"Katie-Bear, I thought you had to work late."

"I couldn't stay away, Oswald. I had to see you."

"That's sweet of you. I couldn't wait to see you either..."

Kate sat up in bed. She covered her face, trying to erase the feeling of Oswald's hands exploring her body and his breath on her face.

Just then, the phone rang. "Yeah," Kate snapped before she realized it was 4 am.

"Kate, are you awake?"

"Bad dream. What's up, Cherry?"

"Well, I wanted to see if you were all right."

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Come on, Kate...we both live in the real world here. I know you still love Oswald."

Kate was silent.

"Kate, are you there?"

"I've got nothing to say."

Cher heard the abrupt dial tone in her ear. She sighed, flipping her legs over the side of her bed.

Wrapped in a purple bathrobe, she walked slowly to the kitchen. She had just stuck her head into the fridge to find the milk when her phone rang. Bewildered, she picked up.

"'Lo?" she asked.

"Cherry? I'm sorry if I woke you..." Live said in a rush. "It's starting."

"What? What's starting?"

"Oswald slept her tonight and Kate just called. She said she was sick...that she needed someone to go to her house and help her. She didn't want me. She wanted Oswald. Cherry, she's not sick, is she?"

"Well, uh..." Cher stalled.

"I'm gonna lose him," Liv choked.

"No, you won't. You won't."

Cher heard Liv's soft sobbing on the other end. "Liv, turn on the TV or go back to bed. You and I both have to work in a few hours. Make some warm milk and try to sleep, all right?"

"All right," Liv sighed heavily.

Cher replaced the receiver and sat at the kitchen counter thoughtfully.

Lewis yawned and stretched. He didn't have to meet Drew and Oswald for lunch until noon, but now he was wide awake.

From beside his bed, he withdrew the picture of him and Cher. It had been taken a few weeks ago at the yearly Cleveland fair. Lewis had just bought Cher a bag of cotton candy. In the picture, they were smiling and happy.

Just like I have been since we met, Lewis thought.

He reached over again and withdrew a notebook. Lewis' secret love was writing. He'd kept a journal since he was 13. No one knew after work at DrugCo, he came home and wrote.

Lewis tapped the pencil against his chin for a few moment. The sun was rising and it burst through his window, casting sun beams all across the wall.

Lewis smiled and quickly scrawled a thought. "You took away the walls around me and made me feel safe to share my truth."

Satisfied, he closed the book. He knew exactly what to do with these words.

"Kate?" Oswald called, knocking again on the door. He tried to peek through the door window. Kate's apartment was dark. Maybe she's too sick to answer the door, he thought. Oswald stomped his feet. Reluctantly, he turned away.

Kate sat by the door, sobbing into her knees, half-heartbroken and half-furious. "I will break them up, I will break them up," she repeated to herself.

"She didn't answer the door. I thought maybe she was too sick," Oswald said.

"That doesn't sound right," Lewis said, picking up his beer.

"Where are the girls tonight?" Drew asked.

"They went to a movie together. They're coming later," Oswald said.

Drew nodded as he glanced at the door. His jaw dropped open and he froze with his beer to his mouth. Lewis and Oswald turned to see what Drew was staring at.

Kate had entered the Warsaw...only it didn't look like Kate. She was dressed in a tight red leather miniskirt, a tight red spaghetti strap tank top and a blue jean jacket...topped all off with high black boots and dark, illuminating makeup mildly reflecting Mimi's.

She strutted over to the bar, proceeding to lean over and flirt with the bartender.

"Holy crap, is that Kate?" Oswald asked.

"I think it's her twin...the devil one," Lewis murmured.

Drew's heart was pounding. He was slowly taking in Kate's outfit and the more he looked, the farther his temperature rose. He swallowed hard.

Kate, beer in hand, slowly walked over to her group of friends. Quietly, she lowered herself into a chair, crossed her leges and sipped her beer.

"What the hell are you wearing?" Lewis asked.

"Do you like it?"

"All the guys in the bar do!" Oswald said.

"Kate, why would you do this...you're so naturally beautiful," Drew said softly.

"I just wanted to try something different." Kate leaned over the table to grab a handful of pretzels. Oswald and Lewis got an eye-full.

The door swung open and Liv and Cher walked in, chatting excitedly about the movie. They stopped when they cauht a glimpse of a scantily-clad woman leaning over the table.

Liv gasped. "It's Kate!"

"You're kidding!"

"She looks well now," Liv said angrily. "How could Oswald ignore a tight leather skirt?"

"Liv, don't worry..."

Just then, Kate laughed and touched Oswald's arm. Liv moaned and ran out of the bar. Cher ran over and poked Oswald, pointing to the door. He jumped up.

"How in heaven's name could you do this, Kate?!" Cher yelled angrily.

"Cherry." Lewis shook his head at her.

Cher glared at Kate. "Did you spend the afternoon with Mimi?"

"You're just jealous."

"Of that? Whatever." Cher turned on her heel and sat at the bar. Lewis went over and sat beside her, running a hand over her hair.

"Look at Drew," Lewis said.

Cher smiled faintly. "Somebody better get a mop and clean up that puddle of drool."

Part Three--Holding Nothing Back