AN and Disclaimer: Thanks to the great feedback I've been receiving for my first story "A Night at Padua High," I decided to write this as the next installment. Reading my other story is not necessary, but it is the first part of this world I'm creating using ABC Family's '10 Things I Hate About You" characters. I don't own any of the characters. Hope you enjoy this installment. It will be longer than the first.

Chapter 1

The hallways of Padua High School were buzzing with excited voices. No one in the school seemed unaffected, not even the faculty. No one, that is, but Kat Stratford. She was standing in front of her locker, trying to block out all noise while she switched her books for her next class. Rolling her eyes at the immaturity around her, she checked to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything before closing her locker with a loud bang.

"What's put you in such a bad mood, Katerina?" Patrick asked with a knowing smirk on his face.

He had been watching her from down the hall, surrounded by her peers, but not acknowledging any of them. In the couple of weeks since the evacuation, Kat and Patrick had come to an understanding. They could hold short conversations in public, but they would try to downplay the changes that were taking place between them. They both knew their peers would go rumor crazy if they were seen hanging out together too often without an argument starting. Since they hadn't felt a need to argue so far, seeing each other in small doses at school seemed the best solution. Being part of the rumor mill did not sound like a positive situation to either of them. They liked the privacy their reputations gave them. That didn't mean they only talked to each other at school, though.

Kat turned around and, after looking at those around her and seeing they weren't paying any attention to her or Patrick, gave him a small smile and replied, "You know exactly what."

"Aww, are you upset that you don't have a date to tonight's dance? From what I hear it's going to be an interesting night. Plenty of photo opportunities for the head yearbook photographer."

"I know, that's why I'm required to go. I plan on going in, taking a few nauseating photographs of fifteen year old girls in Playboy bunny outfits and guys trying to channel Johnny Depp, and then head straight home and crashing on the couch with 'The Feminine Mystique'."

"So you have nothing to say about being dateless?"

"Why would I want or need a date for a dance I plan to be at for twenty minutes, tops?"

"No girl in the history of high school doesn't want a date to a school dance, no matter how little she cares for her popularity."

Kat had already admitted to herself that if Patrick had asked her to go- as a friend only, of course- to Padua's Halloween Dance, she would've said yes. That hadn't happened though, so she assumed that he had wanted an actual date. Considering how high school dances usually ended at after-parties with many empty rooms, she didn't need to wonder why. And if it hurt her a bit to think of him hooking up with some random chic, well then she would just open her new pint of Ben and Jerry's Cookies-n-Cream ice cream tonight when crashing on her couch. She wasn't ready for anything more than friendship, which meant she had no say in Patrick's love life. She could, however, bug him about it.

"Well I plan on being part of a lot of unique history, so I might as well start tonight. What about you, Mr. Popular? Which lucky lady will be on your arm, and motorcycle, tonight?"

Patrick inwardly grimaced, but kept his trademark smirk in place. Plenty of his female peers had already propositioned him about the dance and various after parties, but he just hadn't been into it with any of them. They had all seemed too eager to go with him, as if his bad boy image were a boost to their own reputation. He hadn't minded being used before, making sure not to cross the line with any of them he felt nothing but amusement for. Now there was someone he knew he could have a fun time with, but she had made it clear that only friendship was on the table for the time being. He still didn't have a date to the dance, and though he knew he could get one at the snap of his fingers, he had decided that going alone would be his best bet. It left him available to hang out with anyone he wanted to; especially a certain brunette with a killer attitude that he found adorable.

Not wanting to give away his inner musings, he answered with ease, "I've decided going solo is the way to go. Why limit myself to one chic?"

"There is no way you've always stayed by your date at these dances. You're a ladies man."

Her assessment bothered him. He didn't want her to think he couldn't be faithful in a relationship. Yes, he had dated a lot of different girls, but he never cheated on any of them who he was officially with. And he would never cheat on a girl like Kat.

"I might have danced with more than just my date, but I always leave with who I brought." He realized his mistake after the words left his mouth. That statement could be taking in a lot more sexual way that he had intended. Looking at the small frown on her face, he knew she had misunderstood him. She had no right to be angry though, so he refused to defend himself. Her next words proved his belief in how she had interpreted his words.

"So you are heading to an after-party when the dance finishes?"

"I might. I'm not sure yet if it'll be worth the gas to drive to Chastity's place."

"Chastity is hosting a party? Damn it, I am so screwed."

"Why?"

"Because there is no way Bianca won't do whatever necessary to get to that party, and I can't just let her go with her date."

Patrick respected how much she cared for her sister, considering how different they were in personality. But now that he knew she would end up at an after-party, the rules of the night changed. Kat might not be aware of it, but he had noticed plenty of guys checking her out, and knew they would have asked her to the dance if she were more approachable. Luckily for him, she wasn't. Unfortunately for him, he knew that there would be alcohol at this party, and though he doubted Kat would get drunk or even drink, he knew that wouldn't be the case with the guys who went. She might need her own protection, whether she liked it or not. Knowing Kat would not be open to that being a good reason to go with him to the dance and after-party, he decided not to mention that as the main reason for asking her to the dance.

Ignoring the niggling thought in his head that protecting her wasn't his main reason for wanting to take her to the dance and party, he concentrated on his present dilemma. How does one ask Kat Stratford to a dance without getting a punch in the gut or an all out rejection?