Catherine immediately sprung out of bed and made a mad dash for the door, grabbing her keys and slipping on some shoes in the process. She didn't bother to put on a coat, though it was freezing outside. She immediately ran to the opera house and burst through the doorway. Her face was still red and tear-stained, and her wrist still slightly hurt from Josh's tight grasp, but that didn't matter.

She went to her dressing room and slid open the mirror, quickly running through the hallway and to the elevator. It took her to Matt's place and she stepped out calling, "Matt? Matt!"

There was no response at first. Did Josh lie? Was Matt really home? Catherine was beginning to wonder if she could even trust Josh anymore. At this point, who could she trust? "Certainly not Mariah," Catherine thought with a little scoff. She again called out, "Matt?"

—————

Matt sat despondently in his chair. He could almost swear someone was calling him. "Josh did you hear that?"

"It sounds like Catherine," Josh said, his eyes showing a glimmer of hope.

"Matt?!" The voice called louder.

Matt jumped from the couch and quickly began navigating the building.

—————

Catherine saw Matt round the corner and immediately ran to him, throwing her arms around him.

"Hey, kid," he laughed a bit teary eyed. "Where've you been?"

Catherine began to sob quietly. "I'm sorry," she mumbled into his shoulder. "I shouldn't have ignored you...I- I-" She tried to finish but only gasps came out. She buried her face further into his shoulder and continued to sob.

"Woah there," he laughed, putting a hand to her head and cradling her tightly, "Well I be danged if you aren't crying...Geez, Cath, what happened?"

"I...did something..." she said slowly, taking deep breaths. "I'm sorry, Matt."

"Relax," he smiled kindly. "Just sit down and let it all out."

Catherine sat and buried her face in her hands. "You're gonna hate me."

"Cath," Matt said softly, sitting down beside her, "there's only one person in the world I'm capable of hating, and it will by no means ever be you."

"Matt," Catherine sighed, turning to face him. She looked at him sadly and said, "Caleb and I kissed. Angel, my soul was weak. Forgive me. I can't lose you...Matt, please say something."

Matt stared at the floor. His eyed searching back and forth across the small dark spots of patterned fabric. "Do you want to leave?"

"No," Catherine said with tears in her eyes. "I want you." She put her hand on his. "I love you."

Matthew continued speaking softly. "Did you want him to?"

"No. Caleb's still my friend, but I told him that we can't hang out outside of performances and rehearsals," Catherine explained. "I told him that my heart belongs to you. We both agreed that the kiss meant nothing. He just needed closure. That's all it was. It meant nothing to me. Are you upset? Matt...Matt, if you're mad, then get mad. Yell at me. Just do something," Catherine said softly. She looked at him with pleading eyes and she wondered if telling him was a mistake.

"We just-" Matt ran coarse fingers through his hair. "We need to slow down, okay?"

"What?" Cath asked in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"How long have you known me, really known me? We're moving too fast. We need some distance, some time."

"Oh...um, yeah. Sure. I should go. I'll see you...around," Catherine said rushing into the elevator.

—————

Catherine burst through the door of her apartment and ran to her room, slamming the door behind her. She pulled a suitcase out from under her bed and began throwing in clothing.

She checked her phone and found a message from Mariah that said, "Hey. Can we talk?"

Catherine ignored the message and went back to packing. She didn't know why or where she would go, but still she continued shoving in item after item.

There was a knock on her front door and she went to open it. She stared in amazement at the man in the hallway. "Carlos?"

"There's my favorite cousin," he smiled, throwing his arms around Catherine.

"What are you doing here? I haven't seen you since my mother's funeral," she said with tears of joy in her eyes. "Come in."

"I've been in Italy. I met a girl. Turned out that she had a boyfriend."

"Don't you hate when that happens?"

Carlos laughed. "What about you? Meet anyone special?"

Catherine invited her cousin to sit down and told him of her current situation. "So, what do you think? Is Matt mad?"

"I think he's hurt and needs time to process," Carlos pondered. "That's why he suggested the distance...That's not what you want?"

"No," Catherine laughed in frustration. "It's not what I want. God, I can't believe I managed to lose the only person I could trust."

Carlos pulled Catherine in close. "It's alright. I'm sure everything will turn out fine," he said in a reassuring tone. "Do you need me to beat anybody up while I'm here?"

"I'll need to sleep on that one," Catherine sighed. "But hey, why don't you stay here?"

"I'd love to," Carlos smiled. "I'll put my stuff in the guest room and we can watch something you like."

"Really?"

"You've had a bad day. You deserve some fun. I'll even take you out to a fancy restaurant first, if you'd like."

"That sounds wonderful," Catherine smiled. "I'll go get ready."

—————

Josh stood awkwardly in the doorway. "Matt, are you alright?"

"Fine," Matt laughed, stuffing his hands in his pockets and leaning against the wall, eyes closed.

"Listen, Matt, she explained the situation to me. It sounds like it was more Caleb's fault than hers. Don't blame her. She was really upset that it happened. She was afraid to even tell you. She loves you, Matt. Don't let that slip away," Josh said in a fatherly tone. "You don't want to lose her over one little mistake, do you?"

"I'm not," Matt explained. "I'm not mad, it just opened my eyes that a few weeks ago, she was kissing Caleb, spending her time with him. I don't want to ruin what we've got by jumping in. We need to take it slow, or it isn't going to last."

"I don't know," Josh sighed. "It doesn't seem like she wants space. Mari told me that Cath doesn't like things to be long and drawn out. If she feels something, she goes for it. I mean, you can clearly see that...I just know that she really likes you and hasn't felt this close to anyone in a long time. Not since her sister. Just don't leave her alone for too long...Don't pass the point of no return," Josh laughed. "I'm going to get take out. You want anything?"

"I want people to stop rushing into things and use their heads for once," Matt mumbled. "And I'll have some sesame chicken with that, I suppose."

"Alright. I'll be back," Josh said, grabbing his keys and heading out.

—————

"It's just not who I am," Catherine finished as she picked at her dinner.

"Look, normally I'd tell you to forget this guy and find another, but Cathy, you've got something good here. Just be patient with him," Carlos urged.

"Fine," Cath sighed. She spotted Josh from across the room. "See the guy over there?" She asked, pointing at the sound crew member.

"Yeah. What about him?"

"That's Josh, Matt's friend."

"Wow. You weren't kidding," Carlos laughed.

Josh heard laughing and turned his head to see Catherine sitting at a table, eating with a man. He immediately went over to Catherine angrily. "Really, Cathy? Matt wanted space so you went out and found a replacement. Is that really how this is going to be? Every time Matt's not available, you're just going to find someone else?"

"Josh, meet my cousin Carlos. He just came back from Italy," Cath responded with an air of annoyance.

Josh turned red. "I'm sorry. I'm so tired and my hand still hurts...God, I'm gonna go die now."

"No, Josh, wait. I need to talk to you," Catherine said quickly. "I'll be right back, Carlos." She grabbed Josh's arm and quickly led him away from the table. "Josh, can you please talk to Matt? It's just...I don't like long relationships. It's really hard to explain. Mariah said that she told you but didn't fully explain it. Call me later and I can go more in detail, but please make sure Matt doesn't hate me," she said with pleading eyes.

"Like you've ever been in a long term relationship before," Josh clipped with an injurious snort.

"You don't know me," Catherine snapped. "And for your information, yes, I have."

"You know what, Cath?" Josh sighed, standing up for himself for the first time in years. "Maybe if you weren't so quick tempered and selfishly used to getting your own way you would be more open to understanding why your long term relationships don't work out. I'll see you later." He angrily shuffled his bag over his shoulder and turned to leave.

Carlos came and put an arm around Catherine. "I heard what he said. Are you alright?"

"People suck," Catherine mumbled.

"Come on. I'll take you home," Carlos said gently, moving his arm around her waist and guiding her out. She was silent the entire way home.

"Cathy, don't listen to Josh, okay? He doesn't know...why you're you. Don't change. If Matt can't appreciate you for who you are, he's not worth it," Carlos said when they stepped inside the apartment. "Josh is an idiot. He doesn't know what you've been through."

Catherine wrapped her arms around her cousin. "I know, but it hurts. He doesn't understand me at all. He doesn't have the right to tell me to change my attitude when he's just as quick tempered."

"I know. It's been a long, awful day. You should get some rest."

"Thanks, Carlos."

—————

Josh entered Matt's home, still slightly angry with Cath.

Matthew noticed Josh's frustration. "What's eating you?"

"You're girlfriend's a hot head," Josh mumbled. "Girls suck. Especially Catherine."

Matthew sat on the couch and picked up his guitar. "They don't suck. They just are annoying and distractions."

"Especially Catherine," Josh repeated.

"Cathrine's just complicated, and at times, illogical and overly emotional. When you stop to think things through, talk about them, you're a lot better off. Life isn't all romance and love at first sight, it's hard work."

"Love at first sight's for suckers," Josh mumbled.