[right][sub][color=lightgray][i]Part 1 out of 3[/i]
Timestamp: The Wednesday after the Lifeboat collab.[/color]
[@BrutalBx] & [@LovelyComplex][/sub][/right]
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How did Cat get to this point? She was sitting on the ground, on the curb, in front of a gas station drinking wine straight out of the bottle in one of her best short [url=https://imgur.com/vCQCuzL]dresses[/url]. Staring out toward a dark void, she took another swig of her delectable poison. While she did so, someone accidentally bumped into her causing her to drop her bottle and spill some of the liquid on the floor, which in return pissed her off. 

[color=9f1b3e]"FUCK!"[/color] She yelled out loud not caring who heard her. The Belmonte woman searched for the perpetrator only to realize she was once again alone in the lot. Whoever he or she was, were gone. How infuriating. Of course things would end in the stranger's favor. 

Fucking asshole. 

That was some good wine that was wasted and it pissed her right off. They could go straight to hell for all she cared.

After growling to herself, before standing up and declaring her plan, she dialed a number and waited for someone on the other line to answer: [color=9f1b3e]“Me, you, Afterlife. It's Latin Night, bitch."[/color] Hanging up on the other lady, not waiting for a response, Caterina stood up, bottle in hand, and marched to her car. She shouldn't drive, not with how much she drank, but that wasn't going to stop her. She was Caterina-fucking-Belmonte and she did what she wanted!

It seemed to be a rarity in these modern times that Clay managed to get off shift at a reasonable time. Thanks to staff shortages and a surge in crime, he was being forced to work pretty much every day and doing doubles at that. God bless Chief Broadus. He knew that the older man wasn’t particularly a fan of his but he had told Clay to finish up early and that Detective Nesta would ride with Sly for the rest of the night. Of course the young officer should’ve used the time to catch up on all the sleep he missed and he would but first, there was an IPA and a plate of wings at the Hole with his name on it.

He descended the short steps of the station, swinging his car keys around his fingertip. Clay knew he could leave the car at the bar once he drank and ate his fill. It was only a short walk to his still undecorated apartment but he would never risk drinking and driving. Once he had gotten to his car, he glanced up towards the gas station across the street. A white dress stood out like a beacon of light in the night. It looked like, Cat? Cat! It was her and she looked amazing but also very drunk. Clay stopped to watch her for a second, her movements were sharp and erratic. There was a wine bottle in her hand. She was out of it and about to get into a car. Oh fuck. What was she doing?!

Cat knew what the rational decision was. She should call a Lyft, Uber, or taxi. All which Cat did not do. Instead, she got in her car with the bottle and started her engine. If she died today, she died today. She did not give a fuck. Hopefully not though because she loved to dance especially during Latin night. At least kill her at the club by drinking too much. With fury beyond any god or goddess that existed, she placed the bottle between her legs, letting her dress rise up, and backed up. Once she was ready to exit the lot, she brought her windows down to feel the breeze and then flew like a succubus from hell heading to her next destination.  

Clay jumped into his car, quickly turned on the engine and began following his once and former girl next door. The state she seemed to be in, there was no way she should’ve been behind a wheel and all it would take would be for one of his colleagues to see her, pull her over and that would be it or worse she could get into an accident. Cat had kids. The last thing she needed on her conscience or on her record was a drunk driving mark. She was going through too much right now and being a Belmonte wouldn’t save her from it. It would likely only exasperate it. So Clay kept his distance and didn’t turn in the little siren they gave him for whenever he was in a civilian car. Lucky for him he came top of his class for defensive driving so staying behind Cat was an easy feat considering she was driving like she was on Fury Road.

Fortunately for both the officer and the woman, Cat got to the Afterlife without a ticket and without crashing her car. Safe and sound. A blessing in disguise. When she was parked, she stumbled out, her wine bottle now empty and left behind and clutch purse in hand. From a distance she saw [url=https://hips.hearstapps.com/cosmouk.cdnds.net/14/36/1600x2539/nrm_1409828212-vanessa_hudgens_wearing_leopard_print_dress.jpg?resize=480:*]Brook[/url] and the widest, mischievous grin grew on her face. Even when the bitch lived in Boston, Brooke never refused a good time and for all Cat knew, she was already in the area up to no good. The two women ran to each other and gave one another a deep kiss on the lips. Intimate and tender. Only the best kisses for the best of friends.

[color=ae70db]“You called and here I am!"[/color] After pulling away from the Italian mama, Brook dramatically showcased her body and her dress, raising her hands and arms high in the air for added effect. Spirit fingers. [color=ae70db]“I already know you had a shit night,”[/color] She assessed, her eyes scanning her friend up and down, before hooking her arm on Cat’s, [color=ae70db]“Let’s go find some fuckfaces and have a good time, yeah? There’s fuckery to spread!”[/color]

Cat was in no position to argue since this is exactly what she wanted. And she was drunk. Very, very drunk. Her night had been emotional to say the least and the best release was forgetting all responsibility and having a good time with one of her best friends. This is what she wanted. To have a good time. [color=9f1b3e]"Is Harpie working tonight? I would love to see her face."[/color]

[color=ae70db]“Girl, Wednesdays are her days off. You know that!"[/color] Brooklyn held onto her friend as they made their way to the entrance of Afterlife to show their IDs and have the time of their lives. Brook could smell the amount of alcohol emitting from her friend but instead of commenting on it, she simply smiled and guided her into the best place on Earth. 

[color=9f1b3e]"Oh shit you're right,”[/color] Cat came to the realization that Harper was mostly a Baylor shift, [color=9f1b3e]"Damn. I chose the wrong night to serve my man papers,”[/color] Cat admitted. 

Brooklyn gasped at the news. [color=ae70db]“You fucking didn't!"[/color]

[color=9f1b3e]"I totally did,"[/color] Caterina grinned, feeling accomplished at all the hardcore evidence she was able to slap her husband with. He was a cheating, lying, good-for-nothing scumbag that deserved to live the longest, most miserable life known to man, suffering hatred from his children and experiencing excruciating pain from here on out. Death was too forgiving for someone like him. Cat was a boss bitch who showed him exactly what he did wrong and what would happen to him if he didn't give her what she wanted. What she wants? A divorce, obviously. [color=9f1b3e]"I'm a free woman, Bee."[/color] Cat proudly proclaimed. Though they still had to finalize everything, she was basically single, 

Brook's immediate response was excitable laughter as the two women entered the club to do some rumba, merengue, samba, salsa and so much more. [color=ae70db]“'Bout fucking time. He was dead weight, Sis. You know we're going hard tonight, right? Make sure whoever is babysitting your kids is prepared to watch them all day tomorrow. We're getting FUCKED UP!"[/color] 

Widely beaming like she was a teen again, Cat admitted, [color=9f1b3e]"I wouldn't want anything less,"[/color] as both women disappeared into the depths of the night club to have a good time.  

What was once St Paul’s Cathedral, now stood a monument to decadence and excess; the Afterlife. No one really knows how the fire started. No one really knows what happened that day. All that people do know is that Father Winters was to blame. He failed to save so many people, Parrish goers and altar boys alike. Some say that this was the spark of true evil as Winters own son would join his father infamy as Charlie Decker; the purveyor of the Edenridge High Massacre. Where apples fall…

Clay had always been in two minds about this place. On the one hand, it was a sick club, always played great tunes, had a great vibe and was an awesome place for him to indulge in his desires for the fairer sex. On the other, it was known for the large amount of criminal dealings going on within its old limestone walls. It could definitely be a dangerous place for those of a certain kind. It made him worry for his sister, a hostess there who spent her time entertaining clients. He wouldn’t judge her, she was always her own person but he couldn’t help but worry. She was his little sister after all. At least he knew Lamb wasn’t working tonight. He had recorded a text from his Mom asking him to come round the house for a family dinner. Clay passed of course citing work; he had been avoiding any prolonged family time since his return to Edenridge. 

He locked up his car and entered the Afterlife a few moments after Cat and Brook. Luckily for him, his stupid face was a well known amongst the regulars so he was allowed in without much of a fuss. Descending the stairs and onto the main floor, he noted that the lights were pulsating, bodies were writhing around and sweating to the beat of the live act on the large stage. It was a good crowd for a Wednesday. Clay made his way to the bar and ordered a bottled beer he could nurse as he surveyed the room for the good lady Cat.

Reaching the other end of the bar, after Brooke got stopped not by one person but three (little miss popular), the heartbreaker duo went to order drinks. Or well, more so Brooke than Cat. Cat was pretty good for now and distracted by the ambience. In awe, she looked around at the lights and the people. It had been too long since she was last here. With her mom’s diagnosis and being a mother of three, and can’t forget the fact that she was a business owner, Cat’s free time was few and far between. As she listened to the song, it was a merengue one nearing its end. She breathed in and out, taking in this peaceful moment, although everything around her was chaotic. Maybe that’s what she preferred or maybe that’s what she was used to. 

Chaos. 

Turning to Brooke she could see her friend was already getting comfortable with her mark. Damn, she moves fast. Looking past her friend and her target, she could see a familiar floof of hair. The Italian bombshell jumped in eagerness. Did he see her? She had to go say hi. What were the chances they’d be at the Afterlife on the same night?! [color=9f1b3e]"Brook, I’m going prowling. I’ll catch you whenever.”[/color] The friends exchanged smirks and glances before Cat happily pranced to her young friend. She waved at him when he saw her and then crashed right into him bringing him into a tight embrace, [color=9f1b3e]"Clayyyyyy, you have a day off? That’s new.”[/color]

For once he didn’t know what to do with a woman in his arms. Clay knew he had to do the right thing but he could at least enjoy a little bit of the wrong thing for a second right? He held her close, feeling the warmth of Cat’s body against his. She looked radiant, even in spite of her very obvious drunkenness. He held onto her waist partially because he was enjoying it but also because he didn’t want her to fall over. [color=BCDD81]“Yeah, I was supposed to be working a double. Chief thought it’d be good for me to rest up. So of course I decided to come to Latin night.”[/color]

He couldn’t really tell Cat that he followed her here so that she didn’t wind up in the hospital or in jail. She’d probably take her heel off and put it through Clay’s eye. He brushed a strand of loose hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. God her smile was everything and this was the happiest he had seen her in weeks.

[color=BCDD81]“Clay Costigan does love the salsa.”[/color]

[color=9f1b3e]"What about the bachata, hm?”[/color] As Caterina held Clay close, inches away from his face, she heard the song starting to transition into [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l08XkmKf60Y]Prince Royce’s Carita de Inocente[/url]. A perfect song to do a slow, sensual dance to romantic lyrics. Of course Caterina was not thinking about that. All she was thinking about was she wanted to dance and her partner could be the one and only Clay Costigan. Pulling out of his hold, she grabbed onto his hands, [color=9f1b3e]"Whaddya say? Want to show this old lady your moves?”[/color] She playfully beamed. It was a phenomenon to see Cat turn her brain off just to enjoy the moment. It was something she mastered so her drinking didn’t turn into breakdowns and crying fits. Tugging onto him gently which inadvertently got him to stand up, she did a little shimmy, [color=9f1b3e]“Pleaseeeeee.”[/color]

[i]Show this old lady your moves. There was a joke in there somewhere.[/i]

[color=BCDD81]“Yes ma’am.”[/color]

He had to play along right? To avoid suspicion. To avoid her figuring out that he was there to stop her getting into trouble. Who was he kidding? He would do his best to control himself but Caterina Belmonte was asking him to dance, touching him and being happy. There was no way in hell that he was going to let this opportunity pass him by. 

Clay took off his leather jacket and handed it to the barman that he knew. [color=BCDD81]“Look after that for me, Harry. My good lady wants to dance.”[/color] Cat was quick to ease her clutch in that direction so she wasn’t stuck holding it (the bartender didn’t refuse it). Clay took a hold of Cat’s hand again and allowed her to lead them to where she would feel most comfortable on the dance floor, likely the biggest spotlight the Afterlife had. [color=BCDD81]“Caramia,”[/color] He bowed his head to his queen.

[color=9f1b3e]"Precioso,”[/color] She rolled her eyes at his dramatics, even going the extra mile to do a curtsy with her white skirt. When Clay gestured to start in an open position, Cat shook her head in disagreement and closed it in, allowing him to wrap his arm around her body so that his palm was resting in the middle of her back. In response, she laid her arm over his and rested it near his shoulder. He grabbed onto her other hand, keeping a palm to palm hand hold. 

The cool thing about Bachata was they could be versatile depending on each other’s skill levels. If he proved to be better than she expected they could go into an open position which would allow them to do complex footwork and turns. Cat preferred a bit of both because while open position allowed skill and talent, closed position allowed passion, connection, and intimacy. The biggest thing though was for each partner to completely focus on one another. Not the floor and not at any distractions. Just him and her staring deeply at each other. Bachata was about fun and since Clay was leading, she’d let him guide her as she got her whole body in motion to the upbeat, energetic dance. 

Clay pulled her sharply into attention, taking the first step forward in their conjoined movements. He pressed his head against hers, their noses grazing as he allowed a free hand to track and caress her body. It flowed seamlessly down her arm onto her waist and hip and teased her bare thigh. The pairs’ hips began to move together in tandem, a slinky rotation that went perfectly with the rhythm of the music. He was surprised that she could still move so well based on the amount of booze she stunk of.

It only took a few seconds until Cat’s eyebrow raised as they moved to the music and the beat. The moves he was displaying was of someone who had been dancing like this for years, which meant she could really get creative and see if they complimented each other. They could go wild if they wanted to. Usually coordinating with a dance partner for the first time was a challenge but somehow, he gave her the right cues and she understood them immediately. 

She pushed him away in a dramatic fashion and he stopped in his tracks: it was a tease. Clay took a hold of her hand and stretched her arm outright, he let his fingers trace from her wrist down the forearm and shoulder as he circled Cat’s body, inhaling the scent of her neck as he reached down to her thigh and knee and picked her leg up from behind. She spun in his arms and wrapped her aloft limp around his waist as they fell into a dip.

Their dancing chemistry was on fire. When she was back in position, he turned her around so that she was facing the crowd, she glanced up at him partly in shock and partly in amazement. Was Clay always this good with dancing? She did a slow, sensual sway with her hips, her backside up against his, and for a moment, she didn’t see the Clay she knew. She saw a side of him that perhaps she was in denial of? The idea of little Clay Costigan growing up wasn’t something that ever registered in her mind. He was the sweet brother-like kid that went streaking on her father’s boat. This Clay though? Turning around on his cue she was facing him once more and they were sliding on the floor to all the right measures, [color=9f1b3e]"Since when did you learn how to dance?”[/color] She called out over the music. 

[color=BCDD81]“Since I was about twelve, when I realized that you loved it. It got me curious,”[/color] It was a purely honest declaration. Clay remembered as a boy, Lamb going over to the Belmonte house for lessons from Cat. Clay would tag along usually because they were twins and they had to do everything together apparently. He would go chill in the garden with the men whilst the girls worked up a sweat. He would peep in and watch his beloved Cat move so gracefully, so powerfully. Maybe it was a way to win her heart? So of course he took lessons when he left for college and it did impress a lot of girls but none of them were the right one.

Cat’s gentle gaze was fixated on her dance partner as she took in his words. She didn’t understand what he saw in her. Clearly she wasn’t good enough if her husband, the man that was supposed to be devoted to her, could sleep around with every fucking slut out there. For someone to get into hobbies solely because someone else really enjoyed it was mind boggling. She loved to dance because it made her feel unshackled. Still, dancing wasn’t enough. The Godmother wasn’t enough. Hell, wine wasn’t enough. There was still this empty void inside her and when the song came to an end, Cat’s demeanor changed. She was so good at not thinking about these things when she drank but being in the presence of Clay and just him adoring her like he did, her hazel eyes grew watery. 

Fuck. Don’t you fucking dare. 

[color=9f1b3e]"Thank you for this… the dance. It really was nice.”[/color] Her heart was like a sinking ship as if it just hit an iceberg of emotions she’s been keeping to herself for so long. [color=9f1b3e]"Can you take me to the ladies room?”[/color] She needed to splash water on her face or something to keep it inside. She wasn’t going to cry. A Belmonte crying in a club? How embarrassing. 

[color=BCDD81]“Erm, yeah sure,”[/color] He expected the dance to end with the song as was commonplace but to see an entire shift in Cat’s being, that was something Clay had no forethought on. He took her by the hand and began guiding the small brunette through the crowded club. It became easy to maneuver because pretty much the entirety of the Afterlife’s eyes were on them. Cat and Clay’s Bachata had drawn the attention of many club goers. Their movements together, the synchronicity and sensuality was palpable and the atmosphere between them could’ve been cut with a knife.

Clay, for years, had wondered what it felt like to touch Cat in the way he had in the moments prior. The feel of her skin, the scent on her shoulder. He was under no illusions. He understood that his years of attempting to flirt would get him nowhere. She was not only a married woman but she had also watched him grow up. That was obviously a massive bump to overcome. Yet tonight, the way they danced, the way they moved, the way she looked at him with those hazel eyes; there was something there. Chemistry. 

The pair arrived at the restroom and he released his hand from hers. [color=BCDD81]“That was fun.”[/color]

[color=9f1b3e]"It was!”[/color] Cat forced a smile only to be met with a [url=https://cdn.justjared.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/adriana-doutzen/adriana-lima-doutzen-kroes-what-is-sexy-12.jpg]woman[/url] coming right out of the bathroom. Someone she didn’t expect to meet in person. One of the many lovers of her husband’s, soon to be ex husband. [i]Nicole[/i]. The blonde bimbo working for HR in an insurance company. In NEW YORK. What was she doing here? Unless… [color=9f1b3e]"You little bitch.”[/color] 

All grace went out the window because the girl that Cat was when people got near her high school sweetheart came out. Letting go of Clay’s hand, with hellfire in her eyes, Cat rushed to the woman grabbing onto her hair and slamming her against the bathroom door, [color=9f1b3e]"HE IS A FUCKING MARRIED MAN! BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?! YOU LITTLE FUCKING SLUT!”[/color] 

The girls disappeared into the ladies’ bathroom as Cat was going to beat a bitch to a pulp, [color=9f1b3e]"YOU CAN FUCKING HAVE HIM YOU HOE! MAKE SURE YOU TELL YOUR HUSBAND!”[/color] There was a loud slam as Cat pushed her straight toward a stall with so much force. If it was anywhere else, this woman, who was still processing what was happening to her, would’ve cracked her head open.

Clay had no idea what was happening at that moment; they went from having a great time to Cat trying to kill some random woman in the bathroom. He couldn’t lie, crazy Cat was kind of a kink he would be interested in exploring but not tonight. He wrapped his arms around her flailing body and pulled the woman away from the bathroom, [color=BCDD81]“Come on, babe let’s get you out of here.”[/color]

He realized the magnitude of that word, [i]babe[/i]. He hadn’t realized it before he said it but now he tempered; the woman in his arms was not his girlfriend or even one of his fun friends, it was Cat Belmonte. She was not someone you called babe Willy nilly. It was obvious that she didn’t even recognize his words as she spat at the woman. [color=BCDD81]“Ok that’s probably enough,”[/color] He pulled Cat away from the scene and back towards the bar. [color=BCDD81]“Damn, Cat is crazy.”[/color] 

[color=9f1b3e]"FUCKING ASSHOLE!”[/color]

Clay placed her gently onto one of the barstools and put one hand gently onto her face and rested the other on her thigh. [color=BCDD81]“I have a pretty good idea what that was about, so how about you and I make like a tree and get out of here before one of my colleagues tries to arrest you huh?”[/color]

[color=9f1b3e]"Wouldn’t be the first time,”[/color] Caterina crossed her arms feeling her whole body shake in so much anger having flashbacks of the fight she had with her husband this very night. [color=9f1b3e]"I was fucking right to throw divorce papers in his face. Fucking hate his face. Fourteen years. Fourteen-fucking-years. I didn’t even want to marry him!”[/color] Standing up, getting her clutch and his jacket from the bartender, she gestured for Clay to follow her as she tossed both items to him, [color=9f1b3e]"Whatever lets leave, here’s my purse. Text Brooke,”[/color] And with that Cat stormed away. [/indent][/indent][/color]