“It's good and recommended that you have someone nearby, Miss Dunlap, you may experience headaches and dizziness.” The doctor said the day she was discharged from the hospital. Cate didn't give details of what happened, she didn't want to talk about it, leaving you truly alone with the idea that the Starlighters had indeed attacked her — even though you suspected from the beginning that something about this story seemed off... Everything around her seemed off lately.

But, Cate was your best friend, since day one and you didn't leave her side, not for a second, not when it was just you, her and Sam doing not exactly good things. You wouldn't say that out loud, she wouldn't, Sam... Oh, he'd probably already forgotten what he did. You and she were wrapped in this web of lies, manipulation, and the false sense of freedom, only for Cipher to always find a way to remind you that there was no freedom at all.

By the doctor's orders, you had to spend more time with Cate than you already did — it wasn't something you disliked, honestly, you couldn't help but look at her with soft eyes. If she did or said anything suspicious, you already knew what to do, even though there was no chance you would think about doing something that could harm her, not when she was sleeping with her head on your chest, or walking by your side holding your wrist... Or asking for your help to do the simplest things.

“Can you comb my hair, please?” Her voice was still husky from sleep, the hood on her head as she sat on the edge of the bed, near your feet with a hairbrush in her hand. “My head is really hurting today... Have you been snoring too close to my ear?”

It was a silly tease, trying to get out of the tense atmosphere that lurked between you constantly — there was something different in the air, as if at any moment something could happen. “I don't snore,” you retorted, pretending to be offended by the accusation. “You would know this if you didn't fall asleep before me.”

Your hands were in her blonde hair, gently untangling the strands with your fingers before you started to comb it slowly, doing your best not to strain her already sensitive scalp. “I'm pretty sure you do snore.” She insisted. If Cate were a cat, she'd probably be purring at the way you combed her hair. “And I'm also pretty sure I'll sleep sitting up.”

Even though Cate didn't speak her thoughts out loud, she constantly thought how lucky she was to still have you. After everything that happened, she doubted herself every day and you were the one who made her have a little confidence again, a little affection. She needed you more than she would admit, and she would try to show it, one way or another.