Summary: Kathryn makes a confession to Sebastian that leaves him uneasy.
Chapter 9: Confession of an Ice Princess
"So Sebastian tell us about this girlfriend of yours" Edward Valmont said at breakfast the following morning.
Looking up from his eggs benadict Sebastian glanced down the table at his father and shrugged "well what do you want to know?"
"Well lets start with her name for starters."
"It's Annette Hardgrove. She moved here this summer from Kansas. Her father is the new headmaster at Manchester."
"Oh christ" his father muttered as he set his Wall Street Journal down on the table. "Sebastian tell me this isn't another one of your little games. Because if it is I suggest you cease and assist right now. You can't afford to get thrown out of Manchester and I'm certainly not purchasing another wing of that school just so you can play-"
"It's not like that dad" Sebastian interrupted him annoyed. "Annette isn't like that. She's an incredible, sweet, amazing girl who I...care about very much."
"Oh well then, what does she see in you?" His father then chuckled at his joke while Sebastian only answered him with a sarcastic smile.
"Have you met this girl Kathryn?" Tiffani asked her daughter who was unusually quiet that morning.
Careful not to look across the table at her stepbrother Kathryn replied "briefly."
"And what did you think of her?"
"She seemed very..." Kathryn glanced over at Sebastian who was holding his breath waiting for an answer. With a smile she finished "nice. I'm sure she'll fit in at Manchester just fine."
Sebastian smiled at her as he finished off his juice. Things that morning were already strenuous between them. Before their parents had arrived home they had gotten into a habit of screwing around with each other in the morning. Sebastian had snuck over to Kathryn's room early that morning but found she was already awake and off talking with her mother about party arrangements. Sebastian tried to pull her away but Tiffani made it nearly impossible so he left the room felling quite annoyed. Then his father had to go and bring up Annette in front of Kathryn. He could tell just by looking at her that the topic made her very tense.
"So Kathryn what were you up to this summer? Sebastian never did fill me in" his father asked glancing curiously at his son.
Sebastian gave him a tight smile knowing his father was up to something. The following night when he returned with Kathryn they had both been annoyed to find their parents home early. Edward had then started questioning about their whereabouts and Sebastian responded with some bullshit answer about a party. Tiffani had paid little attention obviously not giving a damn what her daughter was up to but Edward was another story. Although he didn't say it Sebastian got the feeling his father knew something was going on between him and his stepsister.
Kathryn smiling sweetly at her stepfather and replied "oh shopping, tennis, visiting with friends in the Hamptons. You know just the usual."
"Any young men I should know about?"
She shrugged "no one important."
Even though he knew she couldn't very well tell thier parents the truth Sebastian still couldn't help but feel a little wounded by the comment. It seemed like she had purposely said it just to be nasty. Suddenly Sebastian was filled with the childish need to get her back. "You know if it's ok with you guys I would like to invite Annette over to dinner sometime soon. I know she would like to meet you."
"That would be lovely Sebastian" Tiffani said sounding surprised.
"Yes it would be" he agreed as he tempted a glance over in Kathryn's direction. She did not look pleased.
"Well Kathryn maybe you should consider taking this girl under your wing. Being good friends with the headmasters daughter could be beneficial to you not to mention the family."
In a voice of pure ice Kathryn answered "I'll think about it. Can I be excused? I have to finish getting ready."
"Yes"
After giving Sebastian one last glare she got up from her seat and charged out of the room. Sebastian sighed as he put his napkin down and went after her not bothering to ask if he could be excused. By the time he got to Kathryn's room he found the door closed. He knocked but got no reply so he went in after her. Sebastian found her in her closet muttering swear words as she shuffled through her racks of clothes. "Are you all right?"
"I can't find my new black dress" she huffed not bothering to look up at him. "God damnit I know it's here! Fucking maid can't do anything right. We should just fire her and get-"
Noticing a small black dress hanging on the door he asked "is this it?"
"Yes" she told him before yanking it out of his hands and walking back into her room.
Sighing Sebastian followed after her "I get the distinct impression you're mad at me."
Dropping her nightgown she slid on a black thong as she asked in a bored tone "mad about what?"
"Annette. Look you have no reason to be jealous-"
"Jealous! Are you insane? You think I'm jealous of that boring twit?"
Smirking Sebastian walked up to her and slid a hand around the back of her neck. "Ok then you won't mind if I invite her to dinner next Friday?"
"Not at all. Just as long as Lucas can come as well"
Sebastian's smile dropped as he hissed "over my dead body."
Kathryn only smiled as she turned around and finished getting dressed. "Actually I've been thinking it over and perhaps I've been too hard on Lucas. Maybe a second chance is in order."
"Oh I don't think so" he told her right before spinning her around and giving her a brutal kiss. Kathryn kissed him back sliding her tongue into his mouth and wrapping her arms around him. When they pulled apart he told her somewhat breathlessly "I wasn't actually going to invite her over I was just trying to get a rise out of you."
"No shit" she snorted as she turned away.
Sebastian pulled her back to him and demanded "you knew?"
Nuzzling her nose against his she whispered "of course. I know you better than you think Sebastian."
He couldn't help but grin as he told her "yes you do." Kathryn kissed him as he led her back to her bed. Reaching behind her he quickly unzipped her dress before pulling her onto his lap. Slipping his hands up her body he cupped her bare breasts and gave them a squeeze causing her to let out a moan. "I missed you last night" he confessed.
"Really? Before or after you called Annette?"
Sebastian laughed "you are jealous."
"Am not" she murmured before leaning in to kiss him. Pulling away she asked "should I be jealous of her?"
The question caught him off guard. He knew what she wanted to hear. She wanted him to tell her of course she shouldn't feel jealous, that he loved only her but he couldn't say that. Sebastian had all these intense feelings for Kathryn but he still cared deeply for Annette and he couldn't just ignore that. There was also the matter of his plan and the fact that he was suppose to set Kathryn up for a supreme fall in a couple of days. Sebastian still had yet to figure a way out of that. He kept putting it off hoping Annette would give up on the idea so then maybe if he couldn't be with Kathryn he could at least spare her the pain that was almost certain to occur.
Twirling a piece of her dark hair around his finger he told her "you know how I feel about you. Nothing's going to change that."
Kathryn smiled in response as she resumed kissing him again. She pushed him onto his back and began grinding her body against his while kissing his neck. When Sebastian instinctually let out a moan she giggled "shh...don't want anyone to hear do you?"
Sebastian moved his hands down her thighs then flipped her on her back. He suckled her breasts before moving back up her body. While he was kissing her neck, enjoying the taste of her skin Kathryn suddenly pulled his face away and forced him to look at her. Her beautiful face was completely serious as she looked him in the eye and told him "I love you Sebastian."
And there it was, the statement he had been avoiding since last night. In the elevator he knew that's what she wanted to tell him but he had luckily avoided it. However now there was no getting away from it. Kathryn loved him, in a sick way he should be thrilled that he achieved his goal. He got the ice queen to fall for him and he hated himself for it. In that moment he would have given anything for her to laugh in his face and call him a toy. Anything would be better than having her look up at him with those hopeful, expectant eyes.
Sebastian had no idea how to answer her. If he told her he loved her he would be betraying Annette but if he didn't tell her he would devastate Kathryn. Unsure of which way to go he did the only thing he could think of at that moment, he kissed her. Kathryn kissed him back as if the admission never happened.
However Sebastian couldn't get the words out of his head. She loved him. After all these years of secretly pinning for her she finally told him what he wanted to hear but he couldn't tell her it back even if he wanted to. Suddenly Sebastian realized what he was doing and he knew he had to get out of there.
Pulling away from her he said "um...I gotta go. I forgot I have to meet Annette."
Kathryn looked at him confused "now?"
"Yeah" leaning down he gave her a quick kiss on the forehead "I'll call you later."
Before she could reply he quickly left the room. Once the door was shut behind him Sebastian was tempted for a moment to go back in but he stopped himself. He had to get out of there.
* * * * * *
After he left Kathryn's room Sebastian drove around for hours. He went nowhere in particular he just drove hoping to clear his mind and find a solution to his problems. After the sun went down and he hadn't a clue about what to do he went to the only place he could think of that might provide him with some answers.
Sebastian hadn't talked with Blaine Tuttle in what seemed like ages. Soon after getting involved with Annette he found he had little use for their friendship. He had after all decided to turn over a new leaf and that meant leaving his old life and old friends behind. Still when he showed on Blaine's doorstep in the middle of the night he didn't seem surprised in the least to see him.
Blaine welcomed him in and after a few minutes of bullshit conversation Sebastian relayed the real reason he was there. He told his old friend the whole story about his plan with Annette to get rid of Kathryn and how he was now starting to have serious doubts about his actions. Truth be told he had no idea how Blaine would react but he was still surprised by his reaction.
In all the years he had known Blaine Tuttle he couldn't remember a single time he had seen the guy genuinely angry. Sure he had seen him annoyed or put out but he had never seen his friend glare at him with the animosity he did as Sebastian told him about what he planned to do to Kathryn.
After a moment of silence Sebastian sighed "look Blaine I know you're friends with Kathryn and everything-"
"No shit Valmont so why the fuck are you here telling me this crap, huh? If you're looking for a pat on the back you came to the wrong guy. I mean Jesus Christ what were you thinking?"
Sebastian got up from his seat suddenly feeling angry himself. "Do you have any idea what she did to me? She was out of control Blaine!"
"So what else is new? You use to love that about her until you became pussy whipped by that little blond bitch."
"Watch it" he warned him.
"Oh fuck off Valmont save the mocho crap for someone who cares." Shaking his head he asked "what do you want from me?"
Sebastian let out a roar of frustration "I came here for help! Look I'll admit I went too far with this plan. I didn't think it through all I thought about was paying her back but it blew up in my face." Collapsing back onto the bed he buried his head in his hands as he muttered "she told me she's in love with me."
"And?"
Looking up at Blaine he admitted "I think I'm in love with her. What the hell am I going to do?"
Blaine seemed to think a moment as he lit up a joint and inhaled before answering him. "Do you love the other one?"
"Yes or at least I thought so."
"Well you either do or you don't this isn't complicated Sebastian."
With a helpless shrug he said "it's different with Kathryn. I mean she's infuriating on a good day and down right evil on a bad one but...I love her."
"Then tell her that but you're eventually going to have to make a decision between the two. I just hope you make the right one."
Nodding Sebastian stood up and headed for the door. Before leaving he turned around and asked him "are you going to tell Kathryn about the plan?"
Blaine let out a sigh as he told him "no but if you don't put an end to it I will."
He leaned against the wall "should I tell her the truth?"
For the first time that night a small smile appeared on Blaine's face "not if you like your balls where they are. Just call it off and if you don't want her to know about it make sure there's no way for her to find out. That's my advice."
"Thanks Blaine. I'll see you around."
After leaving Blaine's Sebastian drove straight home and then went to Kathryn's bedroom. Although he knew she would be asleep he still needed to talk to her and he knew it wouldn't be able to wait until morning. Stepping inside her dark room he found her asleep on her bed dressed in only her bra and underwear with a sheet thrown over her. Sebastian admired her a moment before softly running a hand over her bare skin. As he touched her face Kathryn's eyes began to flutter open. When they started to focus on his she murmured "Sebastian?"
"Yeah baby" he whispered as he took a seat next to her.
She sat up a little still barely awake "what time is it?"
"Late but I needed to talk to you it's important."
As she rubbed the sleep from her eyes Kathryn asked "how was your date with Annette?"
"I wasn't with Annette" he admitted with a smile. "I just needed to be alone for a little while to think."
"Think about what?"
"What you told me"
With a sigh she said "I figured that's why you freaked out and left."
"I didn't freak out"
"Yeah right"
Getting frustrated he barked "will you shut up for a minute I'm trying to tell you something."
"How very romantic" she quipped sarcastically.
Taking her face in his hands he forced Kathryn to look at him. "I'm trying to tell you that I am in love with you. I know I've said it to you before but-"
"You didn't mean it?" she finished for him.
Sebastian could hear the hurt in her voice and he hated the idea that he put it there. "No it's just...I've always loved you Kathryn that's never changed."
She pulled away from him "yes it has."
"No it hasn't. I just realized today how much I really do love you." He sighed "I don't know what's going to happen with me and Annette or us but I just want you to know that whatever happens remember that I love you. That will never change."
Gently Kathryn reached out and caressed his face. "Aren't we serious all of a sudden" she mused.
"Go ahead mock me I don't care."
She smiled as she leaned in and gave him a soft kiss. "I love you too. Now what do you say we finish what we started this morning."
Sebastian only grinned as she pulled him back into bed with her. He knew he had decisions to make but for now he just wanted to make love to the one girl he had always loved. Everything else could wait.
* * * * * *
The following morning Annette arrived at the Valmont's determined to talk with Sebastian. The last time they spoke it had been a very odd telephone conversation. He had given her some sketchy details of his date with Kathryn and told her his parents were home so he couldn't talk long. Since then she had tried to get in contact with him but all she got yesterday was his answering machine.
That morning Annette was going to call again but decided on a whim to surprise him instead. It was still early so she figured he was asleep. Smiling she quietly opened his door but to her surprise the bed was empty and still made. After realizing the room was empty she walked back into the hallway and tried to figure out where he could be. She knew he was home since she had seen his car parked in the street.
Annette was about to go ask one of the maids for assistance when a sudden dreadful urge fell upon her. Looking at Kathryn's closed door she wondered if perhaps he was in there...with her. As much as Annette wanted to ignore the idea she couldn't ignore her gut telling her to open up the door and see.
As quietly as humanly possible she opened the door. The room was dark since the shades were closed but even in the dark she could still very much make out the shape of her slumbering naked boyfriend draped acrossed Kathryn's body. Immediately Annette's hand flew to her mouth as she watched them. Then without a word she backed out of the room and slumped against the wall in the hallway as a single tear rolled down her face.
- to be continued (Please Review)
