Cruel Beginnings

by KathrynMerteuil1

A CI prequel. Forget what you saw in Cruel Intentions 2 cuz that was crap. Read this to find out why Sebastian has been obsessing about Kathryn ever since their parent's got married.

2. The Plot Thickens...

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looks up. "Sebastian, son..." he says, with a grim smile. "How nice of you to show up. You know. Protect your little girlfriend." He doesn't appear to be at all threatened by Sebastian's presence.
\par \tab "Leave her alone, motherfucker!" Sebastian hollers, jumping his father and punching him.
\par \tab Kathryn lets out a shriek as Sebastian hurls Edward across the room. A few landscape portraits hanging on the wall went crashing to the floor. Kathryn jumps back as the frame shatters, sending a spray of glass in every which way.
\par \tab "Get off of me, you incest! You freak!" Edward sputters, and throws a fist into Sebastian's gut.
\par \tab Sebastian keels over, and gasps for air, stumbling off of his father and hitting a wall. In the darkness, he feels something wet trickling down his face. Blood. That dirty little--
\par \tab Edward grabs Sebastian by the collar of his shirt, yanking him to his feet. He yanks him harder, and harder.... ...and hurls him clear out of the window. It's a
two story drop...Sebastian manages to grip the ledge of the window with both of his hands, his feet dangling beneath him.
\par \tab "SEBASTIAN!" screams Kathryn. Kathryn goes over to the table where she knew there was a gun and opened the drawer. She pulls the gun out and without aiming too carefully fires a shot at Edward.
\par \tab Edward screams out in pain as the bullet hits him in the leg. "You bitch."
\par \tab Kathryn ignores him. She's beginning to finally feel in control. She puts the gun back in it's spot and then goes to Sebastian. "Here take my hands." She offers them out.
\par \tab Sebastian gratefully takes them and Kathryn tries to pull him up. Sebastian has to help himself up since Kathryn isn't that strong. Luckily there were ledges that he could use to help him up. He get
s back into the room and asks,"Shouldn't we call an ambulance or something?"
\par \tab Kathryn nods. "Yeah probably." She looks over at Edward. "If they ask us what happened, we'll just say it was a robbery. After all wouldn't want me to get in trouble for shootin
g you or you getting in trouble for throwing your son out of a window, right?"
\par \tab Edward slowly nods. "Fine.I'll go with that story."
\par \tab Kathryn picks up the phone and dials 911. "Hello....We need an ambulance here stepfather's been shot in the leg...Yes...No.....Okay." Kathryn hangs up the phone and then tells Edward
,"They're on their way." Kathryn starts to walk out of the room with Sebastian to go take care of him.
\par \tab Edward hobbles to the main door to wait for the amublance.
\par \tab Kathryn takes Sebastian into her bathroom and sets him down on the wicker couch. She gets a towel and wets it. She starts to wipe his cuts. "Are you alright?" Kathryn asks.
\par \tab "I'll be fine. No thanks to him."Sebastian answers as Kathryn takes care of him.
\par \tab Kathryn bites her lip. "This is all my fault. If I hadn't told you, he wouldn't have done this."
\par \tab "You can't blame yourself, Kathryn.It would probably be worse if you hadn't told anyone. He could keep doing things to you and no one could stop him." Sebastian explains.
\par \tab Just then Kath
ryn finishes dressing his wounds and says,"You probably should just stay here tonight. My mom's gone. She's over at my grandmother's making preparations for the wedding." Kathryn gets up from the wicker couch where she had been sitting and walks into her
r
oom. Sebastian gets up and follows her. Kathryn walks over to her door and locks it. "Just in case." She explains to Sebastian's puzzled look. "My mom will probably be home tomorrow before noon." Sebastian nods and makes a move to take the couch. "What ar
e you doing?" Kathryn asks.
\par \tab "Getting ready to sleep." Sebastian replies.
\par \tab Kathryn looks at him. "You aren't sleeping on the couch tonight."
\par \tab "Neither are you."Sebastian tells her. "But what about tomorrow when your mom gets home?"
\par \tab Kathryn shakes her head. "That doesn't matter. We'll find a way. Trust me."
\par \tab Sebastian nods. "Alright." He gets into the bed as does Kathryn. Kathryn curls up next to him and rests her head on his chest.
\par \tab ----The Next Morning----
\par \tab There is a knock at the door. Kathryn and Sebastian instantly wake up as they hear Tiffany\rquote s voice. "Kathryn, wake up. We need to go to the hospital. Edward
is there. He said something about an attempted robbery here. Do you know what he was talking about?"
\par \tab Kathryn immediately gets out of bed. She calls,"Just a minute" to her mom as she pulls out the huge drawer under her bed. "Get in there."Kathryn whispers. "It's padded."
\par \tab Sebastian looks at her funny but gets in it anyways. Kathryn shuts it. She then unlocks the door. She explains to her mother abou
t the locked door,"Sorry. I was a little paranoid after what happened last night. This guy broke in and he tried to steal something and he ended out shooting Edward in the leg. It was in the guest room. Luckily, I knew where the gun was and shot the guy i
n the arm so he would leave Edward alone. The guy ran out after that."
\par \tab Tiffany sighs. "Luckily is right. I'm so proud of you. I'm going to go fix you and Sebastian breakfast. You'll go wake up Sebastian, won't you?"
\par \tab "Of course." Kathryn says with a smile. She shuts the door behind Tiffany as Tiffany leaves. She pulls the drawer out from under her bed. "Are you alright?"
\par \tab "Yeah.It was fine under there. Hidden a lot of people under there?"Sebastian questions with a half-smile.
\par \tab
Kathryn responds innocently,"Just the people my mom didn't know were spending the night in my room. " She then says,"Come on. I have to go 'wake you up.'" Kathryn walks to the large mirror in her bedroom and pushes it open, leading to Sebastian's room. Sh
e shuts it behind them. "Don't worry it works both ways." She then heads back into her room.
\par \tab "Where are you going?"
\par \tab "To get dressed. Can't eat breakfast dressed like this."Kathryn responds with a smirk.Sebastian nods and heads to his closet to get dresse
d. He puts on black pants and a black ribbed sweater.Kathryn had walked back into her room and picked out a black dress with a black jacket over it. She walks out of her room and knocks on Sebastian's door. "Sebastian? Are you up yet?"
\par \tab Sebastian opens the door and walks out. "Up and ready." He walks with Kathryn to the kitchen.
\par \tab Tiffany says,"Good morning." when she sees the two of them. She hands them their breakfast.
\par \tab "Thanks mom."Kathryn tells Tiffany. She starts to eat.
\par \tab Sebastian says,"Yeah. Thanks."He smiles at her and starts to eat his breakfast as well.
\par \tab "So, what were your plans for today, Sebastian?" inquires Tiffany, slicing a grapefruit in half and sprinkling a dash of salt on it. She opens
\par up a diet Slim Fast breakfast thing.
\par \tab Sebastian chews slowly on his pancake. "I don't know. Probably head
\par into town and get fitted for my suit for the wedding." It was ironic that
\par he was to be his father's best man, considering the recent turn of events. He
\par frowned, and suddenly his pancake tasted bitter at the thought.
\par \tab "Ah, I see. Good idea," Tiffany says, nodding. She turns her
\par back to rinse her hands in the sink.
\par \tab Kathryn nudges Sebastian. "You look like you just ate a piece of
\par shit," she whispers, "Are you okay? I don't want my mom to get suspicious."
\par She throws a look at her mother, who's back is still turned.
\par \tab Sebastian wipes his mouth, and downs the pancake with a glass of freshly
\par squeeze orange juice. "Just thinking about the wedding," he answers
\par in a low voice. "It just made me feel--"
\par \tab "What about the wedding?" Tiffany asks suddenly, and Sebastian is
\par astonished at that woman's keen sense of hearing. He can tell Kathryn is as
\par well--Kathryn had a "deer-in-the-headlights" look on her face.
\par \tab "It made me feel an adrenaline rush," Sebastian finishes his
\par sentence, not missing a beat. "An adrenaline rush," he repeats, his heart
\par pounding against his chest.
\par \tab Tiffany smiles. "How sweet. Why don't you take Kathryn with you?
\par She needs to get fitted for her bridesmaids dress. Seeing as to how you both are
\par using the same seamstress."
\par \tab Kathryn nods, and shoves another forkful of pancakes in her mouth.
\par "It's a lovely idea, Mother. I am all for it," she says.
\par \tab Sebastian nods as well."It is a good idea."
\par \tab Tiffany asks,"What time were you supposed to be there?"
\par \tab Sebastian replies,"Well, she didn't give a specific time but she closes at 4."
\par \tab "Well, then you better leave soon. It's 1 o'clock now."Tiffany informs them.
\par \tab Sebastian asks Kathryn,"If you're ready we can leave now."
\par \tab She nods her head, eager to leave the house. "I'm ready." She gets up and puts her dishes in the sink for Lucia, the maid, to clean.
\par \tab Sebastian gets up as well and follows her. They then head outside into Sebastian's car.
\par \tab Kathryn stares out the window, thinking.
\par \tab "Penny for your thoughts..."Sebastian says.
\par \tab Kathryn doesn't shift her gaze from the window as she stares placidly
\par outside, the trees and sky resembling blue and green blobs as the Roadster
\par speeds down the road.
\par \tab Sebastian looks at her, gripping the steering wheel until his knuckles
\par turn a white color. He isn't usually so tense, but Kathryn was never this
\par quiet either. And she seemed fine during breakfast...
\par \tab "Quit worrying, Sebastian," she says finally, shattering the
\par silence. "I'm fine. I'm just a little upset that my mother is marrying a fuck like
\par your father."
\par \tab Sebastian opens his mouth, as if he's about to respond. Well. He
\par couldn't argue with Kathryn on that one. He closes his mouth.
\par \tab Kathryn looks at him, from behind her large tortoise shell sunglasses. "Tiffany is a good woman, Sebastian," she continues, "It's not
\par like me to give a damn about this sentimental shit...but..."
\par \tab Sebastian sees a tear trickle down Kathryn's cheek from underneath her
\par shades. She hastily wipes it away with one vicious sweep of the hand.
\par \tab "Anyway." Kathryn inhales sharply. "I'm over it. It's her
\par life, and thank God it isn't mine."
\par \tab There was a coldness in her voice, the same coldness that Sebastian had
\par remembered when he first met Kathryn. He had a feeling this was probably the
\par last conversation he'd have with "sentimental shit" Kathryn.
\par \tab Sebastian nods slowly, somewhat dubiously. "Oh that's good...are...are
\par you sure?" He's sure as hell that Kathryn is in some sort of weird denial
\par stage...
\par \tab Kathryn turns to him, an eerily sadistic smile curling up on the corner
\par of her lips. "Of course, Sebastian. Everything is just fine. Are you
\par sure you're okay with this arrangement? Hmmm?" She gets an idea. She says in a tone that mirrored her tone when she was weak,"If you can't handle this, then maybe you should take me to that mountain place. We could talk it out."
\par \tab Sebastian nods. "Alright." He drives her to the mountain. "So, you wanted to talk things out...."
\par \tab Kathryn takes her seat belt off. "Hmm...talking is the last thing on my mind. Never used to be one of the main things on yours if I recall correctly." She then readjusts
herself so that she is sitting on Sebastian's lap, facing him. She starts to kiss him.
\par \tab Sebastian thinks to himself,*I guess this is her way with coping.* and then kisses her back. Kathryn continues to kiss him, letting the kisses get deeper and deeper an
d makes a move to unbutton his pants. Sebastian's noticed that she started kissing him deeper and felt her unbuttoning his pants. Deeper than she had ever kissed him, even before she had spent that day with his father. He gently pulls her off of him and a
sks,"What are you doing?"
\par \tab "What does it look like I'm doing? Don't tell me you don't feel it either. Come on Sebastian. Give into your feelings. It won't hurt you." Kathryn tells him.
\par \tab Sebastian admits,"Kathryn, I would love to...but not here, or under these circumstances. I mean are you even fully over what happened with Edward?"
\par \tab Kathryn glares at Sebastian. "I'm fine. I've moved on. What's done is done. I've dealt with it. If you can't, well then someone has a problem." She then changes the subject,"Come on. Let's go to the seamstress. Wouldn't want to be late."
\par \tab Sebastian glances at Kathryn from the corner of his eye, worried about
\par her. He doesn't say anything as he starts up the engine and heads downtown.
\par \tab *I can't believe he rejected me* Kathryn thought bitterly, trying to seem
\par indifferent about the recent situation. She pushed her Donna Karan shades up
\par the bridge of her nose coolly. *I'm over it. Really. I am* She snorts.
\par Sure. Like she would *ever* get over such a horrible ordeal...but she wasn't
\par about to let Sebastian know it. She was tired of that
\par "I-pity-you-deeply" look he always gave to her.
\par \tab Sebastian pulls up along the curb of a designer store, where the
\par seamstress was waiting.
\par \tab "I need a bottle of water," Kathryn mutters.
\par \tab "Okay," Sebastian replies. They walk over to an Dasani bottled
\par water
\par dispenser nearby. Kathryn shoves in a few quarters, and as she does so, a
\par vaguely familiar voice shouts out, "Kathryn! Sebastian!"
\par \tab Kathryn looks up, mortified. She knew that voice. It was Abby. *What
\par are the odds* she thought, with a sigh. She didn't really want to talk to
\par that girl right now.
\par \tab Abby walks over to Kathryn and Sebastian. "Hi!" She says brightly. "Are you feeling better, Kat? I mean last time we talked you were, no offense, kinda rude."
\par \tab Kathryn forces a smile on her face. "I'm fine. I just had had a bad night. I'm so sorry."
\par \tab "It's ok."Abby says with a smile. "So, where are you two headed?"
\par \tab "To the seamstress. We have fittings and if we don't hurry, we'll be late." Kathryn explains.
\par \tab Abby nods. "Ok. You two lovebirds have fun."
\par \tab "Excuse me? What do you mean by that?" Kathryn asks with a glare.
\par \tab Abby explains,"Well I mean you two are like always cuddling up to each other and I mean at Starbucks you guys were like practically making out and stuff so I just figured you were a couple."
\par \tab "Look Abby, we're not a couple and never will be. Okay. I mean, right now he's practically my stepbrother. Soon it will be legalized. I'm not like you and Jack." Kathryn responds, a cold look in her face.
\par \tab Abby's mouth drops open, as if she's just gotten slapped in the face.
\par "God, cut it out with the verbal assault, Kathryn, you're gonna give me
\par whiplash," she snaps, and Sebastian can tell she's hurt. Abby turns and
\par storms away.
\par \tab Kathryn watches her, with a look of no remorse. Sebastian can't believe
\par how cold she's being. "Come on, Sebastian," she orders, walking into the
\par shop.
\par \tab "Mademoiselle Merteuil!" a woman in a thick French accent calls. "So
\par good to see you." It's Madeline, the middle-aged, highly-esteemed clothing
\par designer. She gives Kathryn a dainty little air kiss, as Sebastian looks on,
\par amused.
\par \tab "Good to see you as well, Madeline," Kathryn replies, in an
\par uncharacteristically pleasant voice. She gestures towards Sebastian.
\par "Madeline, this would be Monsiuer Valmont."
\par \tab Sebastian extends a hand. "Nice to meet you."
\par \tab Madeline nods and exchanges pleasantries. "Shall we get started?" she
\par asks after all the introductions are done.
\par \tab "Oui, oui," Kathryn agrees, with a firm nod.
\par \tab As Madeline leaves to go pull out a few fabric samples, Sebastian turns
\par to Kathryn in surprise. "I didn't know you spoke French," he says to her.
\par \tab Kathryn grins at him. "There are a lot of things you don't know about
\par me, Sebastian," she replies, running her fingers along the collar of his
\par suit. "But you'll learn soon enough." She turns to go help Madeline with
\par the fabric.
\par \tab Sebastian is mesmerized by
Kathryn. How she can go from being a bitch to being so flirtatious and at times somewhat nice amazed him. He followed Kathryn to pick the fabric out, even though he knew he didn't really need to play that big of a part in helping Madeline. She had alread
y made his suit and only needed to make sure it fit right.
\par \tab Kathryn looks at the fabric swatches that Madeline had picked. The color for all the bridesmaid dresses had already been set for a light lavendar. She picked the shade and fabric of it that she liked best.
\par \tab Madeline nodded with a smile. "Good choice. That's the one I would have picked."
\par \tab Kathryn smiles. "Well, I've been going to you for practically my whole life for my dresses, so you're expertise must be rubbing off on me."
\par \tab Madelin
e says to Sebastian,"I'll be right back. I'm going to go get your suit. It's ready except for a few possible alterations." She goes to the back room of the store where it is and brings it to Sebastian. "You can try it on over there." She points to a dress
ing room.
\par \tab Sebastian nods and walks over to it with the suit. He walks in the dressing room and changes into the suit. He looked in the mirror. He then walks out and asks,"What do you think?"
\par \tab All Kathryn can say is,"Wow." She knew he would probably look good
\par in the suit, but didn't know he would look this good.
\par \tab Sebastian grins, and straightens out the collar cockily, doing a little
\par runway turn. "Good? Good? Huh? How 'bout it? I'm pimpin'," he
\par jokes.
\par \tab Kathryn smiles, shaking her head, trying not to laugh.
\par \tab Madeline nods in approval. "I like it much. Do you like it
\par much?"
\par \tab Sebastian nods. "I like it much that Kathryn appears to like it
\par much," he teases. He nods. "I'll take it."
\par \tab Madeline's assistant hurries up to Madeline with a sleek, satin lavender
\par bridesmaids gown. They speak to each other indistinctly in French, then
\par Madeline turns to the Kathryn and says, "Here, try on this dress. If it
\par fits, it is to be yours for the wedding."
\par \tab Kathryn smiles. "It's beautiful." She runs her fingers along the
\par smooth fabric. It was a long, sleeveless dress that flaired at the hips. The front
\par was rather low cut. She liked it...and she figured Sebastian probably would,
\par too...
\par \tab *He'll regret rejecting me earlier* she thought, with a grin. "I'll
\par try it on, Madeline," she says, and turns on her heel. "Be right
\par back."
\par \tab Kathryn heads into the changing room and quickly changes into the dress.She does a once-over in the mirror that is in the changing room before deciding to come out. She walks out in the dress. "What do you think?"
\par \tab Madeline smiles. "It's a perfect fit. Tres magnifique!"
\par \tab Sebastian agrees with Madeline. He takes Kathryn in his arms and tilts her back. He jokes,"What do you say about right here, right now?"
\par \tab Kathryn snickers,"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" She stands back up and regains her composure. She tells Madeline. "I'll take it. It's perfect."
\par \tab Madeline nods. "I'm glad you like it. " Kathryn and Sebastian head to their separate changing rooms to change back into the clothes they were wearing when they came in. Madeline heads over to the register. "Are these together?" Madeline asks.
\par \tab "Yeah."Sebastian answers as he hands over a credit card.
\par \tab Madeline rings it up and then bags the two things up. She hands them to Kathryn, who takes them carefully. "Thank you Madeline."
\par \tab "It's nothing my dear. Tell your mother I say hello." Madeline tells Kathryn.
\par \tab "Of course."Kathryn replies as her and Sebastian walk out. Kathryn gets in the car, silently, waiting to see what Sebastian would say next.
\par \tab Sebastian starts up the engine, recalling how beautiful Kathryn had
\par looked in that lavender dress. He decides its best he doesn't comment on it,
\par since she's obviously still in her strange denial state. He shoots her his
\par most winning smile, but doesn't say anything.
\par \tab Kathryn tries not to pout as Sebastian acknowledges her merely a sexy
\par smile. That was it? *Well, damn* she thought sarcastically, rolling her eyes
\par in disdain.
\par \tab "So that was quite an interesting encounter with your friend
\par Abigail," Sebastian remarks, shattering the silence that was forming between them like
\par a thick fog. He sped down the highway, well over the speed limit--as usual.
\par \tab Kathryn slips on her sunglasses. "Yeah, well. Our friendship is
\par hardly mutual."
\par \tab Sebastian raises an eyebrow. "Why call it a friendship anyway? What a
\par crock of shit. If you wanna ditch the bitch, then at least let me see how
\par she is in bed first," he says, "I can probably lower her self-worth by
\par doing so, and besides, I haven't gotten any lately."
\par \tab Kathryn stiffens at the thought of Abby and Sebastian doing the nasty.
\par "I don't really care to know if you've gotten any lately," she
\par retorts, "but ask her yourself. I'm not Abby's keeper." She tries not to seem too
\par pissed, but it's hard not to appear that way...after the way Sebastian had rejected
\par her...
\par \tab Sebastian studies her hard, for a few minutes.
\par \tab "Excuse me, hello, driver?!" Kathryn snaps, sarcasm dripping from
\par her lips. "Keep your eyes on the road so you and the passenger don't end up
\par flying out of the windshield! Sound like a good idea?" She frowns,
\par crossing her arms.
\par \tab *What is her problem?* Sebastian thin
ks to himself and just nods in response to Kathryn. He turns away so that he was facing the street and not looking at Kathryn. He decides not to talk seeing as last time he tried, all it got was Kathryn in full-on bitch mode.
\par \tab Kathryn looks out the window.
She's not sure why she's taking it all out on Sebastian. *Because he rejected you and only pities you,* a voice tells her. Kathryn tries to shake it off. She doesn't remember the last time she felt this uncomfortable. She was supposed to be in control. S
he had to be in control. If she wasn't, well then...
\par \tab Sebastian interrupts her thoughts,"We're here." He gets out as does Kathryn.
\par \tab Kathryn murmurs to herself,"Home sweet hell on earth." She walks inside and into her room, obviously ignoring Sebastian.
\par \tab Tiffany notices Kathryn's pouty mood and asks Sebastian,"What's wrong with her?"
\par \tab "I'm not sure."Sebastian replies. "I think I did something. Do you know her friend Abby?"
\par \tab Tiffany nods. "Yeah, they were like best friends when they were little. But now Kathryn seems to hate everyone. Except for you. Do you think I should go talk to her?"
\par \tab "Probably. Maybe you can figure out why she's acting this way."Sebastian says.
\par \tab Tiffany walks over to Kathryn's room and knocks on the door. "Can I come in?"
\par \tab "Sure."Kathryn replies obviously through tears. Kathryn wipes them away and tries to act composed as her mother walks in.
\par \tab Tiffany opens the door and walks in. "How did the fitting go? Is everything alright? You look like your boyfriend just dumped you."
\par \tab "The fitting went fine. "Kathryn responds. "It's just that something else..."
\par \tab Tiffany asks, full of concern,"What is it?"
\par \tab "It's about Sebastian.."Kathryn starts.
\par \tab Tiffany interrupts,"Oh no. I was fearing this..."
\par \tab Kathryn hesitates. "He's beginning to be such a pain, Mother. You
\par know, it already feels like we've been siblings forever. We're starting to get on
\par each others nerves." She was lying of course, but there was no other way
\par to explain her true relationship with Sebastian...
\par \tab Without seriously grossing her mother out, of course.
\par \tab Tiffany hugs her. "Aww, Kathryn, honey, thank God. I thought you
\par were going to tell me Sebastian you know...uh...put the uh...put the *move* on
\par you, if you know what I mean..."
\par \tab Kathryn shook her head, again lying through her teeth. "Mother,"
\par she says calmly, "Sebastian and I could *never* be like that. That's so
\par disgusting." *Yeah, right, it's *hardly* disgusting* she thought,
\par sneering.
\par \tab Tiffany patted her hand. "Well whatever differences you and Sebastian
\par face as new siblings, I'm sure you'll work them out."
\par \tab "Of course, Mother," Kathryn replies, in sickly sweet voice.
\par "Thank you."
\par \tab "If you need me, honey, I'll be here." Tiffany smiles and leaves
\par Kathryn alone, shutting the door to her bedroom behind her.
\par \tab Kathryn curses under her breath. Alone. Again. As usual.
\par \tab Sebastian walks into his room and writes in his journal about Kathryn and about Abigail. He purposely doesn't shut the door so he can see when Tiffany left the room. Tiffany
walks in Sebastian's room. "I'm going to go visit your father in the hospital. I'll be there a while, if either you or Kathryn needs anything."
\par \tab Sebastian nods as he quickly shuts his journal. "Alright. Is Kathryn ok?" he asks.
\par \tab "Yes, she's fine."Tiffany informs him and then leaves. Sebastian waits til he hears the front door of the apartment shut and then walks into Kathryn's room.
\par \tab "What are you doing here?"Kathryn asks somewhat coldly. *If Sebastian's going to treat me as if I'm non-existent I'll do the same.*
\par \tab Sebastian responds,"Do I need a reason to drop in on my darling sister?"
\par \tab Kathryn puts the magazine she had started to read away. "Yes."She replies simply. "Do you even have one?"
\par \tab "I wanted to see you." Sebastian tells her.
\par \tab "There. You've seen me. If that's all you wanted, then feel free to leave." Kathryn states.
\par \tab Sebastian questions teasingly,"What if I don't want to?"
\par \tab Kathryn exclaims,"God, don't do that. You think you can treat me like you did earlier and then just waltz in here and act like everything between us is peachy-fucking keen. And it's not."
\par \tab "'Treat me like you did earlier'?" Sebastian echoes incredulously."Refresh my memory if you would." He stares at her with such an even,
\par cold gaze, it's hard for Kathryn not to squirm under it.
\par \tab *I'm tougher than him. I'm better than him* she tells herself
\par repeatedly, to regain her composure and confidence. She steadily returns the
\par same icy stare. "Let's see...when we were on the hill, you rejected me,
\par acting all chicken-ass. And just right after, you tell me you want to get it
\par on with Abigail. Refreshed yet?"
\par \tab Sebastian chews his lower lip. "Just because I met you doesn't mean
\par that my sexual conquests have to come to an abrupt halt," he replies,
\par "although you mean a lot more to me than anyone else ever will..." He takes a few
\par steps towards the bed where Kathryn is perched on.
\par \tab Kathryn lights a cigarette, and blows a puff of smoke into Sebastian's
\par face as he leans over her. "Funny, I mean so much to you that you would
\par resist actually kissing me back or letting me give you a blow job."
\par \tab Sebastian leans back. "Damn it, Kathryn, you were just so vulnerable
\par when were on that hill...I couldn't do that to you."
\par \tab Kathryn raises an eyebrow. "Wow, so the infamous Sebastian Valmont
\par actually has a conscience? Wow..." She smirks.
\par \tab Sebastian ignores her comment and changes the subject,"So what did you and mother dearest talk about? Me, per chance?"
\par \tab "Could your ego be any bigger?"Kathryn shoots back. "Not that it's any of your business, but yes. You were occasionally mentioned. Basically it was just my mom doing the protective, 'are you ok?' mother thing."
\par \tab "Hmmm thought so. Your mom gave me a weird look when I asked if you were alright." Sebastian responds. "Oh yeah, in case you were wondering where she was, she went to the hospital to visit Edward."
\par \tab Kathryn notices how Sebastian called his father by his first name but doesn't say anything about it. "So, the house is empty then. It's Mai-Lee's day off."
\par \tab Sebastian raises an eyebrow. He pretends to think,"Well, what should we do? I mean I don't have any plans, so it's your pick."
\par \tab He was suggesting something, of course. As always.
\par \tab Kathryn smiles at him sweetly, running her fingers along his cheek.
\par "Sorry, Sebastian, honey. You blew it earlier." She takes off her
\par black cardigan to reveal a low-cut black top...
\par \tab Sebastian regrets deeply for rejecting Kathryn on the hill. *That's
\par exactly why it sucks to actually care about people* he thinks. *I should
\par lose this conscience of mine soon, it's starting to bite me in the ass*.
\par \tab "I blew it...didn't I," Sebastian echoes, "Well you know that
\par saying, forgive and forget..." He advances on her...
\par \tab "Uh-uh," Kathryn says, pushing him away. "Sorry, Sebastian.
\par Doesn't work that way, at least not in my little black leather book." She grins at
\par him, and stands up. "I'm going into town? Care to come along?"
\par \tab Sebastian watches, trying to hide his disappointment, as Kathryn slips on
\par her black cardigan again and re-buttons it. "Yeah. Let's go."
\par \tab Kathryn gets off her bed and walks out of the room, Sebastian following her. They head out to his car and they both get in. Sebastian drives into town, abov
e the speed limit as always, when Kathryn suggests,"Can we get a bite to eat? I'm kind of hungry."
\par \tab "Sure. Where do you want to go?" Sebastian asks.
\par \tab "Hmm...I'm in the mood for ice cream. Know any good spots where I could get some?" Kathryn replies.
\par \tab Sebas
tian nods and drives to a little ice cream cafe that he knew of. They walk inside and Kathryn orders an ice cream cone with a cherry on top. Sebastian doesn't order anything. Kathryn gets the cone and they sit down at a table for two. Kathryn takes the ch
e
rry off the cone and starts to suck it. She waits until the last possible moment to bite it off the stem. She puts the stem to the side and then starts to lick the ice cream on the cone. She looks at Sebastian's face and winks at him. She starts to laugh.

\par \tab "What's so funny?"Sebastian asks.
\par \tab Kathryn responds,"Your reaction." She looks at her watch. "Oh! We're going to be late."
\par \tab "Late where?"Sebastian questions.
\par \tab "To registration. We have to register for classses at Manchester today. We better go."Kathryn says as she throws away the ice cream cone which she didn't want anymore. Sebastian and her headed out to the car.
\par \tab "Do I have to go?"
\par \tab Kathryn replies,"It's mandatory Sebastian. They're going to make us go on the tour and everything even though some of us have already been there. They make everyone."
\par \tab Sebastian frowns and heads to the school. They arrive at the school and get out of the car. They walk inside the building and head to the first table which has all the forms for the classes you're taking. Kath
ryn whispers to Sebastian,"Here sign up for this course. It's really easy and I'll be in it."
\par \tab Sebastian nods. Court Reynolds, son of Garret Reynolds, walks over to Kathryn and Sebastian. "Hey Kathryn. Nice to see you again."
\par \tab "You two."Kathryn tells him as she puts on one of her most charming smiles. "It's been awhile."
\par \tab Court pulls her aside and asks in a whisper,"Why are you here with Sebastian?"
\par \tab "You know him? He's my new step-brother." Kathryn explains, not bothering to whisper.
\par \tab Court whispers again,"Has he tried anything with you? If he ever does let me know."
\par \tab Kathryn shakes her head. "No. Perfect gentleman."
\par \tab Sebastian watches as Kathryn and Court talk in low, discreet voices to
\par each other. It was annoying the hell out of him. "Court! What a
\par surprise," Sebastian interrupts in an obviously put-on cheery tone.
\par \tab Court nods. "Sebastian. Good to see you."
\par \tab Sebastian slaps him heartily on the back. "Man, it's great to be back
\par in this school building again. Kinda gives you a rush! You know, I love my
\par school books so much, I could just fuck 'em." He looks at Court, to see
\par what his reaction would be.
\par \tab Kathryn looks somewhat mortified. "Sebastian," she says, in a
\par rather warning tone. She looks at Court and laughs. "Sebastian is on Ritalin.
\par Keeps him from bouncing off the walls. It gets to his brain."
\par \tab Court laughs and nods slowly. "Ummm, sure."
\par \tab "You know, Court, we should probably head on over to that tour that we're supposed to go on. I'll see you later Sebastian." Kathryn says as she walks off with Court.
\par \tab Sebastian dully nods. *Another girl taken by Court. Oh well, I'll get Kathryn back.* Just then Abigail walks over to Sebastian.
\par \tab "Hi Sebastian! I wasn't expecting to see you here."Abby says in an upbeat tone.
\par \tab Sebastian smiles. "Have you already registered?"
\par \tab "Yeah. Have you?" Abby asks.
\par \tab Sebastian nods and then suggests,"How would you feel about coming over to my house? I'm sure Kathryn has a ride home with Court."
\par \tab "That sounds great."Abby says as they walk outside to Sebastian's car.
\par \tab Sebastian drives to his house and they walk in. "My father's not home." he tells her.
\par \tab "Ooooh, good for us."Abby says with a wink as she starts to kiss him. Sebastian kisses her back and leads Abby to his bedroom.
\par *****
\par \tab Kathryn asks Court,"So how have you been? Have you had a good summer?"
\par \tab "Yeah it was nice. We went to Europe in for a month." Court replies.
\par \tab "How wonderful."Kathryn smiles. "Europe's so nice. I'm considering going to the south of France for the end of summer."
\par \tab "Well, if that doesn't work out how does going to the Hamptons for Labor Day weekend sound?" Court asks.
\par \tab Kathryn replies,"It's sounds wonderful. Who all is going to go?"
\par \tab "My family, my brother's wife, and now you."Court says with a smile.
\par \tab "It sounds nice. I can't wait." Kathryn tells him. "Oh, if you don't already have plans, how would you like to come to my mom's wedding? It's next weekend and I'd love if you would come. "
\par \tab Court nods. "Sure. As long as we can find a way to avoid Sebastian."
\par \tab "That might be kind of hard. I mean after all, his father is marrying my mom. He's the best man which means he's my escort to the altar." Kathryn explains.
\par \tab "Oh, I take it you're the maid of honor?"
\par \tab Kathryn nods. "Yeah. Another one of my mom's ideas to bring me and Sebastian closer. She's got it in her head that we should have this brother-sister bond thing."
\par \tab Court takes her hand in his and asks,"What do you say we go to a movie?"
\par \tab "Sounds fun. Any one in particular?"Kathryn asks.
\par \tab "We can decide when we get to the theater." Court tells her. Court leads Kathryn outside to his car and they drive to the movie theater.
\par ----Time-------
\par \tab Abby looks at the clock after her and Sebastian had finished. "Oh. I hate to do this but I have to get home. My mom wants me to go back to school shopping with her. Tell Kathryn I said hey."
\par \tab Sebastian nods. "I'll do that. Bye." He watches Abby go. He thin
ks to himself,*She's even a worse lay than she is boring.* He finishes his journal entry up and heads into his bathroom to take a shower. When he finishes, he wraps a towel around himself and he hears a knock at the bathroom door.
\par \tab Kathryn walks in after knocking. "Hi. " She notices his lack of clothes. "Oh, sorry did I come at a bad time?"
\par \tab "Depends on how you look at it."Sebastian replies, obviously implying something, as always.
\par \tab He grins, thinking how Kathryn would not be pleased he just knocked Abby up. "And how was your outing with the impeccable sweater-clad fag?"
\par \tab Kathryn returns his grin. "It was wonderful. And just because he actually has manners and he wears sweaters doesn't neccessarily make him a fag, thank you very much."
\par \tab "Yeah. Sweaters three sizes too small for him," Sebastian mutters. "It's not like he has any muscles to complement those fag sweaters of his."
\par \tab Kathryn raised an eyebrow. "Court invited me to a Fourth of July picnic at the Hamptons. I'm quite excited about that," she continues, "although I can see you're jealous much."
\par \tab Sebastian snorts, trying to mask any signs of jealousy. "Hardly. While you were having a *wonderful* time with Mr.I-have-the-highest-GPA-in-the-fucking-junior-class, I was having some fun of my own."
\par \tab Kathryn smirks. "Yeah? Who was your victim this time?" She lit a cigarette, puffed on it, then disposed of it. She sprayed some air freshener to get rid of the murky odor.
\par \tab "Well--" Sebastian began.
\par \tab Before Sebastian could proceed to elaborate, Kathryn notice
d a pair of sunglasses sitting on the nightstand near Sebastian's bed. She knew them from anywhere. They were Abby's. "Oh no...you didn't," Kathryn says, in utter disbelief. She tries to hide her anger and envy by putting on a forced smile. "You naughty b
oy."
\par \tab "You don't get to have all the fun. Now, who's jealous?"Sebastian says with a smirk.
\par \tab Kathryn replies,"I am not jealous. I don't really care who or even how you fuck."
\par \tab "Your denying it just proves my point." Sebastian responds.
\par \tab Kathryn glares at him. "Why would I be jealous?"
\par \tab "Because I slept with Abby and not you."
\par \tab Kathryn feels like the wind had just been knocked out of her and had been slapped. "Sorry, I just remembered I had better things to do than be here with you. I have to go."
\par \tab "Wait. Don't go. " Sebastian tells her.
\par \tab Kathryn asks,"Give me one good reason not to. I mean I come down here just to see how you were and you just rub it in that you slept with the girl who was my best friend."
\par \tab Sebastian didn't even have a reason for her to stay.
He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. *Think, damn it!* He closes his mouth, and looks at Kathryn, who is glaring at him sternly. If looks could kill, he'd be dead and buried. "Sorry. I didn't mean to rub it in your face. Let's just have a civilized
conversation. Nothing that has to do with our personal lives," Sebastian says finally. It was the only thing he could come up with, despite the lameness of it.
\par \tab Kathryn smiles sweetly at him. "Well then. That wouldn't give us much to talk about, now would it?" she retorts viciously. \tab "Ouch! That hurt like root canal!" Sebastian tosses back. "You're paying for my dental bill, doc."
\par \tab Kathryn slips on her sunglasses. "Sorry, but that wasn't the apology or attempt at an apology I was looking for," she says, the obviously put-on smile remaining on her pretty face. "Ciao, brother." She turns on her heel and leaves.
\par \tab Sebastian watches her go. "Damn." He scrambles off of the bed, putting on some clothes, and following Kathryn.
\par \tab "Wait, where are you going?" he calls after her, sticking one arm into his coat sleeve.
\par \tab "Sebastian, girls don't exactly find stalker-like habits endearing, you know," Kathryn teases as she heads out of the front door, not even holding it open for him. The door slams in his face.
\par \tab "Shit!" he exclaims, but recovers quickly and continues to pursue Kathryn out of the apartment. "Well? Where are you going?"
\par \tab "If you must know, Court asked me out tonight to dinner tonight, and well, I don't think he invited you. I don't think he ever *will* invite you to *any* sort of outing."
\par \tab "What, are you kidding? The guy loves me. He loves me so much, he would give up being straight to become gay for *my* sake," Sebastian jokes.
\par \tab Kathryn laughs, then says shortly, "I'd like to see that happen--*not*." She whistles for a taxi cab, and waves her hand at the corner of the street.
\par \tab "C'mon, blow the fag and hang out with me," Sebastian pleads.
\par \tab Kathryn smirks. "Shouldn't you be with Abigail?"
\par \tab Sebastian shook his head. "I want you." A taxi cab pulls up along the curb, and Kathryn opens the car door. Sebastian slams it hastily, and Kathryn snaps back, her fingers almost getting caught in the door.
\par \tab "God! I was seconds away from having my fingers amputated," Kathryn snaps. She reaches for the car door again. \tab "Hey, get out of here," Sebastian says to the cab driver.
\par \tab "Hell no. I need the money, man," the cab driver says.
\par \tab Sebastian hands him a crisp 100 dollar bill. "Get the hell out of here before I gut you like a fish." The cab driver speeds off in a hurry.
\par \tab Kathryn looks at Sebastian, amused. "'Gut you like a fish'? Where'd you get *that* line from?"
\par \tab "'Scream'. I only saw it because of Neve Campbell," Sebastian replies. "Now blow Court off and go into town with me." He looks at her intensely.
\par \tab "With an offer like that how can I refuse?"Kathryn asks sarcastically.
\par \tab Sebastian asks,"Are you going to make me start begging?"
\par \tab "It would be pretty amusing to watch..."Kathryn starts. She then asks,"Anyway, if I were to stay, what would we even do? I mean, I certainly won't do what you probably had in mind."
\par \tab Sebastian sighs in defeat,"I don't know."
\par \tab "That's what I thought. If you give me a ride to my house, I'll stay there with you until Court picks me up. Which will give you the opportunity to do whatever you want for the evening." Kathryn responds.
\par \tab Sebastian nods. "Fine." He heads over to the parking space where his car is a
nd Kathryn follows. She gets in the car, as does Sebastian. They drive over to her house and get out of the car once they reach their destination. They walk in the luscious apartment.
\par \tab Kathryn asks,"So what should we do?"
\par \tab Sebastian looks at her. "Depends in what you're in the mood for," he answers, rather suggestively.
\par \tab Kathryn's expression remains indifferent. "That so?"
\par \tab Sebastian grins and nods. "It's so."
\par \tab "You know, Court and I are beginning a relationship," Kathryn replies, "I don't usually admit such things, but I happen to like him. A lot. And to have you meddling around with me--with our relationship--is not very fair to Court..."
\par \tab Sebastian feels a surge of disappointment. He doesn't say anything; he waits for Kathryn to finish, since she doesn't seem to be through.
\par \tab "...But I don't care...I'm not indebted to him...hell, I'm not indebted to *anyone*...and I can meddle with whomever I please," Kathryn finishes, advancing towards him.
\par \tab Sebastian smiles. "That's what I like to hear." He walks to his room and Kathryn follows. "Is your mom out?" He locks the door behind them just in case anyone stopped by.
\par \tab "She'll be out for the day. Shopping. "Kathryn explains. "She'll probably be back around 7, which is when I will be leaving." Kathryn looks at the clock. It's 5:00 now. "I'm going to have to start getting ready at 6. So we have about an hour."
\par \tab Sebastian nods. He's going to wait for her to make the first move since he isn't sure on where they stand. Kathryn senses Sebastian's hesitation and walks
closer towards him. She starts to kiss him and he kisses her back. They move closer to Sebastian's bed as they kiss. After they reach the bed, Kathryn gently pushes him onto it. Kathryn gets onto the bed and gets onto Sebastian. They make out for a while
and once they finish for a while, both of them are dishelved: buttons undone, hair a mess, clothes wrinkled. Kathryn looks at herself in a mirror and comments,"Wow. I look really bad."
\par \tab Sebastian disagrees. "You look beautiful."
\par \tab "You're just saying that since we just made out and you want more."Kathryn tells him in a matter of fact tone of voice.
\par \tab He responds,"No. Really, I mean it."
\par \tab Kathryn changes the subject,"What do you say we go swimming?" She winks at him.
\par \tab Sebastian thinks up the possibilities and quickly agrees. "That sounds good."
\par \tab "Okay, I'll meet you out at the pool." Kathryn tells him with an idea formulating.
\par \tab Sebastian nods. "Alright."
\par \tab Kathryn walks into her room and quickly changes into a silver bik
ini. She walks into the pool and gets used to the water. She lets out a scream since the water is so cold and because of her plan. She dives into the pool and floats facedown, hoping Sebastian would come to the pool quickly.
\par \tab Sebastian had just finished ch
anging into his swim trunks when he heard Kathryn scream. He quickly runs to the pool and sees Kathryn facing down. He thinks the worst immediately.He quickly dives in and picks Kathryn up and turns her over. He starts to perform mouth-to-mouth on her whe
n Kathryn starts to kiss him. Sebastian looks at her strangely but then decides to ignore it, figuring it was just a prank.
\par \tab Kathryn pulls Sebastian down to her and continues to kiss him. She straddles her legs around him and they keep kissing. After a while, they take a break so they could breathe. Kathryn curiously asks,"Ever fuck in water?"
\par \tab Sebastian shakes his head. "No. "
\par \tab "One of these days, if you're lucky, I may just do that to you..."Kathryn responds with a wink.
\par \tab Sebastian feels his heart thud wildly. "One of these days? Now is the perfect time..." he murmurs, advancing on her. \tab
Kathryn wriggles out of his grasp. "Sorry, Sebastian. I have to go get ready for my date." She smiles at him sweetly and leaves.
\par \tab Sebastian watches her go, terribly disappointed. "Damn," he mutters. He snatches a towel off a beach chair and dries himself off.
\par \tab Meanwhile, Kathryn takes a bubble bath upstairs, then picks out an outfit while blow-drying her hair. "Hmmm..." she murmurs. She touches a sleeveless black minidress.
\par \tab "I like that one."
\par \tab Startled, Kathryn turns her head, and sees Sebastian leaning against the door frame. "Shit, don't sneak up on me like that," Kathryn snaps. "I was afraid that might've been your dad. Don't *ever* do that again." She regains her co
mposure, and tosses the minidress into the back of her closet.
\par \tab "Sorry," Sebastian apologizes sincerely, and rather sheepishly.
\par \tab Kathryn waves her hand, as if swatting flies. "Yeah. It's okay." She continues sifting through her closet for an outfit. She pulls out a creme colored minidress with a creme cardigan. "Well?" she asks Sebastian, holding it up.
\par \tab "You're asking my opinion?"Sebastian asks teasingly. "I feel so important now."
\par \tab Kathryn glares at him. "Well you're a guy. And I know you'll be honest with me."She holds the dress up to herself." So, what do you think?"
\par \tab "It'll look great." Sebastian tells her, wishing that she would stay home with him than go out with Court. But he supposed there wasn't anything he could do about it.
\par \tab Kathryn looks in the mirror with it held up to her. *It would do.* She steps into the dress under her robe and takes the robe off as she pulls the straps on. She asks Sebastian, "Can you zip me up?"
\par \tab Sebastian nods and zips her dress up. Sebastian takes a step back and admires her. "You look stunning."
\par \tab "Thank you."She replies with a half-smile. Kathryn looks in the mirror and twists her hair into a semi-formal do. She does her makeup and then walks into her closet. She picks out a pair of black heels and puts them on. Sh
e walks out of the closet and puts on her diamond earrings. She then slips on the creme cardigan. Kathryn catches a glimpse of the clock, which reads 7 o'clock, and hears a knock on the front door. She smiles to herself,"That must be Court." She walks to
the door and opens it. "Hello Court."
\par \tab "Hello Kathryn. May I say that you look beautiful as always?" Court asks with a smile.
\par \tab Kathryn responds, smiling as well,"You may. And you look handsome as ever." She walks out the door locking it behind her.
\par \tab Court takes her hand in his and walks her to his car. They drive to the Italian restaurant. "I hope Italian is alright."
\par \tab "I love Italian food." Kathryn informs him as they walk into the restaurant. It is one of the nicest Italian restaurants in town. They are
guided to a table where they sit down. After looking at the menu briefly, and have gotten their drinks, they order. After eating the food and talking through practically the entire meal, Court pays the bill and they leave the restaurant. Court drives Ka
thryn to the top of a hill, the same one Sebastian had taken her before.
\par \tab Court stops the car and asks Kathryn,"Are you having a good time?"
\par \tab "A wonderful time. The best I've had in a while."Kathryn replies.
\par \tab Court smiles. "I'm glad. I've been wanting to do this for a long time."
\par \tab "Why didn't you ask sooner? All my friends could have told you that I have the hots for you." Kathryn asks.
\par \tab Court admits,"I guess it was maybe because I was worried you would shoot me down. Also, you were going out with Justin."
\par \tab "If I had known you were interested, I would have dumped Justin a whole lot earlier." Kathryn reveals.
\par \tab Court makes a move to kiss Kathryn and Kathryn kisses him back. Since Court was somewhat of a gentleman,
he didn't let it go any further than making out. Which please Kathryn, since she really didn't feel like fucking him. It wouldn't be fair to Court, since she would be thinking of Sebastian. *I need to get him out of my head. I mean, he's about to become
m
y stepbrother and if anything got found out about us, my reputation would be ruined.* A little later, Court drives Kathryn home. Court walks Kathryn to her door, where unbeknowst to Kathryn and Court, Sebastian was spying on them. Court gives Kathryn a k
iss goodnight. After they finish kissing, Kathryn smiles at Court and says,"Good night."
\par \tab "I'll call you."Court tells her and he actually means it.
\par \tab Kathryn nods and opens the door. She waves goodbye and shuts the door. She walks into her room to go get rea
dy for bed when she notices Sebastian sitting in the chair by her door. "God, Sebastian. I'm going to have to put a bell on you so you don't scare me like that anymore."
\par \tab Sebastian smiles innocently. "Sorry. I just wanted to see how it went with you and Court?"
\par \tab "Do I interest you that much?" Kathryn asks.
\par \tab Sebastian replies,"But of course. You intrigue me farther than you will ever know."
\par \tab "Well, not that it's any of your business, but the date went fine. Court was a perfect gentleman."Kathryn informs Sebastian.
\par \tab Sebastian snorts. "Could that guy be any more of a faggot?"
\par \tab Kathryn arches an eyebrow at him. "Please. You're just jealous because he can actually restrain himself from fucking every girl that has a pulse."
\par \tab Sebastian tries to be nonchalant as he answers, "My point exactly. That guy doesn't have hormones, which is hardly normal. He's a fag, I tell you."
\par \tab Kathryn rolls her eyes, rather weary, but flattered that Sebastian is blowing this out of proportion. She's enjoying this whole scene very much. "The only fag I use is this." She holds up a cigarette, and lights it.
\par \tab "Very funny," Sebastian says.
\par \tab "You need a girlfriend. Like a steady one. So I can ramble on about what a fag she is," teases Kathryn, smoking her cigarette.
\par \tab Sebastian smirks. "I don't find any of these Manhattan debutantes girlfriend material. Isn't it clear and concise that I want you?"
\par \tab Kathryn smiles sweetly at him. "That's so touching, Sebastian. But you know, the reality of it all is, everyone wants something they can't have."
\par \tab "But I bet even if I had you, I would still want you." Sebastian replies.
\par \tab Kathryn laughs to herself. "It's just too bad you'll never know. Unless, our parents do get divorced and then you would have only a *slight* chance." An idea pops into Kathryn's head. "You know, I bet you can't even get a steady girlfriend."
\par \tab "Care to make a wager on that?" Sebastian asks, suddenly very interested.
\par \tab Kathryn nods. "Fine with me."
\par \tab "What are the terms?"Sebastian asks.
\par \tab Kathryn replies,"If I win, then you have to do what I tell you to for a week."
\par \tab "And if I win?"Sebastian inquires.
\par \tab Kathryn responds,"Then I'll dump Court and....well the other part you'll figure out if you do win." Kathryn smiles, since she knows he's going to desperatly want to know what the othe
r part was. She wanted it to be a surprise if he did win the bet, and got a blowjob. She was doubting he would win and if he did and she just so happened to have changed her mind, he wouldn't even know.
\par \tab "It's a deal," Sebastian declares, extending his hand towards Kathryn.
\par \tab She shakes it, a grin spreading across her face. "Good luck, Sebastian," she says, rather elusively.
\par \tab
Sebastian slips on his sunglasses. "I don't have a minute to lose. Ciao." He heads out of the apartment, and drives downtown. He decides the choice location for babes--and to subtly ask one out, at that--was most likely Prada or Starbucks. What would his
excuse be to go to Prada? He'd have to think that one up fast. He pulls up next to a sign that clearly reads "no parking at any hour" and heads into Prada.
\par \tab Sure enough, the saleswoman that greets him is a full-fledged hottie. Her name tag read : Lila. She gives him a rather weary "what-the-hell-is-a-guy-doing-in-here" smile, and asks, "May I help you, sir?"
\par \tab "Ah...yes, I'm looking for a handbag for my sister. Tomorrow's her birthday," Sebastian lies, studying Lila intently. She had dark blonde-brown curls
that tumbled down her back like a cascade of waterfalls. Her eyes were a honey brown, and she was wearing a low-cut minidress. She was pretty, but definitely *no* Kathryn.
\par \tab "Right over here, sir," Lila says, "We have a variety of handbags." She strolls over to a shelf with flourescent lights.
\par \tab It reminded Sebastian of a deli, except instead of meat, there were handbags under the light. Weird. "You're beautiful," Sebastian says, without hesitation. "I'm a photographer. And I've seen many beautiful people.
..but you...wow." Of course, this was not at all true, he'd seen plenty better looking people, including Kathryn.
\par \tab Lila blushes. "Thank you." She sees her manager looking over at her. She whispers to Sebastian,"I get off in about 15 minutes. If you're sti
ll interested, then meet me outside by the door." She then says aloud,"Well, I'll be over at the register. If you need any help with finding a handbag then just come over." She walks over to her scowling manager.
\par \tab Sebastian applauds himself over his luck.
He knew Prada was the right choice. Besides, if he went to Starbucks he'd probably find some drama queen and that was the last thing he wanted. He picks out a white handbag and walks over to the register where Lila is talking to the employee next to her.
"I'll take this."
\par \tab Lila replies,"Good choice. How will you be paying?"
\par \tab "Credit card." Sebastian responds as he pulls it out of his pocket.
\par \tab Lila rings up the bag and takes the credit card. Sebastian signs the bill and puts the card back in his pocket. He
takes the bag and walks out. Lila tells her manager,"I'm clocking out." She walks to the back room where she takes off her name tag and clocks out. She walks out of Prada and sees Sebastian standing outside of the door. "Hey."
\par \tab "What do you say, we go get a bite to eat?" Sebastian asks with a smile on his face.
\par \tab Lila nods. "That would be nice. Any particular place you want to go?"
\par \tab Sebastian shrugs. "It doesn't matter. Pick anyplace. No matter the price."
\par \tab "Well. You're quite loaded, aren't you, Sebastian Valmont?" Lila remarks, with a wry smile.
\par \tab Sebastian is caught off guard. "How do you know my name?" he demands.
\par \tab Lila rolls her eyes. "Chill. I saw it on your credit card. Not big on the introductions, are you? Just go for the kill?" She smiles. "Well I can say I certainly don't mind."
\par \tab Sebastian knows this is gonna be much too easy. He smiles back. "I was thinking maybe you'd want to have lunch at my place? We have a maid. She cooks fantastic food." Sebastian thinks to himself,*Plus Kathryn for sure wouldn't be at my house.*
\par \tab Lila nods. "Alright." After Sebastian leads Lila to his car, she comments,"Cool car."
\par \tab "Thanks. I love it." Sebastian informs Lila. They drive to his apartment. He opens up the door and waves an arm. "After you."
\par \tab Lila walks in. "You must really be loaded."
\par \tab Sebastian changes the subject. "Let's see if we can find Ermenalinda . She's probably cleaning somewhere." Sebastian walks into his room where Ermenalinda is. "Could you make a lunch for two?"
\par \tab She nods. "Of course sir."
\par \tab Sebastian walks back out to where Lila is. "She was cleaning my room. She's going to start making us lunch." Sebastian then hears a knock at the door. "I wonder who that could be."
\par \tab He opens the door and sees Abigail who immediately kisses him on the cheek. "Hi Sebastian. Is this a bad time?" She says the last part in reference to Lila.
\par \tab "Not really. Come on in." Sebastian replies.
\par \tab Abigail walks in. "I just came to get my sunglasses. I think I left them in your room." She giggles at the last part thinking what they had done in his room. "You know, Sebastian, I missed you..."
\par }{\f2\cgrid0 \tab }{\fs24\cgrid0 Lila raises an eyebrow at Sebastian. He can see her jaw tighten at the sight of Abigail, her lips pursed as if she'd just sucked on something truly sour. Not good. "Oh, yeah, silly you," Seba
stian says quickly, "Are you drunk? You look terribly drunk." Hell! What was he going to do now?
\par \tab Abigail frowns. "Hmm? No I'm completely fine, Sebastian, really."
\par \tab "You look ill," Sebastian insists more persistently. "You've been drinking again haven't
you? I don't think you left your sunglasses here. Ermalinda would have mentioned it when she cleaned my room. Perhaps you left them at my stepsister's home, is that right?" He was lying of course.
\par \tab Abigail looked terribly confused and bewildered, which only benefited Sebastian and made his lie seem more feasible. "Huh?" Abigail asked, flustered.
\par \tab "I told you alcohol is bad for your memory and your immune system," Sebastian rambled on. "What did you come here for again?"
\par \tab Abigail, by this time, was so thrown, she didn't really know what to say. "What?" she asks.
\par \tab Sebastian shakes his head at Lila, as if its a shame. "That's what alcohol does to you," he said to her. Lila nodded knowingly, and Sebastian knew she believed his lie. "Come along now, Abigail, Ermalinda will show you out."
\par \tab Abigail sees she is helpless in this situation and walks out. "But didn't yesterday mean anything? You don't sleep with someone and then just ditch them...."
\par \tab "Goodby
e Abigail." Sebastian says practically pushing her away. He shuts the door behind her. "Sorry about that. That was one of my sister's friends. You never know who's going to turn up at your door. It's a good thing my family is switching buildings. The secu
rity really should be checked out."
\par \tab Lila nods. "It's such a shame,really, to see people who are affected by alchohol like that."
\par \tab Sebastian agrees. "Yes it is." Ermalinda brings out the trays on which the food are on. "Gratzie, Ermalinda."
\par \tab "You know Italian?" Lila asks.
\par \tab Sebastian responds,"Just a little. Ermalinda is from Italy so it helps her if we talk to her in Italian."
\par \tab Lila smiles. "That's really nice. So who is this sister that you've mentioned once or twice? Like what's her name? I may know her."
\par \tab "Kathryn Merteuil. She's my stepsister to be." Sebastian explains.
\par \tab Lila nods. "Oh! That's Court Reynold's girlfriend."
\par \tab "How did you know?" Sebastian asks.
\par \tab Lila replies,"Oh Court and I go way back. We've been friends ever since we were little."
\par \tab *How about that!* Sebastian thinks bitterly. Did everyone like the damned guy? He puts on a forced smile. "Yeah, he's a nice fellow," he answers as casually as possible.
\par \tab Lila nods in agreement. "I haven't met Kathryn yet, but any girl that dates Court must be lovely."
\par \tab "Oh yes, Kathryn is a lovely girl," Sebastian says ironically.
\par \tab Lila smiles. "I would love to meet her sometime. Court raves on and on about her...he really adores her."
\par \tab Though Sebastian wants to strangle the life out of Court, he decides this is the perfect opportunity to introduce his new "steady" girlfriend to Kathryn. "I think tomorrow would be great. To meet Kathryn, I mean."
\par \tab Lila smiles. "I can't wait." She takes a bite out of her food. "Ermalinda is a really great cook."
\par \tab "Yeah. She's been cooking for us ever since my mom left." Sebastian admits.
\par \tab Lila sees the look on the face."Oh I'm sorry. Is your mom a bad topic?"
\par \tab "I don't really like to talk about her. "Sebastian reveals.
\par \tab Lila nods. "Okay. You go to Manchester,right?"
\par \tab "Yeah. You don't, do you? Because practically everyone there knows everyone else and I would remember someone as beautiful as you." Sebastian comments.
\par \tab Lila feels herself blushing again. "No actually I go to Forest Pines Academy. It's an all-girls school."
\par \tab Sebast
ian thinks to himself,*An all-girls school. She must have like no experience. Thus making her an even easier lay..* He wonders if he should try to get her into bed today. No...maybe it would seem much too straightforward, and she'd leave him in a heartbea
t, which would not be good.
\par \tab "Which results in my lack of a boyfriend," Lila continues, "Pity isn't it? But now that I've met you..." She lets her sentence trail off.
\par \tab Sebastian looks up, almost hopefully. "I'm not so sure I know what you mean," he teases.
\par \tab Lila smiles. "I don't know. I've never even been kissed." She says this so innocently and naively, Sebastian is incredulous.
\par \tab "First kiss is said to be the best," Sebastian answers, edging towards her.
\par \tab Lila replies,"Well, then I'll have to make sure it comes from a good person. Like you."
\par \tab "That you will." Sebastian tells her as he gets closer to her. He gets close enough to kiss her, which he then does. For her first kiss, she wasn't bad at it. *Not bad at all* "You know, you're really good at that."
\par \tab Lila asks innocently,"At what?"
\par \tab "Kissing. I think you should do it more often." Sebastian tells her, implying himself.
\par \tab Lila nods with a smile. "I think I should too." She then leans i
n and kisses him, gradually getting more confident with it as they go along. She wraps her arms around Sebastian and pulls him down on top of her on the couch. After kissing for a while, Lila pulls back to take a breath. Sebastian, however, could have kep
t at it for a while. "What time is it?" Lila asks.
\par \tab Sebastian looks at the clock on the wall right in front of him. "Two o'clock. Why? Do you need to go?"
\par \tab "Oh shoot. I'll be late if I don't hurry. I have to take my cat to the vet. If I'm late, I won't be able to get her in for another month." Lila explains.
\par \tab Sebastian gets up off of her so that she can get up. "Well, if you leave me your number, I'll call you and we can work things out for that double date we had talked about."
\par \tab Lila gets up. "Great. Do you have a pen and paper?"
\par \tab Sebastian nods. "Yeah. Why don't you come into my room? I have some in there."
\par \tab "Okay."She follows Sebastian into his room and notices Abby's sunglasses. She doesn't comment on them because she doesn't want to ruin things with Seb
astian. After he hands her a sheet of paper and a pen, she writes down her number. She hands it to him and they walk to the living room where she gets her bag. "I'll see you later."She tells him.
\par \tab Sebastian walks her down and hails her a cab. He kisses her on the cheek before she gets in the cab. "I'll call you."
\par \tab The cab drives off and Sebastian waits til it's out of view before he gets in his own car and heads to Kathryn's. He drives over there, above the speed limit as usual. As he walks into the apartment, he sees Tiffany
. "Hello Mrs. Merteuil. How is my father?"
\par \tab "Well, they are running some tests on him, but he should be fine. Just in case, I'm going to stay the night at the hospital. I gave Kathryn the number. If you could stay here tonight, and mak
e sure she's alright, I'd really appreciate it. I'll be home at about 5 in the afternoon." Tiffany tells Sebastian.
\par \tab *She obviously forgot how she found us in bed together.* Sebastian thinks to himself. "Of course I'll do that. Is it alright if Kathryn, Court, Lila, and I went on a picnic together tomorrow?"
\par \tab "Sure! You all have fun."Tiffany tells him as she runs out of the apartment with her stuff.
\par \tab Sebastian walks into Kathryn's room as soon as Tiffany is gone. "Hello Kathryn."
\par \tab "Wow. You've been out all day. Anything exciting happen?" Kathryn asks.
\par \tab Sebastian smiles to himself. "You could say that. Here you go." He hands her the prada bag with her handbag in it. "I had to get something when I went to Prada."
\par \tab "Thanks. You didn't have to do that. But, why were you at Prada?" Kathryn questions.
\par \tab Sebastian replies,"Well, it was there or Starbucks and I didn't want some drama queen girlfriend. Let's just say I've won the bet.By the way, how long do I have to go out with the girl for you to consider it steady?"
\par \tab "Oh at least a week. You already found someone? You know I could have hooked you up with one of my moron girlfriends who wouldn't know better." Kathryn tells Sebastian.
\par \tab Sebastian nods. "Her name is Lila. Court, Lila, you, and me are going on a picnic
together. Turns out Lila is good friends with Court. They've been friends since they were little. Lila's heard a lot about you. Obviously, Court is infatuated with you. And why shouldn't he? Practically all of the straight guys, including me, and some of
the gay guys, including Blaine, are too."
\par \tab Kathryn can't help but laugh. "I know. I'm quite charming."
\par \tab "That you are," Sebastian agrees, with a grin.
\par \tab "A picnic. Well. That should be interesting," Kathryn remarks. "So what's she like? Utter slut?"
\par \tab Sebastian smirks. "You only wish. She's actually pretty classy. Somewhat on the clueless side, but not completely stupid nonetheless. She's a catch."
\par \tab "Sure," Kathryn says skeptically. "I bet she doesn't know her head from her ass." She sticks a cigarette between her scarlet lips and lights it.
\par \tab "Who's jealous now?" Sebastian teases.
\par \tab Kathryn shoots him a glare. "I'm not jealous," she snaps. "I'm content with Court, no thanks to you trying to hit on me every chance you get." Sebastian holds his hand up,
as if surrendering. Kathryn examines the Prada handbag, running her fingers along the delicate silk lining. "I hate this color," she says sweetly to Sebastian, tossing it back to him. "Did your girly-girl pick it out?"
\par \tab Sebastian catches the handbag. "Could you tell?" he asks, honestly surprised.
\par \tab Kathryn rolls her eyes. "You know me better than that Sebastian. That conservative wings-of-an-angel white color is passe. And so not me."
\par \tab "Fine. I'll go give it to Abigail. She'd appreciate it. " Sebastian comments.
\par \tab Kathryn pretends not to care and replies,"She appreciates any attention a guy gives her."
\par \tab "That's better than being such a damn tease." Sebastian responds in a sharp tone.
\par \tab Kathryn makes a face like she's hurt. She says sarcastically, "Ouch Sebastian. That hurt."
\par \tab "Good." Sebastian comments. He makes a move to leave and then pulls something out of his pocket. "Oh, here, next time you see Abigail, give these to her. She left them in my room when she came over as you recall." He then starts walking
towards the door.
\par \tab Kathryn calls after him sarcastically, "Oh no, you don't hate me now, do you Sebastian? I don't think I could live with that."
\par \tab Sebastian pauses at the doorway, but doesn't turn around. "Funny."
\par \tab Kathryn rolls her eyes. "C'mon, Sebastian. We're both committed to other people. Get over it. Quit taking what I say so personally. It was nice of you to get me that handbag, I admit."
\par \tab "I only got it so I would have a reason to be in Prada," Sebastian answers.
\par \tab "Don't deny it, Sebastian...you were thinking of lil ol me," teases Kathryn. She smirks. "Abby called me before you arrived. Pulled that "you-must-be-drunk" gag on her, did you? She was so bewildered."
\par \tab "Yeah, well your friend has the habit of showing up at the worst possible moment," Sebastian retorts. "What a pain in the ass she is."
\par \tab "That'd be funny if she showed up at the picnic," laughs Kathryn.
\par \tab "Hey! Don't joke about that," Sebastian warns.
\par \tab * * *
\par \tab "You look lovely, Kathryn," Court gushes, kissing her hand. They were all gathered under a massive oak tree in Central Park the next afternoon, sprawled out on blankets, and eating food that Ermalinda had prepared for them.
\par \tab "Thank you," Kathryn answers, with a satisfied smile.
\par \tab Sebastian could almost puke. He hated watching them be so lovey-dovey. He glanced at Lila, who was looking stunning herself--but next to Kathryn, she was just about as attractive as Ermalinda, which wasn't very attractive.
\par \tab Kathryn smiles over at Lila. "I don't think we've been introduced quite yet. I'm Kathryn."
\par \tab "Lila. I've heard so many wonderful things about you from Court." Lila tells Kathryn with a smile.
\par \tab Kathryn replies,"Likewise. What school do you go to? Forest Pines Academy, right?"
\par \tab "Yeah. My parents don't like co-educational schools. " Lila explains as she rolls her eyes at the last part.
\par \tab Kathryn sighs in sympathy. "That must be horrible. But at least you know Court. I'm sure he's hooked you up with some of his friends before."
\par \tab "Well, his friends and I haven't gotten along so well. But he's tried." Lila replies with a laugh.
\par \tab Kathryn thinks to herself,*How Sebastian picked this girl is beyond me. Anyone with a brain can tell she's an annoying half-wit.* "Do you know Isabel Roschetti? She'll be a junior this year."
\par \tab Lila nods. "Yeah. We're good friends."
\par \tab "She's a real sweetie, isn't she?" Kathryn asks with a smile.
\par \tab Lila agrees. "Oh! What did you think of that bag Sebastian bought for you?"
\par \tab "It was so thoughtful of him to buy me something. I liked it. I hear that's where you and Sebastian met." Kathryn says.
\par \tab "Yeah. At first I was surprised to see a guy in Prada but then he said he was buying a present for his sister." Lila responds.
\par \tab Court asks,"What was the occasion?" He didn't like the thought of Sebastian buying presents for Kathryn. It only meant one thing. That he was trying to get her in bed with him.
\par \tab "It was her birthday," Sebastian replies casually, and shoots Kathryn a look, as if to urge her to play along. As if she had a reason to. He hoped she would save him there though.
\par \tab Court's eyes widen. "It was your birthday?!" he exclaims incredulously. "Oh God, I just...I just like forgot! Why didn't you tell me?"
\par \tab Sebastian almost bursted out laughing at that guy's astonishment. Instead, Lila laughed for him, smacking Court playfully on the shoulder. "Goodness, you don't even remember your own girlfriend's birthday!" she teased.
\par \tab Kathryn fixes Sebastian with a pleasant smile, though he can see right through it--she's obviously a bit pissed of not being informe
d that yesterday was supposedly her birthday. "I don't like making a big deal out of my birthday," Kathryn says to Court, still smiling at Sebastian, though her eyes were shooting bullets.
\par \tab "Well! How modest of you," Court says, with such admiration it made Sebastian feel like regurgitating his sandwiches and wine.
\par \tab Kathryn laughs and smiles at Court. She takes his hand in hers, a gesture which makes Sebastian want to gag even more. She takes a sip of her sparkling water. "You know what would be great on a hot day like this?"
\par \tab "What?" Court asks with a smile knowing her response.
\par \tab Kathryn replies,"Some ice cream. Or something frozen. Since you and Lila brought the picnic, the least Sebastian and I could do is go get you two something."
\par \tab Court nods. "That's my Kathryn. Always thinking about other people." Lila smiles as does Court.
\par \tab Kathryn gets up and releases Court's hand so that she can go get their frozen desserts. "What would you like Court?"
\par \tab "A cup of vanilla ice cream. Lila, what are you going to get?" Court responds.
\par \tab Lila thinks. "Umm... a cone with chocolate frozen yogurt."
\par \tab "Alright. We'll be right back." Kathryn promises with a smile to Court. Sebastian gets up as well and they walk over to the nearest Haagen-Daaz vendor. "Sebastian, you really
should pay more attention to Lila. Poor dear. You're not paying any attention to her and she is supposed to be your girlfriend. Act more like Court."
\par \tab "Act like Court? All that gushing and lovey-dovey talk is making me sick." Sebastian responds with a gagging face.
\par \tab They reach the stand and Kathryn tells Sebastian, "Well, you could at least look like you were having a good time. Picnics aren't for sour grapes you know."
\par \tab "Ah. The infinite words of wisdom from Kathryn."Sebastian comments sarcastically.
\par \tab Kathryn rolls her eyes. "Shut up Sebastian and order. After all, you are paying." She smiles innocently at him.
\par \tab Sebastian places the order and Kathryn takes Court and her's desserts while Sebastian takes his and Lila's.
\par \tab ~*~*Meanwhile*~*~
\par \tab Lila tells Court,"I really like Kathryn. She's very sweet. Can you believe that her and Sebastian are related? They seem different. In a good way."
\par \tab Court replies,"Well Kathryn and Sebastian aren't fully related until their parents get married. Do you actually like Sebastian? Because you know, he isn't the nicest guy around. The only reason I can stand him is that he's Kathryn's brother to be."

\par \tab Lila nods. "I really do. I mean, he's sweet, funny, and unlike your friends, hasn't tried to maul me on the first date." Her face brightens up immediately. "Look they're back."
\par \tab Kathryn smiles as they reach the blanket under the tree. "Miss us?" she asks teasingly.
\par \tab "Incredibly." Court tells her as he kisses her on the cheek.
\par \tab Kathryn giggles. "You are too sweet."
\par \tab Sebastian is inwardly gagging but he decided if he wanted to keep Lila he would have to be nicer. He hands her the ice cream cone she had wanted.
\par \tab "Thanks for getting this for me." Lila comments.
\par \tab Sebastian smiles at her. "No problem. Anything for you."
\par \tab Lila blushes and giggles. She kisses him on the cheek, when her frozen yogurt drops right off the cone and lands in the grass. She notices and says,"Ooops. I'm never this clutzy. Must be you." She winks at him.
\par \tab Sebastian gets up and takes her hand and helps her up. "Here. We'll go get you another one."
\par \tab Lila gets up, with Sebastian's help and follows him to the ice cream stand.
\par \tab Sebastian slides his hand easily into hers, and Lila smiles, obviously pleased. They stroll off together to get Lila another ice c
ream. Kathryn watches them, feeling a stab of--jealousy was it?--no, it couldn't be. Kathryn Merteuil was *never* jealous of anyone, she made sure of that. She also made sure, in her mind, she was the girl everyone wished they could be. She feels herself
smile, satisfied.
\par \tab "I hope you don't mind me bringing up the topic," Court says, "but I'm a little concerned about leaving Lila in the hands of Sebastian. Aren't you? I mean, I know he's your brother, but..."
\par \tab Kathryn knows she can ruin Sebastian's relatio
nship with Lila right here and now, but she feels its much too fun tormenting him, making him be all mushy in her presence. "Oh, don't worry, Court. I know Sebastian. He won't hurt her." *What a crock of shit* Kathryn thinks, *Of course Sebastian will hur
t her. Naturally*.
\par \tab Court didn't look completely convinced, but convinced enough not to question the subject anymore. He smiles, running his fingers along her cheek. "You look so beautiful."
\par \tab Before Kathryn can answer, Sebastian and Lila return, talking and laughing.
\par \tab Sebastian asks,"We didn't miss anything did we?"
\par \tab "Well..."Court starts jokingly.
\par \tab Kathryn finishes,"We were just talking about you, Sebastian."
\par \tab "Good things I hope." Sebastian comments.
\par \tab Kathryn questions with a incredulous look,"There are good things?" She laughs to show that her and Court are just joking around. Court laughs with Kathryn.
\par \tab Lila obviously doesn't get it but she laughs anyways.
\par \tab Kathryn asks Lila,"So you work at Prada, right?"
\par \tab "Yeah. It's a nice store and it's well paying. My parents said I had to get a job. Teaching me responsibility and stuff, you know?" Lila responds.
\par \tab Kathryn's never had to get a job. Her parents had so much money she had no need for one. Her parents already thought she had plenty of responsibility. Af
ter all, she basically grew up teaching herself how to live since no one was ever home. But Kathryn didn't want to cause a conflict in the conversation so she replied,"Yeah. I know exactly what you mean. Prada's my favorite store, so I suppose if I were t
o work, I would work there. Actually I'd probably work somewhere where you wouldn't have to deal with annoying customers."
\par \tab Lila laughs. "There are plenty of those everywhere."
\par \tab Court says,"We'd better go. We don't want to be late."
\par \tab "Late? Where are you guys going?" Lila asks, interested.
\par \tab Kathryn replies,"We are going to see a French Film at the Anjelika Film Center. "
\par \tab "Do either of you know French?" Lila asks, since she knew none.
\par \tab Kathryn responds,"I'm fluent in the language. I was born in Paris and we have family over there. That's where my father lives."
\par \tab Lila was impressed. "Wow."
\par \tab "Yeah, that's Kathryn. So sophisticated," Sebastian remarks jokingly. "I don't speak a bit of French. I find the English language enough to juggle."
\par \tab Lila laughs. Court laughs, too, but Sebastian can tell it's put on. "Well the picnic was fun," Court says, standing up, and extending his hand towards Kathryn to help her up. "We should do it again."
\par \tab "That would be great," Lila answers. "It was nice meeting you, Kathryn."
\par \tab "And you," Kathryn replies.
\par \tab "See ya, Sebastian," Court says in obvious attempt to be friendly, and Sebastian is tempted to say something truly cruel to him, but restrains himself in Lila's presence.
\par \tab "Yeah, it was a blast, see ya, m
an," Sebastian replies, trying to sound enthusiastic, but with no such luck. Court gives him a funny look. Then he and Kathryn leave. Finally. Sebastian turns back to Lila. "What do you say we go for a walk?" he suggests.
\par \tab Lila smiles,"That would be wonderful. " Lila gets up, with Sebastian's help. "So how long have you known Court?"
\par \tab "Well, I would say probably ever since we were little. We go to Manchester together and are in the same grade."Sebastian replies.
\par \tab Lila asks,"You two don't seem to like each other very much. I mean, I sensed some tension between you two. "
\par \tab "We don't get along so well. "Sebastian admits. "But we can tolerate each other."
\par \tab "That's good. That you can tolerate each other. " Lila comments.
\par \tab Sebastian takes Lila's hand in his to show how considerate and sweet he can be. Lila smiles at him. "I don't know why Court was making such a big deal about us going out."
\par \tab Sebastian looks at Lila strangely. "He was? What did he say?"
\par \tab "That you would do anything to get girls in bed with you." Lila explains.
\par \tab Sebastian pretends to look shocked. "That's not true. He's just jealous because his last girlfriend dumped him for me."
\par \tab Lila nods. "Ok. I didn't believe him anyway. I mean you are so sweet, cute, funny, and everything he said you weren't."
\par \tab Sebastian smiles at her and kisses her. "Though he is right..."
\par \tab "What do you mean?"Lila asks.
\par \tab Sebastian responds,"You're far too good to be with someone like me."
\par \tab Lila just blushes and giggles."Come on, Sebastian. I'm not some little angel. I've committed my share of sins, you know." \tab
This intrigues--and amuses--Sebastian. "Oh yeah? Like what?" he implores, holding her close to him, while she just erupts into a bundle of giggling cuteness like some sort of Tickle-Me-Elmo. He rolls his eyes at the thought.
\par \tab "I'm not a virgin, you know."
\par \tab Oooh. Well. That did it. He wanted to head straight home and knock that girl up. "So who was the lucky guy?" he jokes. \tab Lila giggles again, obviously tickled pink by this oh-so-dangerous topic. "Well you can't tell anyone...but it was Court."
\tab Sebastian feels his jaw drop open, and the sudden urge to explode into hysterical fits of laughter. But he manages not to do so, and just laughs. "You're kidding me, right? *Court*? Didn't think the guy had it in him." All right
, so Court wasn't a fag after all.
\par \tab Lila giggles. "I'm serious. But it probably doesn't help that I'm laughing up a storm here."
\par \tab Sebastian asks Lila,"So what would you like to do?"
\par \tab "Well, what did you have in mind?" Lila asks innocently, not knowing what Sebastian was thinking.
\par \tab Sebastian grins. "Well, Kathryn had mentioned that we could go on a boat ride later today after their movie. Should be fun."
\par \tab "That sounds wonderful. " Lila responds having calmed down a lot.
\par \tab ~*~*Time*~*~
\par \tab Sebastian helps Lila onto the boat and sees Kathryn and Court. Lila walks over to Court and Kathryn, accompanied by Sebastian. "How was the movie?" Lila asks.
\par \tab "It was great. Very touching."Kathryn replies.
\par \tab Lila smiles. "That's wonderful. "
\par \tab Sebastian tells Lila,"You know what? I'm going to show you the lower level of the boat." He smiles at her.
\par \tab Kathryn grins to herself, knowing full well what Sebastian intended to do down there. "You two behave yourselves." She tells them jokingly.
\par \tab Sebastian rolls his eyes and ignores Kathryn leading Lila downstairs.
\par \tab Kathryn looks at Court,"I know what you're thinking. They'll be fine. Besides, I'm sure Sebastian wouldn't do anything Lila didn't want to do."
\par \tab "Yeah," Court says dubiously, since he knows Lila well - more than Kathryn knows. And he knows Sebastian, and exactly what Sebastian wants from Lila.
\par \tab "Come on, you're here to have fun with me, not to baby-sit those two," Kathryn says, tugging his arms and wrapping them around her waist. "We can have just as much fun as them." She moves her face inches away from Court's.
\par \tab Court looks down at her, moving his face closer, until irritatingly familiar monosyllabic giggles distract him. He pulls away.
\par \tab "Fuck," mutters Kathryn under her breath.
\par \tab Court looks down towards the lower level. "Shouldn't we check on them? I mean, really, Lila's parents have asked me watch over her..."
\par \tab *To watch over her*? Kathryn thinks, forcing back a smirk. Jeez, so was Court *indebted* to this stupid bundle of giggles? She rolled her ey
es, but put on a fake, cheerful smile. "That's sweet, Court. You're like her guardian," Kathryn says, though she inwardly wants to puke at the thought.
\par \tab Court snaps out of his little "must-protect-Lila" trance, and smiles sheepishly. "Ah. Sorry. I know. That's stupid," he said. "She's like a little sister to me, I suppose."
\par \tab "Mmmm." Kathryn moves closer to him, just ignoring his pointless chitchat. "Now where were we?" She grins, wrapping her arms around him.
\par \tab Court smiles,"Right about here." He starts to kiss her, which Kathryn openly accepts. They move to a bench while kissing as to not block anyone from walking around on the boat. Kathryn makes it so that she is on Court's lap while kissing him.
\par \tab "Mmmmm..."Kathryn murmurs as they continue kissing. The kisses are growing deeper and deeper, until Kathryn hears a familiar squeal.
\par \tab "Kathryn! Hi! How are you?" Abigail squeals.
\par \tab Kathryn inwardly rolls her eyes. "Hi Abby. What are you doing here? I thought you went out of town."
\par \tab "Oh, travel plans got canceled. It's so good to see a familiar face here." Abigail tells her. "Did you let Sebastian know that I was pissed at him for what he did to me in front of that girl?"
\par \tab Kathryn nods and whispers to Court,"It was nothing." She says aloud,"Yeah. He shouldn't bother you anymore."
\par \tab "Good. Thanks. You can get Sebastian to do anything, can't you? I mean with you two being so *close* and all. Speaking of that, why are you here with Court, if you are going out with Sebastian?" Abigail asks.
\par \tab Kathryn glares at her. "Abigail, I'm not going out with Sebastian. I don't know what put that into your head. Can I help it if Sebastian has the hots for me?"
\par \tab "So you're just sleeping with him?" Abigail asks.
\par \tab Kathryn's eyes are shooting daggers. "I am not sleeping with Sebastian. I
may have kissed him once or twice before I found out our parents were getting married and before Court and I started going out so I have no clue as to what you are talking about. Have you been drinking again? You really ought to try and fix that problem.
"
\par \tab "Why does everyone think I've been *drinking*?!" Abby demands, incredulous, bewildered, and openly confused all at once.
\par \tab Court gives her a funny look, then glances at Kathryn. He looks confused as well. "What's going on?" he asks, in a low murmur.
\par \tab Kathryn shakes her head, putting on a confident smile. "Don't worry," she insists, though she wanted to strangle the life out of Abby for popping up like an insane jack-in-the-box.
\par \tab "You and Sebastian are an item, is that it?" Court continues to prod, looking rather wounded and angry.
\par \tab "No! I mean. No. No, Court. I'm with you now. You know that," Kathryn protests, hating to have to plead like this. \tab "Am I intruding?" Abby asks, so unaware of the damage she had just done.
\par \tab *What gave you first fucking clue, bitch?!* Kathryn thinks, severely peeved. With all the charm and sunshine she can manage despite her anger, she smiles at Abby. "Join us, if you please," she answers, as pleasantly as possible.
\par \tab Abby responds,"Umm...this seems to be a bad time. I'll leave. I'll catch you later Kathryn." She walks off.
\par \tab "Look Court, the last time Abby saw me, I had been dating Sebastian for about a month. Which is why she thought that I was still with him. Oh and like a few days ago, Sebas
tian and I went to pick up his tux and my dress for our parents wedding. Nothing is going on between us. " Kathryn tells Court. Court had to believe her. If something like this got out about her, her reputation would be ruined.
\par \tab Court looks at Kathryn. He
seems to be studying her. Court isn't sure whether or not to believe Kathryn. He wants to. He really wants to. He decided to tell her what he thought,"I believe you. This is kind of hard for me, since out of everyone I've dated, I care about you the most
and I don't want to lose you. I love you."
\par \tab Kathryn smiles. He was head over heels for her and this is exactly where she wanted him. "That is so sweet." She wipes a tear from her eye, which she had produced. "I love you too." She had said that before. And n
ever meant it. She still didn't mean it. Love was for wimps. She kissed Court on the cheek.
\par \tab Court smiles, thinking that Kathryn truly cared for him. He kissed her gently on the lips. "We'll be getting off soon. What do you say we go find Lila and Sebastian?"
\par \tab Kathryn nods. "Okay." They walk down on the lower level off the boat and knock on one of the doors looking for Sebastian and Lila. They open the door and you can tell by the way they were fixing their clothes and hair that they had just done it. Kath
ryn smiles to herself. She tells them,"We're approaching land so we thought you might want to come on deck. That is if you aren't too busy and we didn't interrupt you."
\par }{\f2\cgrid0 \tab }{\fs24\cgrid0 "Of course not, interrupt away," Sebastian says, and wipes Lila's cranberry frost lips
tick off of his mouth. Damn! The name of her lipstick shade sounded yummy, but it tasted as bad as scum scraped off the bottom of a hobo's shoe. Not that Sebastian would know from personal experience. He was repulsed at the thought.
\par \tab Lila had a dazed, sheepish expression on her face, and Kathryn concluded Sebastian had probably knocked her up. She shook her head. "Well, did you both have a good time?" she asks.
\par \tab "Was that Abigail Kent up there?" Lila inquires. "I thought I heard her voice."
\par \tab Great. Abby had been there. That annoying little pest. She was like a venomous South African fly in Sebastian eyes. She poisoned everyone in her presence. He smirked at his clever analogy.
\par \tab "Yeah, it was," Court answers, "Interesting girl." He looked rather bewildered, Sebastian noted. He figured Abby was acting stupid as usual.
\par \tab "You know her alcohol problem makes her act so strangely, isn't that right Sebastian?" Kathryn says, glancing at him, fixing a stern gaze on him that no one else noticed.
\par \tab "Yeah, she can be a drunk little bitch sometimes," Sebastian agrees, and Lila looks mortified, so he re-phrases quickly, "I mean...she can be drunken like a little witch sometimes." Lila giggles, in relief almost.
\par \tab "Uh, right," Court says, confused.
\par \tab "I feel sick," Kathryn says suddenly.
\par \tab They all look at her. Court's eyes were full of concern. "Are you seasick?" he asks, gently. Sebastian smirks.
\par \tab "I think so," Kathryn says, covering her mouth as if she's about to barf any minute now. "I'm sorry if this interferes with our plans, Court," she continues, pretending to be apologetic.
\par \tab "No, no, of course not. Some other time, perhaps."
\par \tab "Thank you for understanding." Frankly, Kathryn was sick of being in the presence of perky little Lila and dishelved Sebastian with that
cranberry lipstick smeared on his face. Besides, she wanted the details of what Sebastian did with Lila. So she could destroy the girl and win their bet.
\par \tab "I'll take you home," Sebastian volunteers.
\par \tab Kathryn smiles weakly. "Thank you. Court, you'll make sure Lila gets home, right?"
\par \tab "Of course. I'll call you later." Court tells Kathryn.
\par \tab Kathryn kisses him on the cheek and they all walk up to the deck. Kathryn follows Sebastian off the ship taking his hand as help to get off the ship. She was still doing
the sick act. They walk to Sebastian's car and get in it in silence. Kathryn waits until they are out of view to start talking. She drops the sick act. "So did you fuck her?"
\par \tab "Wouldn't you like to know? Actually, I have something more interesting that what I did with dear Lila. Turns out, she isn't a virgin. But that's not the interesting part." Sebastian informs Kathryn.
\par \tab Kathryn is intrigued,"What is it?"
\par \tab "She lost it to Court." Sebastian responds.
\par \tab Kathryn laughs. "Looks like Court gets to all your girls first. So anyway, what was Lila like in bed? Court and I both know she enjoyed it since we did hear her giggling."
\par \tab "Well you know all that energy she has? Well it shows in bed." Sebastian replies.
\par \tab
Kathryn rolls her eyes. "Thanks for that lovely mental picture. You know how Abby showed up? Well, she almost wrecked things between Court and I. Oh, if Court happens to ask you about our past together, we were going out for a month before we broke up."

\par \tab "And we never slept together? Like Court would buy that I kept my hands off of you for a month." Sebastian comments.
\par \tab Kathryn takes a tissue out of her purse and gently wipes the lipstick off of his face. "Court trusts me, so he'll believe it if I say so.Besides I never told him we didn't."
\par \tab "How can girls wear lipstick?" Sebastian remarked as Kathryn wiped the lipstick off. "It tastes like shit."
\par \tab Kathryn rolled her eyes. "Well, our tough little Sebastian isn't so manly after all," she teases. "You and y
our lover girl could've been more discreet about it. It was excruciating listening to Lila giggle. It's possibly the most annoying thing ever next to Macy Gray's voice."
\par \tab Sebastian laughs. "So why'd you fake sick, huh?"
\par \tab "Court was getting so damned curious. He was turning into a cop on me, asking all these questions about us," Kathryn commented. "And Abby...God that girl has a way of fucking things up."
\par \tab "You really should get rid of her," Sebastian remarks, as they drive home.
\par \tab Kathryn smirks. "You know Abby just won't disappear like that. Nothing gets through that thick skull of hers. She's always asking questions. Pisses me off."
\par \tab As they pull up, Sebastian notices a hideous Camaro parked alongside the curb. "Ugh!" he spats out in disgust. "Yuck! That thing is a monstrosity!"
\par \tab Kathryn frowns. "That monstrosity belongs to Abby..."
\par \tab Just then, Abby emerges from the driver's side. "Hi, guys!" she says. "I just thought I'd drop by to get my sunglasses. You know, Ermalinda could give them to me."
\par \tab "Don't be silly. Why don't you come up and get them? We were headed up there and you could come with us." Kathryn tells Abby with a forced smile.
\par \tab Abby giggles. "Okay." They walk into the apartment building and into Sebastian's room. "Kathryn, I feel like we're not friends anymore. We never talk, go shopping together, have sleep overs, or anything. I miss you."
\par \tab "You miss me?"Kathryn asks. *Stupid lesbian bitch.* "That is soo sweet. But see recently I went through something horrible and need some alone time. Onl
y Court seems to make me feel better, so if I could get some alone time I think that would be best. Do you understand?" Kathryn's cell phone starts to ring. "Excuse me." She walks off into the guest bedroom and picks up the phone after shutting the door
behind her. "Hello."
\par \tab "Hello Kathryn." the voice mysteriously says.
\par \tab Kathryn doesn't like the tone of the voice,"Who is it?"
\par \tab "Someone."the voice replies cryptically.
\par \tab Kathryn is already annoyed. "Look, if you don't tell me who you are I'll call the police."
\par \tab "That's no good. They wouldn't get there in time to find your pretty little dead body." The voice informs Kathryn and hangs up.
\par \tab Kathryn is starting to get paranoid. She quickly runs into the room Abigail and Sebastian are. She forgets that Abigail is
in there and runs to Sebastian tears quickly forming in her eyes. She wraps her arms around him and starts to sob. "Not again."she murmurs to herself.
\par \tab Abby raises an eyebrow, in amusement and bewilderment. "What's going on?" she demands, crossing her arms. \tab Sebastian looks at Kathryn crying hysterically in his arms, rather confused. "Huh? What is it? What's wrong? Who called?"
\par \tab "I don't know!" Kathryn screams in between sobs.
\par \tab Abby's defiance melts away, and she stands next to Sebastian, who's holding Kathryn, and puts her hand on Kathryn's shoulder. "It's not another one of those calls, is it?" she asks, rather knowingly.
\par \tab Kathryn was aware that Abby knew of phone calls jealous people sometimes sent Kathryn's way...but this was different. "No, no," Kathryn mutters, "It's worse. It's worse. They threatened to kill me!"
\par \tab Sebastian's jaw dropped open. "What?" he demands, in astonishment. "What kind of sick fuck would do that?"
\par \tab Abby sits down. "Well it's happened a lot, Sebastian. Prank calls. But none like this." She glances at Kathryn.
\par \tab "Gee, thanks for the 411," Sebastian snaps bitterly. "Kathryn, maybe it's nothing. Maybe they just dialed the wrong number."
\par \tab Kathryn pulls away abruptly. "Nothing?" she scoffs. "Sure. I'm just getting all hysterical and whiny over NOTHING!" She glares at Abby, then fixes her glare on Sebastian.
\par \tab "Hey, hey..." Sebastian says gently, pulling her back into an embrace again. Kathry
n just bursts into more sobs. Abby just sits there. "It's gonna be okay. We'll find out who's behind this." Sebastian picks up the phone and dials *69, waiting for a number to surface. When someone picks up the phone, Sebastian gently releases Kathryn an
d
lays her back against the couch. He didn't want Kathryn to hear what he had to say to whoever this sick fuck was and so he walked into his room, leaving Abigail to comfort Kathryn. "Look, I don't know who you think you are but neither I, nor Kathryn, app
r
eciate your phone calls and if you know what's good for you, you will stay the fuck away from her. You don't know who or even want to know who you are messing with. If you even go near her, I will personally see to it that your ass is kicked. You will be
beaten so badly that your own mother won't recognize you. Do you understand?"
\par \tab The stalker responds,"Don't even try me. I know how far you'll go to protect your little girlfriend. That little bitch shot me and she is going down. I don't even know why you c
are for her so much."He spits out the last part. "She doesn't care for you at all. You're just a toy to her."
\par \tab "Don't you ever talk like that, you bastard. You need to be locked up you deadbeat, low-life, motherfucker. You don't even know Kathryn. "Sebastian yells to the phone.
\par \tab The stalker answers,"I wouldn't be so sure about that. "
\par \tab Sebastian hears a click. "Damnit!" he yells to the phone.
\par \tab ~~~~Meanwhile~~~~
\par \tab Kathryn, between sniffles,asks Abigail,"Is everything going to be ok?"
\par \tab "Of course it is. You have Sebastian taking care of it. He's buff enough to knock the shit out of the guy." Abigail replies comfortingly.
\par \tab Kathryn smiles weakly. About as much as a girl can who is being stalked. "Look, you won't tell anyone about this will you? I mean, running right into Sebastian's arms isn't exactly the best thing for my reputation..."
\par \tab "Of course not Kat. I mean you just wanted someone strong to protect you and you weren't doing anything wrong." Abby replies meaning every word she said.
\par \tab Kathryn smiles. "Than
ks. I don't know what I'm going to do tonight." She puts her hands in her face. "I mean I don't know how I'm going to be able to sleep tonight knowing I have a stalker. I'm not going to want to be alone. I am going to want someone to curl up to and I can'
t think of anyone. Court is at the hospital tonight. His sister just had a baby."
\par "Are you going to tell Court about the stalker?" asks Abigail.
\par \tab Kathryn shrugs. "I don't know. I don't particularily want to. He seems understanding, but of course he'd shoot his mouth off to Little Miss Sunshine, and then it'd circulate all over the fucking neighborhood."
\par \tab "Little Miss Sun--oh...You mean Lila," mumbles Abigail.
\par \tab Just then, Sebastian appears at the doorway, looking very very peeved and frustrated.
\par \tab "Who was it?" Kathryn asks anxiously, dying to know, but at the same time not really wanting to know. She had never been so scared.
\par \tab "Don't know. The ass has caller-ID block. Couldn't get his number," Sebastian says, and sits down on an armchair across from Kathryn and Abigail.
\par \tab "Maybe we should call the cops?" Abigail suggests. "They can trace that kind of thing. And maybe protect Kathryn."
\par \tab "What could that bastard's motive be?" Sebastian muses aloud, as if he hadn't heard Abigail speak.
\par \tab "Yeah, well, the guy said if I called the police and got them into this, I'd be dead. It'd be 'much too late'," Kathryn snaps, imitating the hauntingly deep voice.
\par \tab "Then we sure as hell can't stay here where he'll find you," Sebastian remarks. "C'mon. Let's go to the Plaza. We'll stay there overnight."
\par \tab "We're gonna stay at a hotel?" whines Kathryn. "Geez! The stalker can track those sort of things! Any credit card that registers under my name. Or yours." She rolls her eyes. "Then it'll be *so* Alfred Hithcock.
Watch me get murdered when I'm in the *fucking* shower!"
\par \tab "Use my credit card," Abigail suggests.
\par \tab "Fine then," Sebastian agrees. He intertwines his hand in Kathryn's, pulling her up. "It'll be okay," he assures her. "Pack whatever you need for an overnight stay and let's go. We'll decide how to handle the rest later."
\par \tab Kathryn nods. "Okay." She walks into her room and Abigail follows her to help her pack. Kathryn pulls out a medium sized black suitcase. She packs whatever she could think of that she would need. "Thanks..."
\par \tab "For what?" Abigail asks in her little ditz filled way.
\par \tab Kathryn refrains from rolling her eyes and finishes,"For letting us use your credit card and everything. Also, for like just being here and helping me."
\par \tab "Not a problem." Abigail replies with a smile. "I know if the situation was reversed you'd be doing the same for me."
\par \tab Kathryn asks,"You're staying the night at the hotel with us, right?"
\par \tab "Only if you want me to." Abigal responds.
\par \tab Kathryn answers that with, "Well of course I do. The more people I'm with, the better." She finishes packing and starts to walk out with Abigail when she sees her mother. "Hi Mom."
\par \tab "Where are you going? And why are you here?"Tiffany asks, not rudely but concerned.
\par \tab Kathryn smiles. "Abby and I are going to stay over at our friend Lila's house. We were closer to here than we were to home so we decided we'd stop by and get my stuff here instead of driving farther away to get my stuff. We didn't want to make
Lila wait."
\par \tab That seemed like a good enough explanation for Tiffany Merteuil. Until she got the whole having stuff at the Valmont's place. "How come you had stuff here?"
\par \tab "Mom, of course I'm going to have stuff here. After all, Sebastian's my step-brothe
r and thought I should have some things over here in case one night when we were on a family outing we stayed here late and stayed the night." Kathryn comes up with quickly.
\par \tab "Oh I understand. You two have fun." Tiffany replies.
\par \tab Kathryn then asks,"Why are *you* here?"
\par \tab "Edward is coming home tonight. He was released from the hospital early this morning." Tiffany explains.
\par \tab "Oh. Well, I'll see you tomorrow. " She kisses her mom on the cheek and Kathryn, Sebastian,and Abby leave for the hotel.
\par \tab ~~~~Time~~~~
\par \tab
Kathryn had changed into her lacy, silk nightgown and got ready to go to sleep after they had been at the hotel for a while. They had gotten a room with two beds, since they all found no reason for a overly-nice room for one hotel room. Kathryn wasn't
up to that anyways. She was trying to figure out the bed arrangement since she knew for sure Abby and Sebastian would be in different beds. However she couldn't decide which bed she would be in. She knew it would probably be more *right* if she slept in
t
he same bed as Abby, yet she wanted to be in bed with Sebastian since she felt like she needed his strong arms to protect her. She decided to sleep with Sebastian knowing Abby would probably understand. She walked out of the bathroom into the bedroom saw
Abby, looking asleep in her bed, and Sebastian sitting on his bed watching tv. Kathryn sat right next to him.
\par \tab Sebastian immediately whispers to Kathryn,"No way. There is no way I am sleeping with Abigail just so you can have your own bed."
\par \tab Kathryn laughs to herself. "You're not. You're sleeping with me. Besides, I need a strong, muscular man who can protect me. Feel up to it?"
\par \tab "But what will Abby think?" Sebastian asks in a whisper.
\par \tab Kathryn answers, without bothering to whisper,"Who cares what she thin
ks? The little ditz is asleep already and if you haven't noticed she's taking up the whole damn bed. Couldn't go there even if I wanted to. Which I don't. I'd rather be with you. You know that." Kathryn kisses him softly on the lips.
\par \tab "I won't question that..." Sebastian murmurs, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her back. Some foreign film on TV blares out long, winding, complicated Russian sentences.
\par \tab Abigail, who had been sleeping on the other bed, rolls over, and groans. Sebastian and Kathryn a
bruptly stop kissing, both looking in her direction, a 'deer-caught-in-the-headlights' expression on both of their faces. Abigail mumbles, still in some sort of sleepy trance, "I washed the dishes, Mom, I swear...check the dishwasher..."
\par \tab Rolling his eyes, Sebastian continues kissing Kathryn, deeper, and deeper...
\par \tab All of a sudden, there's a knock on the door. Startled, Kathryn instinctively shoves Sebastian off of her, sending him toppling over the side of the bed and on to the floor. "Damn!" he exclaims, startled, tangled in bed sheets.
\par \tab Kathryn laughs; he looks so silly - yet so sweet... "I'll get the door." A bit pissed at this interruption, she peers through the peep hole to see a room service guy standing outside. Yanking open the door, Kathryn says
with vicious, cunning cruelty, "Are you illiterate or something? The sign says 'do not disturb', dumbass. God." She makes a big scene of rolling her eyes in utter disgust.
\par \tab Sputtering, the young room service fellow - no more than 18 years old - answers, "I...I was just delivering a letter, m-ma'am." He thrust a crisp, white envelope out towards Kathryn.
\par \tab "Yeah okay. Well, next time just stick it under the door. When there is a do not disturb sign on this door, do not bother us unless the fucking Queen of
England is here. Her or Jude Law. Got it?" Kathryn sneers not even bothering to give him a glance over. She takes the white envelope and slams the door on the boy.
\par \tab Sebastian laughs at everything Kathryn had just said to the boy. "God, Kathryn I think you shocked him."
\par \tab "Well, I just wanted to show him that even though I may not be here under my own name, I still should be treated like I would be if I was. It makes one think that they aren't too picky about who heres. Next thing you know Lila will work her
e." Kathryn replies. She puts the envelope aside, thinking it's for Abigail and not her. "Abigail can sleep through anything so I think we should go back to what we were doing..."
\par \tab Sebastian would love to do just that but was curious as to what was in the envelope and asks,"Aren't you going to open the thing that interrupted us?"
\par \tab "Fine. But if it's an overdue payment notice for the Kent's, I'm going to scream." Kathryn states. She opens the white envelope. She immediately pales. "Oh my God..."
\par \tab Sebastian sits up. "What is it?" he asks, peering over Kathryn's shoulder.
\par \tab
Kathryn waves the letter in Sebastian's face playfully. "Psyche! It's not *mine*. The back of the letter says 'room 616'. We're room 614. So it's not for me after all. Pity." She closes the envelope. "I knew that room service guy was a dumbass. Can't even
count."
\par \tab "Hold up, hold up," Sebastian says, grinning. "Aren't you the least bit curious as to what the contents of that letter are? I'll bet the letter is addressed to some big multi-millionaire fellah that's cheatin' on his butt ugly wife with a sexy su
permodel right now, as we speak!" He glances towards the far wall.
\par \tab Kathryn laughs. "I'll bet the letter is addressed to a girl, that has an incredibly good-looking stepbrother who watches over her with so much love and care..." she teases, giving Sebastian a flirty grin.
\par \tab "I like that scenario better..." Sebastian edges towards her.
\par \tab As Sebastian leans in for a kiss, Kathryn holds up the envelope between her face and his. "Just a sec," Kathryn says. "C'mon. Let's fulfill our curiousity."
\par \tab "Well shucks," Sebastian says sarcastically, rolling his eyes. He was *that* close to a kiss, was all that was running through his head.
\par \tab Kathryn smiles sweetly at him, and opens up the envelope. She pulls out a crisp, white letter, and reads aloud, "'Confidential. To
Chuck V. From G. What kind of weapon do you prefer I use? Location of attempt - Merteuil home. Sound good? Meet me at the lobby tomorrow 10am.'" She pales. "What the fuck is this!?" she exclaims frightened, hurling the letter across the room as if it had
just ignited into flames.
\par \tab "Chuck V?" Sebastian echoes thoughtfully. "God. Edward. Chuck."
\par \tab "No!" screams Kathryn, and she begins convulsing into tears, throwing herself in Sebastian's arms. "No, that can't be!" \tab Abigail wakes up at the sound of Kathryn's shrill outburst. "What? What happened?" she asks, startled.
\par \tab "Don't worry," Sebastian says, ignoring Abigail. He hands Kathryn over to Abigail, who attempts to comfort her, and walks out into the hallway. He strolls next door, to room 616, and pounds h
is fists furiously on the wooden door. "Open the fucking door."
\par \tab Edward looks through the peep-hole and sees his son.He opens the door. "Sebastian, what do you want? You don't have to make such a commotion. I'm sure people are trying to sleep." Edward tells him calmly.
\par \tab "Yeah, well I can think of at least one person who won't be able to sleep because of you."Sebastian replies narrowing his eyes at Edward. He walks in the room and shuts the door behind him. "Why are you doing all of this? Kathryn tried
to tell her mother once and she didn't even believe her own daughter. You don't have to kill her."
\par \tab Edward pretends he has no clue as to what Sebastian is saying. "What do you mean, kill her? I've never threatened her."
\par \tab "Don't lie to me. We have proof." Sebastian informs Edward.
\par \tab Edward asks,"What do you mean?"
\par \tab Sebastian holds up the white envelope. "This is what I mean. "
\par \tab "You've been reading my mail?" Edward accuses angrily.
\par \tab Sebastian glares at Edward. "Like we would want to. It got delivered to us. Who is G?"
\par \tab "No one." Edward replies not wanting to give it away, since he doesn't want his plans wrecked.
\par \tab Sebastian throws a punch at Edward' face. "Who the hell is G?" he repeats.
\par \tab "I'm not telling you." Edward states.
\par \tab Sebastian pulls out the gun he had brought just in case they had a run in with Edward, or the stalker. "Kathryn didn't want to kill you then but she does now. Just like I do." He fires a warning shot.
\par \tab "How could you shoot your own father?"Edward asks.
\par \tab Kathryn had heard the shot. She runs inside the unlocked hotel room and asks,"What the hell is going on?" She sees the gun in Sebastian's hand. "Don't do it Sebastian. You can't."
\par \tab "Yeah, listen to your little girlfriend, Sebastian." Edward then immitates Kathryn's voice. "Don't do it Sebastian."
\par \tab A few officials and a mob of beefy security guys were brigading down the hallway - Sebastian could hear them. Kathryn was peering in the direction of the hallway as well.
\par \tab "Tough luck," Edward says with a grin.
\par \tab "No," Sebastian answers evenly. "This gun is yours. Licensed under your name. Techincally belongs to you." He shoves the gun into Edward\rquote s hands, just as the Plaza officials and security burst through the door, nearly knocking Kathryn over.

\par \tab "Hey!" Kathryn exclaims, grabbing on to a chaise longue to steady herself.
\par \tab "Thank God!" screams Sebastian, with such drama that even Kathryn is startled and confused. Pretending to be petrified - trembling, lip quivering - the whole deal - he throws himself towards a huge security guard.
\par \tab Pointing an incriminating finger at Edward, Sebastian sputters, "H-h-e tried to *shoot* me! For God's sakes! He tried to *kill* me!" *Damn, I'm good at this* he thinks, very relieved at this last minute thinking.
\par \tab "No!" Edward begins to protest, holding up his hands, but only revealing his gun. With his own fingerprints all over them. \tab "That slimy little bastard tried to kill *me*! You gotta believe me!"
\par \tab Kathryn throws herself at a security guard, sobbing. "It's true!"
\par \tab The security guard looks at her. "Ma'am? Pardon?" a solemn, silver-haired official asks.
\par \tab Kathryn looks at Edward. "He tried to kill us. Both of us."
\par \tab "Sir, put the gun down," a security guard says, and Edward immediatly drops it. "I'm afraid we're going to have to take you down to the police station for immediate questioning. This is a potential homocide."
\par \tab Kathryn asks,"Can we stay here? I mean, he's been stalking me and threatening to kill me. If I could just stay here, with my boyfriend I could actually get a decent night's rest." She was trying to play up the innocent act as much as she could.

\par \tab A security guard nods. "All right. We'll call you if we need anything."
\par \tab Kathryn grabs tight hold of Sebastian as they leave. The whole event has truly scared her. "Maybe we should look around. Try to find anything else having to do with me."
\par \tab Sebastian nods. "Alright." He starts to look around as does Kathryn.
\par \tab "Who is Jonathan Valmont? Do you know him?" Kathryn asks in reference to the i.d. card she had just picked up.
\par \tab Sebastian knows
who it is. "That's my uncle. He's a real psycho. He's jealous of my father because my father inherited the company." Sebastian just realizes something. "Oh my God. That must have been Jonathan who's been doing all of this. My father never would have done
something like this."
\par \tab "The police will probably find out when they see the fingerprints, so we don't have to go in or tell them until tomorrow right?" Kathryn asks. "I don't feel like going in. I mean look at me. I'm in my nightgown. And I don't feel like changing."

\par \tab Sebastian nods. "Okay." They walk out of the hotel and into the one they were staying at.
\par \tab Abby had zonked back out again. Kathryn tells Sebastian,"I'm so glad to know who it is. At least it wasn't really your father. I would probably have run away or got my own apartment or something."
\par \tab "You know I wouldn't want that. I'd miss you too much." Sebastian tells her with a mischievous smile. He walks to the bathroom where he gets changed into what he was going to wear to sleep. He comes out in boxers.
\par \tab "My, my, my..."Kathryn starts. "Someone is looking good." She laughs as she says it.
\par \tab Sebastian teases,"Maybe someone should show me how much they mean that..."
\par \tab Kathryn starts to kiss him passionately and grabs him on to the bed with her. She kisses her way down his neck and chest and is under the blankets about to pull down his boxers and give him a b.j. when Abigail wakes up.
\par \tab Abigail asks Sebastian,"What happened? Is everything alright? Where's Kathryn?"
\par \tab Sebastian responds,"Everything is fine. They took Kathryn's stalker to the police station."
\par \tab "Okay that's good. So where is Kathryn?" Abigail repeats.
\par \tab "Why do you want to know?" Sebastian asks, and tries not to laugh.
\par \tab Abigail stares at him, dumbfounded. "Um, because I have a right to know if my best friend is okay, you know. Did the cops take her with them to the station?" she answers indignantly.
\par \tab "I...need some ice."
\par \tab Abigail's incredulous stare still remains on Sebastian. "What?" she asks, as if that's the stupidest thing she'd ever heard in her life. "Answer my question, Sebastian! God."
\par \tab "I need some ice."
\par \tab Abigail rolls her eyes. "Where is Kathryn? And why the *hell* do you need ice, and what the *hell* does it have to do with anything?"
\par \tab "The stalker punched me," Sebastian lies. "I need some ice," he repeated for the third time.
\par \tab "Oh my God!" exclaims Abigail. "Are you okay? Oh my God!" Since the room is dark, she can't really tell if Sebastian is bruised or not.
\par \tab "Just get me some ice, wouldya? And quite asking so many questions. It's not attractive for girls to ask so many questions," Sebastian answers. "And my jaw is numb...it hurts like a mothe--"
\par \tab Abigail stands up, changing her clothes quickly. "I'll go down to the lobby and get you some ice. I'll be right back." She rushes out of the room.
\par \tab "That was close," Kathryn remarks, who is still under the covers . "That girl should become a damned cop. She sure knows how to run a line of inquiries, huh? Bitch."
\par \tab Sebastian and Kathryn laugh, feeling a bit lighthearted and in good cheer now knowing that the Jonathan - the evil uncle from hell - was now in police custody. "Now where were we..." Sebastian ravenously kisses Kathryn.
\par \tab Kathryn smiles into the kiss and proceeds to kiss him back. She says, in between kisses," Abby will be back soon. We don't have much time."
\par \tab "We'll have to make the most of it, so shut up and keep doing what you were doing." Sebastian tells her with a smile.
\par \tab She wraps her arms around Sebastian and continues to kiss him. She stradles herself on top of Sebastian. Sebastian starts to move the straps of her nightgown down, without a protest from Kathryn.
\par \tab Kathryn presses herself down on top of Sebastian and slides her hands down his chest to under his boxers. She gig
gles a little in pleasure as she kisses him. They were so absorbed in each other's presence they didn't notice Abby opening the door. However, they heard her footsteps into the room and Kathryn quickly rolled off the bed. "Damnit, Abby. You have to stop s
neaking up on us." Kathryn gigglingly tells Abby from the ground, pulling her straps and nightgown up.
\par \tab "Ummm...Kathryn, what are you doing on the ground?"Abby asks not knowing why Kathryn was giggling so much.
\par \tab Kathryn just starts to giggle even more. "I fell off the bed."
\par \tab "Are you drunk, Kathryn? Or high?" Abigail asks, concerned.
\par \tab Kathryn giggles some more. "Neither. Well, I guess right now I'm high on life since the guy who's been stalking me is in police custody. Doesn't that just give you one big happ
y? It does for me. " She gets off the floor and jumps happily onto the bed.
\par \tab "That's good Kathryn. Why don't you go to sleep? It could possibly be a big day tomorrow." Abigail tells her.
\par \tab "Alright. Sleeping sounds good, doesn't it Sebastian?" She yawns. "Wow, I'm really tired." She pulls the thick blankets over her and Sebastian. "Good night, Abby."
\par \tab "Good night, Kathryn." Abby says as she turns off the light, and rolls over.
\par \tab Sebastian smiles over at Kathryn. "What gave you so much energy?"
\par \tab "You did." She tells him with a smile. She licks his lips.
\par \tab Sebastian replies jokingly,"You are too much." He tiptoes his fingers down her nightgown,which Kathryn batts away.
\par \tab "Stop." She then whispers,"If you do that, I may just lose control and then we'll wake Abby and then chaos will ensue. Later." She kisses him. "Goodnight."
\par \tab ~~~The Next Day~~~
\par \tab Abigail had woken up and saw Sebastian was awake, writing and drawing in his journal. She whispers,"Look, I need to get home so tell Kathryn that and I'll see her later, okay?"
\par \tab Sebastian nods as Kathryn wakes up. She's not fully awake and sees Sebastian and kisses him full on the lips. "Good morning sweetie."
\par \tab Abby gives Kathryn a strange look. "Why did you just kiss your stepbrother?"
\par \tab "Court's not my stepbrother." Kathryn replies and then lays down on Sebastian's chest.
\par \tab Abby forgets everything Kat had just done and says,"Bye Sebastian." She walks out the door.
\par \tab Kathryn opens her eyes and looks up at Sebastian. "Whatcha drawing?"She looks down at the journal and sees a sketch forming. "Is that me?"
\par \tab Sebastian nods. "It's sleeping you. Who isn't so crazy." He teases her.
\par \tab
"I knew it was you. But I couldn't let Abby know that." She lets her hand walk down Sebastian's boxers and adds,"Besides, Court isn't this big." She winks at him. She takes Sebastian's journal and closes it without bothering to read it. She puts it over o
n the nightstand. "Stop drawing. We're alone, in a locked hotel room, where no one else has a key. What do you think we should be doing? And it's not drawing me or writing."
\par \tab "I don't know about you, but I'm hungry," Sebastian says, with a wry smile. "Sorry
to disappoint you. But this guy's gotta eat." He pats his stomach, and then runs his fingers along Kathryn's own stomach. "You could use a few more pounds, too, you know."
\par \tab Kathryn rolls her eyes, but smiles. "Ahhh. Fine. We'll go eat. Let me go change."
She rolls out of bed and rummages through her suitcase for an outfit. She decides on a tight silk, beige Armani Xchange dress with a creme colored three-quarter sleeve sweater.
\par \tab Sebastian gets dressed as well, in a sharp suit, and waits for Kathryn to finish. As she comes out, he whistles, teasingly. "Mmm. I want a piece of that for breakfast..."
\par \tab Kathryn laughs, running her fingertips along the side of Sebastian's face. "Ooh, well, sorry, sir, you had your chance. I guess you're just going to have to settle for a nice...greasy...croissant." She grabs her purse.
\par \tab Sebastian opens the door for her. "After you."
\par \tab Kathryn smiles, and heads out of the hotel, only to crash into Court Reynolds. "Court!" Kathryn exclaims, sputtering a bit, surprised and frankly, quite annoyed to see him. "W-w-what are you doing here?"
\par \tab "I came here to see you, of course," Court says, eyeing Sebastian critically, suspiciously almost. Taking her hands, he looks deeply into her eyes. "Abby told me you were staying here. Why didn't you tell me?"
\par \tab "I..." Kathryn begins, searching desperately in her mind for an explanation.
\par \tab "Hello, Sebastian," Court says coldly and briskly, obviously very annoyed and bewildered ot see Sebastian there.
\par \tab "Hey there, fellah," Sebastian answers sarcastically.
\par \tab "I see you two have stayed in the same hotel room," Court comments.
\par \tab Kathryn starts to explain,"A lot has been going on. Sebastian was only at the hotel to protect me..."
\par \tab "Why would he have to protect you?" Court asks, concerned.
\par \tab "Because, I was being stalked. I didn't want to worry you. I mean, the more people who knew, the more people the guy would go after. I didn't want him going after you." Kathryn continues. "I was going to call you and tell you. Really."
\par \tab Court then questions,"But why were you staying in the same hotel room as Sebastian? You didn't....you know?"
\par \tab "No, of course not. See, Abby paid for the room and if we needed someone strong to protect us Sebastian would be right there. Sebastian slept on the couch all night. Abby and I
got the two beds to ourselves." Kathryn informs him. "We were just on our way to breakfast. Do you want to come with us?"
\par \tab Court nods. "Alright. But I don't see why you couldn't have told me."
\par \tab "Well as I said earlier, I didn't want you getting hurt. Also, I know that your sister just had a baby and I didn't want to wreck that." Kathryn admits as they walk towards the restaurant.
\par \tab "I wouldn't have minded. I would have stayed with you." Court tells her.
\par \tab Lila sees the three in the restaurant. "HI! Court, I'm so glad you found Kathryn. I was worried about her."
\par \tab "Hello Lila. How are you?"Kathryn asks with a fake smile.
\par \tab "I'm alright."
\par \tab Sebastian smiles as Lila approaches, knowing that Lila's arrival made Kathryn mad. "Hi Lila. How would you like to eat breakfast with us?"
\par \tab "Ooooh, I'd love to. I already ate, but I would love to stay and chat with you guys."
\par \tab Kathryn smiles. "Great."
\par \tab They are seated and Kathryn looks at what she wants. "What are you going to get? Everything looks so good." Kathryn was thinki
ng how much easier it would have been to just get room service. She couldn't help but keep thinking of last night with Sebastian.
\par \tab "Penny for your thoughts." Court told Kathryn.
\par \tab Kathryn almost laughed but controlled herself. She replied,"Umm...I'm trying to decide what to eat. I think I am just going to go with 2 pancakes."
\par \tab Court nods. "Their pancakes here are good."
\par \tab The waiter comes and asks,"What would you all like to drink?"
\par \tab Kathryn smiles at the waiter, who she found attractive, "I'll take a coffee. Black."
\par \tab "A small cup of hot chocolate." Lila found herself ordering, an order that made Kathryn want to laugh at.
\par \tab Sebastian responds,"Black coffee."
\par \tab Court doesn't order a drink.
\par \tab The waiter tells them,"I'll be right back with your drinks. Would you like to order now?"
\par \tab Kathryn replies,"I'll have two pancakes. Sebastian?"
\par \tab Sebastian answers,"I'll have bacon and eggs."
\par \tab "I'll be right back with your drinks and soon after with your orders."The waiter tells them.
\par \tab Kathryn smiles at the waiter and then turns her attention back to Court. "How's your sister?"
\par \tab "She's good. She had a baby girl." Court responds.
\par \tab "Awww, maybe later we could stop by and visit her." Kathryn suggests.
\par \tab Court tells Kathryn,"She'd love that." He then asks,"So what was this that you were telling me about a stalker?"
\par \tab Kathryn drums her fingernails on the table, in a steady rhythm, and shrugs. "Some...guy was just following me around. The cops got him though. I'm all right."
\par \tab "That's a big deal," Court remarks, looking amazed. "I can't believe you didn't tell me." He abruptly grabs her hand, holding it affectionately.
\par \tab Kathryn forces herself to smile. "I'm okay," she insists. "And that's all that matters, isn't it?"
\par \tab "A stalker?" Lila asks. "Spooky."
\par \tab "Yeah that's all that matters," Court agrees, although he doesn't look completely convinced. "So, uh, when's the big day for your mom?"
\par \tab "In *two* days," Kathryn says, pretending to be excited.
\par \tab "This coming Sunday," Sebastian adds, playing around with packs of sugar, mischievously, and rather childishly, dumping it in everyone's water while Lila looked on, giggling.
\par \tab Just then, Court sips his water, and his face scrunches up, and he covers his mouth, cringing. "That water is foul. Don't drink it," he warns Kathryn.
\par \tab Sebastian bursts out laughing, then just as quickly, calms himself. "Oh. Sorry." Court simply stares at him, looking peeved.
\par \tab "Yes, this Sunday," Kathryn says quickly, not really wanting the two to start some huge argument there. "I'm excited. You'll be there, won't you?"
\par \tab "I wouldn't miss it for the world," Court answers, "To see you all dressed up, your mom's maid of honor...that's nice..." \tab *Pussy* thinks Sebastian, rolling his eyes.
\par \tab Lila smiles at Sebastian. "You're the best man, aren't you?" she asks him, linking her arm in his.
\par \tab Sebastian smiles at her, giving her a quick kiss on the lips. "I sure am." Their orders arrived, and they all began eating. \tab After they were done, Court stood up, and announced, "What should we do now?"
\par \tab "Well, I need to run to by the house and see how my mom is. She probably just now is finding about what happened." Kathryn suggests.
\par \tab Sebastian replies,"Well, I can do that. After all, I'm going to head over there."
\par \tab Kathryn nods. "Alright."Kathryn gets up and suggests to Court,"Why don't we go visit your sister?"
\par \tab "What a great idea." Court tells her. He takes her hand and helps her up.
\par \tab Kathryn tells Sebastian,"Why don't you take Lila to her house? It would be out of the way for us."
\par \tab Sebastian nods and helps Lila up. "Come on."He tells her with a smile. They walk to his car and Sebastian takes her home.
\par \tab Kathryn smiles at Court as they get into his car. They drive to the hospital, where they visit with Court's sister and brother-in-law for a couple of hours.
\par \tab Sebastian, meanwhile, was at the Merteuil home. He went into his room, after telling Tiffany about Kathryn. He wondered when Kathryn would be home and was kicking himself for not ordering room-service that morn
ing instead of going out to eat. *Oh well, there is always the time after our parents leave.* He hears the door open. He sees Kathryn walk by and when she sees his open door, peers in.
\par \tab "Your father is on his way home. Are you going to come out?" Kathryn asks.
\par \tab Sebastian nods. "Yeah." He gets up and walks out the door and starts to walk with Kathryn to the living room when Edward and Tiffany arrive.
\par \tab Kathryn puts on her good girl act on. "Mr. Valmont, it's so good to see you again. Are you doing better?"
\par \tab Edward nods. "How horrible was Jonathan?"
\par \tab "Really bad, but he's getting locked up." Sebastian tells his father.
\par \tab Edward nods, obviously thinking. "I think I know what he put you through....he told me everything...I thought he was just bragging."
\par \tab Kathryn yawns. "Excuse me. It's been a long week. I'm going to go sleep so I'll be well rested for the wedding."
\par \tab They all nod as Kathryn leaves. She had yawned from boredom of the situation. But that didn't need to be mentioned. She walks into Sebastian's room, un-noticed by all but Sebastian...
\par \tab ~~~Cut to the Wedding Day~~~
\par \tab Kathryn wakes up the day of the wedding. She is in Sebastian's arms. She smiles when she sees him asleep. She makes a move to get up, when Sebastian gently grabs her arm and pulls her on top of her. "Where do you think you are going?"
\par \tab "Sebastian, the wedding is tonight. I have to go get ready. We have to be there at 4 p.m. and I still have to take a bath, get my hair, nails, and makeup done. Plus I have to help Tiffany pack." Kathryn inf
orms Sebastian. "Today will be busy." She kisses him softly on the lips. "But tonight will be more exciting than the wedding itself. I guarantee it."
\par \tab Sebastian grins. "What do you mean by that?"
\par \tab "Something you have wanted ever since you first saw me, when I moved here in 8th grade, you are going to get."Kathryn tells him. She gets out of bed. "Now, if you'll excuse me I have to go start getting ready."
\par \tab She walks into her room and starts to remove her nightclothes. She is down to wearing only her underwear when Sebastian walks in. She grabs her silver robe and quickly slips it on. "God, Sebastian...why can't you wait until tonight?"
\par \tab "I'm not that patient." Sebastian replies.
\par \tab Kathryn smiles weakly at him. "Well, the longer you wait, the better it is." Sh
e walks into her bathroom leaving Sebastian and drops the robe. She steps into the bathtub and takes her bath. She puts her robe back on after drying off and has a towel wrapped around her head to dry her hair. She takes a peek through the hidden mirror d
o
or that she had to see what Sebastian was doing and found herself pleased by what she saw. He was taking a shower. She smiled to herself at the view and shut the door. She went to go get her hair done. Sebastian, out of the corner of his eye, had seen Kat
h
ryn peek in and smile. She obviously liked what she saw. Sebastian wondered if what she had said earlier was just an empty promise but hoped it wasn't. Kathryn gets her makeup done while her hair is up in hot-rollers. She walks in her mothers room to hel
p her mother pack for the month long honeymoon.
\par \tab Tiffany asks,"Is a month too long for us to be gone from you?"
\par \tab "Not at all. We can take care of ourselves. Besides, after what Jonathan did I have Court and Abigail especially watching out for me. Plus, in
two weeks I'll be going out of town with Court and his family. I'll have people watching out for me. So will Sebastian. He's become like a big brother to me which he is as of today. " Kathryn reassures her mother.
\par \tab Tiffany smiles. "Okay, good. Now help me pack."
\par \tab Kathryn nods and helps her mother finish what packing she had left. Kathryn then heads back to her room to get her hair fixed for the wedding and after that, slips into her dress. By the time Kathryn was ready it was time to head to the church.
As they drive to the church Tiffany asks,"Now you remember what to do, right?"
\par \tab "Of course we do mother. We don't want to mess up your big day. Right, Sebastian?"Kathryn asks her brother with a smile.
\par \tab *Actually, if it got messed up I would be free to date Kathryn....*"Of course not, Tiffany." Sebastian tells Kathryn's mother.
\par \tab They arrive at the church safely. Kathryn stands in the waiting area with Sebastian and asks,"Are you nervous?"
\par \tab Sebastian glances at her. Well, it wasn't really a glance, he gazes at her much longer than a future stepbrother should. "No, it's just a stupid, traditional ceremony. Nothing to pee your pants about."
\par \tab Kathryn chuckles a bit, surprisingly jittery and nervous.
\par \tab Sebastian's eyes widen as the realization strikes him. "You're nervous! Aren't you?" He nudges her side playfully. "So you're human after all." He smiles at her.
\par \tab "I don't know why," Kathryn admits. "I guess it's just...weird for me, that's all.
To see my mother tie the knot. That's exactly why you should have children after marriage. So they don't have to witness this...it's too weird. And I *really* don't want to see her kiss your father." She pauses. "No offense."
\par \tab "None taken," Sebastian answers, with a shrug. Sebastian peers out at the crowd beginning to gather into the pews. "Big crowd," he remarks.
\par \tab "Bastard," Kathryn teases, slapping him playfully, "That's *real* comforting for me."
\par \tab "Hey, hey, watch the boutineire," Sebastian jokes, straightening the flower in his tuxedo breast pocket. He glances at Kathryn, suddenly intense. "You look nice," he says, straight out of the blue.
\par \tab Kathryn loved the fact that Sebastian was so abrupt, unlike Court, who was so 'perfect boyfriend' about everything. "Thanks, so do you," she answers. Just then, the wedding march begins to play. Kathryn inhales a shaky breath.
\par \tab "You'll do fine," Sebastian assures her, and when no one is looking, he steals a long, deep kiss. When they finally pull away from each othe
r, Sebastian grins at her, then begins down the aisle. Kathryn waits in the wings for her cue. "Here we go." She whispers to herself.
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