Summary: At the Manchester benefit Sebastian attends with Annette much to Kathryn's annoyance but the night ends with a surprising realization.
Authors Note: I'm going to post the first chapter to my new story Trip On Love, tomorrow. Let me know if you would like me to continue with this.
Chapter 5: The Dating Game
"So what do you think?"
"It's...big"
As Annette looked up at Sebastian she tried to hide her disappointment with a casual smile. They were standing in the great hall at Manchester Prep getting ready to go into the party. For some reason she had tricked herself into believing that maybe if Sebastian came back the place he had spent two years of his life he would remember something but sadly he hadn't. Annette silently scolded herself for thinking such a thing. After all he didn't even recognize his own home.
"So I went here, huh?" Sebastian asked as he walked up to the large staircase leading to the second floor. "It's bigger that Oakwood."
"Was that one of the school you got-"
"Kicked out of? Yeah one of many. Unfortunately that I do remember. Actually I'm rather surprised I managed to stay in this place for a whole two years." He gave her a charming smile as he suggested "maybe I matured."
Annette burst of laughing and Sebastian frowned "I'll take that as a no."
"Well let's just say that reputation of yours was still firmly in tact" she told him. "I think your family just got more...creative in keeping you in one school."
"I see" he nodded. "Well I don't know about you but I'm sick of living in the past. How about you and I go create some new memories."
Smiling she linked her arm with his and said "I'm all for that."
As they made there way into Manchester's large ballroom currently filled with well coifed students and faculty Annette began to feel as if her luck was changing. For starters there was just the fact that Sebastian had agreed to go to the party with her. Ever since he picked her up it seemed as though nothing had changed between them. He didn't recall the time they spent together but they didn't talk about the past. They also didn't talk about Kathryn which Annette was more than grateful for.
"I want a drink" Sebastian told her as he steered her arm towards the bar. "How about you?"
"I don't know" she told him hesitantly. "I don't really drink that often."
Leaning against the bar he looked down at her with an amused twinkle in his eye. "Annette, tell me the truth. Have you ever had a drink before?"
Annette knew Sebastian was experienced not with just women but with lots of other aspects of life that she wasn't. She didn't want to appear naive and unsophisticated but at the same time she didn't want to lie. Smiling bashfully she admitted "no not really, just wine and that was one time at my uncles wedding."
"Oh you're such a rebel" he teased. "Okay tell you what I am going to order you your first martini."
"You're only eighteen, they won't serve you alcohol at a school fundraiser."
"We'll see about that. Excuse me miss" he called out to the female behind the bar.
"Can I help you?"
Giving her his most charming smile he leaned in close to her and said "as a matter of fact you can. You see today is my cousins twenty first birthday and I want to buy her, her first official drink. However I am only eighteen so technically I can't buy it for her."
She nodded "I see."
"Would it be anyway possible for you to sell me the drink seeing as it's for her?"
The women looked between them and looked ready to say no when Sebastian whispered something in her ear causing her to giggle. "Okay but if anyone asks it wasn't me who sold it to you, okay?"
"Thanks baby, you're the greatest."
Watching as she fixed me a drink Annette asked her "can you make it two?"
Sebastian looked over at her impressed as the waitress handed them over the drinks. When she went to deal with another customer he picked up his glass and commended her "very nice. We make a good team."
Annette smiled as she clicked her glass against his "I always thought so."
She took a small sip and then winced at the sour taste that greeted her. Sebastian laughed "don't worry you'll get use to it."
"If you say so" she replied as she set her glass back down.
"Wait you have a little" reaching out Sebastian brushed his finger tips gently against her mouth. "There was some on your lip."
"Oh thanks"
They locked eyes and for a moment Annette felt as if no time had passed between them. However the moment was broken by the sound of a familiar voice "hey Annette."
She turned at the sound of her name to find Cecile Caldwell. Dressed in a long yellow gown Cecile still looked like the little girl Annette remembered. She liked her but she had the worst timing. Still she was polite "hello Cecile, you look very pretty."
"Thanks" she smiled as she awkwardly fiddled with the straps on her dress. "Oh this is my date Court."
Immediately Annette recognized his name from Sebastian's journal. Court was Kathryn's ex and the reason she set out to destroy Cecile. According to Sebastian the guy was really no prize but Annette smiled and pretended as if this was the first time they met "nice to meet you Court."
"You two" he smiled as he eyed her cleavage. "Hey Valmont, how are you feeling?"
"Just dandy" he replied sarcastically. Turning to Cecile he played with her name "Caldwell? I know that name from some where...oh yes now I remember. Your mother brought me a big fruit basket while I was in the hospital and then told me something about turning over a new leaf..."
Cecile shrugged "we were all worried about you Sebastian. I hope you get your memory back soon!"
Sebastian's eyes widened at her enthusiasm "yeah me too."
"Anyway Court and I were...oh my god!"
Annette noticed that Cecile's attention had suddenly drifted to something over her shoulder. "What is it Cecile?" she asked as she turned around.
However when she saw what she was staring at she realized what the problem was. It was Kathryn and her date for the evening, Ronald. They four of them watched as Ronald helped her take off her coat revealing her dress which was a very low cut, sophisticated black dress. Annette glanced at Sebastian and her heart fell when she noticed how he couldn't keep his eyes off of her. With a smirk he noted "that's my sis, always knows how to make an entrance."
"Kathryn always did known how to dress to impress" Court agreed as he leered at his ex.
"I don't understand" Cecile muttered in a soft voice. "What are they doing together?"
"Well apparently they've been seeing each other for some time now" Sebastian informed Cecile.
"Why would she do this?"
Annette turned around just in time to see Cecile's eyes fill with tears. From what she'd read in the journal it was clear Cecile was in love with Ronald and Kathryn knew this, yet had no qualms about seducing him. Annette couldn't believe the nerve of that girl to show up here with Ronald just to rub it in Cecile's face.
Court noticed the distraught look on his date's face and asked "is something the matter babe?"
"No" she wailed before turning and running to the ladies room.
"What's her deal?" Sebastian asked in a bored tone.
"I better go see if she's okay" Annette told him. "I'll be back in a minute."
Finishing his drink Sebastian told her "take your time. I'm just going to say hello to Kathryn."
* * * * * *
"Have you seen Cecile?"
Kathryn looked over at Ronald and tried to hide her disgust at his question. They had been there for all of a minute before he started talking about that stupid little wallflower. Still she did feel a pang of pity for him. Poor Ronald hadn't caught on yet that it wasn't going to ever happen between him and Cecile. Not while there was breath in her body anyway.
"No Ronald I'm sorry I haven't but Court is over there. I'm sure he knows where she is."
Frowning he asked "why would he know?"
Kathryn shrugged "they're seeing each other. I thought you knew."
"No I didn't" he replied as he glared over at his rival.
Ronald looked like he was about to go start something so Kathryn stepped in front of him and diverted his attention to her. "Cecile called me last night and told me. Apparently Court and her have been getting close but she was afraid to tell you..."
He nodded "I see."
"But I'm here" Kathryn told him with a seductive smile as she slid her arms around his neck. "Will I do?"
To her satisfaction Ronald smiled and pulled her closer to him. "Yeah you'll do. You known you're the most fantastic looking girl in the room right?"
She was about to return the compliment when a voice behind her said "I would tend to agree."
Kathryn turned around to find Sebastian standing behind her with a cool smile. For a moment she forgot Ronald was even there as she stared into her step brothers blue eyes. Since leaving the hospital a few days earlier things between her and Sebastian had been different. Instead of his usual snarky attitude towards her he was actually acting kind and considerate, worried even. Kathryn enjoyed this but at the same time couldn't be sure what it meant. She was afraid me might just be acting brotherly towards her but judging by the way he was staring at her there was nothing sibling like about it. He was staring at her in pure lust.
"Hello Sebastian" she purred. "I thought I might see you here. Where's your date?"
"She went to check on that Cecile girl in the bathroom. Apparently she's upset about something."
"I'm going to go see if she's okay" Ronald told me suddenly. "Nice to see you again Sebastian."
As she watched her date take off for the ladies room Kathryn scowled "thanks a lot."
"What did I say?"
"Nothing" she sighed "it just amazes me that even without your memory you still manage to fuck up my life."
Charging past him Kathryn walked over to a passing waiter and grabbed a glass of champagne. Watching her down it Sebastian warned "be careful you just got out of the hospital."
"Thank you I'm well aware of that. I don't need you policing my every move" she hissed in annoyance.
Sebastian flinched in response to her attitude and told her "fine I won't."
As he started to leave Kathryn realized what she was doing. After putting her glass down she grabbed at his arm "Sebastian I'm sorry. Believe it or not I don't mean to be a bitch."
"Well you could have fooled me" he sighed as his face relaxed into a smile. "How are you feeling anyway?"
Linking her arm in his they started to walk around the party. "I'm feeling fine though I was a little distressed with your choice for a date this evening."
Sebastian's face fell in mock shock "you mean you don't like Annette? I'm shocked!"
"Ha, ha" she grumbled. "I thought you didn't like Annette?"
He shrugged "I don't know she's not so bad. Once she lays off on talking about the past and all the love shit she's actually quite charming."
Kathryn scowled in response and stopped walking. Noticing the look on her face Sebastian asked "oh what is this, jealousy? Would you have rather I taken you to the party instead?"
"It might have been fun" she answered nonchalantly.
With a small smile Sebastian slid his hands on Kathryn's waist and stepped closer to her. While letting his fingers brush against her face he remarked "well I don't think that would have worked. If I came here...with you I don't think I would be able to keep my hands to myself and I think all the society matrons would frown upon such a thing."
Lost in the moment she whispered "screw 'em"
Kathryn started to lean in for a kiss when Annette suddenly appeared beside them. "There you are Sebastian."
Slowly he pulled away from Kathryn and smiled at his date "here I am. Is your friend okay?"
"Yeah" glaring at Kathryn suddenly she finished "she's just a little upset."
"Boo hoo" Kathryn replied.
Rolling her eyes Annette looked up at Sebastian and asked "would you like to dance?"
He looked back at his step sister before turning to Annette "sure I'd love one. See you later sis."
With a mixture of anger and annoyance Kathryn watched as Annette walked off to the dance floor and then into Sebastian's arms. They moved together elegantly on the dance floor with Sebastian occasionally whispering something in his date's ear that made her laugh. The whole scene sickened her. Kathryn was use to getting what she wanted whether it be awards or guys but this time she got the feeling she might not win in the end.
After watching the happy couple for awhile Kathryn grew annoyed and decided she needed air. She headed to the back balcony but was stopped in her tracks by some familiar voices. They belonged to her ex boyfriend Court and his whiny date Cecile.
"What the hell is going on between you and that Ronald guy?"
"Nothing!" Cecile whined as her voice started to break.
"Yeah right" Court roared. "That's why you started sobbing as soon as you saw him with Kathryn. Tell me the truth are you into him Cecile?'
Kathryn decided this was the perfect time to make her presence known. Walking up to the two of them she said "I think I can answer that for you Court."
He looked over at her in annoyance "fuck off Kathryn this is a private conversation."
"Fine I just thought you might be interested to know what you're little girlfriend has been up to this summer." She then turned and started to walk away.
Cecile looked at her confused as Court demanded "what are you talking about?"
Kathryn turned back around "well it seems little Cecile has been quite busy first with my brother and then Ronald. Of course poor Sebastian doesn't remember anything about their encounters in the country but Ronald certainly does. What do you think they were fighting about that morning in the street?"
Court's mouth fell open in shock as he looked over at Cecile horrified "you-you fucked Valmont and that Ronald guy? You told me last night was your first time."
Unable to help herself Kathryn chuckled "you actually believed you were conquering some uncharted territory, how pitiful Court. You must feel like such a loser."
"Shut up!"
At this point Cecile was once again crying "Kathryn how could you? You promised you would never tell!"
"I lied"
"So it is true?"
Court started to storm away but Cecile grabbed his arm and plead "please Court, I'm soo sorry!"
"Get off me whore!" he sneered pushing her away. "I can't believe you did this to me. You're so not who I thought you were!"
As he stalked back into the party Kathryn called out to him "oh don't worry Court I'm sure there are plenty of virgins left for you!"
Brushing her hand at the tears that were quickly falling down her face Cecile asked "why did you do that? I thought you were my friend."
"Yes, you did think that didn't you."
"Why are you acting like this!"
Taking a step towards her Kathryn whispered menacingly to her "because it's fun. Come on Cecile did you ever think I would really be friends with a loser like you? You are a no nothing, insipid little school girl just like all the other losers at this school. The only reason I even pretended to tolerate you was to get back at Court."
Shaking her head in disbelief Cecile muttered "all those things you made me do...you were just trying to hurt me?"
"Of course and look how well it all turned out! Not only with Court never have anything to do with you but now I have Ronald as well."
"You bitch!" Cecile screamed as she went to hit her.
Before she could make contact Kathryn grabbed her hand and pushed her away. "Don't EVER touch me you stupid cow."
Cecile's brown eyes went as wide as saucers "I'm going to tell everyone what you've done."
"Oh I don't think so." Stepping closer to her Kathryn explained "if you open your mouth about any of this I'll destroy you Cecile. You think you feel like shit now? You have no idea the kind of pain I can inflict on you. All it would take is a few well chosen words by me to totally turn your little world upside down. Since you are so incapable of keeping your mouth shut maybe I should go tell your mother what you've been up to."
"No!" Cecile yelled blocking Kathryn's exit. "Please don't tell her or she'll send me back to that all girls school."
"Then I guess someone is going to keep there mouth shut, aren't they?"
Nodding as tears fell down her face she complied "I won't say anything."
"Good girl, maybe you aren't as stupid as you look. I'll make sure to tell Ronald that when he's going down on me tonight."
Cecile's looked at her in horror before turning and running off of the balcony. As she did Kathryn clasped her hands together and laughed. Now not only did she get her revenge on Court but she had destroyed Cecile's chance at happiness as well. All she had to do was get rid of Annette and everything would be perfect.
Kathryn's moment of bliss was interrupted when she heard clapping coming from behind her. She whipped around in time to see Annette emerge from the shadows. "Well done" she muttered shaking her head. "You certainly have a knack for destruction don't you?"
"What can I say it's a gift. You on the other hand don't seem to have been blessed with the gift of fashion sense. What a horribly ugly dress you are wearing. Target?"
Ignoring her nasty comment Annette told her "go ahead be as cruel as you want to me. Nothing can change they way I feel tonight, thanks to Sebastian." When Kathryn flinched at her comment she smiled and continued on "we are just having the most amazing time together. It's like the accident never happened at all and everything is just how it was this summer."
"If you really believe that you are even more dellusional than I thought" Kathryn sneered.
"You can't stand it can you? Even with all your plotting and trying to keep the truth from him it still won't keep him away from me. In the end Sebastian still chooses me over you, just like Court and Ronald prefer Cecile to you. Huh, I'm curious Kathryn has anyone ever chosen you?"
For once Kathryn didn't have a sharp comeback. Instead she turned away from Annette and soon after the blond walked back to the party. Kathryn hated that she let her words get to her but they had because the truth of the matter was she knew she was right. No one ever chose her.
* * * * * *
At around midnight the benefit started to wind down. Kathryn had spent the evening dancing with Ronald and playing the perfect student in front of the parents and teachers. She was exhausted but what bothered her most of all about the evening was having to witness Annette with her hands all over Sebastian. In her defense it didn't appear like he was exactly having an awful time. In fact he looked quite content.
When she spotted the couple chatting up the headmaster Kathryn finally had enough so she excused herself from Ronald and went and had a cigarette. Annette's harsh words from earlier that evening continued to play in her head. As hard as Kathryn tried to shrug it off and tell herself that she didn't need anyone the truth stung. She had many conquests and boyfriends in her young life and yet not a single one of them ever really cared about her.
"Bad girl, you know you shouldn't be smoking that" whispered a teasing voice in her ear.
Turning her head Kathryn came face to face with Sebastian who had an amused grin on his face. "I'm living dangerously" she sighed.
"Well I think I'll do my good dead for the day and take that from you" he told her as he grabbed the cigarette and took a drag from it.
"That's noble of you Valmont."
Leaning against the balcony of the terrace he silently smoked his cigarette as he watched her. "Something's bothering you" he noted "care to share what it is?"
Kathryn shrugged "I'm fine."
"Oh you lie much better than that. Come on what is it?"
"Nothing for you to worry about. So tell me are you planning on going to bed with Blondie tonight?"
"Why?"
Trying to save face she lied and said "I'm just wondering if I should expect her at breakfast tomorrow. If so I can make sure to skip it."
Sebastian tossed his cigarette away as he asked "what is it between you two? Why do you hate her so much?"
"I hate girls like Annette" Kathryn told him as she sat beside him on the balcony. "Self righteous, insipid, little do gooders who think they are so above everyone else. I can't stand them and you use to feel the same way."
He nodded "I suppose you're right but I just don't think Annette is one of them."
In no mood to hear him defend the blond uber bitch Kathryn got up and huffed "fine do whatever you want."
"Hold on there" he said pulling her back to him.
Spinning around to face him Kathryn blurted out "I just don't think she is good enough for you."
Sebastian seemed surprised by the comment but he didn't say anything he just tilted his head at her and stared into her face. His silence was starting to make her nervous so Kathryn demanded "what?"
Slowly getting to his feet Sebastian cupped her face then asked her a question that left her completely floored. "Were we in love?"
Kathryn's green eyes went wide in surprise as she breathed "what?"
"I can't explain it...there's just this feeling that there was something between us." Sebastian's face was completely serious as he told her "I think I was in love with you."
Before Kathryn could respond Annette's voice was suddenly calling for Sebastian. "Sebastian are you out here? Sebastian?"
Breaking away from her he said "I have to go. I'll see you later at home."
She said nothing as she watched him disappear into the night. For once Kathryn Merteuil was shocked.
- to be continued (Please Review)