The next day she woke up to some chatter in the room.  She opened her eyes to find Paul propped on his side talking to John across the room in the other bunk bed. 

"Sleeping beauty awakes." he smiled as he looked down at her.

"What time is it?" she asked. 

"Too late for breakfast." John said.  

"It was too late for breakfast when Kat and I dragged your sorry arses up to the room!" Neil commented from across the other side of the  room. 

"Can we bring the volume down just a bit..." George moaned from the bunk above John's.

"How did you ever get up there?" Katia laughed at George's expense.. "You guys were so drunk last night." 

"I've no idea...not much I can recall from the last part of the night." George confessed.   

"Yeah, me either..." John added.

Katia turned and looked at Paul.  "What about you?" 

"I remember I got up those steps." he answered winking at her. 

"Do you now?"

"Yep...I also remember I placed a bet last night...and it looks like I won."

"You didn't get up the stairs by yourself, Paul." Katia tried sounding convincing. 

Paul laughed. "You don't know how to lie, Kat. Of course I did." 

"Your word against mine." Katia responded. 

"Hey Neil!" Paul yelled across to him. 

"Shhhh!" George said lifting his head off the pillow. 

"Sorry, mate...Neil...come here for a sec."

Katia sat up as Neil walked over to John's bunk and sat down on it. 

"So...Kat here seems to want to make me believe I never got up those stairs on my own.  I know otherwise.  What's your verdict?"

"You got up those steps on your own." Neil smiled. 

"I knew it!  Now pay up!" Paul grinned.

"Wait wait!  What did I miss!" John exclaimed trying to keep up with the conversation. 

"Katia lost a bet with Paul last night.  Now he gets to kiss her." Neil summarized it. 

"Ha! This is worth getting up for." John chuckled. 

"Calm down..." Katia chuckled nervously. 

"A deal's a deal, love." George said smiling from the top bunk. 

"I thought you were hung over!" Katia said looking up at him. 

"I am, but like John said, this is worth getting up for." 

"I thought Paul would stop placing bets when it came to you after what happened last time...but I guess you can't lose them all...good deal, Paul!" 

"Thank you.  Thank you." 

Everyone was looking at Katia...waiting and expecting her and Paul to kiss.

"Well if you guys think this is happening now, you'll be very disappointed." she said standing up. 

"Hey!  A bet is a bet!" 

"I'm a woman of my word...but it's not happening now."

"Then you won't mind signing this contract..." Paul smiled. 

"What are you talking about?" Katia said reading Paul's scribbled handwriting on a scrap of paper.  

"Just a precaution...I want proof so I won't get slapped again for it." 

"You are too much!" Kat laughed but went ahead and signed the scrap of paper.  "Here!" 

"Thank you!" 

"Don't go losing that...that's your golden ticket, son." John said to Paul. 

"I'm heading out to see Astrid...I don't think I can survive another night bunking with the lot of you." Katia replied. 

"Let's all pay a visit to Astrid and Stu...get some lunch while we're at it." John said getting up. 

***

After lunch, Paul asked Katia to go with him to a store located a few blocks from Astrid's house.  He told the others they'd catch up a little later.  

"What are you wanting to buy?" Katia asked as they walked down the street. 

"A new bass." 

"Really?" 

"Yeah...I've been eyeing it for a while now."

"Oh...well why do you want another one?"

"Well for starter's the one I'm using is Stu's.  If he wants to sell it, it's his money, not mine. That's why I've been waiting to buy one...I couldn't afford it before. And the one I like seems to look better for a left handed player." he smiled. 

Paul and Katia arrived at the music shop.  He knew exactly where to go.  He picked up a Hofner with a violin shape. He strapped it on and plucked a few notes.  He tweaked the pegs and plucked the notes again.  

"What do you think?  Do you like it? The violin shape helps, don't you think?"

"It looks great." she smiled. 

Paul admired it for a few more minutes and finally decided to buy it.  

"There's one last thing I need to do" he said taking a seat on the floor in the back of the store. 

"What?" Katia sat next to him. 

"Switch the strings out."

They got to Astrid's house a few minutes later.  Paul showed off his new toy to the boys while Katia and Astrid caught up.  

"Tell Stu I'll give him his old bass when he comes to the club tonight." Paul said as he and the others got up to leave.  

"I'll tell him."

"And make sure to come tonight." 

"Of course...we'll make sure Kat gets to the club." 

"Alright.  See you tonight." Paul waved as he caught up with the others. 

"So..." Astrid smiled. "What's going on with you and Paul?"

"Is it that noticeable?" 

"So there is something!"

"Well..." Katia started as she explained everything that had happened with Paul, including what Ringo had said and the infamous bet. 

Astrid laughed. "Leave it to Paul to be so suave...deciding his winnings was kissing you.  Can it be more obvious, Kat? Why are you hesitating? Do you not like him like that because from what I could tell you and-"

"I do like him!" Katia heard herself say. "Wow...that's the first time I've said it out loud.  It makes it so much more real..." 

"This is great!  So tell him already...or just let him kiss you!"

"It's not that simple..."

"Why not?  He likes you, you like him.  What's the problem?" 

"This!  Hamburg is the problem.  Are you really going to sit there and tell me that Paul is not going to mess with other girls while he's here and I'm back in Liverpool?  I don't want to have to put myself in that situation...so if I don't start anything with him, nothing can end.  You know?" 

"I understand...I do, but..."

"Maybe if I was here...like you and Stu...it would be different, but being so far away...Astrid, I haven't told anyone this, but last time I was here I saw Paul go...with what looked to be a prostitute. John called this a Sexual Disneyland, for goodness sake!  I don't know if Cynthia thinks about John being...with other women...I'm not about to go into that with her...but I know what I saw...and I don't want to be a Cynthia.  I'd much rather have Paul as a friend...where what he does with other women doesn't... hurt me..."

"But you like him...doesn't it hurt all the same knowing he's with other women?" Astrid asked softly. "Why not tell him your concerns...talk it out...decide if it is worth starting something now.  If he likes you enough, maybe he'll think twice about being with another woman...even if you do decide not to start something until he's back home.  The simple fact that you like him back may make the entire difference." 

Katia thought about it for a moment. "But who knows when they'll go back home." 

"But there's always the option of you coming to Hamburg after you get out of school." 

Katia laughed.  "I highly doubt my dad would go for that idea...I can't even use the reasoning that I want to come down for the art programs they offer here!  Not an artistic bone in my body!" 

"I'm sure that's not true!"

"It is, Astrid.  I promise you." 

"Well just think about it...there are solutions...it may be worth it to let Paul know you are interested in him too."

***

Two and a half weeks had gone by and Katia had been enjoying herself immensely.  Cynthia had let John know that she would not be able to come until possibly the next month.  There had been many expenses due to her mother's illness and she had to help out.  She was hoping to visit John as soon as she could.   Katia had gone ahead and called her dad five days after she arrived.  He was disappointed in her and could not believe she had done that.  He asked her to come back right then and there, but Katia told him she would be staying for the full month, just as she had intended.  It was the first time she had gone against her father, but she couldn't resist being here with Astrid and the boys...it was addictive. 

Katia had rejected the idea of telling Paul she liked him too, but Astrid had been constantly pushing her to talk about it to him.  Paul's behavior towards Kat had been friendly...they flirted back and forth as they'd done in the past, but the girls still showed up at their table after every set, they always surrounded them, brought them drinks, tried to sit on their laps, which Paul would have most likely allowed if Kat had not been there since the others always had girls perched on their laps.  Astrid had finally convinced Katia though and she would be talking to Paul that night about her feelings.  She was a bit nervous, but deep down, she hoped that Paul would cash in his winnings and kiss her tonight. 

"You ready? We're already running a bit late. " Astrid asked. 

"Yes..let's go." 

By the time they got to the Top Ten, the club was crowded.  The boys had finished their set and were already sitting at their usual table, surrounded by the usual girls...this time, however, Katia saw that Paul was being rather friendly with one of the girls, having let this one sit on his lap.   Katia suddenly felt something she had never felt before-jealousy.  This was exactly why she didn't want to get involved with Paul...because she knew this type of thing would happen when she wasn't here.  

"C'mon..." Astrid said to Katia. 

"You go on ahead...I'm gonna go grab a drink at the bar." 

"Katia..."

"You see that?  That is exactly why I didn't and will not say anything to Paul." 

Astrid squeezed her hand and nodded knowingly before following Stu to the table. 

Katia headed to the bar and looked around the club, wishing to see Ringo.  She scanned the club, keeping her eyesight clear of the Beatles' table, but didn't see him.  

She thanked the guy at the bar and sighed.  A few seconds later she felt someone sit down next to her.  She turned around, half heartedly expecting to see Paul, but it wasn't him.  In fact, she didn't recognize him.   He began speaking to her in German, but Katia stopped him and told him she spoke English.  He introduced himself as Edgar and chatted with her for a few minutes, and despite Katia's attempt to not look over at Paul, she glanced and saw that he hadn't taken his attention off of the girl he was with.  She focused on Edgar and actually enjoyed his company.  He asked her to dance and it was when she followed Edgar to the dance floor that, out of the corner of her eye, she saw that Paul had finally taken notice of her arrival to the club.  She danced a couple of fast paced songs and then the band started to play a slow song.  Edgar pulled Katia closer and began rocking back and forth with the rhythm of the music.  She felt Edgar's hands traveling a little more South than she was used to, but she purposely let him, knowing very well Paul was looking.  She put her head against his chest and swayed to the music along with him. A few seconds later, she felt Edgar pull away.  She looked up and found herself staring at Paul.  Paul told something to Edgar and Edgar winked at Katia before handing her off to Paul.  

Paul took Katia into his arms.  They danced together for the rest of the song without saying a single word.  As the song ended, Katia slowly slipped out of Paul's arms and thanked him for the dance.  Just as she was letting go of his hand, he pulled her back to him, this time just as close as Edgar had held her in the previous dances. 

"No you don't...not yet." Paul said glaring at her with cold eyes.  Katia didn't say anything.  Paul took her hands and placed them on his shoulders while he placed his on her waist.  Katia danced with Paul, but felt distant from him.  After a few seconds, she felt Paul's hands move down her waist.  He stopped short of where Edgar's hands had been.  She wasn't sure if it was due to her gasping or the fact that her body tensed up, but nevertheless, he didn't go lower. The silence continued for the rest of the song and half of the next before Katia spoke up. 

"Are you going to tell me what's got into you?  Why you're acting like this?"

"What do you mean?" Paul asked but didn't look at her. 

"Like this...you won't even look at me.  What's going on?"

"Do I really need to tell you?"

"It'd be nice if you did." 

"So the fact that you didn't even let me know you were here and instead started dancing provocatively with that...jerk isn't enough?" Paul said finally looking at her. 

"Provocatively?  I didn't do anything!  And do you even know anything about Edgar?"

"He was all over you, Kat!" Paul said as he brought his hands back up to her waist. "I already told you what kind of guys hang out here!" 

"Yes!  Yes you did...and I am guessing you're including yourself in that list. For someone who criticized a guy he doesn't know for being all over me, you certainly don't know how to keep your hands to yourself." Katia pulled away from Paul. 

"I have never touched you!" Paul refuted.

"I'm not talking about me!  I didn't go to the table when I arrived because your attention and hands were focused on one of those girls who are constantly circling you guys like vultures....so don't come to me now as a man of morals, getting on my case about letting some guy put his hands a little below my waist while we dance when you do a lot worse!" Katia remarked angrily before walking back to the bar.  

Katia must have been there for only a minute before Paul walked up to her. 

"Kat..."

"Just leave me alone, Paul. I don't want to talk to you right now." Katia said without looking at him, instead she began fiddling with the drink that she had just gotten. 

"I overreacted." she heard Paul say. 

"Yeah...you did." 

"I'm sorry...I just got...a bit jealous." 

Katia looked up at him surprised. 

"I mean you were supposed to be coming to see me...not dancing with other guys." he smiled.

"Funny...you don't want me dancing with other guys, but you have no problem...entertaining other girls."

Paul's smile faded, having thought that he would soften Katia rather quickly. 

"I don't have a say in what you do with other girls, Paul...don't tell me what I should or shouldn't do with other guys. It's not your business..." she said as she began walking away. 

"You're wrong!  it is my business..." Paul said grabbing her arm before she could leave. 

"No...it's not!" Katia replied. "Now please...let go of me." 

Paul released his hold on her arm and Katia walked over to the table.  She whispered something to Astrid and in turn Astrid leaned over to Stu.  A few minutes later, Astrid and Katia were walking out of the club while Paul watched from the bar.  

***

"Hey...how'd you sleep?" Astrid asked when Katia came into the kitchen. 

"Hardly slept..." Katia said as she poured herself some tea and sat down in front of Astrid.  "Where's Stu?

"Still asleep. He said Paul looked pretty upset the rest of the night." 

"I can't believe I was actually thinking of talking to him about us...it would have been a huge mistake."

"Part of the reason he got jealous is because he cares."

"Yeah...that's why when we got there late last night he already had a girl with him...because he cares about me so much...because he likes me...no, Astrid.  This is exactly why Paul and I can only be friends...it's easier if we're just friends..."

"You guys need to talk." 

Katia sighed. "I know.  I hate being mad at him."

"So tonight we'll go down to the club and you two can talk it out."

"Yes..."

Katia couldn't focus on anything all day.  She was distracted and almost thought of going to the club that afternoon, but she finally convinced herself not to go.  She didn't want to turn it into a bigger deal than it had been and thought going to see the band play as she always did would be more appropriate.  

When she, Astrid and Stu arrived at the club, they didn't see the boys.  Another band was playing, but the boys were still not at their usual table.  It was earlier than usual for themto be at the club, but Katia had been anxious all day about talking to Paul.  

"Everything will be fine, Kat!" Astrid smiled and squeezed her hand. "Look, here comes John and the boys." 

Katia saw John followed by George and Pete, but Paul was nowhere to be seen.  

"Hi guys!" Katia said hugging each one.  "Where's Paul?" Katia asked John. 

"Um...he'll be down in a sec..." John responded hesitantly.  "Let's get a drink." 

"I really need to talk to Paul.  Is he in the room?"

"No...no." John said quickly.  "He went to go pick up something...he should be back soon." 

Katia looked at John. She was skeptical of what he was telling her.  A few seconds ago he had said he would be down in a sec, and now he was changing his story. 

"Okay. I'll just wait for him here." 

"You want a drink?" 

"Sure...thanks." 

John walked over to the bar and began talking to George and Pete. 

"I'll be right back." Katia told Astrid.  

She walked up the flight of stairs towards the boys' room and just as she was going to knock, the door opened. 

"Oh.  Excuse me." a blond girl said. 

"Sorry." Katia said softly as she stared at the girl.  She was stuffing a wad of money into the pocket of her very short skirt. The girl continued to walk down the stairs. She had left the door slightly open and Katia pushed it far enough to be able to look in.  She saw Paul zipping up his pants and grabbing for his shirt.  It didn't take Katia long to realize what he and the blond girl had been doing.   This was why John had not wanted her to know he was up here. 

Katia went back down the stairs without saying anything to Paul.  She reached the table and sat back down next to Astrid. 

"Hey, what's wrong? You look like you just saw a ghost." 

"I'm fine, Astrid." 

"You sure?" 

"Yep." Katia said as she looked at the band playing on stage. 

John, Pete and George came back with drinks for the table a minute or so later.  Katia immediately took one of the shots and then grabbed for a beer.  

"Starting early tonight?" George asked. 

"Yeah, you could say that." Katia tried to smile.  

Paul showed up to the table a few minutes later.  He said hi to Astrid and Stu and then walked over to Katia. 

"Hey." he smiled. 

"Hi." Katia managed to say. 

"Um...you think we can talk?" Paul asked.  

"About what?"

"About last night. Please...just give me a few minutes." 

Katia sighed, but followed Paul to a corner of the club.  

"There's nothing to talk about Paul.  Everything's fine." Katia said as she leaned against the wall. 

"Is it?  It doesn't seem fine." 

"Well it is...at least for me it is." 

"You're still mad...I can tell."

"Should I be mad?" 

"Look, I'm sorry I overreacted yesterday, but I was just looking out for you.  Are you going to get mad at me for that?" 

"I was dancing with a guy...what's there to look out for?"

"Kat...you can't be too careful with the guys here...they're only here for one thing and that's to get into your knickers!"

"And what's so bad about that?" 

Paul's face grew upset. 

"Don't be a hypocrite Paul...you and John and George and Pete are just British versions of Edgar.  Don't get on your high horse about these guys trying to have sex when you guys are doing the same!" Katia said and began walking off. 

Paul grabbed her wrist before she could leave. "Don't you dare compare me with Edgar...and if you think he and I are the same, then you obviously have no idea who I am." Paul said. 

"Maybe you're right, Paul!  Maybe I don't really know who you are!" Katia said pulling away and walking back to the table. 

Katia and Paul sat on opposite sides of the table and hardly made any eye contact with each other.  When it was the Beatles turn to play on stage, Katia turned her chair so that her back was facing the stage.  

"Okay...what's going on?" Astrid asked taking a seat next to her. 

"Paul and I didn't fix anything tonight...it got even worse." 

"That's evident for everyone who is at the table, Kat. But why?  I thought you wanted to talk to him to clear things up.  That's why we got here earlier than usual."

"Which was a horrible mistake.  I went up to their room...and just as I was about to knock, this blond girl came out stuffing a bunch of money into her skirt...it was obvious what her line of work was.  I peeked into the room to find Paul getting dressed."

"Oh Kat..."

"It was stupid to even think of telling him I liked him...and how can he tell Ringo he likes me when he goes and does this kind of thing...when I'm here...in Hamburg!  Why doesn't he tell me he's interested?  But instead goes and sleeps with who knows how many girls.  And then he gets upset when I start dancing with a guy...that's being a hypocrite, Astrid.  He can sleep with whomever he wants, but the thought of me doing the same is too much for him? He gets on his high horse and starts lecturing me about some guy being all over me...and then gets upset when I compare him with Edgar." Katia said taking a sip from her beer. 

"Maybe this wasn't the best place to talk..." 

"No..I'm glad we came early...had we not I wouldn't have convinced myself that Paul is just being a hypocrite..." 

"Just try to have a good time tonight, okay?" Astrid said. 

"Yeah..." Katia said taking another drink from her beer. 

About fifteen minutes into the Beatles set, Katia saw Edgar approaching her table.  She smiled and waved to him.  He came over and invited her to go and sit with him and his friends who had a table at the back.  Astrid had gone to the ladies' room, so Kat quickly told Stu she'd be back in a bit and followed Edgar. 

She sat with him and his friends for about ten minutes before Edgar asked her if he could talk to her in private.  

"Sure. " Kat said following him.  He took her out a side door that lead to a dimly lit alleyway.  

"What did you want to talk about?"

"I don't really want to talk...I wanted to spend some time alone with you." 

With that, Edgar began kissing Katia. At first, Katia responded to his kiss, but within seconds, innocent kissing had begun to quickly escalate.  Katia had pushed Edgar's hands away a few times, but he then moved them to her leg, bringing them between her thighs. 

"Stop!" she said pushing him away.  

"Relax!  We're just having a little fun!" 

"No...I...I want to go back inside." Katia said heading back to the door they had just come out of, but before she could get very far, he pinned her against the wall and began kissing her neck.  

"Stop...I don't want to do this!" Katia struggled to get out of his grasp. 

"You'll enjoy it...I promise." 

"I said no!  Leave me alone!" Katia screamed. 

"Stop struggling!" Edgar pushed her forcefully against the wall and began pulling at her blouse.  He vigorously kissed her neck and then went down her chest.  Katia was crying and trying with all her strength to push him off.  At one point she managed to push him off balance and tried to run away, but he pushed her to the ground and straddled her. 

"Please don't do this!" Katia cried as she felt Edgar trying to lift her skirt.  "Help!" she screamed. 

"With all that racket in there, no one is going to hear you...just cooperate and it'll be more pleasant for you." 

Katia began kicking and screaming and with each second that passed, her fear grew.  Suddenly, she felt Edgar being lifted from her body and flung against the wall.  Katia watched Stu punch and kick Edgar until he stayed on the ground.  

"You fuckin' bastard!" Stu yelled. 

Edgar groaned but didn't move. 

"Are you okay?" Stu ran towards Katia who was trying to button up her shirt. 

Katia didn't speak.  She nodded her head and started sobbing. 

"It's alright...you're okay now. It's all over." Stu put his arms around Katia and tried to comfort her. 

"How did you know I was here?" Katia managed to say after a minute. 

"I wasn't particularly happy when you told me you were going with this asshole...so I kept my eye on you guys...when I saw you leave from the table and not come back, I came looking for you."

"Thank you..." Katia's voice started breaking. "I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't shown up." 

"Don't think about that...c'mon..."

"Stu...please don't tell anyone about what happened...promise me." 

"Don't worry...I promise not to say anything. I know how to keep a secret. C'mon..." Stu said giving Katia a kiss on the cheek.

"What's going on here?" Astrid's voice cut through the alleyway. 

"Astrid!" 

"How could you do this Kat!" 

"Astrid...this is just a misunderstanding...it's not what it looks like!" Stu replied. 

"Oh...Stu!" Astrid said with tears in her eyes as she ran back inside. 

"Go after her! Tell her what happened!" Katia urged. 

"What about you?"

"I'll be fine..." 

Stu hesitated a bit, looked at Edgar who was still on the ground and took after Astrid. 

"What a mess!" Katia said to herself.  She looked at Edgar lying there and then down at herself.  No wonder Astrid thought something was going on.  She was completely disheveled.  Her shirt was halfway unbuttoned, her skirt twisted around, her hair a mess and she could feel her face was flushed. 

Katia wasn't about to go back into the club, so she straightened herself out and walked through the alleyway until she reached a street.  From there she was able to get back to the street the Top Ten was on.  She figured she'd grab a cab back to Astrid's house and hope Stu had explained what had happened.  

"Katia?" she heard a familiar voice as she walked down the street. 

She turned around only to see Ringo staring back at her with those deep blue eyes. 

"Hey..." Katia said. 

"Are you okay?"

"No..." Katia replied as tears ran down her cheek. 

"What's wrong?" Ringo asked coming over and hugging Katia.

"Can we get out of here?"

"Sure..c'mon...I know this coffee shop not far from here.  It stays open rather late..." Ringo said directing her down the street. 

Once at the coffee shop, Katia told RIngo everything that had happened that night. 

"I'm so sorry, Kat...and so grateful that Stu got there when he did." 

"So am I...but now Astrid has the wrong idea of what happened."

"Don't worry about that.  As soon as he explains to her what happened, things will straighten out with them.  Are you going to tell Paul what happened?"

"No...of course not...and you can't either."

"I promise I won't say anything about it. You just need to be more careful..."

"I know." Kat said meekly. 

It was the first time she felt she could understand why her dad had been opposed to her coming to Hamburg.  She had never thought something like this could happen...

"I should get back." Katia said standing up. 

"I'll walk you home." 

"Thanks." 

Ringo walked Katia back to Astrid's flat.  Once there she knocked on the door, half expecting for no one to answer it, but she was wrong.  A few seconds later, Astrid opened the door and wrapped her arms around Katia. 

"Kat!  I'm so sorry!  Are you okay?  Where have you been?  We were so worried!" 

"She's fine...just a little shaken up.  I'll see you girls later.  Goodnight.  Ger some rest, Kat."  Ringo replied as Astrid and Katia went in. 

"Thanks for everything, Ringo." Kat said before the door shut. 

Katia, Stu and Astrid talked for about half an hour before Katia excused herself to go to bed.  She was exhausted and just wanted to sleep and forget this entire night had happened. 

***

"Good morning. I'm going to take a shower." Katia said peeking into the kitchen where Stu and Astrid were having breakfast. 

"You don't want to eat anything?" 

"No...I'm not really hungry." 

Katia took a long shower and as she was dressed in her room, she heard a knock on the bedroom door. 

"One sec, Astrid." Katia said loudly as she pulled on her top.  She grabbed her hairbrush from her bed before going to open the door. 

"Come in Astr—" Katia said as she opened the door, but it wasn't her who had knocked. 

"Paul.  What are you doing here?"

"We need to talk.  I couldn't even sleep last night just thinking how we left things.  Can I come in?"

"Yeah..." Katia replied.  

She walked over to the bed and sat down.  Paul sat down next to her.  

"You look pretty terrible." she started. 

"I feel terrible...but not because I didn't sleep, but because of...look I know I overreacted and I'm sorry...I didn't mean to imply that you shouldn't do what you want with whomever you want...but...Edgar?"

"You said you didn't know him."

"No...you assumed I didn't know him...look, last night you called me a hypocrite.  I kept thinking why you would call me that and I realized that in your eyes, I really was acting like one by telling you not to get involved with him.  But, the truth is that you have every right to  do whatever you want with whomever you want, if that is what you choose to do, but you need to know something about Edgar."

"What do I need to know?" 

"Look...Edgar is known as a guy who has sex with girls...but at times it's not always....consensual.  He's a fuckin' bastard is what he is...so when I saw you with him, I flipped out.  If you want to have sex with him, then I'm not going to tell you not to, but I do want it to be because you agree to it...not because you are forced by him!  I'd kill him if he tried something like that with you.  So...when you compared me with him...told me I was just like him...I went mad...because Kat, I would never do anything with a girl that she didn't want to do...especially if that girl was you." 

"Why didn't you tell me this last night?" Kat asked him, thinking if she had only known maybe last night could have been prevented. 

"I don't think you would have been receptive to it...you were so mad at me..." 

Katia thought about it and agreed with Paul.  The way she was feeling last night after seeing Paul and that blond girl, she probably would not have believed him anyway.

"I needed to tell you...and hope you believe me. I care about you, Kat...and I don't want anything to happen to you."

"I believe you." Katia said looking directly into Paul's eyes. "Thank you for taking care of me...I'm so sorry for comparing you with him."

Paul smiled. "We're friends, right?"

"Always." Katia smiled. 

"I'll see you tonight then?" 

Katia nodded. 

"I'm going to go now." Paul said getting up from the bed. He looked at Katia, sitting on the bed, her hair wet  falling down her face.  He leaned in and moved her hair behind her ear.  It was then that Katia thought Paul would claim his winnings from the bet, but instead he took her hand and kissed it.