"Life Changed By One Night"

Chapter 6:

Two days later, Miguel met up with Katie by her locker between classes.

"Hey," he said, leaning onto the lockers as he watched her searching for her next class's textbook.

"What's up, Lo-Fitz?" she asked.

"I have to tell you something," Miguel said, remembering that these were the exact words he had said to Katie in his dream. "How about we meet up at the Book Cafe after school. What do you say?"

"Sure," Kay said slowly. Miguel never used to tell her that he had to tell her something. Normally he'd just say it. She could see his nervousness, and was puzzled to think about what had triggered it. "But listen," she said, placing her hand on his arm to stop him before he could leave. "Mom and Dad didn't give me the car today. Can you give me a ride?"

"Do you have to ask, Kayos?" Miguel joked, before walking away.

Katie frowned as he left. Something was up with Miguel. She couldn't wait to find out what it was.

Two hours later, Miguel drove Katie over to the Book Cafe.

"So what's this you have to tell me?" Katie asked, as they still sat in the car. "And why do I feel like it's going to change both of our lives forever?"

Miguel slyly grinned at her words. She was right - it was going to change their lives forever. Hopefully for the better.

"Close your eyes," Miguel told her.

"What?" Katie laughed. "Why?"

"Just do it," Miguel begged.

"Okay," Katie said slowly. She shut her eyes, a smile of amusement evident on her face. She could tell this was going to be a happy surprise.

Turning to completely face her, Miguel leaned over his seat before bringing his lips closer to Katie's. They touched for a minute before Katie's eyes popped wide open in a mixture of surprise, shock and glee.

Katie lightly pushed Miguel away for a second, trying to grasp reality and come to an understanding of what had just taken place between them. Breathing heavily, she stared into his eyes before her gaze rested on his kissable lips.

Refusing to let her thoughts interfere on her actions for once in her life, Katie followed her instincts. She grabbed his shirt and brought his lips to hers.

They sat there in the car, kissing each other hungrily for a few more minutes.

Miguel worried that this might not have been the best way to tell Katie how he was feeling about her, but it was too late to think of that now. Also, truth be told, he didn't want to think about the talk he knew he was going to have with Katie about this situation. Sure she was positively responding to his kisses now, but Miguel knew that Katie's feelings during and after events like these weren't one and the same.

She'd most probably be angry and call it a mistake, Miguel bitterly thought to himself.

Katie broke away from the kiss, both of them needing to come up for air.

Miguel smiled at her, but Katie pushed him away from her, turning around in her seat to stare out the window.

Wow, what a kiss, she thought to herself. It was wonderful. Our very first kiss. She could still feel Miguel's soft lips on hers. She closed her eyes, hoping to relive the moment once more in her mind. His hand, running through her hair as his lips danced in passion with hers. It was so beautiful.

Returning to reality, Katie turned to look at Miguel. Much as she loved the kiss they had shared, she knew it had been stemmed from something that didn't have to do with her at all. Miguel hadn't kissed her because he wanted to. He was trying to take away the pain of Charity's breakup and was hoping Katie could fill some of the holes Charity's decision had left on his heart.

"I have a confession to make, Miguel," Katie said, with a serious tone.

"What is it, Kay?" Miguel asked, worried. He placed a caring hand on her knee.

"I've been head over heels in love with you for the past four and a half years." Katie hadn't planned on revealing that so soon, especially since Charity's breakup with him was still so new, but this situation had propelled her tongue to form those words.

Miguel's mouth popped open, but nothing seemed to come out. He didn't know what to say. Katie loved him? That was great! He grinned from ear to ear.

His smile began to fade as he thought about all aspects of this issue. If Katie had been in love with him all of this time, then that meant she loved him even when he was with Charity! Poor Kay, Miguel thought. She never even told me how she felt. She had to endure watching me be with her cousin.

"But," Katie continued, raising her hand to prevent Miguel from getting a word in. If she didn't keep talking, she was afraid she might not have the nerve to say this again. Much as she hated to say it, she knew she had to. It was the truth, painful or not.

"I feel like you always do this, Miguel," she said, her eyes those of sincerity, while her tone matched that of annoyance and reprimandation. "This ... this replacement game." She waved her hands up in the air in exasperation. "When your papa disappeared, you replaced his fatherly role with my father and even my uncle Hank. When Paloma went to live in Spain with your Aunt you made Theresa fill not only her own role as your sister, but also Paloma's. And now this. I will not be Charity's replacement, ok? If you want me, you're going to have to want me for me."

"But Kay, I do want you for you," Miguel insisted. "A few days ago, when you were in my room, I realized it."

"Stop it," Katie cried anxiously. "I will not be second best. Not to my sister, my brother and definitely not to Charity."

"Kay," Miguel persisted. "Kay, listen to me! You're not second best. You never have been. I want this. I want you."

Katie loved Miguel, she really did. But her loathing on being second best was stronger than the former. "You're projecting, Miguel. I won't stand for it. I'll see you later," she said quietly. She reached over to open the car door, but Miguel, knowing full well what she was about to do, beat her to it and pressed the 'lock' button.

Katie fumed. Why was he making this so hard? Boldly she reached past him to his side of the car and pressed unlock. Her hand touched his arm ever so slightly, causing her to want more spine-twisting touches like that, but Katie reached back up and stepped out of the car without a word. She went inside the Book Cafe, not even looking back at the crestfallen face of her best friend.

"Dammitt, Kay," Miguel bit off to himself in the car. "Why are you so stubborn? Why can't you take my word for it - I never lied to you. I would never lie to you about something this important. I've always loved you as a friend, but now my feelings have grown." He turned to look out the window, at Katie's retreating form. "I'm going to show you that I love you for you, Kay." With a mischievous glint in his eyes, Miguel backed his car out of the parking lot and made his way home.