Love of Autism Ch. 13

Yes, finally chapter 13 is here! However, there is nothing unlucky about this chapter. Just the continuation of an amazing romance story. As always thank you Tigersman for your help editing my story and letting bounce ideas off of you.

Scott parked his car at the high school and he and Sarah got out to head towards their lockers. He had convinced his sister to arrive early at school so he could meet Katie at her locker. All it took was promising to do her laundry. 'Why do I always have to do her laundry?' he thought to himself. He got what he needed out of his locker before making his way towards Katie's. He really wanted to talk to her the previous night after she had her appointment with Bernie, but she didn't answer him when he called. She did text him later though that she needed some space and that she would talk to him tomorrow at school.

He hurried to get to her locker before she would normally get there, but she was already there. She was putting things away and taking things out, but didn't seem like her normal self to Scott. He approached her and put his hands on her shoulders.

"Hey, doing any better?" he asked with concern in his voice.

Katie got the last thing she needed from her locker and turned around with a smile on her face. "Yeah," she answered. "I'm doing better."

Scott smiled back at her, although he was still worried. "So I take it your first session with Bernie was kind of rough."

"Yeah, it was," Katie said as she nodded, "but I think it is something that I needed to do. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off of me and..." she grabbed Scott's head, pulled him towards her and kissed him, "I think I'm going to be alright."

Scott relaxed and kissed her forehead. "I'm happy to hear that. Are you going to see him again?"

"Yep. I have three more scheduled appointments with him over the next three weeks, but only an hour each. Yesterday...was very draining. Unloading everything..." Katie didn't know how to finish her sentence, but Scott interrupted her thoughts as he cupped her cheek.

"I know. It's hard and when the wounds open, it is ripped open wide. Just know I'm here for you in whatever way you need me, including giving you space."

Katie kissed him again. "I know and that is why I love you Scottie."

"We all know you love him," Miss Bird said with a smile as she walked by, "but please keep the PDA down to a minimum you two."

Scott and Katie separated from each other and said sorry at the same time, both red in the face. Miss Bird walked away still smiling. While she knew she needed to enforce the school rules against public displays of affection, she was more than happy to see that they were together in a relationship instead of her bullying him. Then again, she never thought that they would actually be friends or even nice to each other. Strange how life works out sometimes.

Scott walked Katie to her first class, holding her hand. "See you at lunch," he said not wanting to let go of her.

"See you at lunch handsome," Katie said as she let go of his hand.

Scott watched her take her seat from the door and he walked away a few seconds later.

The next three weeks were much of the same for Scott and Katie. They would meet at each other's lockers before school, have lunch together and find a way to enjoy each other's company during English. The night after Katie's appointments with Bernie would always be rough for her and one night in particular she had trouble sleeping. However seeing Scott that following morning always made it worth it. Knowing he would always be there for her to emotionally support her meant everything to her.

At the same time, she found that her relationship with her dad was only getting better. They agreed to have a daddy-daughter dinner date once a month just to catch up and spend some time together. Her dad also arranged it so that he and his wife would go out on a date every once in a while so that Katie could babysit Carly and spend more time with her. Of course Carly absolutely loved spending time with Katie and was always sad when she had to go to sleep because she knew Miss Katie would not be there the next morning.

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"Come on Scott. You're taking forever," Liz said waiting for Scott to play a card.

"Don't rush him," said Steve.

Katie rolled her eyes, also growing impatient. "You have two choices. It is not that hard."

"Yes it is a hard choice," Scott said sternly. "This choice decides who wins the game."

"Scott, I love you, but just pick one," Katie pleaded.

Scott racked his brain about what cards had been played and which ones could be left. After taking another minute to think, much to the dismay of Katie and Liz, he finally played the ace of clubs. Liz took the cards as her ten of hearts won as it was the trump suit. She then played the queen of spades. Steve and Katie played cards that didn't match the suit, but Scott more than happily laid down the king of spades, taking the trick and winning this game of Euchre.

Katie shook her head, stunned and bewildered that Scott had for the fourth time picked the right card to lay down and keep the right one to play. "Seriously, how do you keep doing that? I know you aren't counting cards, otherwise you wouldn't be taking so long to decide what to play."

"His father is the same way," Jackie said as she walked into the kitchen. "Takes forever to play a card and somehow it is usually the right one most of the time."

"So did you and dad win?"

"No," Jackie admitted, "I was the one who needed to pick the right card and I chose...poorly."

Scott rolled his eyes at his mom. "You don't need to do that line from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade every time you, dad, Sarah or I make a poor decision."

"Your mom can't help it, she was trained by your dad," Andy said with a smile on his face. "So, it's the boys versus the men."

"More like men versus the old men," Steve shot back.

And in the end, the "old men" beat the younger men by a score of 10-4.

"Next time you might not want to open your mouth so fast," Scott suggested.

"Yeah...sorry about that," Steve apologized.

Andy couldn't help but laugh at his son. "You had several chances for each points and passed up on them. Never pass up easy points in hopes for a perfect loner."

Now it was Steve's turn to roll his eyes at his dad. "I know Dad, but sometimes it is worth it to take risks. I mean look at Scott and Katie. If Scott didn't take the risk of actually apologizing to Katie, they would not have ended up together."

"Well he didn't apologize to me just to become my boyfriend. Although I will admit, I'm happy it turned out that way," Katie said as she kissed Scott on his cheek.

"I'm happy as well," Scott said with a big smile on his face.

A few seconds later Luke walked in with his wife. "If everyone is done playing Euchre, I have pizza and boneless wings from Domino's that are ready to be eaten." Keith got plates out for everyone as they grabbed several slices of pizza and wings. Scott and Steve separated themselves from everyone and went down to the basement to eat.

"So how are things going with Liz?" Scott asked.

"Overall good," Steve answered after finishing his bite of pizza. "We have our rough spots, but honestly...we miss hanging out with you."

Scott started to feel guilty about not being with his two closest friends. "I know that. I've been spending a lot of time with Katie and focusing on my relationship with her. It's just...there just seems to be a lot we need to work on between us and deal with."

"I heard from Liz who was told by Sarah that you somehow convinced her to see Bernie?"

Scott nervously smiled and laughed. "Yeah...kind of watched her have a meltdown when I showed her the punching bag in the room."

Steve did a double take not sure if he heard Scott right. "Wait, you actually showed her the room?" Scott nodded his head and Steve's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "What on Earth possessed you do that? Didn't you think about what effect it might have on her knowing that is the room where you used to vent your frustration out about her when she bullied you?"

"She didn't meltdown because of that." Scott took a moment to gather himself. "She hit the bag once starting to vent out some of her own anger and rage about what happened with Jack onto the bag and then she hit it again harder and again. I stopped her from hitting the bag and she wanted to keep hitting the bag. Let's just say she told me a lot of things that I want to keep between us."

"What about the stuff she tells Bernie?"

"That is between her and him and I have told her I won't ask about her appointments with him. If she wants to volunteer what she talks to him about, that is her choice."

Steve gave Scott a look of disbelief. "I know you better than that. You are worrying and playing scary scenarios in your head of what she might be telling him."

Scott in turn gave Steve a dirty look. "And this is why I don't want to hang out with you more. You know me too damn well for your own good."

Steve smiled. "Someone has to besides Sarah. At least I know when to shut my mouth."

"Why do you say that?" Scott asked having a sneaking suspicion.

"Sarah might have mentioned that she caught you two sleeping together on the couch and was very quick to tell Liz." Scott was about to get up from his seat from the couch but Steve stopped him. "Don't even think about it. You can deal with Sarah later after everyone is gone."

Scott shook his head, trying to quench the anger that was building inside him. "God dammit she can be an annoying sister sometimes. I would love it if she just stayed out of my business for once. I mean she has a freaking boyfriend that she should be focusing on."

"Speaking of Colin...he needs help in the confidence department." Scott was starting to give Steve another dirty look before Steve raised his hands to try to calm Scott down. "No no, not to do anything he shouldn't be doing with your sister. I mean actual confidence. He's always nervous and doesn't know what to say or do."

"What do you want me to do? I was always nervous around girls before Katie and I became friends. Hell, even my Homecoming date with Angelica was nothing but me being nervous the whole time. She basically asked me to make out with her and I asked if she was sure."

"Well...what helped you stop being as nervous around Katie?"

"I don't know," Scott said as he shrugged his shoulders. "We just got used to each other and opened up more. She knows more of the things that I struggle with and I now know more of the stuff that she is still having trouble dealing with."

"So you two became more vulnerable with each other."

"Yeah, I guess."

Steve put what was left of his slice of pizza down for a second and thought. "What if Sarah started to confide in him?"

"Ehh...that is one tall order to ask."

"Why?"

"Let's just say she wants to keep up the image she has it all together even though..." Scott was debating whether or not he should divulge this particular piece of information, "...she has used the punching bag before."

Steve did a double take at that piece of information. "She's used it too?"

Scott nodded his head. "Yeah, she's gotten bullied because she's my sister and some of her classmates have taken it pretty far."

"Like as far as Katie used to?"

"Yes and sometimes worse."

"Did she ever go see Bernie?"

"Nope, she absolutely refused. She didn't want to appear weak to us, but for some reason her hitting the punching bag wasn't a sign of weakness to her."

"Why are you talking about me behind my back?" Sarah asked, incensed at what she was hearing.

Scott and Steve turned to see her halfway down the staircase. "We weren't..." Scott began realizing she had just come down and hadn't heard what they were talking about before, "you only came up because Steve wants me to help Colin with his confidence issue." Sarah continued to glare at them. "Sarah, seriously. We weren't talking about you behind your back."

Sarah stomped down the stairs all the way and sat next to her brother. "What is going on with my relationship with Colin is none of your fucking business."

Scott made eye contact with his sister. "Steve, can you give my sister and I the basement?" Steve didn't ask why. He just got up, took his plate of food, and went upstairs. Once Scott was sure Steve was gone he asked a question he didn't want to ask but needed to. "I know you don't want me to bring this up, but have you been eating enough?"

Sarah hadn't been questioned about her eating disorder in a long time and wasn't happy that her brother was asking her about it now. "Yes I am eating enough and no, I am not going to the bathroom afterwards to throw it up," she said with disdain.

"Have you thought about telling Colin?"

Sarah looked at him incredulously. "Why in the hell would I do that?"

"Colin already thinks he isn't good enough for you. It wouldn't hurt if he knew you weren't perfect."

"He knows I'm not perfect!" Sarah screamed. A second later she realized how loud she had screamed at Scott. She closed her eyes and started to calm herself down. After a minute, she opened her eyes and looked at her brother. "Look, we are not like you and Katie. We don't have all this...baggage like you two do."

Scott gave her a knowing look. "Yes, Katie and I have a lot of stuff we need to deal with and work on, but that doesn't mean you don't have stuff you need to work on as well. Your temper for one."

Sarah rolled her eyes. "I know I have a temper. I just...you know life isn't that easy being your younger sister."

"I know," Scott said as he kissed the top of her head, "but that doesn't mean you can't let Colin in and show him the real you. Yes, the scary, real you that may not be as appealing, but is still the real you."

"Yeah, the real me is so appealing," Sarah said as she looked down at the floor.

"The sweet, caring woman you are is appealing. After all, it has been you who helped my relationship with Katie on numerous occasions. Even though you love being an annoying little sister, you still want us to be happy."

"Shut up," Sarah said, hating the fact her brother was right.

"I love you too," Scott said as he brought his sister in for a hug. "But trust me, Colin won't think less of you just because you had an eating disorder."

"I don't know," Sarah said not feeling as confident as her brother.

"Just trust me," he pleaded. "He will like you more than he already does."

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"Remind me again why I agreed to this," Scott said as he parked his car.

"Because you love me and you want my relationship with my dad to get better," Katie replied.

"I know, but...you don't think having dinner with him won't be awkward for me."

"A little awkward yes, but it should be fine."

Scott took a deep breath. "Still, I just don't want something to happen between you and him and I'm caught in the middle."

"Your mind been playing worst case scenarios again?" Scott reluctantly nodded his head. "I promise none of the worst case, or even bad scenarios will happen. My dad and I are getting along great and I think it is time the three of us finally have dinner together. Plus I'm interested to see what you decide to get."

"Let's just go inside and get this over with."

Katie wasn't thrilled with Scott's attitude, but couldn't blame him for his lack of enthusiasm. She did spring this on him only two days ago and Scott was a little mad about committing to this without talking to him first. They walked in together and saw that her dad had already gotten a table for them.

"Hey sweetie," Trevor said as they approached the table. "Hi Scott. It's nice that we finally get to talk man to man," he said as he extended his hand. Scott nervously shook his hand before he sat down. "So how was school this week?" Trevor asked both of them.

"Long and boring," Katie answered. "I'm so ready to be done with high school." Trevor couldn't help but smile and chuckle at his daughter.

"It's school," Scott replied. "I also wish it was over, but then there is college right after that."

"But then we can go to college together," Katie said as she grabbed and held Scott's hand.

Their waiter came by and asked what they wanted to drink as well as dropped off three bowls. Katie and Scott went their separate ways as they each went for different things in the buffet. Katie was indeed curious to see what Scott was going to put in his bowl as he never had so much freedom to choose what he wanted in his stir fry. When they finished putting their food items in the bowls, they met by where the cooks cook their stir fry and she was very surprised to see what was in his bowl.

"Since when do you like scallops? And lobster?"

Scott shrugged his shoulder. "Well, I've never really tried them before and I love stir fries, so I kinda figured why not try it now. I have beef and shrimp in here too just in case I don't like it."

Katie shook her head still in disbelief. "What have you done with my Scottie?"

"I told him to give him a chance to surprise you," Trevor said to his daughter. Katie rolled her eyes at her dad, hating the fact he was right.

If Trevor had to be honest with himself though, he was very surprised how close his daughter and Scott have gotten. He had heard goods things about Scott from his ex-wife, which said quite a lot considering her previous opinions of him and his father before.

As they sat down, he asked Scott some basic 'get to know you questions'; what TV shows, movies, and video games he liked. When Scott mentioned that he liked Attack on Titan Trevor became very interested and asked him who his favorite character was. Katie had no idea that her dad also liked anime, but she soon found out that he and Scott liked a lot of different anime shows and movies. Soon she was left out of the conversation completely as Scott and her dad bonded over anime. She was a little frustrated that they seemed to completely ignore her, but she did want her dad and Scott to bond a little.

'I guess I should be happy that they are getting along,' she thought to herself. Then she smiled and realized that both her parents like Scott which is what she wanted all along.

"Katie, sweet daughter of mine," Trevor said trying to get his daughter's attention.

"Huh, oh sorry," Katie apologized. "Guess I got lost in my own thoughts."

"It's ok. So I guess you missed the part where I said Lauren and I need a babysitter next Saturday and asked you if you and Scott would like to watch Carly."

"You would let Scott help me babysit?" Katie asked shocked.

"Of course," Trevor said confidently. "He seems like a nice man and he treats you well. Plus I know you wouldn't mind a little backup when it comes to the Energizer bunny."

"She can't really that bad can she?" Scott asked.

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"She has more energy than the Energizer bunny," Scott said exasperated sitting down on the couch.

"Well, my dad and I did warn you," Katie said, sitting down next to her tired boyfriend. "It also didn't help that she was excited to meet and play with you, so she was more energetic than normal."

Scott shook his head in disbelief. "I can't believe you have babysat her more than once and not been driven insane."

"He makes it worth it by paying me a lot and the free dinner is a nice bonus as well." Scott turned his head and looked at Katie, admiring how beautiful she was. Katie noticed that he was staring at her. "Why are you staring at me like that?"

"Just admiring how beautiful you are and an amazing girlfriend."

Katie scooted over right next to Scott and leaned in to kiss him. Scott happily returned the kiss as he placed his hands around her body and she did the same. They continued to make out until Scott abruptly broke off the make out session.