The Dance
"I know your secret," said Katie.
"Which secret is that?" asked Luke, smiling.
"I heard you sing at school," said Katie.
"You've heard me sing in a lot of places Katie," answered Luke.
"Huh?" she asked.
"Come on I'm your boyfriend you really like I wouldn't recognise your profile or your voice?" asked Luke. "I'm not as stupid as Gail. Who might not be as stupid as we think she's coming this way."
Angela stepped in front of Gail, distracting her attention and Luke grabbed Katie's arm and pulled her out of the hall.
"So aren't you meant to be on Victor watch tonight?" asked Luke.
"Ravi is doing it for me. You know he's actually called Tony half Indian half Italian and from New Jersey," said Katie.
"So he's lying?" asked Luke.
"He's acting. Merging into a character or something apparently it's good training," answered Katie. "So he's an Indian guru who used to work at KFC."
"Well he hates Gail as much as we do so I guess he's on our side," answered Luke. "So you heard me sing in school?"
"Um yeah I was in the studio with Angela and then you came in and we hid in the recording booth," answered Katie.
"So why didn't you just come out?" asked Luke.
"No one knows I sing, I didn't know who it was and I have to keep it a secret. Anyway that's not important I wrote an answer to your song," she said. "You wanna hear it?"
"I would love to after you tell me why you have to keep your singing a secret," answered Luke.
"Gail and Bev want to get Bev a recording contract. When I was outside in a doormat with you, your father phoned me. Gail answered and told him I stolen Bev's demo so I'm being blackmailed into giving Bev my voice I don't have a choice," she said.
"You always have a choice," said Luke.
"When my dad died he left me a lot of money I can't access it till I'm twenty one but if needed in a medical emergency Gail can. She holds the cards and she can stop Ang from getting into Julliard," said Katie. "So I don't have a choice."
Luke stopped her.
"Of course you still have a choice. It's called me, my dad and our lawyers," answered Luke. "Now take off your veil."
Katie grinned and when she didn't immediately raise her hands to untie the veil Luke acted untying the veil and letting it flutter to the ground as he claimed Katie's lips. Her body crushed into the ivy on the pillars.
"Katie!" called a voice.
Wrapped up in her couple bubble with Luke. All her senses where directed on him and she never heard Angela approached until she said her name right next to them.
"Katie!"
Luke and Katie pulled apart breathing hard.
"Ang don't sneak up on people like that," answered Katie.
"Someone had an accident and went home," answered Angela.
"Oh crap I gotta go," said Katie.
"I'll take you," said Luke.
"Yeah no more secrets," answered Katie. "Ang Luke's going to take me home."
"We've got a couple of wicked witches to knock into place," smiled Luke.
"But we need to go now," said Katie.
With a goodbye Luke and Katie raced off to the car park. When they got to Katie's she knew she wouldn't have beaten Gail.
"Do you know I'm actually really scared right now," said Katie.
Luke smiled and kissed her.
"I'm getting my dad on the line," he said.
With a quick explanation to Guy and his promise to stay on the line and record. Luke and Katie hurried to the summer house. Katie went in and Luke recorded from a crack in the doorway.
"Interesting babysitting attrite. I should have known you'd go behind my back again. And that Paula Abdul wanna be trying to distract me," said Gail.
"Don't talk about her like that," said Katie.
"She's wants to be a chorographer if memory serves right. Shame she just got herself expelled," said Gail. "Guess she can kiss Julliard goodbye."
"I'll do whatever you want just leave Ang out of this," said Katie.
"That depends if you pull another stunt like tonight sugar," said Gail.
"I won't I promise," said Katie.
"Luke," said Guy. "I know you can't answer I've heard enough of this go in there and tell Gail I want a meeting with her first thing in the morning."
Guy hung up and Luke stood up.
"I'll be taking this," said Gail.
"How am I meant to practice?" asked Katie.
The door opened.
"Miss Van Ravensway my dad wants a meeting with you first thing," said Luke.
"What are you doing down here?" asked Gail.
"I went looking for you at the house. Dad couldn't get though on the phone and sent me. I was told you were down here," answered Luke.
"Well tell your father I'll see him first thing," said Gail, taking Katie's guitar and going up to the house.
"I'm going to move my car," mouthed Luke.
Katie nodded and shut the door.
Within minutes Luke was back.
"I have clothes here right?" asked Luke, dropping his school bag by the door.
"Yeah," said Katie.
"Come on we've got a big morning tomorrow we'd better get some sleep," said Luke.
Katie reached up to take the head scarf off.
"Oh wait a minute I want a photo of you in that. You look gorgeous," he said.
"Thank you," she said.
The photo was taken and the head scarf came off and then with her brown hair flowing round her shoulders he took another photo.
"Ok I will pop outside while you get dressed," said Luke.
"Luke we've dating three years and from six months ago you've seen it all. I don't care if I change in front of you," said Katie.
Next morning.
"I'll see you at school ok," said Luke, as he and Katie sat having an early breakfast in her little wooden house.
She nodded, head down. He reached out a hand and raised it up.
"Hey you've got nothing to loose," said Luke. "I've gotta go."
"I'll see you in the meeting," said Katie.
Luke snuck of the premises and headed home. While Katie went up to the house to make sure Victor was up.
"Katie I want you taking notes in that meeting this morning," said Gail.
Katie nodded and made her coffee.
"Bev. I want you in there as well," said Gail.
"Why would I want to be in one of your boring meetings?" asked Bev.
"With Guy Morgan," answered Gail.
"Yeah sure I'll be there," said Bev.
"It's first thing we need to go now," said Gail.
Approaching the office Katie felt like a bag of nerves. Luke was sat outside with his father.
"I won't be a moment Guy," said Gail, as she and Bev headed into the office.
Katie stopped to grab a notebook and pen and sank into a chair to collect herself. Then she felt hands on her knees and looked up to see Luke crouching in front of her.
"You're going to be amazing in there," said Luke.
"This is Mr Graham Huntington our and now your family lawyer," said Guy.
"Nice to meet you," said Katie.
"You'd better get in there," whispered Luke.
Katie headed into the office.
"Did I say you could come in?" asked Gail.
"Sorry I just wanted to see if you were ready to see them?" asked Katie.
"No five minutes," answered Gail.
Katie headed back out.
"Miss Van Ravensway will see you soon," said Katie.
Luke grabbed her hand and tugged her into his lap, rubbing her back soothingly.
"I'm going to snap," she said.
"Hold it together," he whispered.
"Katie!" shouted Gail.
She headed into the office.
"I'm ready now," said Gail.
Katie headed out but Luke, Guy and Graham were stood ready. Luke squeezed Katie's hand as he walked past and she settled against the wall to take notes. Gagging to herself as Bev tried to snuggle up to her boyfriend.
"Now Guy what can I do for you this morning?" asked Gail.
"Nothing much really just a little thing Luke has brought to my attention," said Guy, pulling out his phone.
Katie held her breath as the recording played. She was so dead.
"Where did you get that?" asked Gail.
"I recorded outside Katie's house last night," said Luke. "While I was on the phone to my dad."
"I also recorded it over the phone," said Guy. "This is Graham Huntington our lawyer."
"Katie told me everything at the dance last night. It took a while to get the story out of when she said it was a secret that she was singing but I eventually got it out of her," said Luke.
"You can't threaten a minor," said Graham. "You can't threaten another students' education and you can't access Katie's funds for anything."
"If I have a medical emergency I can," said Gail.
"Not anymore Gail," said Guy. "Katie's funds have been transferred to a new account at my bank and are deadlocked in my name."
"Why would they be deadlocked in your name?" asked Gail.
"And why would Katie tell you anything?" asked Bev.
"Because I'm his girlfriend," answered Katie, pushing away from the wall.
"It's deadlocked in my name because of that. I have no doubt that Katie will become part of the family one day," said Guy. "I might pay more interest to my business then my son sometimes but my family is important to me I look after them Katie is part of our family now."
"So you'll be hearing from our lawyers soon let's try and settle this out of court," said Luke. "You'll also be hearing Katie on the radio as well."
"What?" asked Katie.
"Oh I signed you," said Guy, as he stood up. "Your demo is out today."
"Ok," said Katie.
"I'll be having Katie moved out this week," said Guy.
With that Guy and Graham walked out as did Luke who grabbed Katie's hand and pulled her with him.
"What just happened?" asked Bev.
"We lost. We need to get good lawyers," said Gail. "I will die before I go back to my daddy's farm."
With Katie and Luke.
"I'll see you both at home later," said Guy, as he got into his limo. "Put that Angela girl in touch with Graham as well."
The limo drove off as Angela ran up.
"So how did it go?" she asked.
"We're all free," said Luke. "Well you two are free."
Angela looked confused.
"After last night Gail was going to expel you and make you kiss your Julliard dreams goodbye," explained Katie.
"Katie was going to do anything to stop it," said Luke. "Now however you need to get in touch with our lawyer and he'll tell you want to do. Plus Katie's moving out."
"I just worry about Victor," said Katie.
"He can handle himself," said Luke.
"Well we'd better get to class," said Angela, grabbing Katie's arm.
"Yeah," said Katie.
Luke pulled her back and Angela dropped her grip.
"How would you like a tour of the studio tonight?" asked Luke.
"Kensington studio's?" asked Katie.
"Yeah it's your future workplace. We can get started on your album," said Luke.
"Thank you," said Katie.
"Don't mention it," said Luke, pulling her closer and kissing her. "Love you."
"Love you too," answered Katie.
"Oh and dad wasn't wrong," he said, as the girls started to walk off. "You will be part of the family one day."
"Is that what I think it is?" asked Katie.
"Not quiet yet," answered Luke, before he walked away.
"Luke Morgan basically just proposed to you," squealed Angela.
"Katie Morgan doesn't sound half bad," Katie mused. "I'll tell you everything at lunch but we really do need to get to class now."
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Gabriella Somerfield
