Stay With Me - A KathNiel Story

Chapter 7

Miles barely slept that night, constantly listening out for Kath but she didn't go into the bedroom - she didn't want to risk waking her. She hadn't improved much the following day either, and Miles called DJ to cancel their lunch date. She stayed home with Amanda and Richard, helping them to care for Kath but she still refused to let any of them touch her ribs even though she was in a lot of pain. Miles made her soup to eat in the hopes of it warming her up and helping with her fever at the same time as filling her up, but she only ate a couple of spoonfuls before saying she was full. Miles barely slept on Sunday night either, knowing she had class all day on Monday but Kath was in no way healthy enough to leave the dorm - it was against the University rules for Kath to be in her dorm, to begin with, so she had no idea what to do. If she was caught, she risked being kicked out and it would be the end of her degree studies and all of her hard work, all of the money she'd put into her studies would have been for nothing.

"Shit." Miles breathed, rubbing her face as she laid back on the couch trying to sleep and she jumped with shock when her phone alarm went off but she quickly turned it off. She then kicked off the blankets, trying to think of what to do but she walked over to her bedroom and knocked on the door gently before poking her head inside. Her eyes widened with shock when she saw Kath laid on the floor with a blanket around her. 

"Oh my Gosh - Kath!" Miles fell to her knees, startling Kath into waking up. "Did you fall? Are you okay?!" Miles demanded to know and Kath shook her head, using the bed to pull herself up but she kept the blanket wrapped around herself - she was still burning up, but she felt cold and exhausted all the time.

"The bed is too soft," Kath mumbled and Miles sighed.

"Sweetie, you can't sleep on the floor - it's not good for you, okay? I'll think of something, but you can't sleep on the floor." She said, helping Kath up so that she was sat on the bed and it worried her to see Kath trying hard to hide how much pain she was in from her ribs - the same place she wouldn't let anybody see. "Kath, please... can I see your ribs? They're hurting you."

"N-No... you-you're not seeing m-me partially naked." Kath choked out and Miles bit her lip, desperate to ask her something but she was hesitant. She took a deep breath before deciding to ask it anyway.

"Kath, did someone rape you? Is... is that why you won't let us lift your shirt? Because you're scared it'll happen again?" Miles asked and Kath tensed but said nothing, which told Kath everything - her theory was right. "You know you can trust us, Kath... we'd never take advantage of you like that, ever. All we wanna do is help." Miles urged, but Kath didn't say anything. "I have class today, but I'll think of something... Richard has to leave to go back to his placement in the city and Amanda starts her placement in the local hospital today to continue her training... I-I'll think of something because you're not going anywhere... I'll think of something whilst you're in the shower. I can get you some fresh clothes." Miles said and Kath hesitated before slowly nodding her head and she let Miles help her up onto her feet and through to the bathroom and Miles went back to her bedroom, grabbing a pair of sweatpants and a black t-shirt before handing them over to Kath. "Let me know if you need anything, okay?"

"Thanks." She said nervously and Miles shook her head.

"No need to thank me," Miles said, walking away to leave Kath time to shower in peace and she started to make some toast for the two of them - she didn't have much time before she'd have to leave for class.

"Yo!" Miles jumped with shock, looking over to where the voice came from and she saw DJ had let himself in.

"Hey! What... what are you doing here?" Miles asked.

"I didn't see you yesterday and I just got done at the gym, so I thought I'd come to have breakfast with you," DJ said with a grin and Miles forced a smile, but her eyes widened as she realized something.

"You don't have class on Mondays, do you?" She said.

"Nope, never have. Why?" He asked, chuckling.

"I-I need you to do me a favor," Miles begged and DJ raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"I was coming home from the party and you remember that girl I gave money to?" Miles said and DJ's eyes narrowed.

"Did she hurt you?"

"NO!" Miles immediately answered. "No... a group of men attacked her and stole the money from her, she's really badly hurt. I've been trying to help her with Amanda and Richard all weekend, but she's still really sick and I don't want her to be alone when I go to class... can you stay here and keep her company for me?"

"I... I'm sorry, but are you fucking insane?!" DJ whisper-yelled.

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