From Friends to Lovers

Chapter 30

Chapter 30

Ryan spoke, "Jenny and I bumped into him this morning, and he looked miserable, his eyes we're red rimmed like he hadn't gotten sleep all night, and he looked tired, and if I'm not mistaken, hung-over. I think he may have drank his emotions away last night."

"we asked him if you guys talked, but he just kept a straight face, said he had to go to class and walked away" Jenny added.

Kate's hands began trembling. Lanie caught hold of her shaky hands and said, "That's not all,"
she then looked at Javier and he nodded.

She continued, "He got into a fight with Will Sorenson and a few other guys with him this morning, and it got pretty ugly. Rick hit him, and after that he was called to the office. We haven't seen him since then"

"what was the fight about?" Kate asked, voice shaky from fear for Rick.

Javier answered,
"He overheard a conversation Will was having with the other guys, and they were talking about you. And well, they said some pretty filthy things."

"But after the way Rick beat that Bastard up, he may have to face suspension for a few days." Ryan added.

"Was he hurt?" Kate's voice was soft and stuttering.

Ryan spoke again, "yea, he took a few blows from the guys himself. But that didn't stop him."

Kate took a deep breath. Shaky, but deep.
So much had happened since morning and she had not even seen him yet.

He drank last night, probably didn't sleep at all, he got into an ugly fight to defend her name, even though she had hurt him so badly, he was probably hurt physically now too, just because of her, she couldn't believe how much wrong she was doing him.

She got up to leave the table, but Lanie caught on to her wrist, "where are you going?"

"I just... I need some air... "

"Kate, he's probably still in the dean's office, why don't you go wait for him there."

" yea... I'll do that." she walked away, a tear rolling down her cheek as soon as she was out of their sight.

Rick was in the dean's office. Holding an ice bag to the side of his face. He had a bandage around his knuckle, and a small cut in his lip.

But the other guys had it worst.

The man in authority was rambling something at him. But he couldn't care less. He wanted a drink. He was glad at least he would be sent home after this.

Kate had not turned up today, 'hmmm...' he thought 'She had no clue that he just beat up a bunch of guys for talking dirty about her. She had no clue, that he had done all this for her even though he was angry with her.

Why did he do it anyway, it's not like she'd care.
It was his instincts of love towards her that made him resort to violence. Damn his instincts.

He took a deep breath. His head was throbbing.

"Mr. Rodgers I don't care if you're the best player in the team or not, what you did, deserves strict action against. You are suspended for a week. I will see you next Monday."

He handed him a letter, and waited for him to leave. Rick hadn't thought about suspension. 'Well maybe it's for the best' he thought.
He took the letter, stood up and left the office.

"Rick" he heard her voice call out to him as soon as he closed the office door behind him. He stood in place.
She ran towards him and now came to stand before him.

"What do you want?" was all that came out if his mouth, the words, cold and angry.

"Rick... The guys told me what happened..."

"Yea so..."

"You're hurt..."

"Thank you, for stating the obvious, now are we done here? I got a suspension to serve out."

"they suspended you?"

He finally looked right at her now, for the first time since last night, and noticed she had similar traits of a sleepless night on her face. In fact she looked as if she was crying till even right before this moment.

"Yea, for a week. Thanks, I needed it anyway... I got to go now"
He began to walk away.

"Rick, please, wait... We need to talk"

"I don't want to talk, okay Kate. not right now. Not ever! just... Just let me be okay!" He snapped at her.

He stormed away, and Kate could do nothing but watch him walk away again...

Watch him, through eyes that were blurry with tears...

and a heart that felt heavier than it had ever been before.