A/N: Sorry to keep y'all waiting! I am sorry for the large time gap, but y'all will have to deal. That said, keep on reading… (Oh, and sorry for the y'all's…I was feeling in a hillbilly mood…)
"You got the stuff?" Kat asked Mai as the two sat on Kat's front porch.
"Yep, I just got back from my brother's. He said to be careful with them," she replied.
"Okay. You ready?" Kat's query was answered by a curt nod. "Whoa. I can't believe that we're doing this. I hope he doesn't like go psycho and call the police or something." I can't believe that I am turning on Patrick. But what he did to me… it's worse than him being paid to date me; it's worse than finding out about it in front of hundreds at the prom; it's one of the worst things that could ever happen. I love him so much. How did all this happen? I would do anything to see him now, at this very moment, and say, 'I'm sorry,' and play with those adorable dark locks, and listen to that irresistible voice whisper sweet nothings in my ear…
Mai reached the car and turned around only to realize that Kat was still sitting on the steps, dazed look on her face. She walked back to the porch. "Earth to Kat." Kat still sat there with the same dreamy look. Mai continually snapped her fingers in front of Kat's face. Finally, she came around.
"Oh, sorry," Kat said in a distant voice.
"Whatever, just get in the car." If she slips into this weirdo trance again, we'll be driven off a cliff. "I'll drive," Mai offered; and with that the two girls climbed in the car and drove off.
~
Patrick dialed Mandella's phone number.I don't think I've ever talked on the phone this many times in one week, he thought to himself as he waited for her to pick up the other end of the line.
"You again?"
"Yeah… wait how'd you know?"
"Caller ID. You must have called eighty-two times. Quite a dramatic change from previously never calling my number."
"Well, make this call number eighty-three. Look, I just need to be sure that you're sure that they are coming tonight at midnight, if that made any sense."
"Sadly enough, I understand what you mean. And yes, I am very sure. You definitely have some serious security issues. I know a good shrink…"
He cut her off to save himself from more derogatory wisecracks. "I'm serious, Mandella. It was just getting closer to the time and I had nothing to do so I thought that I might as well be sure I am not waiting for nothing. I just wanted to be absolutely, positively sure."
"Yes, yes! They are coming. Seriously, though, if you call again, I am not answering."
"Okay. Thank you. I promise I won't call again until after this whole ordeal is over."
"You do that," Mandella said before hanging up the phone, sincerely hoping that Mai and Kat would go through with it so she would be able to look at Patrick in school on Monday and have a good laugh.
~
The two girls neared the house, Mai driving the car and Kat in the passenger's seat of her own car, bag of supplies in hand. Patrick's apartment building came into view. The two girls were both anxious and excited at the same time, squeezing each other's hand to let out these feelings. Both girls were decked out in black with smudges of burnt cork under their eyes. It was Mai's suggestion to dress in this fashion; she had always wanted to pretend like she was in one of those secret-spy-type movies. She stopped the car in front of the building.
"You ready?" Mai asked Kat, because it looked as though Kat's lip would start bleeding any second if she didn't stop gnawing on it.
"Ready as I'll ever be," Kat muttered.
"Okay! Let's go then!" Mai cried, trying to pep Kat up.
~
Patrick glanced at the clock above the TV. 11:45. Better get 'to bed', Patrick thought. On normal nights, he wouldn't even be home until the wee hours of the morning. But tonight was very different than other Friday nights. Tonight he was on high alert. He refused to let them pull another fast one on him.
He headed for his room in the back of the apartment. He pulled off his long sleeved grey shirt over his head, exposing a slightly tanned, slightly defined stomach. He searched his room for the T-shirt from the Aerosmith concert he was at a few years back. His searched turned up fruitless, so he settled on the Letters to Cleo one that Kat bought him at the concert he wouldn't have gone to except for the fact that it was her birthday. They'll be coming soon, he reminded himself. He quickly slipped out of hid jeans and into a pair of worn flannel pajama bottoms, also from Kat.
Patrick then flopped onto his sorry excuse for a bed after flipping the light switch next to the door off. He tried to fight the sleep creeping under his eyelids, but for some reason, he was unable to and the sleep consumed him in a mere matter of seconds.
~
The two girls walked up to the entrance to the apartment building. Mai used the key from the spare set she snagged before she dragged her bag down the hall and out of the very building they were about to pay a visit to. They entered and crept up the flights of stairs, which eventually led them to the door marked 'E2' and the room behind the door that the two of them knew all too well. When they finally reached the door, Mai stuck a large, gold, old-fashioned key into its corresponding lock, turned it, and gave the door a small shove. It ceased to open. Mai whispered into the darkness, "Damn. Kat, can you hand me those huge plier-looking things?"
Kat agreed and did what she asked. She gulped loudly and glanced up and down the hall. No one. She breathed a small sigh of relief, but her body remained tense and her stomach persisted to flutter. Snap."What was that?" She turned towards Mai only to find the chain of the lock broken and the door swinging open to reveal the only slightly tidy apartment.
~
No more than thirty feet away, Patrick's ears picked up the same resounding snap and the creak of his rusty door opening. He stirred, confused in those moments of half-sleep where the realm of dreams and reality mesh. Patrick tried to respond to the noises coming from the front of the apartment and rub the drowsiness from his eyes, but a comforting wave of sleep washed over him. He rolled over and ignored the noise.
~
"Did you hear that?" Kat breathed loudly to Mai.
"You need to chill out. If anything, it was the oaf talking in his sleep. Calm down." Mai looked at Kat's face, finding it drained and color and with abnormally widened eyes. What is up with this chick?Mai pondered. She jumps at the tiniest sound and looks like a deer caught in headlights. Obviouslyshe's never done anything like this before. Mai grabbed Kat's shoulders. "Get a grip, okay? This is ridiculous! Just stop!" Kat's eyes continued to dart around. "I didn't want to do this but…" Smack!"Snap out of it!"
Kat blinked. "Thanks. I needed that." She shook her head, attempting to wipe out any feelings of fear creeping up inside her. "Let's do this." Yet, she could not shake the impression that something would go wrong tonight…
~
Once again, Patrick stirred. He heard whispers. Was he dreaming or were they here? He slipped into a more troubled and restless sleep, if that was at all possible.
~
Kat turned on a flashlight and led the way to Patrick's bedroom. She weaved through the clothes, empty soda cans, and bags that previously contained various snacks. She entered his bedroom through the open door. Kat walked over to his bedside and looked down at him. He looks so cherubic when he's sleeping…Oh, I miss him so much, she thought. Kat, suck it up. He hurt you and barely deserves to walk on the same planet as you, remember? She gave him one last look before turning around to face Mai. Kat signaled to Mai that everything was running smoothly and that Mai should finally expose the contents of the black bag slung over her shoulder. Mai understood and did, in turn, overturn the bag, spilling its contents all over Patrick's comforter.
~
Patrick ran and ran. He was out of breath. He didn't know where he was running to or what he was running from. He just knew he had to run. He heard a faint buzzing. He was running towards it- the buzz became louder and more defined. He felt something on his forehead, near his eyebrow. It tickled, as though it were a caterpillar crawling across his brow. He suddenly realized that he was dreaming. He shot his eyelids open to find Mai leaning over him. He saw Kat behind her. The two girls screamed and jumped in surprise. Using some surprisingly quick thinking, Patrick scurried across his bed and leaped at the door. He reached it before either of them.
"I've finally gotten you where I want you," he panted. "You both need to listen to me. No running away this time…" His speech trailed into a yawn. He stretched and Mai saw her opportunity. She dashed for the window. "Don't bother, the windows are barred."
"Damn it," she muttered under her breath.
"Now that you realize there is no escaping this room or the truth, let me properly introduce you two." Patrick was satisfied with the puzzled looks he was about to clear up. "Mai, this is Kat. Kat, this is Mai."
"Why does that sound familiar? Kat…" Mai pondered.
A/N: So… who was left hanging? I know I would be… except for the fact that I know what happens!! MWAH HA HA! But no worries… you will all find out in due time…
Charlotte ;)
