The Class Gets Confused

Chapter Two:

Ethan Haas awoke slowly as pain radiated throughout his body. He stretched his aching muscles and took in his foreign surroundings.

It took about thirty full seconds before reality kicked back in and he remembered not only where he was, but why he was there.

He was still sitting outside Kat's door, the rose that Kyle had given him neatly tucked at his side, if a little worse for the wear at this point in time. Checking his watch, Ethan realized he'd been waiting for about six hours.

It was about time to call it a night. Sorry Kyle. She must have gone over to Lina's place and there was a fine line between a sweet gesture and being stupidly pathetic.

Ethan could always confess his feelings the next day. After all, he still had four days before the sharks got their gun permits. He chuckled to himself remembering Kat's own words.

Rising to his feet painfully, Ethan marveled at just how much he felt like crap. Part of it was of course the uncomfortable two hour nap he'd taken on a concrete floor, but it wasn't just that.

Was it normal to be so depressed over another person's break-up? Benjamin certainly hadn't cheated on him and if he really had all these feelings for Kat, as Kyle was so sure he did, shouldn't Ethan feel happy that he now had a chance to, you know , date her himself?

But in part Ethan knew he felt guilty. He was the one who pushed her into going after Benjamin and letting herself fall for him. Hell, he was the reason they started dating in the first place if you wanted to get all specific about it.

What had he said? I want you to have Morocco.Yep, that was it. He mentally slapped himself. Well, now she didn't. She just had all of her own worst fears thrown back into her face. Good going Haas. Smooth as usual.

He knew how hard it had been for her to actually allow someone past her exterior hardness. Ethan knew pretty damn well better than most that Kat could be a bit of menacing presence, one in fact that he himself was scared of from time to time, but in spite of it, or perhaps because of it, she was also extremely vulnerable.

It's like he had this overwhelming desire to just protect her and keep her safe, despite knowing how cheesy it sounded. And despite knowing how much Kat hated leaning on anyone. And despite knowing that more than likely Kat wouldn't feel the same way about him. And despite knowing that she could probably beat the living crap out of him with one arm tied behind her back.

It didn't make any sense. Ever since Kat had barreled into his life, the same day his fiancée Joanne had walked out, she had managed to turn his life upside down. However what started as a minor annoyance quickly grew to become a welcome distraction. A very welcome distraction.

Here was this woman who knew how to push all of his buttons. In many ways, she was his total opposite. She relentlessly mocked him and derived much joy from it, but truth be told he wouldn't have it any other way. Plus you know, it wasn't completely one sided. He could give it back to her as good as she dished it out.

Not to mention from a shallow point of view, she was hot. Maybe not his typical type as he usually went for redheads and not girls that dressed themselves like extras in a Pat Benatar video, but he'd be lying through his teeth if he said he hadn't found his eyes wandering from time to time checking out his so-called best friend.

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Head down and pace quickened, Kat rounded the corner of her hallway hurrying to get inside before she ran into that birdbrain Palmer. It was like the dumb blonde had radar or something, because Kat swore she just always happened to be out in the hallway waiting for her. She wasn't in the mood to play twenty questions.

Ethan made a grab for the rose before thinking better of it and leaving it in front of Kat's door. Maybe it would cheer her up.

He started off for the stairwell only to run headfirst into something, or rather someone.

"Ow!" Kat yelled as she rubbed her now aching forehead. "Why don't you watch where you're going!?" she snapped before raising her gaze to meet a very familiar pair of eyes.

"Me? I'm not the one doing the Indy 500 in the hallway", Ethan countered. Taking in her rather haggard appearance Ethan softened a bit. "You alright?" he asked bracing himself for either a verbal lashing or a breakdown, but got neither.

"Fine. I, uh, didn't realize it was you", she responded quietly, her hurt eyes quickly searching his face for something. "So what are you doing here? Haven't had enough of my theatrics for the day?"

"Something like that", he laughed nervously. "Just in the area and thought I'd stop by." Yeah, six hours ago.

She held her keys in front of her. "Want to come in for a few? I promise, no more crying. Or death threats."

He looked down at the rose, which she had yet to notice. "Sure. Sounds good."