"Is This Goodbye?"

Kate changed her clothes for the fourth time and went to look at herself in the mirror. "What does one where for star-gazing, anyway?" she wondered to herself, as she studied her reflection and mussed her hair a bit. She adjusted her tank-top and stood back to admire her final choice of clothing. "Not that it matters," she giggled to herself, "hopefully, if things go well, I won’t be wearing it long, anyway."

She was meeting Sid in an hour and wanted to look just right for him. He’d been gracious enough to extend the invitation to her during their dinner party a few nights earlier, and she had been anxiously counting down the minutes until it was time for her to leave. In fact, she hadn’t been able to get Sid out of her mind since they had made love that night in the meadow.

Colin still had no idea what had happened between Kate and Sid on Australia Day, though he was starting to get suspicious about her actual feelings for him. He already figured out that Sid was interested in Kate for more than just a friendship, and wasn’t at all happy about her going to his house tonight. Colin had let his feelings on the matter be quite clear over the past few days and things between he and Kate had been rather cold since their little chat about it.

The night of the dinner party and their discussion afterwards, Colin had ended up sleeping on the couch and had continued to do so ever since. He was completely taken aback by Kate’s insistence on going to Sid’s house. He was starting to have serious doubts about his relationship with Kate. He thought he really loved her, but now...he just didn’t know what was going on with her lately.

As Kate finished getting ready for her big night with Sid, Colin sat downstairs in the kitchen, drinking a beer and thinking. He knew he couldn’t stop Kate from doing something she wanted to do, but maybe he could try and reason with her one last time. If not, he just wasn’t sure what was going to happen between them. He didn’t trust Sid – not one bit.

He took another swig of beer and let out a sigh. Thoughts of Kate filled his mind and he fought back the tears that were welling up in the corners of his eyes.

Just then, Kate came down the stairs and stopped in the doorway.

"It’s nearly time for me to leave," she told him. "May I borrow the car or would you prefer to drive me?"

Colin barely looked up at her, then quietly answered, "There’s no way in hell you’re taking my car to go on a date with that wanker, Kate."

"Great, Colin," she replied in a huff, "Then just how the fuck am I supposed to get there?"

"Walk," came his reply.

She glared at him, then stomped over to the table and sat down across from him. "Colin, look, don’t be this way. I told you, Sid is a friend. That’s all."

Colin looked up at her. "Kate, you know how I feel about this... if you leave tonight, don’t bother coming back. In fact, I’ll even pack your bags for you and leave them on the front porch for you so you won’t even have to step foot in my house again."

"That’s how you feel? That’s how it’s going to be?" she asked.

Colin looked down at the table, sighed, then looked back up into her eyes. "Yeah, it is," he told her, flatly.

"What is happening? Is he really willing to end our relationship over this?" Kate wondered to herself. She was confused about her feelings...she knew she cared a lot about Colin and really wasn’t ready to call it quits with him....but she’d met Sid and, well....he just came in and completely swept her off her feet! She studied his face a moment, then nodded her head – hoping she was just calling his bluff. "Fine. See ya around then, Colin," she told him, then stood up and walked out of the house, slamming the door behind her.

TBC...