Summary: Kathryn comes to a crossroads concerning her feelings for Sebastian and Joshua.
Authors Note: For some of the chapter titles of this story I used song titles that I thought fit the story. I didn't do it with all of the chapters just some. Anyway the title of this chapter is This Year's Love by David Gray one of my favorite songs. Go listen to it if you can.
By the way Trip On Love (which I should have updated before this but I really wanted to get this chapter out of the way) will be up either tomorrow night or Tuesday night.
Chapter 11: This Year's Love
This year's love had better last / Heaven knows it's high time / And I've been waiting on my own too long
- David Gray "This Year's Love"
Sebastian couldn't be sure the exact moment it happened. It wasn't like he woke up one morning and realized he was in love. No, in fact he wasn't even aware of what he felt until the words slipped out of his mouth in that bathroom stall. Now he was always one to keep his defensives up, he never said anything without careful thought even when he was on the verge of cumming. However last night something came over him and before he could contemplate the ramifications those three little words slipped out of his mouth. After his momentary panic over what he said passed Sebastian realized he meant it. He was completely and utterly in love with Kathryn.
This was a first for Valmont in every sense of the word. When it came to women and getting them into bed he was an expert. However when it came to love he was at a complete loss. Of course it didn't help any that the girl he was after was in love with someone else or at least claimed to be. After the events of the following night Sebastian couldn't be sure where Kathryn's feeling lie and odds where he wasn't going to get an answer for a little while. Not until she woke up that is.
As it turned out Kathryn was fine. An ambulance had arrived a few minutes after she passed out and she was rushed to the emergency room. After an hour of intense waiting with Joshua and Sebastian glaring at each other stonily from across the room and Marcus trying to get a hold of her parents the doctor had came out and revealed she would be okay. Kathryn received a few stitches in the abdomen and she had to stay a few nights in the hospital for observation. No one other than her parents (who never showed up) was allowed in to see her until visiting hours the next morning. Sebastian insisted on staying and Joshua not to be outdone stayed as well.
For the rest of the night they avoided each other like the plague. If one was sitting in the waiting room the other went out into the corridor or down to the cafeteria. It wasn't as if they wouldn't have liked to say a boat load of nasty shit to one another, however since their last argument left Kathryn in the hospital both quietly decided to curb it till another time.
As luck would have it when visiting hours began Joshua had disappeared, Sebastian suspected to go flirt with the girl behind the counter in the gift shop. Sebastian went to Kathryn's room alone and found her asleep so he pulled up a chair beside her bed side and tried to think of what he would say when she awoke.
How are you?
Sorry for getting you shot
And oh yeah, I love you.
Yeah that wouldn't sound too pathetic Sebastian snickered to himself. Rubbing his forehead he let out a frustrated groan that inadvertently woke up Kathryn. The sleeping girl slowly began to stir and her green eyes fluttered open and started to focus. When she spotted him sitting beside her a lazy grin appeared on her face. "Morning" she murmured as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
Sebastian had a feeling she might still be slightly light headed because of the pain killers she was on but he found her charming none the less. "Morning" he replied smiling back at her.
Kathryn began to look around the room and as she did her eyes went wide and reality seemed to dawn. Sitting up suddenly she searched frantically and demanded "where's Joshua?"
"I killed him and stored him in the trunk of my jag" Sebastian snipped.
Her eyes narrowed at him as she asked, "he's all right, isn't he?"
"Yeah he's fine" he replied coldly. "He stepped out for a cigarette." Normally Sebastian would have told her about the gift shop girl but for once he felt compelled to keep his mouth shut. It wouldn't do Kathryn any good to start worrying about that now. Eager to get off the topic of Joshua he asked her "how are you feeling?"
"Like someone stabbed me in the gut" she answered in a complete deadpan voice.
"That someone would be your boyfriend" he replied in a matching tone.
Kathryn flinched at this and instinctively rubbed her stomach. "It was an accident, he wasn't aiming at me."
"Oh I suppose you want to blame this whole thing on me?" Sebastian waited a beat before saying "you probably should."
She didn't bother to hide her surprise at this comment but she quickly compensated by chiding "you never should have provoked him like that. I don't know what you were thinking."
Sebastian started at her intensely "yeah you do." Their eyes met then and Kathryn looked as if she was going to say something or perhaps dispute his statement but she quickly shut her mouth. He took the opportunity to use her silence to say what he had been wanting to tell her ever since she woke up. "I meant it you know. What I said to you in the bathroom...I meant it."
For just a brief moment Kathryn's green orbs widened before shooting down to her hands which were busy fidgeting with the hospital blanket. Kathryn never fidgeted and Sebastian found it somewhat endearing. She was nervous too.
She didn't respond right away and the moments of silence that followed seemed an eternity to Sebastian. Finally she looked up at him, her expression hard and replied "you don't believe in love. Remember that little speech you gave me the night of the black out?"
"Yeah I remember it. I also don't apologize either but it appears ever since you came into my life I've been doing and feeling a lot of things that are completely new to me." He chuckled darkly "apparently you make me a better man."
"Nonsense" Kathryn huffed looking away from him. "You're not in love with me, you don't even know what it is. You just want what you can't have Valmont."
Sebastian stood up suddenly, knocking the plastic chair over in the process. Kathryn jumped slightly at the motion and looked up at him in surprise as he stood over her and took her hand. He pressed it up against his chest and hissed "can you feel this?" When she stared back at him confused he demanded "can you!?"
"Yes!"
"It's my heart and it belongs to you. It has ever since the first moment I met you. Kathryn you turned my whole fucking world upside down. You and only you are responsible for this constant ache that I feel. I'm in love with you and I know no matter how much you deny it or try to fight it you feel the same way."
"Stop it" she spat yanking her hand away. Looking away she murmured "just stop it."
Sebastian reached out and forced her to look up at him. "I'm right aren't I?"
Kathryn jerked away "I'm in love with Joshua. Nothing has changed between us."
"Even though he put you in the hospital?"
"It was an accident!" Sebastian turned away from her angry and hurt as she called out "you knew from the beginning my feelings for him but you got involved with me anyway. Now I'm sorry if I hurt you, it wasn't my intention but you have to get over this. I'm with Joshua and whatever was between us in over with."
He spun back around, his voice quaky, almost on the verge of breaking he told her "well I don't except that."
"Well you don't really have a choice."
Once again Sebastian stood over her trying to hold back the emotions that were desperately trying to break through. "You're not in love with him, not really. Maybe at one point you did, when you were younger but now you see the truth. You know that Joshua doesn't love you and he's not capable of giving you what you need. We both know what you feel for him is over with."
Her eyes burning into his Kathryn snarled "and what makes you such the fucking expert?"
"Because" he explained leaning closer to her "if you loved Joshua even a tiny bit as much as I love you, you wouldn't have continuously gone to bed with me. You never would even have considered it."
Just for the briefest of moments he thought he finally got to her. A flash of emotion appeared over her face and Sebastian was sure she would tell him he was right. But then her beautiful face hardened and her eyes went cold. Raising a perfectly coifed eye brow she asked flatly "is that all?"
Sebastian flinched as if being smacked and staggered away from her. Swallowing down his pride he murmured "yes I guess it is."
"Good" she replied curtly "then do me a favor and leave. I'm feeling rather tired and I want to rest up a bit before Joshua arrives." Sebastian just stared at her, almost shocked at how cruel and cavalier she was being. "Was there anything else?" she asked.
"No" he whispered turning away from her and heading for the door.
Right before he left Kathryn called out to him "Sebastian?" When he looked over his shoulder at her she simply said "don't come back."
Sebastian nodded dully as he exited the room. As soon as he was in the hall he collapsed against the wall, trying to catch his breath. He could feel his eyes start to fill up and he realized quite miserably that he was on the brink of tears. Not wanting to break down, especially in such a public place he rubbed his hand over his eyes and muttered to himself "get a fucking grip. She's not worth it, no one is."
"What the fuck is wrong with you?"
Sebastian looked up just as Joshua walked by him, staring at him curiously as he hovered near Kathryn's door. He didn't give him an answer. He simple charged past him down the hall and out into the parking lot. He needed air and someplace to get sick in private.
* * * * * *
"How do you know Sebastian?"
Nina Roschild (soon to be Valmont) gave Marcus a quick once over as he entered the foyer. Judging by the smile on her face she obviously liked what she saw. Marcus noted that she was attractive and he could see why Sebastian went to bed with his almost step mother but she wasn't really his type. He preferred the brainy blond he had a date with in an hour. Checking his watch Marcus realized he couldn't make a day of it chatting with the woman. With a polite smile he explained "we go to school together. Is he home? I really need to talk with him."
"Yes I believe he's in his room but I warn you he's not in the best mood." She sighed "he practically bit my head off when he walked through the door this morning."
Marcus nodded in understanding, he had a pretty good idea what brought on the nasty mood. "I'll keep that in mind. It was nice meeting you Mrs. Roschild."
"Oh please call me Mrs. Valmont"
He chuckled slightly as he passed by her and headed down to Sebastian's room. He had been to the Valmont's only once before but he remembered where his friends bedroom was located. Stopping outside the heavy wood door he raised his hand to knock but didn't. He had a feeling if he announced his presence he wouldn't be invited in so he opened the door uninvited. What greeted him wasn't a pretty sight.
Valmont was laying face up on the bed, still wearing the same clothes from last night but now they were rumbled and undone as if he tried to get undressed but gave up half way through. In one hand he was cradling a bottle of booze and in the other a cigarette. Glancing down at the floor he found it covered in glass and other items that apparently fell off his shelf. Watching carefully where he walked Marcus stepped into the room and called out "so I take it you talked with Kathryn when she woke up."
Sebastian replied with a semi-amused grunt, "yeah you could say that. I take it you're here for an update? Well don't hold your breath."
"Meaning?"
Pulling himself up to a sitting position Sebastian slumped back against the head board and drawled "meaning I'm out. From her on you're going to have to find another way to get rid of Joshua. I'm done with both him and Kathryn for good."
Crossing his arms to his chest Marcus snickered "yeah where have I heard that before?"
With sudden quick reflexes Sebastian took the bottle of Jack Daniel's in his hand and chucked it at Marcus. He quickly ducked out of the way and as he got back on his feet Sebastian snarled at him"I mean it! I'm done with that heartless viper once and for all."
"Okay, okay" he said holding his hands in front of him as if surrendering. "Can I at least ask what brought on his sudden change of heart? Kathryn didn't blame you for what happened last night did she?"
"Yeah actually she did more or less"
"What did she say?"
Sebastian gave him a quick and bitter run down of their discussion in her hospital room as he got up and started searching for more alcohol. When he was finished his story he slammed the liquor bottle onto the desk and spat "I'm through, if she wants to be with Joshua let her."
Marcus sighed as he walked over and pulled the bottle of booze from his friends hand. "She didn't mean it" he explained "she was just scared. You know Kathryn, you know how she gets. She knew what you were saying was true but she can't deal with it yet but soon she'll acknowledge that her relationship with Joshua is a sham and then-"
"Then what?" Sebastian demanded "then she'll come running back to me? Even if it did happen it's too fucking late. I'm washing my hands of her."
"Sebastian come on you can't just-"
"Watch me" he lamented as he slowly drank down the shot of straight vodka. When it was gone he wiped his mouth and said "now can you please go, I'd like to get smashed in private."
* * * * * *
Kathryn was alone and she supposed she deserved it. Entering into her museum like home the sounds of her Manolo heeled boots was all that greeted her. Not that she exactly expected a welcome home party but it would have been nice if her parents had bothered to show up. They never visited her once at the hospital because they were both off on their typical separate vacations. Her mother who she believed was still in Bali had called her a few days earlier and after Kathryn told her she was fine Tiffani promised they'd have dinner when she returned but she had to leave because the masseuse had arrived. She didn't get a phone call from her father, but he had sent a dozen white lily's. They were lovely. Kathryn preferred roses.
Three days after later she was released from the hospital and she came home alone. The kind nurse seemed worried about her but Kathryn insisted she was okay. Her boyfriend would meet her at home she told her knowing in her heart it was a lie. When Kathryn arrived to the empty house she wasn't the least bit surprised to find another arrangement of flowers from her father and no Joshua. It was typical but it still bothered her all the same.
After reading over her father impersonal get well soon note she tossed it carelessly to the floor and picked up the phone. She dialed Joshua's cell and waited as it rang. She let it ring ten times before hanging up. When she did Kathryn slammed the phone down with such force the rotary dial telephone crashed loudly to the hard wood floor. Tossing her head back against the sofa she listened to the phone beep but didn't bother to hang it up.
He promised her he would be there when she got home, he promised. Kathryn shook her head bitterly as she remembered the last conversation she had with Joshua.
"Sorry Katie but I can't pick you up. I've got this meeting" he had explained "it's important but I'll be waiting when you come home. You're not pissed are you?"
"No it's fine"
Of course she had been lying, she was not fine with him blowing her off. She was even less fine when he refused to go into specifics of his meeting. Joshua hadn't showed up like he promised and now she couldn't reach him. All of this led Kathryn to believe he had lied to her about what he was up to. Once again she found this typical.
For about the hundredth time in the past three days Kathryn began to question her relationship with Joshua. Actually if she was honest she would admit she had been questioning it for even longer than that. It was during these last few days however that she gave it more serious thought. Ever since Sebastian confessed his feeling for her.
He had never come back after that day. This wasn't that surprising seeing as she told him not to but Kathryn had still expected to see him. After all Valmont wasn't exactly known for giving up but this time had been different and she should have realized that. The look on his face when he left her room-it had haunted her long after. She had broken him just as she wanted. More to the point Kathryn wanted to make him realize that he didn't love her so she reacted coldly to his declaration on love. Sebastian was emotionally destroyed now, Marcus had told her as much when he visited or rather he had screamed it at her. Kathryn pretended to not give a shit and ordered him out. She did what she had to she told herself.
"I had to" she repeated softly out loud.
She shook Sebastian from her thoughts then, she had to stop thinking about him. He was in her past and Joshua was her future. It was with that thought she got to her feet and ordered the maid to pull the car around. As soon as the limo pulled up to the curb she got inside and instructed the driver to take her to Joshua's. If he wouldn't come to her she'd come to him.
When she arrived at the Kennsington's elaborate penthouse their Filipino maid greeted her. When she asked to see Joshua a strange look passed over the woman's tired face before she revealed he was in his bedroom. Kathryn charged past her and went up the spiral staircase to his bedroom. Even before she tossed open the double doors she had a sneaking suspicion what she would find.
Sure enough Joshua was there and just as Kathryn suspected he wasn't alone. A pretty petite red hair girl with sizable breasts was ridding him hard and groaning like a whore as she did so. As soon as she entered they both looked up at her, the girl obviously startled and Joshua looking like a dear caught in someone's head lights. "Kathryn what are you doing here? I thought you weren't suppose to get out-"
"Three o'clock" she said keeping her voice calm.
He glanced down at his watch and muttered a curse under his breath. Apparently time had gotten away from him. "Baby I'm sorry, I know I told you I'd meet you at your place."
"Well you obviously had your hands full." Kathryn looked to the red head still straddling Joshua and explained "I'm Kathryn by the way, Joshua's girlfriend."
The girl looked quickly to Joshua and spat "girlfriend? I thought you broke up with her?"
"Not quite" Kathryn told her before turning on her heels and exiting the bedroom. As soon as she entered the hallway the cool visage she had been putting up melted away and she suddenly wanted to scream. Not only had Joshua refuse to pick her up so he could go fuck some girl, he was also telling people he broke up with her. It was all like some surreal dream she couldn't seem to wake up from.
Just as Kathryn was heading down the stairs Joshua came up behind her and pulled her around to face him. "Look I'm sorry but it's not what you think?"
"Oh which part?" she hissed "the part where you lied to me about a meeting? Or you blowing me off to fuck that girl or perhaps the fact that we broke up and apparently I'm the last to know about it? Tell me Joshua what part did I fucking misinterpret?!"
Pulling her towards him he ordered "keep your voice down. I'm sorry Katie I didn't mean for you to walk in on that but I didn't lie to you. Alice is a friend of mine from Yale and she came up to visit me for a few days. We ended up screwing around which is why I didn't make it to your place."
Kathryn stepped closer to him and demanded "why did you tell her we broke up?"
He shrugged "she saw the picture of you I had in my dorm room. I wanted to get laid so I told her we broke up it was as simple as that. Now you can be pissed at me all you want but remember our arrangement. We're both allowed to screw whomever we want so long as the other person doesn't have a problem with it. If you don't want me to see Alice any more I won't." Kathryn didn't respond she simply glared at him coldly causing Joshua to shift uncomfortably. "Kathryn?"
"Do you love me?"
"What?" he exclaimed obviously surprised.
"You heard me" Kathryn reiterated "do you love me? It's not fucking rocket science, a simple yes or no with suffice."
She watched him then and knew even before he opened his mouth what the truth was. Joshua didn't love her, he never had. He might have cared for her but it wasn't love and he knew it. Kathryn realized then he might have loved some one, once upon a time but it hadn't been her. Now she stood before him, her heart breaking as she watched him try to think of something to say that wasn't those three little words but would satisfy her all the same. "Katie what we have it's not about romantic declarations. You and I are above such things."
She smiled sadly and told him "you weren't above such things when you were with Annette."
"What?"
Kathryn shook her head "this is over with."
Without waiting for his response she walked down the stairs and headed for the door but Joshua wasn't about to let her walk out on him so easily. "What do you mean this is over with?" he roared. "You can't just walk out on me Katie!"
"Watch me" she called over her shoulder.
"This is because of him isn't it?"
She stopped and turned to face him "who?"
"Who?" he mocked in a high pitched voice. "You know damn well who, Valmont."
Kathryn considered this a moment before she replied "yes he's partly the reason."
"I knew it!"
"The truth is Joshua I've been deluding myself about our relationship for years. You see three years ago I fell in love with you and I thought you felt the same way but you didn't. I mean how could you when you were in love with someone else? You couldn't have her so you turned to me and I happily became the perfect girlfriend for you telling myself all along that, that was exactly what I wanted. Cold, calculating, sexy, worshipping and best of all I'd let you fuck who you wanted."
"I never made you do anything you didn't want to" he sneered.
"No you didn't" she agreed "I happily went along with it because I was so in love with you it didn't matter I was sacrificing myself in the process."
A smile came over Joshua's face as he strut up to her and gently caressed her face. "Katie" he murmured in that soft silky voice she use to crave so much "you and I are perfect together and like you just said, you are in love with me. Nothing is as powerful as that."
"Except one thing" leaning into him she brought her mouth up to his ear and whispered "I love him more."
Kathryn turned away from Joshua and once again started to leave but he grabbed her by the arms and pulled her back. Clutching her body to his he hissed against her skin "are you honestly stupid enough to throw away everything we have for him? He's an idiotic infatuation Kathryn, he only wants you because you belong to someone else. Give it a week and he'll be chasing after some other little school girl."
Struggling in his grasp she spat "everything we have? We have shit! You make me miserable Joshua but Sebastian on the other hand makes me happy. He loves me, even though I gave him every reason in the world not to. I don't have to beg and scheme just to get his attention all I have to do is say the word and I'm his which is exactly what I plan on doing."
Joshua pulled her even closer and snickered "it will never last and even if you do manage to hold on to him for a week or so you'll loose everything Katie, I'll make sure of it. Your friends, your status and even your precious leadership position at the tribunal."
Breaking from his grasp Kathryn pushed him away roughly. Shaking her head in disgust at the man she once thought she loved she yelled "I don't care! Fuck the position, fuck the tribunal, and fuck you!"
She didn't turn back once as she walked out on him. Stepping out into the sunlight Kathryn smiled. Her future suddenly seemed so much brighter.
* * * * * *
"What member of the wedding party are you?" the well dressed older woman asked primly as Kathryn entered the Valmont living room.
She looked curiously past the woman towards the people gathered obviously going through the rehearsal for the soon to be wedding. As she searched for Sebastian she explained distractedly "I'm not, I'm just here to see a friend."
"Oh, very well then" she turned away disinterestedly and headed back to the others.
Kathryn stepped further into the room and as she did only a few people seemed to notice her arrival. Once of those people was Sebastian who looked over at her blankly. It wasn't exactly the reaction she had hoped for but she realized this might be somewhat of an up hill battle seeing as how she treated him the last time they spoke. When she saw him she had to contain the sudden juvenile urge to run up to him and throw her arms around his neck.
Instead she approached him calmly and asked "can we talk a minute-alone."
Sebastian looked down at her and for a second she thought he might refuse. It was slightly embarrassing when a few members of the wedding party glanced over at them, probably assuming she was just another one of his cast off's. Sebastian might have realized their attention too which is why he made her wait. Finally he sighed "all right."
He walked past her and lead her back to his bedroom with Kathryn took as a good sign. Once the door was shut behind them he walked over to his desk and leaned against it. "What do you want?" he asked coldly.
Not sure quite how to begin Kathryn decided to try flirting with him in an effort to make him soften towards her. She moved closer to him and teasingly tugged on his silk tie. "You look nice" she purred "I like the suit but I think I'd like it more on the floor."
To her amazement Sebastian didn't even acknowledge her overtures. Instead he repeated "what do you want?"
Kathryn sighed as she took a step back and explained "I came to apologize for the way I treated you in the hospital. I didn't want to be cruel but it was the only way to make you leave. What you said to me...you weren't exactly wrong. In fact I realized how right you were." She waited a beat before revealing "me and Joshua broke up."
Sebastian did flinch at this but then he quickly looked to the ground. "What does that have to do with me?"
"What does it have to do with you?" she parroted back. "It has everything to do with you!"
"So Joshua dumps you and I'm expected to be your what, consolation prize?"
Kathryn's eyes narrowed at him as she replied "first off he didn't dump me it was the other way around. Second I know you still love me. You can be angry at me all you want but you can't deny that. We belong together Sebastian."
He stared blankly back at her and repeated her vicious words back to her. "Are you done?" When she pulled back from him he explained in a bored drawl "I have to get this rehearsal thing over with and then I have a friend coming over. I don't think she'd appreciate you being here so can you leave?"
Kathryn glanced over at his bed and then back at him not sure what to say. She wanted to tell him she loved him and that no matter how cold he was to her she knew he felt the same way. Before she could say any of this though Sebastian rolled his eyes in irritation and stormed past her out of the room. He left so quickly she didn't even have a chance to get the words out.
Watching helplessly as the door closed behind him Kathryn fell back onto the bed. "I love you" she whispered. It was too little too late.
* * * * * *
When school resumed the following Monday Kathryn found herself walking the halls in a perennial fog. All morning she hadn't been able to concentrate, her thoughts continued to remain on Sebastian and the mess she had made of things. After she had left his house she attempted to call him but he apparently was screening her calls. She had looked for him at school but he was nowhere to be found. It was as if he had dropped off the face of the earth and out of her life for good.
To top it off the miserable day she was already having, Kathryn was suppose to deliver a sermon on the merits of abstinence this afternoon before most of the school. Besides which it was a topic she had no interest in she couldn't seem to focus enough to write the damn speech. Sitting on one of the benches outside the library she once again tried to perfect her opening sentence only this time the tip of the pencil snapped and broke.
"Mother fucker" she hissed tossed the writing instrument to the ground in disgust.
As soon as it cluttered to the ground a dark skinned hand reached out and picked it up. "Whoa now you might want to keep the swear words to a minimum" Marcus advised "or at the very least don't scream them in public. We wouldn't want our illustrious headmaster to get the wrong idea about his favorite student."
"Oh fuck Hardgrove" she spat. "I'll say whatever the fuck I want and don't you dare start giving me orders."
"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning" he teased taking a seat beside her. "Care to tell me what's wrong?"
Snatching the pencil back from him Kathryn tried to use the now dull end to write. She really wished Marcus would go away seeing as she was in no mood to share but she knew he wouldn't. He had this annoying little need to know everyone's business especially hers. Usually she found this amusing but today it just annoyed her.
Five minutes past before she finally revealed "Joshua and I broke up."
"You're kidding?" Kathryn answered him with a stone cold hard look that told him she wouldn't kid about such matters. Giving her a somewhat sympathetic smile he said "I'm sorry, I knew you really loved him."
Kathryn nearly threw the pencil yet again but she contained herself. "You're not sorry" she snarled "you hated Joshua and for the record it was I who broke up with HIM."
"Well for the record I think it was the right decision. That asshole never deserved you to begin with." Marcus gently caressed her hair as he asked "what happened?"
Feeling the need to rid him of that simpering sympathetic tone she shrugged casually and said "I think he's still in love with you girlfriend." He pulled away from her then and gave her a stony look. Kathryn looked up at him and rolled her eyes, "I didn't say she loved him back! Besides it wasn't the only reason."
"Oh?"
As if on cue Kathryn looked up just as Sebastian past them. They made brief eye contact before Sebastian looked away from her and turned in the other direction. Marcus having observed this exchange muttered "I see. Have you told him about Joshua?"
"Yes" she muttered watching Sebastian's back as he walked down he hallway "he was less than interested."
"Well what did you expect?"
"I expected him to be pleased"
"Pleased?" he repeated incredulously. "After what you said to him?"
Kathryn whipped her head around to face him "he told you about our discussion?"
"Yes apparently I know more about your so called relationship than either of you do" he snickered.
"Perhaps you should worry about your own and but out of mine" she suggested.
"Perhaps"
Marcus got up from the bench and started to leave but Kathryn grabbed his hand and pulled him back. Turning to him she asked "okay so what am I suppose to do? How do I make him like me again?"
He smiled at her and replied "he already likes you Kathryn, point of fact he loves you but he's not going to admit to any of this until you get over yourself and tell him how you really feel."
"Yeah I tried to last night and it didn't work"
"Well you're going to have to keep trying. The boy put his heart on the line for you and you broke it. You want him back? You're going to have to be willing to be vulnerable in front of him, no matter the cost."
Kathryn turned her nose up at this idea. "So what I have to make an ass out of myself to get him back? I don't see that happening in the near future."
Marcus was about to reply when he looked past Kathryn to the person who was standing beside her. She turned around and found Amanda one of Isabel Kennedy's little cronies looking somewhat impatient and annoyed. "What do you want?" Kathryn barked.
The girl shoved a piece of paper into her hand and explained curtly "Isabel told me to give this to you."
Without another word the girl marched back down the hall. Kathryn considered the note a moment before unfolding it to find Isabel delicate penmanship.
Kathryn,
Meet me in the boiler room at 1:00. If you don't show I promise you won't like the repercussions
Isabel
With a heavy sigh Kathryn crumpled the note into her fist and asked "what now?"
* * * * * *
The boiler room underneath Manchester Prep wasn't exactly one of Kathryn favorite hang out spots. It was dirty and grimy not to mention loud and cramp. However she had made the special trek down there in order to find out just what Isabel was up to. If it had been anyone else who asked to meet her down there (except possibly Sebastian) she would have quickly refused but seeing as Isabel had a tendency to be a formidable opponent when she chose to Kathryn decided not to ignore her request.
"I had a feeling you'd show" Isabel's nasty high pitched voice called out to her.
Kathryn rolled her eyes but followed the sound of her voice. She found the girl around the corner standing next to a small TV/VCR that was on a wheel able cart. She eyed the equipment cautiously wondering how Isabel managed to sneak that down and what exactly she planned on doing with it. "Yeah I got your note" Kathryn hissed chuckling the crumpled piece of paper at her. "What's with the TV?"
"Oh is little Miss Perfect worried? You should be" she snickered.
"Cut the shit Isabel!" Using her fake sweet voice she said "or else I might have to report you for stealing school equipment."
The girl didn't even flinch. "Go right ahead, but if you do understand I'll have to show them this."
Pulling a videotape out from her jacket she put it into the VCR and hit play. Kathryn watched the monitor as a black and white image displayed too people having sex in what looked like an elevator. Her throat suddenly became dry when she realized who those two people were. "Where did you get that?" she demanded.
Isabel grinned obviously quite pleased she asked. "When Sebastian left my room that night I followed him to the elevator and saw him get on with you. Since it took quite awhile to get to it's desired location it wasn't difficult to imagine what you too were doing in there. I stopped by the security office at the hotel and nice officer Fred was very happy to hand me over the tape from the security camera."
"Oh I can just imagine what you had to do to get that tape"
She shot her a dirty look and then turned back to the monitor. "Oh wait here's my favorite part." Isabel shut up long enough to hear Sebastian call Kathryn a slut then walk out on her. She cringed at the memory but Isabel just ate it up. "Wow that was cold even by Valmont's standards. I guess you don't mean as much to him as you thought."
Kathryn reached out and hit the stop button then demanded "what do you want?"
"Many things actually"
"Narrow it down"
"Okay well then what I want is Sebastian"
Tossing back her head Kathryn laughed "good luck with that!"
"Shut up" Isabel ordered. "I want Sebastian and you're going to help me get him."
That brought her laughter to a quick halt. Glaring at the blond she demanded "and just how the hell am I suppose to do that?"
"Well you're a clever girl Kathryn and something tells me if you're desperate enough you can make just about anything happen."
She considered this only a moment before replying "no way."
Kathryn started to leave when Isabel, who was a lot stronger than she looked pulled her back. "You don't seem to get it. If you refuse I'll run this tape during your little no-sex speech. Imagine the student body president and all around good girl being exposed for the whore she is. Can you just imagine what a scandal like that could do to your stellar reputation. Are you willing to risk it Kathryn?"
"It would destroy me" she whispered looking down at the ground.
"Yeah I imagine it would." Grabbing her by the face Isabel forced Kathryn to look at her inquired "so what's it going to be?"
* * * * * *
Of all the places to discuss sex the Manchester cathedral had to be the strangest. The sentiment seemed to be shared as the bulk of the student body entered into the building and slowly got seated in the pews. All throughout the crowd there was a low murmur of voices and a few nervous giggles. The fact that the words condoms or safe sex might be mentioned in church was too weird to be missed which was why nearly everyone showed up.
"I can't believe daddy agreed to hold this in church" Annette remarked as she took a seat in the third row from the front.
Sitting down beside her Marcus asked "agreed?"
"Yeah apparently reverend Price thought if it was held in church the students would take it more seriously and not be prone to yell out inappropriate remarks."
Just then one of the more brazen boys from the back yelled out "COCK!"
"Good plan" Marcus remarked. The couple laughed as they watched Reverend Price get up to the podium and scour the crowd furiously for the outspoken student.
One student who was now laughing however was Kathryn who stood beside the headmaster and looked out at the students. Normally almost no one attended these stupid things. It was just her luck that today of all days the whole fucking school showed up.
"Kathryn are you ready?"
She turned to headmaster Hardgrove and nodded "yes of course."
As he went up to the podium and announced her Kathryn noticed Isabel sitting ahead of Marcus and Annette. She gave Kathryn a dirty look then smiled maliciously at her. That little bitch was going to pay for what she was putting her through if it was the last thing she did.
"Please welcome your student body president Kathryn Merteuil!"
Just as expected she was met with thunderous applause from her peers and only a few snickers. Approaching the podium with all her typical ease Kathryn smiled graciously. "Thank you Headmaster Hardgrove. I would like to welcome everyone to what promises to be a very informative and helpful seminar on the values of remaining true to one's self and remaining abstinent. I know that in these times it's easy to get..."
She trailed off when out of the corner of her eye she spotted Sebastian sitting in one of the pews on her left. He wasn't suppose to be here Kathryn thought to herself as panic began to rise up within in. Sebastian never comes to these things so just what the fuck was he doing here now? She realized she was staring at him and that people were starting to notice. Quickly Kathryn collected herself and smiled as she repeated "I know that in these times it's easy to get caught up in the allure of sex but it's important to realize we don't always have to give into temptation."
As Kathryn's speech continued on Sebastian watched her intently just as he had during that assembly at the beginning of the year. He had just met her then and already he was fascinated by her. He had no way of knowing at the time the huge impact that girl would make in his life. Sometimes he wished he had never met her all.
He knew that wasn't true but it felt better to pretend he meant it. As much s he hated to admit it Sebastian still very much loved Kathryn no matter how much he pretended other wise. The only reason he bothered showing up for the stupid seminar or whatever she called it was so he could see her. He wasn't even paying attention to what she was saying he was just...watching her.
It gave Sebastian a slight thrill when she stopped mid sentence and acknowledged his presence. Kathryn looked completely stunned to see him there but he wasn't sure why. Sebastian got his answer when a few minutes later the rear screen projector behind Kathryn began to play a black and white video of two people having sex.
This was met by only few hushed whispers and most people seemed to believe it had to do with the presentation. Then a loan voice in the crowd yelled out "holy fuck that's Kathryn!"
Everyone became silent for a moment and then like a damn bursting a sudden uproar of chatter and laughter. Immediately the headmaster and the reverend went into a tizzy trying to find out where the VCR was located so they could shut it off. As they did this someone else yelled out "it's Valmont!"
"Oh my god it's Sebastian!"
Sebastian's realized then it was a security camera tape from the elevator. Normally someone broadcasting his sexually activities might have been amusing to him but now it just made him nauseous, especially since that wasn't exactly one of his proudest moments. He looked to Kathryn and was shocked to find her not freaking out but rather standing at the podium calm but helpless.
"This is disgusting" Annette said to Marcus. "Who the hell would broadcast that? Sebastian?"
Marcus looked over at his friend who was starting up at Kathryn sympathetically. "No it wasn't Sebastian" he assured her.
"Well I'm putting an end to this. I hate Kathryn but this is too much" she told him as she got to her feet and headed over to her father to help search for the video equipment.
As the crowd was now hooting and hollering, obviously enjoying the show the headmaster ordered "quiet down! Now I want to know what is the meaning of this!"
"Isn't it obvious headmaster?" Isabel rose to her feet and slowly began to approach Kathryn a predator like grin on her face as she continued. "Our student body president it a complete fraud. I mean here she stands preaching to us about abstinence when she goes off and fornicates with some guy who's not even her boyfriend."
Kathryn would have given anything in that moment to tell smack that superior look off of Isabel's face. However she didn't want to make things even worse than they all ready were. As it was the Headmaster was glaring over at her obviously at least a little in agreement with what Isabel was saying. Kathryn was about to offer up an apology when Sebastian called out "shut the fuck up Isabel!"
Isabel's turned her attention to him and snarled "how sweet defending a girls honor! That has to be a first for you Valmont."
"Mr. Valmont please sit down" the headmaster asked.
Kathryn felt a sweet tinge of elation when Sebastian defended her. Their eyes locked and she suddenly forgot all about her reputation going down the drain and the little bitch who caused her downfall. All she cared about was the fact that Sebastian defended her. He didn't hate her.
"Ms. Merteuil? Kathryn?" Hardgrove called to her trying to get her attention. "Do you have anything to say to this?"
When she didn't answer him Isabel huffed "see she's not even the least bit apologetic about it. Headmaster Hardgrove Kathryn in a fraud. She's a complete disgrace to the student body president position. She talks about remaining true to one's self but it's all garbage. She's in love with one boy and sleeps with another, at a school function no less. Therefor as a member of student council I would like to ask that she be removed as president. It's obvious that she has no respect for-
"Oh just shut up already Isabel!" Kathryn yelled suddenly causing the whole church to fall into complete stunned silence. However she didn't care. All she knew was that if she had to listen to Isabel's voice one minute longer she would kill someone. "Everyone knows you're after the student body president position just as you're after everything else that's mine including Sebastian. But to go so far as to blow some middle aged security guard just to get that fucking tape, even I never thought you were that ambitious! I'm impressed! So tell you what if you want the damn position so bad fine, you can have it! I quit! Now don't get too excited you miserable little cunt, because when they discover it was really you behind this stunt and you were blackmailing me I have a feeling your time in office won't be for long!"
Isabel stared at her completely slack jawed but Kathryn barely noticed. Looking over to Sebastian who was standing in the isle watching the scene play out she smiled at him. Her voice losing the icy edge she told her "you were wrong about one thing however. I very much am in love with that boy I was sleeping with."
Sebastian smiled up at her, his face full of awe and love. In that moment he knew there was nothing in the world he wouldn't do for her. He belonged to her in every sense of the word.
Quickly making her way off the podium Kathryn headed down to him and grabbed his hand. As the crowd began to whisper and a few people cheered she told him "okay I think now would be a good time to make our exit."
"I know just the place" he told her as he led her down the isle.
- to be continued (Please Review)