In The Beginning, Part Three

Within weeks after that first day of school, Kat was fully involved. She had made a few new friends, mainly people that Joey introduced her to. She continued to hang out with Mandella much of the time after school and on weekends, despite the fact that Joey showered her with a lot of attention and was continually asking her out.

Mr. Stratford, Kat's father, was a little nervous about having boys express interest in his 14-year-old daughter. He didn't really approve of girls that young going out on dates, but told her that if she was with a group of kids he would let her date in a group. But no solo dates. Not until she was a little older.

As for her classes, Kat had been upset that first day when she strode into her final class of the day, English, and found the only empty seat being the one next to Patrick, the boy from the cafeteria. Mandella had gotten to the classroom a few moments early and, unbeknownst to Kat, deliberately left that seat empty and sat on the other side of the room. When Kat found out his full name, Patrick Verona, she was surprised to find that he had such a decidedly romantic name.

In those first few weeks of school, he hadn't really said anything to her of substance since that first day in the hallway after lunch. He would say hello to her in English but invariably ignored her after that. She found it quite disconcerting and wished she didn't have to sit next to him.

One Thursday in October, as Joey and Kat walked into their geography class together that morning, Joey said, "Hey, I'm having a party this weekend. You want to come?"

"That would be great!" Kat gushed. "Can Mandella come to?"

Joey's smile faltered for a moment but quickly he recovered and said, "Yeah, sure, she's invited, too."

Kat smiled happily as they took their seats. Joey is so sweet, she thought to herself. And he likes me of all people!

Later in the day as Kat and Mandella had lunch together (Joey had begged off in favor of sitting with the junior varsity baseball team), Kat told Mandella about the party.

"And Joey said he wants me there?" Mandella asked doubtfully.

"Well, yeah," Kat said. "He said you were invited, too."

Mandella looked at Kat briefly, debating whether she should share her opinion about Joey Donner. Since that first day of school Mandella had not liked Joey at all. He seemed too perfect, too polite. And therefore he came off as being entirely false and egotistical.

"Well," Mandella finally said, "I don't know that I can come. I think I need to spend some time catching up on my Shakespeare this weekend."

Kat laughed. "Mandella, why are you so obsessed with William Shakespeare all of a sudden?"

Mandella closed her eyes and said, "Oh Kat, he's just so magical with the written word. If he were alive today I'd ask him to marry me."

Kat laughed one more time and shook her head as she smiled at her best friend. "Mandella, you are wacky."

About to respond, Mandella heard someone say, "Uh, Mandella, hi."

Mandella looked up and saw Michael Eckman, another freshman, standing next to their table. He was in the same English class as Kat, Mandella and Patrick. Michael had brown hair and no distinguishing features whatsoever. He was the type of boy that blended into the crowd and coasted through without being noticed. The only afterschool activity he was involved with was Future Business Leaders of America, a club which sought to train young students, among other things, to become sharks on Wall Street.

"I couldn't help but overhear that you were going to be studying Shakespeare this weekend." Michael shifted nervously from one foot to the other.

Mandella nodded, waiting for Michael to continue.

"Well, there's a Shakespeare festival going on downtown this weekend at Padua Park and I wondered if...uh...you might want to go with me?"

Mandella's face broke into a grin and she said, "Michael, that would be great. Thanks."

Michael visibly relaxed at her words and said, "Great! Great! Uh...I'll talk to you later about where we can meet."

"Sure," she replied. "I'm looking forward to it."

Michael walked off, proud as a peacock, while Kat stifled a laugh and said, "A Tale of Two Geeks."

Mandella snorted at the good-natured ribbing from her best friend. "Yeah, well, at least it gets me out of going to Joey's party."

"You didn't want to go?" Kat asked.

"Not really my scene, Kat, to be honest with you."

Kat shrugged, disappointed that her friend wouldn't be at the party . "Well, maybe next time you'll feel differently."

"I highly doubt it," Mandella replied sardonically.

During the rest of lunch Kat and Mandella talked about their classes, seeking to smooth over the brief moment of awkwardness about Joey's party.

* * *

Patrick sat down in his seat just as his English began. He didn't really care much for school but was mainly putting up with classes just to get to this one. The one he had with Kat.

Since that first day, when he watched Kat's face contort as she realized the only empty seat was next to him, he had wondered about her. Mandella had been nice enough, although he didn't understand what she meant when she said that she looked forward to hearing more from him.

Now he watched Kat out of the side of his vision as she opened her notebook and began taking copious notes from the lesson being taught by Ms. Decree at the front of the room. The class itself was boring for Patrick, but he showed up every day so that he could surreptitiously watch Kat.

If Scurvy knew, he'd die laughing, Patrick thought to himself. I'm supposed to be the tough guy.

Trying to break his thoughts free from Kat, he thought about his grandparents instead. His own parents were divorced and he lived with his father, an ex-Marine who continually failed to discipline a son that had no respect for him.

Until the age of nine Patrick's father's career in the military had required that he live in Australia. When they moved back to the states, Patrick's mother and father announced they were getting divorced. Patrick was devastated, and wanted to live with his mother, but she had told him it would be better to stay in Washington, finish his schooling and be near his grandparents. With that she had taken off and was God knows where doing God knows what.

His only saving graces were his paternal grandmother and grandfather, a lovely couple that lived on Whidbey Island on the coast. So different from his father, his grandparents loved him for his difficulty, challenging him to better himself in all aspects of life.

He knew his grandfather was sick, had been sick for a few weeks now. Five years ago he'd been diagnosed with cancer but the doctors had been able to get it all with surgery and radiation. But now he was sick again, which broke Patrick's heart.

Not wanting to think about his grandfather, Patrick peeked at Kat again. What she saw in Joey Donner he couldn't understand. Joey Donner already had a reputation for being a jerk and he'd only been at Padua High for five weeks. Patrick had overheard him in the gym locker room one day bragging to the other boys that he was gonna "land" Kat Stratford before the winter holidays. Patrick was surprised that Kat was hanging out with a guy like that.

Patrick thought about telling her what Donner had said, but then realized that she probably didn't care one wit what he thought. She thought he was a pig, when in actuality he had just been in a bad mood that first day in the cafeteria because he had just learned about his grandfather's relapse.

Patrick continued to daydream throughout class until the final bell rang. As all the students rose in a rush to leave the classroom, Patrick hung back a bit, deliberately gathering his materials so that he could leave at the same time as Mandella and Kat.

Mandella noticed Patrick hanging back, moved over to him and said, "Hey Patrick, how are things with you?"

He saw Kat's eyes widened in shock when Mandella spoke to him pleasantly. If she could have been more obvious in her distaste she would have spit on him or something. As it was Kat approached the pair like a girl walking the plank.

Patrick smiled at Mandella and politely said, "I'm quite well, Mandella. And yourself?"

Mandella responded, "I'm doing great. I'm going to the Shakespeare Festival this weekend with Michael."

Shakespeare Festival? Patrick thought to himself. That's one nutty chick, but I like her. Out loud he said, "Sounds like fun - I'll probably just be hanging out with Scurvy this weekend."

Mandella thought for a moment, then said, "What about Joey Donner's party? Why don't you go there instead? I was supposed to go, but since I'm not you can take my place."

Patrick wryly answered, "I doubt Donner wants me at his party. Nor would your friend here."

Mandella said, "Oh please, knowing Donner, he's invited half the freshman class, so what's one more? He probably won't even notice you're there!"

Patrick looked at Kat, who was turning red at the idea of having Patrick interfere with her weekend. And the rosy cheeks weren't rosy with pleasure, but with fear that he'd come to the party.

"Thanks, Mandella," he finally said. "I think I will go after all."