Something Different by: Kerimack Summary: Kathryn and Sebastian reunite at a funeral Chapter 20: One Year Later It was a lovely day for a funeral. Sebastian stared up at the sky and wondered it there was some karmic reason for it. The woman they were burring was as cold as ice, so it stood to reason that this should be one of the nicer days in New York history. He stood far away from the processions. A large group of mourners all dressed in black were gathered around the casket in the large cemetery. Mourning a woman who had died supposedly of an early heart attack. Only a few realized it was more likely due to the large bottle of prescription drugs she had taken, but of course no one mentioned that. He watched as the priest said a prayer and the socialites pretended to cry and mourn. It was all amusing actually, watching these people pretend to care when in reality most of them probably hated her. It was hypocrisy at it�s best. Sebastian didn�t walk over to them; instead he stood by his car and watched. He could really care less about the funeral; he was only there to see her. He knew she would show up and sure enough he hadn�t been disappointed. She was as beautiful as he remembered, more so even. She stood in front of the casket with her arms folded in front of her chest as she watched them lower her mother into the ground. She was the very picture of elegance, dressed in a short black dress and a black sun hat. She was sexy but appropriate. Large black sunglasses covered her eyes. Most people figured it was probably to hide the emotion that she was feeling, to hide her tears. He knew better. It was most likely to hide her lack of emotion, to hide the giddy delight of not having to put up with the monster any more. She never cried anyway, she was too strong. It had been over a year since the last time he had seen her, or even talked to her. After she left they hadn�t kept in touch namely out of adolescent pride. God he missed her. Although his life had gone on she was still all he thought about. After graduating high school, Sebastian had been offered a job as a photographer. His father had wanted him to attend college, but after hearing how much it paid he backed off. He was too smart for college anyway. He traveled a lot, but namely stayed in New York. When in Europe he would often think about dropping in on her, but he never did. She had moved on with her life as he had. His reputation was still the atrocity it always was. Now that he was around beautiful women all day it had only grown, but he found little pleasure in these women. They were beautiful, rich and some of them were even marginally intelligent, but it always came down to one simple problem. They weren�t her. And what had become of that girl that he loved so much? After her departure the rumors began to fly at Manchester. Most of them painted Kathryn as the victim and Annette as the psycho ex-girlfriend. Her mother had done a good job keeping the press from finding out too much of the real story. Only a few people knew the real story, but that didn�t keep people from talking. Eventually the rumors began to persist that Sebastian had had an affair with his stepsister. Certain people, such as Mrs. Caldwell didn�t believe it, but others did. When asked if it were true we would laugh or tell them it was none of there business. It was funny, for once in is life he didn�t want to brag about his conquest. After a while people began to forget and he assumed that was partly the reason she had returned now. The danger had passed, her reputation was still secure. He had heard from Blain that she was going to college in Europe and was thinking of transferring to Columbia. He could picture her in college, probably already the most popular girl on campus. He smiled at the thought. As for her social life he only knew what he read in the gossip columns. She was thought to be engaged to some billionaire who was heir to a publishing empire, but he heard the romance had quickly fizzled. That was all he knew about her life. Sebastian watched as the priest finished and the mourners began to depart. He wondered what he should do. He desperately wanted to go to her, but he couldn�t, not now. As everyone walked away she still stood looking down at the ground. He wondered what she was thinking. Good riddance most likely. The women had been horrible to her daughter and she had every reason in the world to hate her. But she was her mother after all and he wondered if it did affect her in some way. As always he couldn�t tell. She eventually turned to go, muttering something before she left. She headed down to her car with the others and he quickly climbed into his car. He took one last look at her before driving off. * * * * * * Kathryn hated wakes. Besides the fact that they were boring, they were often usually filled with fake people. This one was no exception. She wondered if a single person there even liked her mother let alone missed her. As awful as it was to admit it she knew she was one of those people. Her whole life her mother had delighted in torturing her, in making her feel she wasn�t good enough. Kathryn was never sure why she took so much pleasure in hurting her only daughter but she figured it was all because of some misplaced jealously. The funeral had been as awful as she had thought. All the those people watching her, waiting to see her cry. Well she wouldn�t give them the satisfaction. She had worn large black sunglasses so she would leave them guessing whether or not she was actually upset. Now that she was inside, the glasses were off and she was faced with having to rely on her acting ability. People came up to her and offered their condolences and she thanked them, but silently wished they would fuck off. In all honesty there was only one person she wanted to see but he hadn�t bothered to show up. She knew it was her own fault. In the past year she hadn�t bothered to get in contact with him once. It wasn�t like she didn�t want to, it was that she couldn�t. She would pick up the phone and dial but then hang up because she didn�t know what to say. Sorry I skipped the country without telling you, after you poured your heart out to me. No it just sounded to lame. He probably hated her and he had every right to. Although her life had gone on after she left New York, she still thought of him often. She was in college now and that was as boring as she imagined it be. She had dated many guys, most of whom her mother had approved of, and slept with even more. It never helped though, none of them measured up to him. In truth he was the only person who ever truly knew her, the real her. Not only did he like her but he loved her. And what had she done? Run away. After the incident with Annette her mother had insisted that maybe it was best if she finished school in Europe. She had agreed not because she feared what the scandal would do to her reputation, but because she couldn�t deal with her feelings for him. All her life she had been taught that love was a joke, it wasn�t real. She had believed that and she thought so had Sebastian, but then he went and said I love you and things changed. Did she love him? That was the million-dollar question. She adored him; he was gorgeous, charming and smart. He was the only man she�d ever known who she couldn�t control. He was her match in every sense of the word, but did she love him? She couldn�t be sure all she knew was that she missed him so much it hurt. When she came back to the states she had assumed he would be there at the funeral. If not only to pay his last respects to his former stepmother but also to see her. Maybe she was kidding herself in thinking he still loved her, he had probably moved on. From what she had heard his reputation hadn�t improved any, if anything it got worse. She couldn�t help but smile a little at that. She was still in contact with Blain, who had always been friends with him. She would often ask him as casually as possible what he was up to. He would always smile and say, �why don�t you ask him yourself?� she would then find a reason to change the subject. Still she thought he would be there. She had seen her former stepfather earlier but she hadn�t talked to him. She doubted Sebastian still lived with him anyway. As she looked around the large spacious living room filled with people in black she looked for him, but didn�t spot him. She did however see Blain. She walked up to him and gave him a hug �thanks for coming.� Blain smirked �wouldn�t miss it, you know how I love a good party.� �Right� Kathryn said with a smile. �So have you seen anyone you know?� Blain eyed her and smiled �if this is your little way of asking me if I�ve seen Valmont the answer is no. However I do have his cell number if you want to call him.� �No. I just thought he might show.� �Listen, you want to see him? Swallow your pride and call him.� Kathryn rolled her eyes �I�ve had enough mourning for one day. I�m going to lay down. Don�t tell anyone where I am.� �Ok, I�ll talk to you later.� Kathryn went to her former room but stopped before going in. She stared at the door across from hers. Sebastian�s room. She hadn�t been in it since before she left and for some reason she had a nagging feeling to go in. Opening the door, she walked in and found it only slightly different. His books were no longer there or any of his other possessions, but it still had all the same furniture. The balcony doors where open and the light was shining on the hard wood floor, illuminating the room. She took one final look back before turning around to leave. �You know it�s considered rude to leave a party when you�re the host or the country for that matter.� Kathryn immediate froze at the sound of his voice. It couldn�t be could it? She closed her eyes for a second hoping it wasn�t a dream. She then slowly turned around and found herself face to face with Sebastian. She slowly smiled �Sebastian. What are you doing here�? He returned the smile �you didn�t think I miss this did you? I came to see all the munchkins gather around the wicked witch.� Her smile widened and she shook her head. He looked as good as she remembered, better even. He was dressed in a dark suit and was wearing his usual glasses. �I didn�t think you�d come. I didn�t see you at the funeral.� �I was there. I saw you, beautiful as ever.� �Why didn�t you-� �I wanted to but I thought you might not want me there.� Kathryn walked up to him the smile fading �Look Kathryn, I�m sorry that I never called or-� He was suddenly interrupted when she kissed him. Her small hand went around his neck and pulled him into a kiss. She wasn�t sure why she had done it, she only knew she had to kiss him. They kissed passionately for a minute before pulling away for air. �I missed you,� she whispered. �I thought you wouldn�t want to see me.� �You�re the only one I wanted to see.� �Same here� he replied as he gently caressed her face. Kathryn then pulled away and sat on the bed. �So I here you�re a photographer now.� �Yeah, I decided to forgo college. But I heard your going.� �Yeah I start Columbia in the fall.� There was an awkward silence for a second. Sebastian finally broke it �this is ridicules. We�re never like this around each other.� �Things are different.� �Not really. You know I�m going to ask you.� �Why I left? You know why, my mother thought it would be best-� �Bullshit� he replied angrily. �You freaked out after that day in the hospital. You couldn�t deal so you took off.� Kathryn felt her anger rising �couldn�t deal? Christ Sebastian like I didn�t have enough going on without you telling me all that stuff.� �If you didn�t feel the same way you should of told me, not skipped the country. The least you could of done was tell me or at least call.� �You never called me! You never tired to see me or get in touch with me. Stop trying to blame me!� �But it�s your fault!� Sebastian screamed back. �You know what I�m not doing this.� Kathryn climbed off the bed and headed to the door. Sebastian quickly grabbed her and pushed her on the bed �oh no you don�t.� He climbed on top of her and pinned her underneath him. �Where going to finish this.� �Finish what?� She asked as she squirmed underneath him. �I�m in love with you. I always have been and I always will be. Now tell me the truth now about how you feel or-� �Or what?� �Or I�m walking out that door and you�ll never see me again. If you don�t love me fine, but I have to know. I can�t keep doing this, you don�t know what it�s doing to me-� �I love you,� she finally blurted out.� Sebastian let go of his hold on her wrists �what?� �You heard me I fucking love you. I love you ok I said it.� This time he kissed her hard on the mouth. His kissed eventually went down to her neck and Kathryn murmured, �god I missed you.� �You do love me?� he asked again. She nodded �I do.� He smiled and resumed kissing her. His hands roamed over her body until they got to the hem of her skirt he slowly began to raise it. �You know it occurs to me, we never did it in this bed.� * * * * * * Meanwhile Blain noticed Edward Valmont across the room. A pretty blond was walking away from him so he took it as a good opportunity to approach him. �Hello Mr. Valmont� �Blain, good to see you again. How can I help you?� �I was wondering about Sebastian, I thought he would be here.� �He is� replied Edward �I think he said he had to get something from his old room. Then again that was awhile ago.� �Thanks� Blain then headed to Sebastian�s room. He got to the door when he heard loud moans and groans coming from behind the door. Blain looked across the hall and noticed that Kathryn�s door was open and the room was empty. Blain gave one last look at Sebastian�s door before smiling. �About damn time.� * * * * * * Sometime later Sebastian and Kathryn laid back exhausted from their previous activities. This had been the first time in a long time that either had enjoyed sex this much. It was also the first time that either could call what they had just done making love. They were both quiet for a minute before Sebastian asked, �Are you ok?� Kathryn smiled �yes, I just can�t feel my legs.� Sebastian laughed and pulled her toward him �so what now?� �Your up for another round already?� �Well give me a minute. Actually what I was asking about was what now, with us. Where do we go form here?� �I�m not sure, haven�t really planned it out.� Sebastian thought for a second �are we like, dating?� �I don�t do dates� Kathryn replied sternly. �Neither do I, so what then, monogamy?� Kathryn smiled �well that would be something different.� He leaned down and kissed her head �I do love you, you know.� �You better� Epilogue coming soon |