For Lilly and Julian: LOL, you know who you are. :-)
Thanks for all the feedback I recieved :-) You guys are the greatest and I also enjoy reading the people who post here. You encouragement really DOES help.
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Recap: Miguel and Kay bond and we remember the good ol' times when it was just them. Thanks to Team Tabitha, Charity is literally twitching at the prospect of Kay and Miguel *gasp* becoming together. Reese and Simone just did their own thing. :-)
You know, just read the back chapters. It saves you from being confused. And let's play pretend people! Pretend that Miguel can't roller blade.... I'm sure that the teens never did roller blade. Ice skate, yes, but roller blade, nope.
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She's The One
Chapter Five - The Best Thing
Chapter Rated : [PG] for language [F] for FUN! [TLA] for Truck Load of Angst
Where: N/A
When : N/A
It was dark.
It was the first thing you thought of when you first look at the room. You couldn't see yourself and anything that was around you. However, if there was a small flash of light, you could see that it was a large room. The floor was a never ending glass of bluish and black; you could tell if you were standing on it.
There was no life; no wind, no noise. Just pure nothingness. All there was to the room was a grand iron gate without handles. Designs of dragons and thorny red roses gave it a mysterious and medieval feel. Hints of white smoke peaked out from under the door that could be taken as there could be life or something of that sort, beyond the door. There was nothing in the room. Nothing moved, until she came in.
A flash of bluish white light bolted on the opposing side of the iron gate. For a few moments, the gate did nothing but then it moved on its will. She came in and sighed heavily, placing her staff on the holder of the gate. Her tired eyes soon regained its fire as she looked around the room. Whatever she was looking for didn't seem to be there, though.
Knowing she wasn't going to get a voluntary answer, she screamed out, "Fate and Time, I know you're here. I have questions and you have the answers!"
For a few earth seconds, it seemed as if whoever or whatever was there, didn't want to come out. But then, something magical happened.
The room began to pulse with color of all shades. Every five to ten seconds, it faded from one shade to another in smooth transition. From purple to navy blue to chartreuse green and golden yellow. There was a bass sound; it sounded like a slow heart beat. It thumped in time with the colors. The sound wasn't loud, but it could be felt when standing on the glass floor.
The woman who stood, didn't seem at all bothered or in awe of it. Perhaps because this is where she grew up and was taught or because it was done a million times before in her presence. Either or, she impatiently tapped her foot while she soon got the response she wanted.
A soft windy voice lined with bubbling laughter filtered through while a rumbling, masculine voice grumbled along. There was no one as in body, but there was a definite presence as in spirit. The spirits of Time and Fate of course.
"Why hello Christanya! Fancy meeting you here. Of course, I knew you'd be here, but it has been a while since you called upon us," the soft windy voice said, obviously feminine.
"Fate, you know I would rather be here under different circumstances, but this prophecy.... I know absolutely nothing and it frightens them and myself," said Christanya bluntly. She hesitated on what she was about to ask next. "Could it hurt us if you were to give a clue? I know about the rule, but can there be an exception? Please, they're getting nervous."
Time's, in contrast to Fate's was low, gruff, and masculine. "There are no exceptions to time, Christanya. I'm surprised to see you here asking these questions you know we won't answer."
"But please, you have to understand that the people of Nevaeh and Earth's well being is at stake! We need to at least prepare for the oncoming events!" There was desperation edged into Christanya's voice as she said it.
Fate giggled lightly which baffled Christanya. She was always the flitty one of the two. "To know your own destiny is to be tempted to change it Christanya. 'Preparing' as you put it, will also make them tempted to stop it. When something changes in the path of destiny, the small change, even as minor as one-second in time, would cause destiny to revere from it's set out path."
"Which is where you come in. You ensure that the paths woven by us are actually followed, but that doesn't mean that you yourself will know what the hands of Fate and Time deal," Time finished off grumbling. He was always grumbling about something; perhaps in old age or the strain of carrying the burden of time.
"Yes, yes I know that. I understand but the prophecy said it was the defining battle that can impact the course of what lays ahead. We just need more information. Please, for the well being of the queen and for my peace of mind," Christanya pleaded wearily.
The room started to glow a silver and blue hue as Time began to answer, "You know our answer, Christanya. Your efforts are futile."
"This title does give me certain rights to know what will happen that effects the human race! I've suffered enough humiliation back in Nevaeh. Did you see the looks on their faces?!" Christanya almost shouted her polite coolness gone. Fate and Time were her elders and they were the ones who chose her, but she sometimes forgot that.
Fate's bubbly laughter echoed through out the room as she said, "Tsk, tsk, Christanya. Losing your cool isn't a good thing, you know. You know we can't tell you what you want to know. Besides, even if you did by chance found out, you couldn't do anything about it. Everything-"
"Has a proper place and time," Christanya plainly finished Fate's sentence. "Yes, I know, I know. But they were right! I should know or at least get a clue of what will happen."
"You should or do you deserve, Christanya? No one deserves to know their fate, for if they did they might be tempted to change it. Or have you forgotten that?" Time asked snippily.
'Old coot,' Christanya sourly thought.
"I haven't forgotten that, Time!" Christanya bitterly shouted, "That was my oath! I do my job well. Have I ever failed you?"
"No, you haven't. But you have forgotten one important detail." Time stated gruffly.
"And what is that?" Christanya asked crossly.
"The power of free will. We do not have the power to see the future since we are not sure ourselves. We are aids to help shape the path for destiny to follow. The future is not set into stone, Christanya...."
Christanya closed her eyes as her head ache grew stronger. "Yes, I know that also. But they are getting impatient. Especially Faithe who is ready to blow a gasket if she doesn't get her daughter back."
"So? What are we supposed to do? Her daughter's fate was written before she was even born. Faithe knows that."
"Faithe knows it, but she doesn't understand it. As I don't understand why I had to do what I did almost seventeen years ago. You know the Queen wasn't even sure if it was the right thing to do at the tim-"
"It was," Fate said seriously, "remember, if she didn't do what she commanded then you wouldn't be in this position."
Christanya silently fumed as the two spirits spat out nothing that would help her. "Why did we have to do it? What was wrong with leaving her with-"
"She wouldn't understand or feel what it was like, Christanya," Fate simply said, "For her to understand, is the key. She needs to understand; rather, she has to."
"It doesn't make any sense! Please, what does she need to understand? Why does she have to? The prophecy isn't of any help."
"You have to figure that on your own. We given you enough. But think, Christanya, think. What is the universal emotion that we all can understand and relate too?"
Time continued grumpily as Fate left off. "It is not what you think. It's never what you think." Soon their voices slowly faded away interchanging each phrase with one another.
"Do we believe.... Yes, we do though...."
"The truth seems far out of reach...."
"However, it has never left us...."
*
"To each person, there is a difference....."
"To each person, there is a light....."
"A hope......"
"A dream....."
"A reality....."
"A feeling....."
"Acceptance....."
"Exclusion....."
"Joy....."
"Sadness....."
*
"Of dark is true...."
"Of light we see...."
"What we become...."
"Is the emotion that you seek...."
"Goodbye, Christanya. Till we meet again..." Fate whispered laughingly. Then the voices stopped. Everything stopped. The room went back to it's pitch blackness before, and the beating rhythm in turn, faded away. The only light was coming from the staff to help her see. Christanya looked about her frightened and very disturbed.
"What do they mean by 'of dark is true?' She has to understand WHAT?" Christanya exclaimed out loud to herself. The answers she came to want, were never retrieved. But now, she was more confused than ever. It made no sense. There wasn't any sense in this back then, and there wasn't sense to it now.
Fate and Time's appearance only made her headache worse. What did Fate mean by it was the right thing to do? Of course it wasn't! That was the main reason why they had this mess in the first place! To sacrifice such a heavy wager on a prophecy. 'Lord help us all,' she silently prayed as she grabbed up her staff from it's holder.
"Past, Present, and Future! Open your gates to me!" Christanya shouted as she slammed the heel of the staff to the ground. Almost instantly, the portal appeared in a bluish swirl of dizziness. No one could see from beyond; not even her.
She grimly stepped into the portal and turned around one last time before she left at the room to its own accord.
Where: Harmony, Maine - The Bennett's - The Kitchen
When : 5:59 AM Wednesday, June 16, 2000 [A NEW Day!]
As the sun began to rise, Kay quietly sat on the kitchen counter staring out the window. Her mind wandered back to yesterday, rather, last night's events. She was completely and utterly emotionally drained. It had been a first. Yes, she on occasion cried herself to sleep. Yes, she has had mornings when she couldn't sleep and just stared out the window. Yes, she sometimes developed long headaches as she mulled over her life. But no, she didn't have mornings like this.
This morning was supposed to be Day Two of the new her and she was back to square one.
Although square one did look a lot better with Miguel actually for once caring about her. Which was partly the reason why she drained. All night, she had wondered why Miguel became suddenly attentive? Why did he hold her hand like that and bore his eyes into so searchingly, she shivered from even remembering? For the life of her, she couldn't give an answer.
However, the real reason why she was so tired and worn was because of the memories of last night. The memories that she purposely kept hidden because it was so hard to think about them. It reminded her about the way thing used to be. The way everyone fell into place and life was near perfect as it could be in her world. She never wanted to wake up from them. But she always did and then she had to face reality.
Reality was always the hardest wake up call.
The reality of her world was laughable and purely pathetic, in her opinion. Nothing was the perfect 'Americana' as seen on the television. It was the pure opposite.
Which was why it was so amazing last night. Kay wished she had at least relished the few moments she had with Miguel. But even so, she remembered it all. How he held her hand and looked so pleadingly at her. How he gently brushed away her tears with his thumb. Or just how they way he was with her last night in general. Miguel was sweet, thoughtful, attentive and the real kicker was that he actually cared! He cared about *her*, not Charity.
'Did I miss something?' Kay questioned hurriedly to herself. 'Get yourself together, Kay. You must have been imagining things.' The more she thought about it, the more likely it became to her. 'Yeah, that's right. I'm taking things in too seriously. Miguel doesn't care about me; he loves Charity, right?'
Kay heaved a heavy sigh. But all the signs were there! She had read it in the women magazines and romance novels so it could be true could it? She groaned as she placed her hands on her head. 'No! God, why the hell am I depending on a MAGAZINE to give me help?!' she reprimanded to herself. She rolled her eyes heavenwardly at the thought. 'Of course Kay, he loves Charity. They're glued to the lips.... I'm so stupid to even think that I might have a chance.'
But what was it about last night? Why did it make her believe in it again?
Once again, she couldn't find the answers within herself. It was tiring to say the least. But one thing was for sure. Kay had her heart on her sleeve now and Miguel had complete control of it. Not the greatest position to be in considering everything, but she just couldn't help it! Everything came back to him, unfortunately.
'I really need to get a hobby,' Kay thought with disgust. However, it was too late now. The ball was in the court now and she was finally out of the sidelines and into the game. Kay just hoped she wouldn't get injured.
Charity came downstairs to see Kay wrapped up in her own world and watching the sunrise. They were both in their pajama's; obviously having thoughts that kept them up half the night. But when Charity came downstairs, reality came like it never did before. Kay was right there. Right in front of her with her back to Charity. Tabitha's words echoed back to Charity as she just watched Kay.
"Why, Kay and Miguel obviously love each other very much, Charity."
It couldn't possibly be true. Kay is her cousin; she wouldn't do that to her own *cousin* would she? And Miguel, he wouldn't cheat on her. Charity shook her head. There is no way they could... Could they? Miguel did say that Charity wasn't the one, but that didn't necessarily mean that Kay was. Even so, it didn't give Charity the peace of mind that she needed.
"Charity. I, uh, didn't see you there." Kay mumbled as she hopped off the counter to face the other girl. Charity blinked a couple of times and gave a weak smile.
"Yeah, I just woke up, but I didn't get some sleep though," Charity carefully replied. Kay just nodded and began to fidget. It was sort of uncomfortable to be in the same room with her. Not just because of Miguel; Kay just didn't feel comfortable. The tension grew thickly as both, different as night and day, stood in the one thing they had in common and the one thing they wanted.
Miguel.
"So... What are your plans for the day?" Charity asked. She never did like silence.
Kay shrugged glad for once to hear Charity's voice. "I don't know. Miguel said-"
"Miguel?" Charity interrupted. What did Miguel have to do with what Kay had to do today? Charity's curiosity grew as Kay seemed to be more uncomfortable than she was.
Kay slowly nodded. "Uh-huh. Miguel. Anyway, he told me that we were going to roller blading or something. I don't remember specifically." Well, it was the truth. Kay didn't remember specifically what he told her when they got back to the Bennett's but she did pick up on roller blading.
"Today?" Charity inquired.
"Today."
Slightly miffed, Charity scrunched her forehead. "Oh. I didn't know Miguel was spending time with you today. I was sort of hoping to spend some time with him." Kay rolled her eyes, unaware of the problems the couple was having. 'Geez, you'd think everyday of every month would be enough,' Kay snidely thought. But she suddenly and uncharacteristically, started to feel guilty. She never felt guilt in Charity's presence. Charity looked so pitifully down; unlike her unnaturally bubbly self. It gave Kay some sort of normality to see her smile such a naive and stupid smile.
Sighing, she decided to try to be nice. "You can join us if you want, Charity," Kay grumbled. She expected for Charity to say, "Sure! What time is Miguel coming?" But Kay was in for a shocker.
"No, it's okay. I'm sure Miguel just wanted it between the two of you, otherwise he would have asked me." Kay almost did a double take, but it was thrown off by the next words out of Charity's mouth.
"I saw you guys walking out of the barbecue early. Where did you go, Kay?"
Where: Harmony, Maine -The Lopez-Fitzgerald's
When : 6:57 AM Wednesday, June 16, 2000
"What happened?!" Simone demanded as she stood on the entrance of the Lopez - Fitzgerald home. Okay, so she knew it was early and she knew it was summer, but Simone didn't care. 'Miguel can sleep later,' was what she thought as she knocked on the door.
Miguel looked at Simone with a blank expression as he yawned and sleepily rubbed his eyes. "Simone, why are you here at this time in the morning and could you please be quiet? Theresa and Mama are asleep." Miguel was tired from what happened last night. It took him three good hours for him to even fall asleep, he was that stressed when he came home.
Simone rolled her eyes. "Yeah whatever," she said as she pushed herself pass Miguel, "So what happened?"
Miguel sighed and looked a bit more alert and awake. "What happened with what?"
'Is this guy smart or what?' Simone sarcastically thought to herself as she put her hands on her hips. With a "Duh!" look on her face, she clarified, "Last night with Kay, you idiot."
Miguel was wide awake and alert at the mentioning of Kay's name. As he motioned Simone to the couch, he responded.
"It went okay," he said while shrugging. Then there was nothing to continue after the three words. Simone waited impatiently for the details, but then reminded herself that Miguel was a male.
"And?"
"And what?"
'Yes, Miguel is a male.' Simone sighed as she found herself ready to pounce him. His head was fast becoming a bull's eye in her mind. "Miguel, cut the crap and tell me what happened... WITH DETAILS or I will beat it out of you if need be."
"Okay, okay," Miguel replied as he winced at Simone. There were few moments when kindhearted Simone went away and something much more cruel replaced her. This was one of them. She sat with her arms folded and eyes daring for him to cross her. Okay, so he wasn't the most bright, but even he knew when it was time not to cross Simone.
"Calm down, Simone. Don't you think that if it went awful that I would have told you by now?"
Simone was suprised. The way Miguel was acting, she thought that it didn't go well. "So it went well?" Simone asked with hope shining on her face.
Miguel shook his head. "No, well, it didn't go as I planned, but Kay.... I guess she's starting to open up."
The large amount of hope Simone started out with, shrunk a bit, but at least there was some left. "What do you mean by 'you guess'?"
Miguel sighed as he looked down at his watch. This wasn't a conversation he wanted to have at 7:12 in the morning. "I don't know. Last night, in Nevaeh Park on the swings, I could feel a rift, you know? Something was holding her back from me. I could sense that she was hiding something."
Simone gulped inwardly as she thought about Kay's love for Miguel and silently thanking God he didn't figure that little bit of information yet.
'Wouldn't he be surprised?' Simone amusedly thought. It would certainly set off some fireworks, that was for sure.
"Anyway, I couldn't read her like I used to. But when she started to open up, it felt the same as it used to be, but then again, it was completely," he paused trying to find the right word.
"Different?" Simone supplied, not wanting to break the roll they were on.
Miguel nodded. "Yeah. Something *changed*, Simone. I could feel it. I just don't know what."
"I saw you guys walking out of the barbecue early. Where did you go, Kay?"
Kay opened her mouth, but then closed it. What should she say? She could lie, but of course the promise she made. She internally cursed herself for it. 'If you can't lie, why not shrug it off?' Kay quickly thought.
"Shouldn't you ask Miguel, Charity? I mean, you are his...girlfriend," Kay said while choking on the word girlfriend.
"Yes, I am," Charity responded accenting the phrase. Kay raised an eyebrow as she started to move away from Charity. Kay could have sworn Charity was trying to tell her something.
"But I want to hear it from you, Kay since you are my cousin. What did you guys do?" Charity continued her attack of questions.
"Charity, is this a good time to do this? Besides, it's personal; at least to me anyway," said Kay as she just about reached the living room door where Charity once was.
"Why is it so personal Kay?"
"It's just something from the past Charity. You know, old childhood places and all. But it was, uh, more special for me...."
"What happened there to make it so special?" Charity peskily asked. She knew she was pushing it, but something told her that the more she heard of it, the better.
"It meant a lot to me.... That's as far as I will go Charity. You have to ask Miguel for the rest," Kay quickly said as she exited the kitchen. She didn't want to be interrogated by Charity with something she even wasn't sure of herself. She breathed out a sigh as she let her eyelids close. That scene in the kitchen was just too close fore comfort. Kay silently groaned as Charity's seeming clueless nature gained a clue. It was obvious Charity knew something; what, Kay didn't know. The Charity everyone knew would never have acted like she did. 'Don't think about it now, Kay. You're over reacting. This is Charity. Charity, just plain sweet and dumb Charity.' Kay repeated over and over in her thoughts as she made her way up to her bedroom.
Charity stared at the kitchen door, wondering what did Miguel show her that was so 'personal'.
"It doesn't make any sense!" Charity said aloud. Why did Kay seem uncomfortable to share it with her? Why was it so special to Kay? Was it special to Miguel too?
The questions came without answers and Charity was getting sick of it. Everyone seemed ready to avoid her and ignore her questions. "What is it with this town?' thought Charity as she shook her head. 'Never mind. I'm gonna get the answers that I need. My future with Miguel depends on it.'
Where: Harmony, Maine - The Beach - Boardwalk
When : 10:23 AM Wednesday, June 16, 2000
"Miguel, are you sure you don't need my help?" Kay called to the back of her as Miguel slowly trudged along.
"And you get the satisfaction? No way, no how." Miguel grumbled as he tried to keep his balance on the roller blades. His efforts were not in vain as he just barely missed a rock and grabbed the nearest handle rail.
Kay laughed at the ridiculous picture Miguel made. The day had so far been near perfect. Miguel didn't mention last night, nor did she mind it. It felt good spending time with him again, but she was afraid that he was going to hurt himself if she didn't help soon. She gracefully made her way to him, making sure she didn't suffer the same fate as him.
"I think you do. Didn't I tell you that roller blading was different from ice skating? But no, you just *had* to prove to me that this was easy." She put her arms around his waist as he carefully attempted to stand on his own.
"Kay, could you please shut up? My masculine pride is on the line here," Miguel asked annoyed.
"Oh, but who put it there in the first place?" Kay responded amused.
"Just keep quiet and help me."
Kay just looked at Miguel with his pitiful attempts and laughed hard. She never laughed like that for a long time and it felt good again. Miguel begrudged a smile as Kay reveled in his 'problem'. It was worth the humiliation to see Kay smile with a sparkle in her eye.
"Is that a nice way to ask the person who is your only hope?" Kay asked him as her laughter quieted down to a few snickers.
"Nope. But you wouldn't let me fall to the ground, would you?"
Kay's eyes held a devilish glint that made Miguel very suspicious. "Miguel, you shouldn't put ideas in my head. It has been proven that I can be very dangerous when crossed."
Miguel rolled his eyes as he attempted again to stand. "You know you wouldn't leave me like this. You can't be that cruel to me. No one can."
Kay also rolled her eyes at his male ego. "You think that you're *that* irresistible?"
"You mean I'm not?" Miguel asked suprised.
"Ugh," she playfully groaned as she began to loosen her hold on Miguel. "In that case, you can try to stand by yourself."
Miguel, for one moment thought she was joking. When Kay began to move away, a sudden dread filled him. "No, Kay... Please! Don't let go, whatever you do, don't let-" Miguel practically screamed out as he saw his only support move away.
Kay let go.
Where: Harmony, Maine - The Book Cafe'
When : 11:29 AM Wednesday, June 16, 2000
"Just beeaaatttt it! Beeeaaaattttt it!" He swaggered his hips and wiggled his eyebrows with a flirty/comical affair. Continuing on with a beat of his own, he flicked his hand, "Showin' how funky-strong is your fighter. It doesn't matter who's wrong or right. Just beat it. Beat it, beat it, beat it. Beat it, beat it, beat it." He pointed his finger around the room, who was staring at him in wonderment. Or staring at him afraid. Which ever it was, he definitely put on an entertaining show?
Simone laughed at Reese who was doing a bad impersonation of Michael Jackson in the Book Cafe'. She found him ten minutes ago sitting by himself while waiting for coffee. She had been pretty down since Whitney and Chad finally came out and told her last night. It had been a painful morning when she came home after leaving Miguel. Oh yeah, she had to get out of there quick.
Simone couldn't stand to be there in the same room as Whitney and Chad looked at her with pity. They knew that she had a crush on Chad. They knew it. They both did. Whatever dignity that she had possessed within the years, went out the window as Chad tried to hug her.
Pity.
Pure pity.
And Whitney, her own sister.... God, Simone was pissed at her. Yes, Chad was only a guy, but technically she had claimed him first, didn't she? She made no bones about him while Whitney told her that she had no interest in him. 'What a liar,' Simone thought as she was walking towards the Book Cafe'. It was so cruel; so wrong. How could Whitney do this to her? Why did Chad have to humiliate her like that?
Tears pricked the back of her eyes as she realized with sadness that once again Whitney one upped her. Whitney once again, won the battle. She didn't even have TRY! God, why did it have to be like that always? Simone always trying her hardest and falling flat on her face while Whitney breezes off with the prize like it was nothing.
Simone wanted to cry.
She needed to cry.
But no tears came.
They were there when she came home, waiting. She felt trapped and knew instinctively what was about to go down. She looked at Whitney who looked *so* apologetic and Chad, who held nothing but pity for her. The last thing she needed was to be pitied. She wanted to feel loved. She wanted to feel accepted. She didn't want to be pitied. No, not for this fucked up love triangle. So she listened to what they had to say. She endured their 'caring' stares and she did not say a word or shed a tear. Simone wouldn't do it for them. She would cry the tears later, when she was alone. But when Chad made the move to hug her.... It was the final straw. She needed to leave.
Fast, Simone pushed past the both of them and ran the fastest she ever ran. Tears blurred her vision and cars swerved and honked at her. But she couldn't care less if they did hit her or killed her. Nothing was going her way. Her best friend that she could run to, was in no shape to help her. Her sister, the person she could count on, was the problem she was running away from. She had no one and it hurt like hell.
Maybe that's why she stopped and peered in the window to look at Reese who was reading a magazine in the Book Cafe'. He smiled at her and beckoned her to join him as she hurriedly tried to keep herself together.
Reese figured something happened to her, but decided that the best way to handle it was for Simone to tell him. Him asking was probably a bad idea. But, Simone looked like she needed to be cheered up so he did what he could. A Michael Jackson impersonation from him was a sure fire way to get her to laugh and she did.
"Reese! I think you should stop now. I don't want you to pull a muscle," Simone said laughingly, "You should leave Michael Jackson for the real one to handle. Besides, they're all staring at you." Simone looked around the room and sure enough, people had their mouths open and were shocked. Spoons hung in mid stir as Reese sheepishly sat down beside Simone.
"You mean I'm not good?" Reese whispered teasingly to Simone.
A smile creeped up on her face as she shook her head. "Reese, I like you just the way you are. Uh.... It's better for me to say that than to tell you the truth."
"That I suck?"
"Yes, you do suck. You suck greatly," Simone solemnly said while nodding.
"I guess Hollywood isn't ready for me, are they?"
"I wouldn't hold my breath."
Reese faked a stab to his heart as he rolled his eyes to the back of his head. "Simone, you wound me so. How...could...you...hurt me like that?" Reese sniffed out. "I thought you loved me!"
"And I thought you weren't this ridiculous!" Simone cracked up laughing. It would be embarrassing if it was anyone else, but Reese... He made her feel good about herself.
Especially after that dance.....
Reese gave out a chuckle himself as he leaned to the back of the couch. "Okay, I guess I should stop now. But you looked like you needed a laugh Simone. Or a friend...."
Her smile froze at the inclination Reese just said. Reese seemed to notice that, and mentally kicked himself. "Oh geez. Sorry Simone. We don't need to talk about it if you don't want to. But same goes with me. I'm your friend and you can always look up to me."
Simone pursed her lips together and nodded. "I know."
It was quiet after that as the waitress gave Reese his hot drink he had ordered. Simone didn't get anything since her ordered came late, so she patiently studied Reese as he poured sugar in the coffee and stirred it. He brought it to his lips while it while the steam bended at the whims of the movement.
"Reese? Why do some people have to work to get what they want and others, just don't?" Simone blurted out. Reese paused, but still drank a bit of the scalding hot coffee, and put it down to answer her. "I don't know, Simone. Maybe it just seems that way."
"What do you mean?" She asked quietly.
"I believe that there is a higher power. Somewhere, someone is laying our destinies for us to follow." Reese leaned over to Simone who was studying her hands in her lap.
"In our worst moments, we tend to think that we are the 'losers' when something doesn't go our way. Especially if it happens for the most part of our lives. Maybe, we have to overcome the bad before we can feel the good." Reese shrugged his shoulders. "I'm probably not making any sense, but I finally figured this out. I've always been the loser, but I know somewhere I'm gonna be a winner. Maybe not now, but I will be. I just have to stare and face the bad without a care and repeat that I will get through it. That's all we can do Simone."
Simone raised her eyes to look at Reese, who sat back contemplating what he just said. "Doesn't it sound so simple? It's so easy to say, but so hard to do. When you're at bottom low and the top seems unreachable, it's hard to think that you will be the winner when you know you won't be. Reese, there will always be the winners and the losers. Maybe it just seems to you that we just have to face the bad so we can feel the good, but from what I have seen and learned, the winners will *always* be the winners."
Reese drank in her words with a curiosity. Simone now sounded pessimistic rather realistic as she usually was. It wasn't like her to be so down.... To be so much like Kay, in a way. "What brought this on, Simone? What happened to you?"
She gave a sad smile as she answered. "A revelation, Reese. It's called a revelation. Something happened this morning and I finally found out what they had been keeping from me. I can look at it as betrayal, but I call it....reality. The real reality is that the losers will never be winners and the winners will never be losers. We can work hard to get what we want, but we'll never get it," Simone paused thinking of Kay and her antics to get Miguel, "That's how it is and how it will always will be."
"You'd be suprised, Simone. You'd be suprised." Simone just shook her head at Reese. "No, I won't be, Reese. I will never be suprised, because it will never happen. Anyway, enough about it. My real question is..... How the hell did you do that hip thing?" Simone wiggled her eyebrows and stood up to attempt it. It looked ridiculous since she wasn't doing it right and she had a long skirt on. The mood changed as Reese looked at her in disbelief and cracked up laughing.
"No, no, Simone. Stop. It's like this..." Reese moved back and forth while Simone tried to mimic his moves. The two started to laugh and dance as Simone's situation disappeared far from her mind. Dancing with Reese with Michael Jackson's moves could do that to you.
Miguel's atheletic abilities didn't help him much as gravity was determined to bring him down. Gravity easily won out as he fell down with a huge thump. However, not before he got a good hold on Kay's shirt. Kay was ready to laugh until she realized that she too, was going to fall also. She yelped as Miguel, being much more heavier than she was, took her down. She had no control of the roller blades and with a sinking feeling, she knew she wouldn't be able to save herself. Kay closed her eyes waiting for the impact that was sure to come, but it never came.
"Uh Kay, I think you should get up now," said Miguel.
Slightly disoriented, she answered with a "Huh?"
"You have to get up. We're blocking the sidewalk and well, I think I need my legs, don't you?" Miguel asked sarcastically.
Slowly from his tone, she opened one eye to survey her surroundings and was shocked to be looking at a sea of blue. Of blue cotton, that is. 'Oh. My. God.' Kay thought as she tensed up and tried to get off of Miguel. She was on top of Miguel! Her body was pressed up against his. If she moved her head up a bit.... His lips would be on hers.....
'Oh God, I have to get off of him!' Kay tried to pull herself, but the roller blades were holding her down. It was entangled with Miguel's and somehow, the strings were caught in the metal.
"Kay, stop moving for a second. You're making this even worse." Kay immediately froze at Miguel's voice. She stiffened slightly, as she did not look down at Miguel. This was very awkward. Not to mention she always imagined what it would be like on top of Miguel. A small red blush crept up into her face at the thought.
Miguel just raised his eyes to look at Kay, but she wasn't meeting his gaze. "You know, it would help if we got untangled as soon as possible. People are giving us some very mean looks...."
Sure enough, people looked at the duo in distaste as they were blocking some of the way. Old people shook their heads and young children pointed and yelled about them to their moms and dads.
"Yeah, but how? Our skates are tangled up and I have to bend over back wards to get to them," Kay asked worriedly.
"Don't worry about it. I think if you moved, I can get to them. But first, we have to move to the side, okay?"
Kay raised her eyebrows. Well, it was fun while it lasted. At least she fulfilled half of her wish. "Fine. Just get them untangled."
Kay moved off to the side, well, as far as she could, and Miguel started to work on the skates. In not time at all, they were sitting on the railing eating the ice cream from the store across the block with their bare feet dangling and roller skates thrown carelessly beside them. They were just talking and laughing now. It seemed as if they were getting to know each other again.
"So Kay, what do you want to do after senior year?" Miguel asked.
"I'm not sure. I have no clue with what I'm going to do with my life." Kay shrugged off. It was true; she had no clue with what she wanted to do, where she wanted to go, or when. For the most part, all she did was think about Miguel. Nothing else except for trying to get good grades. The only thing Kay knew was that she wanted to get out of this town.
Miguel responded after he swallowed a spoonful of ice cream. "I remember you use to want to be a lawyer," Miguel said with a smile, "Your words were: 'I'm gonna put the baddies in jail when I grow up!" He used a high pitched voice that was no where near the pitch of Kay's when she was younger. The effect that he wanted came through as Kay grinned with a rolling of her eyes.
"I'm not sure about law. Dad is in it, and well, I don't want to be following him in his foot steps with the law thing." Kay responded.
"Why do you always want to rebel against something? Just because you're Dad is Police Chief, doesn't mean you shouldn't think about going into something that has do with law." Miguel questioned.
"You know me. I need to be different from the rest. But I'm afraid that I'll get bored with it or something." Miguel looked at her and laughed. It was funny. Only Kay would think that the worse thing that could happen was to get bored. Not even was she afraid she would make it. She was afraid she was going to get bored!
"Yes, Kay. You don't need to be different from the rest. You already are. But just think about being a lawyer okay? You'll be a good one. I know you will."
"Duh, Miguel! I know I'll be a good lawyer," Kay said with the flip of her hair. Giving a teasing smile she continued, "I can talk my way out of anything."
"This coming from the person who supposedly has low self esteem." Miguel joked as he poked Kay in the ribs. She swatted his hand away and guarded her ice cream. Miguel just finished his and he was known to steal ice cream away from her. Hey, she was a slow eater! But that didn't give him a right to steal her chunky-monkey! 'No way, now how.' Kay thought with a shake of her head. 'He stole too many of my ice creams. He isn't gonna take this one.'
"There isn't a need to lie about your abilities. I happen to be good at getting myself out situations." Kay cautiously stated.
~*~ Never want to fly
"Why are you guarding your ice cream so much? What do you think I'm gonna do? Steal it?" Miguel asked amused.
~*~ Never want to leave
"As a matter of fact, yes. You're damn right that I think you're gonna steal it." Kay bit back as she shielded it away from Miguel's vision.
"Kay, I stopped doing that a long time ago. Your ice cream is safe, don't worry."
~*~ Never want to say what you mean to me
Kay warily looked at Miguel's calm and teasing demeanor and shook her head. "That's what you say every year and that's what always got me. No way, buddy boy. You can walk over there yourself and get another bowl. You're not coming near me." Kay scooted down further from Miguel to prove her point.
~*~ Never want to run
~*~ Frightened to believe
"What is it with you and Chuckie-Mokie? It's just an ice cream." Miguel asked. Kay's eyes widened in disbelief. "You're kidding me, Miguel. You must be joking with me. Just an ice cream?! And it's Chunky-Monkey, get it straight."
"Come on, Kay! Just give me one spoon of it! Sharing is a good thing, or did you forget that?"
~*~ You're the best thing about me
"It doesn't apply to ice cream, Miguel. It NEVER applies to ice cream," Kay said defensively, "Ice cream is the number one comfort of all comforts. Each ice cream is personal to each person, therefore should not be touched by someone's GRUBBY hands who believes that ice cream is meant to be shared BECAUSE he ate all his ice cream and is GREEDY to want more."
~*~ Sometimes I feel like this is only chemistry
Miguel opened and closed his mouth shut, then opened it again. "Kay," he said slowly, "It's ice cream. Ice with cream. Not some symbolic food that Ben and Jerry, with the thanks of God, made. It's ice and cream. Plain old ice cream." Miguel's hands darted out to grab the hidden 'symbolic food' that Kay was trying to hide.
~*~ Stuck in a maze searching for a way to
Kay narrowed her eyes and looked at Miguel with contempt. "Oh no you don't. Stay one feet away from me Miguel, or else."
Miguel chuckled at Kay's antics, "Or else what? You're gonna beat me up?"
~*~ Shut down turn around
Kay teased Miguel with a smile, "I just might if you don't get away from me soon."
"I think I can handle you."
"And I think you can be wrong."
~*~ Feel the ground beneath me
"Me be wrong?" Miguel pondered for a few seconds. He then shook his head. "Nah, I'm always right."
"You're confusing yourself with me again."
"But I always thought it was you?"
~*~ You're so close
~*~ Where do you end
~*~ Where do I begin?
"Don't try to get me to argue with you. You better stay your distance Miguel. I won't let you get anywhere near my ice cream."
"Come on, lemme just taste one spoon of the Chuckie-Mokie."
"It's Chunky-Monkey and for the last time, NO!"
*~ Always pushing and pulling
"It's call being stingy, Kay. Didn't your mother teach you to share?"
"Nope. She might have, but I just didn't listen."
Miguel made a move to get the ice cream that was behind Kay's back. She quickly moved it away from his grasp and plopped herself down to the board walk and began to make a small walk away. Miguel followed her with a chesire grin on his face. "It's so easy, Kay. Just give the ice cream to me and you'll be okay."
~*~ Sometimes sanity takes vacation time on me
~*~ I'm in a daze stumbling bewildered [Anne: Yep, that's Miguel! :-)]
Kay scoffed at Miguel's words. "Give the ice cream to you and I'll be okay? Never. The ice cream shop is that way," she said as she used her free hand to point to the little shop, "So why do you have to eat mine?"
"Because I'm too lazy to go there and yours is right here."
She began to walk backwards from Miguel all the while eating another spoonful of the chocolate goodness. "Not anymore, it isn't."
~*~ North of gravity head up in the stratosphere
"Oh yeah?" Miguel increased his speed and was now only a few steps away from Kay.
"I told you to stay one feet away from me, Miguel." Kay laughed as she too began to increase her speed.
"I just can't seem to stay away from you... Just give me the ice cream, Bennett."
~*~ You and I roller coaster riding love
She pushed down the blush that was steadily rising. "You're such a bully, do you know that? Picking on girls with Chunky-Monkey... Where are your morals?" Kay shook her head in faked wonderment.
"They went when you were born."
"I was born two days before you...."
"My point exactly." Miguel's eyes darkened with mischief as he finally figured a way to get Kay's ice cream. Well, steal it away from her in his case. 'Uh oh... Maybe I should go now....' Kay thought as she noticed this.
~*~ You're the center of adrenaline
"I'm in trouble, right?" Kay nervously asked as she looked around to find an exit.
Miguel nodded his head with a smirk gleaming on his face. "Damn right, for once."
"Then I should do what I do best then," as Kay started to get ready to run, fast.
"And what's that?"
"Getting myself out of situations."
"But how can you, Kay?"
~*~ And I'm beginning to understand
"Like this," Kay yelled as she turned away from Miguel and began to run. Miguel also broke out in a run and was hot on Kay's heels. The distance that she had over Miguel, was slowly decreasing. Kay knew this as she wove her way through people in order to lose him.
~*~ Never want to fly
~*~ Never want to leave
~*~ Never want to say what you mean to me
"Hey, watch it!"
"Can't you say excuse me???"
"No respect... No respect at all."
"Excuse you!"
"Manners is a GOOD thing."
"Hey, mommy! That lady is crazy!"
"Excuse me, I'm sorry," Kay said while she sprinted through angry adults who were muttering curses about today's youth and no respect. She almost tripped over the last line, but her goal over came it. Miguel was not about to get her ice cream. No way in hell.....
~*~ Never want to run
~*~ Frightened to believe
~*~ You're the best thing about me
Miguel muttered a curse as he saw Kay's brown head bob between the crowd. She was trying to lose him, and she was actually succeeding. 'Okay, you want it to play it like that.' He increased his speed all the while people yelled.
"Not AGAIN!"
"Young man, what did she steal???"
"My God, look at these crazies! That's why we left our old neighborhood! Damn."
"Are you related to that girl?"
"Hey mommy! Where do babies come from?"
~*~ Walk on broken glass
~*~ Make my way through fire
~*~ These are things I would do for love...
"Sorry," Miguel muttered as he squeezed his way past the people who were wondering where these teens were raised in. He was closing in on her, he figured with a grin. Kay turned back to see how she was doing and found an eye full of Miguel's grin. Damn, he was laughing at her! 'I'll show him,' Kay thought devilishly. She had an idea how to get that grin of his face, quick.
~*~ Farewell peace of mind
~*~ Kiss good-bye to reason
"Okay, Miguel. You want this ice cream?" Kay called to him.
"You know I'm gonna get it."
"Why bother? Here, you can have it."
~*~ Up is down the impossible
~*~ Occurs each day
She threw the bowl full of ice cream soup at his head which made him fumble. The cold stickiness was a shock to say the least. Miguel didn't know Kay would actually stoop so low as to throw the paper bowl at his head. He stood stock still, opened mouth as the Chunky-Monkey dripped slowly down his face and down his back. Some of the ice cream came to his upper lip and he licked it off. 'It's good,' Miguel conceded. 'But she's gonna pay.' He was a sight and people shook their heads at the poor boy with a paper bowl on the top of his head and spoon on his shirt.
~*~ This intoxication thrills me
~*~ I only pray it doesn't KILL me
A little old lady approached Miguel with her rocker in tow and opened her purse taking out a napkin. "Here, dear. I think you need this more than I do," she said with obvious pity etched in her voice, "Such a shame.... Such a shame...." She put her purse away and walked slowly away with the aid of her rocker.
All the while, Kay was laughing in the distance. She made sure she was a good fifteen feet away from Miguel and turned around to see him drenched in her ice cream. The look on his face was absolutely priceless! Little smirks here and there came from her, until the sweet old lady gave Miguel that napkin.....
~*~ You're the center of adrenaline
~*~ And I'm beginning to understand
"Hey Miguel! How does the ice cream taste?" Kay asked yelling. Miguel wiped some of the ice cream with the napkin given and sighed with fake disdain. "Could have been much better if it was in my mouth instead of on my head."
"Oh, you mean I missed it? Oh darn! I'm soooo sorry Miguel!" Kay laughed out.
~*~ You could be the best thing about me
He didn't do anything or moved any closer to her. "Yeah, I know you will be."
Kay didn't hear him, she was too busy laughing at Miguel's misfortune. "Chocolate looks *so* good on you Miguel!"
"But I think it will better on you, Kay!" Miguel yelled out as he inched his way over to her.
Kay abruptly stopped laughing. "No.... You wouldn't- you couldn't....." Kay said as she began to walk backwards again.
~*~ Never want to fly
~*~ Never want to leave
~*~ Never want to say what you mean to me
"I will and I am, Kay. Get ready. Payback's a bitch." Miguel smirked as he began to stalk closer to her. She didn't need more encouragement as she began to run for her life. Okay, so maybe dumping Chunky-Monkey on Miguel's head wasn't such a good idea after all......
Revenge fueled Miguel as he began to, once again, clear the distance between them. By now, the bystanders moved away from them as they ran towards the beach their lessons learnt. His legs were much longer and stronger than her so in no time at all he was at arm's length away from her. Kay sensed this and began to move from side to side, trying her best to shake Miguel off.
It was useless. She was already getting some close calls as his arms tried to wrap around her. So Kay did what she had to do to survive.
She called a time out.
"Wait! Miguel, time out!" Kay screamed as his sticky hand was just about to grab her arm. Miguel momentarily stopped to hear what Kay had to say. She gave an adoring smile and batted her eyes. "Miguel, you wouldn't want to get your poor friend all sticky and messy would you? I mean, after all it was *just* an accident. I'll even help you get cleaned up before we go home! So what do you say we stop this *silly* chase and become mature adults about this?" Kay concluded hopefully which what she hoped was a peaceful smile.
Miguel blinked.
~*~ Never want to run
~*~ Frightened to believe
~*~ You're the best thing about me
Then he grabbed Kay and threw her over his shoulder.
"Hey! Miguel, I thought we discussed this! Put me down, please. Come on, be a friend! What happened to seventeen years of friendship?! Put me down NOW! I said I'll help you didn't I? So why don't you put me DOWN! On the ground. It's soooo easy, to do. Just stop and I can do the rest. Hey! Where are you taking me? MIGUEL! Answer me, dammit! And this was a new shirt too and it has ice cream all over it! You're gonna pay for this, Miguel Lopez-Fitzgerald! Ugh, men have NO respect for women... MIGUEL PUT ME DOWN NOW! If you don't....." Kay whined, screamed, cursed, and yelled but Miguel didn't hear one word of it.
Miguel whistled a happy tune as his eyes found the "perfect" way to get Kay back. A group of kids just left, so it fortunate for him, but not for Kay, it was free.
"Miguel, what are you gonna do with me? Miguel, are you LISTENING?? MIGUEL!"
"Kay, it hurts me more than you when I do this-"
"WHAT?! Do WHAT?"
Miguel gave a smile as he innocently said, "Do this." He gently dunked Kay in the small pool of water that was used to wash off the salt of the ocean.
"Ah! What the f--- MIGUEL! What are you doing? Geez, I TOLD YOU THIS WAS A NEW SHIRT! I paid fifty bucks for this.... OUT OF MY OWN MONEY!" Kay was pissed, oh yeah, she was pissed. Her eyes narrowed into cat like slits and she stood in the pool ready to claw Miguel's eyes out.
Miguel raised an eyebrow as Kay crawled out who was sputtering madly at him. "Hey, you deserved it after the little stunt you pulled."
Kay gave a sour look at Miguel as she started to come out of the pool, drenched. She attempted to wring out her shirt, but with disdainful realization, it was no use. Her capri were no better either. "What is so funny?" Kay asked angrily at Miguel's chuckle.
"You. You look like a wet cat that just got caught in the rain." Miguel pointed at her all the while shaking his head.
Kay nodded and smacked her lips. "Oh yeah? But that's okay. You see, we need to get you cleaned up also," Kay advanced on him with careful grace and an evil smile, "What would your mother say about you coming home with chocolate on your head?"
Miguel stopped laughing at the hidden message. "Don't even think it, Kay."
"Who said I was thinking?" Kay asked delightfully as she pulled Miguel with her into the pool.
~*~ What if you're the best thing about me?