- Apologize; Timbaland ft. OneRepublic -

Aurora Holland

The bell rang, indicating that the last class of the day was done. Relief filled my body as I gathered my things, shoving them into my backpack. Usually, I'm a lot more neat when it comes to getting my things together. However, it was the last day of school for about two or so weeks, as we're now entering winter break. This means no school, and less stress for me on getting my work done.

Since I'm already a bit of an overachiever, I'm as caught up on work as I can be. I have a couple of projects and assignments that are due when I come back from break, but I'm not worried as I'll have more than enough time to do them since I'll be stuck at home majority of the break.

My last class of the day today was PE, but since we already have an extremely lazy gym teacher, he just let us do whatever we wanted. I used that time to get some extra work done, ignoring the laughs of Ashley and her friends and the constant puppy dog eyes from Carter across the room.

The class was literal hell, and if it weren't for Lila I think I would've died by now. Since everyone's kind of heard right now what went on the night of Bailey's birthday party, it was right back to everyone treating me as if I was some fragile child. Some sick person who needed tending to every two minutes.

Miles was the only person who didn't truly treat me that way, and I felt more than appreciative of him. He was the person who'd walk in on mine and Carter's conversation, and knew how it truly ended. Yet he didn't ask questions, and he didn't treat me like a baby.

I exited the gymnasium and said a quick goodbye to Lila, who had to get going to go visit her dad for break. She explained how she wasn't really looking forward to it due to her father having a new family, but her mother thinks it'd be good for her to spend more time with him than just summer break.

I took my time walking from the gymnasium to my locker. I planned on clearing it out of the textbooks I'd need over break, which meant I'd be carrying a lot more weight home than usual. It wasn't a big deal since Miles planned on driving me home so I didn't have to ride the bus or walk, but it still wasn't too thrilling as my back already hurt from the weight that it carried.

After figuring out what books I'd need and which ones I wouldn't, I shut my locker door. I jumped as I saw Carter on the other side, picking at his backpack straps. My heart immediately fell to my stomach, my thoughts jumbling together at just how close we were.

"Carter, I-"

"No, please." He stopped, interrupting me. "I'm dying here, Rory."

"You're dying?" I scoffed, looking around to see that there had been some attention on us. "You break my heart, and watch me suffer for weeks but now that you're dealing with the consequences, you're dying? I don't want to hear it."

"I know I fucked up, but I just- I want to make it better." He softly said.

"Carter, this isn't going to make it better. Begging me, telling me you love me, all the things you should have said way sooner - that's not going to do anything but make it worse. I can't-" I stopped, looking at everyone before back at him. "I can barely look at you. You say these things but either you don't mean it or don't care to show you mean it."

He didn't say anything, probably due to the new audience watching from around us. I glanced over to see Miles standing amongst the wandering eyes, and once our eyes connected he held his keys up in his hands. He was hinting at me that it was time to go, and I was more than happy to oblige.

Carter glanced back, looking at him. "Jesus fucking Christ is this guy your puppy dog or something?"

"Go home, Carter." I muttered as I walked past, ignoring the obvious jealousy radiating off of him.

Murmurs started as I approached Miles, pushing through the group of people. Although I'm very glad that we're not stepping foot in this school for another two weeks, I'm a little upset because I know it'll still be talked about when we get back from winter break.

Miles grabbed my hand and led me out of the school, the cool air hitting my exposed skin almost instantly. We were quick to get to his car and inside, the smell of clean linen invading my nostrils. It was a nice smell, especially compared to the nasty one of the gymnasium I had just spent a while in.

"He's never going to take a hint, jesus!" I exclaimed as soon as Miles got in the car, leaning back against the seat.

Miles started the car to get the heat started, staring at me with sad eyes. "It's... Nevermind."

"What?" I asked softly, looking at him.

"He loves you, Ror. He's not going to give up." He mumbled, picking at the steering wheel. "I don't think I've ever seen Carter Jackson act like that. Not with Ashley, not with anyone."

"Yeah. Ashley. His girlfriend." I crossed my arms over my chest, "I'm just saying, he's made no effort till I was over it, so he can get over it now. I really don't want to talk about this."

Miles didn't say anything, and instead just started to exit the parking lot. He knew not to push, considering most people did that with me. He was different, and actually respected my thoughts.

I watched the scenery as we passed by, silence filling the car. I'd calmed down a lot, my nerves also calming from the sudden attention from not only Carter but also the numerous students at Riverway High.

The sound of my phone vibrating against the middle console echoed through the car, and I sent a short glance to Miles before checking the screen. Katherine's icon showed up in the middle of it, and I didn't hesitate to answer. "Hello?"

"Rory?" She asked, a small sniffle following the question.

She was crying, and I could tell as soon as I'd answered. "Katie? What's going on?"

Miles sent a worried glance my way, but I just put a finger in the air as I waited to hear her response.

"M-my mom-" She stopped, choking on her tears.

Pulling my phone from my ear, I leaned in toward Miles. "Can you head toward Katherine's house?" He nodded and I instantly put the phone back to my ear, hearing soft cries on the other side. "We're on our way, okay?"

"Wh-who?" She softly asked.

"Me and Miles. Nobody else, do you want me to stay on the phone?" I questioned.

"N-no, just get h-here please." She requested.

"Okay, we'll be there soon." I said before hanging up.

"She okay?" Miles asked, glancing over at me as he turned into her neighborhood.

"Something about her mom. Didn't say what, she was crying too hard to explain anything." I softly told him.

Miles didn't push any further, considering he couldn't. We arrived to Katherine's shortly after, and my heart hurt to see her sitting on her front porch with her head in her hands. I could hear her crying as Miles parked the car, and so just as I heard it shift into park I basically threw myself out of the vehicle.

Tripping over my feet, I rushed across the dead lawn to the porch, where Katherine had finally noticed us arriving. She stood to her feet, to where I pulled her into a hug almost immediately. Her cries grew louder as she cried in my shoulder, her tears soaking into my sweater almost immediately.

"What happened?" I softly asked, rubbing her back soothingly.

"M-my mom l-left." She stated, another sob escaping her lips as she said the words aloud.

"What?" I asked, pulling away from her. "What-what do you mean?"

She rubbed her sleeve under her nose, stepping back onto the porch. She led me into the small house, Miles trailing behind me as he'd finally shut the car off and made his way over to us.

The house was left in a mess. Books and papers scattered everywhere, nothing picked up before being abandoned. She led us to the extremely empty kitchen, where a notepad sat on the little brown dining table in the middle of the room.

In the middle of the old yellow paper was a note, a note signed to Katherine.

'Be back in a few weeks. Went abroad. If you need me, don't'

"What the fuck?" I asked aloud, crumpling the paper in my hands. I turned to Katherine, who stood shyly by the wall separating the kitchen from the living room. Her eyes glistened with tears, her eyeliner smeared to her cheeks. "She just left with leaving any sort of- sort of food or money?"

"I guess she had other priorities." Katherine muttered, pulling at her shirt. She was a mess, and I could tell she was beginning to tune out everything around her.

I can't blame her. She was sitting here with no food, no money, nothing to get her buy for the few weeks her mother was gone. A time that was supposed to be spent with family and out of school, time to make memories - none of that would be here for Katherine. She'd have to sit here day by day just by herself, wondering if she'll even be able to eat something as small as a pack of noodles.

Miles gently took the paper from my hands, and I glanced around the bare house. This place looked nothing like a house, not even close. It looked almost as if nobody even lived in it. It was so empty... cold.

Looking to Katherine, I watched as she just fidgeted where she stood. She didn't say anything or meet my eye, she just sniffled as she did her best to keep herself together.

"Go pack," I told her. Her head snapped up to look at me, her eyes wide.

"W-what?"

"Go pack anything. Everything for all I care. You're not staying here," I said.

"W-what about your mom? Didn't- isn't she going to be mad?" She asked, looking between Miles and I.

"I don't care. You're my best friend, and you're not staying here without basic needs. You'll stay with me in my room. I have more than enough room." I told her, "As long as you don't mind meeting my entire family and hearing my mother everyday."

"Of course not," She breathed out. "A-are you sure? I don't want to be a bother."

"You're never a bother. Plus it'll be like having a sister around." I shrugged, "I think you'll be helping me more, honestly."

Katherine smiled - a genuine smile - before nodding. "Okay. I'll be quick." Without another word she ran down the hall, to what I'm assuming is her room.

I glanced around the empty house, just the look of it enough to send chills down my spine. This place didn't feel homey. This felt like a place you'd be at where a nightmare would take place, if that makes any sense.

"You're a good friend," Miles spoke, for the first time since arriving. "But what's your mom going to think when you bring her home during family time?"

"She can suck it up. My dad will veto anything she says, he enjoys Katherine." I commented, leaning against the wall Katherine previously had.

Miles nodded as he sat the note down, shoving his hands in his pockets. "You really do have such a good heart for someone who's been through so much."

"It's nothing," I mumbled.

"But it isn't. You deserve a lot." He said, "The world, really."

"People keep saying that, but it doesn't really feel like it." I responded honestly, twirling my ring around my finger. "It just feels like an automatic thing to hear by now, you know? It sounds crazy but- but it just feels like people are saying that but it's not true. If it were, I don't think I'd be suffering half as much as I am."

"I can't give you the answers as to why you're going through what you are. But what I can tell you is that it'll be worth it, it will get better." Miles said. "This is just a small glimpse of what's to come in your life. These people - us - we're just a small portion of the amount of people you'll meet. The things you do change the world."

"Since when did you become some motivational speaker?" I asked with a sniffle, wiping my nose with my hand.

"Since I was asked to be one of the speakers at graduation." He admitted, "Crazy, right? Some nerd like me was asked to make a speech."

"You're not just some nerd, you're exceptionally perfect for the spot." I smiled, "I couldn't see anyone else being the speaker."

"There's actually more than one speaker, you know?" Miles asked, "I heard they were asking the Jackson brothers to speak as well - given their high status and all." He waved a hand in the air as if it were nothing, "But I doubt-doubt Carter will even bother."

"Huh. Yeah." I nodded, averting my eyes.

The conversation died after that, simply because I didn't want it to go on. After a few more moments of waiting Katherine finally entered the room, two suitacases. "How much did you say I could take again?"

++

We arrived to my house, giving Miles quick goodbyes so he could get home for dinner. I thanked him numerous times for going to Katherine's and taking longer to take me home, to which he just continued to wave me off.

Katherine looked super nervous as we approached the porch, I could tell by the way her chest rose and fell quickly.

"Look, it's okay, okay? You're just going to walk in and head straight to my room. Leave my mom to me." I told her, as if I wasn't praying on the inside that this wouldn't lead to a huge fight.

Thankfully, my mom's been very chill about me lately. Usually she's off the walls, but after learning that we were having both sets of grandparents here instead of visiting has her going psycho over the house.

I'm almost invisible to her, which I'm more than thankful for.

I opened the door and walked through with Katherine's backpack and duffel bag, the blonde following me with her two suitcases in tow. I wanted her to bring as much as possible so she didn't need to go back to that house - not until her mother decided to come back at least.

Obviously, I'm aware she can't just move in with me. As much as I want it - and so does she - it's not possible. Her mother could come back tomorrow and decide she needs to come home. Not that I think she really cares, but she could be a total bitch about it and make Katherine's life worse than she already does.

I nodded at Katherine when she sheepishly looked at me, causing her to book it straight for the staircase.

This caught my parents' attention, my mother crossing her arms and walking over to me from where she had been standing by the island. "And what is going on here?" She asked, thankfully too quiet for Katherine to hear.

My dad walked over as well, taking note of the suitcases and bags. "Why does it look like Katie's moving in?"

"She's not, I promise." I immediately said, setting the duffelbag to the ground. "She just needs somewhere to stay during winter break. I know I should've asked first - and usually I would! It's just she called me on the way home from school crying and-"

"Crying?" My dad asked, cutting me off.

"Her mom just left." I admitted, "She just left while we were at school with a note saying not to contact her and she'd be back in a few weeks. She had no food, money, or anything to help her get by. I couldn't just let her stay there alone."

"Well I think it's pretty obvious what we need to do," My mother said, at the same time my father nodded.

"Welcome her with open arms."

"Call CPS."

My mother looked to my father, raising a brow at his suggestion. "Welcome her? Harold, are we teens? Her mother just abandoned her, we can't accept another child."

"It's just until she gets back from her vacation. She can stay with Rora in her room. We have the space." My dad argued.

My mother glared at him, but finally shook her head in defeat. "This is going to come back and bite you in the butt, Harold, and I will not be there to solve any of your problems."

Without another word she walked away, leaving my dad and I there. I looked at him, to see he was completely unbothered by her words. "Go get Katie settled, dinner will be ready in about an hour."

++

The story's almost over, I'm so excited!