Patrick pulled up to the Stratford residence in the yellow Studebaker, and got out. He halfway thought of honking the horn to tease Kat, but, he'd had enough lectures from his Dad about how a father of daughters would notappreciate that. He walked to the door and rang the bell, waiting tensely, when Dr. Stratford answered.

"Ah, hello." he said, eyeing him up.

"Ahem, ah, hi, Dr. Stratford. Is Kat home?"

Dr. Stratford nodded, moving aside for him to come in, but never taking his eyes off of him. When Kat came down the stairs, her hair pulled back and tucked under, wearing a long swishy denim skirt, he smiled, but then cleared his throat when he saw how Patrick was smiling, and walking forward...

Patrick took Kat's hand. "You look... really nice." he said finally.

"Thanks." she blushed.

"So, ah... um..." Dr. Stratford frowned, not sure of this young man's name.

"Patrick." he supplied helpfully.

"All right then, Patrick... Where are you going with my little girl?"

Patrick swallowed. "Olive Garden?"

"Ah, nice then. And, what time will you have her home by?"

"Um..." he looked at Kat with searching eyes, hoping she'd finally speak up.

"I know when curfew is, Dad. Cut out the third degree."

"And, curfew is?"

"11:00, not a minute after." she said in a robotic monotone, which made Patrick smirk.

They walked out the door, and even after it closed, she could hear Bianca's sketchers bouncing on the floor and the little squeal of joy.

"Sorry about my dad... he has this disease where he's... insane."

Patrick chuckled. "It's okay. Note I haven't introduced you the mad house I live in yet."

She raised an eyebrow in surprise when he opened the door for her. She got in carefully, smiling when there was a fully bloomed peach-colored rose on the seat. When he got in, she was smiling at him, smelling the rose.

"Always thought red was overdone." he shrugged.

"So, this car..."

"My dad's." he admitted. "Didn't want to take you out the first time on the motercycle. Besides, the motorcycle doesn't have a backseat." he smirked.

Her eyes grew wide, then she swatted at him.

"Okay, so... you know who my nuthouse residents are. Tell me about your situation."

Patrick concentrated on the road. Most girls didn't really ask him, but most girls that dated him wanted him as arm candy or to jump his bones. Which, didn't bother him much. But, with Kat, it was different. He liked that it was different with her...

"I have two older sisters." he said. "Maggie is the oldest, and she has a son, CJ, who's 35. You know him; he teaches history."

"Mr. Barnes is your nephew?"

Patrick nodded. "Yup, not a fact I advertise. And, my other older sister, Cate, had three kids, Rory, Kerry and Bridget. Bridget's older than me, too. Well, two months, but still. My folks... I took them by surprise."

"Obviously." Kat smiled. He had taken her by surprise, too...

Kerry had decided a walk in the evening air would do her some good. She had to get away from the crowd, from the fact that the entire familyknew that she'd lost her virginity. It was too weird, but other than Bridget throwing the occasional "At least I'm still a virgin!" in her face, she knew it wouldn't really get brought up.

She sat down on the front lawn, closing her eyes as the smell of the mandivilla enveloped her senses, until suddenly, she smelled something else. Something familiar and comforting...

"Peanut butter cookies?" she asked aloud.

She opened her eyes and saw Kyle, standing there.

"We should talk." he said, sitting down next to her.

Kerry nodded.

"I have questions... I think I have a right to know a few things, but I stopped by the bakery and got your favorite."

Kerry smiled faintly; Kyle was the only one who remembered her favorite. Her own mother would either cook Rory or Bridget's favorite, claiming it to be Kerry's.

"You are too unbelievably sweet for words. Much better than I deserve right now."

"Yeah, I know." Kyle said bluntly. "But, I just wanna know some things."

"Like what?"

"Well... for starters, why him and not me?"

Kerry bit her lower lip.

"Because, for the first time, I had a taste of freedom, and he had a bottle of wine. I thought maybe he was special; I was wrong. He was a jerk. And, realizing that hurt alot. But, not as much as realizing I wrecked us for nothing."

"Kerry... I wanna forgive you, okay? I wanna be friends... but, I can't just..."

"I understand, Kyle. Honestly." she said softly.

"Look, we'll see each-other around, okay?" he said, kissing the top of her head. "Bye, Ker."

And, as he walked off, she threw herself into the wet dewy grass and sobbed...