I can't breathe. I'm going to pass out any second now and fall down those stairs, knocking every one of them on the way down like a bowling ball making a strike. Everyone is going to laugh at me and then I'll have proved my other Parents right. I'll have proven myself worthless...
I laughed nervously and gave the slightest of waves at the massive crowd below.
As if I wasn't nervous enough before…
“Hi?” I said nervously.
This seemed to rouse the shocked mob into loud cheers, wolf whistles, and obscene comments being thrown in Katherine's direction. Katherine blushed a deep Rose color, only adding to her newfound beauty making the crowd grow a little wilder.
It was with the greatest satisfaction that when she caught sight of Tyler that he was the only one still silent, and looking up at her as though in a trance.
Their eyes met for what seemed an eternity before Katherine took an almost involuntary step towards him. He seemed to just be drawing her in and Katherine almost laughed again at the thought of Tyler saying, "Look into my eyes... I want to suck your blood...look into my eyes…"
In his completely black dinner suit with his black long hair tied back in a black silk ribbon, wisps of hair framing his handsome face, he could easily have played the part of a very charming and devilish count Dracula.
Katherine walked down the stairs slowly, both Tyler and Katherine looking at only each other.
The mob- seeing that a romantic moment was occurring right before their eyes - quieted down just as Katherine reached the bottoms there right in front of Tyler.
"Shall we?" Tyler asked, holding out his hand for her.
Katherine cocked her head to the side and thought for a moment, making Tyler's brow furrow.
"Why not?" She asked, taking his hand and smiling.
Giselle walked towards them, smiling happily.
"You look, beautiful darling," she said, cupping Katherine's face in both hands affectionately. She kissed Katherine's forehead and turned to Tyler, with tears in her eyes, "take good care of her,"
"I will," Tyler replied, giving his friend and mentor a swift nod.
Katherine seemed oblivious as to why her mother was so near to tears, shooting Giselle a concerned look. Giselle waved her off "Oh, do not look at me like that. I am alright. A woman is perfectly within her rights to get a bit emotional on her daughter's first date."
Katherine gave her a confused look, opening her mouth to tell Giselle that it wasn't even a real date, but just closed it again. She didn't want to say that and didn't want to remind herself that none of this was real. That the most beautiful young man she had ever laid eyes on wasn't hers.
She didn't know when she'd realized that she had a crush on Tyler, but she did whether she liked it or not. And now she was stuck with it. Sofia came up to the couple next, looking in between Katherine and Tyler before giving a girlish squeal and throwing her arms around Katherine in a tight, sisterly hug.
Everyone in the Coven came up and gave Katherine a hug, some giving Tyler a pat on the back or a “behave yourself" look. It was as if they were all saying that Katherine was part of the family now and that they heartily approved of her presence Eventually, they did manage to escape to Tyler's black Porsche.
Once inside, they got on the road and headed to Scott's house as quickly as possible. "I am really sorry about that. I don't know what got into them," Tyler said, sounding almost nervous.
Of course, Katherine knew that wasn't possible. What did he have to be nervous about?
"That's alright," Katherine said, smiling. "It's kind of nice actually knowing they care, I mean. The wolf-whistles were just a bit much for me though."
Katherine laughed a little, trying to hide her own nervousness, both of Tyler and her other Parents.
"I noticed," Tyler said, trying to hide a smile. The rest of the car ride to the Scott's was silent but it was a comfortable silence.
It was only as Tyler pulled into Scott's driveway that he realized how nervous Katherine really was about seeing the people who had raised her.
Giselle had called and told them that Katherine would be staying the night before at The Haven to make it easier for the girls to help Katherine get ready, so Katherine hadn't seen them since the revelation of her real parentage - something that even Tyler still hadn't gotten over yet.
Tyler had gotten to know Katherine so well that he could guess her thoughts just by the way she fidgeted: What am I going to say? What will they say? Will they know that I know?
The nervous side glance she gave Tyler made her thoughts even easier to read: What will they think of Tyler? Will they hate him like I thought they would? Will they surprise me and give him a chance? Will they break out Dad's shotgun or did they buy silver stakes?
It was rather a shock to Tyler when he realized that Katherine still cared about what Scott thought of her, that despite her independence, she had always cared.
As Tyler cut the engine and moved to get out of the car, he was surprised by Katherine gently grabbing his arm. He looked back at her and she stuck out her hand for him to shake.
He took it, a quizzical look on his face.
The back door is right in the kitchen just in case you need to make a quick getaway. Good luck, Tyler. Believe me when I say you are going to need it since I seriously doubt the odds being 'ever in your favor," Katherine said, quoting The Hunger Games.
She released his hand, unbuckled, and got out of the car.
The fact that Katherine actually seemed serious bothered Tyler as he got out of theler and followed Katherine up the stone-lined path to Scott's front door.
Did she really think that he would just cut and run if things got uncomfortable?