I was sitting in the lounge, choosing which horror films we were going to watch while Stu had disappeared on me after looking at the clock and bounding off like he was late for something.

"Popcorn for the princess" I looked up to see Stu jumping over the back of the couch to sit with me.

"what took you so long? I wondered, eating some popcorn out of the bowl, moaning softly when I realized it was still warm.

Stu looked at me awkwardly and scratched the back of his neck "had to take care of some things" I shrugged and held up the movies I had chosen for the night with a smirk knowing Stu wouldn't have a problem with my selection.

"I picked out all the scary cliches; Freddy, Jason, Night of the Living Dead, and Pinhead," I told him, giggling as he looked at me carefully, and I could literally see his eyes twinkling.

"Horror films, really Kat, after the day you've had," he questioned me with a chuckle.

Flipping the video case over, I nodded, thinking about my day or at least someone in particular, "Have you heard from Billy?" I asked softly, avoiding Stu's gaze.

I felt guilty. Billy was sitting alone in some cell over something that wasn't his fault.

"Not yet," He answered as I sniffed.

"I know he didn't do it, Stu. Billy would never do that to me," I argued, finally looking up at him desperately. "Whatever happened today, he wouldn't have done it."

Stu agreed with me, but he had a look of something I couldn't decipher "I know he didn't do it," he admitted quietly.

"What will they do to him?" I whispered as Stu put the bowl on the mahogany table in front of us with a sigh.

"Well, they'll question him, and then they'll have to release him when they realize they have nothing to charge him with," I bite my lip, knowing he was right, but I still couldn't help but worry about Billy.

"I guess you're right, it's just after last year, Casey's murder, and now this? I wish things were simple again." I confided as Stu watched me intently, making me wonder what was on his mind.

"Me too" Stu admitted as he played with my hands "but we're gonna get through this together" I smiled when Stu twirled a piece of my hair around his finger and played with the ring on his finger that I had bought him he never took it off.

Shaking myself of my thoughts, I nodded, standing up "Right enough of this feeling sorry for myself bullshit, let's get our horror on," I laughed with Stu picking up the videos and walking over to the TV.

I bent over to put the film in. I was ready to get lost in my favorite genre and forget about everything "First up, Freddy Kruger," I announced as I stood up straight, seeing Stu checking me out. "Stu," I barked as I caught him out.

"What do you think you're doing?" I asked him sharply but jokingly as I walked over to him and crossed my arms

"Sorry Kat, but as your... friend, I am allowed to tell you that you have a great ass," I slapped him playfully while he grabbed my hips and tickled me.

"That may be true, but you have a girlfriend who would try and kill me if she caught you looking at my goods," I laughed, feeling his fingers trailing over my ribs, making my breath hitch when his hands got a little too high.

"Well, then it's a good thing she's not here then," Stu joked as he picked me up and sat me on his lap as I frowned.

"I hate that she makes me feel like a bitch just for hanging out with you," I admitted as Stu stopped rubbing his hands over my sides.

"Well, I don't care what she thinks. We've been friends longer than I've known her," Stu argued, making me smile happily, knowing he would stand up for our friendship over their relationship.

"I'm glad we're best friends Stu, no one understands me like you do," I whispered to him as he played with my hair "I feel like I can tell you anything, and you'd be there for me, no matter what".

I looked up at him and noticed he had on his thinking face, "What's wrong?" I urged, knowing it's not often he gets that look on his face and that when he does, it's something serious.

Before I could ask him anything else, he pressed a hand into my lower back and pulled me closer to him as he pressed his lips to mine. I gasped, closing my eyes as he holds onto my biceps tightly so I couldn't move.

After a minute, I felt his grip loosen, and I threw my arms around his neck, moaning as he deepened the kiss "Kat," he whispered as he began to undo the buttons on my silk nightshirt, making me start to feel hotter and excited.

"God, Stu," I groaned back as he started kissing down my neck, feeling his excitement just underneath my thin silk shorts. I suddenly remembered the one thing keeping me from doing this right now, Tatum Riley.

I leaped up from his lap and pulled my shirt together, buttoning it back up before he saw anything "Oh my god," I mumbled out, brushing my hair back with my fingers as I began to pace.

This is precisely what I didn't want. I was so close to becoming something I didn't want to be. I was so close to being just like her, my mother.

I wanted Stu. I knew that now but I didn't want it this way. "Kat, I'm sorry, I just I've liked ya for a really long time now and.." I shook my head, backing away, knowing if he touched me right now, I wouldn't be able to stop this time.

"What about Tatum?" I asked him softly, seeing his face change into pity

"I started dating Tatum when she told me that you wouldn't be with me," Stu told me as I frowned. How dare she tell him that? She obviously knew he liked me and tried to put a stop to it.

"And Casey?" I questioned as he moved around the coffee table, trying to get closer to me

"I wanted to get closer to you, both of them are great, but they're not you," Stu told me gently as he shrugged, holding up his hands in surrender "it's always been you".

I felt like the room was spinning a little. People had been telling me for years Stu was in love with me, but I never believed them until now, well until Casey told me.

Even when my feelings towards Stu began to change, I never thought he would like me too, we were best friends and nothing more, or so I thought.

"Kat?" Stu's voice rang out quietly as I looked up as a few tears fell down my cheeks. I had no idea what to do or think right now; I just wanted to getaway.

"I'm sorry," I apologized, running up to the Macher's spare room where I had spent frequent nights here when running away from home or running away from my mother, but they never asked questions. They just opened their arms to me.

Opening the door to the room, I quickly shut it behind me in case Stu had followed me, my mind was begging me to go back down to him, but I knew I shouldn't.

I lay in bed looking at the wall, knowing Stu's room was just on the other side of the wall, feeling torn with my brain and my heart, I rolled over mentally begging Rome to home back.

I needed my big brother right now. I needed Roman to come back and protect me from all these murders, attacks, and feelings that I couldn't fight.