The Class Gets Confused

A/N—This was going to be the end, but it was getting too long so I decided to split it up into two parts. On another note, I'm not sure I could write a whole Richie/Lina story, but I have to say they are a lot of fun to write. Especially Richie. Thanks for all the reviews and kind words.

Chapter 7:

Kat groaned and turned over in bed as loud noises started to invade her dream. There was a banging and what sounded like yelling. And screaming, there was definitely screaming. Somebody was screaming her name.

"KAT, are you okay!? Are you in pain!? Did you break something? Can you open the door!? Do you need an ambulance!?"

"Urgghhhhh", was the only intelligible sound to exit Kat's mouth as she pulled the covers up tighter around her and buried her head under her pillow. Why was her dream so loud? Were they always this loud?

"Kat, answer me!! I've got the super. He can let me in. Just don't panic! Whatever you do don't panic!"

The banging got louder and there were sounds of other voices joining the mix.

"Go away mom", Kat groaned, her legs all bunched up in the sheets. "Way too early. No more penguins", she insisted eyes still closed. "Don't let them eat me."

"C'mon please Kat! It's Ethan! Answer me! If you don't answer in ten seconds the super here is going to let me in."

It wasn't until she heard the sound of a key entering the lock that her eyes flew open and she sat up in bed.

"What the hell?" she swore, as she realized that the banging and yelling was not part of a particularly horrid dream. Whatever it was was outside her door.

Kat stumbled out of bed and ran to the door, just in time for it to swing open. On the other side she was greeted with the sight of Ethan, the super and a few nosy neighbors. They were all staring at her.

"What the hell do you guys think you're doing breaking into my apartment!?" she screamed. "You nearly gave me a freaking heart attack!"

The disgruntled super looked at Ethan and then back to Kat. "You told me there was an emergency kid. This don't look like no emergency. I don't have time for such games."

Ethan flashed a sheepish but confused grin. "I am so sorry. I was…"

Kat cut him off. "I repeat, what the hell are you doing breaking into my apartment at 7:30 on a Sunday morning!? Are you insane? Wait, what am I saying? You are obviously out of your ever loving mind!"

"Look lady", the super addressed her. "Just whatever you do, don't sue. Kay", he said as he took his key ring and walked away, muttering something under his breath about kids today.

Kat just continued to stare, waiting for an answer, as Ethan stared back, also trying to process just what the hell was going on. They were holding each other's gaze, but neither was speaking.

The few neighbors that had come out in the hall to see what all the fuss was about had gone back to their apartments disappointed that the show had been a wash. There would be no ambulances or drug busts here.

"I'm waiting", Kat announced her arms folded over her chest.

Ethan opened his mouth and then closed it again. Visually, he could see that Kat was fine. There was no emergency. But what about the phone call?

"I don't know. I swear! Your sister called me a half hour ago and told me that there had been some emergency. That you had fallen, and that you couldn't… get…up. Or something like that", Ethan said, now realizing as he said it out loud how utterly stupid it sounded.

For the first time since she had woken up, a smirk crossed Kat's features. "Lina called you and told you I'd fallen and couldn't get up? And you fell for that? How lame are you? No, don't answer that. Did she tell you I broke my hip too?"

"I guess I didn't think. All I heard was the word emergency and I rushed over here", he said. "But I don't get it. Why would your sister of all people lie?"

For the first time Kat took a good look at Ethan and what he was wearing. It was an interesting ensemble to say the least--and in a different situation, totally mock worthy. Swim trucks, an undershirt, socks and sandals. And it was obvious he hadn't brushed his hair as a big clump was standing on end. He looked like, well, a guy that had rushed out of his apartment at a moment's notice.

Kat took pity on him and gestured him into the apartment before closing the door. "Wow. Lina. My own flesh and blood. I am so going to kill her! This can only be explained as my sister's feeble attempt at getting us to make-up. God, she is so bad at this. Was this the best she could do? What did she think was going to happen!? That I'd be all impressed that you rushed over to be my knight in shining armor", she ranted.

"I have no idea", Ethan fumed. "But you might have to wait your turn. She nearly gave me a coronary."

It was now his turn to size up Kat. She was in her normal sleep attire. A tank top, shorts and no bra. Amazing how even scared out of his wits he could size up in two seconds whether or not a woman was wearing a bra.

"Dude, you can stop staring at my chest now", Kat deadpanned, but there was also a flicker of amusement playing in her eyes. "Are knights in shining armor also supposed to be pervs?" she laughed tiredly as she wandered over to the kitchen and checked the coffee pot. It was empty.

She relented. "Look. It's early. I'm up. You're up. You might as well stay for coffee. I'm making it anyway", she offered trying to sound nonchalant. "I can't promise breakfast though unless you're a fan of baking soda and moldy cheese."

"Okay", he said simply as he made his way over to where she was and started expertly maneuvering around her kitchen. "I'll start a new pot."

"If you've got that then I'm just gonna go brush my teeth and pee and stuff." She paused as if she wanted to say something else, but thought better of it. "Then we can start plotting my sister's demise."

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Five minutes later Kat emerged from the bathroom to find coffee brewing and Ethan settled comfortably on her couch flipping channels. He flipped the television off when he saw her coming.

Ethan shifted a bit uncomfortably as now that he was here and they appeared to be on speaking terms, he didn't know what to say. If anything he was scared to say much as not to set off the delicate balance.

He watched Kat grab a blanket absently from her bed before shuffling over to the couch and curling into the other end. She had her hair pulled into a messy ponytail and wore no make-up. If he weren't so nervous, he would have found the whole look rather adorable.

About five minutes of silence passed, the only noise being the percolating background noise of the coffee maker.

"So…", she finally trailed off. "You just going to continue to sit there like nothing happened?"

"Pretty much", he nodded. "Unless you got a better idea."

She nodded her head as well. Hearing the coffee pot turn off, Kat got up and filled two mugs. "It's just that a few weeks ago you didn't seem to have a shortage of things to say", she said, some bitterness apparent in her voice.

Kat left her coffee black, but absently poured milk and three sugars into the other.

"About that", Ethan started as Kat handed him his coffee, "I don't know what to say other than I was out of line."

Kat raised her eyebrow as she blew on her own steaming hot cup of coffee. "Oh?"

Ethan braced himself and put down his mug. "What I'm about to say, just hear me out. Okay? You can't interrupt", he wrung his hands nervously.

She couldn't help but bite her lip as she watched him curiously. She nodded her head again.

"Remember a few weeks ago after you broke up with Benjamin, you came home and I was waiting for you?" Ethan asked.

She just gave him a look and he continued. "So you remember. Okay", he paused taking a deep breath. "What you don't know is I didn't tell you everything. I was here waiting with that damn stupid flower that Kyle gave me because I wanted to tellyouthatIthinkImightkindofsortofpossiblyhavefeelingsforyou." There he had said it, but now he had to wait for a reaction.

Kat's mouth ran agape as her half filled coffee mug slipped through her hands and broke as it hit the wood floor. She jumped out of the way as the scalding hot liquid just missed hitting her legs. "Damn it!" she said, reaching down to try and mop up pools of wasted coffee.

Ethan knelt beside her carefully reaching for the bits of broken china. "Is that your only reaction?" he half joked when in reality his heart felt like it was about to explode through his chest. God, he hated this part.

She stopped, sat down again and put her head in her hands. Damn Lina! Why did she always have to be right? She could already see the smug smile forming on her sister's face.

Kat pinched herself. Then she reached over and pinched Ethan. "Ow!" he yelped.

Nope, it was not a dream. This was definitely not a dream. This was real. Very real. And Ethan was waiting for an answer.