said trying to make it sound light, but Jake was right...she did sound like someone had just died. Kat kept sighing, it was all she felt like she could do.

His warm hand enveloped hers and he gave it a gentle reassuring squeeze. Kat didn't look up, but her eyes fell on their hands and this made her feel a little better.

"My parents started fighting when I was three." She continued, "I would always hear them fighting. He would call her 'white trash' and she would yell something back. I could hardly sleep because they just seemed to constantly yell. I never really remember them ever kissing or acting in love. I'm honestly not even sure if my dad knew or knows what love is." She shook her head and continued the story, "When I was five, they divorced. My mother wanted to take me with her, but for some unknown reason my dad insisted I stay in his keeping." She pursed her lips in a fine line avoiding eye contact, "For years...he..." She couldn't continue. She couldn't. Jake didn't deserve to be burdened by her past like she was. He needed to be free without worry about her.

Kat tried to escape, but Jake grabbed her wrist, "Kat. I'm not going to judge you. Okay? I'm not like the other guys. I want to help you and I can't do that without knowing who you are."

She didn't want to do cry in front of him, but the tears were already sliding down her cheeks. Jake frowned and took his thumb brushing it across her face and drying her tears.

Kat looked up at him, "He molested me." She blurted wanting to get it over with, but as she said it a sob spluttered out as well, she clamped a hand over her mouth looking down as tears continued to streak her face.

Jake didn't say a word as he watched her, he just pulled her into an embrace. An embrace that said all the things he didn't. It was kind, gentle, protective, forgiving, it was just what she needed.

For once, Kat gladly went into someone's arms. But not just anyone's, it was his. His warm open arms that had invited her in and she went happily.

"You don't have to tell me anymore..." He spoke softly and rubbed her back slowly nuzzling his face into her hair and she felt him inhale deeply. "Kat you can't go back to him." He stated seriously.

Kat shook her head pulling back and wiping her tears away roughly, "Y-yes, I have to." She looked at him.

He shook his head and cupped her chin in his hand, "No. You don't." Jake was saying all of this with true understanding. How could he just treat her so well? Most people didn't want to deal with her or her problems...but then again most people didn't know her or her problems.

"Come on..." He said pulling her to her feet and wiping away a stray tear giving her a small smile. Hand in hand, he led her to his car. Kat wasn't exactly sure what was happening, but she didn't ask.

Soon enough, they were driving down the road away from school. Jake didn't say a word and she started to feel anxious that maybe he was finally processing what she had said and decided he really didn't want to deal with her.

Kat reconsidered this when he pulled into his driveway. She shot him a glance of confusion, but he just responded with a smile as he got out of the car. She got out as well and looked up at his house before following him inside.

He went to his room for a moment and Kat didn't want to follow him around like a lost puppy so she just waited awkwardly downstairs wondering what he was thinking and questioning why he brought her here.

It wasn't long before Jake returned smiling with a credit card in hand. "No." Kat said immediately as her eyes fell on it.

"Yes." He smirked and linked arms with her, "You're not going back. I can't let you."

Deep inside Kat knew she couldn't go back and knew that Jake was right, but she also knew she couldn't just stay here. She refused to use his money, invade his house, and take his time.

"Jake." She sighed looking down and biting her lower lip as she resisted his pull. She unlinked their arms and crossed hers over her chest. "I can't." She said lowering her voice.

His smirk disappeared and he turned to her with those beautiful brown eyes and those furrowed eyebrows, "Give me one good reason why you can't."

"I won't take your money, food, time, and I refuse to just live here!" Kat looked up at him hoping he would understand.

Jake shrugged, "Now tell me one good reason why you should go back." He said looking at her expectantly.

She opened her mouth, but then closed it at a loss for words. There was no 'good' reason... Kat's eyes fell to the ground again.

"Thats what I thought." He said with a small smile before kneeling in front of her so their eyes met. "My parents won't mind. In fact, they'd like a girl in the house again."

This caught Kat off guard, "Again?" She questioned arching an eyebrow at him. The question was obviously one Jake was not expecting and he pursed his lips before standing slowly.

After a moment of silence, he cleared his throat, "There are some things you don't know about me either." He smiled grimly and looked away, "Everyone has their secrets, right?"

Immediately, she felt bad for even asking. "I-I didn't mean to pry." She apologized.

He shook his head and glanced sideways at her, "No. Its okay....Come on, lets go get some food." He said lightly trying to change the subject.

Kat nodded going along with it and this time she didn't resist his offer. How could she? He was right she had no reason to return home. This could be a new beginning, but could it? What if something happened? What if his parents didn't want her there? There were too many 'what ifs' to face so Kat stopped asking herself and just went with it. Thats when her life changed forever.

It all changed when she met Jake and now he was changing it again.

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Yay! So what do you guys think? Jake and Kat would be kinda cute together ;) But what about Jake's secret? What is he hiding? Hmmm...