**I DO NOT OWN THIS SHOW OR THE CHARACTERS IN THE SHOW, I AM JUST BORROWING THEM**
~Catherine~
As my alarm blares its usual annoying sound, I wake up to the sun beaming inside my window. I sigh because today I was hoping to sleep in, but dad had given me a job at his law firm as his secretary and today was my first day. On the bright side I had a date tonight with Zeke and that was something to look forward to, right? Zeke wasn't the best boyfriend in the world, but he sure was a good kisser. Honestly I didn't see much of a future with him at all, but I'm 25 so it doesn't hurt to explore with him, I suppose. Getting up out of bed, I go to the kitchen to brew up some coffee and as I wait for that delicious hot beverage, I'm going to take a shower.
"Now, what am I going to where?" I said to myself as I searched the closet for something to suit my father's business. Finally I find one of my favorite dresses, black with light tan flower design on it, not too dressy, and not skanky either. Definitely not skanky, dad would flip. I slip it on and begin to put my make-up on, and finish curling my hair. Before departing my apartment, I take one last look into the mirror to make sure I look good, and to dad's set dress code of course. I grabbed my keys, walk out into the hallway, and lock the door. I couldn't help but notice that across the hall I had a new neighbor moving in. Movers were still carrying in furniture and quite frankly I had to be nosey. Surely a quick peep won't hurt.
"Hey! What are you doing?"
Oh God...what have I done? Slowly, I turn to see a familiar face, "Tess?"
"Cat?"
Well this isn't awkward at all.
"Wow, Tess. Did you move in here?"
"Yeah, actually…what are you doing here?"
"Well, uhm…I'm your neighbor. I actually live across the hall from you. How have you been? It's been since what? High school?"
"Wow, it has really been too long obviously. It is so good to see you, Cat. I'm actually doing great, I got a job recently at the police station and decided I would move back to New York. How have things been for you?"
Oh God, dad is going to kill me! I'm late.
"Actually Tess, I'm late for work, so can I just stop by as I come home? We can finish catching up then."
"Sure. I'll see you around, neighbor."
Well that went friggin well. And to top it all off, I'm late for my first day of work, at my own dad's law firm, and now my car won't start. Great! Maybe Heather can come get me. Why has this day turned out to be so shitty already? And why is all of this happening to me? It can't possibly get any worse.
~Vincent~
As I wake up to JT blowing up my phone, I finally get a chance to answer, "What?"
"Hey big guy! Good news. I got a call from the Health Department and they gave the okay to re-open Kellers….they need you to come in and sign some papers. Now I know you may still not want to do this, but your brothers would be proud of you to take over their night club."
"JT, I don't know."
"Look, V, I know you are still going through a difficult time with accepting your brothers' death, but…you got to move on. It's been 2 years now and you can't keep beating yourself up over it. It wasn't your fault."
"I know. It's just they were all I had left after mom and dad died and I just feel alone sometimes."
"Have you ever thought of speed dating?"
Oh my God. Did he seriously just ask me that?
"No, JT. I haven't."
"So why don't you go to one of the sessions. It would fun and maybe you will even find 'the one'."
"JT, really? The one? I'm not ready for that type of commitment right now, or any relationship period. Let's just take things one day at a time, yeah?"
"Fine, but in case you change your mind, the next session is tonight at 8pm at the Plaza Hotel. Just consider it, alright Vincent?"
I could punch myself for what I'm about to tell him, but whatever. "Fine, JT. Whatever!" I am so glad that conversation is over. I know JT is only trying to help, but sometimes he gets a little carried away. Or maybe I'm taking it all wrong? I don't know. Either way, he means well with what he does for me. We grew up together. JT didn't exactly fit in when we were in high school, but he has always been a great friend to me. Recently I broke up my girlfriend Tori because she was caught red handed with another man and in my bed of all places. But you win some, and you lose some, right? Who knows, maybe I will check out the speed dating thing and see who I will meet. Couldn't hurt and maybe it will get JT off my back over dating.
After brewing myself a pot of coffee, I make my way out of my apartment and head for the health department to begin the process of opening the club. I make my way outside and notice a woman with her hood up. Must be having car problems. Maybe I should ask if she needs help.
"No Heather, it just wouldn't start. Can you take me to work, or not?"
"Uhm, hi. I'm Vincent. I couldn't help but notice that you were having car problems….mind if I take a look?"
What are you doing Keller?
"Oh, would you? That would be great….Heather, I got to go. Bye"
"What is it doing exactly?"
"Well, I tried to start it and it made this clicking noise….maybe my battery? I don't know. What I do know is that I'm late for work."
She looks smoking hot in that dress. A true beauty. And her voice is…..STOP IT VINCENT! What are you doing? Just offer her a ride to work cause clearly she needs more than a battery. She needs a new starter.
"Its not your battery. You actually need a new starter."
She doesn't look too happy.
"I could give you a ride? I promise I don't bite. Where do you work anyways?"
"Chandler Law Firm a couple of blocks from here. Look if its going to be much trouble you don't have to."
"Its not a problem. I was actually headed in that direction anyways. Come on I'll give you a lift."
"Okay….Thank you, Mr?"
"Vincent…Vincent Keller."
Shake her hand you idiot. Don't be rude. I extended my arm out to shake her hand as she said, "I'm Catherine Chandler."
~Catherine~
Finally I'm on the way to dad's office. He already knew that I would be late, but still I feel horrible because, hello…its my first day! Vincent is such a life saver….and he's definitely a hottie. Just look at those arms….and that tan hmmm….his sort of long brown hair that kind of dangles in face slightly, to die for handsome….I bet he has a six pack too. Good God Catherine, stop it! He might start noticing you staring at him. Besides, a man that looks that good has to have a girlfriend anyways, and you are with Zeke after all…..It is totally too quiet in here. Maybe I should start a conversation?
"So, where do you live, Vincent is it?"
Where do you live Vincent? That's what you came up with? Girl, you have got to come up with better questions other than 'Where do you live?' Jesus!
"Yeah, uhm….I actually lived in the apartment building where your car was parked."
Oh my God! He lives in the same building as you. Strange though cause I have never seen him before. I would have totally noticed him and his muscular figure if I had seen him before. How did I miss out?
"How long have you lived there?...I'm asking because I live there too, and I have never seen you before."
"It's been about a month since I moved in. I'm on the 3rd floor and I usually stick to myself, so that could be why you haven't seen me."
Wow. You learn something new every day….Thank God were here. I can finally get out of his car after sounding so ridiculously weird.
"Thanks again for the lift Vincent. You're truly a life saver."
~Vincent~
As she shut the door and headed inside, I couldn't help but watch her walk in. She is truly a knock out and to top it off, she lives in the same apartment building as me? How could I have missed such a beautiful individual living in the same building as me? Those curls blowing slightly in the wind, long sexy legs…her boyfriend should be proud to have such an attractive person in his life. Why am I still sitting here like an idiot? She'll really think I'm crazy now. As I pull out, my phone began to ring, it was JT again. Ugh, what now?
"Yeah?"
"Hey, V. Where are you at? I'm at the health department waiting for you. Are you coming?...or are you backing out of the whole process?"
I sighed before I responded, "I'm actually on the way right now. There was a girl having car pro…."
"Wait….you met somebody?"
"No JT, it wasn't even like that. I met a girl with car problems from my apartment building so I gave her a ride to where she works. I was just being nice."
"Right…anyways, when are you going to be here?"
"I'm pulling in the parking lot now JT." and I hung up. I took a minute and sat in the car after I shut it off. Maybe JT was right. My brothers would be proud of me to re-open their club….but I had this guilt of doing so too. It wouldn't be the same without them, and even if I did open it up, how on Earth would I be able to go inside and relive the memories me and my brothers had there? This was going to be a difficult decision, but I think I have made up my mind. Sighs.
-Later that Evening-
If only walls could talk, what would they say about the old Kellers club? I never pictured myself coming back to this ole' place, but here I am. I guess in a way you could say it brings some sort of comfort being here, but it also rips my heart out to have to look around at everything that defined me and my brothers when they were alive.
"Okay V, so I looked around and I didn't see any major issues with the club. Repairs will all be affordable. It just mainly needs to cleaned up and stocked and then its ready to go…..Vincent? Did you hear me?"
I walked behind the bar to find a photo of me and my brothers and JT when the club first launched. Really some good times back then.
"Vincent?"
"I'm sorry JT, what were you saying?"
"Look, if its too painful for you to do this, tell me now. I'm not going to force you to open the club if you don't want to. Whatever decision you make, I'll back you up 100%. Its okay if you say no to the whole idea."
Looking back at the photo, seeing how happy this place made my brothers….I couldn't imagine myself letting them down by closing the doors forever, "I'm all in JT. Its fine….just got to adjust to it is all."
Uh oh, its now 7pm. If I'm going to this ridiculous speed dating thing I had better get ready. Also, since JT told me to go in the first place, he's going with me.
~Catherine~
I hugged my dad before I excited his car. "Thanks for the lift dad. I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Of course sweetie. You did really well, considering your eventful morning." he said as he chuckled a little.
"Very funny, dad. I love you."
As he pulled away, I waved goodbye and checked my watch. "Shit!" It was 7pm and Zeke would be there in an hour. I practically took the door down to get inside to get dressed in my casual jeans and my favorite t-shirt. I ran to the bathroom to put my hair up into a bun and to fix my make-up, then headed out the door. Why did this building have to have so many steps?
Finally, I made it outside. You know, this was the main thing that bothered me about Zeke. He never came to knock on my door and escort me to his car….I always had to wait for him outside, can't say I really blame him due to the large amounts of stairs….seriously, once in a while would be nice.
An hour had passed and here I am still waiting stupidly for Zeke to come get me for our date. "Where is he?" I said to myself, about to give up really. As I turned around to head back into the apartment building, I ran into….him.
Good going genius. Bravo.
"Hey, Catherine."
"Vincent….hi."
Act normal….act normal….ACT NORMAL!...kill the silence Cat! Ugh...I can't. What do I say to him?
"What are you doing….here?"
Slap yourself now Chandler…how stupid was that?
"Haha, I live here…remember? Are you waiting for someone or something?"
I start to feel fidgety and nervous. How did this man that I hardly know make such an impact on me? "Actually, yes. I'm waiting on my boyfriend to pick me up….he is late as a matter of fact so I was thinking about going back inside and cooking dinner."
"Oh. Well, I'll leave you to it then, see ya Catherine."
I swear if he says my name one more time with his musky, sensual, yet deep sexy voice again, I'm going to pass out!
A car from behind me honks the horn and I turned around to see Zeke, "Hey babe! You ready to go?" As I get inside of the car, Vincent too was opening his car door to leave as well. I could almost swear that he was looking at me as he entered his car.
~Vincent~
What a jerk she's with….and she's crazy to put up with him. No woman should have to wait for their date, and she sure shouldn't have to walk down to him. Pfft! Some gentleman. He doesn't even open the car door open for her, yet she drives off with him. What am I saying? Why should I even care? Oh well, let's go speed date. Ugh, it sounds more and more stupid each time I say it.
On the way to the Plaza, JT calls to let me know he's already there. This is going to be real interesting.
As I park the car I take a deep breath in before exiting the car. JT is standing at the front of the hotel and he has a huge smile on his face. Oh boy, this is a sign to turn around and walk back to my car and leave, but for him I'll force myself inside and check it out, "So I can leave at any time I want if I feel uncomfortable?"
"Yes big guy."
We walk into the conference room and there are a lot of people here. Guess some people are desperate, who knows. We get signed up and get our name tags and sit down beside each other. Lord please help me make it through tonight.
First set of women sat down and I couldn't help but laugh at the reaction of JT when a drag sat down in front of him. He bent towards me and said in a whisper, "Dude, it's a dude!"
The lady in front of me was somewhat older, but I didn't mind. We talked about current events and the weather…her likes, and mine. She was totally not my type. The bell rang and it was time for rotation and I shouted, "BELL" when I noticed it was the drag that sat in front of JT previously when he batted his eyes at me.
Several women had come through the rotation and I heard them call out, "Final Round." When the bell rung, I jumped up out of my seat, "Tori?"
"Hello, Vincent. How are you darling?"
"Not anything that concerns you of course. Why are you here?"
"Vincent, Vincent, Vincent….I could ask you the same question, but we all already know why you're here."
"I don't have to listen to this. It was nice seeing you Tori. JT, thanks for the invitation…but I'm out. I'll see you later."
What the hell was she doing? Why can't she accept that she was the one who screwed up and not me? I think I'll just go to the club and start cleaning to get my mind off of things.
~Catherine~
I wish I didn't leave with Zeke. He is driving me crazy.
"Cat? Are you listening?"
I nod but in reality, I'm trying to tune him out. As a matter of fact, I think I'm going to break up with him tonight because I really just don't have feelings for him at all. This is actually just a waist of my time and honestly I would rather be home, catching up with Tess with a glass of wine. Ugh. I check my watch again, think that this is the 10th time tonight. It's only 8:30…damn is time going by slow or what? Zeke continues blabbering about his ex and finally something snapped in me, "ZEKE! I'm sorry, but I just can't do this anymore. It's over, but thanks for the date." Wow, that was easy and I actually felt free.
As I'm walking home, I noticed Vincent walking down the street angrily. What happened to him? Should I follow him and ask? Of course I chose to start following after him and I know I really shouldn't, but there is just something about him that keeps me wondering about him. I hardly know this man and yet I feel some sort of pull to be around him. I hope that he's okay.
**A/N: Hey guys! I'm back with an all new story. This chapter may have seemed stupid or boring, but it was necessary for future chapters and I hope you understand. Please review (good or bad) and I hope that all of you are patient with me on this long ride into VinCat's fun and exciting story. Enjoy! XOXOXO!**