More Or Less

by non-damsel

Kate Pierson and Adrien Mansfield have always been just friends. But this summer everything is going to change, for better or worse. Mansfield Park gone mad. Please R&R. COMPLETE

18. Scott: The Score

Chapter 18
The Score

Scott

We were all expected to be somber and reflective for the first couple days after Adrien broke up with Johnny. I knew because I had made an ill-advised crack about the situation the day afterwards, which Kate told me wasn't funny. Actually, it was funny and all Kate meant was that it wasn't a subject I should be trivializing with jokes. At least not yet.

Personally, I didn't get how the whole Adrien-Johnny business was really that big of a deal. From what I could gather from my brief experience with the pair, their relationship was tenuous at its best. Johnny was barely around so it didn't seem likely that his alienation would have much of an effect on anyone's day-to-day life. Adrien would keep on feeling disappointed in himself. Kate would keep on having it bad for him. Rachel would keep on throwing herself in Adrien's lap. And me, well, I wasn't sure what I'd keep on doing. But I'll get to that later.

Kate did her best to impress upon me the magnitude of Scott and Adrien's falling out. She fell back on me quite a bit in the days after it happened—Johnny and Rachel's incriminating conversation had been forgotten, at least temporarily, in light of such greater issues. I have to say, I enjoyed that she needed me. It was reminiscent of the power I'd had over Jess.

"I think you're just being stubborn, refusing to understand what a big deal this is," Kate told me one afternoon.

We were sitting outside under this tree in the front yard. Well, I was sitting. She was lying at the moment, on her back. I couldn't help but be a little distracted by how she looked all stretched out like that. God. The girl was killing me.

Kate was still expounding. "I mean, what if you and Rachel stopped talking? Wouldn't it throw you? At least a little?"

I considered the question and answered honestly. "No." Other people didn't affect me. I'd worked hard to achieve that.

Kate grunted, believing me but not liking the answer. I took advantage of her momentary silence and turned the interrogation around.

"So speaking of Rachel, what's up with you sitting back and letting her take over on the Adrien front?" It was true. Kate had barely bothered to check up on Adrien during his hour of need. It certainly seemed that it should be her job to do so. Or at least something that she would take upon herself.

Kate sat up—thank God—and shrugged.

"It's kind of weirding me out," I added, and she answered, "Yeah, well, what's the point?"

"I'm sitting here talking to you. What's the point in that?" I countered.

"We're friends," she said. Which was true, depending on your definition.

I rolled my eyes. "So you can be friends with me. But not with Adrien who you've known for, oh, forever."

Suddenly I wondered how we'd gotten to this point in the conversation. Or, more importantly, how I'd gotten to this point in my life. There I was, wanting things to work out for Kate, championing reconciliation between her and Adrien. Something wasn't right with that picture. I was almost being unselfish, and that really just wasn't like me.

Remember what I said about people not affecting me? Yeah. This was a problem.

- - - - - -

Two days later, Rachel handed me a solution. We were in the apartment; she came into my room without knocking, which meant that we were going to have one of our heart-to-hearts that I so looked forward to.

She leaned back against my wall. "So you can lay off Kate. You have my permission."

I looked up at her because she had my interest. "I do," I repeated.

Rachel shrugged. "Adrien's a done deal. Thanks to Johnny." For a moment she paused and smiled smugly to herself. Rachel and Johnny had this weird mutual loathing thing going on, which I personally attributed to their really just wanting to get it on with the other. Either way, Rachel was loving that her long-worked-for success with Adrien was a direct result of his fight with Johnny. I guess it was pretty ironic. But I still thought she ought to just sleep with Johnny and get it over with.

"Anyway," Rachel finally continued. "You're welcome to do whatever you like with Kate now. That's the point. I release you."

"How magnanimous of you," I said dryly.

She ignored my sarcasm and began hypothesizing. "I'm guessing you either want out, or you're going to get out because you don't want out and that's freaking you out."

I had to hand it to her. She certainly knew the score. I asked, "Sure it won't hinder your cause? Adrien's not going to be suspicious if I suddenly drop Kate like that?"

As if I cared. I'd long since lost interest in Rachel's conquest. But I knew what I was doing. I was looking for one last excuse not to call things off with Kate.

But Rachel wasn't that magnanimous.

"I told you. Adrien's a done deal," she said.

Poor Rachel. If only she'd known how things would go down. Johnny might have indirectly sealed the deal between her and Adrien, but it would also be Johnny who would just as indirectly break things back up.

- - - - - -

Two more days later.

I was walking down the hallway past that damn piano room when Kate caught up with me.

"Hey stranger," she said, matching my pace and catching her breath a little. "I've barely seen you in the past two days. You got a girlfriend or something?"

I made a noise in between a laugh and a grunt to acknowledge the joke. But I kept my eyes forward, and I kept walking. I was keenly aware that Kate was watching me and that she was probably figuring me out. I was also keenly aware that I was a jackass.

"Oh, so we aren't friends," Kate said after the pause. I looked at her then because she didn't sound devastated or even upset like I expected she would. She sounded, in fact, almost humorous. As if this is what she had expected all along—that I would bail on her—and she was just happy to be proven right.

That threw me off. I suddenly found myself trying to justify things. "I'm leaving at the end of the summer, you know," I said.

"Everyone's leaving at the end of the summer," she answered, and there was a hint of that devastation I'd been looking for. It was easy to forget that whereas the rest of us would be moving forward in August, Kate would be left behind.

I needed her to see that I was doing her a favor. "Yeah. But I don't call, and I don't look back."

"That's pretty bleak," she said with mock seriousness. It annoyed me now that she continued to make light of this. It wasn't that I wanted to hurt her. Or maybe it was. I don't know. I think I just wanted her to mind.

She didn't seem to. She only said, "Then I guess it's good that we aren't friends."

- - - - - - -

And that was the end. Or at least, it should have been. Life at the Mansfield settled into an unbearable monotony now that I wasn't talking to Kate, and after enduring a couple weeks of tedium, I began to think of leaving before August. Rachel, after all, could hardly need me anymore. And moreover, I didn't care if she did. There was nothing left for me there. I would leave. The problem was, I just couldn't seem to get myself to just go.

And then Kate preceded me.

Here's the story. I found it out much later, but it'll help you if you know it now. Sometime after the birthday debacle—the day after Kate and my last conversation, incidentally—she had a talk with Mr. Mansfield. And in the spirit of his new you-are-part of the family thing, he asked her what it was that she wanted, or something to that effect.

What Kate really wanted was Adrien, but this wasn't Fiddle on the Roof, and parents didn't get to hand out their children to whoever they wanted anymore, and Kate is quick about things like that. So she said she wanted to go to college. Normally, it probably would've been too late for her to get in somewhere. But Mr. Mansfield made some calls, and Kate was going. Going early, in fact, for the last summer session.

I first heard that she was leaving from Adrien. It was one of those things where he told me offhandedly, assuming I already knew. We were passing in the hall and he said to me, "So. Two weeks till Kate leaves. The whole summer session thing seems a little over-eager, you know?"

If I hadn't been too busy being confused by what he was saying to me, I probably would've noted that Adrien sounded worried about Kate's over-eagerness. As if she was probably over-eager to get away from him. But as it were, I only knew that I had no idea what he was talking about.

"What?" I asked.

Adrien stopped and shoved his hands in his pockets. He looked confused himself know. "You know. College."

"College?" I asked, still trying to fit things together.

"Oh," he said. "You don't know."

I just shrugged. There would obviously be no saving face.

"Huh," Adrien said, but not in a ha-ha-I-win-Kate-told-me way. More like he was trying to work out for himself why she hadn't let me in on the news. If Adrien had been anyone other than Adrien, he probably would've figured out right then why it mattered to him that he was in on a confidence and I wasn't. But he was himself, and he just headed past me down the hall, probably to find my sister.

It pissed me off that Kate was leaving, I knew that right away. But it took me an hour to work out why. Here's what it came down to.

First of all, she was calling the shots which seemed to put her in the control position. I liked to have the control position.

Second of all, I liked her. Simple as that.

It took me another hour to figure out what I was going to do with all of that. But as soon as I did figure it out, I went to straight find Kate.

She was in that piano room. Ironic, since that was where this had all started. I came up quietly behind her so that she didn't notice me until I reached over her shoulder to turn her page. As soon as I did, she immediately stopped playing and swung around on the bench to face me.

"What, so we're talking again?"

I had hoped to transition easily back into our old flirtation, but with such a direct question I was forced to take a different approach. I sat down on a chair across from her and said, "Well, if you and I can't make peace, what hope is there for the Middle East?"

Kate would've laughed if she hadn't had her hard-ass self all strapped on. But she did, so she didn't laugh. She just sighed and asked, "What do you want?"

"Rather an open-ended question," I observed.

"Tell me about it. I got asked that a couple days ago and ended up saying I wanted to go to college. I mean, who would've thought?"

I smiled. Obviously Kate missed talking to me, because she couldn't help offering me this insight into her inner world even with the way things were supposed to be between us. There was still something here I could work with.

So I went for it. "Here's the thing," I said, leaning forward on my elbows. "I don't want you to go."

Kate frowned a little. "Seriously?"

"I like you Kate," I said, laying it out for her.

"Okaaaay," she said slowly, as if she was trying to figure out what exactly that was supposed to mean to her. "But still. I mean, seriously? I can't really be expected to plan my life around Mr. Doesn't-Call-Doesn't-Look-Back."

"Look," I said. "If you want it, you can have it. But this is the last time I'm offering."'

She hesitated, bit her lip. "This is my chance. I have to get out of here, Scott. You get that right?"

I shrugged, like it wasn't my problem what she had to do and where she had to get out of. Even when I was doing the right thing, I couldn't do it in the right way. I couldn't be completely unselfish about it. I couldn't put myself out there like that. I said, "Take it or leave it."

She paused, actually considered my offer. I knew it was a terrible offer I was making, so the fact that she had to think about it was even something. And she sounded genuinely pained when she said, "Then I guess I have to leave it."

I shrugged again, like it didn't matter. "All the same to me," I said brightly, and offered her a conciliatory smile as I stood up. "Have a good life, Kate." And with that I left the room.

I'd known she'd turn me down, of course. But now I could say that I tried. And I could also say that she minded.

- - - - - - - -

To: Amanda Mansfield
From: Don Yates
Subject: News from the home front

Something you'll want to know: I just got back here and it looks like Johnny had a crap time of it at Kate's birthday. Shit finally went down with Adrien. Apparently, Adrien told him to get his ass out of the house and not to come back, and I expect Johnny intends to do just that. Doesn't look good for us, love. If worst comes to worst, I think we might end up on opposite sides of the fight.

Lovely to see you as always. Sorry if Jess was suspicious about you sneaking around, but you're the one who doesn't want to tell.

- - - - - - -

To: Don Yates
From: Amanda Mansfield
Subject: Re: News

WHAT! How did I not know about Johnny and Adrien? Nobody in my family talks 2 me. :o( Worst will not come 2 worst. It is unacceptable. We have 2 do something. Maybe we can lock Adrien & Johnny in a room until they get over their issues (?) Not sure what room. Must start scheming.

Jess will get over it. Hey, u want 2 tell Johnny u're dating a member of his recently estranged family? Be my guest, Braveheart.

XXXXXXXXXX

- - - - - - -

To: Amanda Mansfield
From: Don Yates
Subject: Re: News

I was thinking we could fake one of their deaths (probably Adrien's) because you always forgive people once their dead. Problem is, I imagine things might get bad again once we explained to Johnny that Adrien was in fact still alive. Trick like that would piss a person off.

Nevermind. We don't' have to tell anyone just yet. Not sure I understand the Braveheart reference, though. Have you actually seen that movie?

- - - - - - - -

To: Don Yates
From: Amanda Mansfield
Subject: Re: News

As much as I love u, fake death is not ur brightest moment. & leave my references alone :oP

XXXXXXXXXX

P.S. I've sent u like 20 kisses now, and u have sent me none. :o(

- - - - - - - - -

To: Amanda Mansfield
From: Don Yates
Subject: Re: News

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A/N: Wow, I didn't even realize that the last chapter was short until everyone mentioned it. I promise, I fully intended for this one to be longer (and it is, a little, but not by much). So apologies.

Also, where have all my reviewers gone (sniff sniff)? I seem to have lost a lot and it makes me very sad (sniff sniff). So please review if you are still reading. I've had a bad week and it'll make my day.

Rapsody's Song: Yeah. Everybody likes Adrien the least. But Scott's a jerk! Arg. Give Adrien some time. Hopefully he will redeem himself.

Jayley: Everybody loves Johnny. I've come to accept it, lol. A million gazillion thank yous for reviewing!

WhiteCamellia: Hey! Haven't seen you in a while! Thank you so much for reviewing (yay!)! Lol, I love The Sound of Music too! It's classic! Wow, that was a lot of exclamation marks. :o)

Anonymous: Lol. If onlyScott and Rachel would just leave. Especially Rachel. She's nothing but trouble. Thanks for reviewing. I'm glad you're liking the story!

Embracing: Was the last chapter really that short? Oops. grins sheepishly I'm trying to update quickly just for you :o). Yay for the world of Pride and Prejudice! That movie is so beautiful. And walrus is a fun word. Really, we should use it more often. I think I'm going to. Walrus. Heh.

A: There are not words to describe how much I love you. You are so my new favorite person. I think you're the only person reading this who's rooting for Adrien right now. But I have to say: GO TEAM ADRIEN!

Jill: No worries, darling. I know you love me, even if your reviews are late. Besides, I know a thing or two about projects eating one's soul (my term paper, for instance, was eating mine. But now that is DONE! Hurray!). Dude, I never even thought that Kate could leave by finally taking Johnny up on his offer. That would be frickin' awesome, and I would use it in a heartbeat if the plot didn't require for Scott to follow her once she leave (Scott, Kate, and Johnny is a threesome that is just so not going to happen). Beside, Kate taking off with Johnny would probably just cement the Kanny love we've got going on, and I'm doing my best to temper that. But it still was an awesome idea, and so I'm going to combine with my college thing and have Johnny come back to drive her to her college. Which will provide us with one more lovely moment of Jadrien angst before the whole car crash debacle. As for things to note in this chapter, just remember the way Scott acts upon finding Kate is leaving (ie: asking her to stay, which is selfish because it is not in her best interest to do so) because that will provide a lovely contrast with Adrien's reaction, which we will see in the next chapter. Yeah. I'm still trying to prove that Adrien is the GOOD GUY. My bitterness is still intact.