My Protector

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POV: Catie

"Hey kid, where's Kate?" My dad asked me with a questioned look as I first walked into the house.

I ran into his arms and let the tears flow.

"What happened kid?" He whispered in my ear and I just shook my head no.

We stood there for nearly an hour. He just held me to his chest like his life depended on it, and I didn't let go. I couldn't let go.

I pulled away and he wiped the stray tears off of my face before I slowly walked up the steps to my room, but as soon as I opened my door all I could smell was Kate.

My hands trembled before I slammed the door shut and went back downstairs to the couch.

"Honey, what's wrong?" My mom asked me in a calm voice.

"Not tonight." I muttered.

She nodded and I saw her disappear from the corner of my eye.

After about three hours of staring at the ceiling of the living room on the couch I got up and grabbed my keys. I need to go for a drive. I need to do something before I go insane.

She loves someone else. I was just a safe haven for her. Somewhere where she didn't have to worry about her father.

I pull into the nearby park's parking lot and turn my Jeep off.

I stared at the moon as if it would disappear if I looked away.

My hand contemplated on opening the door, and I eventually gave in and walked out into the brisk night air. I want to say it's cold, but it's not even close to as cold as me now.

I treaded down the sidewalk with my hands in my pockets and my head down.

"Miss her already?" A man said from behind me.

My footsteps came to a halt as I heard footsteps getting closer to me.

I turned around to see him for the second time tonight. Derrick.

"What do you want?" I asked weakly.

"I just wanted to let you know that she loves me now." He pulled out his phone from his pocket. "Here, listen." I watched as his thumb hit a play button.

"Hell no I never wanted to be with her! I'm straight! She was just a safe place you dumbass!" Kate's voice played through the speaker. My heart felt like it was being stomped on. "Of course I love you!"

I began to listen to it closer and realized that each word held a different tone from here.

"I'm not stupid Derrick. It's obvious that it's pieced together, but hey, if she loves you good for you. I don't care." I shrugged before turning back around to continue walking.

"Why aren't you trying to fight me?" Derrick sounded baffled by my actions, or lack of action I guess.

"Because she went willingly." I muttered as I continued to walk.

I didn't hear another word from him as I got closer and closer to the river that flowed behind the park.

Hurried footsteps came up behind me and I just ignored it. If I die, I die. What do I care?

"Wait," Derrick slurred.

"What?" I sighed as I turned back around. I still wouldn't look at him though. I can't.

"Do you want to see her?" He asked me in a somewhat caring voice.

"No," I answered coldly before turning back around. "If she loves you, then you can have her." I muttered under my breath.

It went quiet again, so I resumed walking down the sidewalk.

If she is happier with him, then she can be with him. Who am I to interfere with her happiness?

"Catie," I felt a hand grab onto my shoulder.

"Will you just leave me be already? Jesus Christ! You won! Okay! Just go be with Kate. I'm sure she misses you dearly." I snapped as I yanked my body away from his grasp.

"Just listen for a second, please." Derrick begged, but I continued to walk.

"Why should I?" I asked coldly as he caught up to me and walked by my side.

"Because I am working for someone." He whispered. I could see him looking around out of the corner of my eye.

"Right," I rolled my eyes. The sound of water hitting rocks began to appear.

"No really, I'm working for someone with the name Jake." Derrick told me, but it didn't stop me from walking towards the river.

"She went with you willingly Derrick. She obviously loves you more than me." I whispered so my voice wouldn't crack from the tears that were threatening to pour.

"No, not really. If she didn't I was supposed to kill you and then take her anyways." He sounded honest, but I can't know for sure, nor do I care. Why should I? She doesn't love me so why should I love her?

Fuck it, I still love her and always will, but if she doesn't want me I accept that. I'm not a very intriguing person to be around. I'm just an aggressive, moody, and emotional girl who is ugly and fat.

"Please, just leave Derrick." I begged as I felt the salt water gloss my eyes over once again.

"I'm not leaving. And please call me Gale, it's my real name."

"Okay, well Gale please leave." I stopped and looked at him for the first time since we've been at the park.

"Catie, I'm not leaving. Not until you know the truth." Her whispered something after that, but I shrugged it off. It's probably nothing.

"I do know the truth. I know that she never loved me." A single tear escaped my eyes as his face turned into a genuine one.

"She does love you." He whispered.

"If she loved me, she wouldn't have left my side."

"If she didn't leave your side you would've died, because if I didn't kill you the person just outside the door would've." He ran his hand through his hair before looking up at the sky.

"She would have told me if there was a threat."

"If she told you, someone would kill you."

"How would they find out? Huh? How would someone find out?" I snapped.

"Because someone was listening to her phone the whole time and we have eyes watching through the windows." Gale mumbled as he looked by down at me.

"Yeah right," I scoffed before starting to walk again.

"Catie, please just listen. I'm trying to help you. I got thrown into this gang since my father is the leader, so it's not my choice to do these things. Please understand that. I'm trying to help you and Kate out. She is in trouble Catie." He whispered.

"How do I know you're not lying?" I turned to him and folded my arms across my chest.

"Because if I was lying, I wouldn't be talking this much. Lies can cross over and turn into a hectic conversation. The truth stays constant and the story doesn't change."

I stood there for a second as I squeezed my eyes shut tightly.

"Jake hired my father to get Kate away from you even if you had to die, so I decided to take on the job so I can make sure that you wouldn't die."

"Well, you failed that part of your job." I let out a cold laugh.

"What do you mean?" His eyebrows furrowed.

"I died inside."