Runaway

Chapter 24

Kate's POV

I was awakened by a groan, a thud, and a whimper. I slowly cracked my eyes open and saw Dinah laying next to me. We must have fallen asleep last night after the movie. Without waking her which wasn't easy anyway. I swear that girl could sleep through an earthquake, so anyway I crawled over her in my bunk and looked down. I'm in the middle of the bunks, the second one. I looked down and saw Camila on the floor clutching her arm pouting.

"Camz? You ok?" I whispered

"Yea I guess, but that hurt." she whisper yelled and I giggled.

I grabbed my phone, crawled over Dinah and got out of my bunk. Camila was still sitting on the floor, so I bent down and helped her up with my good hand.

"Thanks." she said and we walked to the kitchen area

"Ugh." she groaned looking at her phone.

"What?" I asked

"It's 6:00 in the morning, why am I even awake?" she questioned rolling her eyes.

"Because you fell out of my bunk, you clutz." I said laughing and she playfully nudged me.

"I'm hungry." she whined

"So am I, your older, make me food." I said sticking out my bottom lip for extra pout.

"Come on you can do it, I wanna get food for myself, I'm starved girl." she complained

"Pweeeez I'm injured." I said holding up my broken hand

"Fine." she said trying to act annoyed but I saw the corner's o her mouth turn up.

"Thank you Mila." I said smiling as Camila placed down a bowl of cereal in front of me and then sat down across from me with hers.

"So how's you and Lauren?" I said wriggling my eyebrows.

"Good." she said blushing

"Awww I can't believe my OTP is real." I said squealing.

"Um.." she looked at me intently

"Sorry my inner fan girl slips out sometimes." I confessed

"How have you been? Are you feeling better than you were last time we really talked?" She questioned wearing a concerned look.

"Yeah, I guess." I stated monotone

"Are you lying? You know you can talk to me Kate." She said and just as I was about to answer a very sleepy Ally wandered in.

"Morning sweetie." She said giving me a kiss on the head.

"Morning Mila." She said nicely

"Morning Allycat." Camila smiled sweetly.

"Morning mom." I said

"You okay?" Ally questioned

"Yeah fine." I said glancing between her and Camila wearing a fake grin.

"Okay. Well after you eat, please do me a favor and wake up the other girls, we have an interview today." She said and I nodded.

"I'm gonna go text my family good morning." Camila said

Ally's phone began to ring and she looked at me and I told her to go. She stepped in the back to take the call, and the minute she left, I got up and started dumping my cereal in the garbage.

"What are you doing?" I heard Lauren's upset voice and I froze in place.

"Nothing." I said innocently mentally cursing myself for not being faster.

"Kate please?" She said softening her voice and walking over.

She walked up to me and took the bowl out of my hand, and placed it in the sink. Then picked me up and sat me on a seat and sat next to me.

"I thought we worked through this. I thought you were eating again. Why didn't you say, you still weren't okay?" she questioned concerned

".............." I was silent, I avoided her gaze and looked down and poked at the large cast I had on my hand.

"Please look at me." She beckoned and lifted my face up and I let a few tears slip in the process.

"Lauren please leave me alone, I'm fine, really I am. I just wasn't hungry." I said trying to sound convincing.

"I know your lying Kate. I can see straight through that mask you put on. Please just let me help you." She begged

"No I said I was fine and I am." I said feeling more tears fall, which obviously was not helping me to be convincing.

I just need to make them think I'm okay. I don't need more of their pity. I don't need to cause more drama. I need them to be happy. They've already done so much for me, I just don't want them to be all worried about me.

"Ugh, Kate please. It's okay not to be okay. You don't have to put on this act. We know your not okay. Anyone that was in your situation would not come out okay. It take's time to heal. And some things won't fully heal, but other things can, but only if you let us in." She stated pulling me into her, hugging me. I started to silently cry and she squeezed me tighter feeling my body rock with silent sobs.

"Listen Kate-" she was cut off by Ally

"What's going on?!" Ally questioned concerned and rushed to my side.

I couldn't even find my words, I just buried myself deeper into Lauren. I didn't want her to see me like this.

"Ally, I got this under control. Give us a few minutes okay." Lauren said softly

"Okay, I love you Kate." she said and kissed my head and walked away.

"Listen Kate, you have to let us in, especially Ally. I'm not saying go up to her right now and tell her everything, but little by little, try and let your walls down. We aren't gonna hurt you. You have no idea how much we love and care for you, in the short time we came to know you. Your an amazing person, and so so strong. But you don't have to be anymore, you can breakdown to us, we will help you. I can promise you that." She cooed as she rested her head on the top of mine and hugged me tighter.

We just sat in silence as I let her words sink into my head and heart. I kept repeating them in my mind. Her words overpowered the words that usually ran through my mind, which were most of the time my father's terrible words. Her words brought me comfort and warmth. Without realizing, I finally relaxed into her embrace, and let my sobs out and let myself just cry and cry, until I couldn't cry anymore. I was drained emotionally and physically. Eventually I felt myself fall asleep, since it is after all still very early in the morning. As I was falling asleep, I felt her pick me up and then I don't know what happened after that. I just fell asleep, knowing that I was finally safe and sound.