It was finally thanksgiving and Casey had managed to get Kathryn out of her head that week.

Well can't say the same for Kathryn Howard. The woman was suffering. Every thought she had revolved around none of than the brown skinned beauty. It was driving her insane. She wanted to see her. Speak with her. Hug her and most definitely kiss her.

"Go see her, you're so anxious you're vibrating the whole table" Emily spits in annoyance. Kathryn eyes her best friend, silently wondering if it was okay to abandon the family. Emily nods her head for reassurance, "Hurry before I change my mind and you won't see her for another three days."

Kathryn smiled and stands from her seat. She places a kiss on her friend's cheek before rushing out of the house, hoping she could see her crush. She made it home quickly, however not spotting Casey's car. She groaned and pondered where she would be. Maybe her car was in the shop this time. Kathryn escaped her vehicle and ran into the apartment building in high hopes her neighbor would be there.

Unfortunately when she made it to her 5th floor, another familiar face grabbed her attention. She internally groaned as she turned and spotted her.

"Kathryn, hey" Rai spat approaching the brunette. She glanced around him and towards Casey's door. "Hey Rai, why are you here?"

"I wanted to talk about that kiss..."

Kathryn frowned at the man. She didn't have time for this. She walked around him and made way to her neighbor's door. With a deep breath she knocked three times and waited patiently. "Who are you looking for?"

"Someone I'm dying to see."

Minutes passed before she knocked again. And as before, she didn't receive an answer. She groaned and made her way towards the elevator with a man following in tow. Once inside the elevator, Kathryn eyes Rai in confusion. "What did you need again?"

"I wanted to talk about where we stand" he sighs.

Kathryn rolled her eyes. "Rai honestly, we stand as co-workers. I enjoy your company, really I do, but I don't see you romantically."

"But you didn't pull away when I kissed you..."

"Because I was in shock. Rai, I already like someone."

The man frowns at the rejection. They exit the elevator and Kathryn heads for her car. She wasn't going to give up so easily.

However, Rai follows behind her. "I think if you give me a chance you will like me,' the man spat as he closed Kathryn's opened door. The woman flinches slightly, noticing that Rai was wedging her between himself and the car.

"Rai, you.. I like someone already I'm sorry" the brunette apologizes. "Give me a chance Kathryn... you won't regret it."

The brunette pushed the man back and tried getting into her car again. But he wouldn't allow it. "Are you.. are you perhaps looking for that girl who goes to the school?"

Kathryn feels a cold swear cover her body. Her eyes land on the man who wore a disgusted look. "You're so disgusting Kathryn. Who would've known? The Kathryn Howard likes little girls."

"Rai you're making me uncomfortable."

"You're a sick perverted woman. Casey is still a teenager who hasn't even finished high school."

Kathryn rolls her eyes as she forces the man away and begins walking away. She didn't get far when Rai caught up to her. He grabbed onto her hair and pulled her back causing her to fall onto her ass. "C'mon you disgusting bitch, get on your feet!"

Tears began to well in Kathryn's eyes as she struggled against the man. She wanted to cry out for help but the only name that fell on her tongue was none other than Casey King.

Rai moved his hands, placing one onto her breast and the other on her thigh. "Wouldn't you like a grown man instead? I can make you feel so much better... and I won't tell the school you've been fucking your student."

Kathryn felt foul. Bile began to rise in her throat as Rai's hands moved over her skin. With a bit of courage she pushed him off of her. However the man grabbed onto her shirt causing it to rip, exposing her breasts and stomach. The man licked his lips. Rai moved closer bringing his lips to hers and forcing her to stay.

"Get a room you two" they hear. Kathryn pushes the man away, causing the other couple to notice her distraught appearance. They understood what was happening immediately and forced Rai back.

Kathryn took this chance to run away. Where? She had no idea, she just wanted to get away from this creep.

- - - - -

Casey was enjoying thanksgiving dinner with her family, which was rare. But her mother was making jokes that had the whole table laughing. Suddenly there was a knock at the door, startling the lot of them. "I'll get it" Casey stops the rest from getting out of her seats. She was closer anyways, so it wasn't so bad for her.

She walked wearily to the door. She wondered who it could be, she didn't have family in the area or rather in the state. With nervousness, she opened the door. Her eyes taking in the brunette in front of her. From her messy hair to her tear stained cheeks and to her ripped and dirtied shirt.

Kathryn smiled and leaned her head on the girl's shoulder, startling her. Kathryn didn't know how she got there, but she was happy she did. Seeing Casey caused her heart to calm down tremendously.

Casey frowned as she realized what was happening. She pushed the woman back by her shoulders. "What happened?" she questioned at the mess.

Kathryn wanted to tell her but the moment she opened her mouth tears pricked her cheeks. She closed her mouth and shook her head. Casey didn't understand what was going on but it pained her to see the woman she liked in this condition. "Alright, c'mon" Casey spoke softly.

She grabbed the woman's hand and pulled her inside, closing the door behind them. "Case who was it?" Cassandra's voice was heard.

Cassandra frowned as the girl comes around the corner with her next door neighbor. "I'll be right back, don't wait up."

The girl took the woman to her room and closed the door behind them. She sat the woman down and lifted her head with her index finger. With her free hand, she wiped the tears that were beginning to stay the brunette's face. She took in her appearance once again.

She could piece together what had happened but a part of her didn't want that to be true. She didn't want Kathryn to go through that. She stepped away for a second and headed to her closet, searching for a decent shirt. She grabbed a baggy one and handed it to the teacher, "This should fit."

Kathryn glanced at the black shirt before looking at Casey's long sleeved shirt. She wanted to feel her warmth because at the moment her world was slightly crumbling. Casey took notice. She glanced down at her shirt then back to the woman. "You... do you want to war my shirt?"

Kathryn nodded her head causing the girl to chuckle. "Okay then..."

Casey set down the other shirt and proceeded into removing her own shirt. She could feel Kathryn's eyes on her which caused her to feel slightly embarrassed. Once the shirt was off her body, she handed it to Kathryn. "You have a tattoo" Kathryn pokes Casey's rib. The girl chuckles.

"Uh, yeah... dumb mistake I made when I was 16."

Kathryn nods her head and pulls the shirt over her head, "It's kinda cute."

Casey smiles as she grabs the other shirt and puts it on. "So, are you ready to tell me what happened?" Kathryn dropped her head and remained quiet, hoping the silence would speak for her. It stayed silent for a minute when the door opened, exposing Casey's mother.

"Sweetie, I just wanted to let you know your friend is more than welcome to join us for dinner..."

Casey eyed her mother cautiously. "Uh.. yeah thanks." Her mom smiles at the two before dismissing herself. Casey's brown eyes landed on the brunette. "Well since you don't want to tell me yet let's go have dinner. And then I'll take you home afterwards... did you bring your car?"

Kathryn shakes her head.

- - - - -

Casey was putting on her shoes when Kathryn grabbed her hand. "Are you going home as well?" Casey eyes the woman, "Not until Monday. Why?"

"I... I don't think it's a good idea for me to go home."

Casey frowns, "Do you want to go to Mrs. Evans house?"

Kathryn shakes her head. She bites her cheek and glances up at those beautiful chocolate eyes. "Uh if it's okay with your parents... could I maybe stay here with you?"

Casey was taken back by the question. It caused her heart beat to speed up. She squeezed her legs together to stop the throbbing between her thighs. "What?"

"I mean... it's not safe for me to go back home and Emily's house is pretty far from here. So I can ... stay here with you..."

Kathryn felt shy. She didn't know how to properly tell Casey she didn't want to leave her. This was the first time in weeks she'd spoken a full sentence to the girl. She didn't want it to be taken away from her so quickly.

"...Yeah, I'll go ask them."

Kathryn felt like she had won at something. She watched the girl walk away and head towards her parents, who were still in the living room. Several seconds later Casey came back with thumbs up. Kathryn felt happy. Really happy. She followed Casey back to her room, where the two got comfortable. "Well the restroom is in the hallway second door to your left. So whenever you want to shower..."

"I want to shower with you" Kathryn spat. And she meant every word. Casey couldn't take it. Her heart practically exploded from the statement. She eyed the woman to see if she would take it back, which she didn't. "I-if you want to... I don't think thats a good idea though."

Kathryn pouts and looks away. She thought it was a great idea. She just wanted to spend time with Casey before the girl would go back to avoiding her.

"Kathryn... are you okay?"

The brunette looks up, meeting those sparkling chocolate brown eyes.

"No. But I want to be okay with you. I don't know what happened but I hated every second of those weeks where you avoided me. I thought we were good at first then you started acting strange around me. I figured you'd talk to me eventually but you never did," Kathryn sighs.

The brunette grabs Casey's hand, "Casey I really missed you and I thought Rai would be good company but I didn't notice that he liked me and he was taking my friendliness the wrong way. And that day when he kissed me... I was so shocked that I couldn't think properly until I saw your face. And you looked so crushed. I thought I shouldn't chase after you, that when the time was right we'd talk again."

"And then this week came and I tried talking to you but you weren't home. And today.. today I missed you so bad that I went searching for you. I wanted to just hear your voice or see you or hug you, kiss you but you weren't anywhere. The Rai was..."

"He was at the apartments and I never expected him to be the way he was with me. I don't know what he was doing but I was uncomfortable and I was scared. And I wanted to call out for help but the only name I knew was Casey Kings and I knew Casey wasn't going to come" Kathryn cried.

Casey felt herself getting emotional as well. "I managed to get away but I was scared, I thought he was going to take advantage of me and no one was going to be there to help me."

Casey knew she was crying. She didn't want to hear those words come from her mouth but she was happy Kathryn told her. Casey got on her knees and wrapped her arms around Kathryn's waist, feeling utterly sad for her.

She didn't know that avoiding the woman was causing this much problem.