Stay With Me - A KathNiel Story

Chapter 9

"Talk to her," Miles whispered, but even in a whisper, she was stern. DJ got up from the couch and walked to the bathroom door, knocking on it gently.

"Hey, um... can we talk?" DJ asked, raising his voice slightly so that she'd hear him. He didn't hear any kind of response from her, but he took a deep breath before continuing to talk. "Listen, I'm sorry... it was wrong of me to judge you like that, but you have to understand that Miles is my best friend and I don't want anything to happen to her. She's been hurt before - you probably heard about the party on Saturday, that kinda stuff has happened before and I hate it and the idea that she could get hurt makes my blood boil, but I'm sorry to you for what I said... if you need help and Miles trusts you, then I should give you the same chance." DJ said and Miles bit her lip. It was rare she heard DJ speak so serious about her, they were usually quite playful with each other and teasing - it meant a lot to her to hear DJ say those things. She jumped up from the couch when she heard Kath yelp from the bathroom and let out a sob.

"Kath?" Miles went to open the bathroom door, but it was locked - which didn't surprise her after what she'd let slip had happened to her. "Kath, are you okay? What happened?" She demanded.

"I'm f-fine." Kath called and Miles sighed, pulling DJ away from the bathroom door.

"She said she was fine when I found her... she would have died if we didn't bring her back here," Miles said in a low voice so that Kath wouldn't overhear through the bathroom door.

"For real? Like... she truly would have died?" DJ whispered back and Miles nodded her head slowly and sadly.

"The men who hurt her wouldn't have stopped if they didn't have me walk under that bridge and interrupt them beating her senseless... they ran off at the sight of me," Miles said and DJ said nothing in response but he walked back to the bathroom door, going to knock on it but it was then that the door unlocked and opened, revealing Kath dressed in Miles's black t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants. Even though Kath and Miles looked like they would be similar clothing sizes, the t-shirt just seemed to swallow Kath and DJ's eyes widened at the state Kath was in. She was skinny, unhealthily so and her face was covered in bruises and cuts, the bruises still looked painful around her neck and he could tell they were in the shape of a hand, the bruising deeper on her throat where the man had applied the most pressure. He couldn't imagine what she must have looked like when Miles found her in the park, but he was still wary - he didn't want his best friend to be hurt again. "How are you feeling after a shower?" Miles asked and Kath just nodded, but as she walked she lost her balance. DJ grabbed her before she could hit the floor, though and he could tell how much pain she was in as he helped her to steady herself on her feet again, but Miles took over quickly and supported her back through to the bedroom so that she could lie down and get some more rest.

"I ne-need to go." Kath breathed, but Miles shook her head. DJ stood in the doorway of the bedroom, watching them together.

"No, you don't need to go. You need to stay right here and get some rest and heal... Amanda is coming by later to check up on you and I trust DJ to care for you - drive him crazy for me. Start demanding things in stores on the other side of town, have him cook steak for you." Miles said with a smile, which widened when she heard DJ chuckle quietly behind her and Kath cracked the smallest hint of a smile but she could tell that Kath was terrified to be left alone with DJ. "You're perfectly safe with DJ, okay? He won't... he just won't." Miles said quietly and Kath blinked back tears, subtly nodding her head and Miles leaned down to give her a short hug.

"D-Do y-you have to le-leave now?" Kath asked and Miles noticed her shivering. No matter how much she tried to act that she was better, it was like Miles could feel the heat of her fever radiating from her. She covered Kath with the duvet, knowing that even though she had a burning fever, she felt cold all the time and she seemed grateful for the warmth.

"Yeah, I have to go to class now but I'll be back at three thirty, okay? DJ will make you some breakfast - try to it today, okay? You have to keep your strength up." Miles said softly before she stood up and went to DJ, the two of them heading out into the living room area. "Look after her? Please?" Miles begged and DJ nodded his head.

"I'll... do my best," DJ said and Miles nodded her head, giving him a tight hug and he hugged her back.

"I trust you."

"Good." He said, pulling away from the hug and he watched her leave the dorm - leaving him alone with Kath.