.: April 17th - Late Evening :.

Chances were an odd turn of cards and for her it was normally never good. And never this good. Good things didn't happen to her and when they did they came back around to destroy her.

But this..felt a little different.

Bumping into the recovering Jon wasn't expected nor was it really his not remembering her. He had looked genuinely upset at her stating, quite flatly, that it was fine and that it didn't really surprise her. Most everyone she knew wanted to forget her..or had. With, of course, a few exceptions that were far and few between.

He was going up. She was going down. It surprised her a little that, in his condition, he was willing to go back down and offer her a ride in a thing he called a car. It was big..black..and shiny. She liked the shiny part. It was like a carriage with no horses which was a good thing! He had called it a 'she'. It went totally over her head how such a thing had a gender but it was better not to ask. Who knows what kind of respond he would of given her.

Soon enough she was in a seat and he helped her with the safety belt. Again something that went over her head. For some reason this lead him to ask if she had ever been to Earth. Or was it the fact that when he turned the key the purring engine sent her into a fright. If that seat belt had not been in place she probably would of fled over the seat and into the back. Bewildered was an understatement as the world went by, Jon driving from the Zen to the building she had purchased earlier that day.

Conversation went to a place she had not expected and she found herself telling him things that she hadn't told anyone except one other person. She feared telling him but he asked and she didn't like lying. The relief she had felt by his reactions was something she had not felt in a long, long time. His listening and understanding. It had been such a long time since she had talked to anyone like she had to him during that ride. Her first ride in a car.

She hadn't even talked with Eliam about the things that Jon found out.

She hated telling him some of the things and the caring look he had given her. She hated it. She didn't want to trust him. Trusting people just meant she was going to be hurt. And he had so much on his plate already...she wasn't worth him getting upset over.

Despite the want to run away, not that she could because she had no idea how to open the door, she continued to talk when he asked questions. He comforted her even though he knew what she was, to a point. It was a strange, forgotten feeling. To think, even for a split second, someone honestly cared. Even when the car was parked in front of the building they talked.

There was one thing he had said that hit hard. Hit harder then anything had in a long, long time. Maybe it was the comfort he offered. That was something she had not had from anyone really in a long time...

It was honest and real.

The words he said..he believed in her...

Soon the two of them were out of the car, once he had showed her how to. Walking to the two story building that was held together by a nail and a prayer, the conversation had long since left about herself. Instead a partnership was forged. He really seemed to want to help her prepare the building for what she wanted to believe would turn out to be something...

...something she can believe in...

.: May 28th - Early Morning :.

*BANG*

The door sounded so hard against the wall and came back to her before she had actually passed completely through. It bumped her shoulder but she didn't care. In fact she used the force to slap the door closed behind her after a few more steps.

Max had a wide eyed alarmed look as she stalked by, red faced from both anger and tears. "K-Katt?"

She didn't answer, just stormed out of the kitchen and past the corner of the counter to the stairs. Up them two by two with Max hot on her heels. She continued down the hall and to the attic door.

"Katt! Wait up!" He reached out to grasp her wrist and she spun around so fast that he didn't see her hand coming around to meet his cheek in a loud smack. He stared at her stupidly for the slap and for the heart breaking glare she was giving him.

"D-Don't touch me! Let go and g-go away!!" She tried to yank her hand free and when she couldn't she thumped her free fist against Max's chest. Each thump came with sobs and her head dipped lower and lower.

He just stood there, taking each pound of her fist that was growing weaker and weaker even as her sobs grew louder and louder. Eventually he released her wrist and drew her into a hug.

She didn't care. She slumped, crying as she tried to break free from the embrace. When he eventually asked what was wrong she muttered a single word that sent Max scolding.

He waited until she was still before trying to move. As much as he wanted to say something he remembered fine and well what happened last time he tried to comfort her and bad mouthed Toby. She decked the crap out of him. No..this time he would bite his tongue and try to comfort her. "You look tired. Why don't you go rest in the attic. I'll uh.."

"I'm f..fine..you don't have to try and comfort me like it's some ..duty.." She pushed from him and turned to the attic door.

He blinked. "Katt...It may be my duty but I am still your fr-" The door was slammed in his face before he could even finish the sentence. When he turned he found Terasa staring up at him and he bolted steps backward until his back met the attic door. "Whathtahaii!"

"What's wrong with Katt..?" Terasa gave him a sleepy stare.

He smiled reassuring to her and shook his head, gently ushering the girl back down the stairs and hall. "She's just hurting right now. She'll be okay."

"She was crying..wasn't she..?"

Max nodded.

"I see.." Terasa sighed and pulled the door to her room open once they were there.

Max followed her inside in order to tuck her in and keep himself occupied. Besides..it meant he didn't have to go downstairs and work!