Kate stands at the mirror and takes in her reflection. She's not sure who this girl is looking back at her with her slightly swollen and recently kissed lips; so pink in their hue that lipstick is futile at this point. She's been kissed before, but never like that. E-V-E-R. She reaches up and touches her lips as the memory of the kiss comes flooding back to her. She runs her fingers through her mused hair and fixes the strands in disarray and smoothes down her dress. She'd better hurry before her friends come rushing back in after her. She told them she would meet them out on the dance floor. And that she just needed a few minutes to pull herself together. More like a lifetime. That kiss split her in two. Satisfied with her appearance she takes in a deep breath and blows it out quickly through her mouth as she pulls herself together and exits the bathroom.

She steps into the hallway and comes to an abrupt halt. She can't believe her luck. Leaning against the wall with his hands shoved deep into his pockets stands Rick. He catches sight of her and reveals a slow lazy smile which sets off a flight of butterflies in her stomach. And like two pulls of a magnet, Kate walks toward him.

"Hey."

"Hey yourself," Kate responds softly as she steps into his personal space.

"So," Rick starts as he reaches out and traces his finger down her forearm and clasps his hand in hers as heat spreads quickly up her arm.

Kate matches his pose and leans against the wall as she reaches up with her other hand and begins to toy with the edge of his shirt. Rick glances down and watches as her thumb and forefinger caresses a button. He can think of other places he would like to feel her touch. And the memory of her hand ghosting up his abdomen back on the dance floor comes rushing back to the forefront of his mind. He longs to feel her delicate hands against his skin again. He closes his eyes as traitorous thoughts take flight inside his head.

Kate looks up at Rick and her finger stops idling the button. She stands there perplexed as she tries to figure out why he has his eyes closed. And just as quickly he opens them and she draws in a quick breath. His eyes have darkened a hundred shades deeper and something else she can't quite place flashes across his eyes. He drops his gaze to her lips and she draws them inward as suddenly her mouth has become dry from the intensity of his stare. Shit. Heaven help me. She clears her throat and licks her lips as she starts to speak.

"Rick-," she loses her train of thought as he cups the side of her face and runs in his thumb across the moisture of her lips.

"God, Kate, what you do to me," he husks as he lifts up her chin and seals his lips to hers. Kate's hands drop to his waist as he quickly deepens the kiss and plunges his tongue into the farthest recess of her mouth eliciting a whimper from her as she tightens her hold on his waist. She tangles her tongue with his and slides right over his and into his mouth and drags the tip along the upper grooves of his mouth.

He groans then pivots and turns his body into hers and pushes her up against the wall. Which she is grateful for as her legs have completely turned to Jell-O. He breaks the kiss and trails his lips across her cheek to the lower shell of her ear and tangles his tongue with the loop of her earring and soft lobe of her ear. And fuck if it isn't a complete turn on. She runs her hands under his t-shirt and up his broad chest stopping when she reaches his nipples. Gone is the shy persona of Kate as she gently brushes the edges of her thumbnails across them causing them to pebble and reach into her touch.

He shudders and drags his tongue down her neck stopping when he comes to the rapidly beating pulse point just above the above the juncture of her neck and shoulder; he clamps his lips down and begins to suck. Lord, this guy and his very talented mouth. She startles as she feels his hands come up between them and cup her breasts. And gawd if she doesn't come unglued right there.

Suzanne scans the dance floor looking for Kate. Certainly she isn't still in the bathroom by now. She looks over at Monica as she grinds up against Dean to the beat of the music. With no sight of Kate, Suzanne weaves her way off the floor in search of her friend. She straightens her blue jean mini skirt as someone bumps into her, nearly knocking her on her ass. She wobbles in her silver platform shoes as she reaches out to the nearest person and steadies herself.

Of course, she had to grab onto a gorgeous hunk with jet black hair and piercing jade green eyes. And with a wink and dimple of a smile he turns back around to resume conversing with his obvious date. Keep moving before you make a spectacle of yourself. She giggles as she gets through the throng of people in her way.

She reaches the hallway toward the bathrooms and stops dead in her tracks. Well I'll be damned. Kate definitely made it out of the bathroom alright. She stands there, rooted to the spot, as she watches the two go at it against the wall. If someone would have told her Kate was making out hot-n-heavy with a guy in a public place she would have laughed out loud at the ridiculous notion. Kate. Innocent….perfect….top of her class, Kate. No-way. Not wanting to be caught as a voyeur, Suzanne shrugs and turns on her heel and walks away. She blinks and shakes her head as she tries to dispel the image of the two from her head.

Kate really should pull away before he leaves a hickey on her neck that she doesn't want to have to explain to her dad. But the sensation of his mouth on her neck and his hands at her breasts has her in a whirlwind of lust as she finds herself silently chanting, PleaseDon'tStopPleaseDon'tStopPleaseDon'tStop.

She barely registers a voice that says, "Man get a room." And just as quickly Rick pulls away from her neck but doesn't pull away from her body. Her rapid breathing has her chest bumping up against his as he drags his hands down to rest at her waist. WOW! Oh, my God, I can't believe I just did that in the hall! What in the world has come over me? Rick. That's what or rather WHOM. And if she's truly honest with herself. She wants to reach up and pull his face back down to hers and start round two. As if reading her thoughts. He bends down and whispers into her ear.

"Let's get out of here."

Kate sucks in a breath and takes a step back so she can look at his face. Searching intently for any sign that, Heaven forbid, he is joking with her. His eyes bore into hers. So intensely that her stomach does a flip-flop. No, definitely not toying with her. She can't believe that she could possibly affect a guy like him enough that he would want to take her to a place that it's just the two of them.

He reaches out and grabs hold of her hand and rubs the back of her knuckles with his thumb. And just like that, she is back under his spell.

"Yes." Kate pauses as she let's that simple word speak for itself. She's afraid to say too much and break the spell. Because she is more than ready to leave with him. She wants the magic to continue. Her body is still tingling from his touch. Nerve endings she didn't even know she had, made hyperaware by him. Because no high school boy ever made her feel the things she just had.

"Really?"

"Yes, really. Now come on before I change my mind," she says as she tightens her grip in his.

His eyes sparkle with the news as a cheeky grin spreads across his face. He leans in and places a quick kiss to the top of her head.

"Let's go find my friends so I can say good-bye," she states.

"Okay, don't let go of my hand, while I lead the way. I don't want to lose you in the crowd."

"You're not gonna lose me. Now go!" she exclaims as she pushes against his shoulder to get him to move.

They work their way through the crowd until Kate spots Monica sitting at the table deep in conversation with Suzanne and Dean.

Suzanne looks up just as they draw close to their table. She casts a knowing look toward Kate. One that says, I-know-what-you-two-have-been-up-to. And if Kate wasn't so ready to vacate the building she would have the decency to blush. But she isn't quite sure what or if Suzanne saw anything. But the look tells her that she must've seen them.

"Hey Monica," Kate begins as she reaches the table. "I wanted to let you know that I'm leaving."

"Leaving? With whom?" Monica replies just as she catches sight of Rick.

"With me," Rick replies.

Monica looks over at Suzanne to gauge her reaction. Suzanne shrugs and stays quite as a smile blooms across her face. Monica turns around and scrutinizes Kate's face. Now Kate has the decency to blush as the weight of Monica's stare lands on Kate's slightly swollen and lipstick smudged lips. And like a best friend would do, Monica has the grace to not push Kate.

"Are you sure?" Monica asks as she stops staring at her friend's lips and looks up at her eyes.

"Yeah, I'm sure," Kate responds.

Monica looks over at Rick. "You'll take her home?"

"Yeah, I'll take her home," Rick states.

"I just want to make sure. I don't want anything to happen to her," Monica reinforces her concern over her friend.

"Nothing's going to happen to me, " Kate responds curtly as she starts to get frustrated by her friend.

"Kate, don't be so sure, nothing, is going to happen. 'Cause looking at you two, I have no doubt that something is about to happen. I'm just looking out for you. Besides, I would never forgive myself if it did. And your dad would have my head," Monica states as her big brown eyes implore Kate to understand where she's coming from.

Kate rolls her eyes at her friend. "Monica, I am fine, trust me-"

"Oh I do, it's him I don't know well enough to trust," Monica interrupts.

"Monica, she'll be fine," Dean interrupts. "I've known Rick for a long time and he would never harm your friend. Believe me."

Monica looks over at Dean and then back to Kate. She does believe him. She just wants Kate to understand she is only looking out for her. And doesn't want her to do something she will regret in the morning. For the friend she knows, would never rush into a decision like she is obviously making.

"Monica, I have to go. If Rick is going to drop me home I can't go back too late. You know how my dad is. I don't want him worrying over me."

"Yeah I know how your dad is Kate. Okay. Okay." Monica states as she stands and hugs her friend. "Please be careful Kate," she whispers into her ear.

Kate hugs her friend tightly, "I will. Promise." She pulls back and grabs her clutch from the table. She kisses Monica on the cheek as she steps away.

Rick grabs Kate by the hand as they start to walk away from the table.

"Oh and Kate. Don't do anything I would do," Monica states as she winks at her friend.

"A girl never kisses and tells. Isn't that your motto, Mo?" Kate replies.

"Of course it is, it just doesn't apply to you. Now go. And Kate-"

Kate looks back over her shoulder at Monica with her eyebrow raised.

"I want full details tomorrow!"

Kate's face flushes pink. For her mind immediately goes back to her up against the wall moment with Rick. Yeah, not likely. She isn't about to share her encounter with Rick. At least for awhile. Not until she can stop blushing over it.