Once outside Kat pulled her hat and gloves out of her pockets, and pulled them on her her head and hands. She could feel the first tears trickle down her cheeks and shook her head. She hadn't even realized her eyes had filled with tears. She swiped angrily at them with the back of her gloved hand and started trudging through the calf high snow.

Her fathers words had stung. She knew how hard he worked to keep her being locker room talk. She knew that no man would ever want to hear their little girl talked about in a sexual way. That's why when she had hit the age of puberty her and her father had agreed that she wouldn't get together with one of his players. But by off chance she did happen to start dating one of them. That they would keep the two things separate and she wouldn't talk to her father about their relationship.

But she felt bad for lying to her father about the video. She knew what video he was talking about. It was a video she had made for Jeff. But she didn't want to believe that Jeff would be talking about it behind her back or in the locker room.

Kat kept trudging along the streets of Sault St. Marie. It was dark and cold and snowy out. She wiped angrily at the tears that were still trailing down her cheeks. Sniffing she wrapped her arms around herself trying to keep warm. It was a slightly windy and chilly night that night. Finally reaching the small diner they were all meeting at she see her friends through the front window, already sitting at a booth.

Taking a deep breath, she opened the door to the diner and walked towards the table she noticed a couple of the other guys from the team. But what caught her eyes the most was Jeff's back to her and his arm around the shoulders of another girl. Kat stopped at the end of the table and all laughing stopped as everyone's eyes turned towards her.

"Hi Kat," a couple of the guys said.

Kat ignored them and turned her attention to Jeff and a girl she recognized as one of the girls that hung around the rink a lot. Looking at them both, she placed her hands flat on the table.

"So is it true Jeff?" Kat asked, looking directly at him.

"Is what true Kat?" Jeff asked, confusedly.

"Am I locker room talk now?" She asked bluntly.

"U-uhhhhh," He stuttered, looking slightly shocked and ashamed at the same time. His blue eyes looking everywhere but her.

"Jeff I asked you a question. Am I just locker room talk now? Did you show everyone the video?" She snapped, slamming her hands down on the table.

Gaining the attention of everyone in the small diner and leaving the people at the table shocked at her outburst. But they hadn't seen anything yet.

"It wasn't exactally like that Kat," Jeff replied quietly.

"It wasn't exactally like what Jeff? Either you were or you weren't Jeff. Either you did show that video that I made you to everyone or you didn't. Than you either did or didn't start talking about it in the locker room in front of my father. So which is it Jeff?" She snapped angrily.

"Jesus Kat do you think you can be any fucking louder about it?" Jeff asked, his eyes looking all around them.

"Who fucking cares? Do any of you really care?" She asked, looking around the table.

The few other people she did know from the table were also on her dads team and she suspected they had already heard the rumors if they were true. But they sure did look shocked at her reaction.

"You want the truth Kat. Than the truth is yes. Yes I did share that video and yes I was talking about you with the guys," Jeff answered quietly, looking down at the table.

It seemed as everything became eerily silent as Kat sucked in a sharp breath. It seemed as if everyone was waiting to see what she would do next.

"Jeff man that's not exactly....." One of the other guys started.

"Why?" Kat asked.

"I'm sorry Kitty Kat," Jeff replied, finally looking up at her.

Kat stood there and just stared at him for a moment. She could see pain and regret swimming in his eyes. Finally shaking her head she turned on her heel before Jeff could see the new tears forming in her eyes.

As she hurried away she barely heard Jeff say "Sorry Kitty Kat."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kat stayed hunkered down inside of the huge cake as she felt it being pushed down the hallway she had walked down. She could feel her heart pounding away in her chest. She took a couple of deep breaths trying to calm herself down. 'What if I trip when I step out of the cake? That would be something she would do. What if he recognizes me?' she thought as she started hearing voices outside of the cake. 'Of course he'll recognize me. She had no doubt in her mind that Richie hadn't run off and gone and told him that she was there.' she thought.

The voices started getting louder and she could hear the beginning of people starting to sing Happy Birthday. She realized she was coming closer to being face to face to the one person she had tried to avoid for the past almost ten years of her life. The voices became louder and louder and felt the cake go over a bump. She reached out a hand to steady herself and than fixed her mask one last time, knowing that it was almost time to make her appearance.

The moment came and Kat took another deep breath. She reached up and pushed the top part of the cake part off and popped up out of the cake with her arms up above her head and a big smile on her face.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY," she said in fake cheerfulness.

Her eyes took in the scene before her. They were outside around the large pool area. Her eyes drifted around behind her mask, noticing several people looked shocked that there was someone actually inside the cake. Kat couldn't help but chuckle to herself. She recognized several of the Kings players staring openly and hungrily at her. And several of the woman scowling at her, Kat couldn't help roll her eyes at them.

It wasn't like she actually wanted to be the one popping out of the cake. She didn't actually want to be at this party. She wanted to be at home spending New Years Eve by herself, curled up on her couch and eating her Ben and Jerry's.

She finally let her gaze drift to the birthday boy. Jeff was seated on one of the many chaise lounge chairs with Megan sitting half on him. Mike was sitting off to the other side of him with Lindsay next to him. It was obvious to anyone who was looking at them that Mike was whispering something to Jeff. Since the birthday boys attention was half on her and half on what Mike was saying to him.

She watched as Jeff seemed to shake his head at what Mike was saying and said something back. Than as Mike only nodded his head in response to what Jeff had said. At that moment Kat wished she had super hearing or at least was a fly so she could hear what they were saying. Still standing there frozen in her stance with her arms up. She swallowed her pride and put her arms down as she stepped up and out of the cake.

Her breath caught in her throat as she walked closer to Jeff and he turned his head towards her. His gaze was hard and penetrating. He looked exactly the same as she remembered. Well he looked more mature, not like a kid. His hair still had that same bleached look, even though it was his actually color. Just a little darker than she remembered. The blue of his eyes also looked a little bit darker, of course it could have just been the lighting around the pool area making them look darker. He also had a slight five o'clock shadow, making him look sexier.

As she got closer Jeff's mouth formed into a lazy slow sexy smirk. His eyes looking over her body slowly. Kat wanted to turn on her heels that moment and high tail it out of there.

"Is that his birthday present? Man I want a birthday present like that for my next birthday baby," Kat heard someone off to the side of her. Than heard the distinct sound of a hand hitting a chest. She could only roll her eyes at the remark and focused her attention back on Jeff and Megan.

"What's this?" Jeff asked, looking at Megan.

"It's part of your birthday present baby. I wanted to do something different for you," Megan replied happily, practically bouncing up and down.

"You got me a call girl?" Jeff asked shocked, his eyebrows raising in surprise.

Kat was about to snap in response to his question but Mike bet her to it.

"I wouldn't exactly say she's a call girl," Mike responded.

"No silly she's not a call girl. This is my friend Kat that I work with that I told you about. She agreed to fill in tonight since the other girl couldn't make it," Megan told Jeff.

"Lucky me," Kat muttered under her breath. But evidently loud enough for Mike to hear, considering the drink of beer he just took came spewing out of his mouth.

"You ok man?" Jeff asked, looking over at Mike as Lindsay patted his back.

"Y.....Yea....Yeah," Mike sputtered, still coughing.

"O-Kay," Jeff replied shaking his head.

"Right can we just do this and get it over with?" Kat muttered, just wanting to get this done and over with.

"Do your thing girl," Megan replied, getting up and walking towards a table with plates.

Kat took another deep breath and walked around the chair Jeff was sitting on. Clearing her throat and mind, she concentrated on her best "Marilyn" impression and started singing 'Happy Birthday' in her sultriest voice she could. Climbing on the chair behind Jeff on her knees she leaned over him and ran a hand up and down his chest. Her mouth was right by his right ear and she could hear his breath catch. Kat mentally smirked to herself knowing that she still had the same effect over him that he had over her. She could smell his cologne that was making her head go fuzzy. At that moment she was glad she wasn't standing or she knew she would have stumbled.

Jeff turned his head slightly and meet her blue eyes with his. Everyone else seemed to melt into the background at that moment.

"Do I know you?" Jeff asked quietly, his eyes searching hers.

His breath was a mixture of alcohol and mint. Making Kat's insides melt. It was a smell that was all to familiar to Kat and comforting.

"No talking Mr. Birthday boy," Kat purred seductively.

Kat liked that she seemed to have control of the situation. That Jeff didn't seem to recognize her. She wasn't sure if it was because of the mask or he was just too drunk to realize who she was. Kat quickly finished the routine still staring into his eyes. Their moment was broken when Megan came up next to them with two plates of cake. Kat swallowed and pulled away from Jeff. Standing up Jeff kept watching her.

"Here Kat," Megan said, offering her a plate.

"Uh.... N-no thanks. I think I should go," Kat said quietly.

"No don't go. You have to at least stay and celebrate New Years with us," Megan pouted.

"I-I can't," Kat replied, shaking her head.

Turning around Kat started walking towards the door to go inside and grab her jeans and get the heck out of there. To get as far as humanly possible from Jeff as she could. Before she completely lost it in front of everyone. Just as she was about to step through the door she felt a hand gently grab her arm.

"Where are you going Kitty Kat?" Mike asked, trying to turn her towards him.

"Home Richie.... Home," Kat replied quietly, not looking at him.

"Come on Kitty stay," Mike whined.

"Why Mike? Why should I stay?" Kat snapped quietly.

"What else are you going to do, huh Kat? Your just going to go home, to what? Just to sit at home by yourself? Come on Kat, it's New Years Eve. Stay and celebrate with us. If not for him, than at least for me and Lindsay," Mike replied, tugging on her arm lightly trying to get her to turn around.

"Why are you trying to be nice to me all of the sudden Mike, huh?" She asked angrily and trying to keep her voice down. Finally turning to look at him. Slightly glaring at him through the mask.

"Oh come on Kat, I already apologized for that. I'm really sorry for how I acted years ago. But can you blame me? We were just kids. I mean I really did like you and I always thought you were great for Jeff. But I realize what I said back than wasn't very nice and I realize now that you and Jeff would have made it. Maybe I was just jealous, maybe I wanted what you and Jeff had. I was just a jealous insensitive jackass. But I promise Jeff hasn't been the same since he lost you and he hasn't loved anyone like he loved you," Mike replied, his eyes pleading with her to believe him.

"I forgive you Mike, I really do. I forgave you a long time ago. And wether you believe it or not I never hated you. But all of this isn't going to change anything Richie. Now I really have to go," she replied, noticing Jeff starting to walking their way.

Mike looked over his shoulder to where she was watching Jeff approach them. "You know he doesn't love her. You know Megan," Mike told her quickly.

"What are you two doing over here?" Jeff asked inquisitively, looking between the two of them.

"Nothing," Kat muttered.

"I was just telling Kat here she should stay and have a drink with us. I mean it's not just your birthday buddy," Mike said, slapping Jeff on the shoulder.

"Yeah come and stay and party with us," Jeff replied, keeping his eyes on her.

Kat felt like she was under a microscope with both of them staring at her.

"Fine I'll stay for a drink than I've got to go," Kat muttered.

Jeff and Mike both smiled and nodded at her. As they all turned to walk over to the outdoor bar Kat had a feeling this night would end that it shouldn't.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jeff couldn't keep his eyes off the blonde beauty behind the mask. He just had this feeling that he knew her. There was something familiar about her. He wasn't sure if was her eyes or just the way she looked. But she reminded him of the only girl he had ever gave his heart to. Just they way she moved around the crowd of his teammates and friends, she seemed comfortable around them. The same way his "Kat" would act around people he knew. With his "Kat" it had never bothered her with the attention he had gotten, even if it had just been juniors. She knew what his career meant to him and what the fans and attention meant. His "Kat" would always let him sign autographs and take pictures.

If there was a team event his "Kat" always supported him and would attend the events with him. She had always been comfortable enough to move around his teammates and friends and significant others. Just like this Kat was.

With Megan it was a totally different situation. He wasn't sure if Megan was jealous or untrusting of him. But Megan always clung to him at events and wouldn't mingle with other people. Megan always had to go where he was going, even if it was out of town. And Megan definitely wasn't as friendly with his teammates and friends.

'And was it really a coincidence that this girls name was Kat also?' he asked himself.

"What you thinking about buddy?" Mike asked him, breaking him from his thoughts as he came up next to him. His arm slung around Lindsay's shoulders. He offered Jeff the other beer he had in his hand. Mikes eyes drifted to where Jeff was looking.

"Nothing man," Jeff replied, taking the beer from Mike and taking a long drink of it. His eyes not leaving the other Kat.

"Maybe you should go talk to her," Mike replied, looking at Kat and than back at Jeff.

"I have no idea what your talking about man," Jeff replied shaking his head, taking his eyes off of Kat and finally looking at Mike.

"Man come on Jeff, you know your like a brother to me. But come on, you haven't been able to stop looking at her all night," Mike said, now shaking his head.

"I have no idea what your talking about," Jeff replied, looking over to where Megan was standing talking to some of her friends.

"Look bro, I know I'm not the best person to be giving relationship advice to someone," Mike said, pressing a kiss against Lindsay's temple. "But honestly I know you haven't been happy for a long time. And I mean a really long time."

"I am happy," Jeff replied, furrowing his eyebrows together.

"Really? I mean can you really stand there and tell me you "Love" Megan?" Mike asked, now looking over where Megan was.

"Well I mean..... What I mean is..... I'm happy with Megan. Megan makes me happy," Jeff replied, rubbing the back of his neck looking at the ground.

"Mikes right Carts," Lindsay piped in.

Jeff looked at his two closest friends and shook his head at them. Pushing away from the railing he was leaning on. He started walking towards where Megan was.

"Just talk to her Carts," Mike called after him. Laughing as Jeff threw him the bird as he walked over to his girlfriend.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kat had stayed much longer and had more drinks than she had intended to. But there was something about being in this atmosphere that she had missed. She felt comfortable and liked she belonged there. She realized this was what she had missed the most from being away from home. Interacting with athletes, especially hockey players. It was what she had grown up doing. She missed the gatherings and mingling with people.

Although the mask was starting to itch her face. There were a couple of times she had almost taken it off. Several of Jeff's and Mikes teammates had almost convinced her to take it off.

Now she found herself squished in the middle of the small makeshift dance floor, between couples. Most of whom were to wasted to care that they were basically having sex on the dance floor. Some how Jarret Stoll had convinced her to come dance with him, even when the girl he was with gave them both the evil eye.

"Jarret I'm stealing Kit Kat from you," Megan said, pulling Kat's arm and dragging her more into the middle of the dance floor before Jarret could answer.

Megan pulled her over to where Jennifer was dancing. Megan squeezed her way in between her and Jennifer. Too drunk to really care anymore Kat stood there and started dancing with Megan and Jennifer. Not even noticing that the three of them had started pretty much started dirty dancing with each other and started drawing attention to themselves. Kat didn't even care when Megan and Jennifer started making out with each other and that now the crowd of people were stopping dancing and watching them.

That was until she felt a presence behind her. She felt hands resting on her hips. At first she thought maybe Jarret had decided to join them. Until the body behind her pushed up against her and she felt tingles running up and down her spine when he breathed on the back of her neck. She knew than that it was Jeff standing behind her.

"Hi babe," Megan said, turning around noticing Jeff standing behind Kat.

"Hey...... Don't stop just because I'm here. It looked like you girls were having fun," Jeff replied, pushing himself more into Kat.

"Where's my kiss," Megan asked, pouting and batting her eyelashes.

Kat tried to keep herself from cringing at Megan and at all of their closeness. Megan moved more towards Kat as Jeff leaned slightly around Kat to give Megan a quick kiss.

"Sorry about that," Jeff said, looking at her when he pulled away from Megan.

Kat could see Jennifer was not very happy over Megan's shoulder. And a wicked idea popped in her head at that moment, later Kat was sure she could blame it on the alcohol she had consumed. She grabbed the back of Megan's neck and pulled Megan's face closer to hers. Even through her inneberated stated Kat could see the shock in Megan's eyes. It wasn't that Kat was attracted to girls, in fact Kat would consider herself completely heterosexual. But she knew Megan was bi-sexual, obviously since she was dating both Jennifer and Jeff.

She could feel Jeff's intense stare on her the whole time. Probably wondering what she was going to do next. In fact she could now feel everybody watching what she was going to do next.
Just as she was about to connect their lips together Kat glanced over Megan's shoulder and could see Jennifer looking absolutely heart broken. And if there was one thing Kat wasn't was into was hurting other people's relationships, no matter their sexual orientation. Even though she didn't talk to Jennifer much she knew how much Jennifer cared about Megan. She knew how much Jeff and Megan's relationship bugged Jennifer.

Kat slowly pulled back from Megan and saw the confusion in Megan's eyes. She also heard Jeff groan behind her. Turning around and placed her hands on his shoulders.

"Yeah you would've liked that wouldn't you Jeff? I know thats your thing now," She whispered, pulling back she saw the confusion in his eyes.

Kat knew she had to get out of there and now before she did something stupid. Pulling away from him she walked off the dance floor. Kat looked back at the dance floor one last time before going inside to see Jeff, Megan, Jennifer, Mike and Lindsay all in a heated discussion. Mike was pointing at her and Jeff was just staring at her. Tearing off her mask she walked into the hotel and back to the back. She walked back to the hallway and grabbed her jeans off the shelve she left them on and walked into the bathroom to change.

Getting dressed quickly she swiped at the tears running down her cheeks. She knew she needed to get out of there quickly and without anyone noticing she had disappeared. Opening the door to the bathroom she walked back door the darkened hallway. Right before reaching the exit of the hallway someone grabbed her arm and pushed her back against the wall.