Patrick was about to walk out the door to head to Sabrina's when he heard Matt shout for him to hold on a second.
Patrick had spent every night at Sabrina's since the night they first made love, so he was rarely at his apartment unless it was to pack an overnight bag. Most of the time, he managed to avoid Matt and his questions about the dumbass bet he made, but he figured his luck had just run out.
"Dude, where are you off to again?"
"Out," Patrick said, not wanting to elaborate.
"Yeah, I figured that." On a smirk, he added, "So, I'm assuming your efforts to get Sabrina's attention paid off, huh?"
Ordinarily, he would have made a snarky arrogant comment about his prowess with women, but he had no desire to cheapen what he had with Sabrina, so Patrick stayed silent.
When he didn't answer, Matt looked at him funny and then said, "Oh my God. You've fallen for her, haven't you?"
"Huh?"
"Sabrina. You're in love with her." Matt sat down on the couch and said, "I can't believe it..."
Patrick opened his mouth to deny it, but couldn't seem to get the words out. Was he in love with Sabrina? He'd never been in love before and, in fact, had worked overtime to avoid the sentiment in order to focus on his career. But, there was something about Sabrina that had drawn him in from the moment he crashed into her. The more time he spent with her, the more he wanted to be with her.
Patrick was still pondering his revelation when Matt said, "You know, the clock is ticking... Are you going to ask Sabrina to the ball or not?"
Meanwhile...
Sabrina was having dinner with Felix, who, she had unintentionally been blowing off since she and Patrick got together. She hadn't meant to, but Patrick was quickly becoming like an addiction to her. The more she saw him, the more she needed to. When she wasn't with him, she couldn't get him off her mind and when she was with him, nothing else seemed to matter. She was lost in thought when Felix asked, "So, how go the sexcapades with Dr. Drake?"
The water Sabrina had been drinking at the time went down the wrong hole, causing her to cough. "Huh?" she asked, when she recovered.
"You. Dr. Dreamboat. Sexcapades…"
Feigning ignorance, Sabrina said, "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Come on, Sabrina, the two of you are the worst kept secret at GH right now. You all think you're being stealthy, but you aren't."
"We're friends, Felix."
"I know that. But I also know that none of your other 'friends' come to your place every night and stay over. Nor do they make you scream like a banshee..."
"Oh my God…" Sabrina muttered as she blushed furiously.
Felix laughed at Sabrina's unease, but then said, in all seriousness, "So, really, Bree, how are things going? I worry about you, you know."
"It's going better than I expected, Felix. He really is a great guy. Not at all like everyone says." Sabrina said on a sigh.
"Uh-oh"
"What?"
"Your falling for him, aren't you?"
Sabrina thought for a moment. She wanted to deny it, but she knew Felix would see right through her. "Yeah, I guess I am."
"Just be careful, Bree. I don't want to see you get hurt."
Later That Night...
Sabrina knew it was Patrick the moment she heard the knock at the door, so she rushed to open it. When she saw him standing there, Sabrina burst into a huge smile. God, how she'd missed him. She was about to greet him when he quickly stepped over the threshold and used one hand to grab her and pull her into a fierce kiss while he simultaneously threw his duffel down on the floor with the other and used his foot to kick the door closed.
Sabrina, consumed by desire, kissed him back intensely as she began unbuttoning his plaid shirt. He responded by inching the hem of her shirt upward as he backed her toward the bedroom. Once they were inside, Patrick broke the kiss to yank off her shirt, only then whispering, "Hi," with that devastatingly handsome smile of his. Sabrina followed suit, whispering hello as she slid his shirt from his shoulders, and then pulled him back down for another kiss as they worked to divest each other of the rest of their clothing. With no further barriers between them, they sank to her bed and into bliss.
Later, Sabrina, sated and cuddled against Patrick said, "That was one hell of a greeting."
Patrick kissed the top of her head. "I missed you."
"I missed you, too."
"So, how was dinner with Felix?"
"Enlightening."
"How so?"
"Apparently we are the worst kept secret at GH."
When Patrick just said a quiet "Huh" in response, Sabrina decided to bring up the subject that had been on her mind for a while now. "It kind if got me to thinking."
"About what?"
"The Golden Ball."
"What about it?" he asked, voice strange.
"Well, since everyone has figured out we are together anyway... I was thinking maybe we could go... As a couple."
When Patrick was silent for several moments, Sabrina shifted so she could prop herself up on her elbow to look at him. "Patrick, say something. You're worrying me."
"It's just that, ah, I don't think its a good idea."
Hurt, Sabrina asked, "Why? Are you ashamed to be seen in public with me?"
"No, that's not it!"
"Then what is it?"
"I just don't think we should go to the ball together. That's all."
Sabrina got out of bed and pulled on her robe. "Why?"
"Because," Patrick said as he sat up against the pillows.
"That's not an answer!" Sabrina said, now agitated.
"I never take dates to hospital functions. Ever. And I'm not about to start now."
"Why?"
Patrick got out of bed and began rooting around on the floor for his clothes. "People will get the wrong idea. Especially because you're you."
"Meaning, what? That you lost a bet? Because that would be the only explanation for why a guy like you would take a girl like me there right?!"
"Don't be ridiculous, Sabrina." He began angrily pulling on his clothes. "I'm getting tired of having this same discussion with you over and over. I'm with you because I want to be and I'm sick of having to prove it over and over. Why can't you trust me?"
"How do you expect me to trust that you want to be with me and you aren't ashamed of me when I ask you to go to the Ball, but you refuse to take me?"
"I just can't, okay? Can we drop it?"
"Not can't. Won't." Sabrina paused as she worked to keep her tears at bay. Then, finally facing the fact that this relationship with Patrick was too good to be true, said, "Get out."
"What?!"
"I want you to leave. Get your stuff and go. This thing between us is over as of now."
Patrick moved toward her, but Sabrina put her hands up in defense. Then she walked back to her living room and picked up his duffle.
When he came out, dressed, she threw it at him and opened the door. "I knew this was a bad idea... Please leave."
Not budging, Patrick said, "So, just because I won't take you to a party, you're going to throw me out of your life without even giving me a vote?"
"Absolutely."
Sabrina knew Patrick was pissed off, but she stood her ground, motioning him out the door with her hand. He stalked over to her and shouted, "Fine! Have it your way! But you're making a huge mistake."
Sabrina pushed him out the door, literally. Before she slammed it in his face, she said, "No, I'm not. I'm fixing one."
Once she bolted the lock, Sabina slid down the door and let the tears fall. How could she be so stupid as to believe that a man like Patrick Drake would want a mousy nobody like her?