Chapter 40 - Anger and sadness

                                    

                                          
Kat
The week starts off shitty and gray. My mood is foul as I head to class. I have very little hope of running into Brick when I head to Basic Nutrition, but my heart still sinks when he doesn't show up.
My mom keeps calling me every chance she gets and checks up on me. JD was outside my door on Monday morning, but I was late for class and refused to acknowledge him. He stalked after me and made sure I got to class.
After Basic Nutrition, I made plans to meet up with Morgan. But when I come out, it's JD I spot first.
"You're a fucking asshole," I tell him and he flinches. I don't swear much, so I think it takes him by surprise. Sure, we've fought before, but that's all been sibling stuff. This feels like a lot more.
"Don't put this on me," he says. "You're the one trying to get with a guy you should be staying away from."
"That's not your call." I see Morgan waiting for me and walk toward her.
"Someone has to look out for you."
I grind my teeth. "What did you do to Brick?"
"Why do you care?"
I spin towards him, my hair flying across my face.
"Because I do. Now what did you do to him?"
"I should have fucked him up for what he did. What he tried to do."
Morgan comes up to me and takes my hand. I glare at JD and he finally sighs.
"He has a black eye. That's it. The asshole refused to fight me."
"I wish he had," I say with fury lacing my words. "I wish he had fought you and beat you up."
JD chuckles. "You don't mean that."
"Don't I?" I raise an eyebrow and walk away from him.
"Don't contact him," JD shouts after me as Morgan squeezes my hand.
"Are you ok?" she asks.
"No." I shake my head and hold back the tears.
"Are you sure you can't stay? There has to be some way for you to stay?"
"I can't think of any. I just don't have any way of coming up with the tuition for next semester. Or next year. UNI isn't exactly a cheap school." I laugh.
"What about staying until the semester is over? Finals are coming up in just about a month. It seems like such a waste to not be here to take them."
"You should have heard my mom. She... she called me a whore." The tears flow down my cheeks. "There's no way she's letting me stay here unsupervised."
"If I had the money, I'd pay for you." She leans her head against my shoulder as we walk.
"Thanks, but I wouldn't accept."
"There has to be something we're not thinking of."
I take a shaky breath. "I'm just scared," I admit. "I'm scared my parents are going to be mad at me. And I'm scared at how this will impact my future."
"You're going to be fine. You'll grow strong and independent and when you're ready, you'll conquer the world."
"I wish I was ready now."
"You can't rush these things. You've grown a lot over the last few months. Have you let Brick know?"
I shake my head. "Mom made me promise I wouldn't contact him. He's sent me a few texts asking if I'm ok and such, but I think maybe he gets it. I hope he gets it."
"Hey, how about one last act of rebellion?"
I dry my tears and look at her.
"What?"
"Come to the party with me tomorrow? You need a distraction and George's band is playing."
I shake my head. "I need to finish a couple of papers and hand them in, and I have to get started on packing. Plus, my mom is calling me nonstop, so she'd probably find out."
"Bummer."
"Yeah, bummer."