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[Katherine's still not sure what she's getting herself into--teaching fashion design at a fighting school. A very bizarre fighting school at that. She doesn't even know what to make of it yet. There is a very slight twinge of nervousness in the midst of her otherwise confident demeanor.

The video clicks on and she appears to be sitting outside.]

Good afternoon, faculty and students. My name is Katherine McBride and I am a new teacher here. I will be teaching a fashion design class and if anyone has questions about it, please don't hesitate to ask.

[She smiles—it’s forced, but it’s the best she can do for how awkward she feels! This camera thing is going to take some getting used to. Heck—this place is going to take some getting used to!]

In the meantime, could I trouble anyone to show me around? I just arrived here not too long ago.

[She's totally not lost. Well... okay. Maybe she is a little.]

It would be very much appreciated. Thank you.

[And with that, the feed ends.]

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[Painful didn't even begin to describe it. It the very low, sinking feeling that she had when she broke up with Vincent a few days ago. She thought that had been the end of it--that it would be difficult for a while, but that feeling wouldn't ever be as bad as the moment she said "Let's break up."

Little did she know that it would get much worse. This was just cruel.

Hearing her name pulls her from her thoughts. She closes her eyes and takes in a deep breath before opening them again. Then her gaze finally flickers back to the camera.]

... Where are you?

[She knows that she probably can't handle it right now, but they need to sit down and talk face to face sometime. Even as much as she doesn't want to.]

[Vincent doesn't even know. Katherine was always a strong woman. She only shown sadness like this if she was really feeling bad. Really, really bad.]

I live on campus. I'm an RA and live in the RA dorms.

[It really was awful telling her this...because he had told Katherine this before and either she can't remember or...]

[Easy, Katherine--Breathe. She releases that breath she took in and slowly nods her head. Even strong women have their weaknesses. Unfortunately, Vincent just so happens to be hers. That and this isn't something that she can just let go... Something is very wrong here and she's going to get to the bottom of it.]

...Okay. [She nods again. It shouldn't be too hard to figure out where that is and in the meantime she can compose herself.] Do you have some time? I would rather talk to you in person...

If you want to come now, you can come now. Whenever you want. I would make the time.

[Just let him...clean his place a little.]

[Aw, Vince. If she wasn't so confused and upset right now, she would almost find that touching. As opposed to his behavior a week prior, this is a surprising difference.

And for some reason, that's what makes it more painful.]

... I'm about to have someone show me around. I'll... be there in about an hour.

Alright. I'll be waiting.

[Aaaand he goes to make his room look at least presentable for her to come...No, he still can't believe this happened. So he better make this count. He went out real fast to find a bakery with cake. So. He bought her some chocolate cake. Katherine liked sweets.]

[A little over an hour later, Katherine texts Vincent.]

I'm here. What's your dorm number?

AE02-b.

[Oh shit oh shit. Just calm down, Vince.]

[A few minutes later, Katherine is standing outside Vincent's door. She takes a few seconds to debate with herself over whether or not she should be doing this today, but comes to the same conclusion that she did before.

Why wait? What was waiting going to do for her? Taking in a deep breath and putting on a strong face, she knocks on the door.]

[You would hear rushed shuffling to the door. Oh my goooooooooood. This might be totally terrible but...Well. Here we go. Let's just do it. Vincent needed to prove to Katherine he was innocent and he loved her...Desperate? Maybe.]

[He opened it and had an exasperated face on before it went calm. Gulp.]

Hey...Katherine.

[Good to know that he's struggling just as much as she is. She's just hiding it better.]

Hey...

[Vincent shuffled his feet a little and awkwardly scratched his back.]

Uh, so.

Come on in.

Sorry for the mess.

[Yes, the mess.]

[Ugh... And what a mess it is. Vincent, why do you fail at keeping your place clean? The second the Katherine steps into the dorm is the minute that she wants to start chiding him for letting it get so messy.

But she's not here to talk about that. Even if it is nagging at her. Badly. SIGH.]

Mm... I can't say that I'm surprised. [She might say that though... Because seriously, Vince. How long does it take to clean a dorm on a regular basis?]

[And yet the funny thing was was that this dorm was bigger than his whole old apartment.]

Heh...

[But never change Katherine.]

I tried to get it neat before you came, it was in worse shape.

[He offered her the seat at his desk. He has an honest to god desk now.]

[For the love of--bigger or not, there's no excuse for filth. And don't worry, Vince. She doesn't plan on ever changing. You might consider it though.

She gives him a long look before taking a seat at his desk. She would prefer to stand, but she has a feeling that she'll be there for a while. Might as well get comfortable. Well--as comfortable as one can get in a messy dorm.

Once she gets settled, she folds her hands in his lap and looks at Vincent again.]

Now I want you to tell me everything. What happened before you got here, when you changed jobs, and what has been going on for this supposed month.

... I won't interrupt. So take your time.

[Vincent sighed, he still can't believe it and no matter if this gets resolved or not. He's going to raise a stink somewhere But he had to do this if he wants to get through to Katherine. He was telling the truth. He had to try to reach out to any kind of thread Katherine has that indicates she still believed in him even if he had no clue what happened.]

Okay, see.

I found the brochure on this place about two months ago. Paid good, with good housing. I even talked about it with you. It was a little hard getting the feelings going on that long distance relationships were fine but as long as I called everyday and chatted on video every night...you seemed to be fine. I even promised to visit often once I got settled and when we had slow periods.

It took about a month to get it set up, talk to the other guys so then...well.

It was...that simple...

[As promised, Katherine listened quietly the entire time without interruption, taking in everything that Vincent said. It doesn't make any more sense than what he told her earlier. Nothing is adding up, which only makes things more complicated.

Because every part of her knows that Vincent is telling the truth.

She lets the silence drag on for a minute or so after his explanation, taking the time to gather her thoughts.]

I just... don't know how to believe that, Vincent. [She squeezes her hands together in her lap.] Because as far as I'm concerned, none of that happened. You've been in the same place for the past two months. I even went to your apartment just a few days ago.

This doesn't make any sense...

[It was a simple story but it was the truth. But Katherine saying she didn't how to believe him? Well...it stung. And he could tell that it was really bugging her. Dating for five long years had him be used to her body language. And she was uptight.]

I'm sorry. I don't know how to make you believe but the truth is all I have. I'm confused myself...I don't know.

I don't know either...

[And telling him what she did know probably isn't going to help matters, but...]

... I had just broken up with you. That's part of the reason why I'm here...

[She pauses and looks away from him with a pained expression. Here it comes. Whether he remembers or not--they're here to talk, right? May as well lay everything out on the table.]

You were cheating on me. So naturally I--...

[Woah, Katherine. Easy does it. Inhale. Exhale...

She forces herself to look up at him again.]

...I figured it would be best that we separate.

Edited 2012-03-03 17:25 (UTC)

[Katherine. You might as well have been a doctor who would tell him he had prostate cancer. He...cheated. On Katherine. Why. Whywhywhywhy. He was so angry. Angry that even a parallel dimension of himself would do such a thing (albeit, he has no clue as to how or why...and if he did well). He can't find words to say. He really looks like he's in shock.]

...

[Find words. Find now.]

Well I can't blame you...if I cheated.

...I didn't cheat on you.

[His brain has turned to mush.]

[ You are killing her with that expression, Vince. Killing her. This would be so much easier if he was lying, because she would be able to tell. Just like she's able to tell right now that he's telling the truth. Therefore she can't just call him a liar and be done with it.

This also only serves to remind her that Vincent never lied to her before he cheated on her; it was a one time thing. He was usually honest and while his lifestyle and bad habits had her at wits end half the time, she could never look past the kindhearted man that she fell in love with. And here he is, one and the same.

It makes it hard to hate him when he's being so sincere. And hard to blame him for something he apparently doesn't even know he did. This entire situation is just a big confusing mess.

After a few excruciating moments of silence, she didn't even realize that she was crying until after a tear hits one of her hands. Great. Just what she needed.

She calmly lifts a hand to wipe away the tears, looking away from Vincent in the process.]

I don't know what more to say. [She takes another moment to compose herself.] You're probably busy. I... I should go. [She stands up from the chair. She had been right earlier. She couldn't handle this today.]

Edited 2012-03-04 09:13 (UTC)

[Oh my god, she was crying. Strong and tough Katherine was crying. His first instinct would be to try to do whatever to comfort her. But would she even want that? It might make her feel worse...He really stood there unsure of what to do as he rose when she did. He was exasperated and still in a state of complete shock and loss for words. All he knew is that he didn't want her to go. And that was a bit selfish.]

Katherine...No, Katherine wait...

[He was stumbling.]

[And she's about to have a mental breakdown. There's no way she's sticking around.]

We can talk some other time.

[She turns and quickly heads for the door.]

Goodbye.

[...And he couldn't do anything.

He let Katherine leave.

After she did, he kicked his chair over and realized he hadn't even given her the cake he bought. He couldn't stand it and also through the whole thing away.

He grabbed his keys. Destination: liquor store. Screw this.]

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>_> Can this get any more painful?

I dunno maybe sfrgf

orz How do you even fix this?

Won't be for...a while.