The morning sun shines through the red curtains, and for a minute, I forgot where I am. This was not my room.

"Where the hell?..." I question quietly as I sit up slowly, looking around to see the familiar pictures on the walls.

Suddenly I remembered I was at the Macher house and everything that happened yesterday, feeling around my face I groaned when passing over the bruises and cuts from my attack the previous day. I knew I probably looked worse than I felt.

Physically I felt fine except for the cut above my eyebrow, which the paramedic said was only a small cut anyway and would heal itself. Still, emotionally I was drained in every way.

I was tired from the attack, the memories of last year, and the talk I had with my best friend the previous night.

Standing up out of bed, I walked over to the floor-length mirror hanging on the wall and sighed. My life had taken a rough turn in a matter of days, well my life had taken a wild turn years ago but only now was it beginning to affect me.

Getting in the shower, I was lost in thought about what had happened between Stu and Me. Thinking back on our friendship, he was always there for me and still chose me and my opinion over everyone else.

It made me wonder how long he had liked me and why he never said anything before. Wrapping a towel around myself, I looked in my bag for my clothes, and my eyes widened as I remembered Stu had packed my bag.

"Katherine, Sweetheart, I'm putting breakfast on now if you would like some," I heard Carol call from outside the bedroom door. I smiled. Stu's mom was amazing, nothing like mine was, sure; she made me breakfast, but it definitely wasn't made with love.

"That sounds great. I'll be down in a sec," I answered, towel drying my hair before letting it stay in its natural wave. I quickly dressed and put my makeup on before looking in the floor-length mirror again.

I smiled at my outfit that Stu had chosen. He definitely knew my taste. I had on my plaid dress, which had a leather belt wrapped around it, high heeled boots, and had my black leather jacket to go over the top of it to hide some of the bruises on my back.

Opening the door to go downstairs, I jumped, seeing Stu standing in front of me with his hand up, ready to knock. "Stu!" I called in surprise as he looked down at me in shock, obviously as surprised to see me as I was to see him.

Leaning against the door frame, he put his hand on his neck, looking awkward. "Hey Kat, about last night..." he started, and I knew he was trying to back peddle, but I didn't want him to. I wanted him as much as he wanted me.

"Maybe we should pretend I didn't say anything," Stu stammered, but I could tell by the look on his face he was upset having to say it.

"Well, maybe I don't want to," I answered, pulling him down to me by the back of his neck and kissing him firmly. It felt great to finally be able to let go.

"Uh, what? I mean, is this.. are we?" Stu stuttered as I crossed my arms, smirking at his confusion, and pushed past him, turning at the last minute

"Like I said, I don't want to forget about it, but that kiss is the only thing you're getting from me right now. If you want me, then you'll have to work for it, prove to me you want me".

I left Stu behind me, looking shocked. I wouldn't let Stu cheat on Tatum, but I knew what I wanted now, and I wasn't the type of girl to not get what she wants.

Besides, Tatum set up this game as soon as she deceived Stu into thinking I wouldn't like him back, so now I was just evening up the field.

Mr. and Mrs. Macher was sitting at the kitchen table looking every bit of Stepford as they always did.

Mr. Macher was reading the morning paper, and Mrs. Macher was putting pancakes on everyone's plate, wearing pearls around her neck, looking very suburban housewife.

"Morning Katherine," They both greeted in their white picket fence way. I smiled, knowing how many times I've told them to call me Kat, it wasn't going to happen.

"Good Morning Carol, Andrew," I reply politely, sitting at the table as I had done many times before.

Stu sat down next to me quietly. "Morning," he mumbled, earning a look of concern from his mom.

"Are you, okay honey? Did you two stay up all night again watching those horrid films?" Carol asked, pouring juice into the glasses sat on the table for us.

"Yeah," Stu told her, looking over at me in wonder, something that obviously wasn't missed by Carol as she smiled knowingly.

"Well. you know you can't be tired when you've got practice, son," Andrew piped up, and Stu nodded at his dad's words

"Don't worry, Dad, I got it" Stu was on the football team, and he was good at it.

He was one of the best on the team and being on the cheer squad, I got to watch him play at games and practices, something I did a lot, and I knew Stu like that I was there cheering him on.

"Have you got practice tonight, dear?" Carol asked as she sat opposite me at the table, her hands joined and holding up her chin as she looked at me

"Yeah, in fact, I just became head cheerleader," I informed her, putting a strawberry in my mouth as Carol looked over at me proudly like a mother would.

"That's amazing, honey," She congratulated as she nudged Andrew, who nodded at me with a smile. I only wish it wasn't because my best friend had been murdered.

"Thanks..." I was about to continue when I heard my name come from the small TV set on the counter

My eyes looked over at the TV, and my face turned stony when I realized the news reporter was, in fact, talking about my sister and me as our faces plastered the screen.

"Oh, my," Carol whispered. "Stuart," she hissed quickly as Stu picked up the remote, but I held his arm still, wanting to know what they had to say.

A mugshot of Cotton Weary appeared in prison clothes, a once handsome man, now haggard and worn, the time there had not been kind to him.

Stu turned the TV off, and the room was quiet. The only thing that could be heard was my uneven breathing. "It's never going to go away, is it?" I looked at Stu, my lip quivering as he just took me in his arms, rubbing my back comfortingly.

"Come on, the bus will be here soon," He told me as I nodded, grabbing my school bag thanking Carol and Andrew for letting me stay.

"You're welcome here any time, kiddo," Andrew told me, looking over the top of his reading glasses giving me a small wink.

I smiled at him gratefully, knowing it was true, but I'm beginning to figure out that no matter where I go, where I run to, my past will always keep catching up with me and dragging me down with it.