Room 324, Late(r) Monday Afternoon

[vanillajello]

Having put up her posters, Kate had returned to her room to continue her good day with further party planning. But that was sadly not to be: her phone had been charging while she'd been away and she'd finally gotten around to seeing she had a voicemail. So she listened to it.

Bad idea.

Her first thought was that it was a sick joke, that Nathan really was pushing things too far in an effort to be excused for his radio silence since leaving, but she couldn't hold onto that bit of disbelief for long. The woman – Nathan's mom – was far too shaken, the quivering of her voice far too real. It was all real. On the second listen Kate had to sit down on the edge of her bed because the room had started to spin, but it took about four times before it all started really sinking in.

Forcing herself to skip listening a fifth time, her brain instead switched on to practical matters, the first of which was leaving a voicemail of her own. And the second... Was staring dully into the middle distance.

She'd maybe get to something a little more useful later.

[ooc: Post and door open, if you wish to deal with the upset.]

Comments

[vanillajello]

Kate pouted at him, but it wasn't playful, and it wasn't a sign of displeasure at anything he'd said. It was just... sad. "I think my dad hates flying, though."

[therewaslife]

"Then, they can take a train," Bod said, leaning forward to kiss her pout lightly. "If I need to, I will go to Kansas myself and fly with your father. He can yell at me and curse my name and break my fingers on the flight."

[vanillajello]

"I love you," Kate mumbled against his lips, bringing one hand up to touch his cheek. "I'm sorry I'm such a mess. I love you."

She knew her state of mind wasn't her fault, and that he probably didn't find it annoying or anything, but she wanted to say it anyway.

"I'll think about asking them, okay?"

[therewaslife]

"All right," he said and leaned into her hand. "I love you too. Even if you don't ask them to come visit, you should definitely call them. I bet it helps you. If anything, you'll be able to hear their voices and know they're all right."

[vanillajello]

Kate nodded, and a few more tears escaped her eyes. Didn't matter, the ones from before had barely dried and her eyes were going to be red for a while. "Yeah, that'd be good."

[therewaslife]

"It would be," he agreed and smiled sadly at her. "Would you like me to stay?"

Even if she said no, he was staying but he thought to give her the option.

[vanillajello]

Kate managed a weak snort of amusement at that question. "Are you asking just to be polite," she wondered, "or because I actually have a choice in the matter?"

[therewaslife]

"To be polite," he admitted, laughing lightly. "I wouldn't leave even if you wanted me to."

[vanillajello]

"I don't want you to leave," she sighed quietly, and even shifted just a little closer in case he somehow didn't happen to believe her. "I need you to stay."

[therewaslife]

"I won't go anywhere," Bod promised, bringing her closer to his body and sighing. "I'll stay right here. I promise."

[vanillajello]

"Good." She closed her eyes again, trying to gain as much of a feeling of safety, comfort and warmth from him as she possibly could. She was letting herself need it now. "Stay."

[therewaslife]

"I will," he replied quietly, nodding and still moving his hand up and down her back. "I've got you. Rest."

[vanillajello]

"I'll try," Kate promised, then said nothing more. Some of the tension had left her body, but some would stay for days, she was sure of that.

But for now, she'd try and rest. Just for a while.