Without realizing it, I step away from the Dean, Scott, and the bodyguard and move closer. My eyes are glued on the girl, and then she looks directly at me before continuing the conversation with the boy she's talking with. It's Katy. My Katy.
"Oh my God, Katy?" I can't hold in. It's her. It's really 100%, honest to God, my Katy. Right there, walking with another guy.
All the anger I felt that day four years ago bubbles up inside me and I take off in a run to where she is. "Katelyn Marie Warren!" I yell at her and notice her flinch.
The guy I saw her with pulls her behind him. "Dude, I don't know what your problem is but you have the wrong girl. Her name is Kate Parker, not--whatever you just said," he says with a shake of his head.
I couldn't help but laugh, albeit humorlessly at that. "Oh, really? And who exactly are you?" I ask him as I cross my arms and steal a glance at Katy. She hasn't told this guy a thing. He has no idea she's a married woman.
Then she shoves in front of the guy and crosses her own arms as she steels herself to confront me. "He's my boyfriend," she replies with a glare, and I can't help but smirk across at her; she's so cute when she thinks she's being mean.
I step closer and reach my hand out. "Well, boyfriend, I'm the husband."
The shock of that registers in his eyes as he shoves my hand away, "What? What is he talking about, Kate?" he turns around and asks Katy.
She grits her teeth before she replies, "Husband in name only. We were young and stupid. He got discovered, ran off to L.A., and had his pick of every beautiful woman that wanted to come fill his bed."
She really wants to piss me off. "I NEVER cheated on you, Katy!" I yell as Scott wanders over with the bodyguard. Perfect timing, guys, I think as I look over my shoulder at them.
Then she's laughing. Freaking laughing at me! "Maybe you didn't then, but since then? I've seen all your magazine covers, Liam! How many "girlfriends" or, hell, just one night stands, have you had in the last four years? I'm not Katy Warren anymore. I'm just normal Kate Parker again. And I've moved on and just want to forget that I was ever married to someone like you!" she yells back at me.
Katy grabs hold of the boyfriend guy and turns to go, but I'm too mad to let her. I run over and grab her elbow and turn her back around to me. "How many men have you had, Katy? How many have you dated or had flings with since we've been separated? And a guy like this?" I point at her boyfriend and shake my head. "You know your Mama must be so disappointed. You could do so much better."
Before I even know what she's doing, I feel my cheek burn as Katy slaps me. "Shut up!" she yells at me angrily. All I can do is stand there, tense, as I feel all kinds of emotions rolling through me. "Lucas is great, thank you very much. He’s never hurt me like you did. The only one my Mama has ever been disappointed in is you! So please," she says as she starts to storm away again, "do me a favor and stay on your side of the country in L.A."
Katy still doesn't want me. I just keep standing there, watching her in shock, unable to move. "By the way," I hear her yell over her shoulder as she and the boyfriend--Lucas, apparently--take off, "I want a divorce!"
She has a boyfriend, she just freaking slapped me in public, and she says she wants a divorce? Oh there is no way that is happening, because seeing her in person just reminded me even more how much I love her, even if she hates me.
"What the heck was all that?" Scott asks as he comes up to me. "Who was that?"
I turn towards him and take a deep breath to pull myself together. "That was Katy, Scott."
His eyes bug out. "Katy? Like, your wife, Katy?"
I nod and look in the direction she just left in.
"Whoa. Are you ok?"
"I will be," I say, "because I'm going to win her back."
Chapter 2
All night I toss and turn, thinking of every moment I spent having it out with Katy at the school. I'm really going to have to do something big to prove to her I want her.
Stewing over it brings an idea to mind. I can show up at one of her classes and force her to spend time with me, I think with a smile. There's no way she can avoid me then, and maybe, just maybe, I can convince her that she really belongs with me.
The next morning, I get up bright and early to go up to campus and find out Katy's schedule. I dial Scott's phone while I'm heading to the limo.
He answers groggily. "Hello?"
"Hey man, it's me."
"What time is it?"
"I don't know, like 7, I think. Anyway, I just wanted to tell you if you need me I'm going to be up at the college we were at yesterday."
"And why would that be?"
"I'm going to confront Katy. Not like yesterday, don't worry. But I'm going to her class and I'm going to do my damn best to make her realize we belong with each other, and apologize to her over and over again."
He sighs tiredly and I can hear him getting out of his bed and slipping on clothes. "Good luck, bro. I have a feeling you’re going to need it."
Shortly after I arrive on campus, I hightail it to the building marked "Administration” and walk up to the elderly lady working the desk.
"Excuse me, ma'am?" I ask leaning on the counter.
She stops her typing and looks over and her eyes widen when she notices who I am. Maybe this will be easier than I thought.
"Can I help you, sir?" She stares at me.
I put on my biggest movie poster grin and lean closer to her. "Well, I'm really hoping so. I'm trying to find a student. Katelyn Marie War...err, Parker, Katelyn Marie Parker. Is there any way you could tell me where her first class of the day is?"
She raises her graying eyebrow at me. "Are you family?"
I grin widely at her. "Yes ma'am, I'm her husband." I pull out my driver's license to show her. "I just completely forgot what her first class was and I want to surprise her," I tell her, shaking my head.
She nods while typing into her computer and looks back over at me, "Psychology with Mr. Wallace in the building right next door."
"Great, thanks!" I hurry out and take a second to make sure there isn't a swarm of girls around to attack me as I run over to the building a few feet away. As I get into the building, I notice how quiet it is and breathe a sigh of relief, the less craziness the better right now.
Walking down the hall, I check each room sign to see which class is what. Then I finally find Psychology and walk in to see a balding man organizing his desk.
I clear my throat and step further into the room. "Excuse me, sir?"
He looks up and raises an eyebrow at me. "Can I help you?"
"I'm hoping so." I smile at him nervously. "I have a question. My wife is in your first class."
"Who is your wife?"
"Kate Parker. Is there any way it would be ok for me to sit in with her today? You see, I'm an actor and I never get to see her. It would really mean a lot to me to be able to spend time with her, even if it is just in her class."
He scrunches his eyebrows together as he looks me over. "Kate's a real good girl. Are you sure she'll want you to be here?" he asks me curiously.
I stand up a little straighter and look him in the eye. "I have to win her back, sir. She's supposed to be with me."
He gives me a sad smile and nods. "Ok, just this one time. But if she doesn't want you here, I won't force my hand."
I nod and stand back as students start filing into the room, and as soon as they notice me and realize who I am, there's a lot of silence. Then fan girls start freaking out. I hear the whispers of, "Is that really Liam Warren?" over and over throughout the room, but I ignore it. These people aren't the reason I'm here.
I start feeling anxious when Mr. Wallace is getting the class settled to begin. Katy's still not here.
I walk towards the door to walk off being so antsy when I hear her voice. “Excuse me?” She’s frozen in front of some guys and I breathe a sigh of relief. But she’s pissed I’m here, I can see it in her eyes.
I lean against the door jam and cross my arms and I sm
ile at her. "Hey baby, just thought I'd sit and spend some time with you while you’re in class today." I look behind me at the teacher. "Mr. Wallace already said it was ok. I told him that we just never get to see each other anymore."
Katy's eyes pop out as she looks at me and says, "Are you freaking crazy?" She looks over my shoulder into the classroom. "First off, you don't get to call me baby anymore, ok? And second, you can't think you can waltz back into my life. I told you, I want a divorce, so I can put all this behind me!"
All my muscles tighten and I step forward, closer to her, and answer with one word: "No."
She looks confused for a minute, "No, what?"
"No divorce. I refuse to give you a divorce. I'm not dating anyone. Never gotten even close to serious, and I still love you Katy. You don't get to just sign the dotted line and be rid of me. I refuse it!" I step even closer and get face to face with her. "You are mine, Katy Warren."
A single tear rolls down her cheek and it breaks my heart as I reach out to wipe it away. "Give me another chance baby, please," I whisper, and fumble for my wallet to pull out the picture I've kept there the last four years--the picture of us at the theater just before everything went crazy. "Give that Liam and Katy their chance."
She starts full out crying, but before I can comfort her the boyfriend comes around the corner. As soon as he notices me he gives me a dirty look, and then his face is almost murderous when he sees Katy's crying.
He pulls her away from me and asks her what's wrong. I want to deck him--this was my real shot!
She just shakes her head, and as she straightens herself I see the determined look come across her face as she looks at me. "I--I can't be with you."
Mr. Wallace chooses that moment to come to the door and ask if Katy's ready to come into class now. When her and boyfriend guy go into the classroom, Mr. Wallace looks over at me with a knowing smile. "I'm sorry Mr. Warren."
"Yeah, me too."
After that disaster, I call my driver and as I am standing around waiting, I get an idea. Show her that I'm thinking of her, of us. I'll send her some of her favorite flowers. I bet the boyfriend doesn't even know what her favorite flowers are.
Smiling to myself, I call and make the order and think of one more way I can make her think of what we had.
I punch in my mom's cell number and wait for her to pick up.
"Hi honey." I hear her sweet voice and smile.
"Hey mom, uh, I have a question. Do you still have that picture I gave you for safe keeping of Katy and me in Vegas?" I ask her nervously.
"Yes, I believe I have it in a box upstairs. Why?"
"Is there any way you could fax it to my hotel?"
"And again Liam, I ask why?"
I take a deep breath and blow it out. Mom radar is hard to hide from. "I just really miss her Mom. I'd like to have it just to have with me, ya know?"
I hear a smile in her voice when she answers. "Ok sweetie, I'll fax it over to you. Love you, sweetheart."
"Love you too, Mom," I answer, and after giving her the number to the fax machine I hang up and climb into the limo to head towards set. I'm going to get that picture enlarged and send it to her with the flowers. She has to see what we had, what we've always had. One way or another I'm going to get through to her.
Chapter 3
Later that night, I finish my scenes for the day when Scott and, unfortunately, Alexia, walk over towards me.
"Got any plans tonight, Liam?" Alexia asks me with her exaggerated smile, and I roll my eyes at her and give Scott a pleading look.
"I do. I have to go...take care of some things." I shrug and run a hand through my hair.
Alexia takes another step towards me and puts her hand on my arm. "Are you sure you can't skip whatever it is? I bet we could have a great time relaxing and catching up." She tucks her hair back and I take a step backwards when she tries to come even closer.
"I think he has some more important catching up to do today, Alexia," Scott tells her pointedly.
Her eyebrows draw together and an angry look crosses her face and just as quickly it's gone. "What do you mean? You can't possibly have already met someone here that you need to rush off to be with." She crosses her arms and looks at me expectantly.
"Actually, it's not that I've met someone. It's that I've found someone. My wife, Katy, she's here. She's a student on the campus we visited the other day."
Alexia takes a step back and I notice she purses her lips together before she puts on a smile. "Oh. Well that's really great. Good luck with that." She turns on her heel and stalks away leaving Scott and I shaking our heads.
"You really gonna go back to campus again? Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough?" Scott asks me as he tugs his jacket on.
I shake my head. "I have to get her alone, away from her friends and boyfriend." I groan that word out. "Have it just be us. Before she broke down by her class, I could tell she still held feelings for me, Scott. It was in her eyes." I let out a breath and close my eyes. "I'm going to make her realize what we have is real and that even through all this time apart, I haven't stopped loving her, ever."
He sighs as he tosses me my hoodie and looks over at me. "Alright, man. Do what you think you need to. But don't forget, Excite's giving us some entertainment tonight." He grins at that.
Shaking my head I follow him out to the parking lot. "I don't see myself taking part in all that anymore."
"You have to at least come be my wingman."
I sigh as I shake my head, "Fine, whatever. But don't expect me to be happy about it," I tell him. I get in my car and then make my way back to Katy's campus.
Before I get out of the car, I slip my sunglasses on and pull my hood up just in case there are any fans hanging around that I don't want to deal with right now.
I quickly jog up to the dorm I saw Katy go into the other day and ask a few people that are heading out the door if they know which room is hers, and they point me in the right direction.
I hurry down the hall and knock on her door. When she opens the door, I smile at her until she tries to slam the door in my face. But she isn't getting rid of me that easy. I reach my arm up to block it from shutting and quickly step inside her room and take a look around.
Katy's leaning against the door with her arms crossed when I turn back towards her. "What the heck do you think you're doing here, Liam?" she asks me.
"Oh, you know, I had a break in filming and thought I'd come and visit these um...lovely dorms," I answer her with a smirk. I take a good look around and spot the flowers I sent her, but frown when I see where they're placed--sitting next to several pictures of her roommate and little pink accessories, not Katy's side of the room.
"Those weren't for her, you know."
She just shrugs at me as she looks at her watch, like I'm wasting her time. Wow.
"I know, I didn't want them, and Krista, who by the way will be back in like five minutes, is just so 'in love' with you and was just too happy to take the flowers out of my hands.” She puts her hands on her hips and smiles, and I get more frustrated with every word she says.
I stalk closer to her and throw my hands in the air. "You are impossible, Katy! What do I have to do to prove to you that I want you?”
She narrows her eyes and yells back at me. “For the thousandth time, I'm just Kate now. Not Katy, ok? And you don't have to prove anything, because I don't care!”
I can't take it anymore. I'm going to prove that she does, in fact, still care. I grab her and kiss her. She melts against me just like she always did before, and I revel in it until I hear the door handle turn.
In walks a girl with very curly blonde hair. She has a towel wrapped around her shoulders and Katy's boyfriend is right behind her, all dressed for a night out. The girl's eyes get huge and boyfriend turns a glare on me and then looks at Katy with sad eyes. They saw the kiss.
"OH MY GOD, ITS LIAM WARREN!" the girl screams. Katy takes a big step away from me, putting a lot of space between us and mo
ving toward her boyfriend.
"Lucas, I-”
But he cuts her off with a shake of his head. "No, I get it, Kate. How can I stand a chance against a movie star?” He turns and walks out and I see that Katy's covering her face, in embarrassment? Shame? Does she really hate kissing me that much?
A minute later she composes herself and goes to stand next to the blonde girl. "Krista Quinn, I believe you know who he is.” She points in my direction. "Liam Warren, this is my roommate and best friend, Krista Quinn."
I smile as I reach my hand out. "It’s very nice to meet you, Krista Quinn."
She squeals as she returns the shake and I have to resist covering my ears. "N-nice to meet you L-Liam,” she stutters out, and starts messing with her hair.
I give her a nod and look back over at Katy. "We really need to talk about this, Katy.”
Krista must take the hint because she says something about getting her hair stuff and quickly leaves the room, and then Katy and I are finally alone.
She sits on her bed and says, "Alright. Start talking."
I walk over and sit down next to her and take her hand in mine, shaking my head of the million thoughts running through my mind right now. "You have no idea how many times I've thought about this moment. Seeing you again, and being able to confront you about everything that happened...”
"Liam..." she tries to interrupt, but I hold my hand up. I need to get this out.
"No, hear me out, ok? I thought when I saw you again I would be pissed and take it out on you. But I think that over the last four years I've kicked, punched, drunk and destroyed that anger. So I'm at a place now that I can just sit here, hold your hand, and ask you--Why? Why did you leave the way you did, Katy?” I turn to look her directly in the eye.
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