Disclaimer: I own nothing, nadda, zippo. Totally wish I did though.

Author's Notes: You guys are so great! Thank you so much for the reviews. I definitely incorporated more Patrick and a bit of Cameron in his chapter. I added a touch of Joey/Bianca. And a dash of Kat/Patrick. I think it's an adorable little chapter. I have work and such tomorrow, so hopefully I can get another chapter or so out before Tuesday's episode. I might just even end it before the episode airs, or just draw out my own story. Lol. Happy Readings!

The last party that she had gone too that entitled this much work and awkwardness was Justin's spring break house party. The party where she was introduced to everyone as his girlfriend. At that point Kat Stratford was known as the quiet girl who had a younger sister and a crazy father. And the small town of Lankford, Ohio would tell you exactly how crazy her father truly was; especially when it came to his sixteen and fourteen year old daughters.

She remembered feeling shy and nervous as friend, after friend, after friend of Justin's came to greet her and talk to her and ask all sorts of questions about her. She remembered, by the end of the night, feeling like she was on top of the world because it was the first time Justin had kissed her. He had kissed her, of course, but it had been their first make out session. The first kiss that not only made her weak in the knees but made her stomach twist into knots the size of her fist.

She had been so naïve and stupid. Much like Bianca. Unlike Bianca, she could argue, she had never been into the popular scene, she was more into the reading and studying scene. The only reputation she had prior to junior year was the squeaky clean daughter of an OBGYN.

Which, on some twisted level, always gave her more then enough attention.

Now, this party created some of the feelings that she had long ago vowed to never feel again. Like being shy and timid as she tried to make her way through Joey's unbelievably huge house. Like, monstrously huge. Kat wasn't even sure what kind of drugs his father had to be selling. Not that large was the problem.

So far, in the span of the short forty-five minutes that the Stratford's had been there, Kat had lost Bianca (almost instantly, really), and Mandella. She wasn't sure how she could have possibly lost her only life line, but she had a feeling it had something to do with the kitchen where all the liquor was currently.

She had it on good authority that Mandella needed some liquid courage to put up with all these, these, she watched a girl jump a guy and stick her tongue down his throat. Kat made a face and kept walking. She might need her own shot of liquid tolerance.

"Well, well, well, look who decided to join the party." His voice was low and drawn out. She turned her head, only to notice he wasn't there. "Other side babe." Did he just call her babe?

Kat turned to her right side, staring into a shadowy little corner. Patrick Verona was leaning, nonchalantly, against the wall and the corner. His smirk was ever present, as was his normal, messy, curly hair. He was in jeans and a white tee-shirt that clung to his body like a sleeve.

"We match." Kat looked down at herself and then back at him.

"Hardly." Patrick shrugged, kicking himself up into a more secure position.

"I hope you weren't too mad at your lackey for listening to me."

"She's not my lackey, she's my friend. And I'm mad at you for taking advantage of that." To be honest there was no real malice in her words. Her tone wasn't even suggestive that she was angry. This could have been the reason that instead of frowning or leaving her alone, he seemed to ignore what she was saying. "Where the hell is the kitchen in this damn house?" Kat turned in all directions, being blocked by people.

Patrick rolled his eyes and walked past her, grabbing her wrist as he pulled her through the ocean of crazed teenagers. Kat did not complain or make a sarcastic remark or anything of that nature. She simply stared. She stared at his hand and her wrist, trying so desperately to ignore the heat that was now flooding her body. She stared as his hand loosened so he could slide it down and grasp her hand in his. The heat erupted ten times across her body.

She closed her eyes, a sudden trust for the callous (or maybe not so callous) boy rang free and true across her brain. That god-forsaken part had taken control, knowing fully well that as long as Patrick was there, she would be fine.

"How the hell do you know where you're going?" Her tongue seemed to still be ignoring that damn side of her. The side that was falling head over heels for another carbon copy of Justin. At least, she was convinced he was a carbon copy.

"I've been walking around since I got here." There was no sarcasm, no tone, no nothing. Patrick was trying to concentrate on steering the two of them through a large, sedated, crowd. "I have a good memory."

Kat opened her eyes and stared at the grand kitchen that was filled with food and drinks and all sorts of things, mostly other people. Her eyes gave the room a sweep, falling over to Mandella who was standing by the sink.

"Well that was a fun game of, 'pull my arm off, why don't you'." Kat patted his arm and smirked. "I'll be seeing you."

Patrick grabbed her arm, twisting her to face him before she could get too far. "I still need to talk to you."

"And a big good luck to you." Kat snatched her arm away, moving slowly over to Mandella.

She grabbed the cup her friend held up for her and downed it. It had a weird taste to it. Not bad weird, it was a good weird. "What am I drinking?"

Mandella lifted her own cup to her lips. "Red bull, trust me, you'll feel better soon."

"Did I ever thank you for this?" Kat motioned towards the whole house.

"Oh, just wait, you'll be thanking me real soon."

---

Bianca and Dawn were dancing through the crowd, giggling and gossiping as they moved their arms and swung their hips. Cameron followed behind them, his eyes wandering over the masses that stood, leaned, and laid around them.

"So, Joey's been totally watching you!" Dawn giggled causing Bianca to pause in her dancing. She shook her blonde locks, laughing at her friend.

"He has not been watching me!" Cameron looked down at the two girls, his lips frowned slightly. He knew he was not allowed to say anything on the subject because it touched on the interfering with Bianca's life.

Bianca, on the other hand, was slowly soaking in Dawn's words. She wouldn't admit it, to anyone, but she had a mighty hard crush for the blonde model wannabe. He was funny, sweet, and cute. Nothing at all like Beau or some of the other boys she usually liked. Well, he was on the football team, but he wasn't cocky the way the other athletes were. He was sensitive.

"If I didn't know better I think he might have a--" Bianca covered Dawn's mouth instantly.

"Do not say that. You do not know who is hear listening to us. Chastity would kill me. A social suicide!"

Cameron, who had been watching as Bianca's face had morphed into a smile and then into a concerned frown, took this opportunity to look around the party. He spotted the person he had been searching for.

"I'll be right back." Both girls, who had begun whispering rapidly, waved him off.

Cameron pushed and shoved his way through the crowd, rushing over to Patrick Verona who was standing in the living room door way. Cameron stopped in front of the scary senior, his lungs pulling for some much needed air.

"And you need?" Patrick cocked an eyebrow up to the taller, geekier male.

"Bianca is talking to me again." It came out rushed, which did nothing for the raised eyebrow Patrick had already been sporting.

"And I would care because?"

"I need some cool advice to get Bianca to forgive me." Cameron place his hand out. "I know you're good at getting yourself in trouble, and Bianca's sister seems to be ignoring your charm. But other girls respond to your charm so I need you to help me get Bianca to forgive me completely."

"And what makes you so sure that Kat is resisting my charms?" Patrick gave Cameron a smirk, which the other boy seemed to ignore.

"Because you're by yourself and Kat is enjoying herself with the other scary girl."

Patrick's smile faded, being replaced with an almost glare. Cameron swallowed hard.

"I'm sorry."

"Cameron. Look, you need to show a girl that you care about them, without giving off the impression you're an idiot. Slashing some guys tires and stealing his cell phone. Idiot." Patrick leaned off the door frame, Kat coming into his view. "Bianca doesn't like you, which is fine, sometimes there's no instant spark. You have to create a spark. Some guys do the whole big production thing. Some guys do the ignoring thing. You need to do the diligent friend thing." He watched as Kat, with her Cheshire cat smile, weaved through the crowd, laughing with Mandella. "You have a lot on your side that will come in handy later. Like, when Bianca has a real heart breaking moment." He watched as Joey Donner was pushed, causing the air-head's drink to spill all over Kat. "Just stay quiet and listen to Bianca, you'll know when you should make your move." He began moving forward as Joey said something to the brunette and pointed towards the stairs.

"You really think just waiting around is going to do anything?" Cameron asked, his eyes up in thought.

Patrick nodded his head, moving farther away from him. "I think it'll definitely work for you. Just wait till an opportune moment, any sooner and you'll blow it."

"Thanks man!" Cameron smiled and waved as Patrick began heading towards the staircase.

"Don't mention it. Ever." Cameron lowered his hand and looked around before making his way back to Dawn and Bianca who were now giggling in the far corner of the living room.

---

Kat walked into the pink, frilly room. She gave a heavy sigh, walking towards the giant closet. After Joey realized she was Bianca's sister, he insisted that she go upstairs to his own sister's room and get out of her wet shirts. As Kat looked around at all the lace and frills, she realized that she might just suck it up and stay in her stained and wet outfit.

She walked over to the closet, slowly opening it and staring at all of the polo's and tunic type shirts.

"Perfect." She stated through gritted teeth. Her fingers began moving the shirts to go through them, stopping in mid air as the door opened.

Patrick walked through the doorway, shut the door, and then casually stood just inside the room. Kat was visibly unamused.

"Get out." Her voice had a bit of a vicious undertone to it. This nether stopped nor slowed the alleged cannibal down. "Patrick, get out, I have to change. And then hopefully go home."

"But you just got here." He was taking his time, numbly looking at various things around the room. "It's too soon to leave."

Kat looked towards the night stand, staring at the clock that was reading eleven-fifteen. "Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but me and Bianca have to be home at twelve. So, yay team." She shifted and went back looking for a shirt.

"Then why don't you just stay in the wet clothes." He was suddenly behind her, his hand moving the shirts for her. "I mean, I would hardly call this something you would want to wear." He pulled out a silk red tank top, that looked too small.

"I'm wet." Kat stated, motioning to her shirt. "Why would I want to stay in wet, sticky clothes." She looked over to him, noting how big his smile was. She replayed her words in her head, mentally smacking herself. "Pervert." Kat pulled a shirt out and step sideways from the closet and from Patrick. "Just get out so I can change and leave."

"I have to talk to you." His voice had taken a very serious tone. "I want too apologize for last week." Kat stared at him blankly. "Change. I'll close my eyes." He shut his eyes.

"Yeah, right, leave." Kat pointed towards the door. Patrick simply took his hands and covered his entire face. "Patrick, get out!" With his eyes closed and his hands over his face, Patrick turned around so he was facing the closet.

Kat growled, throwing the shirt on the bed, and staring at Patrick's back. She unzipped the black corset thing and threw it to the ground. With a heavy breath, she pulled the white shirt off, using it to dry off any dampness from the soda, and quickly pulled the shirt over her head.

"I'm done." Patrick shifted, looking over his shoulder, before turning to face her completely. A smirk was playing heavily across his lips. "What?"

"I just didn't know how much you were into 'N Sync." Kat looked at him, before looking down to see that her white and blue t-shirt was actually a band shirt for 'N Sync.

"Oh dear lord." Kat swore. "It's like a million years old and it's, it's a boy band. I'm physically ill." She allowed her hand to cover her face. Patrick laughed loudly. "This is all your fault!" She walked over to him, hitting his shoulder. All he could do was laugh.

"Sorry, sorry." He cleared his throat, gently touching the bridge of his nose. "Just, tell me you forgive me for the dance."

Kat stared at him as if he had two heads. And then, just as he had predicted, Kat went from silent to angry. He watched as she began babbling about beach plans and kisses and records. He listened to her argument that he was an asshole and a jerk, and she was more then just some girl you hook up with. He estimated how long it would take her to get in his face. And with in the minute, her voice had shifted from an angry tone to an angry whisper. And just as he had planned, he lowered his face to hers.