Speak To Me

(Katrina)

Glancing over at my sister, I couldn't help but stare as everything around me just seemed so surreal. She was actually here..and that meek and mild Gabriella I once knew..she was nowhere to be seen.

This woman standing before me was like a completely different person. I could see the confidence in her walk..the way she laughed and smiled so easily..I never realized just how elegant and refined she truly was.

Don't get me wrong..a part of me was always envious of Gabriella's natural beauty..the way her dark hair made those blue eyes even more prominent. But seeing her now at her full potential..there was no comparison..she was stunning..

Well, especially now with the way I look..I almost feel embarrassed being seen next to her..not because of how she looks or anything..but because of how poorly I must seem in comparison.

I'm happy for her though..more than happy..this is the life Gabriella deserves and I can see she truly belongs in it. I am just grateful she is giving me another chance..that she actually came and seems excited to see me.

I felt lucky..

I never really had that type of sisterly relationship before. Yeah, Cecelia and I got along at times..but only because I was afraid to get on her bad side..so like the coward I was..I just did whatever she said to survive. Gabriella ended up being the one to suffer..and that guilt still sits deep inside of me. I know I can never truly make it up to her..but I will try. I will do everything I can to show her how much I want to change..to show her how sorry I really am.

This is my second chance at life..and I plan on doing it a lot different this time.

"Wow, this p-place is b-beautiful." Gabriella whispered. My hand was still gripping hers tightly as I felt this new sense of comfort with her by my side. I didn't want to let her go..I was afraid something bad would happen if I did.

I followed Gabriella's gaze, admiring the beautiful mansion around us just like she was when Grayson bent down close to my ear.

"Are you getting hungry kitty Kat? Maybe you two can have a picnic in the garden." He suggested, making me turn my head and smile up at him happily.

"That would be amazing." I couldn't help but let my gaze drop to his full lips. That handsome smile he usually wore caused my stomach to flip as I tried to look anywhere else but there. Those grey eyes weren't much better though..not with how intently they were staring at me. Then I was thrown back to last night..

We had stayed up watching a movie in the large movie theater they had downstairs when Grayson pulled me close to him on the couch. I won't lie..I've gotten very very comfortable with him over the weeks. But last night was the first night I felt like he was just as comfortable with me..like maybe he was starting to feel what I felt.

Obviously the guy is a big flirt and is always joking around..but I just thought that's how he was with everyone. Kind of like how his brother Hunter is too. They just seem naturally charismatic and flirty..

But when the movie ended, I turned to see if Grayson had fallen asleep because he was being really quiet..and what I was met with were those grey eyes burning into me instead.

"Fuck, you don't even realize how beautiful you are..do you?" He whispered, catching me off guard completely as I just stared at him in shock.

He always called me beautiful or cute..saying I looked good in everything..but I thought it was just him being nice.. at that moment though, I actually believed him.

I watched as Grayson lifted his hand, pressing his warm palm against my cheek as I slowly fluttered my eyes shut. The feel of his soft skin brushing across mine was unlike anything I had ever felt.

I could feel him inching closer and closer to me..causing my heart to pound in my chest as I felt this overwhelming need to kiss him.. But then he pulled away..

"We should get you to bed." He whispered before dropping his hand as I just sat there dazed.

What Grayson doesn't know about me..what no one does..is that I've never even had sex before..not fully..and the fact that I almost died a damn virgin, how much more embarrassing could my life get? Don't get me wrong..I've done other things..just not that particular thing. And now, I don't even know if I ever will.

But suddenly I find myself thinking about it..all the damn time. Like, an embarrassing amount of time. I have even started having dreams about Grayson and me and I don't know how to freaking stop it.

What is this guy doing to me? Before I might've been considered a prude..I was called that a few times by a couple of guys I was dating..but I just never felt that urge to go all the way..like they didn't turn me on or something. I thought maybe that was another thing wrong with me..but since meeting Grayson, I know that isn't the case.

If anything, one look from the guy and weird things start happening to me.

Like right now..

I nodded my head once, glancing back towards my sister as she continued to look around the mansion in awe.

I know this place is a little odd to be a facility..but I really like it..It feels more personal and homey rather than those other rehabilitation centers that are more like hospitals. I asked Grayson how long they have been opening up their home for burn patients, and he said a few years now. But he never told me the backstory as to why.

Maybe Gabriella knows more. It's just weird how it ended up being her half-brother who owned it. Such a small world isn't it? Maybe it was fate all along..and if the fire never happened..I never would've met Grayson.

Of course it saddens me that my family died so tragically..but I am grateful I was given this second chance to live..this chance to meet someone like him..

"Why don't you take some time to freshen up and then we will get everything all situated for lunch." Grayson added, glancing towards my sister and her husband. God that was so weird to say..but I could tell he really loved her. Especially with how he hovers around her so protectively..I saw it then too though..especially on the day of their wedding.

"Do you want me to take you up to your room?" Grayson asked me and I shook my head no.

"I can wait in the library."

He nodded once, making me let go of Gabriella's hand for the first time since she got here as she quickly swooped down and gave me a surprise hug.

"I'm s-so happy I'm h-here with you." She whispered, making emotion swell up inside of me.

"Me too." I added, watching as she stepped back and took her husband's hand.

Then before I knew it, I was wheeled into the library as Grayson bent down and fixed my hat carefully.

"I will be right back, I'm just going to catch up with my brother for a moment. God, you look so pretty right now. It's going good out there, don't you think?" He rushed out, making me laugh. "Really good."

"That's my kitty Kat." Grayson winked at me, causing my heart to flutter as I tried not to show just how much that affected me.

"I will be right back, don't have too much fun without me." He added and kissed the top of my head before turning and walking out of the room.

It took me a few moments to catch my breath as I let out a long sigh before smiling to myself and looking down.

That's when I realized Grayson left his phone on the table beside me, making my brow furrow. He never forgets his phone..

I went to grab it, my eyes settling on the screen as something lit up..

I know I shouldn't have read it..it was wrong of me to do it on many levels, but as soon as I saw my name in the text, I couldn't stop myself.

I felt it deep in my bones..this unsettling sense of doom and dread started to weigh down in my gut heavily. My trembling hand naturally reached for the device on its own as I clicked the screen back on.

From Hunter: You better just do it..I mean, Katrina believes that our house is a damn burn rehabilitation center..little does she know Grant only brought her here to find out about his mom..

That's when my hand let go of the phone, my eyes growing wide as I tried to process what I just read..what does he mean? I felt sick to my stomach, the words I just read swirled around me as I tried to understand what they meant.

I reached down, trying to grab the phone again to make sure I wasn't making this up as I came crashing to the ground. The pain didn't even register as I clicked on the text thread and scrolled back to it..

From Hunter: You gotta tell her dude.

To Hunter: I will eventually, she is just too fragile right now.

From Hunter: Well, what if Grant decides he wants to question her? That's why he saved her after all..

To Hunter: I will talk with him about it first. She just needs more time..if she finds out why she was really brought here, she might do something stupid. Then Grant will really never know..so he would be smart not to press it. Lies..it was all a lie..everything I was told..the reason why I was brought here..even my dad..they all lied to me.

I knew what they were talking about..it was something that had been weighing heavily on my mind. Something I wanted to tell Gabriella eventually..but I wasn't sure how to..so does that mean she is in on this too? That this whole time I was just being nursed back to health so I could provide answers to their missing pieces?

I felt my cheeks wet with tears, letting my blury gaze settle on the disgusting burn scars that were now my arms as I quickly ripped off my gloves..unveiling the truth of what I was..a pathetic waste of space.

That's why Grayson was being so nice to me..why he wanted me to open up and trust him..so he could get these answers for his brother.

I was nothing..no..I was less than nothing..I didn't even matter..

I slowly pushed myself up into a sitting position, my head turning back to the wheelchair as I tried to muster up every ounce of strength that I could to get me back into that chair.

I put the wheels in lock and gripped the arms..pulling myself up into a standing position as I plopped back and let out a whimper.

Fine..they want answers..then I will give them answers..and after that, there will be nothing left for me. I won't be their burden any longer.

This will be my way of making it up to Gabriella..

How could everything around me come crashing down so quickly? It all just changed in the blink of an eye..just like that night in the fire..except, why does this feel like it hurts even worse?