Summary: A confrontation with Annette leads Kathryn to an intense argument with Sebastian.
Chapter 5: Love vs. Passion
"Kathryn your partner for this exercise will be...Annette Hardgrove" Mrs. Brooks the drama teacher instructed her.
She smiled pleasantly but on the inside Kathryn was feeling anything but pleasant. A quick glance to Annette told her she wasn't thrilled with the arrangement either. Kathryn scolded herself for not dropping the class as soon as she discovered Annette was in it. Then again she never dreamed their flaky teacher would partner them up for those stupid 'exercises' of hers.
After everyone was paired up Annette and Kathryn still remained on there sides of the room, neither wanting to make the effort to the other side. Kathryn decided she would just stay in her seat and make the blond come to her. Finally after a minute Annette sighed and crossed over to her rolling her eyes in the process. Mrs. Brooks noticed it and asked "is something the matter Annette?"
"No" she said quickly. "Everything's fine."
She smiled as she approached Kathryn but as soon as the teachers attention was else where she scowled and muttered "ok let's just get this over with."
"Annette I'm getting the impression you don't want to be my partner" Kathryn said with a mocking tone.
"What every makes you think that?"
Turing her nose up at her she said "trust me this isn't my ideal situation either."
"Yeah right" Annette scoffed.
"What's that suppose to mean?"
Annette shrugged innocently "nothing." Reaching for Kathryn's paper she asked "what's the first question?"
She grabbed it back "fuck the question. Are you actually insinuating that I want to be partners with you?"
"Yes" she answered confidently. "Admit it Kathryn any chance you get to insinuate yourself into my relationship with Sebastian you take it. It kills you that he won't have anything to do with you anymore and that he loves me. Well say what ever you want, do your worst it won't make one bit of difference."
Kathryn sat taking this all in, in stunned silence. She couldn't believe the gall of the idiot in front of her. If she had a clue about what was going on with her dear boyfriend Kathryn doubted she would be so confident. At the thought Kathryn began to laugh as she told her "Christ you're dense."
"Go ahead mock me."
"Oh I plan to. Do you really think I have nothing better to do than sabotage your so called relationship with Sebastian? Get real Annette I could give two fucks about you and Sebastian. If he wants to waste his time with you who am I to stand in your way."
Annette smiled in satisfaction "good."
Kathryn smirked "however I wouldn't count on living happily ever after anytime soon. In case it's escaped your attention Sebastian's not the long term boyfriend type. I mean lets be honest the guy's got the attention span of a two year old. I've known him a hell of a lot longer than you Annette and I can honestly tell you that nothing as ever kept his interest for longer than a month...aside from that stupid car of his."
"Your wrong" Annette told her desperately trying to hold in her anger. "Nothing you could say would make me think other wise."
Kathryn wondered how she would react if she divulged to her what Sebastian told her the other night. He had practically admitted to her that he was done with Annette for good. Then he kissed her. Kathryn flinched at the memory of the kiss. She never should of let it happen, but she did. It was nice, better than nice but she just knew Sebastian was up to something and she hated herself for giving into him like that.
Kathryn knew it would destroy Annette if she told her which made it all the more tempting. However she really had no proof, Sebastian would just deny it so she kept quiet about it. Besides she still wasn't completely sure if he wasn't playing her somehow. As much as it pained her to admit it a part of her knew his whole shift in attitude might just be some sort of elaborate hoax to get her back. Hell for all she knew Annette could be in on it with him. She decided to use that to play with her a little.
"Actually you're right Annette there is one thing that's always managed to keep his interest...me."
"Please" Annette scoffed "he hates you."
"Well you know what they say, it's a thin line between love and hate. But you're right I bet he just despises me now and would do about anything to pay me back."
"You're not wrong" she said careful to not give anything away.
"But you know hatred always has a way of leading somewhere. I mean one minute you're screaming bloody murder at one another and the next...you're rolling around naked fucking each other's brains out."
When Annette flinched at her words and a look of stunned horror passed over her face Kathryn knew she won. She smiled sweetly at the blondes stunned reaction and waited for her reply. However when the bell rang Kathryn sighed "well I guess we're finished here. See you around Annette."
Still smirking from her verbal victory Kathryn headed back stage to have a smoke in private before her next class. Just as she was pulling out her emergency cigarette hidden snugly between her breasts a familiar voice called out "what exactly were you implying back there?"
Sighing she turned around to find Annette standing behind her looking very perturbed. Kathryn smiled "I wasn't aware I was implying anything. I was just telling you the truth."
Annette stepped closer to her "you're wrong Kathryn. Sebastian would never...not with you."
"Come on Annette you're a smart girl...supposedly. You know Sebastian can scream till he's blue in the face that he hates me but it doesn't matter. After all hate is just another form of passion. Say what you will about Sebastian and I but that was always one thing we had that you two never did." Looking her over with disdain she said "I suppose you can't really fault him for that. I mean how could anyone feel passionately about a frigid, bible thumping, loser like yourself."
As soon as the words came out Annette responded by smacking her hard across the face. Kathryn stumbled back only slightly before whipping around to face her nemesis. "You stupid bitch" she hissed right before hitting her back ever harder. However Annette recovered quickly and went charging back at Kathryn but before she could hit back Kathryn grabbed both of her wrists and pushed her back against the wall. "Don't even think about it" she warned.
Annette struggled to pull her wrists free "let me go!"
"In a minute. First we have to get something straight, if you ever, I mean ever touch me again I'll hurt you in ways you never dreamed possible."
She laughed coldly "you don't hit that hard Kathryn."
"Oh I don't mean just physically. There are millions of ways to hurt someone Annette, like destroy something they love. For example if I wanted to just imagine the damage I could inflict on your father."
Annette's eyes flew open in alarm as she stopped struggling. "What are you talking about?"
"I'm a very powerful person not to mention smart, if I wanted to I could have your father humiliated, unemployed, or hell even incarcerated. So if I were you I suggest you don't fuck with me, got it?" She then released Annette and pushed her up against the wall.
"Stay away from my father" she warned.
Kathryn only smiled before giving her a last parting shot "I'll do what I want concerning your father...and Sebastian." Smiling she walked out of the theater leaving Annette to crumple to the floor in defeat.
* * * * * *
A short while later Sebastian rushed to the theater after receiving an urgent call from Annette. She told him she needed to see him right away and it couldn't wait so he skipped his chem class to meet her. Whatever it was it couldn't be good Annette never cut class. "Annette" he called out as looked for her among the many crates and props.
"Over here" her soft voice called out to him.
Sebastian followed the sound of her voice and found her sitting in a folding chair deep in thought. "Hey what's going on? What's so urgent?"
As he stepped closer to her he noticed her cheek was very red. Before he could ask about it she hissed "Kathryn hit me."
"What?"
Annette sighed as she stood up and explained "we got partnered together for this thing in drama. We started fighting and she said something about you never really being over her. That you two have this passion between you that we could never have." She looked up at him and said "I know you love me and I know you want to destroy her but...is it true?"
"No" he told her quickly. However even as he said it he knew it was a lie. He did have some strange passion for Kathryn that started out as love but had turned into hatred. Sebastian hated her for what she put him through and for nearly destroying the only decent relationship he had ever had. He hated her with a passion just as he had loved her with one. Now after the kiss he had shared with her the other night he was starting to realize that there wasn't a whole lot of difference between the two.
As his mind wandered back to the previous night he suddenly wondered if Kathryn had told Annette. "Annette what else did Kathryn say?"
"Nothing" she sighed. "She was just trying to goat me, saying your hatred for her was the same thing as love and that as long as you hated her you also loved her."
"Oh" Sebastian answered feeling slightly guilty but not sure why. "Well it's not true I love you Annette."
Moving into his arms she told him "I know but..."
"But what?"
Her blue eyes filled with confusion she asked "are you passionate about me?"
"Of course" he smiled as he leaned down and captured her mouth with his own. They kissed just as they did a thousand times before and as nice as it was Sebastian couldn't help but notice that something was missing. He couldn't figure out what until it hit him like a ton of bricks. It lacked the passion, the spark he had with Kathryn. That intense urgency and forbidden needing was gone. He quietly wondered if it was ever there to begin with.
When Annette smiled up at him a look of pure love and trust in her eyes he suddenly suggested "you know we can end this whole plan now if you want. We can end it and I'll have nothing more to do with her."
"No you can't" Annette said suddenly.
"Well I thought you would want to. You've been against it from the beginning."
She nodded "I have but now I realize why you were so adamant about destroying her before. Sebastian if you don't do something about her now she'll never stop. Kathryn will just keep pushing us until there's nothing left." Looking into his eyes with fierce intensity she told him "I want you to do whatever it take to destroy her. I trust you and I know you love me so whatever you have to do...it doesn't matter just do it."
He nodded not sure exactly what she was giving the go ahead for him to do. Sebastian had no idea why he suddenly offered to end the arrangement all he knew was that kiss with Kathryn had been powerful and he didn't know if he would be able to stop himself the next time. However he told her none of this and instead assured her "ok if that's what you want I'll destroy the bitch."
"It's what I want." Looking down at her watch she muttered "damn, I have to go I'm really late. I'll call you tonight."
Annette gave him a quick peck before rushing out of the theater. As he watched her go Sebastian silently wondered just what the hell he'd got himself into.
* * * * * *
After a long and tedious day at school Kathryn sat in the back of her limo waiting to be taken home. She was about to yell up to the driver to get going when the door opened and Sebastian climbed inside. "What are you doing?" She asked surprised to see him "don't you have a car?"
As the limo took off her told her coolly "I let Annette borrow it to go to choir practice."
"Jesus Christ you let her drive it?" Kathryn asked appalled.
"Whenever she wants"
Shaking her head in disgrace she hissed "and here I thought you were over you're virgin fetish."
He studied her a moment before asking "is that why you picked a fight with her during class?"
"I picked a fight with her? She started it."
"I don't care who started it Kathryn" he said rolling his eyes. "Just leave Annette alone."
Kathryn was more than a little taken aback by his demand. Since when did he give her orders, and when did he start thinking she would obey them? "And if I don't?"
"Then I guess we're going to have a bit of a problem" he told her coldly.
"God damnit Sebastian! What the hell is with you? One minute your declaring you're finished with her the next you're threatening me to keep away from her."
Sebastian leaned closer to her in his seat and hissed "is it so unbelievable that I don't want you hurting someone I care about all so you can soothe your precious ego?"
"You still care about her?"
"Yes I do and I probably always will so cut the shit and leave her alone."
"Let me think about it...no" she smiled at him.
Shaking his head he grumbled "god you're pathetic."
"Funny you didn't think so when you had your tongue down my throat the other night."
Flipping through the New York Times he explained "momentary loss of judgment. It won't be happening again."
"Damn straight. So if you want to help your dear girlfriend so badly I suggest you stay the hell away from me or I might be forced to break the fragile little lamb's heart."
"Whatever" he muttered.
Kathryn glared at him for a moment pissed that he was taking her threat so lightly but more than anything she felt hurt. After the previous night she was sure he wanted her again but apparently she was wrong. Closing her eyes to the thought she laid her head back against the leather seat and ignored him.
If she had opened her eyes she might have noticed Sebastian look up at her from his paper and almost apologize. When he saw her trying to tune him out he went back to it and forgot about what he almost said. They drove home in a loud, uncomfortable silence.
* * * * * *
Later that night Sebastian crossed the hall to Kathryn's room. He had to apologize and make her believe that he still wanted her and only her. He was fully aware that might be a little more difficult given the scene in the limo but he had to if he wanted the plan to work.
His plan, christ he was already starting to regret arranging it. Gone was that glee he use to feel whenever he was about to dupe Kathryn and now all he felt was hesitation. It had lost it's thrill and he was becoming more and more doubtful about his success. Not only was Kathryn proving to be immune to his charms he was finding himself not so immune to hers. That kiss was still haunting him as was Annette's question about him feeling passionate about her.
Sighing he lifted his hand reluctantly to the door and knocked. When he got no answer he called out to her and was met with silence. Sebastian opened the door to find her room empty but he noticed the light to the bathroom was on and the door was slightly ajar. Stealthily Sebastian went to the door and peaked in. The sight before him almost made him instantly hard.
A few feet away Kathryn laid in the bathtub, completely naked. Sebastian watched her a moment and considered if he should just turn around and leave. He knew he couldn't so after looking down at her budding erection and ordering it to stay down he walked in making his presence known. Before he could get a word out however Kathryn's eyes shot opened and she ordered "get out."
"Come on Kathryn" he said with his most charming smile as he tried desperately not to let his eyes wander down her body. "I came here to apologize."
"I don't really give a fuck why you came here now get out."
"Not until you here me out" he told her as he pulled up a wooden foot stole behind her and took a seat. "Look I know you're pissed and have every right to be. I shouldn't have threatened you about Annette."
"You think?" She hissed sarcastically. Then is a softer voice she replied "you're still in love with her, nothing's changed."
Sebastian picked up the sponge resting besides her and proceeded to wash her back and shoulders. "Yes I still have feelings for her but I don't love her. I'm not sure I ever did really."
"It still doesn't change anything."
"Yes it does" he told her as he leaned down and kissed her neck. "Being with Annette helped her to realize something."
Kathryn tentatively bit her lip as he continued kissing her "what's that?"
"I'm in love with you."
As soon as the words came out of his mouth Kathryn immediately pulled away, got up and flew out of the bathroom. Sebastian sat in shock, this wasn't the reaction he was expecting. Finally after a moment he went out after her and found her tearing around her room grabbing clothes. "Kathryn I-"
"Get out" she ordered him once again this time more forcefully.
"You know this isn't exactly the reaction I was hoping for."
"Oh I'm sorry" she said sarcastically "what were you hoping I do? Flop on my back and thank my lucky stars you love me or tell you I've waited my whole life for you to confess your feelings? Jesus Christ Sebastian is that what you think of me, that I'm one of those insipid little girls you can seduce?"
He stared at her confused "I'm not following you."
Stepping closer to him, eyes blazing she demanded "do you honestly expect me to fall for any of this? I knew you were up to something but this...I never thought you would go this far."
He reached out for her "Kathryn it's the truth."
Kathryn pulled away "stop it Sebastian. Whatever this stupid game you're playing just stop it. Ok, fine I'll stay away from Annette just leave me alone."
He shook his head "I can't do that. I lo-"
"No you don't and even if I did believe this crap...I could never love you. I mean how could I? You're just another weak and pathetic loser like all the rest. I could never feel anything for you but pity."
Sebastian was stunned not by what she was saying but that it was affecting him so much. "You're lying."
"No I'm not."
"I'll prove it" he said before grabbing her from around the waist and kissing her hard of the mouth.
Kathryn gave in for only a second before pushing him away roughly. "Stop it I hate you" she told him as she wiped her mouth on the back of her hand.
"You're so full of shit Kathryn look at you...you're shaking." As he looked over at her he felt stricken with guilt for what he was putting her through. This was killing her, he could see it in her eyes. She wanted to believe him but she knew him so well and knew it was most likely a lie. Trying his best to swallow his guilt he said "Kathryn I-" He was interrupted by the sound of the loud chimes of the door bell. "Ignore it the maid will get it."
"I can't it's my date."
This time Sebastian recoiled slightly "date? Who the fuck are you-"
"Lucas" she told him coldly. "I'm going to go greet him. I'd appreciate it if you made yourself scarce."
As she turned for the door he called out "this isn't over."
"Oh yes it is" she said before leaving and slamming the door behind her.
Sebastian sighed and followed her out of the room. He was about to go after her when he was struck by the sight of her in Lucas's arms, her mouth pressed to his. Surprisingly he felt a pang of jealousy hit him as he watched them kiss. He hated her at that moment for making him feel like that. For making him betray his feelings for Annette because he wanted her. Shaking his head in anger he charged into his room slamming the door behind him.
He had to stop this he told himself, he had to stop giving a damn what she did and how she felt. Kathryn was the enemy and he had to take her down at any cost, even his own sanity. Pacing the room he thought about his next plan of attack. He was more than sure she did have feelings for him or why else would she have acted the way she had. Sebastian had to get her to act on those feelings but first he had to get rid of his competition once and for all.
- to be continued (Please Review)
