Don't Say 'Yes,' Run Away Now (open!)

[Kathryn]

Kathryn had now been sitting in her car, in Tyler's apartment parking lot, for five minutes. She was trying to fix her make-up after crying her eyes out at her mom's house. She had never told her mom she was crazy in love with Tyler, but she had obviously figured it out.

After one last sweep of mascara on her eyelashes and one last dab of concealer under her eyes, she got out and headed up to his apartment. She knocked softly as she opened the door.

[Moonshine]

Tyler was sitting in his well-worn armchair, the TV on low volume, the whiskey bottle holding 4 or 5 shots less than when he started. He looked up when she came in, sending her a weak smile. "Hey, Sugar. Glad ya came."

[Kathryn]

"Hey," she replied, mimicking his smile with one of her own. She walked over to him and took the bottle, returning it to the kitchen. The last thing she needed right now was a drunk Tyler. He got more and more affectionate the drunker he was (on second thought, so did she), and she wouldn't be able to handle that tonight.

"Have you talked to Sherry?" She couldn't help but ask.

[Moonshine]

"Nope. Didn't feel like talkin' to 'er." He watched her, only a little miffed that she took his booze away. "I'm callin' off the weddin'. I'm gonna tell 'er tomorrow." He hoisted himself up to move over to her, tugging her over to sit on the couch with him. "I'm done. Ain't got anything left in me to keep pretendin'." He looked at her sadly. "Does that make me an awful person?"

[Kathryn]

"No, it doesn't. Weddings are called off all the time. But I think you should tell her as soon as possible," she told him, turning toward him as she sat on the couch. She made sure no part of her body was touching any part of his.

[Moonshine]

Tyler looked over at her, all but pouting. "I'm gonna tell 'er tomorrow, I promise." He looked over at her, then at the space between them, then back at her. "I don't wanna talk about her anymore. I just want it to be us for a while."

((Ok, going to bed, it's super late here now. Night! ))

[Kathryn]

Kathryn had such a bad feeling about this. Why had she come here?

"Tyler..." Kathryn began, sighing heavily. "Calling off a wedding is not something you should keep from your fiance. You need to tell her. Now." She didn't care if he got mad at her; it was the right thing to do.

((Good night!!))

[Moonshine]

He let out a frustrated sigh, dragging his fingers through his hair, making a piece of it stand up messily. "I feel like it oughta be done in person, and I just can't see her right now..." His eyes came up to hers, pleading. "I can't see her, Kat. Not tonight."

[Kathryn]

Kathryn looked away from him, biting her lip. "Maybe...you should just be alone tonight." She stood up slowly, still not looking at him.

[Moonshine]

Tyler bolted up immediately, then groaned and put the heel of his hand to his forehead -- maybe he had had more to drink than he thought he did. "Kathryn, please. I wanted you here for a reason." He moved to put his hands lightly on her shoulders, facing her, tilting his head down to meet her eyes. "Kathryn, please. I...yer my best friend. I need ya, Kat..."

[Kathryn]

Kathryn was so torn. He obviously needed her; he'd said so himself. She didn't want to let him down, not after all they'd been through together, all the years they'd known each other. But this was one problem she just didn't want to deal with.

She shrugged his hands off her shoulders and walked to the door. "I'm sorry, Tyler. I just can't," she muttered as she opened the door. Oh, and it's pouring down rain now. Lovely.

[Moonshine]

In two long strides, Tyler was at the door, pushing it closed again. His eyes were wet with unshed tears, and he hated himself for them. "Kathryn, please don't." His voice was sounding more desperate, more unsure of himself. "If you go now, I --" He took a shaky breath, gathered her hands into his, brought them up to his face, kissing them, rubbing his cheek against them. His voice was a whisper: "I need ya, Kat. I've always needed ya. I need ya to make me feel alright again, make me feel whole..."

[Kathryn]

"Tyler, no," Kathryn shook her head, pulling her hands out of his and opening the door again. Before he could stop her, she walked outside, pulling the hood of her jacket up to cover her hair.

[Moonshine]

Tyler ran out after her, forgetting about a jacket. "Kathryn! Kat, please!" He shouted over the sound of the hard-hitting rain, jogging to cut her off, facing her. "Jesus, Kathryn, just listen!" And there, standing in the rain, everything came out in an angry and desperate rush of emotion. "I love you, ok?! I don't love Sherry, I love you! I've loved you since I was fifteen, but I knew I wasn't ever gonna be good enough for you! It's why I settled for Sherry, but now the thought of being with anybody else scares the livin' shit outta me!" He took a ragged breath, shirt soaked through, meeting her eyes, voice softer now. "Please don't leave me, Kathryn. If I ain't got you, I got nothin'..."

[Kathryn]

Despite the rush of pure joy she felt at hearing the words 'I love you' come from his mouth and actually be directed at her, she was angry with him.

"Now?! You choose now to tell me this?! You're still engaged, Tyler! We're the only two people who know you're not getting married anymore! You should've manned up and told me before you settled for Sherry!" She shoved him, pushing with all her might but not doing much damage.