| Chapter Five Kat squinted as the sunlight showing around the edges of the curtains hit her in the face. She turned over, facing away from the window and let the memories of yesterday flow over her. Never in her wildest imagination had she ever expected things to turn out this way. Sure, she had always imagined what it would be like if she ever saw Howie again. Her fanatasies had always included them falling in love, but somehow she always thought they would just stay friends. And now...now they had definately moved passed the friendship and into something new. She wasn't sure what to call 'it' though. Wasn't sure if it could last. After all, she did live in Cincinnati and Howie was on the road months out of the year. That didn't leave alot of time to pursue a relationship. She could feel her stomach tightening into a knot and she swallowed hard. The way she felt about him hadn't changed, it had only intensified. The school-girl crush she'd always had on him had grown stronger, now bordering on love. She knew he must have some feelings for her, he wasn't the type to play the field, at least he hadn't used to be. And somehow she couldn't imagine him playing her now. "Hey sleepyhead, its two o'clock. Aren't you going to Disney today?" Kel asked from the doorway, interupting Kat's thoughts. Kat bolted upright and glance at her alarm clock. "Oh no! I've got an hour to shower and get ready before Howie comes over" she said as she threw back the covers and hopped out of bed. "I'll see you downstairs" Kel said as she shut the door on the sight of Kat pulling clothes out of the closet and throwing them on the bed. ~~~****~~~ Kat was putting on the finishing touches when she heard the doorbell ring. Looking at her reflection once more, she nodded in satisfaction and left the room. As she neared the bottom of the stairs, she could hear Howie and Kel talking in the kitchen. Kat crossed the hall and stood in the doorway, drinking her fill of Howie. He had on a pair of jean shorts and a white button down shirt over a black wifebeater. Her eyes traveled from his face, to his strong shoulders, down to his muscular chest. The feeling of being cradled in his arms, her head resting against his chest came back to her, stealing her breath. Howie watched as her eyes roamed over his body, and the way her expression changed. "Hello Kat" he said with a knowing masculine smirk. Kat's eyes slowly moved back up over the path they had just traversed and met his eyes. She blushed softly at being caught eyeing him and said, "Hi!" They spoke with Kelly for a few minutes, making plans to meet her and their friends at Main Street's Bake Shop before the fireworks, and then they were on their way. ~~~****~~~ Howie had to force himself to be quiet when the urge to ask Kat if she had liked what she had seen popped into his mind. 'All these years hanging with Bone is definately rubbing off on me!' he thought as he sighed inwardly. He could just imagine her reaction to a question like that. "Did you sleep well?" he asked as he slid his hand over hers. "Amazingly well" she answered as she turned her hand over and laced her fingers through his. "How about yourself?" Howie smiled and answered, "Like a baby." They shared a smile and then Howie turned his attention back to the road. Twenty mintues later they pulled into a parking space and Howie got out and ran around the car to open her door. He handed her out, and Kat felt her pulse race at that innocent touch. "Where would you like to go first?" he asked as they entered the park. "Space Mountain or The Extra TERRORestrial Alien Encounter" she answered with a gleem of anticipation in her eyes. "Lead the way" Howie said as they joined hands and made their way through the crowds to Tomorrowland. They spent the day going from one area of the park to the other, riding everything they could and stopping in as many shops as possible. "I'm having a wonderful time Howie. Thanks for coming with me" Kat said as they neared the Bake Shop to wait for their friends. "I wouldn't have missed today for the world" he said as he leaned in to gently press his lips against hers. Kat sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck as his tongue invaded her mouth and his hands came to rest on her hips. "Would you look at the two of them? Kissing in the middle of broad daylight for all these little kiddies to see" Kel said as she took a seat across the table from them. Matt smirked and said, "Really, you two have already won the best kiss for this weekend, I don't think you need the practice!" Kat reluctantly pulled away from Howie and buried her face in the crook of his neck. Howie shot a playful, but meanacing glance at their two friends, who just laughed in response. "So what did you do today?" Kat asked Kel as she unburied her face. Kel began to speak when Matt cut her off. "I'll tell you what she did. She dragged me on that evil Alien ride, and after I about lost my lunch, she insisted we ride it again. The woman is as evil as that ride is" he insisted. "Then she dragged me onto Space Mountain and anything else that moved faster than a snail's pace. Evil, just pure evil" he added while making a cross of his two index fingers, warding off Kel. Kat and Howie laughed and Kel smirked. "You big baby. You enjoyed every minute of it and you know it! Especially since you got to hang onto me" she said with a gleem of satisfaction in her tone when he lowered his head to hide his blush. "What's this? Kel and Matt? Oh my God!!!!" Kat groaned good-naturedly. "Oh I think its sweet! But I guess we're going to have to watch out, they're liable to take our title as BEST KISSER'S next reunion!" Howie said laughingly. "Come on, let's go find a good spot to watch the fireworks" Kel said, changing the subject. They stood and moved through the gathering crowd and found the perfect spot to watch the fireworks. They didn't have to wait long before the music started and the first burst of colors spread across the sky. Kat watched as the colors appeared so bright and then slowly faded into the inky blackness of the sky. She couldn't help but wonder if that's how things were going to go with Howie, fizzling out before they had a chance to enjoy it. Howie noticed her mood change and wondered about it, but he knew this wasn't the time or the place to ask. Instead he tightened his hold around her waist and leaned down and kissed her cheek. Kat looked back over her shoulder and smiled at Howie, forcing the sad thoughts out of her mind. As the last of the fireworks exploded into the night sky, Kel asked, "Who's up for dancing in Downtown Disney?" They all agreed and they headed for Downtown Disney to dance the night away. On to Chapter 6 Back to Reunion Index Back to Main page |