Disclaimer: Nope, don't own any of the characters (except for Richard). The rest belong to NBC's Passions and JER.

Chapter Three - Unspoken Words

"What am I doing here? I live here!" Jessica exclaimed to the arrogant guy. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm visiting my brother," he replied.

"I take it you two met?" Ethan asked, a smile on his face.

"Unfortunately," Jessica muttered.

"Well then, I guess I should formally introduce you two. Richard, this is Jessica. Jess, this is Richard," he said.

"Can't you just feel the love in this room?" Kay smirked. Jessica glared at her.

"So not funny," Jessica said. She turned around to face her sister, ignoring Richard. "Oh yeah, Miguel and Reese are coming over later for a barbeque," Jessica said.

"Sounds fun," Kay replied. She stood there a moment, a smile forming across her face. "Richard, would you like to join us?" she asked, smirking in Jessica's direction.

"Well, actually," Richard started. "I have to -"

"He'll be there," Ethan interrupted. "You guys will introduce him to your friends, right? Richard's going to be the new kid of Harmony High and I'm sure -" Ethan stopped abruptly when he saw both Richard and Jessica glaring at him.

"What?" he asked innocently.

* * *

Simone Russell was stuffed. She had just eaten a plate full of fries and two burgers, that were absolutely delicious. Even though things were really quiet during the barbeque, it had been one of the best nights this whole summer. After all, she spotted the guy of her dreams.

He had short, spiky blonde hair, and deep blue eyes that you could seriously find yourself getting lost into. He was sitting on the swing that Miguel had made for Charity, lost in his own train of thought. He had sat there the whole time they ate, often looking lonely, not really knowing if he was a part of the group. Simone tried to approach him many times, but always ended up getting interrupted or chickened out.

Simone slowly walked over to Jessica, who was busy cleaning up the picnic table in the Bennett's backyard.

"So, Jess, who's the hottie?" Simone asked, quietly.

"Hottie? Where?" Jessica asked, looking around.

"Duh. The guy sitting on the swing," Simone said, nodding towards the guy. Jessica's face immediately turned into a frown.

"That's no hottie. He's just Ethan's brother," Jessica said.

"Girl, you've gotta be blind if you don't think that boy is fine," Simone said, looking at Jessica as if she was crazy. "So what's the four one one? If he's Ethan's bro, you must know something about him."

"His name's Richard. And he's a rude, arrogant jerk," Jessica stated.

Simone looked at Richard with more interest. Now that he was here, she had an early advantage over the other girls at school. Jessica had an obvious distaste for him, Kay was too obsessed with Miguel, and of course Charity was so wrapped up in Miguel, that Simone had no competition for him tonight.

She was about to introduce herself to Richard, when Kay came up to her.

"He's seriously drop dead gorgeous," Kay greeted her.

"You're not interested, are you?" Simone asked with alarm. The one thing she didn't need was to be in direct competition with her best friend.

"Oh, no way," Kay laughed. "I've got Miguel."

"Kay, what are you talking about? Charity's got Miguel," she said.

"Not for long," Kay said mysteriously, before she walked to the picnic table that was lined with bowls of chips and dip.

Simone sighed, and followed her. "What type of scheme are you planning on now? Because after the whole dumping fish guts on Charity thing, I'm not getting involved."

"Nothing," Kay simply stated.

"Nothing... What do you mean by that?" Simone asked. She hated getting into Kay's schemes to get Miguel. She especially didn't like hurting Charity, who has been nothing but super nice to Simone.

"I'm going to do absolutely nothing. That way Miguel will fall in love with the real me," Kay said, impatiently.

Simone laughed. "That's a good one Kay. If Miguel knew the real you, he would hate you. He wouldn't date you if you were the last girl on the planet." She meant it as a joke, but instantly regretted it, when she saw Kay's face fall.

Kay was silent for a moment. "Simone, when I was in grade four, I broke my arm. That hurt. When I was a freshman, I got hit by a softball on my head. That hurt. But nothing hurt more than you telling me that Miguel wouldn't even appreciate the real me," she said cooly.

"Kay, I'm so sor-" Simone started before Kay cut her off.

"So what's this I hear about Whitney and Chad? Theresa told me that they were so much in love," Kay said, knowing she'd provoke a response from Simone. Just as she thought, Simone's eyes turned stone cold.

"Yeah, they're in love. Just as in love as Charity and Miguel," Simone said calmly. "Speaking of Charity, I heard your mother bought her a new outfit from the Gap. Isn't it the same exact outfit you wanted?" Simone asked, innocently. She watched as Kay's mouth opened, then closed. "Of course your mom wouldn't buy you that outfit, because you're so cold and unlovable unlike Charity. You never learn, do you Kay? No one is ever going to love you over Charity. Not your parents, not your friends, and certainly not Miguel."

Kay looked shocked at Simone's words. Simone was shocked herself. She never thought she could say something so cold to her very best friend. It was too out of character for her.

Kay looked at Simone, tears forming in her eyes. "Like you're in the position to talk. Tell me, Simone, about how everyone loves you way more than Whitney?" Kay asked in a tone so cold, that Simone got chills. "Oh wait, they don't," she said, before walking off.

Simone stood there, feeling both angry and alone. She looked around, and saw Charity, Jessica, Reese looking back and forth between her and Kay. Once they saw Simone looking at them, they busied themselves with clean up.

"Are you okay?" a voice piped up. Simone turned around to find Richard standing there. "It looked like you guys got into a big fight," he said.

Suddenly Simone became alarmed. "You didn't hear any of it, did you?" she asked, worriedly. She didn't want anyone to know her feelings of resentment towards her older sister Whitney, or the huge crush she had on Chad.

"No, I didn't," Richard assured her. "Anyways, I don't think we've been properly introduced. I'm Richard, by the way," he said, extending his hand.

"I'm Simone," Simone said, shaking his hand. That fight with Kay was ugly, but this might be the beginning of something beautiful, she thought.

Kay Bennett

Where the hell did that fight with Simone come from? We're supposed to be best friends, but she said some of the most hurtful things. Like, saying how Miguel wouldn't even love the real me, or how I was just so cold and no one could ever love me over Charity. And as much as I hate to say it, in my life, it's actually true.

Before Charity came to Harmony, things weren't that great either. My mom had a special bond with Jessica, and my dad had a special bond with Noah. It's not like they didn't love me, because they did. I mean, they still do. But I wasn't close to any of them. But Miguel was there for me. He was always there when I needed him the most. He knew practically everything about me, and we used to spend so much time with each other, without ever getting tired of the other. Then Charity came, and ruined everything.

And Charity does deserve love. Don't look at me that way... I am human, after all. I just wish it wasn't at my expense. She formed a close bond with my mom, the one I never had. And dad looks at her like she's his own daughter. And Miguel... it's like he never has time for me anymore. In a way, I guess Charity replaced me.

Simone Russell

I didn't mean half the things I said to Kay. It was an accident. Really. I don't necessarily expect my own diary to believe me, but I didn't mean it.

Maybe it's all this pent up anger I have. I admit, I have anger issues. I think I got it from Daddy. After all, he could go all psycho on you if you just mention the name Julian Crane. He hates that man with such a passion, that I'm scared of what would happen if those two were left alone in a room together. Anyways, back to the topic. Maybe I said those things to Kay because I'm sick and tired of being her little lackey. Everyone always expects me to be Kay's little loyal friend.

Like I'm not my own person without Kay Bennett.