I Won't Ever Hide Alone

Ch: 24 Lori and Kara

It's been about a month since Dom left back home. He was missing his family and friends there, plus he had a lot of things he needed to attend and get started on. He had shows and interviews to do, which Julian kept up with while Dom was gone. They constantly talked as much as they possibly could, but the time zones made that super difficult. Dom was performing a lot, and doing extra things for his fans. While that made Julian so happy, he also felt like a part of him was missing when Dom wasn't there. Either way though, he stayed pretty happy considering. He knew he would see him again. Dom made Julian feel like one of his priorities and he trusted that. Julian just tried to keep himself as busy as he possibly could and he did have something to look forward to, because Dom was coming back to see him in just a couple short days.

Kara and Julian didn't see a lot of each other. She was always with Jared, but she did text him and speak to him on the phone sometimes. He only ever actually saw her at work though, which didn't give them much time to actually talk in depth about anything. If they had anything important to talk to each other about, it had to be done quick. It was getting colder outside and in the winter season Amadeo's restaurant was normally the busiest time of the year.

Since it was getting darker out earlier now, Julian would head to work a little earlier, just so he can avoid the traffic that likes to come out when the sun goes down. Today was no different. He got himself ready for work and headed out the door as the sun was setting. As he was driving to work, he saw an incoming call on his phone. It was his Dad. This is the first time he has heard from his dad in over a month. He was surprised to see him calling. He answered the phone with caution. 

He was afraid to speak to his dad anyway, because of everything that happened with Lori a while ago. He was afraid she told him what had happened, but he hadn't heard anything of it or heard from Lori since she ran out of his house in tears after she caught him with Dom.

"Hello?" Julian said, stopping at a red light.

"Hey Bud. You got a moment?" Ben didn't sound angry at all. Julian thought this may be a good sign.

"Yeah, Dad. I am headed to work though. What's up?" Julian was curious what this call could possibly be regarding.

"Okay. I wanted to see how you were. I haven't heard from you in a while." Ben said, but Julian knew there had to be something more than just that.

"I'm fine. How are you? How's Patricia?" Since Julian hasn't heard much from his dad, he hasn't heard about Patricia either.

"She's good. We're all good. So, uh, I was just wondering, kid. What's happened there with you and Lori?"

Julian heavily sighed. He knew this would be coming some day, but right now was definitely not a good time for this.

"You mean she didn't tell you?" Julian inquired.

Ben now let out a heavy sigh and said, "Well, not really anything significant about why you two broke up. She just said it didn't work out and hasn't talked about it since."

"Well there you have it then, Dad. We broke up. What else do you really need to know?" Julian didn't mean to start copping an attitude, he just couldn't understand why his father needed to know exactly what happened.

"She isn't doing too great, Julian. That's why I ask." Hearing his dad say that, made Julian's stomach turn, but he was nearing work so he knew he had to go soon.

"What do you mean?" Julian asked, trying to get more information now.

"She is in the hospital, Julian."

"WHAT!" Julian shouted. His heart was now racing. 

"She overdosed last night on her mother's sleeping pills. We don't think she meant to overdose, but... well, it happened. I just want to know what else happened between you two to get this story straight."

Julian felt the tears stinging his eyes. "Is she okay? Is she?"

"Yes. She's okay. They had to pump her stomach, but she's okay."

A bit of relief flowed through Julian, but he was still very upset. "Dad, I have arrived at work. I can't talk about this right now. Just text me which hospital she is staying at. Let me talk to her."

"Well. Okay then. Love you, son."

"Yeah. Love you. Bye." And Julian hung up the phone.

He took a second to clear his head as he parked his car and to calm himself down so he didn't walk into work a mess.

After he collected himself, he got out of his car and headed in the back door to the restaurant. He was prepared to tell Kara his conversation with his father since they were both working together tonight, but when he walked out to the front of the restaurant, he couldn't find her anywhere. He thought maybe she was running late.

"Hey! Julian!" Michael, the manager that was on the clock before Julian was, called out to him. He was getting ready to leave so Julian can take over.

"Yeah?" Julian called back.

"Kara isn't coming in tonight. She called in sick." 

Julian felt a rush of defeat as he heard the news. "Fuck me, man." This was going to be a long night for him and he wasn't prepared for that at all.

-

Once the last of the customers left for the night, Julian helped one of the other servers clean up the front of the restaurant. Then he quickly counted the cash in the registers, documented the amounts, and ripped his apron off. He hung it up in the backroom and immediately hopped into his car. He wasn't sure who to go to first, Lori or Kara. He looked at his phone notifications and saw his father text him the information for Lori's hospital stay. That's when he noticed the time. He couldn't go see Lori anyway. Visiting hours were over at the hospital. He then decided that made his decision easy. He would see Lori tomorrow and go check on Kara tonight.

-

He rushed home in his vehicle and parked his car in front of his house. He hopped out of his car and saw that Kara's light was on in her bedroom. 

"Thank god." He said to himself as he jogged his way across the road. He had a key to Kara's house, so he just let himself in and shut the door.

He was expecting to his see Kara's parents in the living room watching television like they always did, but they weren't there. He quietly made his way up the stairs to Kara's room and knocked on the door.

It was a moment before he heard her voice acknowledge him. "Come in."

He slowly opened the door and scanned her bedroom with his eyes. For some reason he thought he would see Jared there and he didn't know why. He wasn't there though. Julian looked over at Kara. Her back was turned to him and she was lying down on her side.

"Hey KareBare. You okay? Michael told me you weren't feeling well." Julian walked in her room further and sat himself on her bed.

"Yeah, Juls. I'm sorry. Just not feeling too great right now." Her voice was shakey, like she had been crying.

"What do you have? Like the flu or something?" Julian was honestly concerned, because even when Kara has been pretty sick she still showed up for work.

"I don't know. Maybe. I just feel like I need a rest today. Okay?" He could hear something odd in her voice as she spoke.

"Kara..." Julian hesitated, "Can you please turn around and just talk with me?"

"I don't want you to get it, Julian. What if it's contagious?" Kara sniffled.

"I don't care about that. I care about you. I feel like I haven't seen you in ages. Like really seen you." Julian expressed. "If you need anything I can get it for you at least?"

Kara didn't say anything, she just lied there for a bit. Julian didn't say anything more. He figured he would just wait for her to say something. Then he watched as she slowly lifted her self up and rested her back on her pillows. Her hair had fallen into her face. Julian had this strange feeling that Kara was hiding something from him.

Without even thinking about it, Julian moved in closer and carefully moved Kara's hair out of her face. She looked over at Julian and he clapped a hand to his mouth. A giant black and purple bruise covered her eye on the left side and she had a busted lip.

"What the fuck is that?" Julian choked out.

She quickly hid her face again. "It's not what you think it is."

"Yeah, Kara! Then what is it? Look at you! What did he do!" Julian couldn't help but shout. He wasn't trying to shout at her, but he was beyond furious.

Then Kara's head snapped up, tears were in her eyes and she looked angry, "And how do you know it has anything to do with him?" She shouted back.

This time Julian got a full view of the mark on her face. "Are you fucking joking right now? Kara! He hit you! And don't try to tell me otherwise."

Kara looked down, tears falling from her eyes to her comforter. "Julian, you don't get it. He loves me. It was an accident."

"Yeah! That's what they all say!" He tried to look into her eyes, but she was avoiding him.

"Julian." Kara began.

"No! What did you tell your parents?"

She shook her head. "They haven't seen it. It will practically be gone before they get back from Salem."

"I can't believe I am hearing this right now. You are better than this, Kara! The fuck!" Tears were burning his cheeks.

"Julian, Just leave. Please. Just go." She calmly stated.

"Fuck no! I'm staying here. In this room. With you. All night. I'm not going anywhere, because if that motherfucker tries to come in here, I'm gonna fuckin kill him!"

"Julian. Please." She begged him, and her eyes were begging too.

"You're not even sick are you?" It all started making sense now to Julian. "You were never sick. You just didn't want to be seen like this! I should have known. Why didn't I know." Julian wrapped his best friend up in a swift, tight hug.

She hugged him back and cried into his shoulder. He cried with her.

-

After they had their crying session together, Julian explained that Lori was in the hospital and he wanted to see her. He also suggested that Kara come with him and file a report against Jared. Unfortunately, she declined and said she would prefer to just stay in bed for a couple days and if he could just tell work that she has the flu so she will be out for a week. He agreed to those terms, because he understood that it's Kara's business and it shouldn't draw attention. 

"But please, seriously. You need to break up with him." Julian was lying beside Kara on her bed. They were both looking up at the ceiling.

"I know... but he was just so... perfect." Kara was having a hard time coming to terms with getting rid of Jared.

"Yeah. It was all fake so that he could trap you. So when he finally did hit you, you would be like this. Still in love with him and take him back. Remember all the times people hurt me and I would forgive them and you would be so angry with me for doing that? Yeah, it's the same thing."

"You're right. I'm so stupid." 

"You're not stupid, Kara. He was the first guy you had ever truly fallen for and for that I am so sorry. You deserve so much more than this. He needs to be in jail. He is a danger to society."

"You're so fuckin right, Juls, but I don't think I can file a report... I don't want to go through all that."

"Fine, Kara. I get it... but you need to leave him. Please."

"I will. I promise."

"I'll hold you to that." He was finally able to let a smile loose, but then went back to all seriousness, "Please tell me. Why did he hit you?"

-

** Trigger Warning **

"You think you can just make a fool out of me in there? What the fuck, Kara! I thought you loved me." Jared was walking way ahead of Kara as she jogged behind him to catch up. They were at the bar for a karaoke night, but things went downhill fast.

"Jared, please! Just talk to me. I didn't do anything wrong. What are you talking about? I do love you." Kara felt like she was going to be sick, she honestly had no idea why Jared was so angry with her.

"Then you wouldn't have been flirting with that bartender. I saw the way you looked at each other." Jared got to his car and unlocked it. He hopped inside the car and before he could slam the door shut, Kara grabbed hold of the door to stop him from closing it.

"Jared, please. I wasn't flirting with him. I was just talking to him like I would anyone else."

"Oh so you'll just flirt with anyone. I see how it is. Get the fuck off my car, now." And with that Jared slammed his car door shut. Kara's fingers were almost smashed in the door, but she was able to quickly remove them just in time. She stumbled backwards and quickly regained her balance to scurry over to the other side of the car to get in the passenger seat.

She quickly opened the door, sat down, closed it, and looked over at Jared. She wanted to make him understand. She placed her hand on his thigh and said, "Jared. I didn't-" But Kara never got to finish her sentence, because Jared's fist came flying and hit her right in the left side of her face. Then before she could even comprehend what just happened, she received another blow. Then Jared quickly picked himself up out of the car and left her there alone.

Kara didn't know what to do now. All she felt was pain in her face and sick to her stomach. It was all weighing down on her. She didn't even cry. She was too shocked to feel anything else. She didn't even know where Jared had gone to, but she hesitantly opened the car door, and slowly stepped out. She lazily shut the door and started to walk away. She touched her fingers to her nose and felt what she knew had to be blood. She looked down at her fingers and saw she was correct. For some reason seeing that made everything seem much more real now as she walked alone in the cold. The whole walk home she tried to fully process everything that happened from the beginning of the night to now, but all she knew was that she was in danger.

** End of trigger warning **

-

"Oh my god. I'm so disgusted right now. I want to kill him..." Julian said after hearing Kara's story.

"I know, but it won't make you feel any better." Kara added.

"That's what you think." 

"Talking about it though has really opened my eyes to how bad that really was. I can't believe how stupid I am."

"Again, not stupid. Don't say that about yourself again. He's good at his game, but you are smarter than he is. Remember that." Julian wrapped his arm around her.

Kara shot Julian a brief smile, though it kind of hurt for her to do so. "I will break up with him tomorrow. I promise."