Chapter 4

"Gee, sorry guys, it looks like there isn't enough room for you! Would you like me to go into the other cab with ya?" said Betty with the sorriest expression on her face. She really was a great actress.

"Oh, no I wouldn't want you to do that! We can take the next cab, can't we Danny?" said Cate, trying her hardest not to smile.

"Yea, it would be no problem," agreed Danny.

"Alright, if you're sure! We'll wait up for you back at home. Danny, I expect you to take care of her!" She stuck her head back through the window of the car.

"No problem, I'll get her home safe," replied Danny with a wave as the cab drove off.

"So," said Cate turning to Danny, "looks like it's just you and me!"

"Yep, looks like it," he replied nervously.

"I'm really not in the mood to go home just yet. Would you like to take a walk on the beach with me for a little while?"

"Uh, sure."

The couple took off in the direction of the ocean. It was a warm night and the air tasted salty as the wind brought waves crashing in on the beach. It was a sight that took Cate's breath away.

"Isn't it gorgeous?" asked Cate as she slipped her arm into Danny's.

"Yes, it is." agreed Danny. Really, he wasn't even looking at the scenery. His arm tensed at her touch.

"Is something wrong, Danny? You seem a little tense. If you want to go back, it's fine. I just wanted to spend a little more time with you," said Cate. She was worried that she had dragged him out there against his will. Danny had always been too soft spoken to oppose anything.

"No, no, not at all. I love to take walks on the beach. Aww, C.C., you know me. I've never been much of a talker," Danny tried to brush it off. Cate knew this, but she had to admit that Danny was never really this tense around her.

"Then we don't have to talk…I'm fine with just being with you," she turned to look at him. Danny caught her eye for a moment but then looked away.

"Let's sit," Danny said quickly.

"Alright," said Cate confused, but nonetheless complying. She took off her heels and sifted the sand between her toes.

Danny was debating on what to say. He wasn't sure if he should admit to the feelings he had for her, or to just keep them to himself. On one hand, they had been best friends for a very long time and he wouldn't want to compromise that (owning to the fact that she may be affronted by his un-brother-like affection). On the other hand, she might return his feelings…but what would Rafe say? Would he be happy that the cousin he adored so much settled for his best friend? Or would he not approve on the grounds that he wouldn't want to have to choose sides if, for whatever reason, things didn't work out and they became angry with each other. It was all far too complicated for his liking.



Cate, however, had already made up her mind to tell Danny that she was in love with him, but couldn't exactly find the words.

"Danny," she began, "I don't know exactly how to say this, but…"she stopped. Danny looked up into her eyes and she could no longer find any words. They both began to lean in for what Cate knew was going to be a kiss. Their lips met and it was the most wonderful feeling she had ever experienced. She kissed many guys before him, but this one left all of them behind. She lifted her hand and touched his face and then travelled down to his neck to pull him in closer. That was when-

"CC.," Danny broke off the kiss, "Cate, listen, I-I just don't want to ruin our friendship. I don't have any idea what Rafe would say about all this, and-"

"Danny," Cate cut him off, "I'm a grown woman, if you haven't realized, and I know what I want. What I want most right now, is you," she leaned in closer to him, but he backed away.

"-Yes, but that's besides the point that I'm trying to make here. This…us, just can't happen. You're like a little sister to me and even though you're extremely pretty and smart and funny and, well, wonderful… that doesn't mean that I should start anything with ya-"

"-Danny, what's wrong? If I'm all that you claim, then why should everything else matter? Just because we've known each other for so long doesn't mean that we can't be something more than just friends. I'm not your little sister; I am a woman who's in love with you. Can't you see that?" Cate was beginning to become angry at Danny's dithering. Her passionate gaze locked Danny in place.

"I, uh, Cate, you're still young-"

"-I'm twenty-one," snapped Cate.

"I'm still four years older than you and I have more experience. Trust me when I say that you don't want this."

"You'd think I would know what's in my own heart! Listen, if you don't want me then just say it! Stop wasting my time with these foolish excuses! It's either, 'yes, I love you,' or 'no, I don't love you.'" Cate said testily.

"I-I," Danny stammered, abashed at her passion.

Cate shoved her feet back in her heels and stood up from where she was sitting. She dusted the sand off her dress angrily.

"Right!"

"Cate, no, believe me, I do… want you, but I know that if it doesn't work out then that may ruin what we have now," Danny stood up, stumbling.

"That's a chance I'm willing to take," Cate stared him down.

"I-I," Danny stammered and ran a hand through his hair, a nervous habit he'd gotten into.

Cate looked incredulously at him, like she was utterly puzzled by his hesitance.

"For once in your life, take a chance. Stop playing it safe and actually do something." her voice softened.



"Don't make this any harder than it actually is, Cate."

"Alright," she whispered. "I'm sorry you accept defeat so readily," she turned on her heel and began walking towards the street.

"Wait, Cate, C.C., come back!"

"No, I'll be fine. I would like to walk alone, if you please."

"No, you shouldn't be walking by yourself at night!"

"Oh ho, don't tell me what to do," Cate snapped back, gaining some of her fire back. She quickened her pace.

"Cate, stop! Cate!" Danny ran after her and grabbed her arm.

"Danny, let me go!" she struggled to get out his grip.

"No," Danny simply said.

"I swear, if you don't let me go I'll scream!" She looked up at Danny and he looked back at her. He had a hurt expression on his face. Cate stopped her squirming.

"Listen, Danny," she sighed, "I'm sorry I put things so harshly, but, understand me when I say that you've always been the most indecisive person I know and it can be extremely frustrating sometimes...like now, for example."

"I guess so…especially when you are so impulsive yourself," Danny laughed lightly. Cate smiled at the comment.

"So…Although my feelings have not much changed, for your sake, I call a truce. Friends?" She held out her hand.

"Best of friends, as always," he took her hand and shook it. The electric feeling of her touch coursed through his hand, but he decided to ignore those feelings. His self control amazed him.

"It's better this way…isn't it?" thought Danny.

"What could I have expected anyways? Danny was always too cautious when it came to getting close to someone…guess this is just how things have to be," thought Cate sadly.

"Now, will you let me walk you home?"

"I guess so," Cate replied.

The two walked in total silence, all the way up to the pathway that lead up to Cate's house.

"Don't walk me to my door," said Cate as she stopped in front of the footpath.

"Why?"

"Well, that's what a date does, and we've already agreed that you could be nothing of the sort…we could never be…"



"I understand…goodnight C.C.," said Danny. He just stood there awkwardly for a moment, deciding whether or not he should give her a hug or just shake her hand.

"Goodnight." Cate instinctively wrapped him in a hug and Danny uneasily patted her back.

Cate turned away and walked up the path. The lights were still on in the house and as she went in through the door she saw the girls looking out at her through the window.

"Hey girls, thanks for waiting up," said Cate as she walked right past them.

"Whoa, hold on there! What was that?" called out Betty.

"What was what?" she said, her back facing them.

"That!"

"I'm sorry, I don't know what you're talking about," said Cate, her voice quivering.

"That hug, darlin'. I'm sorry, but you northerners are crazy. When you end a date you kiss!"

"It wasn't a date. It was nothing like that…we just talked," said Cate dejectedly.

"So, it didn't work out?" asked Martha, the first to notice Cate's uneasiness.

"No, it didn't work out. He doesn't see me like that," the tears welled up in her eyes.

"Honey, yes he does! He's just shy is all! Those type of guys need to be worked on," said Betty.

"No, no, you don't understand. He could never really see me as anything more than a friend. If he had then he would've been more willing to fight for me. But, as it is, he quit even before he began," the tears were flowing more freely down her face now.

"Aww, honey! Come here," Sandra turned her around and wrapped her in a comforting hug as she broke into sobs.

"Shh. I know, I know. You're the type that gives your whole heart to the one you love; unconditionally, resolutely," soothed Evelyn, rubbing Cate's back. "I'm sure he will come to his senses eventually. Nobody who realizes how truly special it is to have your heart would stay away for long."

"Yea, I saw the way he looked at you tonight. He must have some powerful self-control for bein' able to resist you," piped up Martha.

"N-n-no, he will n-n-never do anything because he's afraid to loose our friendship. He w-w-wants things to remain the s-same as it has always been," stammered Cate.

"Only time will tell," consoled Evelyn.

"You should hit the sack. You'll feel much better in the morning," said Barbra, taking Cate by the arm and leading her to her room.

"I doubt it," said Cate gloomily between hiccups.



"Yes, yes, you will! What do ya say to going shoppin' tomorrow? It's the best therapy out there!" sang Martha cheerily.

"I don't feel like doing anything tomorrow. I just want to lay in bed all day."

"No, that won't do. You need to get out. I'm coming to wake you up bright and early!"

"I really don't feel-"

"Well, we'll see how you feel about it in the mornin'," cut off Martha.

Cate sighed and went to her room. She turned on the lamp and began readying herself for bed. Cate tugged at her dress and it fell down about her ankles. Stepping out of it, she retrieved her nightgown from the bureau and eased it down over her head.

Cate knew that most would call her irrational for being so dramatic, but one could be assured that when it came to emotion, she was sure to feel it ten times stronger than anyone else. It was her nature to be so.

As she slipped underneath the sheets, she switched off the lamp, leaving the whole room in total darkness. The only sound to be heard was that of the waves breaking on the beach.

Three hours later, after some silent tears, she began to feel drowsy, and soon fell asleep.

At least, in this state, she was able to feel some sort of relief.