To Kiss Kate

23. Katiya

Jackson Michaels' Point of View:

The warm weather was the only thing tempting me out of the house today. It had been dark and rainy the past few days, just like I felt. I had done nothing but be miserable. I was angry at my mother, angry at myself, angry at the world.

I didn't deserve Kate, but I needed her. It was a shocking realization after only knowing her for a month, but it felt right. I needed Kate.

Aubrey was coming home today for a few days, trying to let my mother figure things out on her own. The whole family had turned on her, but she had apparently admitted to many other terrible acts, which had completely destroyed my father.

I had plans with Brad and Anjo to get dinner tonight, the only plan I had made for myself in days. I had lightly updated Brad and Ashton with the summary version of what was happening within my family. I had managed to forget that they were in Hamilton when I left, causing them to be very confused after their arrival at my house in the morning.

The elevator door opened around 4 o'clock. Aubrey. I remained staring at my phone.

"Hi Aubrey." I spoke blandly.

"What a warm welcome from my brother. Seems like you should be a lot happier considering who I brought with me." Confused, I looked up at her.

Kate. I didn't know how to react.

"Katiya. Hi." She looked sad, tired, like she was just as worn of me as I was.

"Hi, Jack." I took a deep breath as I stood up. "Can we talk?" I nodded eagerly, wanting nothing more than to talk to her, listen to every word she had to say.

Aubrey seemed pleased with herself, and I was thankful for once in her meddling. Aubrey took Kate's bag out of her hand.

"I'll put this in Jack's room." She smiled widely at Kate and I rolled my eyes.

"Thank you, Aubrey." I said quietly. She just smirked at me as I led Kate away from her and to the den.

"How did Aubrey con you into packing a bag?" I started, hoping the light conversation would be helpful in the long run.

"I thought she was just coming for like.. the day. She picked me up and when I got in the car she asked me where my stuff was. Then forced me to go inside and pack for 3 days 'just in case.'" She laughed a little as she made air quotes. "I should have known it was a set up." I smiled sadly at her.

"I'm sorry, Kate. About this whole summer. If I had even an inkling of knowledge about my mom I would have stopped it. I wouldn't have-" She cut me off.

"I know. Aubrey's been speaking on your behalf for two hours." I chuckled and so did Kate. "I was such an idiot giving your sister benefit of the doubt on an unbiased day trip."

"You should've known better. You know she loves to meddle." Kate took a long breath.

"I'm sorry too, Jack. For not telling you the truth about what was happening in my life, and for creating so much drama. I'm just not used to trusting so easily, and I was scared. Scared that you would hurt me and I would never see you again." She was starting to tear up a little. I had only ever seen her cry when drunk, and it was slightly surreal to see her crying sober.

"Well you were right to be scared, clearly. I did hurt you." She shook her head, no.

"Your mom hurt me. Alex hurt me. You protected me, Jack. You took care of me through everything, not thinking otherwise for even a second. You knew the effects of all of your actions and you did it anyways, every time."

"But I should have known, Kate. I should have known she was doing this. I should have done something to find out what was going on, like Jason did." She shut her eyes, shaking her head lightly.

"As difficult as it is to admit, none of this was your fault, Jack. Sincerely."

"I love you, Kate." I blurted, almost instantly feeling like an idiot. It was too soon for that, and I knew it. She looked shocked. "I'm sorry, I didn't...Don't feel obligated to respond." I ran my fingers through my hair. God, I was an idiot. She laughed at my embarrassment and I continued to talk. "Listen Kate. I just want you to know that every fight, every argument, every time that I made the people in Hamilton hate me, it was all worth it to have you. I wouldn't hesitate to do it all again if it meant winning you in the end."

"I love you too, Jack." She leaned and kissed my lips lightly. "You're crazy," she told me, her smile wide.

"If I'm crazy, you're just as crazy." I told her and she laughed. "Will you be my girlfriend, Kate?" She pretended to think about it for a second and laughed.

"No, I don't think so." I let out a breathy laugh of air and pushed her onto the couch, jumping next to her. She was smiling and leaned in next to me. "I'm so glad your sister is a psycho." She told me and I agreed.

I knew we weren't perfect, and I knew things would be hard. But I didn't care. Kate was forever mine, and suddenly to kiss Kate was all I had ever wanted.

The End.