29

There were boxes everywhere. K.C had just recieved a truck-full of computers and computer equipment, that needed unpacking and sorting. They had all been carried down into one of the many stock rooms in the basement and now K.C was trying to figure out where to put them all. He had asked Patsy to help him, and it was just the two of them down there.

"Please be careful with those," K.C said as Patsy opened a box and looked inside it. It held computer screens. "Ram's gonna have my head if any of them breaks!"

"Uuuuh, I'd better be careful then," Patsy grinned, "Life's just sooo much easier with your head attached."

K.C laughed and threw a handful of loose fill chips at her.

"Hey!" she mock protested, but then laughed.

"So how was you night last night?" K.C asked trying to sound casual, while pretending to concentrate on something at the bottom of his box, "Did you guys have fun?" He'd been dying to ask all day, but had waited for the right moment, when they were alone.

"Yeah, it was fun," Patsy said. K.C could see from the corner of his eye that she was looking at him. He was working very hard to keep his expression light and nonchalant. There was a short silence, as Patsy kept looking at him.

Then she said, just as lightly and casually, "We're eating junk food and watching a movie tomorrow."

K.C just nodded with polite interest. Meanwhile, the caveman in his mind swung his wooden club wildly over his head, while roaring in a frenzy of rage. To distract himself, K.C picked up a box to put it away.

"He's just so funny," Patsy said, "He's a funny guy."

K.C's lips were pressed into a hard line now and he was clenching his teeth. He walked back to pick up another box.

"He's young, but mature for his age," Patsy continued.

"Uh-huh," K.C said, feeling his heart threathening to rip apart. His hands were slightly trembling and he tried to steady his strained breath.

"K.C?"

"Yes?" K.C said curtly. He was still holding a box, which he was grateful for, as it kept his hands steady.

"Are you ever gonna kiss me?"

K.C's head snapped up in surprise. He stared at her, not quite sure he'd heard right.

"'Cause I think I've been quite patient," Patsy said and then grinned at him, "But now I'm not anymore."

K.C dropped the box at the nearest table, computerscreens be damned. He sprung over a table that was standing in his way and stopped right in front of Patsy. She looked up at him with sparkling eyes. Then K.C wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her off of the ground into a kiss. She put her arms around his neck, clinging to him.

The kiss was long and sweet and yearned for. It was severel minutes before K.C gently put Patsy back down to the ground. Her legs gave way slightly underneath her, so he held on to her. She chuckled nervously.

"I wanted to kiss you for ages," K.C said softly as a slow wry smile spread on his face, "I just couldn't pluck up the courage to do it."

"I noticed," Patsy teased. She flashed him a sly smile, reached up and brushed her lips against his. Then she hugged him tightly. It felt so right, having her snuggling up in his arms. He leaned his cheek on her head, as they stood in a warm embrace for a while.

"What about Tyler?" K.C asked after some time. Patsy looked up at him and her face broke into a smile.

"He's just a friend," she assured him, putting her chin against his chest while looking up at him.

K.C felt his heart swell. He had nothing to worry about, "Good."

"How about I come over tonight? I'll read you the ending of that book."

K.C smiled down at her, "Sounds perfect."

—

Later that day K.C raided the food storage, taking some fruits, creamed rise, a loaf of bread with some cheese and chocolates, plus juice, and sneaked them back into his room. He'd found some candles in the basement stockroom and put them onto his window sill and at the dresser - not too many though, as he didn't want it to be corny or too much. That wasn't really him. Just a few, to bring a good atmosphere.

A soft knock at his door sent his heart fluttering as he knew it would be Patsy. He jumped ud and leaped to the door. There, he hesitated, closed his eyes and took a deep breath to steady himself. He smoothed his expression into a calm and collected one as he opened the door and greeted Patsy. The air was almost knocked out of him when he saw her. She was so beautiful. And she was his.

He stepped aside to let her in and then closed the door after her, already giving up trying to control his fluttering heart.

"Wow!" Patsy said as she saw the food laid out on his bed, "Look at all this food!" She laughed delighted, "There's enough to feed a whole army!"

K.C put a hand on the back of his neck, "I might have gone a little overboard," he admitted with a small selfconcious laugh.

"It looks great," Patsy said and turned to smile at him.

"Maybe we can invite Cloe and Ved over later? I'm sure they can help us getting through some of it," K.C said. Patsy sat down at the edge of the bed and looked at the food.

"Yeah, that could be fun. Have you and Ved burried the hatchet?" She looked up at him with her big hazel eyes.

K.C went to sit next to her, "Yes. He's actually a really nice guy," he said, then rolled his eyes, "once you get underneath all that hostility."

Patsy laughed and agreed with him.

"I heard they kissed yesterday," K.C said, smiling smugly.

"Yes. About time, don't you think?" Patsy grinned.

"God, yes! He's been pining for her forever."

"I know the feeling," Patsy then said softly, gazing into K.C's eyes. She leaned in and kissed him softly. It sent K.C's heart into a galop. He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her onto his lap. He took in the taste of her lips and the sent of her hair, feeling like he was drowning in her.

After a while, Patsy gently pulled back and smiled down at him, "Ready for that ending?"

K.C nodded and Patsy slid off of his lap. She grabbed the book from the bookshelf while K.C sat back against the headboard of the bed. Patsy crawled onto the bed and snuggled into his arms. Here she opened the book and began reading while he was holding her.

When they had finished the last chapter, Patsy went out to get Cloe and Ved, while K.C got the food ready. He sliced the fruits with his pocket knife and went into the kitchens to get spoons and plates. When he came back the other three were already there, sitting on his bed, chatting.

"Hey," K.C said when he entered, walking over to the bed and handing each of them a plate and a spoon. They ate and talked and laughed, like they had been friends forever. It all felt very natural and easy. Even Ved was on his best behavior, joking and talking cheerfully. When they had all filled their stomachs, they watched a movie on a laptop that Ved had brought.

It was over midnight when Ved and Cloe bade them goodnight and left. Patsy stayed for another movie, but it wasn't long before she snoozed off, not able to keep her eyes open. When the movie ended K.C gently shook her awake.

"Pats?" he said softly, "Wake up, the movie's ended."

Patsy stirred and slowly opened her eyes, "What time is it?" she asked groggily, sighed deeply and closed her eyes again.

K.C looked at his digital watch, "It's almost two a.m."

"Hmm?" Patsy said, not intirely awake. She snuggled in closer to him. K.C smiled at her and shook his head slightly.

"Hey sleepyhead," he said, "You're falling back to sleep."

"I'm so sleepy," Patsy mumbled into his chest, "Can't I stay here tonight?"

"Yeah, sure, of course," K.C said, delighted. He didn't want her to go - knew that if she did he would miss her and think about her all night, not get one second of sleep. Now they could cuddle and fall asleep in each others arms and wake up together in the morning.

He gently moved Patsy's arms away from his torso and got off of the bed. He took the laplop from the bed and put it away onto his dresser, then blew out all the candles. He shrugged out of his clothes except his boxers and then put on a t-shirt so he wasn't so 'naked', not wanting to make Patsy uncomfortable by the lack of clothes.

He then went into bed and crept under the covers, lying on his back. Patsy, who still had all of her clothes on, was almost asleep again. She rolled over onto her stomach, laid her head on K.C's shoulder and wrapped an arm around his torso. She snuggled her face into his chest and fell asleep right away. K.C wrapped both his arms around her and held her tight. He kissed her hair, whispered goodnight and shut his eyes. Soon they were both asleep, happy and content in each others arms.