#faithless

Darren fell in step with Katerina, bumping her shoulder with his own. His lack of a school bag made her roll her eyes as they walked to class, she knew that he never brought back any homework or supplies so she had gotten into the habit of keeping doubles of everything. Darren has been going to their shared classes a lot more now that him and Kat were hanging out, so Kat took it upon herself to care for his education, so she kept his notebook for him.

"Hey." He greeted, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and attempting to steer her in another direction.

"Hi," She gave him sideways glace. "What are you doing?"

"Let's go to the beach, Adrian said he could meet us there." Kat stopped abruptly, looking up at him with a knowing look. "What?"

"You know me and the girls have dance on Wednesdays; I don't want to wear myself out and you know the Gayles only let us go once a week, I know you get bored, but you don't have to wait for us. Go hang with Adrian, you know I don't mind." Ballet was the only thing she had outside of her friendship with Darren Cody that made her feel... normal and happy.

The idea of leaving Kat to walk home with her sisters alone made Darren chew the inside of his cheek and a wash of anxiety rush through him, it felt weird skipping out on Adrian and the beach, but Darren would much rather sit through an hour and a half of watching Kat and her sisters dance around to classical music than leave them alone. What if Ben Gayle decided to pick his foster daughters up? Without Darren there to glare, to remind Mr.Gayle of Pope's vailed threat, who knows what could set the cruel man off.

Besides, Darren was still gathering information from Kat about the church's booster club and charity donations which go straight back into the church's palms. Kat sometimes helps count the money, and she has told him with a frown that that money is locked away and never used for those in need. She had laughed and told him that one year they renovated the male entrance to the church, while one family was excommunicated when the husband left his wife for a younger woman, leaving her and the children with no money for food or clothes. Instead of helping them, the church turned away from that woman and her babies.

"No, It's chill, It's... cool seeing you guys dance." He said hesitently.

"Real convincing." She laughed at him. "If you insist on coming, I would love that. But," She stopped walking again and patted his chest. "Invite Adrian too, you never have to pick me over him... you know that right?" She looked into his eyes deeply, willing him to understand the deeper meaning. She knew him better then he gave her credit for.

His eyebrows rose slightly.

"Okay."

<3