Diego absorbed everything Kat said in reply to his questions, secretly glad that her parents were not going to be in attendance.  Offering a nod, Diego said nothing as he didn’t really want to let his relief show.  It sounded a little sad and lonely really, the way Kat talked about her parents travels, but he imagined at this stage in her life it might not be the worst thing.  After all, he was certainly enjoying the freedom that being away at college offered him, and he lived in a dorm and had very limited funds.  For her it was practically limitless.<br/><br/>When their time came to step out of his car, Diego took a deep breath to steady himself, and while his insides definitely felt tied up in a knot, he managed to keep it from showing on his face, instead wearing a somewhat bland smile as he walked around the car and offered Kat his arm.  Once she was at his side, it was a very slow seeming walk to the hotel doors, pausing again and again as various photographers, almost exclusively men, asked her to stop and turn this way or that, or shouted questions.  After a bit Diego got to trying to look behind the flashbulbs, noting the looks of curiosity on some of the faces and thinly veiled jealousy on others.  If that’s how these guys were feeling, Diego could only imagine the stories that would get back to Kat’s ex, and part of her plan suddenly became much more clear.<br/><br/>After an eternity, he and Kat passed away from the range of the cameras and into the gala itself, a fact that made Diego very happy indeed.  As they walked into the large room, still arm in arm,. Diego broke away only briefly to snag two flutes of champagne from a passing tray before offering one to Kat first.  “Whew.”  He said in a low tone meant for her ears only.  “They really love you, huh?  That must have been a thousand pictures.”  Taking a sip of the champagne quickly, Diego noted how it was suddenly half gone.  “Tell me that was the hard part and now it’s over?”