The Nothings

Kate (Chapter Twenty Four)

      Harper was three months pregnant and over the moon about it. Her parents and her sister were not. She was going to marry her boyfriend Weston and move into a small townhouse only a few miles away from her parent's house. Kate wanted to scream as her sister calmly announced her plans and beamed as if it were the best news in the world. She was going to stay in college for now, but Kate wouldn't be surprised if she soon dropped out. How was she going to handle a full class schedule and an infant? Harper could barely do her own laundry.

  The family finally met Weston who was tall and handsome with messy dark blonde hair. He spoke with a slight southern accent, and he seemed a lot mature than any of her previous boyfriends, thought Kate, but she was still heartbroken. She didn't want this town and this life for her sister. Harper was supposed to be something special and get away from all of it.

  "This is what I want so you can stop looking at me that way," Harper said after dinner, and Weston left. She was staying with her parents since Weston was having the townhouse painted before they moved in.

  "If you say so." 

  "I don't judge you for your choices so don't judge me for mine," Harper said after a moment of awkward silence. "How long has it been since you even left the house? Mom says that you barely ever leave your room anymore. What happened to your friend? She says she never sees her around anymore."

 Kate felt her teeth clench. This was none of their business.

  "Kate?" Harper leaned over to see her sister's face. "Seriously, what happened? Did you guys have a fight?"

  "It doesn't matter," Kate folded her arms across her chest as she sat in three day old pajamas. She'd eaten dinner in them too although they'd had company. Her mother had just sighed heavily and let her.

  "Don't you want a life?" Harper finally asked. "I'm not going to pretend I knew a lot about your relationship, but you guys seemed to really get along, and you were... happier when you were friends with her. Whatever happened I'm sure it isn't so bad that it can't be worked out."

  "Of course I want a life," Kate shot back. "Don't you think I do? Do you think I choose to be this way? Tabitha was one of the few people that understood that, and our friendship was really special, but shit happens. I messed it up, and that's that."

  Harper looked down at her hands. "I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't say things like that. I really do try to understand your problems, you know that. And you always tried to understand me and my life. I really wasn't trying to judge. I just worry about you."

  "I'm sorry too," Kate's voice softened. "Weston is really nice... if that's what you want."

  "It is," Harper said after a moment. "I didn't even know it until he came along though. Kind of like you and Tabitha, I'm betting."

  Kate swallowed hard and glanced around to make sure they were alone. "I'm... in love with Tabitha."

  Harper looked surprised but not too surprised.

 "You knew I was?" Kate asked.

  "I thought you might be," Harper shrugged. "I once caught you and that neighbor girl Haley kissing in the closet once so I knew you liked girls, and I didn't want to assume that just because you and Tabitha spent so much time together you were dating, but I kind of suspected. So what happened? Did she not feel the same way?"

 "No, she does... Or she did anyway," Kate shrugged. "I messed things up."

 "Well, I'm sure what you guys have can overcome it," Harper patted her sister's hand. "How bad can it be? I'm sure it was some sort of stupid misunderstanding."