Chapter 21: The Gala
Let's get this shit show started.
With a resigned sigh Kathryn descended the stairs. She looked amazing, but then again that was a given. Kathryn Merteuil was never allowed to look less than completely perfect. At this point she wasn't sure who's standards exactly she was trying to live up to, her own, her mother's or society, but she supposed it didn't matter anymore. Nothing did.
Anyway, the gown was black, Gucci, deep slit, tits tastefully on display. Sophisticated, but hot as fuck. In other words, totally on brand.
She made her way down to the party, greeted on the way by appreciative stares and smiles. She kept her expression neutral and didn't stop to talk with anyone until she reached the landing where her date was waiting.
"Would you think I'm lame if I said you were the most beautiful girl in the room?"
That line coming from anyone else would immediately trigger her gag reflex. There was something about Jack however that told her he was on the level. The boy just screamed sincerity. Normally that sort of thing would turn her off or at the very least make her want to destroy it, but there was something about Jack's humanity that made him so appealing.
Then again, perhaps it was just the python he had locked away in his pants that she was so eager to play with that was doing it for her.
"Maybe," she replied with a coy smile, slipping her arm into his, "But it's always nice to hear." She offered up a wink and a flirty grin she wasn't really feeling, then allowed him to escort her deeper into the party.
It was a grand a shindig as Kathryn ever remembered attending. Helen had opened up her newly renovated ballroom and filled it with all the most powerful and influential people in the country, many of whom were Manchester alums. Taking a quick cursory glance around she spotted the mayor, two state senators, Rupert Murdoch and his current wife, his ex-wife Wendi Deng and some of her Hollywood hanger-on's in one corner, a few Oscar winners and at least three presidential candidates. Everyone was dressed in their best designer duds, some making small talk, some making deals. Normally being surrounded by this much power and money turned her on instead she was just over it.
She and Jack made the rounds, dutifully greeting her aunt and her parents before being schmoozing with some of the big wigs. Everyone they met complimented them on what a nice couple they made. Kathryn demurred (she still couldn't master blushing on command) and Jack grinned proudly. When he introduced her to his family, they greeted her with eager smiles and compliments. Apparently, whomever he dated last hadn't been nearly impressive as she.
Throughout it all, Kathryn discreetly scanned the party, looking for that familiar head of blonde hair, but she was nowhere to be found. All night Annette's name was on everyone's lips as they wondered where she was. Most assumed she was coming fashionably late as she was the guest of honor. Kathryn had expected Helen to make some kind of announcement about her having to leave town suddenly on account of a sick relative or whatever bullshit excuse the headmaster dished out for her, but her aunt was carrying on business as usual. All of this led her to wonder if perhaps there was hope Annette hadn't been sent away after all. If that was true however, where was she?
"Care to dance?"
The question pulled her from her thoughts. Kathryn forced a smile. "Sure."
Honestly, she wasn't in the mood, but if it got her away from Jack's odious mother and her prying questions, she was all for it. He led her out onto the dance floor and pulled her in close but not to close. There was a full orchestra set up on the stage at the end of the room and they were joined by a man in a white dinner jacket singing old standards.
"Why do I get the feeling you're a million miles away tonight?"
Kathryn blinked at the question, caught off guard. "Oh, um, I'm sorry Jack. It's just…I didn't sleep well last night. The storm kept me up." Amongst other things. God, she was still sore.
He regarded her with surprise, smiling easily. "Wow, I didn't think a girl as formidable as you would be afraid of storms."
"I'm not afraid," she said tightly before catching herself. "Besides, what makes you think I'm formidable?"
"Oh, I don't know, student body president, president of the French club, debate team captain, president of the junior Whitney committee, homecoming queen. People don't generally stumble into those positions. You have to want them and be willing to put in the hard work and sacrifice to get them. That's you. Frankly Kathryn, you're one of the most formidable people I've ever had the pleasure of meeting."
Kathryn hadn't been anticipating that. She was used to a certain level of obtuseness when it came to teenage boys. The ones she knew tended to either view her as a trophy or a cunt to fuck. She wasn't used to being viewed as a human being. "Someone's been paying attention," she remarked, trying to mask her astonishment.
"You're hard to ignore."
She was about to volley back a remark about his own impressive resume, when she caught a flash of blonde hair out of the corner of her eye. Kathryn's head jerked in the direction only to find it belonged to some nobody sophomore. Shit.
"I wish I had that talent."
Turning back to him she asked, "Sorry?"
He laughed. "You've been looking around the whole night. Who are you searching for?"
For a brief moment she considered telling him the truth. She supposed it wouldn't really be that suspicious given everyone else was looking for her too. Instead she lied, "Um, my mother."
"She's over there, dancing with your stepfather."
Kathryn turned to find he was right, as her mother and Edward where dancing on the other side of the dance floor. For once they weren't at each other's throats and actually looked like they were having a good time together. Kathryn flashed back to when they first got together five years ago when they couldn't keep their hands off each other and she'd walk into random rooms to find them mid coitus. Those were some dark days.
"They make a nice couple," Jack remarked.
Kathryn couldn't help herself from making a sardonic comment. "Not really. You're just witnessing the calm before the storm."
"Really?"
"Hmm. My mother and stepfather view marriage more as a part time enterprise than a lifelong commitment."
She expected him to look shocked, but he merely nodded in understanding. "Yeah, I don't think my parents ever loved each other. Well my dad loved my mom's money and she loved his family name. But there was never any real love there. What about you Kathryn, have you ever been in love?"
"Yes," she replied before she had time to think it over. Curiosity flickered in his expression and she imagined he thought she was alluding to Court. As if. Kathryn laughed lightly. "It's not all it's cracked up to be, believe me."
Jack smiled warmly at her. "Yeah, I—"
"Mind if I cut in?"
Kathryn resisted the urge to roll her eyes as she heard that familiar drawl. She turned to find Sebastian standing beside them, expression smug and irritating. He looked impeccable naturally. Black Brioni tux, exquisitely tailored with a white silk scarf around his neck for drama, not that he needed it. Sebastian's very presence was dramatic enough. She found it immensely annoying.
"As a matter of fact—"
"It's okay Kathryn," Jack spoke up, releasing her to her stepbrother. "I see someone I need to talk to. I'll be back in a minute."
He walked away allowing her to be scooped up by Sebastian. Although she would have dearly liked to have told him to fuck off and stalk away, propriety dictated she dance with him. Reluctantly she placed an arm around his neck and took his hand, letting him lead. Of course, he wasted no time leaning in inappropriately close and remarking, "You look hot sis."
The smell of his cologne invaded her senses causing her body to immediately go into high alert. That familiar heat began to gather in her belly and her skin suddenly felt hot. You're not getting laid tonight, she told herself. At least not by him. "Don't start," she ordered as much to him as to herself. Then before she could stop herself, she asked, "Where have you been?"
His lips quirked up in a pleased smirk. "Miss me, have you?"
"Please," she huffed, staring disinterestedly over his shoulder. "In case you missed it I've been trying to avoid you."
"Whatever you say. So, Jack huh? I thought he bored you?"
She shrugged. "I decided I was being rash. He's far too valuable a prospect to toss away without fully exploiting his value."
"Wow, you sound positively Tiffany-esque," he remarked sarcastically. "Brava sis."
"Eat me Sebastian."
"Is that a request?"
"Knock it off."
"You didn't seem to mind last night. In fact, if memory serves you were begging for it, squirming around so much I had to hold you down." He leaned in and husked against her ear, "I can still taste you."
They shared a loaded look and Kathryn had to physically stop herself from dragging him back into one of the empty parlors and riding him into the Aubusson. However, she knew the consequences of indulging in such a fantasy, so she kept it to herself.
Sebastian however did not.
"Well when he disappoints you again," he remarked wistfully, pulling her in close enough she could feel his half hard cock against her leg, "Remember my door is always open." He then not so subtly reached around and squeezed her ass.
Kathryn immediately tried to wretch out of his grip, but he held tight. "Are you out of your mind?" She hissed under her breath, "We are in public. People can see."
"So? Let them see. Would it really bother you?"
"Yes"
"Liar"
Growing increasingly annoyed by the conversation she told him icily, "I meant what I said last night Sebastian. What we did…it doesn't change anything."
"For you maybe," he muttered quietly, his gaze trained away from her.
She was genuinely caught off guard by his remark, but figuring it was just part of whatever game he was playing she ignored it. "You forget who you're dealing with Valmont. I know exactly what last night meant to you. It was the culmination of five years of trying to add me to your list of conquests. Well congratulations, dear brother, I am now officially one of the notches in your headboard."
He pulled back a little from her. He had the gall to appear annoyed. "I forgot you know me so well."
"Am I wrong? It was just a drunken hook-up right? After all, you don't shit where you eat."
"What are you—oh." Realization dawned on his features. He tugged her closer so he could speak in her ear. "You were listening?"
"Of course, I had to make sure you wouldn't go and run your mouth to daddy." Actually, she had eavesdropped partly out of habit, but mostly because she was curious if Sebastian would make any kind of admittance about them. Would he admit his feelings for her or tell his father that they were going to do what they wanted, fuck the consequences? She doesn't know why she was the least bit surprised when instead he acted exactly how she expected. Like a coward. Like her.
"Not that I owe you an explanation, but I only told him those things so he'd back off. I didn't want him running to your mother telling her they had a problem and the next thing you know one or both of us is being shipped off. I was being practical. I thought you'd approve."
Once upon a time, she could tell when he was bullshitting her as easily as she could tell when he was breathing. Something had shifted however, she didn't know if he had just gotten better at masking his lies or if she was losing the ability to detect them, either way it wasn't good. The stupid part was she was kind of hoping he was on the level.
Still, she was careful to keep all signs of emotion off her face as she remarked bored, "If that's true then I stand corrected, you're not as dumb as you act sometimes."
"And you're not as indifferent. You had a good time last night."
"I never said I didn't."
Sebastian gave her that familiar predatory smirk. "Then, what do you say, you ditch Dudley doo-right and meet me back in the library…"
Anything else he might have said fell on deaf ears as Kathryn's attention, along with half of the room, suddenly shifted to the new arrival. It was Annette. Standing at the entrance of the ballroom, she wore a strapless pale blue ballgown and a radiant, confident smile. Cinderella had arrived at the ball after all.
"Oh my god."
"Oh my god," exclaimed a pretty senior whose name escaped her. "Annette, I love your dress! Is it Rodarte?"
"Dior," she corrected her as she sailed on past. It seemed there were people on all sides of her, vying for her attention as she pressed further into the ballroom. She could feel the weight of Courts hand on her lower back and it made her want to wrench away from him.
"Looks like you're the belle of the ball babe," he murmured in her ear.
Had they not been surrounded by people she would have openly sneered at him. Jesus, this had been a bad idea. Ever since he picked her up it had been one obnoxious comment after the next. How the hell had Kathryn stanned it she wondered. She could barely get through an hour with the Neanderthal, forget six months.
As they pressed further into the room, Annette's gazed at all the familiar faces. Some of them she recognized from school, some from tv and the internet. She was drinking it all in when she spotted the one person she had been dreading seeing the most.
It was Kathryn of course. Standing on the edge of the dance floor, with Sebastian not far behind. Surprise, surprise. Annette couldn't tell you what she was wearing (though she supposed it was expensive and beautiful and black) as she was too struck by the look on her face. She had been expecting her to appear quietly furious or perhaps she'd have that expert poker face on. Instead, the expression that greeted her was open and almost vulnerable in its surprise. Annette had thought she'd be furious when she finally saw her, she thought she'd have to restrain herself from tearing her apart with her bare hands. But really all she wanted to do was go over there and confront her and demand answers.
She could feel herself starting to turn in her direction only to change her mind at the last second. She knew if she went over there, they would get into it, not directly of course. They'd exchange barbs about each other's dates and make a lot of veiled inuendo and it would probably take all of two minutes for Annette to get pulled into it with her again. She couldn't allow that to happen. Not on this night. It was too important and she wasn't going to let that bitch ruin it for her.
So instead she sailed right past her, pretending as if she hadn't even noticed her as she made her way across the room to where Mrs. Rosemond was holding court beside her father. "Oh Annette, dear how beautiful you look."
Taking her by the hands, the older woman pulled her in for a brief air kiss. Annette didn't have to fake her gratitude. "Thank you so much for the dress Mrs. Rosemond. It's the most beautiful thing I've ever worn."
Annette had just about shit herself when the box from Bergdorf's arrived that morning. Once again, she had briefly thought it might have come from Kathryn, some kind of peace offering. She had every intention of stuffing it down the garbage disposal until she found the card signaling it was in fact from Mrs. Rosemond. Annette wasn't into expensive gifts or charity, but since she was already accepting this rich broad's bribe to pay from her ivy league education, what was one measly dress?
"I knew it would be perfect for you as soon as I saw it," she cooed looking her over. "And please call me Helen."
"Well thank you again Helen. The party is amazing." The word party seemed kind of inadequate, but she couldn't bring herself to call it something as pretentious as 'gala'.
She patted her hand and told her, "You deserve it my dear. Now, I'll be making my announcement and presenting the check for the foundation in just a little while so don't go far. Oh, and afterwards I want to introduce you to some very important people."
"I can't wait." Indeed, for once she wasn't full of shit. She felt as if she could see her future laid out before her, a glittering avenue of unlimited possibilities and she wanted to experience all of it.
"You look lovely Annette." She turned at her father's voice and had to resist the urge she smile smugly in response. He had been quietly chatting with Court as she and Helen spoke, likely drinking in every word of their conversation. Of course he didn't remark how proud he was of her or what an accomplishment this night was for her, but instead went for the most inane comment on her physical appearance.
"Thank you daddy," she replied sweetly as she purposely fingered the ring she wore around her neck. It was her mother's engagement ring. She had stolen it from her jewelry box when she was twelve and refused to give it back when her father demanded it, hiding it from him. At the time she had done it to punish him for some transgression. Tonight, she wore it as not only a 'fuck you' to him but as a reminder to herself to never become her—trapped and stifled in a relationship that stole away all her ambition and sense of self. Dramatic maybe, but kind of necessary.
Benjamin Hargrove's gaze zeroed in on the ring and he shifted uncomfortably. She could imagine all the ways he'd punish her, but Annette wasn't bothered. With Helen by her side she was untouchable, and he knew it.
Annette was about to make some kind of needling comment about how excited she was for the upcoming school year when she felt herself being enveloped in a hug by Siobhan. "Girl, you look a-mazing," she laughed stepping back to admire her. "Where did you get that dress?"
She knew what she was really asking was, 'how did you afford it?' but Shiv would never be that tacky. "It was a present from a friend," Annette replied.
Siobhan cast a brief, glance of approval in Courts direction. "Your friend has good taste."
As if Court would ever waste time purchasing any sort of garment for a girl he couldn't remove with his teeth. Annette made a mental note to correct her later. "What about you? You look fantastic Shiv." It wasn't an exaggeration either. In her silver body hugging gown, she looked just like her supermodel mother. Annette deeply envied those genes.
Shiv gave a little twirl at the compliment. "I know right. I seriously haven't eaten a thing all week."
"A problem I am in the middle of rectifying." Ronald came up behind them, handing his date a small plate of finger foods. "Eat something please. I plan on spending a good part of the night on that dance floor and I'll be damned if I have you passing out on me."
If she could, Annette imagined Shiv would be blushing right then. Biting her lower lip, she took a nibble of a shrimp then smiled playfully. "There, happy?"
"Very." Ronald leaned in and kissed her cheek. "Thank you, baby."
Annette's eyebrows rose at the endearment and the way the usual reserved and cool Shiv practically melted into him embrace. When she had suggested last week that Ronald ask Siobhan to the gala, he had demurred at first until Annette suggested it might do him good to put some distance between him and Cecile. She didn't know what had happened between then and now but apparently it was effective. The way she figured it either Ronald was the type to fall hard and fast or else Shiv was amazing in bed. Either way, mazal tov.
"I see you two are getting along," Annette teased.
Before either could respond Court spoke up. "Yeah, I thought you had better taste than that Shiv."
Ronald pulled away from his date. "What was that Reynolds?"
"You heard me," he snarled, his handsome face pulled back in silent rage. The two of them glared at one another like two cats getting ready to pounce. It might have been amusing if it wasn't so pathetic.
"Court," Annette called his name sharply, "Go fetch me something to drink."
At first, she thought he didn't hear her as he continued his staring match with Ronald. After a moment he did as he was told. "Yeah, sure," he grumbled before stalking off, disappearing into the crowd.
"Pussy," Ronald muttered under his breath, still looking furious.
Shiv rolled her eyes. "Babe, why don't you hold tight. Me and Annette need to talk in private."
Taking her by the hand, Shiv led her out of the party. "Can you believe them?" she called over her shoulder. "And all over a girl as boring as Cecile Caldwell."
They ended up in a large, ornately decorated powder room. As soon as the door closed behind them Shiv pulled out a cigarette. "Do you mind?"
Never had Annette wanted a drag more in her life, but she knew she couldn't chance it. Instead she gave an indifferent wave, "Of course not. So…you and Ronald seem like you're having a good time."
Shiv lit up at the mention of her boyfriend. "Annette, I don't know how I will ever thank you. Ronald is amazing, he's sweet and attentive and when I talk it actually seems like he's listening to me. Oh, and on top of that he gives the best head."
Now that she wasn't expecting. Kathryn hadn't been particularly impressed with his skills in the bedroom. Annette wondered how much of his prowess was on account of Kathryn's influence. "Well, um, I'm glad to hear it. You guys are cute together." Drawing a breath, she hesitated before asking her next question. "So, have you forgiven me then for lying about Sebastian?"
She had fed Shiv a story that wasn't the truth, but was a little closer than the lie she told everyone else. The party line was the compromising photos that leaked of her and Sebastian were fake, created by one of the rival campaigns or perhaps one of Valmont's vindictive cast offs. Everyone bought it, but Annette knew Shiv wouldn't be so easily swayed, so she told her yes, she had hooked up with Sebastian over the summer. After which he seduced and dumped her. She hadn't told anyone because she was so embarrassed and didn't want her reputation damaged before she even stepped foot in Manchester. It was a solid enough lie, close to the truth without being, you know, the actual truth. The thing was though, she wasn't all together sure Shiv bought it.
Resting against the sink basin, she took a long drag off her cigarette, her face expressionless. After a beat she shrugged. "Yeah, I told you, we're cool. I get it. I mean if I could go back and keep Sebastian from opening his mouth about our little liaison, trust me I damn well would."
"It should never have happened in the first place," she muttered joining her at the sink.
"Shit happens, no need to beat yourself up about it. No offense, but it's nice to know, perfect girls like you fuck up every once in a while too."
Annette turned and studied her reflection in the mirror, her gaze falling on the diamond ring around her neck. "Believe me, I'm far from perfect."
"Right. Well speaking of which, you and Court look pretty perfect together. Are you still not into him?"
"Not even a little bit. He's a total frat boy, I'll be lucky if I get through this night without stabbing him. The only reason I agreed to come with him was because Trevor cancelled at the last minute."
"You're sure it wasn't to make Valmont jealous?"
Annette made a face. "Ew. No."
Pushing off the sink, Shiv grew serious as she turned to her. "It's just—"
She was cut off when the bathroom door opened and Ainsley Porter came strutting in. Kathryn's number one boot licker was clearly on a mission as she marched up to her. As always, Annette had never seen a teenager as devoid of human emotion as Ainsley Porter. She was attractive, tall, slim with pin straight blond hair that hit just at her shoulders and a pretty face that didn't know how to smile without looking robotic. There was an intensity to her that was a little frightening, but kind of admirable.
Without any preamble she told Annette, "She wants to speak to you."
There was of course no reason to ask who she was referring to. They all knew which queen Ainsley served. Before Annette could politely decline, Shiv spoke up. "Shouldn't you be off sucking Kathryn's dick or whatever it is you do? Fuck off with your little message."
Ainsley barely spared her a glance as her attention remained laser focused on Annette. "She's waiting in the billiards room," she informed her.
Annette shook her head. "Tell her I'm sorry, but I don't think so. I have a party to get back to."
Rather than look put out that she was being dismissed, the other girl appeared almost pleased. Tilting her head she seemed to be sizing her up. "I thought you'd say as much. I should tell you it's in your best interest to take this meeting. It would be a shame if some incriminating intel would get released this close to the election. On tonight of all nights."
Well there was a threat if ever she heard one. Annette wondered if it was coming from Kathryn or if Ainsley was going rouge.
Siobhan of course wasn't having it. "Bitch, she's not going anywhere with you. I suggest you take that bony little ass of yours—"
"Shiv it's okay," Annette stepped in. "I'll go talk with her."
"Not alone you're not. I'll be damned if—"
"No, it's okay. Go find Ronald, I'm sure he's wondering where you are." With a reassuring nod she added confidently, "I got this."
Shiv looked less than impressed, but she backed off. "Alright but make it quick. Mrs. Rosemond is getting ready to make her speech or whatever."
Annette nodded in agreement then followed Ainsley out of the bathroom and back down an empty hall. Her stomach filled with dread as she approached the room. The fucked up thing of it was she knew if she wanted she could have gotten out of it. Ainsley might be intimidating but Annette had dealt with worse. The truth was she wanted to confront Kathryn and this gave her the perfect excuse to do it.
When they approached the room, Ainsley opened the door then closed it behind her not following her in. Rolling her eyes at all the manufactured drama, Annette turned around to find Kathryn leaning against a billiards table in the center. The room was done up like a men's club house, all mahogany wood and leather club chairs. It was scarcely lit, the only source of light coming from a small Tiffany lamp over the bar in the corner. Annette took all this in trying to avoid staring at Kathryn, as if she found the decor so much more interesting. Of course, it didn't last long.
You couldn't ignore me if you tried.
Squaring her shoulders, she gathered her shit together. As she approached, she drank her in—black, low cut sophisticated dress. Kathryn was beautiful of course and there was a part of Annette that dearly wanted to just grab her and crush her body to her. Fuck that perfect make-up right off her. However, as she approached, she remembered what she had done to her and her anger grew until it suddenly felt as if it had a life of its own.
"I wasn't sure you'd come," Kathryn remarked, a smiling teasing the edge of her mouth.
"I wasn't going to, but then I remembered there was something I forgot to give you."
"Oh? What's that?"
Annette replied with a hard smack across the face. The sound ricochet off the walls, cutting through the quiet. Kathryn's hand flew to her cheek as she looked back at her with wide, shocked eyes. Annette waited for the storm of curses and threats she was sure would follow. Instead, she's surprised when Kathryn stammered, "I-I guess I deserved that."
She flexed her stinging hand at her side and snarled, "Baby, that's the least you deserve." Despite her harsh words, Annette none the less found herself stomping over to the bar and opening the fridge to remove some ice. She dumped some ice into a napkin, keeping one sharp eye on her ex who had come to stand on the other side. "What exactly were you thinking?" she demanded. "Do you have any idea what your bullshit almost cost me? If your aunt hadn't intervened, I'd be in Kansas right now. Forget Yale, forget a future. You nearly destroyed me and for what? So, you can win a fucking high school election? Do you even care?"
Annette shoved the ice pack at her and Kathryn took it. "Of course I care," she replied, her voice quiet almost timid. "And it wasn't about the election."
"What was it about then? Darcy? Sebastian? Christ, I knew you were capable of a lot of horrendous shit, but I never thought you could turn it on me. I actually believed you when you told me you loved me. Aren't I a chump."
"I did love you—I do."
"Right." Sneering at her, Annette exited the bar and as she passed Kathryn grabbed her arm. She could feel her lean in to kiss her and immediately she jerked back. "Don't. You can't fuck your way out of it this time princess."
Turning away from her she ignored the wounded look in her eyes and told herself to get the hell out of there. She did what she came to do. There was no point in sticking around and yet she couldn't seem to make herself go.
Circling around the pool table, she rolled one of the balls against the green and quietly demanded, "What about that text huh? Was that some kind of joke too?"
"Sebastian wrote it," Kathryn explained, wincing as her stepbrother's name passed her lips. "He got my phone, it's not—" She stopped herself and gave a brief shake of her head. "I'm sorry, it was cruel and thoughtless, and I should have put a stop to it."
Annette was taken aback by the apology but was quick to hide it. Considering this contrite version of Kathryn she asked, "And what you said about the election, was that on the level? Are you going to drop out?"
"That depends"
"On?"
"On you."
Rounding the table, with renewed fire, she grabbed Kathryn by the throat. Digging her nails into her porcelain skin she snarled, "I could destroy you, you know that don't you? Those pictures I took would be the least of it. All the shit I have on you…I could expose you to the world, the real you."
"Do it," Kathryn murmured.
Annette's gaze narrowed. Was she serious? Frustrated with this whole scene, she let her go and with a rueful shake of her head told her, "You're not worth it. I'm going to let you keep your miserable life and in return you won't talk to me, you won't send one of your little minions to fetch me, just stay away. This is done with."
She turned away, intent on walking away and not looking back. Before she could reach the door however, Kathryn called out, her voice edging on hysterical. "Annette please. Please come back!" Annette stopped but didn't turn around. "I'm sorry, I fucked up, I took it too far."
"Not good enough," she snarled.
"I was scared, alright! Everything was slipping out of my control and I didn't know what to do. You're always two steps ahead of me and then you show up with her—"
Annette whirled around. "So, you were jealous, is that it? Bullshit. I told you why I invited her. There was no reason to be jealous of Darcy."
"I wasn't jealous of that stupid girl," she huffed. "As if I could ever…I was jealous of you."
"Me?"
"Of course. Look at you!" She exclaimed gesturing at her. "It's just so fucking easy for you."
"What is?"
"Everything!" Turning away Kathryn walked back to the pool table, leaning against it. Annette followed unable to stop herself. "I've spent my whole life doing everything in my power to make myself perfect so that everyone will love me. I've sacrificed my time, my body, my goddamn sanity, but it's still not enough. I thought I finally had a grip on everything, then you show up and everyone falls for every line of your bullshit, the school, the parents, Sebastian. You don't even have to try."
"Of course, I try," Annette told her.
"Not like me." She shook her head, looking impossibly broken. "I knew there was a possibility your father would send you back to Kansas, but I also knew it wouldn't stop you. It would be a roadblock nothing else. You will have a big, bright future full of big things. Nothing I do could stand in the way of that. Me on the other hand…"
"What about you?"
Kathryn met her gaze and smiled without humor. In the faint light Annette could see tears prickle her eyes. "Oh, come on, we both know my future. If, on the off chance this," she tapped the side of her nose, "doesn't get me or one of my other charming habits, I'm sure I'll end up marrying some off-brand Court Reynolds. I'll waste my Ivy league education on picking place settings and yelling at the help. I'll fulfill my destiny of becoming my mother just as we always knew I would."
Annette swallowed thickly, shaking her head. "Kathryn you don't have to become your mother."
"I don't really think I have a choice in the matter. It's funny, I resigned myself to my fate and then I met you and…suddenly I didn't care anymore about all that. I thought maybe I didn't have to become her, but then, well, I guess I sort of fucked that up, didn't I?"
She was waiting for her to tell her, she was wrong. The thing was Annette could feel the words form on her tongue as she was overcome with the desire to comfort her. Then just as quickly she was filled with suspicion that she was being played once again. She couldn't allow this to continue.
Backing away she told her, "I-I have to go."
"Annette don't." Kathryn reached out for her, one hand taking her arm, the other cupping her face, forcing her gaze on her. "Please don't leave me."
The next thing she knew Kathryn was on her, kissing her mouth. Annette pressed her hand to her chest as if trying to dislodge her, but instead she found her fist curling around the fabric of her dress and tugging her closer. Despite the voice screaming in her head not to, Annette kissed her back briefly. When she felt Kathryn trying to wrap around her, she finally got hold of her senses and pushed her away, only Kathryn wouldn't be so easily deterred. Pulling her back, her forehead pressed to Annette's she murmured, "Stop fighting this. You want this." She kissed her, more aggressively than before. "You still love me."
"I hate you," Annette hissed back although even as the words left her mouth, she knew they were a lie. Frustrated with herself and resentful of the fact that Kathryn was indeed right, she suddenly was overcome with the need to punish her for it.
Shoving a hand into Kathryn's perfect updo, she jerked her forward kissing her back with brutal force. They stumbled back against the pool table. Annette jerked back from her then shoved her around. Her hands, shaking with excitement and eagerness, she pulled at the straps of Kathryn's dress down, she yanked impatiently at the zipper in back until the garment pooled at her feet, leaving her in a few scraps of lace. Even in the dim light Annette could see the finger shaped bruises on her hips. She didn't linger on it. Instead, she bit at her shoulder as her hands traveled down the length of her body, taking in the smooth expanse of her skin, before she shoved her left hand in her panties. Kathryn whimpered arching against her. She was slick and hot against her fingers. Eager.
"I hate you," Annette repeated into her neck, shaking from the weight of it. She said it as if it absolved her from anything. As if it was true.
She slipped two eager fingers inside her tight core and Kathryn cried out, reaching behind to grab her. Tilting her head back she found her mouth. As Annette worked her over she kissed her and kissed her until she forgot her own name.
"I really fucking hate you," Annette gasped against her lips.
This time Kathryn laughed. "Yeah, me too."
It wasn't exactly his finest moment. Leaning against the door to the billiards room Sebastian acknowledged to himself that it was quite possible he'd crossed the line into pathetic. He was so desperate to find out what was going on with them he had resorted to eavesdropping and spying through the keyhole. It was the textbook definition of pathetic.
And yet he couldn't make himself stop.
They were fucking he was sure of it. The sound of Kathryn high pitched moan could be heard even over the considerable noise of the party wafting down the hall. He could hear Annette too, but she wasn't nearly as loud. No surprise. She never gave anything away, not even during sex.
It wasn't the sex that bothered him however, it was what came before. When he spotted Annette trailing after Ainsley, he suspected she was taking her to see the conspicuously absent Kathryn. The bitch actually stood guard outside the door, but Sebastian knew that house like the back of his hand and quickly found the door to the other entrance. He listened as they fought and Annette tore his stepsister a new asshole. Sebastian had been pleased, that is until Kathryn started to plead with her to stay with her.
In all the years he'd known her, he had never heard her speak like that. His first instinct insisted she was just playing her, Kathryn after all was the consummate bullshit artist. It had to be a lie. But the more he listened the more he realized she was likely on the level. Not even Kathryn was that good an actress. It was too vulnerable, too raw. Admitting her own jealousies, owning up to her own foibles, those weren't the typical plays out of the Merteuil handbook. It was for real.
It was then Sebastian had the sinking realization that Kathryn actually was in love. Sure, she had admitted as much and he had more or less taken her at her word, but in the back of his mind he had always just assumed it was infatuation. Give it a little time and she'd grow bored with her. But no, no he was mistaken. Listening to his sister beg for forgiveness he knew it was real. She really loved Annette.
So where did that leave him exactly? Sebastian had thought after last night something had shifted between them, that maybe they had put all the bullshit and all the games behind them. She admitted she loved him, that meant something dammit. Then again maybe it didn't.
Pushing away from the door, Sebastian found himself walking down the empty hallway, lost in a fog, his mind replaying the events of the evening thus far. He didn't even realize his aunt Helen was in front of him until he nearly walked right into her.
"Oh Sebastian!" she exclaimed, getting his attention.
He attempted to force a smile but didn't quite make it. "Aunt Helen. Sorry, I uh, didn't see you."
"Sebastian have you seen Annette? I'm about to make the presentation."
For the briefest of seconds, he toyed with telling her exactly where to find her. He imagined his aunt's horrified reaction upon finding her favorite little debutant with her hand in her niece's panties. It might be worth it, then again maybe not. "No, I haven't seen her."
"Could you do me a favor and find her please?" Before he could reply she produced a skeleton key and handed it to him. With an odd sort of look in her eye she told him, "Just in case."
Sebastian cocked an elegant brow at this as he watched his aunt disappear back down the hall. Sometimes he couldn't help but wonder about her.
Shaking the thought off Sebastian did as he was asked and headed around the corner to the entrance of the billiards room where Ainsley Porter was standing guard, looking like some beautiful Greek statue in her silver column gown.
"Where the fuck do you think you're going?" she demanded, her tone as always coldly robotic.
"Good evening to you to Ainsley," he greeted her with his best shit eating grin. "I'm going to fetch Annette."
"The hell you are," she sniffed. Turning the full weight of her mega bitch stare on him she explained, "If Annette was on the other side of those doors, and I'm not saying she is, she's likely in the middle of something and won't wished to be disturbed."
"I'm sure she wouldn't. Too bad she has little say in the matter."
Sebastian went for the door handle only for Ainsley to grab his wrist and dig her nails into him. "Touch that door and I will rip off your balls and shove them up your ass."
"Kinky. It's a shame you didn't show this kind of initiative in bed. You might have been worth a repeat performance."
"Don't flatter yourself Valmont. Despite what that reputation of yours claims, you are not the second coming of Warren Beatty. I had better orgasms with that freshman foreign exchange student from Botswana and half his body was covered in moles."
"You're a strange girl."
That wasn't the half of it. For all intents and purposes, Ainsley should be Kathryn's biggest competition. She was prettier than his stepsister, seemingly just as ruthless and related to the Kennedy's, but for reasons only known to her she rather be Kathryn's foot soldier instead. It was true Ainsley lacked Kathryn's phony charm but that could be faked.
There was something vaguely off putting about the girl and her strange intensity. The only reason Sebastian fucked her in the first place was to get a rise out of Kathryn. He had mistakenly believed that underneath that cold exterior lurked a wanton slut. Their brief time in the sack however proved him wrong. It was like fucking a robot.
"Well as entertaining as this has been," he yanked his hand out of her grip. "We're running out of time. Either you let me fetch Annette or else my Aunt Helen will come fetch her and I don't think you want her to see what I suspect is going on behind this door."
She stared him down for one long beat before grudgingly moving aside so he could enter. Sebastian offered up a phony smile before heading inside. His amusement at having won that little battle quickly died when he entered the billiards room.
They made quite the sight, he had to admit. Kathryn in just her skimpy lace underwear half bent over the pool table with Annette's hand shoved in her panties from behind. A perfect sapphic wet dream.
They both drew up short when he made his entrance, both heads turning in his direction with matching looks of alarm that quickly gave way to irritation. Sebastian easily slipped into his jaded asshole demeanor even though he was feeling anything but. "Evening ladies, sorry to interrupt," he called out as he slowly approached them.
"Get out of here Sebastian," Annette snarled. She at least had the decency to remove her hand from his stepsister's panties so there was that.
"Afraid I can't, not without you at least. My aunt is insisting I come fetch you. She's getting ready to make the presentation."
As if on cue, Helen's voice addressing the crowd wafted into the room. Annette's blue eyes went wide in alarm as she looked up at the door. "Shit."
Sebastian watched with mild amusement as the blond scurried to pull herself together, fixing her hair and dress. Kathryn helped as best she could. "You look great."
Nodding Annette took off towards the door only to stop and pivot back around again. She ran back to Kathryn and kissed her extravagantly. Sebastian didn't doubt for a minute it was as much for his benefit as it was for hers. The smirk she sent his way as she passed him confirmed it. "Don't want to piss on her leg?" he called out to her. Annette threw him the finger as she closed the door behind her.
Looking back at his stepsister he found her looking a little dazed, a smile threatening to break out on her face until their eyes met. In a blink her expression shut down. Looking away, she bent down and retrieved her dress. The longer he watched her, the more his resentment began to build. Turning around, noticing him staring she finally snapped, "What?"
Sebastian shrugged. "Nothing."
He came up behind her, fixing the back of her dress. It didn't go unnoticed by him the way her breath became ragged when his fingers tips brushed against her bare back. He was tempted to lean in and kiss that spot on her neck that he knew would make her melt, but he held back, cautious.
Instead he asked, quietly, "So…did you tell her?"
"Tell her what?"
Sebastian rolled his eyes. "About last night, about us."
"No, I don't really see the point."
Stepping away from him, she fixed her hair they turned around. Drinking in her cool, unaffected expression he was suddenly hit by the desire to shake her out of her indifference. He resented the way she could be so warm and open with fucking Hargrove and completely shut down with him. Had he had the balls he would have demanded to know why that blond bitch got to have all of her, but he just got crumbs. Since he didn't have the nerve to cough up the words he resorted to his usual tactics. Taking her by the waist, he pulled her into a kiss. Kathryn made a kind of startled gasp, her hands pressing at his chest to push him away. Her reluctance didn't last long. Soon she was kissing him back with equal fervor, her hands sliding up his chest, to grasp him by the back of the head. Sebastian led her back to the pool table, groping her as they went. He started tugging at the straps of her gown when his aunt's voice wafted in from the party, announcing Annette's name.
In a flash it was over. Kathryn shoved him away with a dismissive sneer. "I don't think so."
Trying to swallow his disappointment not to mentions embarrassment he snarled, "But you'll drop your panties for her though?"
"I love her," she replied, chin up defiant.
Sebastian ran a hand down her cleavage and remarked confidently, "And yet you still want me."
"Not anymore." She swatted his hand away. "This is over with." Turning away she circled around the other side of the pool table. "Don't get me wrong Sebastian, it was fun and you're a great lay but where exactly do you see this going? You're my stepbrother for god sakes. If it ever got out it would ruin us both."
"And what, you think you're going to live happily ever after with her? I'm sure mommy dearest will love that."
Kathryn wasn't bothered. "You have a point, but I figure we'll lay low until college and then I'm free to do whatever the fuck I please. When my inheritance kicks in I'll no longer have mother on my back and Annette will no longer have her albatross of a father around her neck. Nothings to stop us from as you so quaintly put it, living happily ever after."
Sebastian should have just left it at that, but he was always a glutton for punishment. "And where does that leave us?"
"Us?" Kathryn echoed, a cruel smile on her lips. "Brother dear, there is no us. There was a time, I did love you Sebastian and I thought that one day we might…well I suppose it doesn't really matter anymore. You became irrelevant when you chose her over me."
"You set me up. It wasn't real."
"It was real to you. You made it clear then you were in love with her and I was, what? The evil stepsister you fucked around with. The girl you lusted after but didn't love. Another trophy to conquer."
"I…" I did love you, he wanted to say, only it was a different kind of love or he didn't recognize it as that. He tried to get the words out, but she was going too fast.
"I read your journal Sebastian, I know exactly what you thought about me. Tell me, has any of that changed?"
"No," he said, but it felt like a lie. His feelings for her were too complicated to be expressed in a few trite words, didn't she get that?
Now standing in front of him, Kathryn placed a hand on his chest. She smiled almost sad. "Face it my love, we're toxic together. There could never be anything between us, we'd cannibalize each other. We're too fucked up to have anything real."
Sebastian swallowed the lump in his throat along with any hope he had of having anything with her beyond that one night. He nodded as Kathryn leaned in, kissed his cheek then walked off.
As the door closed behind her, he let out a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding in. "Well," he muttered to no one in particular, "I guess that answers that."
"Congratulations!"
"No one deserves it more girl!"
"We're so proud of you!"
Annette smiled graciously as she was swallowed up by the crowd of well wishers. Truth be told she hadn't a clue who most of these people were. Not that it mattered. Annette had never put much stock in being adored by the masses, she left that sort of ego rubbing bullshit for Kathryn, but she had to admit she didn't hate it.
Coasting on adrenaline and pure fucking elation, she made her way through the crowd, stopping occasionally to glad handle and offer thanks. She keeps her smile humble and her gaze sincere. Inside however she wanted to cackle with glee.
She did it. She fucking did it. All the scheming, the hard work, the sacrifice and here she was, with her hands on the prize. A four year scholarship to the ivy league school of her choosing. It was all hers. Well, technically it was hers after she graduated, but that was a mere technicality. No one could take it away, including her father.
As the crowd thinned out and she was finally able to breath, Annette caught sight of Kathryn across the room watching her. She feared she might catch her frowning or spy some bitter resentment creeping in around the edges of expressionless face, but instead all she saw was a genuine smile of pride. It was enough to momentarily stop her in her tracks. The high and mighty Kathryn Merteuil happy for someone else's victory. Hell must be freezing over. In that moment, all Annette wanted to do was go to her, take her by the face and kiss her long and deep. In front of everyone. It would be a scandal of course. She wondered if Kathryn would really mind.
Of course, she didn't. The money might be a done deal, but nothing was a hundred percent official until she had that fucking diploma in hand so for now at least she was to remain Miss America teen dream or whatever. Later, however, after the party, it would be just them. She'd allow her to take her upstairs and they'd spend the rest of the night fucking their ever loving brains out and laughing about how stupid they'd both been these past few weeks. Maybe tomorrow they'd call in sick, spend the morning eating pancakes (that she wouldn't let her get rid of) then go riding in the afternoon. On the way home in the car they'd discuss their next plan of action. For their future, because now more than ever, Annette was certain they had one.
She was so lost in her thoughts she nearly collided into the chest of the man in front of her. Annette could feel an apology on her lips, when she looked up in the stern face of her father. In that moment, more than anything she wanted to laugh. Instead, she settled for slow, taunting grin.
"Hello daddy." She was as sweet as apple pie, no one would ever suspect her. "Did you enjoy my speech?"
She could practically see him swallow his rage. "Yes, it was very eloquent. Congratulations Annette."
He hugged her and it was as awkward and stilted as one could imagine. He would never have dared had they not had the eyes of half the room on them. Annette quickly exited out of it, sliding past him on her way to the bar. He followed behind. "Have you made up your mind where you're going to attend next year?"
Never let it be said that the man didn't know how to lose gracefully. Annette started to take one of the non-alcoholic options on tap before deciding at the last second to indulge in a glass of champagne, knowing there wasn't a damn thing he could say about it.
Bringing the glass to her lips she smiled easily. "Why, Yale of course. I honestly don't think Mrs. Rosemond would accept anything less."
His scowl deepened as he glanced away, likely in the direction of her benefactress. Annette imagined he was quickly growing to despise her too. Taking a sip of her champagne, she tilted her head and considered him. "I'm curious daddy, how does it feel?"
"How does what feel?"
"To lose"
He straightened himself out a little. He was so much taller than her, it used to intimidate her, but now she barely noticed. "I wasn't aware I had."
"Oh, come on, you've spent all these years doing everything in your power to drag me down, box me in, lock me up, stifle anything that might be worthwhile in me. Just like you did her." He flinched at that and her smile deepened. "All that effort and I'll still manage to get out from under you. From here on out you have no say in my life. You're officially irrelevant." Annette held up her glass and toasted, "Cheers."
His strong hands flexed at his side, Annette imagined cartoon steam shooting out of his ears. "Are you forgetting, you still have to graduate."
She glanced past him to Helen who was holding court with a couple of tech-CEO's. Catching her eye, she waved and Annette returned it. "I don't foresee that being a problem. Face it Daddy, nothing's standing in my way. Especially you."
With that she started away only to pause and turn back one last time. "Oh, by the way, I think I'm going to be late tonight. You understand. Don't wait up!"
Turning around her sugar sweet smile turned into a triumphant sneer. She had every intention of grabbing Kathryn and dragging her off someplace quiet when once again, someone stepped her in way. "Care to dance?"
It was Sebastian, looking even more serial killer serious than normal. "With you?" she asked, with mock disbelief.
"No with the geriatric leering at you by the stage." he replied dryly.
Annette looked up and sure enough there was some creepy old guy she was sure she spotted on the cover of Fortune once, leering at her. She shuddered. "Pass. On both accounts."
He looked like he was about to object when suddenly Court appeared, smile broad and slimy. "Hey doll, want to dance?"
Ugh. Fuck my life. "Oh, I'd love to but unfortunately I promised Sebastian a dance. You understand right?"
By the look on his face he clearly didn't, but he wasn't about to cause a scene at one of the biggest parties of the season with the girl of the hour. "Uh, yeah, sure, but I'm next right?"
"Of course."
It said a lot about how odious she found Court that she was willing to let Sebastian touch her in order to avoid him. Sebastian led her out onto the dance floor an obnoxious gloating smile covering his face. "Not a word dipshit."
He chuckled under his breath. "Enjoying your date I see. I suppose I shouldn't be too flattered you enjoy my company over that fucking mouth breather."
"You were the lesser of two evils," she sighed, her bored gaze on the other partygoers. She wondered where Kathryn was. "What do you want?"
"Must we always have an agenda?" Annette met his gaze, staring him down hard until he let out a short, harsh laugh. "I wanted to congratulate you. It would seem all your hard work and scheming paid off. You not only secured Yale, but Kathryn as well."
Hearing her name on his lips, she stiffened briefly and considered walking away. She was getting the distinct impression she was walking into something. "Thank you," she replied carefully.
"I have to admit though, I was surprised to see you two made up. Weren't you the one who said you were afraid she'd eat you alive given the opportunity?"
Annette remembered that confession to him and instantly regretted it. She should have remembered, everything she said to him had the potential to be weaponized. "Maybe I decided I wouldn't mind. Either way it's not really your concern anymore."
A smirk spread across his face, as if he knew something she didn't. "Fair enough. Well since we're being all cordial and shit, I feel I owe it to you to make a confession." Sebastian leaned in until his lips were hovering at her ear and whispered, "I never slept with Kathryn that night."
Annette jerked back from him. "What?"
He shrugged. "We didn't fuck that night. She passed out in my bed right after she stripped off her dress. I just tucked her in and texted you to come over and you two and your trust issues did the rest."
Suddenly she was having trouble breathing. Honestly, she didn't know whether to be elated or angry. For the moment she landed on furious. "You son of a bitch," she spat.
Annette tried to pull away from him only for him to yank her back, pulling her closer. Sebastian kept his tone even but lethal. "Not that she wasn't begging for it, but comatose women aren't really my thing. Last night however…she was wide awake and very, very enthusiastic."
She stilled. "Last night?"
The shit eating grin on his face told her everything she needed to know. It was revolting. Clearly relishing every second of this he asked with mock surprise, "She didn't tell you?"
Annette could feel the bottom fall out from under her, like that feeling when the rollercoaster started to plummet. She hated that feeling. "You're lying," she remarked, although she knew it was just a pathetic reach for an excuse.
He just smiled then pulled back the collar of his dress shirt, exposing a red, bruised bite mark. It of course, could have been from anyone, but she recognized those indentures. It was Kathryn's signature. Jesus Christ. "Look familiar?" he taunted. "I must say she more than lived up to the hype. I now understand why you're so cunt struck by her. Completely insatiable and—"
"Enough," she ordered tersely.
Sebastian smiled, lazy and mean. "Oh, come on you didn't actually buy that heartfelt speech of hers, did you? I'm disappointed Hargrove, I thought you were smarter than that. I mean even Darcy knew when she was being played."
If he was hoping to see her get upset or god forbid cry, he would be sorely disappointed. She'd sooner die than give him the satisfaction. Remaining stoic, and emotionless, she studied his face, searching out a tell. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Why do you think?" He leaned in again, his expression darkening as he hissed, "Nothing brings me greater pleasure than watching you two tare each other apart."
While she didn't doubt that Annette suspected something else was at play. Remembering the look on his face when he found them earlier in the billiards room, it suddenly hit her. She nearly laughed. "I don't think so, this is personal. You want her for yourself don't you? Ever since I told you about her feelings for you it's been eating at you and now, after last night…What, are you in love with her or something?"
She saw the answer on his face before he even opened his mouth. That sharp flash of panic in his eyes was a dead giveaway, but he wasn't going to own up to anything. "I feel nothing for my darling stepsister but loathing and disgust. She was an itch that needed to be scratched and now that that's taken care of, I can finish destroying the bitch. Unlike you I already learned my lesson where Kathryn is concerned."
"Oh, and what lesson is that?"
Sebastian stilled, his intense gaze boring into hers he intoned, "That we're toxic together and Kathryn is far too fucked up to have anything real. With anyone. I'd think you of all people would have realized that by now."
"That was a great evening, wasn't it?"
Kathryn forced a smile, but it was halfhearted at best as she regarded her date. The fucked up thing of it was she actually liked Jack. And Kathryn didn't honestly like anyone. Outside of being a handsome mother fucker, he was smart and unexpected and a good conversationalist. He knew when to stay close and when to make himself scarce. He didn't smother her, but he didn't ogle other women either. He was a perfect date.
It was such a shame he was wasting all that on a girl in love with someone else.
The party was wrapping up, with people making their goodbye's as they slowly filed out. Having just retrieved his coat they stood on the foot on the staircase, away from the crush of the crowd. Helping him with the lapel of his coat she told him, "I had a nice evening Jack, thank you."
He winced a little then smiled. "Hmm, I take it then you don't want to go to Philip party?"
Philip Blackwater was hosting an after party in the city, despite the fact that it would be after midnight by the time everyone arrived and it was a school night. Most of the school would be attending, but not Kathryn. "I'm sorry, but I have a headache, not to mention I have an early meeting for student government in the morning," she lied. "I should go to bed."
"It's cool, I should probably skip it as well. Ring check?"
"Of course."
They said their goodbyes, with him promising to call her the next day. For once Kathryn actually felt a little guilty for stringing someone along. She'd have to find a good way to let him down gently.
At the moment however, she had more pressing matters on her mind. Namely finding Annette. They hadn't spoken since she left the billiards room and Kathryn was starting to get the distinct impression she was being intentionally ignored. At first, she just thought Hargrove was being careful, but all evening she barely looked at her and when they did make eye contact, she stared at her like she was a stranger. Something was going on with her.
Unable to locate her in the crowd, Kathryn climbed the staircase so she could observe the party from the second story landing. As she searched the crowd, her anxiety grew with every passing minute. Annette wouldn't have left without telling her, right? She was about to give up and go have a second look on the main floor when she spotted the blond coming right towards her. She didn't smile at her, in fact she seemed to look right through her. What the fuck?
When it appeared she was going to walk right past her without a word, Kathryn reached out and grasped her arm. "Um, hello?"
Annette let out a long sigh. "What?"
She flinched at how harsh that one word sounded. "I've been trying to get you alone all night."
"I've been busy."
"Yeah I noticed. Well, are you going to stay?"
A ghost of a smile crossed Annette's face. "Why would I do that?" she asked before turning away.
Kathryn watched her retreating back stunned. Quickly she reached out and grabbed her arm again. "I thought we were—"
"You thought wrong." Annette pointedly removed her hand from her arm. "Tell me something Kathryn, did you honestly think I wouldn't find out?"
"Fine out what?"
"Oh, come on, you're smarter than that…"
She was about to argue, that no she had no idea what she was talking about when she caught the sharp, hurt look in her eyes. Shit. Kathryn took a deep shaky breath. Fucking Sebastian, and his big mouth. "Annette, it didn't mean anything."
The blonde let out a harsh laugh. "I'm sure it didn't. I get it, I truly do. You felt so guilty about what you did to me, you had no choice to find comfort on your brother's dick." Kathryn winced and did a quick look about to ensure no one had heard that particular nasty allegation. Annette, taking note of her tone, asked quietly, "That text you sent me, was that part of some joke between you two?"
"No, it wasn't like that."
Annette looked far from convinced. Giving her an unimpressed once over she remarked, "I'm curious, was anything in that little speech of yours true? Do you even know when you're lying anymore?" She shook her head bitterly. "God, I'm such a fucking idiot. I wanted so much to believe you, for things to go back to how they were this summer…"
"So do I and they can," she insisted. "We're so close Annette, don't let him come between us again."
"I'm starting to realize he's not the problem. Face it Kathryn, you and me, we're toxic together and you…well you're too fucked up to have anything real."
Hearing those words spit back at her left Kathryn feeling shell shocked. So much so she barely noticed when Court was suddenly beside them, smiling smugly down at Annette. "Hey beautiful, ready to go? I was thinking maybe we continue on this party someplace more…private."
The invitation was clearly for her benefit, but Annette accepted it all the same. "Sure, that sounds great." Looking back at her with a phony grin she told her, "Have a good night Kathryn."
She watched them descend the stairs and disappear into the crowd of people leaving the house. Kathryn felt a wave of nausea try to push its way up her throat. How had this night gone so horribly wrong, so fucking quickly?
"Well that was truly…pathetic." Her eyes shut briefly at the sound of her stepbrother's arrogant drawl coming from behind her. She turned as he walked past looking very pleased with himself indeed. "Look at the bright side sis, at least this time you weren't dumped for the innocent twit."
Sebastian started down the stairs when Kathryn reached out and grabbed his arm. She demanded just one thing, "Why?"
He smiled back at her, but it didn't meet his eyes. "Misery loves company baby."