I got a look inside that mansion of theirs and saw something priceless:  Bianca Stratford, wearing something looking like a cross between a life jacket, a sail, and a pregnant woman.  The girl looks as if she's nine months into pregnancy.

"Who knocked up your sister?"

Kat didn't talk to me much in the car, and I didn't push it.  Well, okay, I pushed it.

"You didn't really plan on coming tonight, did you?"

"Perceptive.  How'd you figure that out?"

"You look really pissed."

She shrugged.  "Bianca talked me into it."

Oh.  That explains it, I guess.  Hey, this proves she's more human than I used to think.  She's capable of letting that vapid idiot of a sister persuade her into going to a social event involving all the people she hates.  I'm getting somewhere, right?

We get there and the streets are swamped with cars for about three blocks.  Since when can Bogey Lowenstein conjure up such an orgy?  It's easy to tell which one's the house; music's blaring madly and there're kids everywhere.

We managed to get in without much mishap and are now heading up the stairs—why, I don't know, but I'm following Kat.

Oh, Jesus.  How does a chick get this drunk in the first half hour of a party?  Some girl just threw herself onto me, practically yelling "Kiss me!"

Aah, hell, no!  There's a convenient guy over there, and I push her over into his arms.  "Kiss him!"

I think he yelled a "Thanks, man!" after me, but I've lost Kat, so I'm not really listening to him.  Damn.  If I were Kat, where would I be…

There she is; just tried to talk to Bianca, but selfsame idiot just ran off with Donner.  You know, this is when I half-regret that deal.  No one deserves to get laid by Donner, even if it's Bianca Stratford.

"Want one?" a kid with a tray full of glasses filled with God-knows-what asks of Kat, and she doesn't hesitate.  Chugs it down in two seconds.

"Right on, sista!" the guy yelled, running off to find someone else, and finally I get to talk to her.

"I've been looking all over the place for you!"

"I'm getting trashed, man!" she snapped.  "Isn't that what you're supposed to do at a party?"

"I dunno," I say, being honest.  "I say, do what you want to do."

"Funny.  You're the only one!"  (She's right, as a matter of fact)  "Later."

And she heads up the stairs again, grabbing another one of those…those…well, whatever they are, they look like cyanide.

Half-hour later:  Looking for Kat again and find myself stopped by the kid I pushed that kiss-crazy chick off on.

"Really, really, thank you!"

He gets a clap on the back; I'm not feeling particularly vicious—eigh.  There's Kat, drinking what looks like her forty-second. 

"Hey!  Hey, Kat, why don't you let me have this one?"

Yeah; she's drunk.  "No!  This one's mine!"  And she's off again.  Why does she like losing me so much?

"My man!"  Sounds like Donner, damn him.  "How did you get her to do it?"

"Do what?"

"Act like a human!"

I was about to yell at him that she already is, but then Donner yells "YEAH!" and runs off to join a congregation around someone dancing on the pool table.

Oh, shit.  The someone's Kat.  Seems like she's not just a little drunk.

All right.  I might as well watch her while I'm at it…

Shouldn't have said that.  That girl knows how to dance, and it's a bit hard to stop watching her—until of course she cracks her head on a chandelier.

Kat managed to fall directly into my arms, and she looks like she's dead, till she opens her eyes.

"You okay?"

"I'm fine." Peevish.  I propped her up—and she immediately falls back down.  Not a good sign.

"You're not fine.  Come on!"

"I—I just need to lie down somewhere…"

"Uh-huh.  You lie down, you'll go to sleep."

"Sleep is good!" she grinned.

"No, not if you have a concussion.  Come on."  We're outside by now.  "Here.  Sit down."

"Hey—hey—we need to talk."

Shit.  Cameron, just leave!

"Cameron, I'm a little busy right now."

"Well, can you give me a second?"

Okay, okay.  Few steps away from Kat would be wise, as I'm guessing this has to do with the Donner-Bianca deal.

"What?"

"It's off.  The whole thing's off."

Huh?  "What're you talking about?"

He sighed.  "She never wanted me; she wanted Joey the whole time."

Oh, God.  Poor kid.  "Cameron, do you like the girl?"

"Well, yeah…"

"Yeah, and is she worth all this trouble?"

"Well, I thought she was, but…"

"No."  He's not pulling this.  "Either she is or she isn't.  First of all, Joey is not half the man you are."   Joey isn't half the man of anyone, actually.  "Secondly, don't let anyone, ever, make you feel like you don't deserve what you want."  Clap on the shoulders—and I think I'm sounding like a father.  "Go for it!"

Kat—no!  She tipped to the side, and she'd have fallen if I hadn't caught her…obviously, she can't stay here. 

I sorta propped her up, arm around my neck, walking away from the horde.  "Come on!"

I saw some swings when we drove down, and that's where I'm headed; they're empty, as far as I can tell.  Although Kat isn't too pleased about the fact that I have to prop her up.

"This is so patronizing!"

"Leave it to you to use big words when you're smashed." 

She tried to take her arm away again.  "I don't think so!"

Okay, fine, then I'll have to hold her up by the waist.  "'Kay."

She snorted.  "Why're you doing this?"

Good question…although, truly, I'm not giving her a truthful answer.

"I told you.  You may have a concussion."

"You don't care if I never wake up."

"Sure I do," I grin.  And I do.  Hey!  I am not saying in any way past the money, so get that grin off your face!

"Why?"

I laughed.  "Well, because they I'd have to start taking out girls who actually like me."

"Like you could find one."

"Ooh!  See?  That, there!  Who needs affection when I have blind hatred?"  I prefer this to what that kissing guy had inside, actually, after I threw that chick onto him.

"I just—lemme sit down for a while."

That's what swings are there for—though I do wish they had backs.  She almost fell off.

Actually, I'd like to ask her something that's been bothering me—and she's smashed; it's a good time to.

"So why'd you let him get to you?"

"Who?"

"Joey."

She shook her head.  "I hate him."  That makes two of us.

"Well, you've chosen the perfect revenge!  Mainlining tequila."

Laughing.  All right; I can make her laugh.  "Well, you know what they say!"

"Nope.  What do they say?"

Oh, no.  She went limp.  "No—nononono!  Kat!  Listen to me, Kat!  Kat!  Open your eyes!"

Phew...thank God.  I got scared for a second.

"Hey," she said, smiling a bit.  "Your eyes have a little green in them."

What?  D-did she just—

Her eyes are pretty, too, as a matter of fact.  I can't tell exactly what they are, but they're gorgeous…

And she pukes all over my shoes.

Well.  That snapped me out of that mood.