Summary: Kathryn concocts a plan to spend the holiday with Sebastian and keep Annette away.
Chapter 7: Labor Day Weekend
"What the hell am I going to do?" Kathryn sighed.
"Uh huh" Blaine muttered back to her absent mindedly. At the moment he was too ensconced with the latest issue of Vanity Faire to pay any attention to Kathryn's latest set of problems.
Sensing she was getting less than his full attention she hissed "Blaine."
Still reading his magazine he asked her in his most serious tone of voice "do you think that's Tom Cruise's real ass or do you think he got implants? Because I was thinking-"
"BLAINE" she shrieked across the limo causing him to look up at her immediately in alarm. "Try and focus or you can walk the rest of the way home."
"Fine, fine no need to get so huffy" he sighed while reluctantly closing his magazine. "You have my attention, what's the problem?"
Kathryn rolled her eyes annoyed she had to go over the whole thing again. When she had picked up Blaine after his date or whatever you want to call it, at the museum, she thought she could finally unload on someone what had been going on with her the past few days. Unfortunately Blaine had the attention span of a two year old when it came to listening to other people's problems. Still Kathryn was in desperate need of advice even if it came from Blaine. "Okay everything between Sebastian and me was going fine. Everything was like it was before the start of the summer except even better. I totally had him eating out of the palm of my hand."
"So far I don't see the problem."
"The problem is that mousy little hick. Her and Sebastian have been spending a LOT of time together lately, in fact I've barely seen him this past week. To top it off she's been filling his head with all this crap about me betraying him in the past. Now Sebastian thinks I'm hiding something."
Blaine laughed "well you are."
"Yeah but he doesn't remember so there's no point in him ever finding out" Kathryn huffed.
"Has he asked about the journal yet?"
"Yeah" she replied as she immediately flashed back to that afternoon when Sebastian returned from him date with Annette. He had grabbed her and demanded to know what she was hiding. Kathryn had just given him a short retort about his paranoia and told him Annette's accusations were bullshit. After pulling out of his grasp she got the hell out of there and barely talked with him since.
Pulling her from her thought Blaine suggested "maybe you should just tell him the truth. Give him back the journal and-"
"Are you out of your fucking mind!" Kathryn hollered. "If he reads that damn thing he'll hate me and go back to Annette. Not to mention he would probably want to retaliate somehow. With the school year approaching god knows what he would do."
"Well you did ask for my opinion"
Softening just a little she asked "if he found out what I did do you honestly think Sebastian would just forgive and forget?" Blaine looked over at her like he was going to say something then stopped. When he purposely avoided her eyes Kathryn replied "see? You know I'm right. Now in order to keep Sebastian from turning into another love sick moron I'm going to have to keep him away from that goody-goody little bitch for awhile. Any suggestions?"
Blaine put his finger to his lips in thought. "Hmm...maybe if you could find something else to occupy her time other than our boy."
Kathryn's face lit up at the idea as she told him "or someone."
"What like a guy?"
"No" she said shaking her head "that's far too obvious. She would see that coming from a mile away. No I have a much better idea" she grinned while pulling out her cell phone. She dialed information and when the operator came on she asked "yes could I have the address of a Carly Russell in Manhattan please...okay...thank you."
Hanging up the phone Kathryn turned around and told the driver "9th and Second Avenue."
Sitting up suddenly Blaine asked "why are we going to the East Village, I thought we were going home? What are you up too?"
With a sneaky grin Kathryn leaned forward and told him her plan as the limo headed east. Blaine agreed that it was somewhat genius but that it could also blow up in her face. Kathryn preferred to think positively as she knew this might be the only way to keep Sebastian from finding out the truth, at least for the time being.
When the limo pulled up to the Russell apartment located over a deli Kathryn called out to him "wish me luck."
"Good luck, I hope you know what you are doing."
"I always do"
She headed into the modest but well kept apartment and found the Russell's place located on the third floor. After knocking she waited patiently until a teenage girl with soft brown hair answered the door. Before she could say anything Kathryn put on her best fake smile and said "hello you don't know me but I'm Kathryn Mer-"
"I know who you are" the girl replied the disdain obvious in her voice. "What do you want?"
It then occurred to her that Annette had probably told Carly all about her. Well that might make what she had to do a little more difficult but not impossible. Stepping between the door frame and the door she told her "I'm here to offer you the opportunity of a lifetime. Are you interested?"
* * * * * *
"No that's fine Annette, I understand" Sebastian murmured into the phone a few days later.
"Are you sure?" she asked for the second time. "I mean I know we had plans and everything but Carly really needs me. She doesn't want to go pick up her grandmothers belongings by herself so she asked me. I really want to be there for her since she was such a great friend to me when my mother passed away."
Sebastian was a little irritated at being blown off. He knew if he really wanted too he could guilt trip Annette into dropping her friend but he decided against it. Even though he didn't feel the supposed love he once felt for her, he did care for Annette. Curbing his annoyance he told her "yes it's all right we can go to the beach another time."
"Yeah but I was really looking forward to this" she sighed. "I much rather be spending labor day with you rather than on a train to Schenectady with Carly."
Taking a seat behind his desk he lit up a cigarette and told her "well there's always Columbus day."
Annette laughed "I suppose you're right. So what are you going to do then?"
"Probably just stay at home...and think of you." Or perhaps he thought to himself, maybe he'd call up that masseur Ingrid and have some fun. Of course he kept this idea to himself and told her "call me if you get the chance. Bye Annette."
"Bye Sebastian."
As he hung up the phone he realized he wasn't alone. Even with his back turned to the door Sebastian knew she was there. He waited a beat before casually calling out "well are you going to linger in the doorway all morning Kathryn or are you going to actually come in?"
He turned to see Kathryn standing outside his room with a sly smile on her face. She was dressed in a beautiful, sexy cream colored dress that showed off just enough of her trim body. "I'm not lingering" she told him.
"Okay eavesdropping then. I take it you heard my plans with Annette got canceled."
"Really? That's such a shame" she told him not bothering to hide her smile. Arms behind her back she began to saunter up to the desk where she took a seat in front of him. Making it a point to cross her tan legs knowing he wouldn't be able to keep his eyes off her she purred "then you're free for this weekend?"
Sebastian gazed at her legs thinking about how nice they would look wrapped around his body. He knew Kathryn was up to something and purposely trying to tantalize him but he found himself falling for it none the less. For the past few days he had been ignoring Kathryn and she seemed to be making it a point to avoid him, all because he knew she was hiding something from him. Annette had told him no more about what had happened in the past between them but he still wanted to know the truth. Sebastian hated the feeling that he was being played somehow by Kathryn. He was no one's fool least of all hers.
Prying his eyes from her body he looked up at her and replied "yes I suppose I am."
"Good" she said brightly. "Then you can come with me to the Caldwells party on Martha's Vineyard."
Getting up from his seat he laughed "no way!"
Kathryn spun around on the desk and grabbed him by the tie. "Oh please Sebastian! Since mother and your father are out of town, yet again, she's making me go in her place. I'm not going to that dreadful party with those boring people all by myself."
He leaned in closer to her and told her smugly "well it appears you are because there's no way in hell I'd go waste one of the last days of summer hanging out at some boring social function."
"Yes you are" she ordered tugging on his tie harder. "If you don't I might end up doing something drastic and then you'd have to save me again..."
Losing his smile Sebastian pulled away from her. "Don't ever use what happened to you in the hospital to blackmail me Kathryn" he ordered her coldly. "I'm not one of your toys."
He turned away from her and was about to walk out of the room all together when she called out softly "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it."
"Whatever" he muttered.
Kathryn got off the desk and walked over to him. "I've barely seen you all week, haven't you missed me?"
"No"
"Liar" she grinned. "Come on don't make me beg."
Cracking a smile Sebastian stepped closer to her and ran a hand through her soft dark tresses. "Why not? I like it."
"If you come with me I'll give you something in return."
That offer had some definite possibilities. The tough part would be deciding if he wanted information or something sexual. Deciding that he rather spend the day with Kathryn than in bed with Ingrid he caved "all right I'll go but I plan of holding you up to that promise."
She eyed him dubiously "what do you want?"
"I don't know I have to think it over."
"You do that" she whispered as she took a step closer until their mouths were only centimeters apart. Kathryn moved in like she was going to kiss him but instead she licked his bottom lip and laughed seductively "I'm going to go get ready."
As he watched her leave still perplexed as ever with her, he sighed "it's off to the country we go then."
* * * * * *
"Thanks again for doing this Annette" Carly told her friend as she looked away from the window.
Annette had been reading for most of the trip so far since Carly hadn't really felt like talking. She guessed her friend was probably still upset about the death of her grandmother even though it was nearly a month ago. Looking up at her she smiled "of course I'd come. I know how difficult it is to pack up a loved one's things but you never told me, how come your parents aren't doing it?"
Carly's brown eyes avoided Annette as she murmured "it's just still painful to my mother and daddy is too busy at work to take the time off. The real estate agent is getting ready to sell her house so she asked that we clear it out as soon as possible. I guess all of us have been putting it off for too long because this weekend is the last chance to do it."
Annette nodded understandingly "well I'm glad you asked me to help. I'd hate for you to have to go through this alone. I'm just sorry I had to cancel my plans with Sebastian but he understands."
Still not looking at her Carly asked "things with you and Sebastian are going well then?"
"Yeah" she gushed. "In fact they couldn't be better. He still doesn't remember any of our past together but I don't know...it's like it doesn't matter somehow. I know he cares about me and wants a relationship. Plus it helps that Kathryn hasn't been around much lately."
"That's great Annette, it's just..."
Annette moved over to her friends side and asked "what is it Carly?"
"Well do you really want to spend the rest of your life with some guy hoping that he will remember what you once had? I mean even if you got close again you would always be comparing your past relationship to the present one. I'm just afraid that in the end you'll be disappointed. I don't want to see you get hurt again by this guy Annette. You deserve so much better."
Recoiling from her friend she said "wait, just a few weeks ago you were telling me if I love Sebastian I would fight for him. Now you're saying to let him go?"
"I just think you are better off without him. It seems pretty obvious from what you've told me that he still isn't over whatever he had with Kathryn."
"Where is this coming from?"
Carly looked over at her friend and shook her head sadly. "I knew I probably shouldn't have said anything."
Annette shrugged "it's okay I value your opinion."
The two girls said nothing for a moment just wrestled with their own thoughts. Carly was acting very strangely. At first Annette had thought it was just on account of her being sad over her grandmother but now she was starting to suspect it was something else. Before she could ask her about it Carly rose up "I'm going to go get some coffee. You want anything?"
"No thank you" she replied softly as she watched her friend leave. Looking out the window at the quickly passing scenery Annette began to get a bad feeling. Something was most definitely going on and whatever it was, it wasn't good.
* * * * * *
Meanwhile four hundred miles away in Martha's Vineyard, Sebastian and Kathryn sat on a row boat in the middle on the lake that surrounded the Caldwell summer home property. Still dressed in her elegant cream colored dress Kathryn now wore a pair of black Jackie O. sunglasses as she reclined back in the old boat while Sebastian rowed. Stopping for a moment to loosen his tie he glared at his step sister and asked "why the fuck are we doing this again?'
Looking over at him she sighed "would you rather be over there partying with them?"
Sebastian glanced to his left at the party that was going on under the white tents. They were filled with all the Caldwells wealthy boring friends. As soon as they arrived every one had been swarming Sebastian asking him about his accident and if he remembered anything. They then all began launching into anecdotes of the past as if it might trigger something in him. Finally Kathryn had gotten him away then suggested they take a ride on one of the Caldwells boats. Sebastian had agreed not knowing it would be a row boat. Still it was better than hanging out with all his parents annoying friends.
Picking up the oars he began to row again as he told her "I see your point."
As he rowed them out farther from the party Sebastian eyed Kathryn. Balancing back on her hands with her body spread out so the sun would wash over her she looked quite lovely. Sensing he was watching her she looked over at him and smiled "what?"
"Nothing I was just admiring you sis."
Her grin widened "admire away."
When they were far enough away that no one on land could really see them and he was sure Kathryn couldn't make a run for it he stopped rowing. Tapping her leg with the side of his foot to get her attention Sebastian told her "I've decided what I want."
With a tired sigh Kathryn sat up "what are you talking about?"
"Kathryn you're too smart to play dumb" he chided her. "Now I've decided what I want in exchange for coming with you on this little holiday from hell. Ask me what it is?"
Assuming it was something sexual Kathryn sat up and leaned in closer to him. In a husky voice she asked "Sebastian what do you want?"
He leaned in as if to kiss her but instead told her "I want my journal back."
Backing away from him, her smile fell as she replied coldly "well I don't have it."
"Well I think you're lying" he shot back angrily. "I did keep a journal Kathryn that much I remember."
She shrugged "I never said you didn't but I don't have it."
"Annette seems to think you do."
Yanking her sunglasses from off her face Kathryn screamed back "so what you believe her word over mine now is that it? Well fuck you! I don't have your god damn journal, she does! You gave it to her and she's just..." Kathryn began to trail off when she realized what she just said.
His blue eyes studying her intensely she suddenly realized he had trapped her. "Kathryn why would I hand Annette over my journal if I didn't really care about her?"
Trying to backpedal her way out of the hole she dug Kathryn replied "how the hell should I know. You probably just wanted to get back at me for something. God I'm sick of talking about this, it's in the past. Who cares?"
"I care because it's my past."
"It's over with Sebastian. We can't change anything." Sliding her glasses back on she told him "I want to go back to the party now. Row us back to shore."
"No not until you start giving me some answers."
"Fine then I'll row" she hissed grabbing for the oars. However Sebastian grabbed them away from her and shook his head. "Damn it just hand them over so we can get out of here and get this miserable day over with."
"No" he laughed.
Grabbing onto the oar he held tightly in his grasp Kathryn began to fight with him over it. The two were pulling and moving so much the boat began to sway and then it suddenly capsized. Kathryn was the first to fall into the cold water with Sebastian following soon after. Rising to the surface Kathryn shrieked "you son of a bitch! Look what you did to my new dress!"
Sputtering out water Sebastian snarled "me? You're the one who insisted of fighting over the fucking oar!"
"Because you wouldn't give it to me!" She yelled back having to stand on her toes just to keep her head above water. Looking down at her now drenched dress she grumbled "this is all your fault."
"No it's yours" he bellowed back this time splashing her.
Blocking her face she ordered "stop it!"
"Or you'll what?" Kathryn responded by splashing him back. "Oh that's mature" Sebastian told her before he started splashing at her.
The two of them then started splashing and spitting water at each other furiously. After a moment Sebastian began to laugh at the absurdity of the situation and Kathryn followed suit. They stopped with the water works and just laughed at one another. Her laughter dying down Kathryn stared down at her dress and sighed wistfully "I really liked this dress."
Sebastian circled her and splashed her playfully "I'll buy you a new one."
Smiling Kathryn started to walk towards him only the ground underneath her sloped downward and she was immediately under water again. A moment later Sebastian's arms circled her and he picked her up. "I got you" he said.
Wrapping her arms around his neck she whispered "yes you do."
Using one hand to hold her Sebastian's other hand came up and cupped her face. He was going to say something to her but decided against it and instead just kissed her. Kathryn eagerly returned it completely forgetting about where they were or who could be watching.
* * * * * *
Cecile was completely bored out of her mind. Instead of hanging out at the beach on the last day of summer with her friends like she wanted to, she had to attend her parents boring party. Not only was she the youngest person there but there was hardly anyone else even near the same age as her attending. Her cousin Heather, who was a few years older went off with there pool boy Marco to one of the bedrooms. The only other two young people to attend were Kathryn and Sebastian. Neither of which she wanted to talk to.
When Kathryn had arrived her mother had gushed about how great she was and how Cecil should strive to be just like her. She wanted to tell her mother so badly what Kathryn was really like but even Cecile wasn't naive enough to think that her mother would really believe her word over Kathryn's. So instead Cecile pretended to be polite but then made a face at her enemy behind her mothers back. Both Kathryn and Sebastian just laughed at this and walked away.
Looking around the party now Cecile noticed she hadn't seen the step siblings in quite some time. Maybe they decided to leave. She wished she could just leave without getting grounded until winter break. Getting up suddenly from the group of adults she was sitting with Cecile walked over to the table of food set up and perused something to eat.
It was there she spotted a pair of binoculars sitting out next to the caviar. Shrugging her shoulders, desperately in need of any sort of entertainment Cecile picked them up and started looked around. She looked out at the lake but all she saw was a few ducks and geese. Frowning Cecil started to put them back when something caught her eye. Far out on the lake she spotted one of their row boats turned over which was odd since no one had used any all summer.
Then she saw them, Kathryn and Sebastian in the water with their clother on wrapped in a tight embrace. However they were doing more than just hugging, as Cecile adjusted the lens on the binoculars she realized they were making out. "Oh my god" she whispered in shook watching in fascination at they kissed and grouped each another. Cecile couldn't believe her eyes after all they were step siblings!
"Cecile dear what are you looking at?"
At the sound of her mothers voice Cecile spun around and thought fast, a first for her. "Um, nothing. I was just looking for swans."
"Well put those down" her mother ordered pulling the binoculars away from her. "There's some people I have to introduce you to. They are very important at Manchester and I think they can help you..."
As her mother babbled on Cecile pretended like she was listening but really she was just thinking about what she witnessed. She decided against telling her mother about it. Instead she had to find a way to use this against Kathryn. In the short time she had been friends with Kathryn she had learned a few things and one of them was how to be sneaky. Ceceil was going to make sure Kathryn would regret ever teaching her that particular lesson.
* * * * * *
Back at the lake, the only thing occupying Sebastian's thoughts was the girl wrapped around him. As their tongues explored each others mouths his hands explored her body. Kathryn's new dress was now soaked and sticking to her like a second skin. The way her body was grinding into him it felt as if she wasn't wearing anything at all.
Breaking from her mouth Sebastian started to kiss her neck as Kathryn tugged at his hair and moaned emphatically "Sebastian..ahh.."
He kissed his way down her wet skin while her body pressed into him causing his hard groin to strain against the fabric of his pants. Glancing up at her briefly he grinned as he slid the thin strap of her dress down her shoulder. Kathryn's left breast popped out and Sebastian immediately moved his mouth down to her aureole and flicked his tongue against it. Titling her head back as she clutched his shoulder Kathryn let out a loud groan. Taking that as a good sign Sebastian latched on to her hard nipple and hungrily sucked on her tit while massaging the other breast.
"Fuck" she whispered still grinding against him. "Sebastian we can't..."
Far too hard and horny to listen to reason he murmured to her "we already are."
Cupping her face yet again Sebastian crushed his lips against hers. Kathryn kissed him back but then forcefully pushed him away "no someone will see. We're too close to the house."
"Kathryn" he groaned pulling her back to him.
She only laughed as she swam out of his grasp and back to the boat. "Come on help me get back in."
Pouting like a little boy who was refused a toy at the toy store Sebastian grumbled "get in yourself."
Turning to face him she wrapped her arms around his neck and asked "what's your problem?" Not waiting for an answer Kathryn let her hand travel down his body until it rested on his hard groin. "Oh I think I found it."
"Very cute" he growled with a fake smile. "You're not playing fair."
Kissing him once again softly on the mouth she let her mouth linger down to his ear. "Tell you what" she whispered squeezing his dick. "If you can behave until we get home, I'll give you a reward."
He rolled his eyes "fine." Sebastian turned the boat right side up and then hoisted Kathryn back inside. As he gathered up the oars he asked "so what is this so called reward?"
With a twinkle in her eye she replied "in English, I'll fuck your brains out."
A slow grin came upon his face as he was about to throw back a witty reply but then like a flash something came rushing back to him. It was a memory:
"What are the terms?"
Standing in her bedroom with a wicked glint in her eye Kathryn began to walk back towards her bed as she explained "if I win, that hot little car of yours, mine."
"And if I win?"
She pulled off the black jacket she was wearing to reveal a cream colored bustie that showed off her pert tits. "I'll give you something you've been obsessing about ever since our parents got married."
"Be more specific."
"In English, I'll fuck your brains out."
Surprised at the offer Sebastian still balked at it "what makes you think I would go for that bet? Thats a 1956 Jaguar roadster."
"Because I'm the only person you can't have and it kills you" she taunted him as she sat back on the bed.
He looked her over tempted for a moment before telling her "no way."
Sebastian turned to leave however before he made it to the door she called out to him "you could put it anywhere."
That caught his attention. Stopping in his tracks he spun back around to find her sprawled out across the bed appetizingly. With a wicked grin he told her "you got yourself a bet baby."
Then as quickly as it appeared the memory past and Sebastian was left trying to figure out what the hell happened. He knew right away it was from his past because he would have remembered having a conversation like that with Kathryn. They were making a bet but he wasn't sure what it was about. Whatever it was obviously was big if he was willing to wager his car and Kathryn her body.
"Sebastian what's wrong?" Kathryn asked her voice sounding strangely concerned.
He looked up at her feeling as if he had just gotten the wind knocked out of him. He briefly considered telling her about his flash of memory but quickly decided against it. Sebastian didn't want to tell anyone about it for fear they'd start pressing him to remember more. Plus he wanted to figure out what it meant first and why he suddenly recalled that particular memory.
Forcing a smile he shook his head "it's nothing."
As he climbed back into the boat Kathryn eyed him suspiciously "should I be worried? I tell you I'm going to fuck you and this look of absolute...weirdness covers your face."
"It's not you" he smiled touching his hand to her face. "Hey you're shaking."
Sebastian got up and sat beside her. He wrapped an arm around her and Kathryn rested her head in his chest. They sat there for awhile huddled together in silence. Finally Kathryn whispered "you're thinking about Annette, aren't you?"
He laughed at the thought "no, no I can honestly say I'm not."
"Are you still angry at me about the journal?"
Thinking back to their argument only fifteen minutes ago it seemed like a lifetime since. Sebastian knew there was stuff she was hiding from him but he was beginning to wonder if it really mattered. Maybe his memory would come back to him and it wouldn't matter anymore. Stroking Kathryn's hair he told her "no I'm not. You're right it's in the past."
* * * * * *
"I think we're just about done with this room" Annette sighed as she packed up what felt like the hundredth brown box that day. However she didn't complain because she knew it would only hurt Carly. Ever since they arrived at her grandmothers she had been acting real strange, barely saying anything. Annette found it odd but she didn't want to push.
"I'm going to start on the living room" Carly told her as she grabbed another stack of boxes.
"Okay I'll help you but first I'm going to call Sebastian."
As she started for the phone Carly immediately sprang to her feet and stopped her "wait you can't!"
Annette eyed her friend strangely and laughed "why not? I promised him I would call."
"Well...um...the phone isn't working" she replied lamely.
Pushing past her Annette grabbed the white telephone and was greeted my a dial tone. "It sounds all right to me. Can I please use it? I can pay for the call if you want."
Rolling her eyes Carly backed away and muttered "yeah sure."
Annette couldn't for the life of her figure out what was going on with her friend but at the moment she was more concerned about Sebastian. He had been in her thoughts all day and she couldn't wait to hear his voice. She dialed the Valmont home and after a few rings a women with a thick German accent picked up "hello?"
"Hi, is Sebastian there? This is Annette."
"No Mr. Valmont left this morning."
That's odd, she thought he would be home all day. "Do you know where he went?"
"Yes he and Miss Kathryn went to Martha's Vineyard. They won't be back till late. Would you like to leave message?"
Annette was too stunned to speak for a moment. Finally she told the woman "no that's all right. I'll see him later, good-bye."
As Annette hung the phone back up Carly asked "was he there?"
"No he left this morning for the country with Kathryn. He told me he would be at home all day."
Rising from her spot on the floor Carly shrugged "guess he lied. I told you Annette you shouldn't trust him. It seems like he's still involved with Kathryn so why do you still want him? If I were you I'd just forget about him."
Her blue eyes narrowing at her friend suspiciously Annette demanded "what's with you today? That's the second time you've told me Kathryn's still involved with Sebastian and suddenly you're all for me dumping him, why?"
"Gee I don't know, because I'm your friend" she retorted back.
"You know if I didn't know better I would think..."
"What?"
It was then Annette saw this look flash over her friends face. It was then she knew Carly had set her up. "Oh my god" Annette whispered "she got to you too."
Carly shook her head "what are you talking about? Who got to me?"
Throwing the masking tape that was in her hand across the room she yelled "stop it Carly, we've been friend way too long for you to lie to me! Kathryn made you do this didn't she? She wanted you to distract me away from Sebastian and then fill my head with all these thoughts about him still being hung up on Kathryn. Does she have something on you Carly? Is Kathryn blackmailing you?"
She was silent for a minute before replying "Annette it isn't-"
"No just tell me the truth! Now damn it!"
Holding her head up Carly's face went cold as she replied "fine, you're right. Kathryn did tell me to distract you for the day. She also told me to try and make you forget about Sebastian."
Shaking her head sadly Annette asked "why?"
Without a word Carly walked over to her purse and pulled out her wallet. She took out a folded piece of paper then handed it to Annette. Unfolding it she found it was a check from Kathryn to Carly for $10,000. "My god" Annette whispered. "She bribed you! I can't believe you would betray me over money!"
Storming back up to her friend Carly yanked the check away and sneered "oh please spare me your sanctimonious shit. You have no idea how much I need this."
Not buying a word of it Annette yelled back "you need ten thousand dollars more than our friendship?"
"Yes!" Carly yelled back. "You see unlike you Annette my father isn't the headmaster of some prissy private school and my family doesn't have a bunch of rich friends who would happily donate to my college education. If I want to go to college and have a better life for myself than my parents did I'm going to need every cent I can get. So if I can make an easy ten grand just by ruining some stupid high school romance that will probably flicker out by the end of the year anyway, so be it."
Annette was completely shocked by the words that were coming out of her supposed friends mouth. "I can't believe you would sell me out like this, to Kathryn of all people! There are plenty of other ways to get money, you didn't have to betray me to get it. Now thanks to you I might have lost Sebastian for good!"
"Annette welcome to the real world!" Carly screamed at her. "If you don't watch out for yourself no one will do it for you. Kathryn might be a bitch but at least she realizes that."
"Yeah well Kathryn is also a miserable brat with no real friends so I guess you two have that in common as well."
Without another word Annette ran out of the house and headed back to the train station. She had to get back to the city and find out if it truly was too late for her and Sebastian.
- to be continued (Please Review)