Second Chance

Chapter 1

"Come on Katie! You look great. You have the night free. Let's go!!"

Katherine laughed at her friend and neighbor Nicole as she adjusted her black heels. "I never wear heels. I'm gonna fall."

Nicole laughed, "you'll be fine."

Katherine sighed and nodded as she followed her friend into the club. "We're too old to be here."

"What? You're never too old to have fun."

Katherine rolled her eyes, going straight to the bar to order a drink, "rum and coke, please." She stood there, drinking as she watched Nicole head to the dance floor. Once she finished her drink, she sighed and joined Nicole on the dance floor.

Chris arrived at the club with his brother and some friends. He stood at the bar, drinking when a girl with long brown hair in skinny jeans and a black halter top catch his eye. She danced as if there were things she wanted to forget, that she needed to forget. She seemed free and relaxed.

"Don't stare at the girl. Talk to her."

He turned to his friend Jon, "I'm not staring."

Jon laughed, "okay Chris."

Chris shook his head, following his friends to a table. He sat next to his brother as he looked back to the floor, losing sight of the girl from before.

Katherine followed Nicole to a high top table, standing as they waited for their drinks.

"Hello sweetheart."

Katherine sighed as she felt a guy place his hand on her lower back. She pulled away from him as she turned to face him. He had blond hair and brown eyes that were glazed over; obviously already intoxicated.

The man didn't move from his spot, "can I buy you ladies a drink?"

Just then the waitress came with the drinks they already ordered, setting them on the table. Katherine handed her money for the drinks, much to the dismay of the drunk man. Katherine smiled, "we have drinks already. Thanks though."

"My name is Zach. And I can always buy the next round."

Katherine rolled her eyes as she saw Nicole laugh, "look, I appreciate it, but we're good here."

Chris was walking around when he saw a guy blatantly harassing the girl from the dance floor and her friend. He watched the man grab her arm. He went to step in but watched as the woman pulled her arm back before her fist made contact with the man's cheek.

Katherine heard someone laugh behind Zach, making her look up to see an amused look on the face of an attractive man with dark hair and big blue eyes. She shrugged at him as Zach tried to approach them again, this time angry. The man that had laughed grabbed Zach's arm, "I think she made herself clear that she didn't want to be bothered."

Chris smiled at the woman as the drunk man walked away. He started to walk away but the other woman stopped him.

Nicole grabbed his arm, "I'm Nicole and this is my friend Kate."

Katherine smiled, accepting his hand he offered her, "Katherine. Hi."

Chris nodded, laughing, "so we're formal? I'm Christopher." He watched her laugh, making him smile.

"Okay. I'm sorry. You can call me Kate." She laughed, shaking her head as she watched Nicole quietly walk away.

Chris noticed they were alone as he leaned against the table opposite of Katherine, "I'm Chris and I'm sorry about that guy."

She laughed, "is he your friend?"

Chris shook his head, "no. Why?"

She shrugged, "then there's nothing for you to be sorry for." She smiled as she watched him smirk and laugh, "so are you here alone?"

"Well I was more apologizing for man kind in general. And no, not alone." He pointed to the table where his brother and friends were sitting, watching them, "my brother and friends. I'm sorry for them staring."

She laughed, pointing to Nicole who was a few tables away, talking to a man, "they aren't the only ones."

Chris laughed, "good. Ever feel like a zoo animal?" He smiled at her laugh as she finished her drink. "Can I buy you another drink?"

She hesitated, but nodded, "sure." She handed him her glass, "rum and coke." She watched him walk away as Nicole came up to her.

"You actually letting a man buy you a drink?"

Katherine rolled her eyes, "I do date, you know."

Nicole nodded, "I know sweetie. It's been a while though. He's cute. Does he look familiar?"

Katherine shrugged, "I don't know. It's kind of dark in here."

"Are you going to give him your number?

Katherine groaned as she watched Chris walk up behind Nicole, smirking.

"Yeah. Are you?"

Nicole laughed, walking away as Katherine shook her head. She accepted the drink from Chris, taking a small drink as she smiled. "I don't know."

He chuckled, "how do I change your mind?"

Katherine laughed, "you from around here in Boston?"

Chris nodded, "yeah. Why?"

She shrugged, "how about if we're meant to see each other again, we will?"

Chris hesitated but nodded, "but we've gone this long without meeting. Who says we will again?"

Katherine smirked, "who says we won't?"

Chris was about to say something but Katherine's phone rang, making her walk away from the table. He watched her come back a few minutes later, "is everything okay?"

Katherine nodded, sighing as she finished her drink, "yeah. I just have to go. I'm sorry." She offered her hand to him, "it was really nice meeting you Chris. I hope we meet again."

He nodded, bringing her knuckles to his lips, kissing it softly as he watched her blush, "me too Kate."