Age Is Only A Number!, chapter 14
"Katie why is this letter to you?" Aaron repeated, he didn't know what it was about and now he wanted to know. Anyone who knew Aaron knew that if you left something he didn't know about he'd do anything to find out what it was about.
"It's nothing Aaron, give it to me" Katie said trying to seem like it wasn't important, he could always look right through Katie.
"If it isn't important can't I see it" Aaron asked, Katie tried to grab it but Aaron put it out of her reach, he opened it while stopping Katie from taking it. He opened it and his eyes widened and he said, "How? Why? Katie what the hell." He walked off to his room and threw the note down to the floor.
Katie picked up the note and read it quickly; Abi read it from over Katie's shoulder. Katie put it down and sighed, she didn't want any of this to happen. Abi patted her on the shoulder and left Katie alone. Katie sat on the window ledge and looked upon the view of New York; she never got over the beauty of New York. She rested her chin on one of her knees and let the other one dangle off the ledge, her eyes content on the scenery out her window.
"Are you going to explain anything to me?" Aaron asked he made Katie jump; she was still looking out the window she looked at Aaron and saw he was upset. He was knelt down beside her; she looked back to the streets of New York, he changed to crossed legs and asked "Katie, please tell me what's going on, you know how much I care for you."
A tear came down Katie's smooth face, she looked into Aarons eyes and he saw the regret behind her eyes. He cupped her chin in his hand, another tear came rolling down and Aaron got up and hugged Katie tightly. He let go and sat next to Katie on the ledge. She wiped the tears off her face and looked back out the window.
"Beautiful view isn't it?" Aaron stated, Katie saw that he was looking out the window as well.
"Yeah, just wish this could last forever" Katie said, Aaron wondered what Katie meant by this, there was always a mystery towards Katie and it was hard to figure out.
He tried to figure it out and asked "What do you mean by that?"
Katie faced him, she smiled a little cute smile and told him "Everyone knows this isn't gonna last forever, stuff's gonna change, if you saw a picture of New York in 1945 and compared it to now you'd see a hell of a difference, and also I know this sounds weird but I feel like soon something big is going to go, I don't know what but something." She looked down and realised she was being stupid and said "I'm being an idiot nothing big is gonna happen." She got off the ledge and went into her room.
She sat there reading her book with the letter by the side, she hated that she let Aaron down and she hated herself for not telling him anything. She contemplated her situation and tried to see that it wasn't so bad, she couldn't see much of an upside except that she now earned more money.
She shut her book and went back to the letter; she read it and thought to herself what an idiot she was for letting what happened happen. She was just about to scream at herself when Abi came into her room and said, "Katie Hannah is here."
Katie was now annoyed, Hannah was Aaron's girl-friend, she was an absolute ditz, she was your All-American Sweetheart debutante, she was blonde haired blue-eyed, her smile was impeccable, she could eat loads and not get fat, and most of all she somehow seduced Aaron into liking her he usually hated people like that.
Aaron also had no clue Abi and Katie couldn't stand her, Katie slumped in and saw Hannah in a pink top with a frilly pink skirt while Aaron was in his room getting something, it made Katie want to retch.
"Hi Katie," Hannah ecstatically said, she waved at Katie and Katie just fake-smiled and said, "Hey Hannah, long time no see, I think you missed your turning hell is second left not second right," and fake-smiled.
Hannah didn't get it and just gave a shrill giggle and said, "I live only a couple of blocks away."
Abi and Katie rolled there eyes, Abi then said, "So did you get here by broomstick or by flying monkeys?"
Again Hannah's mind went blank as she twiddled her perfectly wavy hair; she just giggled again and said "I got my car here silly."
Katie couldn't believe how amazingly dumb this girl was, unless she was a great actor but Katie doubted that. "Here Honey," Aaron called out, he came in and hugged Hannah and put her arm around her and said, "I got some great news, Hannah is moving in with us."
He made it seem like nothing, but it was everything to Abi and Katie, they always enjoyed it being just them and Aaron and it didn't help that they both couldn't stand Hannah in every way possible. They would never forgive Aaron for this or if they did he would pay big time.
A couple of months later Hannah's stuff paraded there apartment, there was stupid air freshener that made Katie's asthma go wild, she put the cd's in alphabetical order, she put 'cute' post-its everywhere saying such things as "Remember your lunch" and "Have a nice day."
It bugged Abi and Katie so much and yet Aaron was totally unaware of anything. It was a normal day to Katie, she went to work, had some lunch, got a coffee and came home only to find a surprise at the door, and it was Billie Joe. She opened the door and found him standing there. She didn't know what to do he was just standing there.
"So, this is where you live, cozy, doesn't seem much like you," looking around and seeing everything Hannah changed just last week.
Katie closed the door behind her and said, "It used to be then Aaron's girlfriend moved in, but on other things why are you here?"
Katie then offered a seat to Billie Joe, he refused and said, "I'm here to see Lisea and Ramona, and they told me where you lived 'cause you never told me yourself."
"I didn't, I thought I did, well here it is hell sweet hellm" Katie replied, Billie Joe saw that something was bugging her.
He sat down and asked, "What's wrong?"
"It's just that Aaron's girlfriend Hannah is so annoying and she's moved in and destroyed everything, Abi is out a lot with Dave her boyfriend and I'm stuck here all alone boy-friendless and having to survive Hannah all day and it doesn't help that work is overloading" Katie explained, tears came rolling down her cheeks and Billie Joe lost all his anger over having her not tell him her address.
He hugged Katie and said, "Hey this isn't as good as a boyfriend but why don't we hang out tonight maybe have dinner and do things?" Katie nodded and they carried on hugging.
Billie Joe agreed to meet up with Katie at 7.45 but had to go and meet up with Lisea leaving Katie on her own. She hung around and watched T.V and did some work, in the afternoon Abi came in with her boy-friend Dave and Abi said, "Me and Dave have an announcement," as soon as Abi said that she knew it was bad news for her but she let Abi carry on, "Me and Dave are engaged."
It was then everything hit Katie, while everyone had been living lives she'd had been doing nothing with her life, she was still an intern at the magazine, she had no boyfriend to speak of, she only just had a pay-rise after 3 years of hard work, and most of all her friends were leaving her on the spot. "When did this happen?" Katie asked.
"He asked me a couple of nights ago, I'm gonna stay living here until we're married but I might stay at Dave's place overnight or for a week or so," Abi answered.
Dave then said to Katie, "We kind of only came here to tell you but now we have to go tell my friends bye." They went back out the door and Katie just had to get out, she went down the emergency exit to avoid Abi and Dave.
She left a note to Aaron:
'Aaron
I have to get out for a while, I should be back by around 10pm-ish tell Billie Joe that I am sorry but I just have to get out.'
She got her jacket on and went out the emergency exit down the metal stairs trying to avoid making too much noise. She got to her car and just started driving, not knowing where she was going to. She drove around and noticed it was time for her and Billie Joe to hang around, her phone went off, she was on the highway at the time and answered, "Burke here who is it?"
"It's Billie here, where are you?" Billie Joe asked, he was worried because of earlier what she said to him.
Katie had trouble holding the phone and driving, she carried on though and said, "I'm on the highway I just need to sort some things out."
Billie Joe was really worried now, all he wanted was for Katie to come back and be safe. Katie was swerving slightly now in the car, Billie Joe then asked "Are you safe?"
Katie rolled her eyes and said, "Yes of course I'm saf..." just before she could end saying safe Billie Joe heard a scream, now he was scared. Katie on the other hand just bashed into a tree and was unconscious; the people around her had stopped and called the police.
Billie Joe was on his wits end to find out what happened. The ambulance came by and picked Katie up and put her in the ambulance, one of the guys saw the phone and said into it, "She is being taken to Sacred Heart in Roosevelt Street." Billie Joe heard and hung up and jumped straight to his car and drove to the hospital.
Katie was rushed to the hospital and to the E.R, she had no idea of anything happening around her considering she was unconscious. The doctors were doing everything they could, there was no serious damage but she would have to stay in hospital for a week or so.
She lay in the hospital bed in a deep sleep when Billie Joe arrived; he was so worried and was on the verge of tears when he saw her. A doctor came in and saw Billie Joe and said "Are you family?"
"No I am her friend, how is she?" Billie Joe asked, he could barely speak he was so shocked to see Katie in this state.
"She is fine just a hit to the stomach and also her leg is battered up a bit and a few cuts and bruises she'll be here for the next few days or so," the doctor answered, Billie Joe looked at the name and it said 'Dr Jeffery' and then thought that he should phone her parents to tell them.
He looked at Katie while phoning them and couldn't believe what happened; it felt like it was his entire fault he was on the phone to her while it happened. Her parents were shocked and tried to tell Billie Joe it wasn't his fault.
He then phoned Abi and Aaron and they came rushing towards the hospital and saw Katie. "Oh my god what happened?" Abi asked seeing Katie.
"The doctor said that she had a hit to the stomach and a battered leg but that's about it," Billie Joe told them, Abi and Aaron sat next to Katie and looked at her and how she looked so upset so hurt.
Abi, Aaron and Billie Joe stayed with Katie for the night, they stayed awake for hours they told Katie's parents and they were driving up that second. At one point Abi and Aaron were right next to Katie but Billie Joe was in the corner of the room staring out the window at the city that never sleeps.
He had that glazed look in his eyes, his mind was racing, he just nearly killed his friend and her friends didn't know it was his fault all they knew is that Billie Joe knew about it first. Abi saw Billie Joe and went up to him and sat next to him, "What's wrong?"
Billie Joe didn't answer just carried on looking, his face was strong but his eyes were weak. Abi put her arm around Billie Joe and said, "You can tell me don't worry."
"I-I-was on the ph-phone to her w-while she was dr-driving, it was all m-m-my fault," Billie Joe answered stuttering, tears rolled down his cheeks and he looked back at the window.
Aaron at the time was sleeping with his hand on Katie's, Abi herself was falling back asleep and just said to Billie Joe, "It's not your fault, don't beat yourself up about i-" and she fell asleep.
Billie Joe put a blanket over her and Aaron and sat back down, he was falling asleep and refused, he had bags under his eye and was drowsy. He tried to concentrate on other things but failed and he fell asleep. He didn't know what would come ahead of him the next day and frankly didn't really want to think about it.
The next day dawned on him and it was noon by the time he woke up. He woke up saw Katie still there and wondering where Abi and Aaron were. He didn't know the time or how long he had been sleeping for. Abi came in and saw how freaked out Abi was and gave him a coffee she was holding in her hand. "Hey sleepy-head, I didn't have the heart to wake you up especially when you gave me that blanket."
"Sure thing, what's the time?" Billie Joe asked a bit less freaked out.
"It's noon, Katie's parents got here an hour or so ago after getting a plane and a train," Abi told him. What she didn't tell him is that Mike and Tre were around the hospital getting lunch. He sat back down and talked to Katie's parents, they were shocked beyond belief and Billie Joe tried to console them.
They left to get lunch when Mike and Tre came in. "What are you guys doing here?" Billie Joe asked.
"We heard about the accident and that you were here so we took the next flight out with Katie's parents," Mike answered, they then sat down next to Katie and looked at her, and Billie Joe just felt guiltier.
Mike and Tre left the room and left Billie Joe on his own, he sat next to Katie and said, "I dunno if you can hear me, but anyway I am so sorry for what I did, I should of hung up when you said you were on the highway, I feel so guilty and I don't think anything could help me right now, even if you woke up."
That very moment like magic somehow Katie opened her eyes. Billie Joe jumped from his seat and saw she was awake, she tried to sit up but it hurt too much she managed to say, "Where am I, what happened?" she sounded so hurt and upset. Billie Joe sat down and explained to her what happened.
"Well it's not critical but it is suggested you don't do anything physical, also you may have to suspend working for a while," Dr Jeffery told her. Just a couple of minutes ago she was in a peaceful sleep next second she was awake to find she couldn't walk without a stick for a week, she couldn't work, and too top it all off she had her parents, Green Day and her best friends acting like she was a china doll which she hated.
She got up after a minute or so of trying, the doctor gave her the walking stick she had to use, she felt like such an idiot for bashing into that tree. Billie Joe was outside at the time smoking a cigarette, Katie went outside to get some fresh air and saw him there. "
So what's up soldier?" Billie Joe looked up to see Katie there, she was with her walking stick and it made his heart sink to see her in such a state.
"Nothing much just cooling off," Billie Joe answered. Katie knew the situation was different.
"Look don't feel guilty, what happened just happened life screws you and sometimes you feel so down you just can't get back up but then you realise your up again," she explained.
Billie Joe loved how Katie didn't say 'it wasn't your fault' and let him be in denial but instead tried to make him feel better about the situation. "Thanks, are you okay with the whole stick thing?" Billie Joe asked.
"Not really but I get to use my grandpa's old stick and it's really cool and I'll turn walking stick freak into walking stick chic," Katie answered, Billie Joe just had to smile at Katie's sense of styling.
Katie went back in and into her room and had a look round, she saw a few 'Get Well' cards which was sweet. She sat down on her bed and saw Tre come in and sit next to her. Tre felt like an idiot around Katie without trying, they sat there in silence for a while before Katie broke the ice by saying, "So how's life back in Berkeley?"
"Good, me and the guys are working on a new album should come out next year or so," Tre answered. "Anything interesting happen in New York" Tre asked.
Katie's head dropped and just said, "Yeah Aaron's annoying girlfriend has moved in and Abi is getting married soon, just great." Tre put his arm around Katie and tried to comfort her but she was way over that and just wanted to get back home, at least she thought she was.
Just when she thought she was going back to her apartment she found out she had to go back to Oakland to calm down. She went on the plane with her parents and the guys but had to leave Abi and Aaron behind.
They got to the Burke residence and she didn't like a second of it. She just felt more of a sick little puppy now she was home and she hated that feeling. She got upstairs and sat on the ledging of her window which was covered in cushions and books, lord knew she loved to read, you'd see her a lot with a book in her hand.
She picked up a book by Stephen King and started reading.
She didn't know that Mike had come into the room; she looked up and saw Mike next to her. She half-smiled and her eyes went down.
Mike stroked her hair and said quietly, "Like a rose without a thorn your beauty shines through the darkest of situations."
Katie smiled and looked at Mike and said, "But why it is yet that love has settled like dew in the morning."
Mike always liked Katie's love for literature. Mike saw a tear come out of Katie's eye; he rubbed it away with his thumb and hugged her. He didn't know what was wrong but didn't care just wanted her to be okay.
Katie had trouble doing quite a few things, she couldn't go down stairs that easily, she had trouble getting up from seats, and she even had trouble reaching to the cupboards.
She hated the feeling of being unable; the only thought in her head was when she could go back to normal life. The week went by slowly and painfully but the good side was that she got to see more of her brother and sister.
One day Mike came round to visit the wounded soldier, at the time Katie was unchanging with a step back. Mike came upstairs and opened the door of her room, he popped his head round and saw Katie in her jeans and struggling with taking her big shirt off, it was unbuttoned revealing her in a black lace bra but she couldn't master to take it off her arms.
Mike came in and saw her and instantly looked down. "Sorry, it's ok I don't mind, Aaron see's me in my underwear the whole time" Katie said. Mike looked up, it seemed so hot in the room and yet so calming, Mike saw the pain she was going through and helped her, he took the shirt off her arms and flung it on her chair. She half-smiled and looked down, Mike noticed her hair was starting to grow more, the back came down to her neck and the hair at the front came past her eyebrows.
She turned around and looked up at Mike, Mike stepped closer and placed his hand on the small of her back, his head came closer as they locked into a kiss.
There bodies became closer as they locked deeper into there kiss. They separated from each other and gazed into each others eyes there breath deeper, Katie's eyes were shocked turning more green than brown while Mike's were deep yet lustful.
Katie took a step back and said, "I can't, not now, I'm leaving tomorrow." She seemed so scared and hurt, Mike stepped closer and Katie stepped back again and got her shirt back on no matter how much it pained her she didn't care.
Mike just simply said, "Sorry," and left the room and said, "I didn't mean for this to happen, it was an honest mistake."
Katie went back to New York; she didn't have to use her walking stick as much but had it with her anyway for the novelty of the disabled spaces. Abi and Aaron tried to make it seem normal but Hannah made it seem that Katie was her Barbie doll to play with.
Katie went back to work and everyone even her boss seemed to care and help her. She got through the day and decided she hadn't been out lately.
She and Abi decided to go to a local bar and hang around; Katie didn't need her walking stick but chose to bring it anyway. Katie wore an olive green gangster hat with an olive green blazer, black t-shirt with denim jeans, and also her walking stick.
They went out to the local nightclub and hung around and danced to the music, Katie was at the bar while Abi was hanging around the boys she thankfully didn't have her ring on though. Katie swirled around her glass of beer and drunk some of it, she was looking into the glass while a man sat down next to her and looked at her and asked, "What are you doing?"
Katie looked up and saw a tall handsome guy with floppy brown hair was in front of her, he was in a simple blue blazer, white t-shirt and black trousers. She was mesmorized by him and managed to spit out, "Nothing much."
"I'm Cole," Cole told her putting his hand forwards, he smiled and Katie was gazing into his eyes until she snapped back to reality.
"I'm Katie."
Katie then shook his hand and he sat down, he ordered a beer and asked "So what's up with the stick?" Pointing to the walking stick hanging off the stool.
Katie picked it up and said, "I was kind of in a car accident a couple of weeks ago, it was my grandpa's."
He seemed really interested; Katie then asked, "So what do you do for a living?"
"I'm a trainee doctor at Sacred Heart," Cole answered. He was handsome and smart, basically a perfect match in Katie's book.
"Oh that's where I went when I was in my car accident."
His eyebrows rose when she said that, she blushed and looked down, he sympathised and said, "Don't worry its fine, so what do you do for a living?"
"I'm a photographer; I work at the magazine 'Real'."
Cole smiled and looked at his watch and said, "Oh I have to go nice meeting you," he then wrote something down on a card and said, "This is my card and on the back is my cell, call me and maybe we can go out, maybe like on a date." He gave her the card and he said "I bid you farewell."
Katie knew there was something good about this guy.
"It's nothing Aaron, give it to me" Katie said trying to seem like it wasn't important, he could always look right through Katie.
"If it isn't important can't I see it" Aaron asked, Katie tried to grab it but Aaron put it out of her reach, he opened it while stopping Katie from taking it. He opened it and his eyes widened and he said, "How? Why? Katie what the hell." He walked off to his room and threw the note down to the floor.
Katie picked up the note and read it quickly; Abi read it from over Katie's shoulder. Katie put it down and sighed, she didn't want any of this to happen. Abi patted her on the shoulder and left Katie alone. Katie sat on the window ledge and looked upon the view of New York; she never got over the beauty of New York. She rested her chin on one of her knees and let the other one dangle off the ledge, her eyes content on the scenery out her window.
"Are you going to explain anything to me?" Aaron asked he made Katie jump; she was still looking out the window she looked at Aaron and saw he was upset. He was knelt down beside her; she looked back to the streets of New York, he changed to crossed legs and asked "Katie, please tell me what's going on, you know how much I care for you."
A tear came down Katie's smooth face, she looked into Aarons eyes and he saw the regret behind her eyes. He cupped her chin in his hand, another tear came rolling down and Aaron got up and hugged Katie tightly. He let go and sat next to Katie on the ledge. She wiped the tears off her face and looked back out the window.
"Beautiful view isn't it?" Aaron stated, Katie saw that he was looking out the window as well.
"Yeah, just wish this could last forever" Katie said, Aaron wondered what Katie meant by this, there was always a mystery towards Katie and it was hard to figure out.
He tried to figure it out and asked "What do you mean by that?"
Katie faced him, she smiled a little cute smile and told him "Everyone knows this isn't gonna last forever, stuff's gonna change, if you saw a picture of New York in 1945 and compared it to now you'd see a hell of a difference, and also I know this sounds weird but I feel like soon something big is going to go, I don't know what but something." She looked down and realised she was being stupid and said "I'm being an idiot nothing big is gonna happen." She got off the ledge and went into her room.
She sat there reading her book with the letter by the side, she hated that she let Aaron down and she hated herself for not telling him anything. She contemplated her situation and tried to see that it wasn't so bad, she couldn't see much of an upside except that she now earned more money.
She shut her book and went back to the letter; she read it and thought to herself what an idiot she was for letting what happened happen. She was just about to scream at herself when Abi came into her room and said, "Katie Hannah is here."
Katie was now annoyed, Hannah was Aaron's girl-friend, she was an absolute ditz, she was your All-American Sweetheart debutante, she was blonde haired blue-eyed, her smile was impeccable, she could eat loads and not get fat, and most of all she somehow seduced Aaron into liking her he usually hated people like that.
Aaron also had no clue Abi and Katie couldn't stand her, Katie slumped in and saw Hannah in a pink top with a frilly pink skirt while Aaron was in his room getting something, it made Katie want to retch.
"Hi Katie," Hannah ecstatically said, she waved at Katie and Katie just fake-smiled and said, "Hey Hannah, long time no see, I think you missed your turning hell is second left not second right," and fake-smiled.
Hannah didn't get it and just gave a shrill giggle and said, "I live only a couple of blocks away."
Abi and Katie rolled there eyes, Abi then said, "So did you get here by broomstick or by flying monkeys?"
Again Hannah's mind went blank as she twiddled her perfectly wavy hair; she just giggled again and said "I got my car here silly."
Katie couldn't believe how amazingly dumb this girl was, unless she was a great actor but Katie doubted that. "Here Honey," Aaron called out, he came in and hugged Hannah and put her arm around her and said, "I got some great news, Hannah is moving in with us."
He made it seem like nothing, but it was everything to Abi and Katie, they always enjoyed it being just them and Aaron and it didn't help that they both couldn't stand Hannah in every way possible. They would never forgive Aaron for this or if they did he would pay big time.
A couple of months later Hannah's stuff paraded there apartment, there was stupid air freshener that made Katie's asthma go wild, she put the cd's in alphabetical order, she put 'cute' post-its everywhere saying such things as "Remember your lunch" and "Have a nice day."
It bugged Abi and Katie so much and yet Aaron was totally unaware of anything. It was a normal day to Katie, she went to work, had some lunch, got a coffee and came home only to find a surprise at the door, and it was Billie Joe. She opened the door and found him standing there. She didn't know what to do he was just standing there.
"So, this is where you live, cozy, doesn't seem much like you," looking around and seeing everything Hannah changed just last week.
Katie closed the door behind her and said, "It used to be then Aaron's girlfriend moved in, but on other things why are you here?"
Katie then offered a seat to Billie Joe, he refused and said, "I'm here to see Lisea and Ramona, and they told me where you lived 'cause you never told me yourself."
"I didn't, I thought I did, well here it is hell sweet hellm" Katie replied, Billie Joe saw that something was bugging her.
He sat down and asked, "What's wrong?"
"It's just that Aaron's girlfriend Hannah is so annoying and she's moved in and destroyed everything, Abi is out a lot with Dave her boyfriend and I'm stuck here all alone boy-friendless and having to survive Hannah all day and it doesn't help that work is overloading" Katie explained, tears came rolling down her cheeks and Billie Joe lost all his anger over having her not tell him her address.
He hugged Katie and said, "Hey this isn't as good as a boyfriend but why don't we hang out tonight maybe have dinner and do things?" Katie nodded and they carried on hugging.
Billie Joe agreed to meet up with Katie at 7.45 but had to go and meet up with Lisea leaving Katie on her own. She hung around and watched T.V and did some work, in the afternoon Abi came in with her boy-friend Dave and Abi said, "Me and Dave have an announcement," as soon as Abi said that she knew it was bad news for her but she let Abi carry on, "Me and Dave are engaged."
It was then everything hit Katie, while everyone had been living lives she'd had been doing nothing with her life, she was still an intern at the magazine, she had no boyfriend to speak of, she only just had a pay-rise after 3 years of hard work, and most of all her friends were leaving her on the spot. "When did this happen?" Katie asked.
"He asked me a couple of nights ago, I'm gonna stay living here until we're married but I might stay at Dave's place overnight or for a week or so," Abi answered.
Dave then said to Katie, "We kind of only came here to tell you but now we have to go tell my friends bye." They went back out the door and Katie just had to get out, she went down the emergency exit to avoid Abi and Dave.
She left a note to Aaron:
'Aaron
I have to get out for a while, I should be back by around 10pm-ish tell Billie Joe that I am sorry but I just have to get out.'
She got her jacket on and went out the emergency exit down the metal stairs trying to avoid making too much noise. She got to her car and just started driving, not knowing where she was going to. She drove around and noticed it was time for her and Billie Joe to hang around, her phone went off, she was on the highway at the time and answered, "Burke here who is it?"
"It's Billie here, where are you?" Billie Joe asked, he was worried because of earlier what she said to him.
Katie had trouble holding the phone and driving, she carried on though and said, "I'm on the highway I just need to sort some things out."
Billie Joe was really worried now, all he wanted was for Katie to come back and be safe. Katie was swerving slightly now in the car, Billie Joe then asked "Are you safe?"
Katie rolled her eyes and said, "Yes of course I'm saf..." just before she could end saying safe Billie Joe heard a scream, now he was scared. Katie on the other hand just bashed into a tree and was unconscious; the people around her had stopped and called the police.
Billie Joe was on his wits end to find out what happened. The ambulance came by and picked Katie up and put her in the ambulance, one of the guys saw the phone and said into it, "She is being taken to Sacred Heart in Roosevelt Street." Billie Joe heard and hung up and jumped straight to his car and drove to the hospital.
Katie was rushed to the hospital and to the E.R, she had no idea of anything happening around her considering she was unconscious. The doctors were doing everything they could, there was no serious damage but she would have to stay in hospital for a week or so.
She lay in the hospital bed in a deep sleep when Billie Joe arrived; he was so worried and was on the verge of tears when he saw her. A doctor came in and saw Billie Joe and said "Are you family?"
"No I am her friend, how is she?" Billie Joe asked, he could barely speak he was so shocked to see Katie in this state.
"She is fine just a hit to the stomach and also her leg is battered up a bit and a few cuts and bruises she'll be here for the next few days or so," the doctor answered, Billie Joe looked at the name and it said 'Dr Jeffery' and then thought that he should phone her parents to tell them.
He looked at Katie while phoning them and couldn't believe what happened; it felt like it was his entire fault he was on the phone to her while it happened. Her parents were shocked and tried to tell Billie Joe it wasn't his fault.
He then phoned Abi and Aaron and they came rushing towards the hospital and saw Katie. "Oh my god what happened?" Abi asked seeing Katie.
"The doctor said that she had a hit to the stomach and a battered leg but that's about it," Billie Joe told them, Abi and Aaron sat next to Katie and looked at her and how she looked so upset so hurt.
Abi, Aaron and Billie Joe stayed with Katie for the night, they stayed awake for hours they told Katie's parents and they were driving up that second. At one point Abi and Aaron were right next to Katie but Billie Joe was in the corner of the room staring out the window at the city that never sleeps.
He had that glazed look in his eyes, his mind was racing, he just nearly killed his friend and her friends didn't know it was his fault all they knew is that Billie Joe knew about it first. Abi saw Billie Joe and went up to him and sat next to him, "What's wrong?"
Billie Joe didn't answer just carried on looking, his face was strong but his eyes were weak. Abi put her arm around Billie Joe and said, "You can tell me don't worry."
"I-I-was on the ph-phone to her w-while she was dr-driving, it was all m-m-my fault," Billie Joe answered stuttering, tears rolled down his cheeks and he looked back at the window.
Aaron at the time was sleeping with his hand on Katie's, Abi herself was falling back asleep and just said to Billie Joe, "It's not your fault, don't beat yourself up about i-" and she fell asleep.
Billie Joe put a blanket over her and Aaron and sat back down, he was falling asleep and refused, he had bags under his eye and was drowsy. He tried to concentrate on other things but failed and he fell asleep. He didn't know what would come ahead of him the next day and frankly didn't really want to think about it.
The next day dawned on him and it was noon by the time he woke up. He woke up saw Katie still there and wondering where Abi and Aaron were. He didn't know the time or how long he had been sleeping for. Abi came in and saw how freaked out Abi was and gave him a coffee she was holding in her hand. "Hey sleepy-head, I didn't have the heart to wake you up especially when you gave me that blanket."
"Sure thing, what's the time?" Billie Joe asked a bit less freaked out.
"It's noon, Katie's parents got here an hour or so ago after getting a plane and a train," Abi told him. What she didn't tell him is that Mike and Tre were around the hospital getting lunch. He sat back down and talked to Katie's parents, they were shocked beyond belief and Billie Joe tried to console them.
They left to get lunch when Mike and Tre came in. "What are you guys doing here?" Billie Joe asked.
"We heard about the accident and that you were here so we took the next flight out with Katie's parents," Mike answered, they then sat down next to Katie and looked at her, and Billie Joe just felt guiltier.
Mike and Tre left the room and left Billie Joe on his own, he sat next to Katie and said, "I dunno if you can hear me, but anyway I am so sorry for what I did, I should of hung up when you said you were on the highway, I feel so guilty and I don't think anything could help me right now, even if you woke up."
That very moment like magic somehow Katie opened her eyes. Billie Joe jumped from his seat and saw she was awake, she tried to sit up but it hurt too much she managed to say, "Where am I, what happened?" she sounded so hurt and upset. Billie Joe sat down and explained to her what happened.
"Well it's not critical but it is suggested you don't do anything physical, also you may have to suspend working for a while," Dr Jeffery told her. Just a couple of minutes ago she was in a peaceful sleep next second she was awake to find she couldn't walk without a stick for a week, she couldn't work, and too top it all off she had her parents, Green Day and her best friends acting like she was a china doll which she hated.
She got up after a minute or so of trying, the doctor gave her the walking stick she had to use, she felt like such an idiot for bashing into that tree. Billie Joe was outside at the time smoking a cigarette, Katie went outside to get some fresh air and saw him there. "
So what's up soldier?" Billie Joe looked up to see Katie there, she was with her walking stick and it made his heart sink to see her in such a state.
"Nothing much just cooling off," Billie Joe answered. Katie knew the situation was different.
"Look don't feel guilty, what happened just happened life screws you and sometimes you feel so down you just can't get back up but then you realise your up again," she explained.
Billie Joe loved how Katie didn't say 'it wasn't your fault' and let him be in denial but instead tried to make him feel better about the situation. "Thanks, are you okay with the whole stick thing?" Billie Joe asked.
"Not really but I get to use my grandpa's old stick and it's really cool and I'll turn walking stick freak into walking stick chic," Katie answered, Billie Joe just had to smile at Katie's sense of styling.
Katie went back in and into her room and had a look round, she saw a few 'Get Well' cards which was sweet. She sat down on her bed and saw Tre come in and sit next to her. Tre felt like an idiot around Katie without trying, they sat there in silence for a while before Katie broke the ice by saying, "So how's life back in Berkeley?"
"Good, me and the guys are working on a new album should come out next year or so," Tre answered. "Anything interesting happen in New York" Tre asked.
Katie's head dropped and just said, "Yeah Aaron's annoying girlfriend has moved in and Abi is getting married soon, just great." Tre put his arm around Katie and tried to comfort her but she was way over that and just wanted to get back home, at least she thought she was.
Just when she thought she was going back to her apartment she found out she had to go back to Oakland to calm down. She went on the plane with her parents and the guys but had to leave Abi and Aaron behind.
They got to the Burke residence and she didn't like a second of it. She just felt more of a sick little puppy now she was home and she hated that feeling. She got upstairs and sat on the ledging of her window which was covered in cushions and books, lord knew she loved to read, you'd see her a lot with a book in her hand.
She picked up a book by Stephen King and started reading.
She didn't know that Mike had come into the room; she looked up and saw Mike next to her. She half-smiled and her eyes went down.
Mike stroked her hair and said quietly, "Like a rose without a thorn your beauty shines through the darkest of situations."
Katie smiled and looked at Mike and said, "But why it is yet that love has settled like dew in the morning."
Mike always liked Katie's love for literature. Mike saw a tear come out of Katie's eye; he rubbed it away with his thumb and hugged her. He didn't know what was wrong but didn't care just wanted her to be okay.
Katie had trouble doing quite a few things, she couldn't go down stairs that easily, she had trouble getting up from seats, and she even had trouble reaching to the cupboards.
She hated the feeling of being unable; the only thought in her head was when she could go back to normal life. The week went by slowly and painfully but the good side was that she got to see more of her brother and sister.
One day Mike came round to visit the wounded soldier, at the time Katie was unchanging with a step back. Mike came upstairs and opened the door of her room, he popped his head round and saw Katie in her jeans and struggling with taking her big shirt off, it was unbuttoned revealing her in a black lace bra but she couldn't master to take it off her arms.
Mike came in and saw her and instantly looked down. "Sorry, it's ok I don't mind, Aaron see's me in my underwear the whole time" Katie said. Mike looked up, it seemed so hot in the room and yet so calming, Mike saw the pain she was going through and helped her, he took the shirt off her arms and flung it on her chair. She half-smiled and looked down, Mike noticed her hair was starting to grow more, the back came down to her neck and the hair at the front came past her eyebrows.
She turned around and looked up at Mike, Mike stepped closer and placed his hand on the small of her back, his head came closer as they locked into a kiss.
There bodies became closer as they locked deeper into there kiss. They separated from each other and gazed into each others eyes there breath deeper, Katie's eyes were shocked turning more green than brown while Mike's were deep yet lustful.
Katie took a step back and said, "I can't, not now, I'm leaving tomorrow." She seemed so scared and hurt, Mike stepped closer and Katie stepped back again and got her shirt back on no matter how much it pained her she didn't care.
Mike just simply said, "Sorry," and left the room and said, "I didn't mean for this to happen, it was an honest mistake."
Katie went back to New York; she didn't have to use her walking stick as much but had it with her anyway for the novelty of the disabled spaces. Abi and Aaron tried to make it seem normal but Hannah made it seem that Katie was her Barbie doll to play with.
Katie went back to work and everyone even her boss seemed to care and help her. She got through the day and decided she hadn't been out lately.
She and Abi decided to go to a local bar and hang around; Katie didn't need her walking stick but chose to bring it anyway. Katie wore an olive green gangster hat with an olive green blazer, black t-shirt with denim jeans, and also her walking stick.
They went out to the local nightclub and hung around and danced to the music, Katie was at the bar while Abi was hanging around the boys she thankfully didn't have her ring on though. Katie swirled around her glass of beer and drunk some of it, she was looking into the glass while a man sat down next to her and looked at her and asked, "What are you doing?"
Katie looked up and saw a tall handsome guy with floppy brown hair was in front of her, he was in a simple blue blazer, white t-shirt and black trousers. She was mesmorized by him and managed to spit out, "Nothing much."
"I'm Cole," Cole told her putting his hand forwards, he smiled and Katie was gazing into his eyes until she snapped back to reality.
"I'm Katie."
Katie then shook his hand and he sat down, he ordered a beer and asked "So what's up with the stick?" Pointing to the walking stick hanging off the stool.
Katie picked it up and said, "I was kind of in a car accident a couple of weeks ago, it was my grandpa's."
He seemed really interested; Katie then asked, "So what do you do for a living?"
"I'm a trainee doctor at Sacred Heart," Cole answered. He was handsome and smart, basically a perfect match in Katie's book.
"Oh that's where I went when I was in my car accident."
His eyebrows rose when she said that, she blushed and looked down, he sympathised and said, "Don't worry its fine, so what do you do for a living?"
"I'm a photographer; I work at the magazine 'Real'."
Cole smiled and looked at his watch and said, "Oh I have to go nice meeting you," he then wrote something down on a card and said, "This is my card and on the back is my cell, call me and maybe we can go out, maybe like on a date." He gave her the card and he said "I bid you farewell."
Katie knew there was something good about this guy.
