Kay sat in a ball of misery staring out her darkened bed room window. How had it come to this. She recalled the events of the afternoon in vivid color. There was Charity asking her to never see or talk to Miguel again. Could she do that? True her relationship with Miguel at the moment wasn't that great and for the past few weeks she had been doing just what Charity was asking, but to agree to do it always. Kay had not been so sure. However the matter was taken from her hands when Miguel chose just that moment to walk into the book cafe. One moment she was thinking about Miguel the next minute there he was standing next to their table.
"Hello Charity, Kay." Miguel said in a soft voice.
Charity crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. She did not look at Miguel and Kay could feel the anger radiating off of her. With Charity keeping quite Miguel looked to her. Kay was not sure that she would never talk to Miguel but she knew now was not the time. With as much tact as she could muster. Kay spoke
"Miguel could you excuse us, Charity and I need to talk alone right now."
Charity's scowl turned to a small satisfied smile.
"Oh," Miguel said but he made no move to leave.
"That means WITHOUT you!" Charity said finally looking up at Miguel.
Shock ran across Miguel's face as he registered the amount of anger in Charity's voice.
Kay remembered yesterday when she had been sent away because she was calmer than Charity. Once again Charity was the agitated one. As much as Kay loved Miguel she knew he needed to go.
"Miguel maybe you should just go." Kay said looking up at him.
Hurt replaced the shock on Miguel's face. Before he could stay a word Charity started talking.
"NO MIGUEL, you can stay WE are leaving!" Charity said as she stood up. She reached over and grabbed Kay's arm. "We are cousins and you can't just use us as you like. WE don't want to see you. DON'T TALK TO US, CALL US OR EVEN LOOK IN OUR DIRECTION!" With that Charity pulled Kay out of the book cafe and into the street. Kay hadn't even had time to judge Miguel's reaction.
Dinner that night had been smoother. Charity ate with them and no longer shot mean looks at Kay. Peace had been restored to the Bennett house. But at what price? This was the question that raced through Kay's head as she stared out the window that night. She had never promised that she wouldn't talk to Miguel. But if she did it would start WW III. How was Miguel dealing with all this? "I wish I could tell him that I don't blame him and that I'm not mad at him." Kay whispered aloud as she started out the window and up at the stars. Little did Kay know had she looked down instead of up she would have had her wish.
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Miguel Lopez-fitzgerald looked up at the darkened windows of the Bennett house. He had not planed to come there. But sleep had eluded him and after a short walk this was where he ended. How had it happened? All his life he had tried to be a nice guy. Yet here he was he had lost his girlfriend and his best friend in less than a week. He had never wanted to hurt Charity but he just didn't love her. Not the way he loved Kay. He kicked himself for not seeing it earlier. They had always been a team. He should have stayed with her but he fell for Charity. Charity was mad at him maybe she even hated him. He couldn't blame her if someone he cared about broke up with him to go out with his friend or his brother he would probably feel the same way. He had expected her to be upset. But Kay when had she had told him to go at the book cafe he felt like a thousand tiny needles had pierced into his heart. Did she hate him now? Because he had broken up with Charity. She had wanted to kiss him yesterday, she had said as much, but did that mean that she approved of his actions? He had not told her what he was going to say to Charity. Mostly because he didn't know until he got there. Maybe she thought that he should have stayed with Charity despite their attraction to each other. Maybe she did not care for him as much as he cared for her. She had only said that she wanted to kiss him not that she loved him. Perhaps she regretted the moment and would never talk to him again. Miguel shuddered at the thought. To never again hear Kay tease him, or to look upon her smiling face. That would be worse than death. He had to talk to her and Charity. Set things right between the three of them. Miguel gave one last look at the window and headed home.