Disclaimer: Seriously?? Nothing!

Author's Notes: Hehe, last official update for the weekend. Kat (And possibly Patrick) might be a little OOC at the end, but I'll leave that up to your judgments. I think it turned out very nice, and I might have left it a little cliff-hangerish at the end. BUT, lots of Kat/Patrick. Maybe we can get to 45 reviews! Maybe! Happy Readings! Have a good night/morning! And Thank you, once again!

Heat. Uncontrollable, irrevocable, undeniable heat, ran through her veins like blood. Every single inch of her body was incased in this burning sensation that should have been forcing her to pull away, but instead caused her to press harder against him. Each touch, each flicker of his lips, each brush of his finger tips, and each hair her fingers held on to, burnt her skin from the inside out.

She had tried, in the beginning, to pull away. However, his arms held onto her tightly and his lips became more forceful, more rapturous. And damn that freakin' part of her, because as much as she wanted to pull away, to scream at him, to hit him, to effin' kill him really, she really didn't want to leave his arms. She didn't want to break the connection of their lips or move her body from his.

Basically, she wanted to stand, in this pink frilly room, kissing Patrick Verona forever.

Well, not forever … Maybe forever.

She pulled her head away trying to intake as much air as her lungs would allow. Patrick's breath was completely uneven as he too tried to recuperate from their little tryst.

"Oh my god." She dropped her head so that her forehead was on his chest.

"Well, there is a bed." He suggested, his voice slightly breathless. She pinched his side. "I'm just saying, like, if your tired."

"Oh shit, I have to go home." Kat shook her head. "I didn't say shit."

"Wow, Kat Stratford can curse. My virgin ears." She couldn't help but laugh as she picked her head up and looked at him. And as she looked at his face with his ever present smirk and those perfectly clear eyes, her emotions seemed to reconnect with her brain. Air flow would do that to a person.

She gently moved out of his arms, taking several steps back. Patrick watched her, crossing his arms and sighing deeply.

"What?"

"What do you mean what?" Kat began shaking her head. She was trying to remain calm because her body was still over heated. "I, I told you I was not an easy lay. I don't want to be the idealistic hook up because I won't bother you afterwards. Because I swear to god I will bother you. I will hunt your ass down." She moved her hand to her head. "I don't mean that. Ugh!"

She threw her arms up in the air, looking to see that it was almost eleven forty.

"You can't honestly tell me that all you think I want is a hook up." Patrick dropped his arms. "I asked you to the dance, I've been trying to talk to you for days."

"You ditched me at the dance and then you ignored me for most of the week." Kat's voice was flat just like the expression on her face. "I can think whatever I want."

"I got arrested because I was in the bathroom washing my hands while this moron was smoking pot! I didn't ditch you!" She had experienced Patrick's angry tone several times before, generally it was because she had done something to cause it. Like stick with him a metal poker and get oil all over him.

She had never seen it from an emotional perspective before.

"Well, you didn't call and you didn't contact me, and you didn't do," Kat was at a lost for words. One, because her body temp was still very high. And two because she was trying to push down feelings that were not allowed to be there. Feelings she had sworn she'd never have again with a person who was just going to hurt her. "I have to go. I just have to go." She stepped up on to the bed, walked across it, and flung the door open.

Patrick Verona would definitely hurt her.

---

It was about twelve thirty and the Stratford sisters were still up, sitting on stools and rolling their eyes at their father.

"No boys?" He had been pacing, pausing only when he was asking them a question.

"No boys." Both girls answered in unison, their eyes like marbles down a slide.

"No drugs?"

"No drugs."

"No fire paraphernalia of any--"

"Dad! Stop!" Kat placed a hand on her forehead. She was positive she was running a fever because she still felt heat coursing through her. "We didn't do anything with anyone. We went to a party, had fun, and came home three minutes late. It's fine."

"A lot of things can happen in three minutes Katherine." Kat held a groan. Bianca sighed and plastered a smile on her face.

"Daddy, we're safe and sound and I'm exhausted. Dawn is coming over tomorrow so we can work on a homework assignment and then go shopping. Can I please go to sleep?" She looked at Kat who looked faint. "I think Kat needs to lay down as well."

Mr. Stratford looked at his oldest daughter, concern showing through his dictator face. He took a step closer to her, his hand covering most of her head.

"You're running a fever, did you stay out in the cold too long?"

"I spilt soda on myself." Kat shrugged. "I doubt it caused pneumonia."

"Well, go lay down, both of you. I want lights out by one, the latest." Both girls nodded, moving from their stools and traveling up the stairs. Kat seemed to be going more slowly then she had wanted.

"How on earth did you get sick so fast?" Bianca asked as they got to the landing. Her small hand went to Kat's head as well. "Jeez! You're forehead is like Miami during spring break!"

Kat rolled her eyes moving towards her bedroom. "How would you know what it's like in Miami for spring break?"

Bianca stared at her, rolling her eyes and clicking her tongue. "Hello, MTV Beach Party, they show the temps through out the program." And, with that, Bianca walked to her room, moving the sheet she had put up to give her just a touch of privacy.

Kat simply groaned and walked into her bedroom, falling on to her bed without a second thought to the party or the boy that was causing her to want to beat herself with a wiffle bat.

---

Bianca skipped down the stairs, she was already dressed and primped for the day.

"Good morning daddy!" Mr. Stratford looked at his watch, moving his head from side to side.

"You slept in, it's almost twelve." Bianca kissed his cheek and moved towards the kitchen to make herself a chocolate chip eggo.

"Well Dawn should be here soon so we can work on our homework. Can you drive us to the mall later?"

"You're going to have to get Kat to do it, I have to go to the hospital in an hour. C-section." Bianca made a face but said nothing else on the matter.

"Morning." Kat was in a pair of sweats and an old tee-shirt.

"How you feeling sweetie?" She walked over to her father, bending slightly so he could feel her head. "No fever."

Kat nodded her head, happy that her body temp had returned to normal. "What's on the agenda today?"

"Daddy has a C-section and I'm going to need a ride to the mall later." Bianca walked to the table with her plate and some milk. "You mind?"

"You're lucky that I have to go and check out some books that were suppose to come out last week. Is there a specific time?" Kat had a sarcastic, sugary voice. Bianca gave her a look.

"I figured around three? Me and Dawn should be finished with our homework by then."

"Now, I'm going to be gone all day, you two will be ok?" Both girls looked at their father. "Ok then." He stood up. "I want to get some coffee. No web shows, no boys, no spending large amounts of money." The two girls continued to stare at their father. "Ok then."

"Bye dad." The girls chimed as their father walked away, opening the front door.

"So, you really don't mind taking us to the mall, is there some clause I should know about?"

"Just be grateful and take what I'm willing to give, for free." Kat stood up, walking over to the fridge.

"So, anything exciting happen at the party?" Kat looked over her shoulder, staring at her sister's overly large smile.

"Um, other then that jock boy you like spilling soda on me, no."

"That's funny because I saw Patrick Verona heading up the stairs shortly after you." Kat froze, her head still in the fridge. She made a face, closed her eyes, and let her chin hit her chest. "I knew it! What happened?"

Kat moved from the fridge, only to see Bianca standing against the counter. Her eyes were bright and big and her smile was taking over her face.

"Nothing happened, Bianca. He just wanted to apologize."

"And how did he apologize, Kitty Kat." Kat's eyes instantly narrowed. "Was it done with pretty, thought out words, or was it done with pretty, pouty lips?"

"I'm going to personally kill you if you don't shut up."

"Oh my god!" Bianca squealed. "He kissed you!"

"Jeez, Bianca, no one kissed anyone." There was no way to hide anything now and the urge to kill Bianca was running strong.

"Was it really hot? Did you guys just kiss a little or a full blown out make out session? Details!"

"Bianca!" Kat raised her hands in a questioned position. "What the hell would you know about making out?"

"I've kissed a boy!" Bianca placed her hands on her hips.

"For how long?" Kat mimicked her sister's pose.

"A good minute and a half!" Bianca huffed, letting her hands dropped. "Look, did you too make up, will there be dates and stuff, so that your younger sister can have dates and stuff?" Kat opened her mouth and then closed it. "Oh, great, you ruined it."

"What are you, in my mind?" Kat made a noise and grabbed her water bottle from the table.

"I told you I like Patrick around. You're so frustrated with him you don't even realize how much you're actually giving away." Bianca smiled. The doorbell rang, causing the blonde to jump up. "Dawn's here! I'll harass you at three."

"Yay!"

---

Kat walked out of the bathroom with her robe securely tied around her waist. She walked past Bianca's room, smiling slightly as she heard the excited whispers and giggles from the two girls.

Since the cheerleaders were having some kind of fundraiser tomorrow morning, Bianca and Dawn had asked permission for a sleepover. After removing any type of camera from Bianca's room, as well as disconnecting the wire from the computer, Mr. Stratford had happily agreed.

There were several things Kat loved about her bedroom. Like the fact that it was down the hall, away from Bianca's room as well as her father's room. She loved that she still had a door and a pretty decent window. Most of all, she loved just being away from the rest of the world.

She shut her door and walked over to her desk, her fingers tracing the leather cover of her photo album. Sitting down, she gently leaned forward turning on the lamp and opening the album to the first page. Her parents' wedding picture looked as if it had been taken only days ago.

Her fingers traced the outline of her mother, with her long white veil and laced sleeve dress. It was hard not to feel the smile on her lips or the sadness that usually washed over her when she looked at pictures of her mother.

She began flipping through the pages. Various family photos, silly photos, and random photos caused her to smile, laugh, or even feel a knot in her chest.

As she neared the middle of the thick album, she took a breath, staring at the boy who had once held her heart. At least had held her heart when the only thing she wanted to do was stay in her quiet little corner reading.

She couldn't help her hand gently running across the clear film that protected yet another memory that made her hate her younger self. The self that didn't know better. At least now she knew much, much better. And she was willing to stand up for everything, be it the environment or be it her power as a woman.

No man was going to knock Kat Stratford off her high horse.

Something shifting outside caused Kat to glance toward the window, only to look back down at the album, only to have her jump up and stare at the smirking figure on her wobbling balcony.

"Oh sweet baby jesus." Kat rushed to the window. "What are you doing here? Again?"

Patrick did not wait for an invitation. He pressed passed her, climbing into her room.

"Haven't changed anything I see." Kat rolled her eyes.

"What are you doing--?" She didn't get to finish as his lips met hers for a third time. The familiar heat, that had taken over her not twenty four hours ago, began burning her body once again.

He was the one to pull away first, his smirk practically jumping off his face.

"We never finished our conversation." Kat couldn't help her jaw, literally, dropping.

"You trespassed across my yard, my house, so you could come into my room, uninvited, so you could kiss me and tell me we didn't finish our conversation?" She made an aggravated noise. "That is not only borderline harassment, that's psychotic."

"I do have a reputation to up hold." He took his hand and gently touched the side of her head, running his fingers through the wet locks. "I like your outfit. Very bedroom friendly."

Kat looked at him and then looked down. Her arms instantly crossed over her robe as her cheeks turned a deep red.

"Get out Verona."

"Last name basis, sexy." He ran his tongue over his lips, moving towards her desk. "Who's this schmuck?"

Kat's eyes grew sizes too big for her face. She took two large steps grabbing the album, that had been laying opened for the world to see, and clutched it close to her chest.

"He is no one of any importance."

"You two seemed cozy in the picture." A smirk was still playing on his lips. He moved from the desk to the bed, gently flopping down on it. He patted the spot next to him. Kat did not budge.

"Who's the jealous one now?"

"I'm not jealous. He's obviously a past tense because you're not the type of girl who would be whoring around town."

"Now I'm a whore?" Kat's tone was dry. "Jeez, Verona, if I didn't know any better, I'd think you'd want me to hate you."

"You didn't already," he placed his hands on his heart. "I'm touched that you care."

Kat simply stared at him. "Get out."

"Not without you." He raised his arms, placing them behind his head. "This is a very comfortable bed Stratford."

"Patrick, jeez, what do you want from me?" Kat swatted his legs and walked to her door, pressing her ear to the wood to make sure no one was wandering the halls.

"I owe you a trip to the beach." She looked over at him, expecting some form of smirk or smile. There was nothing but a serious face. So, she just stared at him.

Patrick sighed and stood up. He took three steps and stood in front of her. His hand pushed back her hair once again, gently cupping the back of her neck as he leaned close to her ear.

"Get dressed and meet me downstairs, right outside your window. Ok?"

Maybe it was because she had forgotten to take a breath. Maybe it was the fact that the heat under her skin flared up as his hand held her neck steady. Maybe she was dreaming. Maybe she had finally lost it. But Kat Stratford simply nodded her head, barely registering the kiss on her cheek or the sudden disappearing act that Patrick had become so good at.

She ran her hands down her face, muffling a scream. She walked over to her window, peering out as Patrick stood at the bottom, his arms crossed and a smile on his face. She leaned away from the window and looked at the photo album that had been placed on her dresser and then at the ceiling.

"He better be worth it."

It took less then ten minutes for Kat Stratford to change her clothes, climb down the trellis, and follow Patrick half way up the block to where his bike was parked. It took less then two minutes for her to suck up all her opinions about bikes and boys who drove bikes, and climb behind him, her arms grasping his waist in a death grip.

"Hold on tight." His hand gently rubbed her tightly gripping hands around his waist. "I promise I'll make it smooth."

And with that, Kat Stratford was placing her life in Patrick Verona's hands.