"Finally, it is over and done with!"  that was the main consensus off all that were gathered around the bonfire that night.

Kat was actually surprised of the number of people that actually showed up at Brian's place.  It looked like most of their graduating class was there.  And that was saying a lot.  She wasn't sure if she knew most of the people there... but as usual it seemed like everyone knew her.  Another conundrum that she had pondered for a while... tho maybe it wasn't that much of a surprise there since she was dating the quarterback and her best friend was head cheerleader... not that she took much stock in that sort of thing.  Popularity had never been that important to her.  

"So, who is bringing the keg?" Heidi asked, placing her self on the chair next to Kat.  
"I don't really know, probably Kyle," Kat answered in a disdainful way.  Kyle was on the team with Jason and Heidi's boyfriend Pat.  He was always rude to Kat, saying rather lude things to her, which she never appreciated.

Sure enough, Kat spotted the three boys hauling  the keg covered by a blanket, why they thought that the blanket would hide what they were really doing she couldn't quite understand.

"What the hell do they think they are doing?" a voice from behind them made the girls jump.
"Brian," Kat gasped, "Didn't see you there!"
"Yeah, well most people don't!" Brian grinned and handed her a drink, "I made some strawberry daiquiris, thought you might like one."
"Thanks," Kat smiled, but before she could place the cup to her lips Heidi snatched it out of her hand and drained it.
"Um," Brian stammered, "I will get you another one."
"Thanks, Brian," Kat smiled at him.

As Brian scurried off, Jason, Pat and Kyle arrived with their load.
"The beer God's have arrived!" Jason bellowed.
"It is about damn time too," Heidi whined, holding up her cup, "All Brian has are these crappy strawberry things!"
"Keep that away from me," Kyle said eyeballing the cup as if it were a gun, "I am allergic to strawberries.  Like really bad.  When I was a kid I had one and ended up in the hospital."
"Well good," Kat said, "more the better for me!"

Brian returned with a bunch of cups and Kat's new drink. As the guys stood around and started tapping the keg, Kat just stood back and watched.  So far so good, she thought to her self.  So far Jason hadn't acted like the dumb jock he normally acted like.  That possessive streak scared her sometimes, but then he would act so sweet that she forgot all about it, at least for a while... then it would start all over again.

As the evening progressed, the more drinks were consumed, and the rowdier things became.  Poor Brian, Kat thought as she wound her way around the litter and bodies entwined with each other as she made her way up to the main house to freshen up. As she walked through the kitchen she could hear Jason and Kyle's booming voices.

"Come one bitch!" she could hear her boyfriend bellowing at someone, "Drink it!" 

A chorus of "DRINK!! DRINK! DRINK!" soon followed.  Kat knew this would happen, some poor kid was getting bullied into the good old beer bong again, who could it be this time?  Her suspicions were confirmed as she went around the corner into the kitchen.  Brian was throwing up in the sink, a sick ghostly green.  Kat rushed to his side to check up on him.

"You ok?" she asked grabbing a handful of paper towels.
"I've been better," Brian slurred.
Kat grabbed his arm and started dragging him out of the room, "Let's get you cleaned up," she said in her soothing voice.  But before she could get to the door a rough hand grabbed her arm and pulled her back into the kitchen.

"Not so fast Kitten," a voice breathed into her ear, "I think it is your turn to try out Old Betsy here... let's see if you spit or swallow."
Kat pushed away as quickly as she could, but Kyle's grip was tight on her wrist.  She looked down at her feet where Brian had passed out. Lucky him, she though bitterly.
"Come on Kat, try it!" Jason boomed and laughed as if he were making a joke.
"No thanks guys," she answered, "I don't want to take up all the fun."
She winced visibly as Kyle's grip got stronger, "Do it!" This induced another chat around the room of "DRINK! DRINK! DRINK!"
"No," Kat pleaded, looking at Jason and knowing that she wouldn't get any help there, "I would rather not, but thanks anyway!"
Kyle twisted her around and pinned her against him, "Or maybe you would like to try something other than Old Betsy to see if you spit or swallow," his had moving down her leg and slowly lifting her skit, "Come on Kat, I can show you how to do it," but before he could say anymore he was quickly pulled off of her.

Jason grabbed his friend by the front of his shirt, "That is NOT going to happen shit for brains," and pushed him across the room, "Leave my girl alone!"
"Shit, Jason," Kyle said, slightly sobering up, "I was just kidding around man, get a grip!"
Jason made a lunge for Kyle, but Kat stopped him, "It's ok, Jason" she said, "it isn't worth it."
As Kat pulled him out of the room Jason glared at Kyle, "This isn't over," he snarled.

Kat sat back down near the bonfire with Heidi and Pat while Jason stormed off in a huff.
"What the hell is his problem?" Pat asked as he sipped his beer.
"Kyle was his usual tacky self and made a pass at me," Kat sighed, "I wish he would just find someone else to do that to, this has been going on since Jason and I started dating!"
Pat put his arm around her and gave her a little hug, "It is ok lil' darlin," he smiled, "they just are trying to see who's dick is bigger," then with a mischievous grin, "trust me I have seen them both and neither one has much to brag about!"
Heidi giggled and threw a soft punch at Pat's arm,"Ewww, that is gross!"
"Yeah, but you love me," he grinned.
Heidi just smiled and batted her eyes, They are such a cute couple, Kat thought to herself, why do I get stuck with a caveman like Jason? She then reminded her how Jason could be kind and loving to her. They were even going to go to the same college together.  He told her that they were just starting their lives together, that after college, they would get married and have a house and kids and a dog, he and the guys would have poker nights and she would have Tupperware parties, it was a dream... well his dream anyway, but pleasant enough.

"Kat?" a voice came behind her, still smelling like beer.  Kat turned to see Kyle standing there, "Man, I am sorry about that, I don't know why I did it."
"Probably because you were thinking with your dick as usual," Pat shouted at him.
"Fuck you Pat-dick," Kyle retorted half-hearted, "this is between the Kitten and me."
"I hate it when you call me that," Kat spat at him, "and if you ever touch me that way again..."
"You'll what," a voice called out from the trees behind the property .  Kat sighed as she saw her boyfriend staggering back towards the bonfire, then pursed her lips as she noticed the blonde who followed behind him, the girl looked up and smirked and re buttoned her shirt, then took off in the other direction.  No one said anything, Pat, just gave her a sad look and shook his head.
"Hey, Kyle," Jason patted his friend on the back, "No hard feelings," then he walked over to the keg, "Here have a beer." He grabbed a cup from the stack and poured his teammate a beer and handed it to him, "Jesus, Kat," he rolled his yes at her, "Bitch can't take a fucking joke."
"Hey," another voice came out of the dark, "Did I miss anything?"  Brian was still looking green around the gills.

As he sat down next to Kat, trying to do his best to smile, she saw him start and stare off in the direction of Kyle and Jason.  Kyle was clutching his throat, a dazed look on his face. "What is wrong with Kyle," he asked in alarm.

Kyle was gasping for air, his hands like claws, reaching out at Jason, who just stood there with no expression on his face, as if he couldn't see him.  Kyle staggered closer to the group surrounding the bonfire, the blonde screamed as he pitched himself forward into the fire.

**************

The moments that followed the accident were still a blur.  Kat remembered the police showing up and the ambulance.  By the time they had gotten there, it was too late.  Apparently the cup that he drank out of it had strawberry daiquiri residue in it, which caused an allergic reaction.  
"Had someone had the sense of mind to help him, instead of stand around like a bunch of idiots with their thumbs up their asses before he fell into the fire," the burly cop shouted at them, "He could still be alive!"
Everyone was in a state of shock.  On their way home Kat was surprised that Jason almost shed a tear, "Fuck, I thought he was playing around!" he muttered.  He turned to Kat, "Damn it," he said, "I know I was an ass hole back there, but he really set me off and all," he then dug in his pocket and pulled out a small box, "Look, I know that this isn't the best time for this and all, I had wanted to do something nice and all, but here," and he handed her the box.  Inside it was a small diamond ring, "Look, I know it ain't much and all, but it is a promise ring," he then smiled at her, "And I promise to give you a bigger one later," and he snickered at his own joke, then looked down at his lap.  His shoulders started to shake, "Fuck, I can't belive I watched him die like that," he sobbed.  
Kat held her boyfriend, how could she not love him?

***************

Kat was sitting in the beige living room of her and Jason's apartment.  She looked down at the mail in her hand and sighed, Has it been ten years already? she thought to herself as she looked at the engrave invitation to the ten year high school reunion. She tapped the envelope on the table, Where has the time gone, she wondered to herself.  She glanced over at the computer, then at the clock.  Jason would be home in an hour, maybe she would have time to jump on and see if any of the old gang was on.  Jason always got so angry when she would go online, "They see female and think that you are wanting sex," he would always say.  Even tho he would spend hours on line gazing at images of other women, if one person not on Kat's buddy list would IM her he would freak out.  Kat let out a sad sigh, How did I let it come to this? she asked herself that over and over.

Walking over to the computer she flipped it on and quickly shutting down all the pop ups from porn advertisers, Out of sight out of mind, right? she logged into her Yahoo account... the account that Jason had set up for her  "MrsFootball" and sadly shook her head.  She would have changed it to something else, but she didn't want to deal with the argument over that. Choose your fights wisely. 

A little jingle announced she had a message, she smiled and saw it was from BG1992, Brian.... he was always there it seemed.

BG1992: Hey! How are you doing?
MrsFootball: Oh, can't complain... well I could but it isn't worth the effort.
BG1992: LOL
MrsFootball: So did you get the snail mail today?
BG1992: Yeah, looking right at it.  I take it you got it too?
MrsFootball: Yep.  Jason will be happy about it.
BG1992: Gets to relive his old glory days, right?
MrsFootball: I guess.  Has it been ten years?
BG1992: It looks that way.
MrsFootball: Are you going to go?
BG1992: No. There is only one person I would want to see, and I doubt that her caveman of a husband will allow me to talk to her.

There was a long pause as Kat reread what he wrote, sadly shaking her head.

BG1992: You still there Kat?
MrsFootball: Yes, I am.  I was just thinking that you are right.
BG1992: Yeah, I thought as much.  So anything else new?
MrsFootball: No, not really.  Jason is heading out your way next week for a meeting.
BG1992: Really? Are you going to tag along, maybe we could meet for lunch or something?
MrsFootball: No, I am not allowed... it is a "meeting"... you understand?
BG1992: Ah.... IC..... one of those.... Kat why do you put up with it?
MrsFootball: I love him. I know these little indiscretions are just something to do for him, just like high school and college.  Then he always makes it up to me later.  I just choose not to think about it.
BG1992: I know, I totally understand.  

Kat hear the jingle of keys in the lock and immediately got nervous.

MrsFootball: He's home got to go.

And before waiting for a response erased her conversation from the memory bank and turned off the Internet.  Quickly pulled up a solitaire game, just incase he checked to see if the computer was warm.

"I am home," Jason called from the entry way.
"Oh hi sweetie," Kat smiled in a loving way at her husband, "We got some mail today."
"Oh," said Jason looking at her suspiciously, "What is it?"
"This," Kat replied handing him the invitation.
"Well I'll be damned," Jason looked at the card, "So I guess this means we are full fledged adults now, getting an invite to our high school reunion."
"I guess so," Kat falsely laughed at her husband's comment as the phone rang.  As always Jason was the first to get it, Kat never even tried anymore.
"Hello," Jason said in his rough phone answering voice he always used when she knew the call would be for her, "Hey Kat, it's your fairy godfather on the phone," he said in disgust and thrust the phone into her hand.
She had a feeling it would be Pat, he had come out of the closet six years ago and Jason took it as a personal insult. "We were on the football team together!" he would scream, "That pansy used to look at me in the shower!"  Pat would always roll his eyes and say , "My glasses prescription wasn't strong enough," or something else just as crass... that Jason never really understood.
"Patrick," Kat smiled as she took the phone from her husband, "How is New York treating you?"
"It didn't," he sighed, "Moved to Chicago six months ago."
"Doing well I hope," she started.
"Has he called to tell you he has that AIDS thing yet," her husband bellowed from the computer desk, she knew he was checking to see if she had been talking to anyone, she turned her back on him and ignored him as usual.
"Well," Pat said, she knew he had heard her husband's bellow as well, "I just got the mail and thought I would call and ask if you were going to go to the thing."
"Probably," Kat replied, "Jason hasn't really decided yet, but I have a feeling we will."
"Great, well I will see you there then," Pat replied, "Tell Jason to save me a dance!"  and with that he rang off.
Kat knew better than to repeat what Pat had said, so she just laughed to herself and said "Pat said he will see us at the reunion."
"Shit," Jason said in disgust, "He had better leave his hands to himself this time."
"What are you talking about, you haven't seen him in six years," Kat asked.
"Yeah and he started hugging me and shit," Jason shuddered.
"Jason, it was our wedding," Kat reminded him, "He was congratulating us, and a ton of guys gave you a hug."
"Yeah," Jason said still not looking at her, "But none of them were Pat-dick, the fag prince."
Kat just rolled her eyes, then stopped and gasped.
Jason finally turned around and looked at her strangely, "What's your problem?"
"I hadn't heard anyone call him that name since," and she turned another shade of white.
"Since what?" Jason was starting to get mad again.
"Kyle," was all that Kat said and turned around and started taking out the steaks that Jason always instead on for dinner.
"Oh," Jason said, "Oh yeah, that, I forgot all about that."
"What?" Kat said in shock, "You forgot all about that? How the hell do you forget something like that?  I can still see it in my head, hell I can still smell it."
Jason rushed over to his wife's side and grabbed her arm, not in a consoling way as she had hoped, but roughly, a way she was all to used to, "Snap out of it Kat," he hissed, "That was ten fucking years ago.  It was an accident.  And anyway, I would think you of all people would have  let it go!"
"What?  What the hell do you mean by let it go?  One of our friends died that night, and you just say let it go?  We all stood there and watched him!  I can't just let something like that go!"
"Oh, so I guess you enjoyed the way he was always trying to get in your pants?  You liked his hands on you?  Did you fuck him when I wasn't around?" his grasp got stronger on her arm as he shook her, "Huh?  You think I wouldn't find out about it or something?"
Kat was to shocked to say anything, she looked at him in disbelief, "What the hell are you talking about? I never would have done that!  I am not you!"
She regretted it the moment that it came out of her mouth, she heard the crack of his hand before the pain seared across her face. Why do I put up with it? She thought to herself, then as tho he heard her thought he came back to her, "I am so sorry," he whispered, "I just get so freaked out over what happened to Kyle," he put his arms around her and kissed the place where his hand has slapped a moment earlier, "Oh baby, you know I love you, and I would never do anything to hurt you," he then started to cry, just like always, "I still feel like it is my fault, I gave him that cup."  And with that her heart, as always, melted.

*******2*******

Kat stopped the car and pop the trunk for her husband to grab his bags.  She got out of the car and stood and watched as he pulled his overnight bag out and slung it over his shoulder.
"Well," Kat said, trying to smile, "Have a good time."
"For God's sake Kat," Jason fumed, "It is a damn meeting, not like I am going out to a party!"
"I know, I know, but I thought you said you were going to meet Heidi for dinner tonight," Kat still couldn't believe she was saying those words.  She knew exactly what he was doing with Heidi, but she just pushed it back to the back of her brain with everything else.
"Oh," Jason said with a look of bewilderment on his face, "I had totally forgot about that," he kissed his wife on the top of the head, "Thanks for reminding me," and he disappeared into the crowd.
Kat, feeling totally exhausted emotionally, got into her car and drove home.

**************

Jason headed for his seat on the cushy airline. With a pinch and a wink he had the attendant get him a scotch. I can't belive she is so blind to what I am actually doing, was his line of thought. A twinge of guilt hit him, it always did.  Why couldn't she be some shrew, he thought, Why does she have to act like this and pretend it isn't happening.  Any other woman would have thrown me out by now! Oh well, he gulped down his scotch, serves her right if she can't notice it.

Heidi was waiting for him when he arrived in California.  Her tan body in her mini skirt and tank top was admired by every man with in a ten mile radius. "Jason," she squealed, over the crowd huddled around the baggage claim, "Over here!"  As she bounced up and down a lovely view of the underside of her ample breast was revealed, but since she had paid for them she might as well show them off.  Jason walked over and cupped her firm buttock in his hand and gave it a nice hard squeeze, pulling her against him.  As always he liked to show what was his, and Heidi, for the time being, was his.

"Hey Jason," Heidi was using what she considered her sexy and husky voice, "you want to go back to my place now?" She licked his ear and neck the way she knew he loved. Jason grabbed a handful of her hair and roughly kissed her, "I don't think I can wait much longer," she breathed in his ear.

Heidi kept chatting all the way to the car, Jason wasn't paying too much attention to her as usual.  As he put the stuff in the trunk she headed for the driver's side, "No," Jason said with a smile, "I will drive," then he added with a glint in his eye, "and you can entertain me while I drive."  Heidi giggled and got into the passenger's side.  Jason adjusted the seat and a few other things so she could get to work.

As the drove out of the parking garage, a figure walked in front of the car, "Shit!" Jason screamed as he slammed on the breaks, "Watch where you are fucking going!"
Heidi's head flew up out of Jason's lap and hit her head on his jaw as she looked into the face of the young man they almost hit, "Holy shit!" she said as they drove on, "Do you know who that was?"
Jason looked sideways at her, "No, who?  Some one from one of your porno films?"
Heidi smacked him lightly in the arm, "No silly," she giggled, "it was Brian," when she just got a blank look from Jason, "You know, Brian, from school?  Remember?" Then she saw the look on Jason's face, that dark look that frightened her, "Oh God," she moaned, "You don't think that he recognized us do you?"
"Don't worry," Jason said, "I know how to take care of it," and  he gazed in the rear view mirror as Brian watched after them.

**************

Brian was abruptly woken up from his slumber by a pounding on the door to his house boat, "Hey Griffin you fuck-wad!" a voice growled, "I know you are in there!"

Brian stumbled out of bed and checked the clock, three in the morning, What the hell? he threw on his jeans and opened the door. "What are you going on about?" he yelled back at the form filling up the door way.  A large fist loomed out of the darkness and caught him straight in the jaw.

"If I find out you have been talking to my wife," the voice boomed.
"Your wife?" Brian was caught off guard, "Who is your wife?"
"Don't play stupid with me!"
"Who are you?" Brian asked, "And how did you find where I live?"
"Look, you little weasel," the large man screamed, "you were a pansy in high school and you still are now!"
"Jason?"
"Jason?" the voice mocked back at him, "Yes it is me you ass wipe, who the hell else would it be, or do you make it a hobby of spying on all the girls' who you had crushes on husbands?"
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb with me boy!" he grabbed Brian's shirt, "I know you saw me and Heidi today!  Fuck! I should have run your scrawny ass over then!"
"What?" realization slowly came over him, "Oh shit!  That was you?"
Jason pushed him on the ground, "If I find out you have talked to my wife, I will fucking kill you!"
"I haven't talked to Kat in years!" Brian said getting to his feet, "She is too good for you!"
Rage like he never had seen before shone in Jason's eyes.  The last thing he remembered seeing was Jason's fist make contact again, then it all went black.

*******3*******

Jason was not happy as he turned the key in the lock, The bitch couldn't even bother to come pick me up at the airport! he thought to himself, his mood getting darker by the minute.  His head was pounding from the night before.  When he found his wife was not waiting for him at the baggage claim, the first thing that had gone through his head was that Brian had gotten ahold of her and told her about him and Heidi, then he remembered the night before and a sick grin came over his face, No that little punk won't be bothering my wife ever again, he reminded himself.  Then, try as he might, he couldn't quite remember what had happened.  He remembered going to the marina where Brian lived.  He remembered going to his house and talking to him about the incident.  In his mind's eye they sat down and he scared some sense into the boy.  You can't be following another man's wife around like a love struck puppy, he thought to himself, it just isn't right, but that is all he could get a clear picture on.  He also remembered a flash, but that was about it.

"Where the hell were you," he shouted as he stormed into the room, 'I had to call a fucking cab!"
He then saw his wife, her eyes were red and puffy, clutching a box of tissue, Shit, he thought to himself, that little asshole called her, but then he remembered, no he couldn't have called her.  No I made sure that he wouldn't be calling anybody, didn't I.
"He sat down on the couch," what's the matter Kat, he said in his soft voice he thought of as his soothing voice, "Tell me what happened."
Kat tried to get it together, 'Brian," was all she could get out.
Jason stiffened, "Damn it," he growled, 'That ass hole got what he deserved, sticking his nose where it didn't belong and threatening me and shit!"
Kat paled and looked at her husband, "What do you mean he got what he deserved?"
"I went and had a little chat with him last night down on the pier that he lives," he said innocently.
"And how do you know where he lives?" 
"This," and he pulled out her address book from his pocket, "I like to keep it with me, just incase.  It came in handy last night."
"How could you!"  she backed away from Jason, she felt like she was going to throw up.
"What?" Jason took a few more steps towards his wife, "He had it coming to him, I did it for us."
"What?" Kat was horrified, "What do you mean you did it for us?  Jason, what did you do?"
"Well it isn't like it did any good," he said his hands on his hips and a dark look in his eyes, "You found out anyway."
"Jason, of course I was going to find out about it," she looked shaken, "It has been all over the news for Christ's sake!"

Jason stood stunned for a minute as what his wife said sunk in, "What do you mean it is all over the news?  What would a little incident in California be on the news in Indiana for?"
Kat gasped, "A little incident?" she advanced toward her husband clutching the tissue box to her chest, "my friend is dead and you call it a little incident?"
"What are you talking about," Jason stammered looking around as if expecting someone to jump out and tell him this was all a big joke, "What do you mean, dead?"

Kat flipped the television back on and left the room.  A reporter from their local news station was standing in front of the marina he had been to the night before, only instead of the boat there was a smoldering pile of wood and police and divers.
"The search continues for Brian Griffin, multi millionaire and CEO.  While police officials are not ruling out accidental death, there is speculation that foul play was involved.  Neighbors witnessed an unknown suspect in the vicinity and heard an argument with the victim in his residence only an hour before the explosion took place.  While only one person was seen leaving the houseboat, a body has yet to be found. Brian was a graduate of Somersdale High School and would have been attending his ten year high school reunion next weekend.  Jan?"  the shot cut back to the newsroom and a blonde woman who looked some what familiar  asked, "Tony, was anyone else harmed in the explosion?"
"No, Jan, lucky enough for the other members of this community the fire did not reach the other boats.  Other than minimal damage caused by the explosion and debris, the explosion seems to be isolated to the one boat."
"That is so sad, Tony, that someone that came from our own town had to perish in such a way."
"He was in your graduating class, Jan, is that right?"
"Yes he was, Tony," the young woman didn't look very distraught, Jason thought, but then neither was he really, just surprised by it all.  He turned off the television and sat down trying to remember exactly what happened.  He remembered the fight and a flash, and that was it.

**************

"Come on," Jason shouted at the back bedroom, "We are going to be late if you don't get a move on!"
Kat hurried out of the room putting on her earrings with one hand and trying to get her heels on with the other, "I know!"
They drove to the high school in silence.  When the large building loomed in front of them Kat turned to her husband, "Do you think they will have a moment of silence or something for Brian?" she asked.
Jason's face turned stony, "How the hell would I know," he growled.  He had hoped she had dropped the matter, they hadn't talked much about it all week, which he was glad of.  He kept running the night through his head, but still couldn't remember what had actually happened.  He had even chanced it and called Heidi to see if she remembered anything.  

"No, sweetie," she had said, "You got shit faced and stormed out there, by the time you got back here it was almost five in the morning, you said you had passed out in the car you were so drunk.  I am surprised you didn't fall into the ocean."
He didn't expect her to be of much help anyway.

They parked the car and walked up the stone steps to the high school.
"It seems so much smaller now," Kat mused out loud, "it always seemed so much bigger back then."
"Yeah," said Jason, as he looked at the huge trophy case that was before him, a picture of him and the team right in front of his face, "I guess so."
Kat made an involuntary gasp as she glanced at the picture that he was looking at.
"What is it now," he asked testily.
"Kyle," she said pointing to the young boy he was friends with so long ago, "and Brian," her finger drifted over to the very side of the picture of the water boy.
"Yep," said Jason, his voice uncaring, "that is them," and he turned from the case and down the corridor to where the gym was.

They could hear the music playing loudly, the old hits that played their Senior prom.  Jason picked up their name tags and unceremoniously handed Kat hers.  He then wandered off to the bar where all his old football buddies were standing, all except Patrick.  Kat scanned the darkened room and spotted Patrick sitting by himself at one of the tables the had brought up from the cafeteria, "This seat taken," she asked as she moved up to him.
"Just the person I was waiting for," Patrick smiled and stood and gave her a bear hug, "how are you holding up?  I saw what happened to Brian on the news," concerned, he looked into her eyes.
"I am doing ok," she said quietly, "Jason was there that night," she said quickly, "he was there, Pat," tears were burning behind her eyes, "at Heidi's. He can't remember what happened."
"Whoa," Pat said, sitting her down in the chair next to him and sitting down grasping her hands, "What do you mean he was there?"
"Just that," Kat shrugged, "I don't know, he said he had a meeting in California, but I know he was there seeing Heidi."
"Do you think he made a visit to Brian's?" 
"I don't know," she said in a shaky voice, "he has been acting strange ever since he got back, when he got home I was crying and he sounded like he knew about what had happened to Brian," then she paused, "but when I told him he was dead he was surprised."
"huh," Pat said looking over at the crew around the bar, "that is strange," then he glanced at the door, "well speak of the she-devil," he muttered.
Kat glanced around and watched as Heidi sashayed into the room, as always all eyes were fixated on her, tho no higher than chest level.  Kat sighed sadly and waved at her, trying to catch her eye, but Heidi was fixated on the mob at the bar, who were all ogling her.
"Do you want a drink?" Pat asked.
"Sure, I guess," Kat said sadly.
Kat watched as Pat eased his way over at the bar.  All of his old team turned their backs on him as he ordered his drinks.  She could hear the whispering, even from this distance, the disgusted glances he got from his old friends, and the giggle that was notoriously Heidi's.
As Patrick turned to bring the drinks back to the table, one of the guys brushed into him and spilled them down the front of Patrick's shirt.
"Watch where you are going next time," a voice growled at him.
Patrick didn't say anything, just turned around and bought two more drinks and eased his way back to the table.
"Well," he said softly, "I guess they didn't realize that just because we are at a high school reunion that they are not supposed to digress back to high school mentality."
"Patrick," Kat said taking a sip of her wine, "Look who you are talking about," she nodded over to the group still huddled around the bar, "most of them never grew out of that state.  They still live in the past, in high school, that was where they felt important."
"True," he said with a smile, "very true," he held his glass of beer up in a mock salute, then with eyes narrowed, "some things just never change," he said in a disgusted tone.
Kat followed his gaze and watched her husband and her old best friend sneaking out of the room together.
*******4*******

Jason followed as Heidi pulled him onto the football field, "Just like the good old days," she giggled, as she clung to his arm.
Jason had a nice little buzz going from all the beer he had drunk and his ego was flying from telling stories from the good old days of his high school football career.  He allowed Heidi to talk him into going behind the bleachers, just like they used to.  He had glanced over at the table where his wife was sitting with Patrick, That little pansy, he thought bitterly, why the hell did he have to go and turn gay like that? And why are his hands on my wife?

Heidi pulled him behind the bleachers to their old secret spot and teasingly shoved him to the ground.  She reached over and pulled out an ice bucket and a bottle of champagne, "Pays to be prepared," she said in a coy voice and handed him the bottle and glasses as she pulled out a radio and put on some music.

Jason watched mesmerized as Heidi gyrated to the music, slowly running her hands over her body.  He watched the movement of her hands as she slowly unbuttoned her blouse and slid it off her shoulders.  He put the glasses down and reached out for her, but she batted his hand away.  He took a long swig out of the bottle.  He watched as with one quick flick of her finger her bra popped open revealing her luscious breasts.  He licked his lips with anticipation as she slid her hands down her rib cage and down to the waistband of her skirt.  In one fluid motion she let the skirt pool around her ankles.  As he knew it would be, she wore nothing under the skirt.  With a sly grin on his face he handed her a champagne flute and then pulled her close to him.  She could feel the hardness of him rub against her thigh, and she smiled and nuzzled his neck. His hand slid down her spine and nestled in the small of her back.  All thoughts of Kat and Patrick dissolved into nothingness as he felt her hand slowly pull down his zipper and massage him for a minute, then she took a drink of the bubbly, and with it still in her mouth, she engulfed him.
Jason leaned against the supporting beam of the bleacher and let it all go, and the bottle of champagne fell to the ground and shattered with him.

**************

Kat was shaking she was so angry.  It had already been thirty minutes since her husband walked out of the gymnasium with Heidi.  She glanced at her watch again, and then back over at Pat, "Well!" Pat started at the anger he saw flare in her eyes, "No consoling looks this time?  No, 'Gee Kat, what do you think is taking them so long?' No sad eyes?"
"Whoa," Pat held his hands up in surrender, "I am on your side, remember?  That jack ass doesn't deserve you," then he mumbled, "I just don't see why you put up with it."
Kat jumped to her feet, "I don't, either," and before Pat could grab her arm she stormed out of the room.

**************

Jason stood up and tugged his pants back on, a look of disgust on his face, the same one he always wore when they finished, "Come back down here on the blanket and lets talk," Heidi said tugging on his pant leg.

Jason kicked her away, "No," he grunted, "I am going back to the thing," he nodded towards the school and refused to look at her.
Heidi jumped up, "What, go back to your boring wife," she demanded, "does she know you are fucking me on the side?  Maybe it is time she should!"
This got Jason's attention, "What the hell are you babbling about?"
"Maybe it is time that I go and have a little chat with dear Kat," Heidi said in a brave voice, "maybe tell her that all these years you only stayed married to her for her trust fund," her voice faltered as she saw the dark look in Jason's eyes, she knew she had crossed the line.
"You fucking bitch!" Jason roared at her and slapped her hard across the face, "You wouldn't have the balls to do it," And with that he grabbed her around the neck and shoved her hard against the bleachers, he turned and stormed away.

Heidi lay in a crumbled heap on the ground sobbing and trying to catch her breath. She had the coppery taste of blood in her mouth.  She touched her lip and realized he had cut it open. I should have just kept my big mouth shut, he berated herself.   She stood up and brushed the dirt off her naked body and started to gather the blanket and glasses together.  She was just reaching for her clothes when  she heard the crunch of glass behind her.  She stood quickly holding her clothes in front of her like a shield, "Jason," she asked searching the darkness, "Is that you babe?"   but she heard nothing, "Jason," she said a little louder, "Honey I am sorry, I was just playing," she pleaded, "I promise I won't tell Kat anything, just don't be mad!"

She felt some one grab her from behind, "That's better," she cooed, "I am sorry sweetie, it" but her words were cut short as she felt the jagged glass from the champagne bottle bite into and slice through her neck she didn't have time to scream.    

*******5******       

   Jason slammed open the door to the boys bathroom.  Placing his hands on the sink he gazed into the mirror, "What the fuck," he said out loud.  

Just then he heard the sound of the toilet flushing in the stall behind him.  Patrick walked out and hesitated when he saw Jason, then proceeded to the sink to wash his hands.  When he glanced down to get the soap he noticed Jason's hands, "Dude," he said stepping back, "you are bleeding!"
Jason started, "What?" he glanced down at his hands and saw the blood on them, "huh," he said a little shocked, "I, uh, must have cut myself or something."  He quickly turned on the taps and started to wash his hands.
"Have you seen Kat," Patrick asked him, a note of concern in his voice.
"Who?" Jason was still scrubbing his hands.
"Um, Kat," Patrick was staring at Jason's hands still and noticed that there was no scrape on them, "You know, gal you married, about so tall, red hair, nice legs?"
Jason's head shot up and glared at Patrick in the mirror, "What the fuck are you doing looking at my wife's legs," he growled, "I thought you were a fruit!"
"Yes," said Patrick with a slow smile on his face, "but I am not blind."
At that Jason spun around and grabbed Patrick by the shirt front, "What the fuck is that supposed to mean!" Jason didn't even wait for an answer, he threw Patrick head first into the mirror. The glass shattered around them. Patrick couldn't see from the blood dripping down his face.  
"Shit, Jason, what the fuck did you do that for," Patrick tried to get up, but Jason had hold of him again.
"You fucking my wife?"
"What," Patrick started to laugh, "I am a homosexual," he enunciated every syllable as clearly as he could, "I don't fuck women," he tried to remove Jason's grasp on his shirt but it was like steel, "come on, man, let's just let it go and we will walk away like this never happened."
Jason wasn't listening to any of it, "You have been after my wife for years, with your little Nancy girl act of yours," Jason's face was red with rage, "You probably have been making all this gay stuff up so you can get to her."
Patrick's main line of defense was to keep Jason talking, even tho none of what he was saying made sense, "Jason," he tried reasoning with him, "I have no interest in Kat as a friend, man!" Jason banged him into a wall, "Shit, man," Patrick winced as shards of glass embedded in his scalp, "I have no interest in her other than as a friend!" Jason banged his head again into the glass.
"Yeah," Jason snarled, "I just bet you have been telling her to leave me, haven't you!"
"No, I am sure she will figure that out with out my help," Patrick couldn't suppress the groan of dismay at his stupid knee-jerk response.
The first couple of times Jason slammed his head into the wall hurt like hell, but slowly the pain vanished and everything went dark.
**************

Where are they?, Kat thought to her self.  She was so angry about all of this, more embarrassed by it all than angry. really.  She looked all over for them, the dark class rooms, the auditorium, everywhere in the building.  She was headed out to the football field when a hand shot out of the dark and grabbed her.
"We are leaving," her husband's gruff voice echoed in the empty hall as he pulled her to the doors,"I have had it with this shit."
"Jason," Kat was pissed, "where the hell have you been?"
"Shut the fuck up," he shouted and pushed her towards the car, "you drive, I'm not feeling well."
Kat got in the car, and when Jason slid next to her she saw he was sweating, "Jesus, Jason, you didn't get in a fight," then she gasped, 'Oh God, you didn't get in a fight," frantically she started looking around the parking lot as if she expected to see someone, "Patrick," she said slowly, "I didn't say good bye to him."
"Tough shit," said Jason, "take me home, NOW!"
"Ok," Kat said meekly, "we are going."

**************

Not a word was spoken between them during the ride home, other than the occasional mumble from Jason.  Kat wasn't sure what was going on, but she was frightened by the turn of events.  When they got back to the apartment building they lived in she noticed not a single light was on, How odd, she thought to herself, there must be a power outage or something.

Since the electricity was not working, they had to opt for the stairs.  It was so dark and quiet, an eerie chill swept over her body, however the occasional grunt from her husband reminded her she wasn't alone, "What happened tonight," she asked him.
"Nothing," he growled, "just fucking drop it ok."
"Fine," Kat sighed as she made her way to the fourth floor and used her key to open the door.  Just as they walked in the apartment, the lights suddenly came back on.
"Damn it," Jason yelled as the light temporarily blinded him and he tripped over the coffee table.

Finally Kat had a good glimpse of her husband.  He was very disheveled, stains all over his pants and shirt, "Is that blood," she asked, a tremor in her voice, "Oh God, Jason, what did you do?"
"What," Jason looked down at himself, "Aw shit!" he ran to the kitchen and grabbed a towel and started trying to scrub off the blood, "Damn it all to hell," he muttered, "This is my favorite shirt too!"
"Jason!" Kat's eyes were wide as she entered the kitchen, "What happened?  Who's blood is that?"
Jason opened his mouth to answer, but nothing came out.  Kat stood there and watched the color drain away from his face, his eyes wide with terror, "What the hell!" Kat turned around and saw a figure in the door way. Again the apartment was turned into pitch black as the lights flickered out again, but Kat was certain that she saw a gun before she fainted.

**************

"Kat," a soft voice came from the darkness, "You ok?" She felt something cold and wet on her head and slowly opened her eyes.
"Brian?" she gasped.
She glanced over and saw her husband in a heap on the floor, "What happened?"
"You fainted," Brian said in an off handed manner, "I guess I surprised you a little, I didn't mean to."
"I saw a gun," she stammered, "What happened to Jason?"
"Oh, well yeah the gun is on the counter," then he added, "don't worry I am not going to use it," then he glanced over at Jason, "He is just knocked out for a minute, he will be fine."
"What is going on," Kat held her head as if afraid it was about to fall off her shoulders, "I thought you were dead."
"Yeah," said Brian,his voice angry, "Well that was the plan.  I got out before the boat blew up.  Went to a friend who happens to be a private investigator.  I had hired him a while back," he handed her an envelope full of photos.  Brian pulled up a couple of stools from the counter and lit a candle so she could see.  Kat started glancing through them, all photos of Brian and women, some she knew, some she didn't.  Photos of her, with a black eye from when she had made him angry once. Photos of Jason in front of Brian's houseboat. of him hitting Brian, and a photo of him throwing something at Brian's home, "I had hired this guy to follow Jason around, sort of to watch out for you," he looked sideways at her, "I was worried about you." 
"Jesus H Christ," a voice slurred from the floor, "what the hell," Jason tried to get up, but slipped and fell on his face again, "damn it!"  He finally got his balance and stood up, as he did he caught a glimpse of the photos on the table, "WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!" he roared and grabbed the photos, flipping through them his expression darker and darker with each photo, 'Where did you get these, who took them!"
Jason rounded on his wife, "You hire someone to follow me, bitch," he snarled.
Kat had never seen Jason in a rage like this, she mutely shook her head no and glanced in the direction of where Brian was standing, but he was no longer there.  She strained her eyes in the dark, but couldn't seem to see him.
Jason threw down the photos and grabbed hold of her neck, started to shake her like a rag doll, "You bitch!" he screamed at her, "Having me followed like some fucking criminal, taking pictures of me with out me knowing about it, I will kill you!"
Kat knew he meant it, she started reaching for the counter, trying to grab something she could use to get him off of her.  Her hand clasped around something and she brought it sharply to the side of his head.  Jason let go and staggered backwards for a moment, but started for her again and froze when he noticed what she was holding; the gun that the person in the door way had.  Jason spun around looking for Brian,"Where is he?" he snarled again, "Come on out Griffin," he shouted at the darkness, "I will do to you what I should have done last time!"
"And what's that," a calm voice came out of the darkness as Brian stepped out of the shadows," the same thing you did to Heidi?  The same thing you did to Pat?" then he added, "The same thing you did to Kyle?"
Jason froze, "What?" he said through gritted teeth.
"Oh, well I guess Kyle was a bit below the belt," Brian said helping himself to a cookie from the cookie jar, "I mean, how were you to know I had put cups that I had covered in strawberry juice over by the keg... ok, maybe it was a little stupid of me to do it, but the effects were quite nice!"
"What?" Kat's shocked voice rang out, "You did that on purpose?  You killed Kyle?"
Brian looked up, his eyes met with Kat's, he gave a sound like a puppy who had just disobeyed his master, "Well he was trying to hurt you, Kat," he pleaded, "and he," he stuck his thumb over his shoulder to Jason, "wasn't about to do a thing about it!"
"But you killed him!"
"All I meant for it to do was to make him sick," he said as if her were talking about the weather, "I had no idea he would really die from it!"
"What do you mean about Heidi and Pat," Kat asked her voice quivering, her grip still tight on the gun, "Jason?"
"I don't know what this fuck head is talking about!" Jason yelled, still eyeballing the gun his wife held.
"Well," said Brian, amused by his little game, "As you can see by the photos there," he said pointing to the stack that were strewn on the table, "Your husband has favored Heidi for a while now, well at least until tonight"
"So," Jason said snarling, "What's that to you?"
"Well, I think it is a little tacky for a guy to do that to his wife," Brian volleyed back at him, "especially with someone like her," he then gazed lovingly at Kat, "but she won't hurt you any more Kat.  I saw to that.  I would do anything for you."
Jason started at this statement, "What did you do to Heidi?"
"Oh," said Brian off-handedly, "well, I just finished where you left off... however I wasn't as careless as you were... I didn't leave fingerprints or semen at the scene."
Kat was starting to feel faint again, What the hell is going on?  she asked herself, I have to be in the middle of a nightmare, but she knew she wasn't.  This was all too real, "What about Patrick," she stammered, "what did you do to him?"
"I didn't do anything to Patrick," Brian said, "he is a good guy," then he turned to Jason, "Maybe you should take this one."
"What," Jason was still shook up over the news of Heidi, "I didn't do anything."
"Oh, now come on Jason," Brian coaxed, "I am sure that Pat will have a different story, well if he ever wakes up that is."
Jason's face went pale, "Look, that was just an accident," he whined, "I didn't mean for him to really get hurt."
"What did you do," Kat asked again through gritted teeth.
"We got into a little fight," Jason replied sheepishly, eyes now focused on the gun again, "I didn't think I had hurt him that badly," then he turned to Brian, anger again flashing in his eyes, "This is all your fucking fault!" he screamed, "You had to have me followed.  You killed Kyle and Heidi.  You are trying to take what is mine!  You are dead you bastard!"
"Well, I feel very much alive," Brian laughed, "and any way, I am not the one who is holding the gun, nor are you."
Jason turned to face his wife," Hand me the gun, Kat," he said softly, "Let me take care of this."
Kat refused to budge.
"Come on, Kat," he said, anger rising again, "Give me the fucking gun!"
Still Kat stood there transfixed as all the information she had just received started to sink in, she glanced at the photos, then back at Jason, "Damn it bitch!" he screamed at her, "GIVE ME THE GUN!" and with that he lunged at her.  The last thing he heard was the sound of Kat firing the gun.

**************

"...and in other news," Jan smiled at the camera, "our little town was shocked by last nights events. The body of adult film star Heidi Seek, who was known to her friends and family as Heidi Johnston, was found mutilated on the Somersdale High School football field late last night.  Johnston was in town for her high school class reunion.  Also in related news, another member of that graduating class was apparently also attacked, Patrick Sheridan, of Chicago, Illinois, was rushed to County Hospital after being found unconscious on the men's lavatory floor in the high school.  Sheridan, who is now listed in critical condition, regained consciousness long enough to say who his attacker was.  Officers arrived early this morning to question the suspect, Jason Rodgers, at his home.  On arriving, officers heard shots, and upon entering the home found Jason's wife Katherine Rodgers had shot him in what appears to be self defense.  Evidence has been linked to both the murder of Johnston  and attempted murders of Sheridan and of Brian Griffin, who was also found at Rodgers home, apparently trying to warn Rodgers's wife of the incidents that led up to this moment.  At this time, officers are looking into the deaths, but have commented that the evidence points towards Rodgers...."

***************

"Kat," Brian said softly to her, the only tone he ever spoke to her, such a nice change, "I heard from Patrick today, he sends his love, and would like for us to come out to Chicago to see him."
"Oh," said Kat in a dreamy voice, "that would be nice."
"Here," Brian handed her a plate, the food was all ready in bite sized bits, "how be careful and don't try and eat too fast," he reminded her.
She took small bites using the spoon, "Very delicious," she smiled at him, "My complements to the chef."
Brian beamed, "I am glad you like it," he then rose from the table and started for the door, "You know, my love," he whispered, "I will never let anything happen to you." and with that he closed the door to her room, and as she heard the lock click, hear heart melted, how could she not love him?

The End