Out of the Darkness - A KathNiel Story

Chapter 15

Marlann led Kath into the dorm room. "It's a little messy, so be careful," Marlann warned apologetically, making Kath laugh and she was grateful when Marlann laid her hand against the wall closest to the door so she could get a sense of where she was with the feeling of the wall and with her white cane. It was moments like this when she missed having a guide dog, Pablo would always give her confidence in new places but she was having to try and find that confidence herself and it was hard.

"You're about to find a doorway and that's the bathroom, and about ten steps in front of you is a side table, so around that is the couch - but there is a coffee table, so please don't shatter a kneecap or something because your Dad makes me nervous," Marlann begged, making everybody laugh.

"Don't worry, he makes me nervous too." Kath half-joked, feeling as the wall changed into a doorway and then she felt the door the further forward she got. "This is the bathroom?"

"Yes, and then you'll lose the wall after the bathroom door and that's my kinda kitchen area? Then it's a living room."

"There's a kitchen in here?" Kath asked, impressed.

"The perks of being gay in a family that doesn't accept you! They refuse to see you, but buy your affection anyway so they can still pretend they're good parents." Marlann said with mock enthusiasm and Kath's jaw dropped.

"Your parents don't come to visit you?"

"Oh, no. I haven't seen them since I was about sixteen? I told them I was gay when Pamu and I got together when we were sixteen, then I was kicked out that same night, Pamu was kicked out of her place around the same time for the exact same reason and DJ's family took us in instead. It was hard growing up literally right across the street from our parents, but DJ's family will literally do anything for anybody." Marlann said quietly as DJ and Pamu were in the kitchen getting snacks and drinks for everybody.

"They let you both live with them?"

"Yeah, our parents legit sent money every month to keep us like child maintenance... they then decided to pay for myself and Pamu to live in the 'luxury dorms' so we don't have to see our own families... it's hard, some days are harder than others, but I think we're both kinda used to it now. Once I graduate, I don't want anything from them ever again and I know Pamu feels the same. I just don't know what we'd do without the Padillas, we would have ended up shit knows where in foster care or even forced to live alone in some crappy apartment." Marlann practically whispered, and before Kath could even say anything, she was cut off.

"Kath, are you allergic to anything? Do you like popcorn?" DJ called and Kath laughed.

"I've never had it before." She called back.

"Shit, girl! You're coming to our weekly movie nights and we're just gonna make you try all the food you've never had before." Pamu concluded, carrying over a tray of drinks and setting it on the coffee table as DJ threw a bag of popcorn in the old microwave, having an empty bowl ready.

"Won't we run out of movies?" Kath asked, laughing softly and her white cane hit the side table, so she knew to go around that, Marlann helping her to place her hand on the arm of the couch so she could get her bearings and sit down. She collapsed the white cane, stuffing it down the side of the couch beside her so she would be able to find it.

"That's when we start all over again!" DJ announced, making everybody laugh and he came over with the bowl of popcorn. "Hold out your hand," DJ ordered playfully, smiling as Kath did as she was told and he poured a handful of popcorn into her hand. They all laughed as Kath tried it for the first time.

"Your official review?" Pamu asked.

"It's good," Kath concluded, helping herself to another one from her hand and she felt the couch dip beside her.

"It's just me," DJ assured her and Kath couldn't help but blush again, a small smile on her face.

"So, what movie are we starting off with today?" Marlann asked nobody in particular, helping herself to a handful of popcorn.

"Ugh, some slasher movie. I wanna imagine it's Sue's face." Pamu said, making everybody laugh.

"Says the future doctor," DJ added, laughing when Pamu reached over and smacked him, Kath laughing when she heard the hit. It felt so natural to hang out with friends - it was the first time in her life where she felt completely normal.

"I have an idea," Kath said with a smirk.

"Oh, yeah?" DJ chuckled.

"You watch the slasher movie like me... blindfold yourselves, so you can't see anything and you'll watch the movie with an audio description like me." Kath challenged.

"Oh, challenge fucking accepted, Bernardo! I think I have some old shirts somewhere we can use for blindfolds!" Marlann said, rushing to the bedroom and they all laughed.