THREE WEEKS LATER
Everyone in the Bennit house was preparing for the prom. None of the
girls had dates but they were all excited. Jessica had
made her dress from scratch with her mothers help and was very excited
to show it off. Kay had scrimped and saved so she could afford that red
dress from Monique's. At first Charity had been reluctant to go to the
prom alone but when she realized both her cousins were going stag and
they were still having fun. She had joined in. It was a mad house though
as the three girls fought for bathroom space. Jessica stood next to Kay
in the bathroom while applying her mascara.
"Kay do you think this mascara is too dark?"
"No Jess you look fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course I am sure. Who are you trying to impress?"
"No one!" Jessica said defensively.
"Yeah right come on spill it."
"Well I am not trying to impress anyone. However I wouldn't mind if
Reese asked me to dance."
"Reese!" Kay said in shock.
"Hey just because you don't like him doesn't mean he isn't a great guy!"
"Jessica relax!" Kay said waving her hands. "I think Reese is awesome!
Any girl would be lucky to have him."
Jessica looked at her sister trying to decide if she was being serious
or not.
"Well you had him for a while."
"Not really. I mean Miguel and Charity thought I did and I never said
otherwise but we were never much of a couple. It would have been easier
on me if we were but you can't help who you love." Kay said with a sigh.
Jessica nodded feeling bad for Kay. It had been over three weeks since
Charity and Miguel had broken up. Since then Kay had not seen Miguel but
Jessica knew that her sister ached for him. She put her hand on Kay's
shoulder.
"It'll work out for the best. You'll see."
"Thanks Jess."
The girls exchanged a smile and went back to applying makeup.
-----------
"Okay let me see my three lovely ladies!" Sam called from the bottom of
the stairs.
r
"well ladies are we ready to make our entrance?" Jessica asked of Kay
and Charity.
"I'm ready." Charity said
"Do you have your sunglasses?" Kay asked
"Huh?" Charity responded.
"It's just I would bet my college fund that Dad is down there camera in
hand."
"You'll be seeing spots from all the flashing."
Charity laughed.
"Yeah but hey he will get a good show. Jessica. Charity. You guys look
great." Kay said.
Charity smiled over at her cousin. She had spent a lot of time with Kay
in the past weeks. She had been surprised to learn that despite the fact
she had lived in this house for almost two years she didn't really know
her cousin. It had probably been because she had spent all her time with
Miguel. When she was with Kay they had been together in a group. Now
that she was single she had taken the time to get to know all the people
around her.
The experience had made her a better person and she laughed to think
that there was a time she would have never considered going to a prom
without Miguel. Tonight she was proud and happy to be going to the prom
with her cousins.
"Well we had better go and face the music." Charity said.
The three girls descended and as they had feared there was Sam snapping
pictures like a mad man.
"Dad!" Jessica groaned.
"Oh come on smile girls." Sam said as he kept clicking.
"You know how he is" Grace said with a smile. "But I think he should run
out of film soon."
"Okay okay I can take a hint." Sam said as he put the camera down.
All three girls sighed in relief and headed out side where their limo
was waiting. They got in and soon they were at the school.
They walked into school where they gym had been transformed to a
ballroom.
"Oh look there's Reese." Jessica squealed.
Kay looked over and sucked in her breath. Not at Reese but at what was
next to Reese. Miguel.
He looks so handsome in his tux! NO! I can't keep torturing myself! Kay
thought as Miguel looked up and his eyes meet hers. Kay quickly turned
away.
Charity had noticed the exchange and saw that although Kay had turned
away Miguel was still staring as if he couldn't get enough of her.
"Do you guys want some punch?" Kay asked eager for something to do.
"Yeah I'll go with you." Charity said
"Me too." The girls headed over to the punch bowl
------
"So are you going to talk to her?" Reese asked.
"I can't Reese."
"Miguel it's been weeks how much longer are you going to let this go
on?"
"There's nothing I can do!"
"Then why did you even come here tonight."
"To look at her Reese just to look at her." Miguel said as his eyes followed Kay across the room. For nearly a month now Miguel had been without Kay. All
he got where a couple of stolen classes in between classes he had never
dared to talk to her since the book café and had no intention of coming
to the prom until he found out Kay was going.
"Miguel what have you got to lose?"
"Seeing her."
"Huh?"
"Look Reese for over a year I ignored my best friend for a pretty new
face. Then I realized true love was right in front of me all the time
but I lost them both. All I have now are the memories and a few stolen
glances. If I go over there right now Kay will get mad she might leave
and then I won't even get to look at her."
Reese sighed.
"Well if you say so but I still think you should at least go and say
hi."
Miguel nodded his head but did not take Reese's advice. During the evening he just moved around the room
trying to get good looks at Kay.
Kay was having a good time. She felt beautiful in her dress, but she was
sad that she could not talk to Miguel. She had noticed him watching her
with such longing in his eyes. Still she owed it to Charity not to talk
to him. Charity. Kay looked over at her cousin fast dancing with
Jessica. Kay could not believe that she used to hate her. Over the past
few weeks she had spent a lot of time with her cousin and she realized
there was a lot more to Charity than she had thought. Her jealously had
blinded her to any good points about Charity. And even though she had
never thought it was possible she honestly liked her cousin and enjoyed
her company. Her only wish was that the day would come when all of them
including Miguel could be friends again.
----
Miguel looked over at Kay. Oh she's beautiful. Miguel remembered the
first time he had ever seen her in that dress. At first he had not even
recognized her. What a shock to realize that "his first baseman" was a
woman. He should have realized then how he felt for her. Maybe things
would not have gotten so far out of hand.
--------
"Hey do you mind if I cut in?" Reese asked Charity who was dancing with
Jessica. A huge smile spread across Jessica's face so Charity cut out
gracefully. As Reese and Jessica started dancing Charity steeped away.
She saw Miguel staring at Kay and was not oblivious to the torn look Kay
was returning. Charity sighed and walked over to Kay. She grabbed her
hand.
"Charity!" Kay exclaimed as her cousin dragged her along.
"Miguel Lopez Fitzgerald looked up in shock as he saw Charity and Kay
coming towards him. Had they gotten mad that he had dared to show up
there? Or perhaps he had been staring at Kay a little too much. His
heart raced as the twosome stopped in front of him.