Kat was deciding on whether to try and find her own place or blow $50 on a new bikini for the video shoot the next day. She had died her hair her natural light brown, and her bruise was gone. She finally decided to buy a bikini, since it felt like she lived alone anyway. Jose had apologized profusely, and promised never to do it again, and Kat took him back. When he wasn’t being a jerk, he was he sweetest guy, doing anything for her. That part of him she was falling in love with. Even though, the band kind of evaporated. But she decided to get a skin color bikini that had a mesh tank top over the actual bikini. She was really excited about the video shoot, because it was just about one of the last time the guys would have free time before their tour. She considered them all good friends and would miss the company.
The next day, she walked to the shoot, which was being held at a huge house close to Howie’s. When she got there, there were practically a thousand people swarming the area. Girls and guys in bathing suits were everywhere. They were going to start filming at dusk, so they had plenty of time for everyone to get makeup, it being about 2 PM. Nick saw her first and came up to her.
“What’s up Kat?” Nick said cheerfully, starting to ramble. “I’m glad you’re here! This video is gonna be mad phat. It’s just a huge party! I get a dance with you…I like your hair color….” He then left as quickly as he popped up. She wandered off to see where everyone else was. She found Kevin AJ and Howie talking to the director, Hype Williams. She stood to the side and waited for them to finish.
“Hey Kat” AJ came over to her, followed by Kev and Howie. “This is gonna be so cool.”
“You’re looking mighty fine today Kat” Kevin said looking her up and down.
“Don’t look at me like that! You guys look really nice too.” Kat said. They were all wearing swim trunks and were shirtless. She could never get used to seeing them shirtless. AJ was the only one that hadn’t had makeup so he went with Kat to the makeup. Kat was allowed to pick out her own makeup basically, a dark red lipstick. The stylist put part of her hair up and left the back hanging down. By the time she was done, it was just about dark and Mr. Williams decided to start shooting. He told everyone to basically dance and have fun, and act natural. The music started and since Kat and AJ were standing next to each other, they started dancing together. AJ started doing his signature dirty moves, and Kat decided to go with the flow and dance like him. That part of the video took 2 hours to shoot, and she danced with all of the guys at least once. Mr. Williams yelled cut and the extras were allowed to leave. Everyone started to disperse.
“Kat! I’ll call you tomorrow, by then I’ll know when I’ll have a copy, ok?” Howie said.
“Too cool. I’ve had so much fun. Thanks for letting me participate” Kat exclaimed.
“It was our pleasure…..it’s always great to have friends in videos.” Howie laughed and waved goodbye running into the house. She started walking home. She walked in and was just about to get undressed when she heard a key turn in the lock. She walked out and found Jose coming into the hallway.
“Heya babe…..” he slurred coming towards her.
“Oh, Jesus, you’re drunk..” Kat sighed looking at him slightly annoyed. She hated when he got smashed.
“Naw………….” Jose came close to her face and seemed to finally see what she was wearing. “Where you been all fancied up?”
“Well, the Backstreet Boys were shooting a video” Kat smiled. “And they invited me to be in it.” All of a sudden, Jose grabbed her arms forcefully. He picked her up and smashed her into a wall, breaking a picture frame. Kat could feel the glass cut her and the blood coming out right away.
“I thought I told you” he spat, now furious. “But you go drool over the little pansy boys, wearing your top slut wear. Parading yourself around like a whore. That’s why no one likes you, and that’s why you will always be alone. You’re always gonna be alone, worthless slut!” He continued hitting her, smacking her and punching her everywhere. Kat struggled to get free. She finally broke free and ran out of her house. She ran right into Tia.
“There you are.” Tia said slowly. She was obviously drunk too. “Kaitlin dear I got to splain something to you………see, me and Jose, we in love you see, and ya…………you’re outa da picture…” Tia kinda smirked. Kat started running again, with Tia shouting slurred obscenities in the background. She knew she had no one to turn to. The guys were probably still shooting the video. So, she spent the night walking the beach, the blood getting hard on her skin. She found a place with rocks and sat trying to let the waves relax her. She fell asleep slowly.
She had a dream that she was wearing a big white dress, with a fitted bodice and a pillowy skirt. She was crying silently, with her head on her knees. A person came and wrapped his arms around her. She could tell it was a man by the strength in his arms and his scent. He kissed her head gently and she could feel him telling her that he was there to protect her, but she never heard a voice. She was awoken by someone shaking her.
“Ma’am. I got to ask you to leave.” An old man said gruffly. “This is a private beach.” Kat realized she must look like a bum, she was probably bruised and bloody and she was just wearing jeans and a ratty old sweater she'd thrown on over her bathing suit. She stood up and felt very weak. She left, trying to decide where to go next. She felt bad about going to see Howie, especially so early, but she trusted him and there was no one else to turn to. She found herself at Howie’s house and rang the bell and waited. Howie opened the door a few minutes later sleepily. He had thrown on a bathrobe and a pair of flannel pajama pants.
“Kat? Howie squinted and yawned. He opened up his eyes and saw that she was bruised and bloody.
“Oh, shit…Kat.” Howie said. Kat started crying and ran into his arms. She started to shake from the crying so Howie led her into his house. She sat on the sofa, never stopping crying, Howie sitting next to her.
“I’m so…….so… sorry………” Kat muttered in between sobs “I didn’t have anyone else to turn to….”
“Oh, Kat” Howie soothed. “Don’t be sorry. This is not your fault……..” Kat cried harder, Howie just sitting and holding her, figuring he could do only that. When Kats crying died down a little, he quietly asked, “Do you want to tell me what happened.” Kat nodded after a long silence.
“Last night, Jose came by. He was drunk and he got really angry at me……….” She stopped, the tears welling in her eyes. “He got really upset and picked me up and slammed me against the wall.” The tears streamed down her face steadily. “He said I was a slut, and I was worthless and no one will ever love me and I’ll always be alone……” Howie felt anger build up inside of him.
“Kat, listen to me…..” Howie said softly, stroking her hair. “You’re not worthless. You aren't a slut. And people love you. All of us guys love you. Tia loves you.”
“I guess I forgot the end then. Tia has been sleeping with Jose.” Howie sat a little stunned. He knew Jose was playing Kat, but not with Tia.
“Fuck Tia then!” Howie burst out. “You don’t need her. She wasn’t a real friend then. But you have us…….we all love you....you're so nice and fun……..” Kat sat there whimpering.
“We need to get you cleaned up.” Howie said standing up. Practically her whole body was covered wit blood. Kat got up and followed into the bathroom.
“Is it just your face?” Howie asked starting to wipe her face tenderly with a washcloth.
“No, my back and arms….” Kat muttered sadly.
“Ok, well I need to see if they need disinfecting.” Howie said. Kat took off her sweater, and her bathing suit was ripped in the back, and was covered in blood. Her arms had bruises up and down them and her back had a huge long gash and was bruised horribly.
“Oh, god..” Howie said half sympathetic, half angrier than anything that Jose could have done this to Kat. Kat sat there shivering.
“I’m so ashamed” Kat mumbled.
“What?” Howie questioned. “You’re ashamed because an asshole beat the shit out of you?”
“I’m embarrassed.” Kat said blankly. “If I hadn’t fallen in love……..if I’d told you the truth about my first bruise….”
"Kat don’t be embarrassed.” Howie said softly. “A real man doesn’t beat up women to prove himself. You don’t deserve this. You don’t deserve to be hurt, and he’s a fool to have cheated on you.” Howie wiped her arms and looked at her back. The cut was long, going from her shoulder down to her lower back. He started to wipe her back, but realized her top would have to be moved to put disinfectant on it.
“Um, is there any way……..you could…” Howie stammered a little embarrassed. “Can you like move your strap.” Kat laughed a little despite her tears.
“Are you trying to get me naked Howie?” Kat asked smiling in spite of it all.
“Later maybe, but now I just want to get you cleaned up.” Howie responded even more embarrassed. Kat unhooked the strap and Howie wiped her back gently. He put first aid creme on it and she rehooked her top. She turned around to look at him. Her eyes were filled with tears and Howie could see an extreme sadness, tears starting to fall down her cheeks silently. Howie reached over and softly wiped a tear off her cheek.
“I’ll go get you shirt.” Howie said pulling his hand away. He pulled a shirt from her dresser and handed it to her.
“I think we should go to the police” Howie said sitting on the side of the bathtub.
“I……….I dunno……..I’m scared” Kat said softly looking down.
“Well, I’m not about to let him get away with this………either he gets charged with assault or I do.” Howie said getting angry. “I wanna beat the crap out of him right now.” He put his fist in his hand angrily.
“I’ve never seen you so angry……..” Kat said looking at him through the tears. “I guess I’ll go to the police....I don’t want you to go to jail for him beating me up.”
“Great, let’s go then” Howie said standing up. Kat stood up too and they rode to the police station. Kat filed a report. Howie sat by her the entire time, helping fill in any information he could. He told the police Jose had beaten her before and produced a picture of it that he'd taken at Nicks house. They rode back to Howies silently.
“Do you want to see anyone else today?” Howie asked softly as Kat sat on the couch.
“I…I just don’t know. I’m embarrassed because I’m a mess and I have to go back there tonight.” Kat sighed.
“You’re not planning on going back are you?” Howie asked.
“I have no where else to go Howie.” Kat responded miserably. “I can go back up north. But I doubt I’m wanted up there anymore.”
“You’re not going back up north. What about your dreams?” Howie questioned. All he got was a blank stare.
“We’ll you're staying here.” Howie stated. “I have more then enough rooms and I insist you stay here.”
“ I, I can’t Howie “ Kat stuttered.
“Why the hell not?”
“Because I’m not your friend because of your big house or any other wealth. I’m not going to mooch off of you.”
“Christ Kat, friends help friends. You have nowhere else, you’re staying here, and its ok because I told you were staying here. We’ll go get your things from your apartment. You’ll never go back there again after that.” Kat kinda of nodded meekly. She was very tired. Howie's phone rang and he went into the kitchen to answer it. By the time he returned, Kat was asleep on the couch. He placed a blanket over he a let her sleep
:::::::::::Kat was running. A huge monster was chasing her. They were in a cave and it was really dark. She kept falling on the rocks so she was cut everywhere. She rounded a bend and could see a person dimly. The person was standing in the light, which was so bright she couldn’t see the persons face. She ran towards the person, the monster at her feet. The monster grabbed her foot and she grabbed the persons hand. She was screaming so loud. Like her dream before, she could hear the person comfort her silently saying he'd always protect her.::::: Then she heard someone say “Kat!” She found herself being shaken awake by Howie, who was saying her name. She found she was sweating and had been crying.
“You were having a bad dream” Howie said rubbing her arm kindly. “You were screaming and crying. I’ve been trying to wake you for 10 minutes.” Kat began to cry and she hugged Howie tightly.
“Kat, its going to be ok…..it was just a dream…….” Howie comforted her. “Do you think you’re ready to go get your stuff?” Kat shook her head yes and Howie went to get his keys. They drove in silence to Kats apartment. Luckily, no one was there when they arrived, and no one had even tried to clean up the glass and everything. Kat got her clothes, a few personal things and put them together quickly. She left the apartment forever.
)
