Chapter 6
After the emotional dance followed by a few fun ones, Kat and Patrick headed off the dance floor and sat down at an empty table. Patrick had gone all out with his costume, so of course he had a deck of cards in one of his trench coat pockets. Pulling it out, they started playing various games. After a couple games each of poker, blackjack, and war, they decided to finish off the round of games with a game of speed spit. Patrick had to show her how to play, since Kat was new to the game.
"The point of the game is to get rid of all of your cards. We are going to make two stacks of cards that either ascend or descend in order. For example, if the first card down is a five, you can put down a four or a six. Then you continue the sequence. Once you get rid of all of the cards in your hands, you slap the smaller pile, and they become yours. We keep doing that until one of us doesn't have enough cards to start a pile, in which case one pile is made. Once one of us runs out of cards, we slap the empty space. Whoever does it faster wins the game."
"You are definitely going to lose this game. I have great reflexes. I can pull out my can of mace in three seconds, flat."
Chuckling, Patrick replied, "I ride a motorcycle, Katerina. Staying alive requires me to use my reflexes every day."
"We'll see. Split the deck, let's get this game started."
After a couple rounds, which went slowly so she could get a hand of the game, Kat realized why Patrick had decided to teach her this game. Only one person needed to run out of cards before a pile needed to be slapped. If he saw that she was about to finish her hand, he would watch her place the last card and try to slap the smaller pile before her. This led to a lot of touching of hands. His liked to linger a couple seconds if he came in second. They were getting near the end of the game when Patrick placed his hand over the cards she was caring. Looking up, she followed his gaze. Jason was holding Bianca's hand and leading her through a side door of the gym.
"Damn it, and I was winning too," Kat said as she got up from her chair and started walking after them.
Patrick stood up as well, collecting all the cards and putting them back in his pocket. He had been enjoying himself immensely, which was pretty unusual for him at a school dance. Even more so when taking into account that he had just been playing cards and chatting with his date, nothing more. Catching up with her, he grabbed her left hand and started leading her to another door. She looked at him questioningly, but didn't try to fight his lead.
"I'm pretty sure I know where he is heading. There are only a couple places faculty forget to check in on at these dances and he is heading in the direction of one."
"I'm going to ignore the fact that you know so much about these hidden places and just ask, why we are not going towards this place as well?"
"We are. I know a short cut. The question you should be asking is what we do when we get there. Pretend we are doing the same thing he plans on doing with you sister so he has to go back to a public area?"
That scenario appealed to him, but he knew that wasn't something she was ready for, even if it were just an act. It wouldn't be just an act for you. Admit it. Shaking that thought from his mind, he looked at Kat and waited for her plan.
"That's not going to work. Bianca doesn't even know I came with a date. She would go crazy if she saw me making out with a guy."
"Would a girl be better, because I'm sure I can get one quickly to help us out."
"Stop telling me your fantasies. My plan is simple. Act like our characters. They have a pretty volatile relationship. We came to someplace private to have a heated argument. That will get them to leave quickly, and Bianca will be concentrating too hard on what I was fighting with you about to go somewhere quiet with Jason. She'll want to check if there is any gossip about us."
They had arrived at the hidden location. It was a small space in between the end of a hallway wall and a set of lockers. If someone were to turn his or her head to see if anyone were where they shouldn't be, this spot wouldn't be seen. They could hear footsteps coming towards them and Bianca whispering.
"I'm not sure this is a good idea. My dad will kill me if a teacher tells him I was sneaking around with a guy. Not to mention what my sister would do."
"Don't worry, we won't be caught. Your sister sounds like a bitch though. Why wouldn't she want you to have a little fun?"
"Kat's just really responsible. Plus, I think all the guys at this school are scared of her."
Knowing they were about to reach where Patrick and she were standing, Kat began to whisper frantically at Patrick with a pissed off tone in her voice.
"Don't you know the meaning of I'm not interested, Verona? If I wanted to break and enter somewhere, I wouldn't choose school property! You can find someone else to have some fun with. And a word of advice, if you can keep it in your pants for another half-hour, you can be at Chastity's house having tons of fun with different chics in every room. I'm sure you've pulled that off before."
"Aww, I love it when you get feisty. What was it that Charlie Woo said? You're a tigress? I wonder how accurate that description is in a more intimate situation."
By this time Bianca and Jason were staring at them. Bianca had her mouth open in shock, probably not believing her sister was fighting with the bad ass of the school. Jason's reaction, on the other hand, made Patrick want to punch him multiple times, hard. When he had seen that the spot was taken, he had scowled, but that had changed quickly when he caught sight of Kat. Patrick knew Kat would draw male eyes in her costume, but he wasn't prepared for how angry it would make him to see someone ogling her. And this guy is definitely ogling.
"Kat, what are you doing?" Bianca asked in a loud voice, forgetting they weren't supposed to be out in the hall. Kat replied and the sisters started a heated conversation.
Now she's done it, Patrick thought. Jason was looking at Kat with an even closer eye. He had probably thought Kat was some loser who no guy wanted, making her jealous of Bianca being with him. Now he obviously knew that Kat would never lack male company if she wanted it. She was beautiful when doing nothing, but she had an even more appealing look to her when she was fired up. Her eyes were wide and sharp, her hair flew behind her head when she emphasized a word, and her hands moved gracefully in front of her. And while I'm mentally waxing poetry, he's decided the older sister would make a better conquest. Great, now I'll have to worry even more at the after-party. Deciding it was time to get back to the gym, he stood up from were he had been leaning against the side of the locker.
"Since it looks like none of us will be having some extra fun any time soon, I'm out. Chastity's house just got more appealing."
Taking her cue from him, Kat started walking away as well.
"Why don't you go find Dawn and her date? I want to see you all leave together."
Jason saw his chance to make some more time for Kat to get to know him. Now this one will be a challenge. I'll be a legend on the team.
"What about you, Kat? Matt already left with Dawn, so we have plenty of room in my car."
Bianca turned to him, surprised.
"Dawn left? Why didn't she tell me? We were supposed to ride together."
"I don't know, babe. But it's fine. Your dad can't get upset if your sister were in the car too, right?"
"I think she already planned to go in someone else's car. Right, Kat?"
Patrick had hidden behind a small space between lockers so he could hear what was going on. He knew Kat wouldn't let her sister go off with that jerk by herself, which meant he would have to search for Kat at the party. He needed to find her fast too, because he knew Jason planned on having Kat tonight, and he would do anything to make sure that happened. Over my dead body. He started walking again, getting on his bike and heading to Chastity's house. He had to get a good spot so he could see Kat right when she arrived.
Meanwhile, Kat was agreeing with Jason, pretending to be grateful that he not only offered her a ride, but was also understanding about their dad. She wasn't naïve; she could see quite clearly that Jason's plans for the night had changed. It actually made her feel a bit better. If he had decided to go after her instead of Bianca, then Bianca was in a lot less trouble than before heading to this hidey-hole.
Better me than her. I can take care of him if he tries anything, she thought. Plus, a small voice whispered in her mind, Patrick will be watching after you, too.
AN: So a five-hour car trip allowed for some writing time. Not sure when I'll have some more. Hopefully, it will be soon!
