Kimberly Hart was excited. She was going to see her cousin in Reefside. She hadn't seen her in a couple years and knew that the teenager would be surprised. It had been close to eight years since she had left Angel Grove for the Pan Global games that she never got to compete in. She had made a mistake with that and had been living with it ever since. She had decided to take a trip to Angel Grove but found that none of her old friends lived there any longer. She was so close to Reefside however and knew that her cousin and Aunt would be surprised to see her.
She had gone straight to her aunts house when she arrived in town and had surprised her aunt. She had almost had a heart attack when she saw who was on her doorstep. "Kimberly." Her aunt Deanne shrieked as she opened the door. Her hands were soapy with dishwater but she pulled her niece in for a big hug.
"Hi Aunt Deanne." Kimberly said smiling. She loved her aunt but sometimes she was a little to perky. Deanne stepped back to look at Kimberly. She noticed that Kim had let her hair grow down to her waist. She was still thin but had filled out in places that a gymnast wouldn't have for years. She looked great.
"You look beautiful dear. Come in."
"Actually I was looking for Kira. Wanted to take her out for awhile."
Deanne smiled and pointed down the street. "Take this road about two miles. She's at a place called Haley's Cyber Café. She is practicing her songs. You girls be back here early though. I want to spend the day with you both tomorrow."
"Thanks Aunt Deanne. I'll have her back early." She kissed her Aunt's cheek and ran back to her car. She couldn't wait to surprise her.
Kira strummed her guitar trying to tune for her next song. She had actually never sung this song alone. Her cousin always was there to sing with her but she knew that it was one of the best so she might as well try. She glanced up and noticed that Connor and Ethan were now happily talking with her teacher Dr. Tommy Oliver. She rolled her eyes and went back to the guitar.
Tommy watched as Kira tuned her guitar. He could remember Kimberly doing the same thing and sighed. It had been a very long time since he had seen her but he still thought about her everyday. He wondered what she was doing and if she was happy with the man she had left him for. He had not seen her in the Pan Global games. He never understood why though. They never even mentioned her name.
Kira began to play softly and sing to herself. It was loud enough so he could hear though.
I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat but always lose that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
Kira paused as if she didn't know what to do next. Suddenly another voice filled the room.
I hope you dance...I hope you dance
Tommy watched as Kira's eyes got huge. She had a huge smile on her face as she continued to play the guitar but she and everyone else in the room were looking at the door at who was singing. His mouth dropped open when he saw it was Kimberly Hart. She was walking toward Kira and singing.
I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin might mean takin chances but there worth takin
Lovin might be a mistake but it's worth makin.
Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter
When you come close to sellin out reconsider
Give the heavens above more then just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
Tommy watched as Kimberly reached Kira and sat down in front of her. Both began singing
I hope you dance...I hope you dance
I hope you dance...I hope you dance
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean.
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
Dance...I hope you dance
I hope you dance...I hope you dance
I hope you dance...I hope you dance
The music died down and Tommy watched as Kira launched into Kimberly's arms. Everyone was clapping and cheering but he was panicking inside. He knew that Kira was going to bring her over and introduce her. Just as he thought that Kira was pulling Kim over to them.
"Hey guys this is my cousin Kimberly." She told Connor and Ethan. Tommy had turned around and was looking at the bar. He knew he couldn't duck out and he knew that he would be seen anyway.
"Nice to meet you." Connor was saying as he shook Kimberly's hand.
"Yeah ditto." Ethan stated smiling.
"And this is my teacher Dr. O." Kira pointed to her teacher's back and frowned. "Dr. O." She said again. Kimberly raised her eyebrows and smiled.
Tommy turned and Kimberly gasped. "Tommy." She whispered. He took her hands in his and kissed one.
"Hi Beautiful." He said lightly.
"Hi." They stared at each other for a moment.
"Dr. O is hittin on the hot new chick." Connor stated loudly wiggling his eyebrows at Ethan. Kira smacked the side of his head. Tommy and Kimberly continued to stare until he gathered her in his arms and held her in a tight hug.
"Have you two met before or something?" Kira eyed her cousin and teacher suspiciously. Suddenly she put two and two together. "Wait Tommy. This is the Tommy. The one that..." She stopped talking and sat on the bar stool stunned.
"What?" Connor asked her. Tommy shook his head at Connor as if to say don't ask. He ignored it and went on. "Kira what?"
"I can't believe my cousin's ex-boyfriend is my teacher. Gross out city man." Kira whined.
"It wasn't that bad." Kim stated pulling away from Tommy but still holding his hand.
"Oh yes it was. I remember stories that I thought were cute at the time and now...PLEASE. I'm gonna barf." She made a gagging noise. Kimberly and Tommy rolled their eyes.
"You went out with Dr. O?" Ethan asked though tears of laughter. Connor was rolling on the ground laughing.
"You guys need help." Tommy said stepping over Connor and pulling Kimberly along with him. "Come on we have to talk." He told her. "I'll bring her right back Kira." Kira made another gagging noise and went back to her guitar.
Tommy pulled her outside and into the park across the street. The sun was setting and light was dancing off the small pond. "I'm surprised you're here." He said finally.
"You surprised." Kimberly laughed. "I came to surprise my cousin and end up finding you. Nice haircut by the way." She ran her hand through his hair and smiled.
"I had no idea that Kira was your cousin. She doesn't talk about he family much." He said repeating the same motion in his hair that Kimberly had just done.
"No I don't suppose that she would. We are kinda messed up." She was being serious. She looked down at her hands. "I have to tell you something."
"What?" He knew it had something to do with the letter. He had barely spoken to her since then. "About the letter?" He asked. She nodded.
"It was a lie." She stated. She looked into his eyes. He was stunned. A lie.
"A lie?"
"I had never found anyone else. I didn't even get to compete in the games." Tears filled her eyes. She blinked them back fighting the urge to cry.
"Why? Why lie to me?" He was growing angry but saw the tears in her eyes and the fear on her face.
"I can't tell you that right now." She touched his arm. "I will but I don't think I could handle that right now. I don't think that you could either. Please forgive me."
"Kim." He sighed again and looked back to her. "I have forgiven you a long time ago. Yes you hurt me and yes I was mad for a long time but you have to know that when it comes to you I couldn't stay mad forever."
"Really." She smiled.
"Yeah." He pulled out his wallet. He opened it and drew out a folded piece of paper and handed it to her. "I've been carrying this for years and I don't want to have it anymore." She nodded not having to open it. She knew what it was. She didn't want to read the words that she had written destroying her life.
"Thank you."
"For what?" He asked confused.
"Forgiving me." She smiled and took his hand in hers. She was amazed at how much she still really loved him. It had never ended. All he could do was smile. "So I heard Kira call you Doctor. When did that happen?"
"It's a surprise I know. Palaeontologist actually."
"Wow. I never saw that coming." She smiled at him and teased him. "Must be giving those doctorates away."
"Ha Ha." He couldn't believe that she still had this effect on him. He was actually still in love with her. He couldn't believe himself. She had just admitted that she hadn't left him for someone else. That helped to make his feelings come out again. Hell she had only been here about an hour and he was already in love again. He knew that he had never really stopped though. "What have you been up to?" He had been dying to ask her where she had been. None of the guys had known. Jason might have but he hadn't heard from Jason either.
"Paris with my mom." She sighed knowing that question was going to come up eventually. "Have been since...well you know." He nodded. So that's why she couldn't compete in the games. She wasn't around.