A/N: I'm pretending that Kat never decided to convert her car. Why? Because it doesn't fit with my story.

Disclaimer: 10 Thing I Hate About You doesn't belong to me. I'm just taking them out to play.

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The school day had ended at Padua High and the only people who remained were busy attending their various practices. The campus seemed to be running like a calm, well oiled machine which is why the girlish form stalking angrily across the parking lot seemed so out of place. Kat had stayed after school to meet with a teacher about a test that she had questions on. As she stormed along she caught the attention of the only other person there who wasn't involved with an afterschool activity. Patrick Verona.

One of his hobbies had always been people watching. The absurdities that people got into on a daily basis provided hours of amusement for him. It was something that never got old. There were of course certain people that he watched more than others. Kat Stratford was one of them. He found her interesting. Entertaining. A little bit of a mystery. So when he saw her coming across the parking lot, shooting daggers from her eyes and making a beeline for her car he decided to stop and watch the show.

Kat strode angrily out of the building and towards her car. She couldn't believe some of the people who called themselves teachers here. The idiocy of her afterschool encounter had only been the icing on the cake of her very bad day. Her normal outlook could hardly be considered cheery and by now it was downright blood thirsty. If there had been anyone left to get in her way she would have gladly unleashed her anger upon them. Finally she reached her car, unlocking her door and getting in. She sat there for a moment before jamming her keys in and twisting. Her car made a sound as it tried to turn over and then with a loud clang and a shudder it stopped, expelling a large cloud of smoke from under the hood. In exasperation Kat let out a screech and slammed her head into the steering wheel in front of her.

Of course he was watching this. Part of him laughed a bit inside at seeing Kat Stratford, a person so normally in control abandoned by her car and on a day when she looked like she just really needed to get out of here. But the other part of him felt bad. It looked like her day had been crap and that she just wanted to go home.

It was official. Her car, her beloved car, the car she had nursed all the way from Ohio was officially, irreversibly dead. Immediately there were so many things streaking through her head that she was overwhelmed. A big thought was about her car. This thing was her baby, ever since she had picked it out at the back of the used car lot. If it was really and truly gone for good what was she going to do? Another though pounding through her head was how was she going to get home? Her day had already been so crappy, she didn't need this to happen too. As she sat there with her forehead pressed against the aged leather of her steering wheel she just wanted to let it out. She just wanted to let go and cry.

"It looks like you need some help there Kitten." His voice appeared next to her from outside the driver's side window.

She turned her head slightly, cracked an eye to look at him for a moment before shutting it again. "What do you want Verona. I'm not in the mood for your mocking today."

Her voice sounded strained to his ears. "Don't be so defensive Kitty, I'm not always out to get you. I actually came over her because I saw the temper tantrum your car threw and I thought I would help you out and take a look at it." He paused and watched her for a reaction.

"My name is Kat."

"Pop your trunk" he said with a smirk.

Damn him. Was the only thing she could think. Coming over here to witness her misery, bringing it to light and inserting himself into her business with his smoky voice and rogue-ish ways. Leaning over she grabbed a crowbar from under the passenger's seat, handing it to him.

As he accepted the crowbar his eyebrow cocked up in question. "It doesn't open normally?" his voice was a little shocked.

"This car is older than you. Don't expect great things." Her voice was missing its normal sarcastic quality as the strain of the day took its toll.

Patrick smirked as he went to go struggle with the hood of her car. He watched her head fall back onto the steering wheel. After prying the hood open and taking a look around inside he went back to tell her the news. "Well I've got some bad news for you."

The look Kat had on her face was one of resignation. "Well don't hold out on me. My baby's dead isn't it."

"Right now? Yeah. Yeah it is. But I think if you give me a week I might be able to resurrect her." His voice held a hint of pride.

"How do you know this much about cars?"

"My uncle runs a business and I'm in the shop class here at school."

"Well.." she spoke hesitantly. "Thanks for taking a look for me. I appreciate that."

He knew how much her gratitude was costing her. "No problem. Come on. I'll give you a ride home." The look that crossed her face was priceless in his mind.

"Are you out of your mind?" The bite in her voice was back. "That thing is a death trap. I want to live to tomorrow. Thanks anyway though."

"Oh so if I don't give you a lift home how exactly are you getting there?" He leaned against her car, smirking when he considered her options. She could accept a ride home with him on his motorcycle, wait until her sister Bianca got out of cheerleading practice and get a ride home with her and her dad after his work or walk. And if anything he bet she didn't want to go and walk home eight miles. He could almost see the wheels turning in her head.

"Well…" She paused. "I'll walk home. It's a gorgeous day out and a little exercise never hurt anyone. Maybe you should try it sometime Verona." What a laugh that was and she knew it. If anyone exercised regularly it was him. She knew she had caught herself admiring the way he filled out shirts once or twice.

"Nice try Kitten. You don't want to walk home and you know it." He positioned himself in her window, hulking down at her with his back rounded. Subtly flexing his muscles so as to fill out his tee just that little bit more. "Come on now. Let me drive you home. I promise nothing will happen to you. You know that you can trust me to get you there safe."

Her head cocked sarcastically to the side. "This coming from the man who is rumored to enjoy the taste of human flesh. How can I really be sure you won't steal me away somewhere so you can feast?"

A low laugh rumbled deep in his chest at that. He leaned through the window, crossing straight through her personal space, his long arms nearly brushing against her as he reached into the passenger's seat and snagged her bag. Withdrawing himself from the window he started walking towards his bike. "Come on Kat. Let me give you a ride home."

Her heart was pounding. He had been there so close to her, shattering her personal space and the funny thing was she didn't mind. As he walked away she sighed in resignation. Today was just not her day apparently. She climbed out of her car, following Patrick to the death trap he was so fond of. She watched him climb on and turn the key, bringing the beast to life. "Where's your helmet?" she said over the rumble of the engine.

"It was so nice today I went without. Don't worry Kitty; I won't let anything happen to you." He gestured for her to get on behind him.

There were two things right now that she would never admit to him. The first was that somewhere deep, deep inside she like when he called her pet names, even if she didn't think he always meant them in the nicest of ways. Second was that she was afraid of riding a motorcycle, even with him. "My name is Kat." She said stalling for time.

He looked at her smugly, silently calling her out. "Let's go, do you want your dad to wonder why your home so late?"

Sighing she conceded defeat. Throwing her leg over, she settled herself on the rumbling machine, carefully putting her hands on his waist. She didn't want him to get any ideas.

"You ready to go?" He looked over his shoulder at her.

Kat rolled her eyes. "Let's get this show on the road."

"Ok then, hold on." He revved the engine, taking off with a bit more force than really necessary. He was rewarded though when he heard her squeak slightly behind him and her hold on him increased. Now he could feel her hands splayed across his stomach, gripping his shirt as she tucked her head into his shoulder blade. Apparently she was actually afraid of something. He stored this knowledge away for later. He decided that he liked her this way. Not quite as punchy and raring to go as always, a little more likely to let him take the reins. He wondered what exactly in her day had caused this aura of defeat to settle on her.

They drove in silence across town until they reached Kats house. As he pulled up in front of it and killed the engine Kat stumbled off, almost ready to kiss the ground. She turned back to him almost feeling shy for a moment before regaining her usual attitude. "Thanks for the ride Patrick." She flashed him a small smile before turning and walking towards her house.

He watched her go. "Anytime" he said. "Anytime."