I Disclaim

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The Loser's Club Ch.24

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It still felt strange being in her father's study without him there, but Amanda ignores the sadness, and focused on he reason for here, her grandfather. Seeing the red light blink, she hits speakerphone, and waits for the news.

"Good morning Amanda." His tone was causal and polite, almost indicating a good mood.

"Good morning Grandfather, how are you today?" She tenses up at the greeting, Alsatian Crane never greets unless he has good and bad news, meaning good news for him, and bad news for you, her father had told her that earlier, and it was one of the only things she remembered.

"I'm concerned, you see my granddaughter, CEO has been missing since Saturday night, and I'd like an answer to where you were?" All forced politeness was gone, as the real Crane family monarch returned.

"Sorry Grandfather." Amanda straighten and smoothed down the skirt of her suit." I had a business deal to close with an annoyingly persistent client, I'm sure when the deal is finalized that you'll be pleased."

"Very good, keep me informed."

" Of course Grandfather, now was something else that I could help you with?" She knew she had distracted him by prospect of money, which is exactly as she had intended, her grandfather would ruin any progress she had made with Gabriel.

"Yes there was, your mother is up to something." "She has been spending large sums of money, and using various members of my personal staff."

The larges sums of money didn't bother Amanda, her mother was probably hoarding it away planning for a rainy day, but using grandfathers' personal staff was a sure sign of a plot. Grandfather had hand picked a group of men that could only be called 'inventive' in polite society; in the real world they were hired thugs and criminals. " I'm not close to my mother, but I can put someone on her."

" Well, I could do that." "I want to know exactly what she is plotting, and I want to know now."

"I realize this Grandfather, I meant I'll put Drew on it." Ethan had been distancing himself from mother, and she had been stupidly trying o make him jealous by getting closer to Drew, which was a punishment in itself, but maybe her insecurities would finally pay off. "He's sneaky and underhanded, maybe they'll bond."

"Yes, that may work." "Also, did you have any thing to do with that picture in the morning paper of Lopez-Fitzgerald?"

"No grandfather." She moved closer to the speakerphone, now slightly interested in why he would suspect her. " Didn't the paper do it."

"No." Alistair chuckled, a sound rarely heard by anyone. " They deny all knowledge of how it happened, which was a shame since I called to congratulate them." "Which reminds me, I'm not thrilled that you gave Drew the interview, he didn't it screw up, but he's very much like his father so the screw up is eminent."

"Sorry Grandfather, but I had that client." The pieces of the puzzle finally clicked into place, and Amanda now had a very good idea of who placed that picture in the paper. " I must go Grandfather, Drew is only free for a couple of hours today, and I'm sure he spending them sleeping. "

"Yes, go take care of that, and keep your brother inline." The phone clicked and silence descends over the room.

Amanda ran to the intercom, and buzzed the security." I want my brother kept on the grounds, and sent to my den."

"Yes, Ms. Crane. "

"Thank you." 

~~

The Book Café was crowed for a Monday afternoon, even in the summer time, but the place was packed with teens all talking about one thing. Kay Bennet

It is true that Kay's with Miguel's' brother? Has she really given up on Miguel? The student body of Harmony High School had been quiet observers of the Kay Bennet Obsession since her freshmen year when she had made it quite clear that he was taken. They had watched as he hesitated to notice her, while all the other males taken an interest, but been rebuffed. They sat in amazement when right before Junior Year Kay was knocked right off his radar by her own cousin, Charity, but they knew that Kay wouldn't be denied. So, they watched the ridiculous love triangle, where two of the three involve didn't even know it, quite sure that in the end Kay would end up with Miguel. Now he they sat wonder if after all her declarations of love, and blatant hints that she had really given up on Miguel in favor for his oldest brother. 

"Hey Charity." Susan Powell approached the blond with a friendly smile, the key to getting information from Charity was being nice, the girl was intelligent on paper, but in life was a little on the slow side." How's your summer going?"

"Oh it's great, Miguel and I are planning our wedding."

"Really, that's wonderful, is Kay going to be your maid of honor, I know how close your are?"

"Of course what's wedding without my best friend, to stand beside me."

"And it must be cool for both of you to be dating brothers, does this mean that Antonio will be the best man?"

"NO." The girls turn to the direction of the angry voice." Antonio's not allowed any place near the wedding."

Susan drops her smile, Miguel is not one of the people that will fall for her smile." Hey Miguel, how are you?"

"I'm fine, do you mind if I talk to Charity."

"No I don't, I'll just leave you." Susan gave Charity a final smile and walked back toward her friends, who were anxiously waiting for confirmation to the rumors.

"Miguel what's wrong with you, he's your brother, I understand being surprised, I know I was, but the fight and now he's not invited to the wedding." Charity led her fiancée to a secluded table in the back of the café, and took the seat opposite of him. " Why can't you be happy for them?"

"Are you serious?" Miguel couldn't believe that Charity of all people would support this." Antonio is seven years older then her, she's only eighteen, she's not ready for this."

"Miguel, we're only eighteen, but Kay supported our decision to get married and still does, we should do the same for her, and there is number too great when you're in love."

"She's not in love with him, she's just using him." He had been saying to himself since he saw the picture, 'she's just using him, trying to make you jealous', and wasn't any easier when other seem to buy Kay's ploy, she even had Theresa fooled.

"Why would Kay being using Antonio?" The idea didn't make any sense, but obviously something was making Miguel believe it possible.

Miguel paled at the question to explain it he would have to address Kay's feelings for him, and that would just break Charity's heart." Because she just trying to get over Reese by using him, and he doing the same over Sheridan."

Charity reaches over and pats his hand, and give an understanding smile." Oh Miguel, I see it now." "You're worried about both of them, but you can't blame Antonio simply because he's easier to deal with then Kay."

"I'm blaming him be cause's taking advantage of my best friend."

"Even if he is which I doubt, it's still Kay's right to let him." Reese had been in buying a magazine, when he heard the conversation he was going to ignore them, but it wasn't Miguel's place to judge, especially when Reese suspected that his real reasons where more personal then he's letting on.

This was getting to be too much. "Reese, you've loved Kay all our life, how you can say something like that, aren't you angry?"

"Yes, I am." "I'm angry that after all these years of knowing her you would ever think that she could use someone like you're suggesting, or that she would let herself be used." It was amazing that Miguel proclaimed himself her best friend, but didn't seem to know her at all. "I did love Kay, I still do in a way, and I want her to be happy."

"Incredible." Miguel sees Simone and Jessica making their way and turns an pleading look on them." Please tell me that you don't agree with this travesty."

Simone was even listing she just keep thinking how cute Reese looked all angry." What?"

Jessica glances between Reese and Simone who seem to be sharing some strange and unreadable look. "He wants to know our pinion on Kay and Brian."

"What's to think he's a little old, but he's cute."

"You think Antonio's cute." Reese asked, looking a little amazed and jealous.

Simone saw the look in his eyes and rushed to clarify." Well, kind of if you like that kind of guy."

Jessica narrowed her eyes, it looked like something was going on, but she couldn't be sure, because it was Reese and he always acted strange.

"Can we focus on the question?" Miguel looked agitated, and with good reason, no one seemed to see what he did.

" I think they make a cute couple, besides Kay was acting like a b**** before she hooked up with Brian, at least now she's tolerable." Jessica keep her usual obnoxious little sister attitude in the response, she wanted to believe that Kay was moving on, but her sister's past misdeeds kept her watchful of her of the girl. Although she must admit that Brian and Kay seemed almost perfect for each other when she found them at his truck yesterday. "So let's make it official, all those in favor of them raise their hand." Jessica raise s her and smiled as Charity, Reese, and Simone do the same leaving Miguel pouting and mumbling something under his breath. "You lose Miguel."

Jessica stood, and waved to everyone as she headed out of the Book Café.

Miguel heard the words, and flinched, he hadn't lost yet.

~~

Great just great, not only had Amanda been upset about his prank in the paper, but now he had to get dirt on their mother. "I hate this little town."

" Well we ain't exactly pleased to have you here either." Jessica had almost been having a good day to she ran into the Ken doll. "Don't like it, may I suggest you leave?"

Drew had to smile the tiny little thing was talked to him like she was 6 feet tall, and superhuman strength. "I would but then how would I get to know you?" He laughed when she rolled her eyes, and he mid-roll noticed that she had a beautiful set of blue eyes. "I apologize for my rude behavior and insults against your town."

"Well, I'll let it go this time. Jessica eyed the ken doll; he was wearing Eddie Bauer and seemed completely out of place in the small town.

"  Why thank you lovely lady, and who I own this gratitude to?"

"Jessica Bennet."

Drew's eyes widen in shock, Jessica Bennet as in sister to Ethan, and more importantly Kay. "Well, Jessica, it's a pleasure."

"And you are?"

"Drew Crane."

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Coming Soon:

Finally we hit Bermuda for fun in the sun.