Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews thus far! Let me know if the characters are a little off; like I said, it's been a while since I've written Kat or Patrick. Um...I think I promised plot in this chapter. And I intended to write some angst or drama. But...Kat and Patrick seemed to have other ideas. There will be drama coming soon though!
Disclaimer: Nah, I don't own anything. Sad, but true.
Life was falling into a steady routine. Kat loved her classes; the work was challenging but not too far out of her depth. It was comfortable. Patrick had found a job pretty quickly and was living in an old but well-kept little studio apartment in town, which he loved. The campus rules said Kat had to live on campus her first year, which was fine, since neither of them really felt ready for cohabitation. On the weekends, though, when she wasn't busy studying, she usually headed to Patrick's for a movie (or other things). They were both reveling in their newfound freedom.
"Do you mind?" Kat asked harshly. It was a Wednesday evening, and they were in her dorm room. Kat's books were spread out all over the bed, with her in the middle of them, and Patrick was sitting cross-legged on the floor, leaning against the bed, with Kat's computer. "I need my laptop to write a paper..you can catch up on Gossip Girl later," she added, her voice now gently teasing.
Patrick sneered at the idea of watching such an insipid show, but admitted he was only watching videos; nothing important. "Not having cable sucks," he said, handing the computer to Kat over his shoulder.
"You could try reading," she suggested.
"I think we both know that's not going to happen."
"Come on. You liked Slaughterhouse 5, right? You could...you could...try..." her voice trailed off, and Patrick turned around to look at her.
"Are you okay?" he asked. He had seen that look before. Not often, he thought. But he definitely remembered that look. It was the look she got on their first date...just before she yakked all over. Before she even answered him, he handed her the trash can that sat by her nightstand. Grateful, she grabbed it from him just in time.
Patrick shook his head. "You see what happens when you work so hard? Look at me, I never get sick. And do you know why?"
"Shut up," Kat said, her head still hung over the waste basket. "I hate you."
Patrick smiled and moved a few books so he could sit next to Kat. He put his hand on the back of her head, stroking her hair gently. "Come on, let's get you to bed."
"But my paper..." she protested feebly.
"Will be there in the morning," he finished her sentence for her as he gathered up the remaining textbooks and dropped them on the floor, then took the trashcan from Kat and moved it to the side. He would clean it up as soon as he got Kat to bed. She crawled under the covers, still fully clothed, and asked for some water. Patrick ran to the bathroom to grab a glass for her. While he was in there, he could hear her grabbing the trashcan again and repeating her earlier digestive pyrotechnics. He shook his head in sympathy. Most college kids puked their guts out because they were partying hard. Kat was just working herself too hard and not sleeping enough, he thought. She was bound to get sick eventually.
"Here," he said, handing Kat the water (while standing a reasonable distance away, she noted).
"Thanks," she said, and greedily gulped th glass down. She took a few deep breaths, and nodded her head. "I think I'm feeling a little better," she said.
"Good. Now, get some sleep, and you'll really feel better in the morning."
"Sure, sure," she said, waving a hand, "But you don't have to stay with me. I mean, I'll be fine."
Patrick grinned. He knew what she was trying to pull. And he was one step ahead of her. "Oh, yeah, of course. I'm gonna go home and let you rest. And to make sure you do rest..." he said, unplugging her laptop and tucking it under arm, "I'm sure you won't mind if I take this with me." He was out the door before Kat could protest, but he could almost hear her indignation as he closed the door behind him. He just laughed. Finally, he thought, a chance to catch up on all the shows I've missed!
Endnote: Sorry, it's kind of short, I know. But I figured the quick update would make up for that, right?