Ten Things I love About You

Chapter Three

Kat

I was beginning to realize that I had been a fool to try and make things work between Patrick and I. Our differences were irreconcilable and I was going to that college whether Patrick accepted it or not. It was only a matter of time before I told Patrick that I couldn't back out now because I had already confirmed I was going to this school. Not even daddy accepted it, but he realized it was something I wanted to do, and all he could do was support me.

See, I really do love Patrick, but we were just one of those high school romances that eventually dwindle and become nothing. All it needs is a little bit of time and I situation like I have, and you're back into the single pool again, just trying not to drown from so many guys pulling you under.

"Kat."

I jumped really high, startled by another voice interrupting my thoughts. Spinning around, I had come face-to-face with my father, who had this really weird look on his face. I really tried to identify this look, but my father had never looked so- I don't know… different before, like this. Chewing on my bottom lip, I tried to see what he was thinking, but I couldn't decipher it.

"What daddy?" I asked shortly.

"I've planned the most amazing thing. I'd tell you, but we need to get Bianca in here too, since it both relates to you too." He smiled and took a seat on my bed. "Do you know where your sister is, Kat?"

"Probably in her room," I told him. No matter how much I loved my father I could never seem to get passed that he practically never knew where his daughters were because he was too busy with work. I suppose I was still bitter about that.

"I'll be right back."

Rolling my eyes, I leaned against the headboard of my bed, wondering what news my father had for his. He was never one for surprises or anything of those sorts, so I couldn't help but wonder if maybe he had a girlfriend or that maybe we'd learn more about my real mother. I don't know. I guess I was probably expecting the worse, seeing as that's how our father worked.

"Kat, I found her."

Bianca remained in the doorway. I suppose she was busy on the phone with somebody, but I really had no clue. She didn't want to come into my room, and I could see the sour look that was on her face.

"We're both here now. Tell us."

He licked his lips quickly and leaned against the doorframe.

After all these years, I had never known my father as one to beat around the bush. What was going on? Instead of lashing out on him, I figured it was pretty important, so I honestly didn't want to spoil any of his fun. Continuing to stand awkwardly, he looked between Bianca and I- and it was easy to come to the conclusion that it was something to worry about.

"Kat…darling…" he trailed off, "Bianca…honey."

Patrick

We had the whole thing planned. That is-Michael and I. Our goal was to stop focusing one what was going on, and to party our hearts out. Neither of us was really into the club scene, but we were both open to new experiences, especially because we had both been burned, or so I had heard.

"Hey, Pat."

Michael had been ranting nonstop about how Bianca and Cameron were such a perfect Hollywood couple that it made him gag or more than one occasion. After he had started complaining, I sort of lost track of exactly what the whole point was. I suppose he just meant to make conversation, really stupid conversation.

"Yeah."

"I was wondering, how do you go about approaching a girl?"

Oh here we go already. At first, I was thinking that I'd ditch Michael once we lost the club and I'd find a pretty girl to dance with, but if Michael didn't even know the fundamentals of getting a girl- then my night out would prove to be a lot more difficult than I had first imagined.

"Just be anybody other than yourself. You watch movies don't you?" I finally asked him.

He nodded his head.

"Good. Pretend you're a smooth guy on one of those movies." I sat up, abruptly, and patted him on the shoulder as I walked by- contemplating my next move. I was still eighteen, and lets face it- there weren't many clubs that kids under 21 could go to. Scratching my head, I desperately tried to figure out where we could to meet girls. See, my intentions weren't to go around Kat's back, but I didn't see how it mattered since we were no longer dating. I guess, I opened my eyes and saw that fighting for her really wasn't worth it.

"Any clubs in mind?"

Michael nodded his head again. It figured. He never knew anything at all.

"Okay… how about- did you hear about any parties going on?" I was losing hope, and I could only pray that he at least knew of some party somewhere.

"Cameron mentioned one about a week ago. I think a cousin of Joey the Donner asshole. I think it's at his house again."

"Lets just go and drive around. Hopefully we'll find some club to go to," I added enthusiastically.

"Sure."

Michael slowly followed behind. His clothing was to die for. And not in a good sense. He was wearing a suit- and no, it wasn't a casual suit either. It was a business suit. More and more, I was beginning to question how much of a guy he was. Shaking my head, I got into my car, feeling optimistic that there'd be somewhere to party.

"I know of a club," Michael spoke up.

Wait. Why hadn't he mentioned this earlier? I felt the need to wring his neck, but I kept my arms and thoughts to myself. "What club?"

"Midnight Romance."

I started cracking up laughing. "Are you serious? That sounds so corny." I could feel it was getting harder to breath as Michael just stared at me. Maybe I had struck a nerve with him.

"My distant cousin- Harley works there. I'm sure he could find a way to get us in."

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" I snapped. I don't know why, but I felt the need to let the boy know that he was an idiot for making me try and figure out the destination. It figured. Michael was the type that saw me as inferior. He wanted to fit in, so he stopped voicing his own opinions and just went along with everything that I had said.

"I don't know," he mumbled.

God, now he was mumbling. I shook my head. Maybe partying was a really bad idea. As second thoughts flooded my mind, I turned the key to the ignition and listened to my car purr. It was now or never. Kat wouldn't even care, right? After all, I don't think she'd be able to handle how spontaneous and wild I was. Damn, how I loved to have excuses.

"So, we'll keep Midnight Romance in mind," I piped up. Truthfully, I didn't want to go to this club. The title completely threw me for a loop and for the life of me- I couldn't figure out why someone would want to own a club with such an awkward title and really, really seductive in yet another sense.

"Great."

Michael sounded really into this club… I wasn't that heartless. I couldn't let him down, could I? Feeling my soft side cave in, I told him that it'd be our first destination of the night. He literally hugged me, which I found creepy, but I figured Michael was an all right guy that just needed a bit of help.

"Stacey Holman," I whispered into a young woman's ear who was sitting at the bar all alone. It had turned out that Midnight Romance was one of those clubs where it was really posh and elegant looking. The whole room was mapped out in this pale shade of blue that seemed to make the walls go 'pop' and the furniture accents were this really bright lime green that made the two colors contrast nicely. Maybe we had made a good decision.

"Oh hey," she stated quietly.

Stacey had always been one of those under the radar type of girls. She dressed in baggy paints and tight shirts- always hiding her figure, but having no difficulty with expressing herself. Well, she and I had been really tight before my bet with Kat had come into play. Once she had of my bet, she immediately promised me that she'd never speak to me again if I dated her.

Needless to say, I didn't take her threat to heart. She showed me what it was like to be left behind, and I guess a part of me liked that with Kat- I got to leave her behind first.

"I'm stupid for not listening to you." I had almost blurted out 'I'm sorry' but my last shred of strength held it together so I could change my words.

"You're right," she shot back. "And look where it got you. No where."

Ouch. Stacey had always been honest, but I had never expected her to act so strangely towards me. It would take a lot to gain her friendship back, and even more for her trust and believe in me. I was going to find this as a challenge, but I was willing to do anything to salvage our friendship until that song came on…that damn song.

It's just too good to be true. Can't take my eyes off of you.

My heart immediately sank into the pit of my stomach. It was the one song I had sang to Kat at the football field when I was running through the bleachers, dodging the people after me. I loved the look on her face, as she stood there in her red and white soccer uniform with her friends. It was that moment- that precise moment when I had first noticed that she felt something for me.

"What happened?"

"What?"

"I said… what happened? By that look on your face, you looked like a kid who just entered a candy store only to find out that there is no candy."

"It's a long story, Stacey."

"Well, I have time."

Bianca

Daddy had called me into Kat's room, explaining that he had something very important to share with us. He was still beating around that bush ten minutes later, and it was starting to bother me. Our father had never waited so long to say something that he felt was important.

"Girls."

There he goes again. Finding other names to call us by.

"We're going on vacation. All of us."

I was still standing there, looking as emotionless as ever, but Kat seemed somewhat happy about this. What was wrong with that girl?

"That's great, daddy," I added to the conversation, "but Cameron and I made a lot of plans for our summer before we head to college."

"Well, those plans are going to be cancelled. I don't want us to fall about, and as soon as boys come into the picture- our family crumbles to pieces. We're going to spend some quality time together. We need to let go our of childish high school flings and move to the important aspects of school quickly approaching."

It had taken him this long to shoot us down? As soon as he had started speaking about our well being, he turned into the same jerk of a father and I really wanted to run out of that room at any moment and tell him that I wasn't going with him, but he didn't seem to listen to me at all.

"I'm not going." I shouted at him, hoping he heard me loud and clear.

"Bianca, this isn't a choice. You will go, understand me?"

The side of my father that was being exposed was more than I could handle. I didn't want to leave Cameron behind. I didn't want to lose touch with my friends. I just wanted to stay here.

"Daddy, I'm eighteen. You have no parental rights over me."

He couldn't stomach what I had said. He looked hurt though, and I didn't feel an ounce of regret. Kat and I had been pushed him too many times, and it was time for me to stand up for myself and speak my mind. I had always done things daddy's way. Daddy's way was sickening, and I was tired- just plain tired of living up to his standards.

"I'm out of here."

Kat

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Bianca was never the outspoken one in the family. I was. She was hell bent on having things her way, and I really admired that. She had her reasons to stay, and I didn't blame her, but I on the other hand- I really didn't have a reason to stay anymore. Taking a vacation seemed like the best thing I could do to push myself one step forward.

"Bianca, don't you walk out that door," daddy shouted back. "If you do, don't you dare ever coming back! And if that doesn't phase you, how about I kick Kat out too if you leave? You find her an apartment to share with you, and you two can get a job. I won't give you any money."

Whoa. Whoa. Whoa.

This wasn't right. Our father wasn't naturally this way, ever. Sure, he had put his foot down when boys came into the picture, but I didn't seem this coming. I couldn't believe that he'd kick me out if Bianca left. She knew I couldn't leave… well, she didn't know that things with Patrick and I had fallen apart, but she wouldn't walk out that door.

"Fine!" she shouted.

Without another word, she stomped out the door.

Oh boy. She really left. The shit was going to hit the fan now, but I figured I could try and lighten up the situation. "Daddy, I'd still like to go on vacation with you." His angered look soon twisted into a smile.

"Great. Once we get back, pack your bags."

No, no, no. He wasn't kicking me out! He wouldn't. The anger was coursing through my veins as I stared at him, wondering what had happened to the man I had admired for his strict policies. I was growing to hate him more and more… and that only led me to believe that he hiding something from us. I just couldn't figure out what, but that wasn't about to stop me.

Patrick

"Stacey," I trembled. I had never felt so inferior towards her, towards the look in her eyes that was telling me to speak up or forever hold my peace. "You knew all about the bet."

"Correct," she intervened. "I walked away from that moment on. Would you like to tell me what I don't know now?"

"Fine." I took a deep breath, staring at her long and hard before the courage to tell her the truth slipped out. "At first, I had dated Kat for the money. It was money for getting my underground band out of the garage. I guess over the course of the dates- I began to admire and like her more and more every day. If that makes me a bad person, then so be it."

"Why Kat?"

"You don't know her, Stacey. Don't judge her by what the eye sees, for it deceives."

"Whatever," she snapped. "I really don't seem to care what the truth is anyway. I still hate everything about you." Not even bothering to continue, she pushed me out of the way, and managed to find the exit- pushing the people blocking her way to the side.

"I'm an idiot," I muttered, taking a seat at an abandoned table.

"Patrick, my man."

It had been two hours later, and Michael was very intoxicated with a drunken girl clinging to his arm. I tapped him on the shoulder and told him to let me be. He just wouldn't go away though, and he was beginning to test my remaining patience.

"Pat… this nice lady wants to co-come o-v-er to my place."

"Nice."

God, what was wrong with me? I was acting like the world was over all because of that damn song. Had I made the wrong decision, somehow? What was the right decision?

"Lets go," he slurred.

"I'm not ready to go yet," I shot at him angrily.

"Fine." He stumbled away with the girl still clinging to him. Finally. Peace and quiet.

A/n: My absence has been inexcusable. I've been lacking inspiration with this story, but I tried to pick up the ball and swish it through the net, so to speak. And I'm hoping that my efforts don't disappoint you. I am currently mapping out the next chapter, so it'll be ten times better than this one. Please review and let me know that people out there are still reading this!

Also, I have to replace the past chapters with new content... first chapter has some pretty minor changes, but changes nonetheless, and chapter two is pretty much the same.