Chapter Thirteen; Just Say Yes

There was one thing Viola Stratford wanted, besides becoming an internationally acclaimed fashion designer, and that was having a good time. She had seen how quickly life could change when her mom had walked out on her dad three years ago. That was when things had started to go wrong. She was never deliberately trying to upset her dad by acting out. It was just her way of establishing control.

She had calmed down when she moved to California, Bianca had been a good influence on her, but she never thought that when the party of the year presented itself, she would rather stay at home. The problem was Joey would be there. She had instantly liked Joey, he was gorgeous, funny, had similar ambitions. He would have been perfect, if it wasn't for the fact that he was dating Bianca. Back in Ohio she never thought twice about these things, or the consequences, but this was different, it was her cousin's boyfriend, and she wanted him to be more than a drunken hook up. So she decided there was only one thing for it, she was going to avoid him. She felt sure Joey liked her too, and she was never wrong about these things, but he was probably just being a typical guy. She would be leaving in a just over a month, and Joey would go back to being happy with Bianca.

Walter was not happy about the party. His teenage daughters going to what he knew would be a 'wild night' was his idea of hell. Parties were never like this in his day. Walter had never really been popular enough in his day to be invited to most parties, but this just meant he had come up with his own idea of what they were like, and he was sure they were more civilized affairs. He had made a deal with Bianca that she could only go if Kat went with her, knowing full well Kat would rather die than go. This was a sure fire way of ensuring they all stayed at home watching re-runs. Kat, however, never did what was expected of her, and as a result he was now watching Kat and Bianca depart the house, accompanied by Viola, whose over enjoyment of these type of events, was the reason she was staying with them in the first place.

In fact, Kat had no intention of going to the party. There were several reasons for this. First she would rather die than attend a party where the rest of the student population were getting so drunk they couldn't remember where they were, that's if some of them knew in the first place. Secondly, last time she had been forced to endure one of these parties, she very nearly did die of embarrassment after she- well maybe it's best not to remember the details. Thirdly, she had other plans for the night. After her conversation with Blank over her application, she decided whether she was successful or not, her future wasn't in California. Now the only question that remained was where Patrick fitted into this. So after dropping Bianca off at the party she went over Patrick's.

The party was in full swing when Bianca and Viola arrived. Bianca quickly left to find Joey, as a good girlfriend should do, she thought, while Viola, keen to avoid Joey for as long as possible, went in search of a drink.

'Hey Cameron,' Bianca said as she found her friend sitting alone in the sitting room, 'why are you here alone?' She sat down in the chair next to him, forgetting her intended search for Joey.

'Oh well I came with Michael, but it seems he found my company boring, so wandered off to mingle or something. I wasn't really listening,' Cameron said picking up a large beer. He didn't particularly enjoy the taste, but he'd been abandoned by his best friend and he was probably going to have to watch Bianca make out with Joey the whole night. Drinking seemed the only option.

'Oh well,' Bianca said reaching out and taking the drink out of his hand taking a large gulp. 'I guess you'll have to settle with me for company,' she smiled.

Viola had just done her second shot of Sambuca when Joey entered the kitchen. 'Hi,' he said smiling when he saw her, thinking how hot she looked.

'Hi,' Viola replied before moving towards the door.

'Vi, have I done something,' Joey asked grabbing her arm to stop her walking away, 'it's just after I talked to you about my problems with Bianca last week, you seem to have been avoiding me?'

'Joey you're being paranoid, I'm simply trying to meet as many people as I can before I leave, have as much fun as I can,' she gave a nervous laugh. The shots also appeared to have gone to her head and she seemed to lose control of her hands, which were now attached to Joey's chest of their own accord. She knew she should have had more than cereal for dinner, rookie mistake.

'Oh I see, well I won't keep you,' Joey released his grip and stood aside, looking dejected. 'No Joey, not like that,' Viola said quickly, unable to stand the look in his eyes, 'I mean, it's just- you and Bianca,' she stammered.

'I think me and Bianca are done,' Joey said simply without looking up at her.

Viola reacted on impulse and leaned forward, kissing Joey firmly, relaxing as she felt him kiss her back. It was just as she imagined.

However, it was at that moment that Bianca and Cameron decided to get some more to drink and were therefore witness to this scene.

Bianca was staring at them with an unreadable expression on her face, while Cameron looked frantically between the kissing couple and his friend.

As Bianca seemed rooted to the spot Cameron decided to act. Storming up to them, he tried to appear confident as he tapped Joey on the shoulder, clearing his throat.

The couple broke apart, breathing heavily.

'Oh shit, Bianca,' Joey said releasing his hold on Viola, but his path was quickly blocked by Cameron.

'I don't think she wants to talk to you after what you've just done,' he said pushing Joey back slightly.

'I don't think this is any of your business,' Joey said slightly annoyed.

'B-Bianca is my friend, and therefore, it is my business,' Cameron continued, refusing to move despite how much he wanted to. Even though he was a lot taller than Joey, he was pretty sure he didn't stand a chance in a fight.

Bianca stared in shock; this wasn't going to end well. 'Stop,' she shouted as Joey began to move towards Cameron to force him out the way. 'Come on,' she said grabbing Cameron's hand and pull him back through the house.

Joey and Viola suddenly had no idea what to say to each other, or how to act.

'I think I should go talk to Bianca,' Joey managed to get out. Viola just nodded as Joey left to find her.

'Bianca, are you ok? Of course you're not ok, you must be crushed, humiliated, angry, you must feel-'

'Nothing,' Bianca replied simply. 'I don't care at all,' she smiled. She really meant it, and she knew why.

Cameron opened his mouth to start rambling again before closing it, processing what she said. The stress must have caused her to go mad he thought.

'Come again?'

'I think they're perfect for each other. Viola is like me, and that probably what drew Joey to her in the first place, but there just seemed to be something missing with us, whereas they are perfect together. But thank you for sticking up for me, it was so sweet.'

Cameron wasn't sure what to say, but was spared having to think of something by Joey interrupting them.

'Bianca, I need to talk to you,' Joey said gently pulling her away.

'Sure, actually I need to talk to you too,' she said quickly to stop Cameron from defending her honor again.

As they went outside and sat down they both looked at each other, expecting each other to start.

'Joey, it's ok that you like Viola-'

'Bianca, I'm sorry, but I really like Viola-'

They both said at the same time. Bianca laughed, but Joey looked horrified.

'Oh Bianca, I'm so sorry, I never meant to do this to you, it's just she's so-'

'Joey,' Bianca interrupted, placing a hand on his arm, 'it's ok, and I think you're great, but things never really ran deep with us. I agree that we're better as friends.'

Joey looked straight at her, trying to establish if this was a trick, Chastity used to do it all the time to test him and it used to make his head hurt.

'Really Joey, I'm happy for you and Viola, she deserves someone like you.' She kissed him lightly on the cheek and stood up to leave but Joey remained slumped in the chair.

'You really are the greatest fivehead, I just wish-'

'I know Joey,' Bianca said, 'now go enjoy the party,' she laughed at how happy he looked as he ran back through the house.

As soon as he was gone, Cameron appeared with a concerned look on his face.

'Hey Cameron, do you reckon you could give me a lift home?'

The car journey was a silent affair, each lost in their thoughts. As they pulled up outside the house, Cameron eventually spoke.

'Bianca, are you really ok? About Joey I mean.'

'Yeah, I really am. Given the way we started it was hardly surprising he started liking someone else while we were still together. Not that I'm innocent, I like someone else too,' she said turning to face Cameron.

'Oh,' Cameron looked out of the window,

'So maybe,' Bianca continued a smile creeping on to her face, 'we could go out tomorrow and discuss it?'

Cameron signed, yet again he was going to have to listen to Bianca gush about her latest crush, 'sure,' he said turning back towards her, trying to look happy, but not succeeding. 'What are friends for?'

'Great,' Bianca said, quickly reaching forward and kissing Cameron softly on the lips, 'I can't wait.' Cameron was too shocked to speak. Bianca's smile grew as she got out of the car and went into the house. It was a full five minutes before Cameron felt in control enough of his senses to safely drive home.

It was quite late by the time Kat had thought through her plan enough to actually carry it through. Arriving at Patrick's house she eventually located his room, and a ladder, and began climbing. Tapping lightly on the window she waited, but without answer, so gave up and let herself in. The window wouldn't open fully so she was forced to try and wiggle through and ended up in a heap on his bedroom floor.

'Shit,' she exclaimed.

Patrick who until this time had been asleep woke with a start, trying to adjust his eyes to the darkness to see what had happened.

'Kat what the fu-'

'Shut up,' she said in a forceful, but playful way, 'I need to talk to you about something and I need you to let me finish before you talk,' she continued standing up straight.

Patrick slumped back down, and closed his eyes again a smile creeping across his face, 'I love it when you're strict.'

Suddenly Kat was hovering over him, 'OUCH,' he exclaimed as Kat pushed him violently, causing him to almost fall out of the bed. 'This is serious,' she said.

'Alright, alright, I'm getting up,' he said slowly pushing the covers off and getting out of bed. Kat looked him up and down as she released he was just wearing his boxers.

Patrick followed her eye line and cleared his throat pointedly, 'eyes up here Stratford,' he laughed motioning for her to look at his face.

Kat's face grew red as she cleared her throat. 'Um, well,' she started but couldn't seem to concentrate, 'that's all you wear to bed?' she asked eventually.

'Well, I know it's more than you normally see me wear in bed, but-' Patrick began grinning but was quickly interrupted as Kat playfully shoved his chest. She was still struggling to string a coherent sentence together. A fact Patrick found hilarious.

'Maybe you'd be more comfortable if we were wearing similar attrite?' He continued eventually turning serious.

'Yes, thank you,' Kat smiled and turned to sit at his desk while Patrick put some clothes on. However she'd barely made two steps across the room before Patrick was behind her, pulling her closer to him, and gently lifting her t-shirt up.

'Oi,' she cried slipping out of his grip. 'You are such a jerk,' she said fighting a smile.

'Fine,' Patrick said grabbing a t-shirt off the floor before sitting back down on the bed, 'so why are you here?'

'I sent my application Brown.'

'That's great,' he smiled, but there wasn't a lot of enthusiasm in his voice, 'but I knew you were going to do that.'

'If I get in, it means I'll be moving there,' Kat continued.

'Well yeah, it'd be a bitch of a commute otherwise,' Patrick said. He hardly needed reminding that Kat might soon be on the other side of the country.

'Well, don't you think we should discuss what this means, I know we don't tend to do this whole talking thing, but we have to at some stage,' she started to ramble.

'You're making no sense?' Patrick interrupted. He was too tired for this.

'Okay, here it goes, Patrick, I want you to come with me to Rhode Island? I know it'll be a change, and I'm asking you make a sacrifice, but you said yourself you hate this town,' Kat could feel herself babbling, 'so, what do you reckon?'

'Kat I can't,' Patrick said running a hand through his hair, 'I mean I know I hate this town, but my internship is here and-'

'I looked into it and there are similar opportunities in Rhode Island, better ones,' Kat interrupted desperately.

'It's not just that,' Patrick continued, 'I can't leave mom, you know how things are,' his voice developed the even deeper tone it always did when his family was mentioned.

Kat's face fell. 'So what's the alternative? A long distance relationship, they never work.'

Patrick looked surprised.

'So that's it? Move with you or break up with you?' Patrick said growing angry, 'I won't be forced by an ultimatum, and I won't leave my mom.'

Kat looked stunned, the words had left her mouth but she didn't mean them. She certainly didn't want the latter. She wanted Patrick to fight for her. She wanted reassurance it would be different from her relationship with Josh. Instead he was getting angry and her pride got in the way.

'Well I guess I got my answer,' she spat, climbing out of the window without looking back.

Patrick watched her go, before punching the wall in frustration and collapsing back into bed.