Summary: While Kathryn steals back the journal Annette becomes frustrated with Sebastian.
Chapter 3: The Battle Begins
"How are you feeling today?"
Looking up from his book, into Annette's hopeful blue eyes Sebastian shrugged "same as yesterday. A throbbing headache and everyone around me is a complete stranger. How are you?"
There was a slight grouchiness to his tone but Annette ignored it and smiled pleasantly "I'm fine. Is there anything I can get for you, anything that might make you feel better or help-
"Remember you?" Sebastian suggested with a trace of a smile "no nothings worked so far. I've talked with my family, friends, seen pictures, talked with the psychiatrist, but nothing has helped."
"Oh" she muttered disappointedly as she looked down at her hands. "Well maybe I could tell you about how we met. Maybe it might help trigger something."
The last thing Sebastian was up for was another round of remember when. Everyone who had come to visit him seemed to try to jog his memory with a story. Annette hadn't yet but just her presence was starting to get to him. She walked around his hospital room with this sad, hopeful look on her face. It was like she was hoping that any minute her boyfriend would come back to her.
Still she had been kind to him even though he had mostly been an asshole to her since he woke up, so Sebastian decided to humor her. "Sure what the hell, give it a shot."
Smiling Annette pulled her chair closer to his bed "well we met at your aunt Helen's over the summer."
"Yeah I know, Kathryn told me."
She winced at this piece of news. Kathryn had told her she talked about her but Annette couldn't be sure if she was telling the truth. "What else did Kathryn tell you?"
He shrugged "just that you and I were involved, we slept together and then I broke up with you."
Sebastian spoke in a bored, matter of fact tone that stung Annette. He acted so flippant about it as if it was just another boring story he had been told. However she tried to be patient "well it was a little more complicated than that."
"So I didn't break up with you?"
"Um, yes you did but-
"You're having trouble excepting it."
"No!" Annette said getting suddenly frustrated. "Look you broke up with me but only because of Kathryn."
"Kathryn?"
"Yes she made you break up with me."
Sebastian shook his head "why would Kathryn make me break up with you? Was I involved with her?"
"Not really. Sebastian we were in love. You wrote me a letter and told me being with me was the only time you've ever been truly happy. We made each other happy and Kathryn hated that. She was jealous you wanted me over her."
"Ok if you say so."
Annette sighed "what you don't believe me?"
"Is there a reason I should take your word against my sister's?"
"Yes, your step sister is a liar and a manipulator!"
He shrugged still unconvinced "says you."
Getting up from her seat Annette shook her head at him. She couldn't believe how incredibly arrogant he was being. Did he honestly think Kathryn was sweet and good and on his side or was he too busy lusting after her to care? Either way Annette was getting fed up. "Sebastian you have no idea who Kathryn really is or what she's capable of but I don't want to fight with you anymore. Not when you're still in the hospital."
"Whatever" he grumbled.
"How about some water? The doctor says you need to keep drinking so you don't get dehydrated."
"No thanks"
However Annette ignored his protests and poured him a glass anyway. As she was filling up his cup Sebastian tried to push it away "I said no thanks."
Sebastian pushed a little too hard and the pitcher slipped from Annette's grasp. The water spilled all over him and he cursed loudly "oh fuckkkk! Jesus Christ thanks a lot!"
"I'm sorry" she said as she started trying to dry him off.
Having reached his tolerance quotient for the day Sebastian snapped "knock it off, I'm fine!"
Annette recoiled from him as a tear fell down her face. "I can't do this anymore" she sighed angrily as she slammed the pitcher down on the bed side table. "I need to get out of here." Over come with hurt and her own frustration Annette stormed out of the room.
Sebastian sighed and half heartedly called out to her "Annette, wait I'm sorry."
When she ignored him he sighed and looked back down at his wet hospital gown. "That's just perfect."
* * * * * *
"Excuse me, what floor are the McGregor's on?"
Normally the doorman was not allowed to give out information on the tenants. However one look into Kathryn's smiling face and one look down her blouse which was showing ample cleavage that day, and he smiled "apartment 3F on the sixth floor ma'am."
"Thank you" she replied sweetly before turning back to Blaine and promptly dropping the smile. "Let's go."
As they stepped onto the elevator Blaine removed his shades and asked "what happening to breaking and entering? We can't very well do that if you're chatting up the doorman."
"Change of plan, they're home so I'm just going to have to talk my way inside."
Blaine groaned at the prospect of having to make small talk with some society matron. "Can't we just wait till she leaves and then you can show the manager your tits or something to let us in."
Rolling her eyes Kathryn turned to him "no I need that damn journal now. The longer it's in the little witch's possession, the greater chance she'll show it to Sebastian." Smiling up at him she straightened his jacket and explained "look I will do all the talking. All you have to do is get into her room and snatch the journal. Then we'll get the hell out of here, ok?"
"Fine" he sighed "the things I do for you."
When they reached the sixth floor they found the apartment with no trouble and Kathryn knocked. After a moment an attractive middle age blond wearing Armani answered the door "yes can I help you?"
"Mrs. McGregor? I'm Kathryn Merteuil the student body president at Manchester Prep and this is my assistant Blaine Tuttle. Since the school year is starting up again in a few days the dean has asked me to come by and welcome all the school committee members." It was such a good lie Kathryn even surprised herself.
Smiling brightly the women said "yes of course! Come in"
As she turned to let them in Blaine turned to Kathryn and mouthed "assistant?" Kathryn only shrugged at him and stepped into the apartment. It was very lovely and modern making her wonder how these people were friends with a bunch of hicks from Kansas.
"Kathryn I'm so sorry to hear about your brother. Annette has been just devastated. She's barely left the hospital since his accident."
"Yes I know" she replied trying to mask the annoyance in her voice. "Annette is so dedicated to him, it's very touching."
"She really is a remarkable girl" Mrs. McGregor agreed. "She's like a daughter to Henry and I. Sebastian is making progress though, right?"
"Yes he'll be leaving the hospital in a few days, although sadly he hasn't retained his memory yet."
"Such a tragedy" she sighed. Brightening suddenly she asked "so tell me how is the committee coming along for the Manchester benefit?"
Kathryn signaled to Blaine with her eyes and he quickly got the hint. "Ma'am I was wondering if you had a bathroom I could use?"
"Yes of course, down the hall and to your left."
"Thank you" he replied.
Blaine smirked over at Kathryn as he disappeared down the hall and started looking through rooms. He finally found what looked like the guest room and went inside closing the door behind him discreetly. The room was plain but elegant. A couple of suitcases and some clothes in the closet, that was it.
Looking around the room Blaine muttered to himself "where would I hide a journal if I was Annette?"
He went with his first instinct and felt under the mattress. Sure enough there is was. Picking up the leather bound book Blaine grinned "I'm an idiot so of course I would hide it in the most obvious spot." Shaking his head he pocketed it in his jacket as he walked out the door. However he didn't notice as the letter Sebastian had written Annette fell from the journal and landed on the ground.
Blaine made his way back to the living room where he could still hear Kathryn sweet talking Mrs. McGregor. When he came into the room Kathryn looked up and he quickly flashed the journal at her. Turning back to their host she said "thank you so much for your time and the check. I'm sure the faculty and students will very much appreciate it."
"Well I'm glad I could help."
Getting to her feet Kathryn inched towards the door "we have to be going now, but I'll keep in touch. Give Annette my best won't you."
"Of course dear, good bye."
When they were safely out in the hall Kathryn said "hand it over."
Blaine gave it to her and they walked over to the elevator and got in. "Aren't you worried she'll tell Annette we stopped by? She'll know you snagged the journal."
Kathryn laughed "I hope she does. Poor little Annette will never see it again and neither will Sebastian."
The two exited the building and got into Sebastian's jag. Since he wouldn't be driving it any time soon Kathryn decided she would. It was a waste to let it just sit there in the garage. As Kathryn started the car up Blaine asked "aren't you going to read it? I know you're dying to."
She was but at the same time she dreaded it. Sebastian had always held his journal above her head for years, taunting her with it. However if Annette was right and he did write a bunch of nasty things about her she wasn't sure she wanted to read it. "I'll look at it later. Right now I have to go pay a visit to Sebastian with the family."
Sliding his sunglasses back on Blaine commented "well it appears everything has worked out to your advantage."
"Yes it has and I fully intend for it to stay that way."
* * * * * *
"So how are you feeling son? Anything come back to you yet?"
With a tight smile Sebastian replied for what seemed like the fortieth time that day "no dad not a thing."
"Well give it time. Eventually it will all come back."
"Yes the doctor seems pretty confident that it will" Tiffani Merteuil chimed in. "Or at least that's what he claims. Who knows with these physicians."
Sebastian glared over at his new step mother. He could remember nothing about her yet he was more than certain he most likely hated her. The women was pure bitch through and through and for the life of him Sebastian couldn't see what his father saw in the women. She was beautiful but utterly vacant.
"Sebastian will be fine" Kathryn spoke up. "If everyone would just stop pestering him to remember."
Sebastian looked up at his step sister and smiled. She was sitting next to him on the bed with her arm draped around him protectively. Occasionally her fingers would interlock with his and she would rub just slightly up against him. To anyone observing the two it looked completely innocent when in reality it was anything but.
As their parents began to bicker about different doctors Sebastian observed her admiringly. There was something about Kathryn, aside from her beauty that he found so appealing. Every time she walked into the room a strange thrill coursed through his body. Sebastian knew he must have felt something for Kathryn in those two years he known her. However he couldn't be sure if it was just an intense lust or something more.
"Maybe Sebastian's had enough visitors for one day" Kathryn suggested when their bickering parents started to get on both their nerves. "We should probably get going."
"Yes I'm very tired" Sebastian agreed with mock seriousness.
"All right son, we'll talk to you later."
Edward and Tiffani started to leave and Kathryn started to follow after them until Sebastian grabbed her hand pulling her back "and where do you think you're going?"
She smiled "I thought you needed your rest?"
"Not yet, now why don't you be a good sister and come over here and give your sick brother a sponge bath."
Kathryn walked over to him and ran her hand down his hospital gown that was still a little wet. "Looks like you've already had one. What's the matter Sebastian, having bladder control issues?"
"Yeah that's cute. No I got water spilled on me, by Annette."
Kathryn scowled as she walked over and got him a clean gown "clumsy bitch."
"My, my you two really don't like each other do you?"
She sighed "what was your first clue?"
Sebastian sat up as Kathryn pulled the wet material off of him. "Well she told me to watch my back around you. According to her you are a liar and a manipulator."
She stopped what she was doing and looked up at him "she doesn't know what she's talking about Sebastian. I barely know the girl, how could she know anything about me."
"Don't worry Kathryn. I know you're a manipulative liar." For a brief moment Kathryn was momentarily worried Sebastian had remembered what she'd done to him or Annette had managed to turn him against her. However as he stood up he pulled the hospital gown off and stood over her naked. His hand then came out and stroked her hair as he told her "I wouldn't have it any other way."
A sly smile formed over her lips as she replied "good."
Taking a step towards him, Kathryn pressed herself into him just slightly before pushing him back on the bed. She slid the clean material over him and then leaned over him to tie it. As she pulled away Kathryn's check brushed against his and she whispered "I missed you."
Sebastian smiled "as strange as it sound I think I missed you as well."
They stared at each other a second before Sebastian got back in bed. "So" Kathryn asked "how are things really with Annette?"
He rolled his eyes "I don't know, she's starting to get to me."
"Meaning?"
"All this stuff about us being so in love, I don't know she's just really intense about it and she's always here..."
"Well you're coming home soon and she can't bother you there. I'll make sure of it, in fact I'll make it my personal mission to keep Annette away from you."
"Good" Sebastian replied as he eyed Kathryn. He realized then she was most definitely up to something and he looked forward to finding out what it was.
* * * * * *
Annette was at a loss. Standing in the hospital corridor she looked through the doorway and spotted Kathryn and Sebastian talking intimately. After she ran out of his room a few hours ago she had come back to apologize for losing her temper. However she stopped in her tracks when she saw them together. Briefly she thought about bursting in and interrupting but what was the point? In the end Kathryn would win.
Turning around she left the hospital defeated. She was exhausted from staying up for nearly four nights straight, but she was also emotionally exhausted. In the past month she had been on a roller coaster ride of up's and down's all because of Sebastian. Part of her hated him for doing this to her, for making him fall in love with her. Then again at the same time she wouldn't trade what she felt for him for all the world.
Although she was tired she didn't want to do back to the McGregors. She needed to talk with someone and although Alice was nice she wouldn't understand. The only other friend she had in the city outside of Sebastian and Greg was Carly Russell who was from the same Kansas town as Annette. Maybe talking with Carly would make her feel better.
Carly and her family lived in a small apartment in the village. When she arrived she knocked on the door and was greeted by her friend "Annette, hey what are you doing here?"
Annette hugged her "I've just had an awful day. I needed to talk to someone."
They went into the living room and sat down. "Is this about Sebastian?"
"Of course" Annette replied with a humorless chuckle. "What else? God I'm such an idiot Carly. I never should have gotten involved with him. I mean I knew who he was from the beginning but I fell for him anyway. Then he treats me like crap and I am still willing to give him a second chance."
"Annette what happened? Did Sebastian get his memory back?"
"No is hasn't. I thought if I was around him a lot I could maybe help jog his memory or something but all it's doing is pissing him off. I swear its like this whole summer and our relationship never happened. When he looks at me he sees nothing, just another stranger."
"Well that's probably true with everyone he's coming in contact with. Maybe he just needs time to adjust."
Annette shook her head "no it's not that. You should see the way he looks at Kathryn. He doesn't remember her but it's like he does in someway. Like they have some connection."
"That's crazy" Carly told her "you're the one he's in love with."
"Was in love with. I don't know, I think I'm just going to let him go. Move on with my life."
"Ok, now you know I was never a big fan of you getting involved with this guy. I hated the idea of a guy like Sebastian using you but the thing is Annette if you love him, really love him then you should fight for him. The doctors said there was a chance his amnesia was only temporary right? In a few days or a little longer he might remember. Do you really want to take the chance of losing what you had with him forever?"
Absorbing everything she said Annette shook her head "no I don't."
"Well then I think you know what you should do."
Slowly Annette smiled "I won't give him up Carly."
"Good"
Annette said good-bye to her friend and left her apartment with a new sense of power. She would bring Sebastian back, the boy she had fallen in love with and nothing could stop her. Kathryn better prepare for the fight of her life because there was no way she would let her have him!
- to be continued (Please Review)