You're Not A Monster

When Kate woke up the next morning. She already knew something was wrong. She looked across the room and saw her bed empty and realized she wasn't in her own bed. As Kate tried to get up she felt a hand grip her waist pulling her in tighter. When Kate looked down, she saw Nika whose eyes were still shut.

Nika and Kate's legs were all tangled upon one another. Kate started to panic. After her and Nika kissed, everything else felt like a blur so what if they went all the way? Kate was still trying to get out of bed until she heard the Croatian groan. "Stay for longer."

Kate rolled her eyes as she started to lay back down next to the brunette. "Only for 5 more minutes."

Those 'five minutes' somehow turned into an hour because when Kate woke up, Nika was no longer in the bed. "Hypocrite." Kate murmured under her breath.

Kate decided to stay in Nika's bed for 5 more minutes scrolling through TikTok before she made her way to the bathroom. When Kate looked into the mirror, she noticed something that caused her to start freaking out.

MoneyMartin

Nika get up here rn

Nika🙄

whats wrong princess?

MoneyMartin

there is a big

problem and I need

you up here

Nika🙄

give me a min I'm

almost done wrking out

MoneyMartin

no I need u like rn

Nika🙄

im sure you do😉

MoneyMartin

pls Nika

Nika🙄

fine

anything for u princess

"Whats wrong princess?" Nika walked into the bathroom confused because she saw nothing wrong and didn't see Kate hurt in any way.

"Look what you did Nika!" Kate pointed to the bottom of her neck near her collarbone where there was a hickey Nika left last night. Nika smirked at the sight. "Nika, it's not funny!"

"I think it's hot. Who knew sweet little Kate could be such a rebel. Now you officially have my mark on you." Nika's voice was a little bit raspy in that last sentence. Kate would be lying if she said her knees didn't feel weak.

"What am I supposed to do?! I don't know if I feel ready to tell the group about last night yet."

"Nobody has to know it came from me. Just say you burned yourself with a straightening iron. From what I've heard it works like a charm." Kate rolled her eyes and playfully pushed Nika because she knew she was bullshitting. "Or just use one of your sweatshirts. It should cover it up."

"All of mine are in the wash. I only brought so much."

"You could use one of mine." Both Nika and Kate's hearts froze. Kate didn't expect to hear that from Nika and Nika didn't expect those words to come out of her mouth. But once she saw the smile forming on Kate's lips, she knew she had said the right words.

"One last thing before you go Nika. Do you know if we went all the way right last night?" Those words caught Nika off guard.

"Would you care if we did?"

"Well yea because a lot of last night felt like a blur and if we did, I wanted to make sure I remember all of it." Nika smiled at the words that came out of Kate's mouth. She kissed the blonde real quick before pulling her to a hug and leaving the bathroom.

As soon as Kate went downstairs Caitlin went up to her. "So whos is that?" Caitlin began smirking as she leaned back on a console table. "Is that Ms. Mühls I see?"

There was no way for Kate to deny it. It was a UConn sweatshirt with the Husky logo with the number 10 and on the back, said Mühl. "Promise me you won't scream if it is."

"I can't promise anything. If people hear, I will just say I saw an insect."

Kate knew Caitlin was going to scream at the top of her lungs either way. "Yes, it's Nika's." Kate had to cover her ears from how loud Caitlin was screaming. Everyone looked over and looked at Caitlin with concerned faces.

"I knew it! I knew you and Mühl were going to have an enemies to lovers relationship. You guys thought I was insane for thinking that but look at me now." Caitlin quietly screamed this so nobody besides Kate would hear. Kate wasn't technically going against her word about not being ready to tell anyone. Friends borrow each other's sweatshirts all the time. Of course Caitlin was going to suspect it being something more than just friends.

"So tell me everything K. Everything that led up to the moment of you wearing Mühls sweatshirt." Although Kate desperately wanted to tell Caitlin everything that happened last night, it would be wrong of her to do that to Nika. Especially because nobody knows that she's into women.

"I can't right now. Sorry Clark."

Caitlin just sighed and shrugged. "Whatever. I know a special someone is in the kitchen and I'm pretty sure they're making breakfast for you. So I guess you better go over there." Caitlin started to walk away with a mischievous grin on her face.

As Kate started to make her way to the kitchen, she saw the Croatian cooking up some breakfast. When Nika noticed the girl, she had the biggest smile on her face. "Hey princess."

Kate sat down at the island just watching and admiring the girl in front of her. "Hey Nika. What're you cooking up?"

"Well I was actually making breakfast for you. I know I'm not as great as Ice or Paige but for you it's worth it." Kate couldn't stop herself from smiling.

"You didn't have to do that Nika."

"Maybe I didn't but I wanted to."

"Come here." Kate had her arms opened up for Nika who was in the middle of preparing Kate's meal. Nika walked over to Kate and wrapped her arms around Kate's neck as they hugged. Kate kissed Nika's temple before Nika went back to preparing Kate's meal.

They weren't afraid to get a little affectionate with each other since there was no one around. Well unless Caitlin was spying on them.

"So Nika, I know you don't like swimming or getting your hair wet which is very strange of you but, we're all going in the pool later and I was just wondering if you were going to go in."

"Well would you miss me if I didn't?" Duh.

"As much as I hate to admit it. Yes." Nika liked the sound of that.

"Then maybe I'll consider going in." Kate smiled because she was always able to convince the girl to do something.

"Also, what made you decide on calling me 'princess.'" Nika took a seat down beside Kate and put an arm around her chair.

"Well in my eyes that's what you are to me. You look like one and you act like one. The way you treat people so kind and pay attention to anyone no matter how close you are with that person or not, is the true princess definition." Kate definitely couldn't stop smiling now. Kate felt so flattered by the words Nika was saying to her. Who knew someone that cold on the outside is actually so soft on the inside?

As Kate brought up the mention of going in the pool, she realized it may not be the best idea if she went in. Everyone would be able to see her very visible mark now and even if she tried to cover it up, the water would just wash it away.

"Actually on second thought Nika, maybe I'll just sit on the sun chairs with you." Nika's eyebrows furrowed, confused why the girl switched up so easily.

"How come? You love going into the water."

"Yea but if I go in, everyone's going to see the mark."

"Who cares if they see it. Show them you're getting more action than all of them, well, besides two people whom I will not name." Nika was so much more understanding than Kate ever thought she would be. It was comforting for Kate to know she has someone to lean on whenever she needed too.

Kate was pacing around her room deciding whether or not to go into the pool. She didn't want to risk exposing the 'relationship' her and Nika have just started in case everything starts to go wrong already. She also knew that she would have plenty of opportunities to go in the pool other times when the mark goes away.

But this is South Carolina and it is hot as hell there right now. Kate didn't want to suffer spending a few hours by the pool in a sweatshirt with the scorching sun up above her. A T-shirt would be too exposing so a sweatshirt was the only option she had.

It had been a few minutes of going back and forth between the options and Kate decided to just stay out of the pool for today.

When she went outside she saw a couple of girls on the sun chairs and the majority of them in the pool. Kate felt like she was suffocating wearing her sweatshirt but she knew it was what had to be done. Everyone was enjoying their relaxing time until they heard someone's screaming. "CANNONBALL!!!"

Paige did a massive cannonball in the pool which caused everyone outside of the pool to get wet. There was either people laughing or people groaning, no in between.

"What the actual fuck Paige?" Kylie got up and poured her ice bottled water on Paige because her cannonball woke her up from her nap.

"Shit Kylie." Kylie flipped off Paige as Kylie went back to her chair. "Hey Kate, that UConn sweatshirt looks good on you." Paige went to the edge of the pool to where Kate was so Kate could talk to her.

"Thanks Paige but it doesn't look as good as my Hawkeye's sweatshirt."

Paige rolled her eyes at Kate's comment. "Yea yea whatever. How'd you get my twin to let you borrow one of her sweatshirts? She never lets me borrow any."

"I guess she just likes me better than you." Paige splashed water at Kate causing both of them to laugh. They both appreciated each other and both loved how close the two were becoming. They were the underdog duo.

Paige looked to her left and saw Nika coming outside. "Speak of the devil." Kate also turned around and when she saw Nika, she felt she was seeing Nika walk like one of those models in commercials. With the wind blowing in her hair, the slow motion. It made Kate question to why Nika hasn't become a model yet.

Kate went back to her chair and Nika sat right next to her. "So I guess you're not going in then Kate?" Kate literally felt like folding every time Nika said her name.

"It would be wrong for me to leave a gorgeous woman like you all alone out here." Kate winked at Nika and Nika could help but smile at the girl. "I was thinking though, would you maybe want to go for a late night swim later tonight. You don't have to get your hair wet if you don't want to."

"Fine, I'll go in just this once but it better be worth it."

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

It was now around 2AM when Nika and Kate started to make there way out onto the backyard deck. The house was silent, everyone was either sleeping or on there phones.

Kate watched as Nika stripped her clothes to reveal her bathing suit. "Cute bathing suit Nika."

Nika scoffed. "Really, that's all you could think of to compliment me?"

"Don't get so full of yourself right now babe, the compliments will start coming soon." Hearing the word 'babe' come out of Kate's mouth sent shivers down Nika's spine.

Kate jumped in the pool and went to the ledge to where Nika was sitting. She had her toes dipped and she was convinced that was the furthest she was going to go.

"Stop being lame and get in the pool."

"It's freezing though."

"You do ice baths all the time. This is practically a sauna to you. Besides, if you're right next to me your body will warm up."

Nika sighed giving in to Kate's comments. "Fine just give me a min-" but before Nika could finish her sentence, Kate took her by the hand and pulled her into the pool. When Nika raised up from the water, she saw Kate giggling. "You're such a bully." Nika finally started laughing and the two girls put their arms around each others necks.

After the sound of laughter, they both went quiet and stared into each others eyes. The world felt like it was frozen for both of them. It felt like hours they were looking into each others eyes.

"I could stare into your eyes forever. Y'know that?" Although it was dark, Nika was still able to make out the blush that appeared on Kate's face.

"I could stare into your eyes for eternity as well Nika." The world felt as if it was silent just for them. The ocean that was so close to them seemed so distant now. The waves were to be unheard of. There was nothing that could ruin the moment between these two girls.

When they got up to their rooms, they both took a shower and immediately went to sleep.

Kate woke up the next morning and noticed Nika wasn't in her bed. Which was very unlike her because Kate always woke up before her. "Weird."

When Kate went downstairs, there was no one to be seen apart from Aaliyah, Ice, and Hannah who were watching a Mystics vs Sky game in the living room.

Aaliyah was the first to notice the blonde approaching them. "Jesus its like 1PM did you just wake up?!"

Kate plopped down next to Ice and stole a piece of popcorn from the bowl the girl was holding. "Yea I went to bed late. Where is everyone right now?"

Ice turned to face the girl who was still eating her popcorn. "Popcorn isn't the best food to start your 'day' Kate. But everyone else is out in town doing something I don't know what."

"Why didn't you guys go?"

"Lilli and Hannah really wanted to watch this game and since I'm their personal cook now I guess, I stayed home as well. I'm not mad though the game has been interesting."

"Yeah, it looks like a fun game. What time did they leave at?"

Ice looked at her phone to see what time Aubrey texted the group chat for what time they were going to leave. "Oh Jesus, they've been gone for a long time. 3 hours now."

"And Nika went too?"

"Yea for someone who loves to sleep in, she looked pretty energetic." Why did Nika go? She must've been exhausted as hell since they got back into the house at about 4AM. Ice was right, Nika loved sleeping in, so why would Nika choose to go somewhere early in the morning when she hadn't fallen asleep until 2 hours before sunrise?

After the Mystics took the dub, the 4 girls decided to binge watch Atypical. All 4 of them had never seen the show before but were immediately hooked from the first episode.

The girls got about halfway done with the first season when they heard the front door open. A crowd of women came in and Kate's eyes immediately went to Nika's. But Nika's never went to hers. Strange.

"Oh Atypical I love this shit man!" Caitlin jumped over the couch and sat down on the floor. It took the four by surprise how many of them have watched this show.

Nika decided to come and watch the show as well. There was an empty spot next to Kate but Nika sat across the living room from her. What the fuck? Kate thought her and Nika were on perfect terms right now so why did she switch up? Nika was so flirty and touchy yesterday now all of a sudden its like Kate doesn't exist anymore.

Kate decided to just brush past it. Maybe Nika was just having a bad day. But as time passed on and she saw Nika talking and laughing with other people, Kate knew that Nika was upset with her and she couldn't quite figure out why.

When Kate was looking at Nika, Nika wasn't looking. But once Kate turned her attention towards something else, she could feel Nika's eye's on her and lasering through her.

As the night started to come, all the girls started to scatter around the house. Some were in the pool, some were playing pool, and others were either in their rooms or watching TV. Wherever Kate was. Nika wasn't. Even if there were 10 people in a room, if Nika saw Kate enter, Nika would leave.

Kate asked around and nobody knew why Nika was ignoring her. Kate was getting tired of her shenanigans.

"Can we talk privately Nika?" Nika jumped at the voice and when she turned around she saw Kate standing with sad puppy eyes.

"I don't want to talk."

"We're going to talk right now." Only this time Kate's voice was sterner. "Come on." Nika followed Kate out the front door and they sat on the curb.

"What did I ever do to you Nika?! We were fine yesterday. What did I do today that made you want to completely ignore me? I'm getting so tired of the different ways you feel about me. It's exhausting."

Ouch. That stung.

"Kate I can't do this right now." Nika kept shaking her head.

"Why not Nika? I just want to know what I did to hurt you."

"You didn't do anything. That's the problem!" Nika's voice raised at that last part. Kate's eyes drew concern as she started to see the Croatian's eyes water. "You're so fucking perfect and too good for this world. How is someone so understanding like you a real person?! It just doesn't make sense. I'm starting to fall hard for you Kate, like, really hard and last time I did that I got hurt really bad. I just want to stop hurting."

Kate put her hand on Nika's thigh as a way to comfort the girl. "You know I would never do that to you Nika."

"Yea I thought so too with Dayton. I was so in love with him and I never got the appreciation back. Being with him caused me to be the cold and rude person I am today. So I'm just sorry for ignoring you. I couldn't fall asleep last night because all I could think about was how close we were getting. I just don't want to fall for someone and then they decide to abandon me. I feel like I'm a monster and I know you deserve better than that." Nika looked down at the ground trying to hide her tears. Kate grabbed her free hand and brought Nika's face to hers.

"You're not a monster Nika. And whoever made you believe that you are can fuck off. I like you for you. I would never abandon you, I'm not the type of person to do that. You give the people close to you so much love and you deserve to get that back. And I am so happy I can start to be the one providing that love for you." Kate wiped one of Nika's tears away with her thumb as Nika started to smile.

"So you won't abandon me?"

"Never"

Just then Nika pulled Kate and closer and give her the softest and gentle kiss each have ever felt. Nika felt safe in Kate's arms and Kate felt safe in Nika's. They honestly didn't even care who might've seen them because they both realized they have found their person.

Authors Note:

Can we pls talk about the comments Kate and Claire post abt

each other on peoples tiktoks. I can't take how adorable

they are.

Also sorry if updates won't be as consistent. I have APUSH work to do

for the next week.

Once again hope yall enjoyed!