Out of the Darkness - A KathNiel Story

Chapter 26

Kath jumped, feeling arms wrap around her waist from behind but she smiled when she recognized DJ's touch.

"I missed you," DJ whispered, kissing her cheek, and Kath grinned.

"I suppose I missed you too... how are your parents and Jordan?" She asked and DJ pecked her cheek again, holding her so that her back was against his chest, her head leaned back against her shoulder.

"They're good. I told them all about you and I think Jordan has a crush on you." DJ said, kissing her shoulder and Kath laughed.

"Ah, so is this why you're acting like this? You're jealous your ten-year-old brother has a crush?" She teased and DJ laughed, turning her around and kissing her lips.

"Oh, definitely." He whispered, connecting their lips again and Kath kissed him back, her hands on his shoulders but they pulled away from each other quickly when someone cleared their throats, DJ recognizing Teddy and he held onto Kath's hand tightly as she laced their fingers together. "Hello, sir." DJ greeted, slightly self-conscious and Teddy nodded once.

"So, where did you take my daughter on her first-ever date?" Teddy asked casually.

"We went to dinner and then to a movie... I'm sorry for not bringing her home, we were just having a good time together, and-" DJ started.

"You seem like a nice boy... don't break her heart and I won't have to break you," Teddy said, patting his arm before walking away to Min who was busying herself pouring drinks for everybody and DJ looked to Kath.

"Are you okay?" He asked quietly and Kath squeezed his hand.

"They're just acting differently." Kath breathed and DJ kissed her forehead, wrapping his arms around her as she held onto him around his waist.

"Maybe they're finally realizing that they've treated you unfairly and they're trying to make it up to you," DJ suggested and although Kath doubted that was true, she mumbled an agreement, letting the feeling of his arms around her calm her. Nobody could harm her so long as DJ was holding her.

"You didn't bring her home last night?" Pamu teased, laughing when DJ pushed her playfully but he and Kath didn't move from their embrace, Kath's head against his chest.

"I guess I now know why you asked me those questions about sex," Marlann whispered in Kath's ear, laughing when Kath groaned and buried her head into DJ's chest, making DJ chuckle and he kissed the top of his girlfriend's head. "But in all seriousness, I'm so happy for you... this surgery is scary, I can imagine, but it's such an incredible opportunity." Marlann said, Pamu instantly agreeing and DJ gave her an incredibly gentle squeeze.

"My worst nightmare is waking up after it's done to see that nothing's changed." Kath breathed and she felt Marlann's and Pamu's hands on her as well as DJ's, the four of them having a group hug.

"No matter what happens, you're one of us now... no matter what," Pamu said softly and Kath blinked back tears, whispering her gratitude to her new friends.

"Everybody! Take a drink, we'd like to make a toast." Min urged, DJ keeping hold of Kath's hand as they pulled away from each other to take a drink, Min handing one to Kath to make it easier and it was only once everybody had a drink that Min cleared her throat, the room completely silent.

"Now, we just wanted to think you three - DJ, Marlann, and Pamu, for being friends with Kath. As you're probably aware, it's been hard for her to make friends and now she has you three, and even a boyfriend. We're grateful she'll have all the support she deserves moving forward, and we're even more excited to announce that we've already been on the phone with the hospital and that they can perform the surgery in ten weeks from today." Min said, a wordless cheer escaping her lips with Teddy as they took a sip of their drinks but Kath was stunned, her best friends and DJ able to see how tense she got.

"Y-You booked it in already? You didn't tell me?" She breathed.

"Oh, honey! The sooner, the better! Come help me set the table for dinner." Min urged, taking Kath's hand and practically ripping her away from DJ, leaving the living room with her and Teddy followed along behind.

"They haven't changed at all, have they?" DJ said in a low voice to Pamu and Marlann.

"It's seriously like they're ashamed of her because she's blind... now there's a chance she might not be, so they're acting like supportive parents as if that's gonna fix everything," Pamu mumbled.

"Guys, has anybody noticed? There's... no pictures of Kath here - not since she was a little kid." Marlann noticed, Pamu and DJ looking around the living room to see that she was right.

"It's hard to take a good picture when she can't see the camera. Hopefully, that'll all change soon." Teddy said with a smile, making all three of them jump.

No matter how they acted, the three of them knew that Kath's parents hadn't changed at all.

They hadn't taken a single photo of their daughter since the accident.

They were ashamed of her.

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