You Can Run But You Can't Hide

Chapter 4 Talking Helps

Otto's POV

I have been coming in to see Kat every single day after work for about 10 or so days now. But I don't show myself to her everyday because I don't want to freak her out at all because she is really starting to warm up to me.

Her and I have been talking more and more and it's been really nice. I think she is starting to like me or at least I would hope I'm having the same effect on her that she has on me.

I sit in the same dark corner as I usually do watching Kat work. She really just glides across the bar area as if she knows it like the back of her hand, I think she could look graceful doing almost anything, but bartending is the best way for her besides fighting of course.

Kat is so fascinating to watch at work, she really does deal with so much drama every single shift. It's crazy to me how stressful her job is but she still has a smile on her face every day.

That alone shows how strong and determined she really is. I'm now watching her get ready to handle these high school boys who are just playing some pool hanging out.

I heard a couple of the boys convince their friend to make a comment to Kat. So I'm just going to sit back, relax and watch this disaster waiting to happen.

The boys head over to the bar top gaining Kat's attention as she walks in their direction saying, "Hey boys what may I help you out with?"

The boys standing farther away from Kat, start to snicker back and forth, as the one standing the closest to Kat has a big grin on his face. He steps a little closer to Kat and says, "You know.. I.. love.. pussy.. Kats, Always been a Kat lover. If you gave me the chance I bet you would love me too. "

I see Kat lean forward across the counter top towards the boy, taking his chin into her hand gently. Pulling his face closer to hers making it so they are only inches away. The boy looks frozen like ice in her hand as she says in such a seductive tone. "Oh honey, even if you could have me, you wouldn't know what to do with me..you better get going before you hurt yourself or get yourself into something you can't handle." She lightly pats his cheek as she let's go of him and his friends bust up laughing as he looks star struck.

She smiles and waves at him as his friends have to drag him out of the bar still stunned and staring in her direction.

I would have been in awe too being in her hold and that close to her face. That sounds wonderful if you ask me.

"Poor boy didn't stand a chance." one of the regulars sitting at the bartop says this to Kat making her laugh as she turns to him responding, "They never do have a chance Gus."

He shakes his head and she looks at him curiously until he says, "Well no one except that buff bearded giant you have been so eager to talk to all week. He is the only guy you let talk to you besides us.. curious don't you think?"

This makes me so happy because that means she is happy talking with me and even the regulars have noticed, or maybe she has talked about me. Either way just hearing that made me happy.

Kat rolls her eyes at him and says, "Don't start with me Gus, you know I can't..don't date." The change in her sentence doesn't go unnoticed by me.. that's even more curious.

The regular Gus responds back, "I don't understand why you can't be happy even if it ends up just being for a little bit.. you need to live a little Kat. He seems nice and fun."

"I just can't Gus!...I don't want to hurt him!Anyone who comes around me gets hurt, that's why I won't bring anyone to close to me. He seems so nice and I would feel awful if I was the reason he ever got hurt. You're the only person I have let get close to me Gus.. I'm just not meant to be happy.. I'm not being dramatic I swear this is just for everyone's own good. I'm helping him whether he knows it or not." She says this with so much passion that it makes my mind reel.

I'm happy that she thinks I'm nice that's a plus for sure. That makes me sad though that she is shutting me down before even giving me a real chance.. maybe I can change that. I'm not afraid of getting hurt.

"I think you never know until you try and it never hurts to try something new." She thinks about this for a second then smiles and nods at Gus' statement patting him on the shoulder.

Kat notices 3 girls walking up to the bartop and walks over to them nicely saying, "Hey ladies how may I help you?"

One girl steps forward looking smug and says with so much attitude in her voice, "Um is there anyone else who can help us?"

"Nope." Kat says this to her emphasizing the P by popping it.

"Really? Because your hair is bugging the f*#k out of me. I can't concentrate on anything else let alone order a drink." the smug girl says so spitefully to Kat.

I watch Kat smirk as she puts her elbows on the counter and sets her chin in the palms of her hands. She smiles big at the girl and says, "Awe.. that's adorable."

"What's adorable?" the girl snaps back.

Kat straightens her back up staring the girl down then answers with so much seriousness in her voice.

"It's adorable that you think I give a f*#k about what you think about me. Sorry to burst your bubble b***h but I could care less. So turn the f*#k around and leave my bar before I give you an actual reason to hate me." She says gesturing with her finger to turn around.

I can't hold back the "Ooohh!" that comes out of my mouth making Kat look up at me then smile shaking her head.

"F*#k you b***h!" The girl yells back at Kat as she smiles and says, "Oh thank you! I hope you have a wonderful night too! Bye!" Kat waves at the girls as she walks back to the other end of the bar to be by Gus again.

"What a b***h!" Gus says to Kat.

"Takes a b***h to know a b***h. What can I say?" Kat retorts back shrugging her shoulders and continuing, "I'm going outside for a minute, I think that bitches thick perfume is getting to my head and suffocating me so I'll be back in a minute after I get some fresh air." She says that with so much humor making Gus laugh and respond, "I know I could smell her all the way over here."

They both laugh together as Kat turns around walking out the back door for some much needed fresh air. I stand up, throwing money on the table again, and make my way to the back.

Maybe I can convince her to try to give me a chance at some type of relationship with her, even if it's just friendship.. for now.

When I walk next to the bar railing that regular Gus stops me getting my attention.

"Hey man I just want to say, I can tell she likes you, but just understand when your not use to getting love you don't exactly know how to give love. Give her time and maybe she will come around. She already has come around more this week with you then I have seen her in 6 months so take that as a step in the right direction for yourself."

"Thanks for the advice man. I'm trying." I say to him patting him on the shoulder.

"I know I can see that and know I'm rooting for you. But you hurt her and I hurt you.. Remember that."

I nod and continue walking to the back. As usual Kat's back is to me as I walk up to her. I'm about a foot away when I clear my throat to try to get her attention and she flips around too quickly for me to react, pinning me to the wall with her arm on my throat. I squeak out, "Kat it's me!"

She giggles staring up at me and says, "Oh Otto I knew it was you, I could smell your cologne."

I chuckle, staring down at her as she is still staring at me playfully and ask, "Well if you knew it was me, then why did you attack me?"

"I thought this was our thing... you creep up on me like a big creeper and I attack you putting you in your place! ..I don't even know if I know how to greet you properly, since this is all I know now with you." She says this dramatically with so much humor in her voice making us both laugh as she is still leaning on me.

I realize that she is leaning on me still but I don't think she realizes yet. It's ok because I like us like this, so I won't bring attention to it so this moment goes as long as it can.

Once our laughing quiets down she realizes her close proximity to me and clears her throat stepping back from me. I change the subject instantly so she doesn't feel too self conscious.

"So Kat, do you ever have a day off from work? Everytime I have come into here you're always here working." I try to ask this as casually as possible pretending like I don't come here just to see her.

"Really? Because I think you come here to see me." She says this so bluntly to me catching me by surprise as she turns away continuing, "Actually yes I have the next 2 days off because I worked 11 days straight for my boss to help her out.

I take a breathe in then letting it out before I take this nervous leap of faith.

"Well if you're not too busy, would you like to go practice some jujitsu with me at the gym I go to.. or the alleyway... you know whatever you prefer." I say that last part with so much humor about how we met making her match my smile.

She thinks about my offer for a second, I can tell this peaks her interest for sure that's why I asked her to do that instead of dinner. I figured I had a better chance with jujitsu over dinner.

"Ok fine Jujitsu practice and that's it.. I don't date." she says to me sternly as I throw my hands up in surrender before saying back to her, "Ok Jujitsu practice.. and maybe some food after because I'll be starving after practice."

Kat glares at me and I shrug my shoulder still smiling at her.

Kat walks up to me making my breath hitch as I stare taking in her beautiful features under the street lights again.

She extendes her hand to me, palm up, saying "Can I have your phone so I can put in my number?"

I grab my phone probably a little too quickly for my liking, but this makes her giggle as I hand her my phone and just stare at her intently.

She concentrates, biting her bottom lip gently as she enters her number in my phone under the name 'KitKat.'

Once she is done she hands my phone back to me saying with so much warning, "Don't call me before 7am unless you want to die... then by all means call before that. I just don't get home from here until about 3 or 4. So I just need a little sleep then I'm good. So have a good night Otto..see you tomorrow." She finishes the conversation so sweetly to me as she waves turning around and walking back into the bar for the rest of her shift.

Katherine's POV

I walk away from Otto trying to calm my heart down from pounding out of my chest. I haven't had my heart do backflips for anyone before and it's almost a little overwhelming but in such a good way.

I don't want to like a guy because of my current situation but it seems like my body and heart are about to betray me for Otto.

I want to look back at him so bad because I can feel his eyes on me as I leave but I know if I do turn around I would stay out here all night with him if given the chance.

But I need to try harder to resist him. I can't take the chance of liking someone because that means one of us would get hurt if I gave him a chance. I know he doesn't know this. But I'm sure I won't be around for too much longer anyways for this to even matter.

I'm just so surprised that the mafia goons haven't found me yet. My stuff always stays almost completely packed just in case I have to leave at the drop of a hat.You never know when you're going to need to make a run for it.

But the hardest part about all this is, how do you explain to someone you're obviously interested in that you can't date them because you will have to make a run for it sometime soon.

Mostly because it has been too long of a good peaceful time and I'm due for some bad time drama.

The mafia goons normally find me within about 4 months or so and it's been over 6 months here already and no sign of them. I'm getting a little extra paranoid now.

I know he doesn't realize it but I won't date him for his own safety, I have found out multiple times what happens to people who help me out. I don't want another person's precious life cut too short because of me.

The only reason I agreed to the jujitsu practice is because I really do need the practice and he gives me a run for my money, going toe to toe with me. So who better to practice with than him?

I walk past Gus and back behind the bar, as I look up at him I see he has very cheeky grin spread across his face. I suspiciously look at him, up and down before I say, "What's that grin for?"

Gus doesn't answer my question. He almost tries to hide his grin as he asks, "Did you finally give him your number? Or are you going to keep making him come back in everyday to see you?"

I roll my eyes at his statement and retort back, "Thats none of your business Gus, and he doesn't come in here everyday."

Gus chuckles at me and states as a matter of fact, "I'll take that as a yes, that you finally gave him your number. And for your information he does come in here everyday. It's been about 10 or so days straight now. He just doesn't always come and talk with you. I bet he is trying to not overwhelm or freak you out."

This comment catches me off guard suprising me instantly. "Wait... really? Everyday? Does that seem weird to anyone else but me?"

Gus chuckles at me again as if I'm an i***t when it comes to guys.. Which I am, but we won't get into my inexperiences.

"It might come off as weird to you but he is just respecting you, in a different way then your use to obviously. He comes in here everyday without dates and doesn't flirt with the waitresses here.. which is almost impossible to not do!" he says dramatically but continues, " He sits in the corner to be around you but to give you space. He comes in everyday to see you, but only talks to you for a couple minutes every other day trying to make sure to not overwhelm you giving you more space. He obviously hasn't threatened you or made you feel uncomfortable and he has waited patiently for you to want to hang out with him and give him your number. If that's not respectful then I don't know what is. Most men I know, especially in places like this, just take what they want and when they want it, not respecting anyone's boundaries."

I nod at him, taking in all the information he has just given me. I'm processing the information but get confused and ask Gus, "But why would he do that for me? He doesn't even know me?"

Without missing a beat he responds, "He wants to get to know you, that's why."

Confusion is still evident on my face but I nod and humm in response.

Guys are still baffling to me since I have close to no experience with them.. and because of this I don't exactly know what to do or how to react.

I haven't really dated anyone before. I have been on dates with guys but that was only a couple times before my dad tried to sell me so I went on the run.

I obviously haven't tried dating since understandably. I just got use to being alone and flirting here and there with guys but that's about it.

I was always afraid to get attached to anyone because of my current situation. I have come to terms with the fact that I'm probably just going to die a virgin.

"Thanks for the talk Gus, it means a lot, I really don't have any experience in this aspect of life." I say with a small grin on my face.

"I know, I can tell, that's why I needed to say something to you. Good luck Kat, try to be open minded with him and keep me updated." Gus finishes his statement as I roll my eyes making him chuckle as he drinks his beer.

I work the rest of my shift dazing off thinking about everything I talked about with Gus.

Gus is a good honest guy and I know he wouldn't be saying these kinds of things unless he meant it. He is the closest to a fatherly figure that I have had in my life.

I don't really trust people.. but if I did, Gus would be one of them. He is the only person who I have even talked with about my feelings and that's saying alot.

After a long night I'm finally locking up and like usual Gus is there. He always stays with me because he gets worried about me being alone. Which is sweet, So I always buy him a couple beers for staying with me helping out.

I walk out to my bike, sitting on it and trying to turn the engine on, but it won't turn over. Gus squats down next to my bike checking it out to see if he knows what's wrong since he is a mechanic.

"Kat I'll take your bike with me home and work on it tomorrow and I'll just give you a ride home tonight. OK?

I stare at him for a second and reluctantly nod answering him. Not because it's Gus but because I'm afraid of anyone knowing where I'm staying at, just in case. But I do trust Gus for the most part. More than I trust anyone else, if that's saying anything.

I help Gus get my bike into the back of his truck and I jump into the passenger side of the truck.

I give him my address as he takes me to my apartment building and then parks to drop me off. But before I go, I give him my number so he can keep me updated about my bike, then I give him a hug, waving as I walk away into my apartment for the night.

I walk into my studio apartment and flop down on the couch to go to sleep for the night. You heard correctly I don't have a bed I just have a couch.

I honestly just thought it would be stupid to buy a bed to just leave it in a couple months since I can't take it with me on the run. So I figured a couch would be a better investment for me in my current situation. I always make sure I only have enough items that I can carry with me, just in case I have to leave.. as is tradition at this point. I lay staring at the ceiling trying to relax after my long shift.

I find my mind drifting to that manly bearded oh so handsome face with bright green eyes... I think about him until at some point I drift off to sleep letting my exhaustion consume me.