An hour later, Katia was sitting at the table she would share with Linda, Shane, Stephanie, Vince, Marissa, Joanie and Paul. Linda, Shane and Vince were off mingling, mostly with business associates, Stephanie and Marissa were whispering in hushed tones and Joanie and Paul were having a disagreement about her cleavage. As for Kat, well, she was as bored as ever. Although sitting quietly by herself was more interesting than watching Shane mingle.
Suddenly, salvation appeared at her side in the form of Andrew Martin.
"You look bored out of your mind," he whispered in her ear.
"I am."
"Why don't you join us? Our table's fun," he said, nodding to the Canadian Mafia's table.
"I think I'll do just that."
Grabbing her purse and signaling to Joanie, Kat allowed Andrew to take her to his table where Jason and Chris quickly made room for her.
"We were having an argument about Degrassi," explained Adam. "Andrew was losing and we figured you could be our tie breaker."
"I'd love to," smiled Katia. "I'm a Degrassi expert."
"Really? Okay, try this on for size. How many names did Joey, Snake and Wheels' band have? And what were they?"
"Oh my God," she laughed, "that is so easy. Three names and they were: The Zits, The Zit Remedy and The Remedy."
"That's what I said," said Andrew. "I believe you guys owe me fifty bucks, American, a piece."
"Did you guys rehearse in advance?" asked Jason, handing Andrew his share of the money.
"No. Otherwise, I would have asked him about my cut," said Kat, taking two of the crisp bills from Andrew's hand.
For another half-hour, Katia enjoyed herself, laughing and making jokes as Shane went on mingling. Finally, right before the first service of the night, he came to get her.
"Sorry to tear you away from your fellows Canadians, but we have to get back to our table," he explained, pulling her chair back.
"No problem. And Jason, I look forward to that dance."
"Cool beans," said Jason with a smile.
"Having fun?" asked Shane, as they wove their way through the tables.
"Yeah. The guys are a lot of fun."
"I'm sorry about leaving you to your own devices, but Mom and Dad insisted."
"It's okay," she lied, "I understand."
Katia didn't lie about understanding. She did understand. Running a company like the WWF was a twenty four hours a day, seven days a week business. But it wasn't okay. She's come to be with Shane, not to watch him dazzle everyone in sight.
The young couple made it back to his table just as Linda and Vince were sitting down.
"Well," said Vince, "I am happy to say that all of you are looking wonderful tonight. And I'd like to thank Katia and Marissa for making the trip to join us tonight."
"It's my pleasure," said both Katia and Marissa at the same time.
The two women smiled at each other from across the table. Kat finally took the time to look at Marissa and had to realize that she was a pretty woman, beautiful even. Shane and her must have made a stunning couple. She took a quick look at her boyfriend, at his beautiful features and just then, he looked at her.
"What?" he asked.
"I was just thinking that's all."
"About?"
"You and Marissa: you must have looked good together."
"We did."
"So what happened then?"
"I don't know. we didn't suit, I guess. She's a great girl. The whole family liked her. But being with her was way too much like going out with a friend. it didn't feel right."
"And with me?"
"I couldn't imagine going back to just being your friend."
Shane kissed Katia on the mouth and went back to his conversation with Paul and Joanie.
"So Katia," asked Linda, "how are you enjoying this so far?"
"I'm enjoying this a lot. And to think, I was going to spend tonight home alone cooking and watching TV."
"What about your friends?" asked Stephanie, "or do you have any friends?"
"I have friends," said Kat, "but most of them are spending tonight with their families."
"And why aren't you doing the same?"
"It's kind of difficult when my parents are in Haiti and my sister is in France."
"So I guess everyone runs away from you eventually, don't they?"
"No Steph," said Joanie, "I believe that's you."
Linda and Vince snickered and started talking together while Stephanie added Joanie to her hit list. Katia sat there, listening to Shane and Paul's conversation when she noticed Marissa and Stephanie whispering while Steph pointed at Kat.
"How can I help you?" asked Kat the two women in her driest tone.
"Steph and I were just talking about your eyebrows." said Marissa hesitantly, "they're really beautiful, you know. perfectly shaped."
"Thank you," said Katia with a warm smile.
"How often do you pluck?" asked Steph.
"Oh, I don't."
"Please. Brows like yours? You have to pluck."
"I don't. It's something I got from my mother's side of the family."
"Yeah right."
"Well, they're beautiful and you're lucky," said Marissa. "I'd give anything not to have a pluck again."
"I can't even imagine doing that. My mother's side gave me the perfect brows and my father's side gave me the big feet. It's a fair trade."
"The feet can't be that much of a problem."
"Trust me, it's always been a problem. At my first communion."
While Marissa and Katia seemed to hit it off like long lost friends, Stephanie sat in her chair seething. What was it about this Katia, she wondered? How was it that everybody was falling under her spell? What was so special about her? Stephanie stormed off angrily, ignoring Marissa when she asked her what was wrong.
"I think that was my fault," said Marissa with a tight smile.
"I guess we weren't supposed to get along," whispered Katia.
"Actually, I think we were supposed to hate each other and get Shane to break up with you."
"Damn!"
"It's funny," said Marissa thoughtfully. "I thought I'd hate you. From what Steph said, you were this really stupid bimbo."
"And?"
"You're an ordinary girl with these amazing eyebrows."
"Ah yes, the eyebrows."
"Yes, the eyebrows."
Stephanie came back for the meal and they all ate the delicious food.
However, right after the last dish, but before dessert, Linda, Shane and Vince were off again, mingling. Slowly, as the waiters cleared the tables, music started. No couples dared to approach the dance floor until Linda and Vince took the floor for a waltz. They danced for a good minute until Shane appeared at Katia's side.
"Do you waltz?" he asked.
"As a matter of fact, I do," answered, accepting Shane's proffered hand.
Shane and Katia swept across the dance floor, their bodies moving together in perfect synchronization. The young woman had never really waltzed, except with her good friend Larry, way back in high school. But dancing with Shane, in this atmosphere, wearing this wonderful dress, she actually felt like a princess, kind of like something right out of a
fantasy.
But way too soon, way too fast, Shane was steering her back to the table.
"That was great," whispered Katia, quickly kissing him on the lips.
"Yeah, it was. Listen, I have to go for a moment. There's something I really have to talk about with Dad."
"Okay."
Before she could nod her assent, Shane was gone. She watched him, heartbroken as he laughed with some of his father's friends and business associates. She suddenly felt so alone, so lonely.
"Daunting isn't it?" said a voice next to her.
"What?" Katia pretty much jumped right out of her skin as she turned around. It was Marissa.
"Don't take it personally. Vince uses every opportunity as a business opportunity. And since Shane's a big part of the business... well, you know."
"I'd never seen that aspect of the business before. It's..."
"Lonely for us. I remember."
Katia suddenly felt incredibly defeated. She watched Shane as he sat down at other tables, talked with many men and women, handling fortunes with a smile. She sighed, feeling tears come to her eyes. This wasn't what she'd come for. She'd come to spend time with her boyfriend and right now, she was seeing all that time trickled out of her life, like sand through fingers.
The young woman got up, and was about to run out when Andrew came to her rescue for the second time and dragged her out to the dance floor. As soon as she started to dance, she started to forget and the pain started to go away. But when she checked her watch at 11.59pm, the pain came back. She was going to welcome the Fake Millenium without Shane at her side.
"Excuse me," Kat said quickly, moving out of Andrew's embrace.
"Katia, wait." he said, but all too quickly, she disappeared in the crowd.
The young woman hurried out of the ballroom, sorrow and hurt rising in her throat. She swallowed quickly, trying to keep the tears at bay. As she dug through her purse for a tissue, a pair of arms went around her waist as a kiss was gently laid on the nape of her neck.
"Shane," she said dryly.
"Where were you running off to?" he asked, turning her around in his arms.
"Nowhere... what does it matter?"
"It matters to me."
Shane finally noticed the sadness in her eyes and lifted her chin. He didn't like the sadness in her eyes. He'd done his best to chase that emotion from her eyes but it seemed like he was failing.
"What's wrong?"
"You spent more time entertaining your other guests than you did me," she finally xploded, shoving her way out of his arms. "If it hadn't been for Andrew, I would have spent the whole night sitting at the table while your sister vented her frustrations on me."
"Katia... I'm so sorry... I guess."
"You did the same thing to Marissa when you were going out with her. And you know what Shane? I came here to be with you, not to be by myself. I could have done that at home."
Just then, a loud clamor came from the ballroom. It was 2000. It was the Fake Millenium. Katia smiled weakly and this time, she wasn't able to stop the tears. She finally found that tissue and started dabbing at her eyes, being careful not to smudge her make-up. Shane reached out and cupped her face, laying a gentle kiss on her lips. Even though his tongue ran over her full lips, she kept her mouth firmly closed.
"So this is where you two ran off to," said Vince, coming out of the ballroom with Linda.
"Dad, if you don't mind," said Shane as Kat quickly turned away from the McMahons.
"Shane, everybody wants to see you and wish you a Happy New Year. You too, Katia," added Vince, kind of like an after-thought.
Katia took a deep breath, about to decline Vince's offer when her cell phone rang. She quickly excused herself and walked out of earshot.
"Hello? Mom! Happy New Year! Yes, I'm having fun... I'm at a friend's party... in the States... who? You don't know him... yes Mom, it's a him... no,well, I'm not sure if it is serious... where are you guys? Presidential Mansion? Not too shabby. Where's Dad? Sure, I'll hold. hi Dad. Happy New Year! Yes, I'm fine. I'm at a party with friends... yes, it's a lot of fun. Dad, are Jacques and Véronique with you? Could you please give them my best wishes and to anyone else who's there that I know? Thanks... yeah, I'm having the dinner at the house tomorrow... no, aunt Claudette is not coming... but everyone else is... Jessyka is coming too... and maybe a few other friends... okay, I understand... you'll call tomorrow? Good. I'll be expecting your call. Bye... and kiss Mom for me."
Kat flipped the phone shut and took another deep breath. She kept on drying her eyes and once she was done, she finally turned around. There were now a lot of people in the hallway. Shane was there, talking with his father and another business partner. Joanie was chatting with Marissa and Linda and Paul was with the Canadian Mafia. And Katia, as always, was alone. She picked up her skirts and headed for the bathroom.
The young woman headed for the wall of mirrors and looked at her full-length reflection. She looked wonderful, regal, and almost like someone who belonged. But when she looked a bit harder, she saw her true self. A little girl who was lost and who wasn't sure she belonged. She snatched tissues from a nearby box and set about repairing the damage from her childish tears.
Kat was washing her hands when Joanie and Marissa walked in.
"Are you okay?" asked Joanie.
"I don't know. if it weren't for the make-up, I'd bawl my eyes out right now."
"I remember the feeling," said Marissa, "but I think you shook Shane up. I just heard him telling Vince that he was done with business for the night."
"You did?" asked Katia.
"Yeah. Vince was about to protest but Linda shot him down and told him Shane needed to spend time with you."
"Wow!"
"Tell me about it," said Marissa, "if only she'd done that when. I'm sorry Katia."
"It's okay. I think. I can only imagine how this must feel for you."
"Don't get me wrong. I don't love Shane that way anymore. But if Linda had stood up for me the way she did for you."
"You might still be with him," finished Katia for her.
"Maybe..."
"All right," said Joanie after a few moments, "this is all nice and sweet but you have got to get back out there Katia and make Shane pay for his behavior tonight."
"I don't really want to make him pay Joanie. As long as he gets it... that's all I want."
"Well, I'm in the mood for revenge and I want to get it."
Joanie pushed Katia out of the bathroom and the two of them stumbled straight into Andrew.
"Kat, I was worried about you," he said, "you ran out of there so fast. And you looked like you were about to cry."
"I'm fine Andrew, thanks."
"Good. I guess this is as good a time as any to wish you a Happy New Year."
Andrew pecked both of her cheeks and wrapped her up in a big hug.
Katia's arms stretched around his massive back and she suddenly felt Joanie move her hand down to Andrew's rock hard butt.
"Joanie," she hissed, "what the fuck..."
"Shane's looking at you guys. I'm just giving him something to look at."
"What's going on here?" asked Andrew, straightening out of the hug, a grin on his handsome features.
"We're making Shane jealous" said Joanie. "You wanna play?"
"Do I get to hug Katia a lot?"
"Yep," answered Joanie.
"I'm in."
"I'm not," protested Katia.
"That doesn't matter," said Marissa, "this is going to be fun."
Before Kat could protest, Andrew was dragging her back into the ballroom and walked with her straight to the Canadian Mafia table.
"Jason, I believe you promised this young lady a dance," he said.
"Andrew, I swear to God, I don't want to do this," said Katia between clenched teeth.
"What's going on?" asked Jason, getting up.
"We're making Shane jealous," explained Andrew.
"Oh, fun!"
Next thing she knew, Katia was on the dance floor with Jason.
"What are we going to do now?" asked Katia.
"Can you follow instructions?" he asked.
"Yeah. Jason..." she said hesitantly. "I..."
"Hush... now just follow mine."
An old-fashioned salsa began and Jason started instructing Katia on how to move. For the first couple of seconds, the young woman was embarrassed and she was a bit stiff but as she got into it, she started enjoying herself. Jason was an accomplished dancer and a great teacher.
By the time they finished dancing, Shane was upon them immediately.
"I get it," he said to both Jason and Katia.
"What do you get?" asked the blond cockily.
"I started the evening as a jackass... and I intend to make it up to you Katia."
"Then my work here is done," said Jason. "And Katia?"
"Yeah?"
"We definitely have to dance together again."
"Cool."
A slow Tony Bennett song started and Shane drew Katia into his arms. They moved together in silence until the DJ then switched to a Frank Sinatra classic.
"I acted like a idiot tonight," he said, "I invited you but I spent like an hour with you, and that was when we were eating. I'm so sorry."
"What are you sorry for?" she asked mercilessly, "because I got mad and almost walked out, or because you ignored me?"
"Both. you deserve better treatment from me."
"Then you're forgiven," she said with a smile.
"Thank God," he sighed, "I thought you were going to break up with me or something."
"No, I wasn't going to break up with you over this. I was going to cry and torture you a bit longer, and I might have thrown something at you, like a teddy bear or something, but we would have solved this eventually."
"Good. So this means we're good, right?"
"Shane, it means that if you were to kiss me right now, I'd let you slip me the tongue."
Shane didn't need a more specific invitation. He wrapped his arms around Kat as tightly as he could without hurting her and laid a kiss on her that made her knees buckle. Stephanie cruised by in Kurt Angle's arms and made a few snide comments, which were ignored. Joanie and Paul swept past, grinning from ear to ear, as did Linda and Vince. From the sidelines, the Canadian Mafia cheered on the young couple, slapping each other on the back.
But all too soon, Cinderella had to leave the ball. Vince had arranged for her to fly back on the WWF jet at four in the morning. So Shane and her left the ball at two thirty in the morning, went to the hotel so she could pack her bags and change her clothes. Then, he drove her back to the airport. While they waited through the final preparations in the hangar office, they made up for whatever time they'd lost while Shane had been mingling at the ball.
"That was nice," said Katia, wiping her lipstick off his lips.
"And to think I could have done that instead of talking business. What a shame!"
"Well, if you're good tonight, I'll find a very pleasant way of bringing in the New Year."
January 1st, 2000
Joanie rang the doorbell at Katia's house and was greeted by a loud It's open! The onslaught of smells took Joanie's breath away. Katia was standing in front of the oven, stirring something, and wearing black track pants and a white tank top. A bright red handkerchief covered her hair. Her feet clad in ratty slippers marked the beat to Enrique
Iglesias' Bailamos. She turned to Joanie, her smile widening greatly. "Hey there honey, it's only three. I thought you guys were arriving much later."
"We got an earlier flight. I thought you could use a hand."
"Thanks. I'm almost done in the kitchen and the basements and bathrooms are clean too. Right now, the main thing is getting the table from the basement and setting the table."
"I think I can do that."
With Joanie's help, Kat managed to finish everything up in half the time. Both her and Joanie sat down on the couch, sighing in relief.
"After this, we don't have to do anything else, right?" asked the Ninth Wonder of the World.
"Oh no baby... we're just getting started," laughed Kat. "It's a house party, a Haitian one at that. Nothing really ends until two days later."
Joanie turned to Kat, her eyes going wide with fear as Kat chuckled and nodded.
Kat's cousins, Jennie and Melissa were the first ones to arrive, along with Kat's best friend Jess. Jess and Kat had spent very little time together in the past couple of months. Both of them were busy with work and boyfriends. But their friendship had survived.
As per tradition, all three came bearing gifts. For Jennie and Melissa, it was a bowl of their mother's cold macaroni salad and a huge store-bought strawberry cheesecake. As for Jess, it was two boxes of typical Haitian meat patties, the traditional Haitian hors d'oeuvre.
"Hello girlies," said Katia, relieving them of their packages, still wearing her thick red terry cloth robe.
"You're not dressed yet?" asked a critical Melissa.
"Hey first of all, this is the first time I'm doing this and I am on my own. Happy New Year, by the way."
"Happy Y2K, babes," said Jess, pecking Kat's cheek.
"Katia," said Jennie, unceremoniously dumping her coat on her sister's head, "what can we do to help?"
As soon as Kat set them off to various tasks and scurried to her bedroom to change, the doorbell rang again.
"Jess," she shouted, "get that for me?"
As she hopped around her room, putting on her grey wool stocking, Kat tried to figure out who it was but she couldn't hear the voices clearly enough. Nagged by her curiosity, she pulled on her robe and opened the door to her bedroom. She saw Joanie, Paul and Shane introduce themselves to her two cousins. She also saw Jess standing behind the three stars, her mouth gaping as wide as ever. Kat giggled and shut the door. She still had to figure out what to wear.
The young hostess was trying to decide if she was going to wear the grey dress she'd bought for that double date with Paul and Joanie or if she was going to go the easy way with a pair of grey slacks and a white shirt.
"I prefer the dress," said Shane from the doorway, "I've got great memories of that dress."
"Then the dress it is," she said, smiling at him.
"Good. So how are things coming along?" he asked.
"Getting better by the minute," she answered, walking to him.
Kat pulled Shane's mouth down to her for a passionate kiss. The two of them used their tongues to plunder each other's mouths. Shane lifted Kat off her feet, hooking her legs around his hips as he blindly made his way to the bed. They fell on the bed in a heap, gasping heavily. Shane's hungry mouth had just found his girlfriend's diamond hard nipple
when the bedroom door opened.
"Kat, where is the..." started Melissa. "Oh come on," she sighed impatiently, "we're working our butts off in the kitchen and the two of you are in here, rutting like animals?"
"Melissa..."
"I'm serious here Katia. This is your party after all. You're not being a very good hostess, you know."
"She's being real good to me," muttered Shane from between the breasts he was trying to cover.
"Fine. I'll be there in a minute," said Katia. "And you," she said, pushing Shane off her, "are a very bad boy."
"That's why you love me baby."
About an hour later, Kat sat at the head of the dining room table and she smiled broadly. Shane was on her left and next to him were her cousins Jennie and Melissa. Jess was on her right, next to Joanie and Paul. Further down the tables were her cousins Frank and Gary, Frank with his wife and fourteen-month-old son and Gary with his girlfriend Brittany. Mark and Nadine, two of Katia's childhood friends, were there too, as were Naomi and John. Naomi was Kat's cousin through Frank and Gary and she was also Jennie's best friend. All and all, they were a very noisy and happy bunch.
"This is great Kat," said Brittany, "is this a traditional Haitian meal for New Year's?"
"I don't know how traditional this is for the rest of the Haitian community but this is tradition for us, right guys."
"Actually, it's not really tradition until you butcher the turkey, Kat."
"Fuck you Gary!" she said with a smile.
"Isn't it supposed to be the oldest male who carves the turkey?" asked Paul.
"Not in this house," said Frank, "here we let Katia have at it until there's nothing left but the bird's carcass."
"Frank, Gary," she said, shouting on top of the laughter, "the two of you get out right now! Leave the wife, the girlfriend and the baby but get the hell out of my house!"
At the same time, the brothers got up and came to stand beside Katia and they pecked her cheeks together. She punched them in the ribs and eased her way out of their embraces. Kat picked up the big electric knife and started carving the big bird. And she did a great job of it, even though her cousins kept nagging her. Once the bird was carved, Frank and Gary finally relented and admitted that Katia had done a good job.
At nine, everyone gather in the basement, a piece of cheesecake in one hand and a glass of krémas, a think and creamy Haitian liqueur, in the other.
"So where are you guys off to tonight?" asked Frank's wife Sarah.
"Off to?" asked Paul. "There's more?"
"Of course," chuckled Gary. "Us kids always go clubbing on January 1st."
"Is that so?"
"Absolutely," grinned Jennie, "and since my mom isn't here to tell me I can't go out with the big kids, I'm going out with the big kids!"
"You guys are coming, right?" asked Kat, looking at Joanie, Paul and Shane.
"Sure," said Joanie, with nods from Paul and Shane.
"Good. Now Gary," said Kat, "you usually hook us up. Where are we off to this year?"
"I can get us on the guest list at 737. All I need is a number and we're in."
"Well, there's me, Shane, Paul, Joanie, Melissa, Jennie, Naomi, John, Mark, Nadine, Sarah, Jess and you. So that's 13."
"We can't go," said Mark. "We have to drop by my aunt's place and we'll be there all night."
"So we have 11," said Gary."
"We can't go either," said John, Naomi's boyfriend, "we have to drop by my parents' place and that's going to take a long time."
"So nine," asked Gil, looking around the basement, "we're sure?"
"Nine," confirmed Kat.
Soon enough, Frank, Sarah, and their son Nicolas left and Mark, Nadine, Naomi and John followed suit. Gary had secured the passes and they started to work on the car assignments. Finally, it was decided that Kat would drive Shane, Paul, Joanie and Jess. And that Melissa would drive her sister, Gary and Sarah.
"All right, now that that's settled," said Kat, "we have to get ready."
"Oh no," said Gary, rolling his eyes as he watched Kat, Jess, Jennie and Melissa and head up the stairs. "How long will this take?"
"It depends. Sarah, Joanie, join us?"
"Sure," said Joanie.
"Please don't," begged Gary, holding on to Sarah's hand. "Once you disappear up there, I might never see you again."
"Oh please," said Jennie, taking Sarah's free hand. "This is female bonding, it's important. Why don't you guys 'bond' too?"
"You seem to have a lot of experience with this stuff?" asked Shane.
"Every year, it's the same thing. Katia and her sister would disappear into their bedrooms before we'd go out. It took them forever to get ready. And we were just going to a club."
"Katia usually get ready pretty fast," said Shane. "It won't take that much time."
Gary looked at Shane and shook his head. "How long have you been dating my cousin, man?"
"About two weeks, why?"
"And you think you know her? Oh man, that's funny," laughed Gary, "it's hilarious!"
Shane and Paul stared at Gary, who was rolling on the floor laughing and they got scared, really, really scared.
"Just how bad is this going to be?" asked Shane, to which Gary answered by laughing.
"It's been fifteen minutes," said Paul, pacing as he took a careful sip of krémas.
"They'll be an hour, at least," asked Gary as he set up the Play Station had brought back for his girlfriend.
"It won't be that long," said Shane. "Hell, I'll bet you won't even have time to get to the next level on whatever game you're going to play."
"A bet? Did I hear a bet? Okay Shane, I'll take you on. After all, she's been your girlfriend for what, two weeks? I've only known her for what, forever!"
"We have a special connection," said Shane. "Paul, you with me?"
"Are you sure about this Shane?" asked Paul, "I mean, he does know her quite well."
"Don't you remember the night of the party at my place? The next morning, she got ready in like 15 minutes."
"True, true."
"And Joanie's up there with her. It never takes her that long to get ready, right?"
"Right."
"So, how much money are we talking about?" asked Gary, rubbing his hands together.
"Well, you are my girlfriend's cousin. I wouldn't want to rob you blind."
"Hey, hey, hey. I might not be as rich as the two of you, but I am a professional soccer player. I'm no pauper."
"All right then," said Paul, "five hundred bucks? Shane?"
"Works for me. Gary?"
"Let me guess this straight. If I win, I get five hundred from each of you and if I lose, I give you each five hundred?"
"Yeah."
"Easiest money I've ever made," chuckled Gary as he picked a game cartridge from the extensive collection Shane had given Kat.
Ten minutes had gone by when they finally heard footsteps on the staircase.
"Get your checkbook Gary," said Paul as he got up to go see who it was, "I believe you owe us five hundred apiece."
"Oh yeah? Let's see."
Gary paused the game he'd been playing with Shane and joined Paul at the bottom of the stairs. Joanie and Jennie stood there, pulling on their coats.
"Where are you two lovely ladies off to?" he asked.
"Back to Shane's place," said Joanie, "why?"
"Just wondering," said Shane.
"Why are you going to Shane's place?" asked Paul, going up the stairs to his girlfriend.
"To help Joanie pick out an outfit," explained Jennie as she opened the front door.
"You're getting changed too? Honey, come on. can't you hurry it up a bit?"
"No Paul," said Joanie, "trust me. You want me to look my best tonight."
As a very sad Paul watched his girlfriend and Kat's youngest cousin run to Shane's house, he heard Gary's taunting chuckle in the basement.
"We're ready!" finally announced Kat, coming out of her room.
"Finally," said Shane, jumping to his feet.
"Wait a second gentlemen," said Gary, "I believe there's the matter of the five hundred dollars you each owe me."
"Fine, we'll stop by an ATM on the way," said Paul, "let's just go."
By the time the guys caught up to the girls on the landing, they were already wearing their long winter coats.
"What?" said Paul, "it took you guys forever to get ready and we don't even get to see the finished product?"
"In good time," said Kat, fixing the collar on Shane's shirt, "now let's just go. We don't want to get there late."
Paul threw his hands in the air in exasperation and Kat missed Shane rolling his eyes skyward.
In the car on the way, Shane and Paul felt like outcasts. Kat, Jess and Joanie had clicked perfectly and they talked like old friends while old school house music pumped out of the sound system. And from the look of things, there was almost as much action in the other car. Gary had been relegated to the backseat of Melissa's car and he didn't look like a happy camper as the girls seemed to be yapping away.
When they finally hit downtown Montreal and the underground parking, the excitement couldn't be denied. Shane couldn't wait to see what Kat was wearing. But he was disappointed yet again. In the parking lot, she took off her thick winter coat only to reveal a long leather jacket.
"When do I get to see what you're wearing under there?" he asked, running his hands around her waist.
"When I chose to let you see what I'm wearing under there," she answered, pecking his jaw.
"Joanie? Is what Kat's wearing at least decent?"
"I'd rather not say."
"What?"
Gary and Shane had the same reaction and would have confronted their cousin and girlfriend right then and there if Jess hadn't dragged her away while the other girls laughed their heads off.
The line-up for 737 was extremely long. Shane was impressed. From what Kat had told him, the club was on the top floor of an office building. According to her, during the summer, two terraces opened up on each side, looking out onto the city. But right now, the lobby of the building was filled to capacity with young people dressed to impress.
Their group drew a lot of attention since quite a few people recognized him, Joanie and Paul. But they didn't rush over and ask for autographs. They stared and pointed but it ended there.
What surprised him though was the number of people who called out to his girlfriend and her friends. Kat and Jess did quite a lot of nodding and waving to people they seemed to know. The same thing happened with Gary, Jennie and Melissa. Finally, Gary led them over to a couple of guys dressed in black and wearing headsets. While Gary shook hands with the
guys and talked with them, Kat, Jess, Jennie, Melissa and Sarah got together and starting talking in whispers.
"Hey Katia," said one of the bouncers talking with Gary.
"Hey Dan, what's up?"
"Nothing much. Working hard, you?"
"Same shit, different year."
"Still working in that hellhole?"
"Pays the bills," said Kat, pecking his cheek and running a hand over his arm. "Working out I see."
"Yeah. You like?"
"You know me and muscles Dan."
"Which reminds me. I have a surprise for you upstairs."
"What kind of surprise?"
"You'll see."
Dan raised a hand in the air and pressed a hand to the one ear covered by his headphone.
"All right, I just got clearance for you guys," he said, "follow me."
Dan let Kat and her gang to a separate bank of elevators. He ushered them and pressed the appropriate button.
"You guys have a nice time," he said with a grin.
"Thanks," said Gary.
"Dan, what's my surprise?"
"You'll see," he yelled as the elevator doors slid shut.
"Damn it," she swore, "I hate surprises!"
"Kat," asked Jess, "what's the worse thing that could happen?"
"Andrea could be there."
"Her? Here? Give me a break. Anyhow, if she sees you tonight, she'll die."
"True."
"So don't worry about it," said Jess, "tonight's ours."
"Who's Andrea?" asked Shane, drawing his girlfriend into his arms.
"She's The Bitch," said Melissa, Jennie and Jess at the same time.
"What?"
"We'll talk about it another time," said Kat, squeezing Shane's hand, "I promise. Just not tonight. Okay?"
"All right."
A few minutes later, the elevator slowed to a halt. A bouncer was there, waiting for them.
"Welcome to 737. Come with me. I'll show you where you can leave your coat," he added for Kat.
"Thanks."
With everyone waiting for her, Katia disappeared into a room with the bouncer and came back a few minutes later. When he saw her, Shane's jaw dropped.
His girlfriend looked great, as always, but tonight, there was something extra about her. She was wearing a pair of butter-soft black leather pants that tapered at her ankles. Her upper body was clad in one of those itty-bitty silver tank tops that stayed on her body with the help of a few strategically placed strings. A jacket that was a match for the pants was slung across her upper arm. With her hair fanning her shoulders and her make up, Shane was left speechless.
"You like?" she asked, spinning around for him to see her almost-bare back.
"..."
"I hate it," said Gary, "you're showing way too much skin."
"I think I love it," said Shane, finally finding his voice.
"Good," said Katia, stepping into his embrace, "now, let's boogie!"
From the level where they'd been welcomed by the bouncer, they took another elevator to another floor. They could hear the music pounding as the short ride came to an end and the doors slid open. Kat walked out of Shane's arms and looked around. She still held one of his hands in one of hers and she stopped.
Shane watched as his girlfriend scanned the room, Jennie and Jess flanking her. All three of them were doing the same thing, as was Gary. It was funny how they all scanned the room, stopping to acknowledge the people they knew, the people they thought were out of the place.
Finally, Gary nodded to Kat and they all headed to a cordoned off area close to the closed windows that led out to the terrace.
As she led Shane through the throng of people, Kat saw the looks they got and smiled inwardly. She wanted people to see the man she'd snagged, she wanted him to be recognized. She wanted them all to know that Gary's. voluptuous cousin was fucking a rich white man who was on TV. She wanted the girls to look at her and envy her, and she wanted the guys to regret not approaching her sooner. She wanted them to want her the way she'd always wanted them to want her.
"Kat," said Shane, "you're squeezing my hand a bit too tight."
"What? Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't realize."
"It's all right. Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
Shane looked at her and almost called her on the lie but chose not to. Instead, he eyed the cleavage of her almost-not there top and frowned.
"Gary might have been right about this top," he said, "it's cut a bit low."
"Oh Shane, please. Think of how much fun you'll have taking it off me."
Before Shane could wrap his mind around that idea, Jess sauntered over, a smile on her face.
"I need a drink," she announced to Kat, "come with?"
"Sure. Shane, I'll be back."
Shane watched as Kat made her way through the crowd, her head held high as she nimbly stepped around the people that crowded the small dance floor. Jess and her leaned over the bar and he saw their heads come together as they waited for the bartender to notice them. Finally, he came over to them, smiling. They ordered and waited. But just then, a
large man and his group of friends stepped behind Jess and Kat, blocking Shane's view.
"I was wrong," said a voice in Kat's ear, "you don't look fat in pants."
The young woman looked up and fought for control. She immediately felt Jess tense next to her.
"Martin," said Kat, her eyes drifting to the mirror behind the bar.
"Sweetie," he said, casually throwing his arm around her almost bare waist, "I've missed you."
"Really? Is that why you never called me back after I dumped your ass by leaving a message on your cell's voice mail?"
Next to Kat, Jess stifled a laugh.
"Jess," said Martin, "I didn't see you there."
"You wish."
"Come on, we used to be friends."
"I guess even I make mistakes," said Jess as she paid for hers and Kat's drinks. "Are you coming?" she asked her friend.
"Of course."
Kat started to follow Jess but by the time Jess got to where Shane and the rest of the group was, Kat wasn't there.
"Where's Katia?" shouted Shane over the music.
"Damn it! She's at the bar, talking to someone."
"Which someone?" asked Shane.
"No one special. No one special at all."
Shane turned back to the bar and saw the large man move out of his line of sight. What he saw made him so angry he thought he was going to burst.
"Who is that?" he asked Jess.
"That's Martin."
"What is that guy doing with my cousin?" asked Gary, coming to stand on Jess' other side.
"Who, Martin? You know him?"
"We worked together at this bar a few years back. What is he doing with Katia?"
"... Uh... I think Kat should tell you about that."
"Please tell me she didn't go out with him."
"What's the big deal?" asked Sarah. "He's cute and anyhow, she's not going out with him anymore, is she?"
"Martin's a son of a bitch. And I'm going over there right now."
"Too late," said Jess, "Shane's beating you to it."
Kat looked up at Martin and briefly wondered how she could have gone out with him. He was ruggedly, very ruggedly, handsome. He was one of those men who could really carry off the shaved head look and make it look good. She looked down the length of him at the black clothes and had to admit he looked built. But she knew better. She'd felt the roll of fat
around his waist. She briefly wondered if it was still there.
"Like what you see?" he asked, calmly withstanding her perusal.
"I've seen better."
"You have?" he asked, trapping her against the counter.
"Yeah, I have."
"So, what do you say you and I have another go at it? We were pretty good."
"Honey, you weren't good at all."
The look in Martin's eyes was pure murder but Kat didn't feel like backing down. For over a year and a half she'd wanted what she really thought of their one time in bed and now seemed as good a time as any.
"What the hell does that mean?" he asked through clenched teeth.
"That less than a week after I dumped you, I slept with another man, a younger man, a man who knew exactly what to do to satisfy me in bed and I found you severely lacking."
"You..."
"Finally saw the light Martin," said Kat, shoving her way out of the trap of his arms, "and realized that for the thirty year old man you were at the time was one lousy lay."
Kat walked away from Martin and straight into Shane's arms. She was surprised, no shocked, to see him there but she used it to her advantage. She got up on the tips of her toes and wrapped her arms around him, bringing his head down for a searing kiss.
Shane saw Martin look at him angrily and saw him disappear into the crowd. He also became aware of the stares Kat's passionate kiss was getting. He eased away from her and ran his tongue over his lips.
"And what was that about?"
"What was what about?" she asked innocently.
"Oh please Kat, you kissed me, very nicely I must say, for show. It had nothing, or rather very little, to do with me and everything to do with that guy you were talking to, Martin."
"Oh, he's no one. And I kissed you because I love you... a girlfriend can still do that, can't she?"
"Sure. But Kat, when we get home, I want to hear all about Martin and Andrea."
"Fine."
When they rejoined their friends, Jess looked like she wanted to rip Gary's eyes from their sockets. As for Sarah, she stood between them as if she was doing her very best to maintain the peace.
"What the hell?" thought Kat, going over to Jess.
"What's going on?" she asked her best friend.
"Your cousin Gary's an asshole. Come on, let's hit the dance floor."
Kat barely had the time to look at Shane before Jess dragged her away to the far side of the dance floor.
"So what happened?" asked Jess.
"I told Martin he was a lousy lay," said Kat with a grin.
"Oh my God, you are so rough."
"I don't know Jess. I'd been holding that in for so long, not telling Martin how bad he was in bed and there he was, right there in front of me, thinking we could pick up where we left off and I just wanted to stick it to him."
"You told him he was lousy in bed?"
"Yeah!"
"You rock!"
"I do, don't I?"
Kat and Jess started dancing like they always did. For Shane, who got to observe his girlfriend in a club for the first time, it brought a smile to his lips. She was so free and inhibited, throwing her body this way and that in time to the beat. Jess and her moved as if they'd been born to do so. They were perfectly synchronized but it wasn't rehearsed, it was completely natural. And when Jennie joined them, the show became three-fold. They were having fun and it showed. They were laughing and smiling, trying out new moves.
Melissa danced next to them. She obviously wasn't the dancer her sister or her cousin were but she was still having a good time. Shane was about to join them when a man came up to Kat and started dancing with her. He saw his girlfriend smile at the newcomer and start moving with him. He was fairly good looking, tall, dark-skinned, with short dark hair and a tight body that he knew women lusted after.
"Where the hell did Gary go?" he asked Joanie.
"I don't know. Hey, who's the guy with Katia? He's very hot."
"My point exactly. Who the hell is he and why the hell is she dancing with him?"
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