'Are you sure you want to do this?' Danielle asked Katherine as their cab pulled up outside the club where Donnie's birthday celebrations were taking place.

Katherine took a deep breath, steadying her nerves. 'Absolutely, it's like you said, I should show Joe what he's missing.' She smiled with a confidence she didn't feel.

'You're the boss,' Danielle replied stepping out of the cab and quickly scooting into the doorway of the club to avoid the rain.

I'm the boss, Katherine told herself as she paid their driver and stepped out of the cab. She momentarily stood in the rain and tried to compose herself, oblivious to the damage the rain was probably doing to her makeup.

'Kat!' Danielle pulled her forward. 'For god's sake, you don't want to go in there looking like a drowned rat. You want Joe to see you and realise he's downgraded.'

'I guess,' she said but she wasn't really here for Joe, she'd come to celebrate Donnie's birthday. She took another deep breath reminding herself that Joe was the past, she was looking to the future. 'I'm not in competition with Shannon,' she said lightly. 'She might not even be here, but if she is that's fine. She's with Joe, I'm not.'

Danielle rolled her eyes and Katherine's hackles went up. 'I mean it, Dani, this isn't high school. Joe and I are over, I've accepted it.' She smoothed down her dress and regained her composure. 'Obviously, I want to look my best but that's more to show Joe I've moved on, I don't want him to think I'm weeping into my pillow every night.'

'Okay, okay,' Danielle said holding her hands up. 'I'm on your side.'

Katherine nodded but she didn't want to think of it as sides any more, there was no competition, not now. The thought suddenly hit her hard; there had never been a competition, it was game over the moment Shannon came back into Joe's life. She paused, waiting for a wave of hurt to wash over her but thankfully it was fleeting. Part of her still wished she could sit down with Joe and talk it all through, the sensible part knew it would be futile to try to.

Danielle pushed open the door of the club and Katherine was instantly assaulted by the noise and flashing lights, reminding her that this was exactly the sort of night out she hated. She stood up taller, telling herself to put her old acting lessons to good use for once. She plastered a smile on her face and purposely strode forward, towards the bar, avoiding eye-contact with anyone.

She allowed herself a small sigh of relief as she sat down and Danielle caught the barman's attention. She let Dani order for her, not caring about the drink, as she began to look furtively around the room. At first, she didn't see Joe as she avoided looking too closely at anyone, but after a second scan of the room, she spotted him with Kelly and Jason. They were sat around a table, Jason's arm swung around Kelly's shoulder while she was gesticulating to them both. Kat quickly looked away, picking up her drink and swigging it, ignoring the burning sensation at the back of her throat.

'Easy,' Danielle said as her eyes followed Katherine's. 'Please don't spend all night looking at him.'

'I don't intend to,' Katherine said thinking Joe hadn't even noticed her. Her eyes flitted around the room again trying to pick out Shannon but after honing in on the fourth blonde head she gave up. 'Look let's just have a couple of drinks and then go. I can't even see Donnie in this crowd.'

'I'm sure he'll find you,' Danielle said in a knowing voice. 'He was pretty keen to get you here.'

'He was being polite,' Katherine said not quite daring to believe that Donnie, or anyone really, would actually like her. At times she still felt broken and that was hardly an attractive proposition for anyone.

'Knock it off with the false modesty, you know- oh!'

Katherine turned to see what had distracted Danielle, and she caught sight of Shannon making her way to Joe's table. Her stomach flipped and she took another sip of her drink hoping to quell her nerves and give off the appearance of indifference. She watched Shannon try to squeeze past Joe and take the seat next to Kelly but he grabbed her, pulling her onto his lap, and she let out a shriek which reached Katherine's ears.

'It looks like Joe's marking his territory,' she said rolling her eyes and treating his display with disdain. However, she kept her eyes firmly focused on the group, watching Shannon closely. Her head was inclined as she leaned into Joe appearing to whisper in his ear, and Katherine managed to catch her eye. She was pleased to see the smile fall from Shannon's face as she recognised her.

'She's got a face like a slapped ass now,' Danielle giggled, and Katherine continued to watch, a small smile forming on her own face.

'She's not the only one,' she said taking in Joe's stony expression. His own eyes were fixed on Jason as he engaged him in conversation, assuredly avoiding making eye contact with her. 'Maybe I should go say hello?'

'I wouldn't.'

'If I don't I'm going to sit here getting dirty looks from them all night.' She stood up straight and took a deep breath. 'Wish me luck.'

                                                                            ~~~

'Oh my god, I can't believe she's here,' Shannon hissed in Joe's ear making him wince.

'Donnie must have invited her,' he said frowning. 'He could have warned us.' 

Jason glanced over at Katherine and sneered. 'I guess he hasn't heard of bros before hoes.'

'Urgh, Jason!' Kelly admonished playing fully slapping his arm.

Jason shrugged. 'What? It's true.'

Joe tuned them out as they began to bicker and turned his attention to Shannon. 'Do you wanna leave before Kat and the pitbull make a scene?'

Shannon wriggled off his knee. 'I think it's too late for that,' she said cocking her head to one side. 'Katherine's heading this way.'

'Great,' he grumbled taking hold of Shannon's hand and giving it a squeeze. 'Just what I need.' The past few weeks he hadn't heard a peep out of Kat, he'd thought she'd finally put the past behind her, and yet here she was again. He had to admit it wasn't like her, she didn't like public confrontations anymore than he did.

'Hey, Kat,' he said arranging his face into a neutral expression as she stood in front of him. 'I wasn't expecting to see you here.' Jason guffawed and he shot him an irritated look.

'No, I wasn't sure if I was going to come myself,' she said her voice surprisingly steady. 'It was pretty much a last-minute decision.'

'Right.' He glanced at Shannon who stared back at him looking slightly bewildered. 'I'm sure Donnie will appreciate the effort.' He heard Kelly giggle but what was he supposed to say? Come have a drink with us?

'Why don't you sit down Katherine,' Kelly piped up giving him a sly smile. 'You really suit your hair like that.' 

'Oh thanks,' Kat said self consciously touching her hair which was swept back off her face. 'I fancied a change.' 

'Jason, move over so she can sit down,' Kelly said nudging Jason in the ribs.

'No, I'm not stopping,' Katherine said quickly and Joe relaxed slightly. 'I just wanted to say a quick hello.'

'Well it's nice to see you,' Joe said hoping Kat would realise that was her cue to leave.

'You too.' She gave him the briefest of smiles but remained standing in front of him. 'So when are you guys leaving? I take it you are going to take the job in London.'

'Yeah, we'll be going in a few weeks. We're just waiting on our visas.' He was amazed by how easily everything seemed to be coming together. There had been the predictable tantrum from his mother but that had been more aimed at Adam, and whilst Shannon's dad clearly had his reservations he hadn't objected.

'That's great,' Katherine said giving him what he thought was a genuine smile. 'Just as well you never got into any trouble when you were younger.'

He laughed awkwardly. 'Yeah being boring has its advantages.' 

Katherine cleared her throat. 'Actually, I was hoping to have a word with Shannon.'

Shannon gaped at her, her grip on Joe's hand tightening. 'Me?'

'Come on Kat, this isn't the time or the place,' Joe said his mood darkening. 'You have nothing to say to Shannon.'

Katherine scoffed. 'That's for me to decide.' She turned her attention to Shannon, ignoring everyone else at the table. 'Can we have a word in private?'

'I don't think it's a good idea,' Shannon said her voice barely louder than a whisper.

'Please,' Katherine said lowering her own voice. 'You've won, can't you at least do this for me.'

'I haven't won, I...'

'Leave her alone,' Joe said wondering when Kat's embarrassment threshold had got so high, he was amazed she wasn't even blushing.

Katherine folded her arms, her eyes narrowing, and gave him her all too familiar pissed off face. 'I just want to talk to Shannon without your input, and without an audience.' She glared at Kelly and Jason who weren't even attempting to hide their amusement at what was taking place.

'But-'

'It's okay, Joey,' Shannon said quickly. 'I don't mind.'

She stood up and he held onto her hand trying to communicate to her that she didn't have to go with Katherine if she didn't want to. 'If you're sure?'

Shannon nodded, squeezing his hand before she let go. 'We'll be over by the restrooms.'

Grim-faced he watched Shannon walk away, Katherine a couple of paces behind her. When they reached the far corner of the room they stopped and Joe could barely make them out.

'I'd kill to be a fly on the wall,' Kelly said excitedly. 'What do you think they're saying?'

'I've no idea,' Joe said trying to hide his irritation. 'But I bet it's nothing good.'

                                                       ~~~