~*The Choices We Live By*~
Don't own 'em
Thank you everyone who reviewed, it really helps me work faster if I know that people are reading this. If you're a little freaked that now I'm going to kill off Miguel, calm down. I was only joking. I have no plans of killing him off, even though I can't stand the guy. Grace might be another story. . .kidding! Sheesh. On to chapter 2.
Chapter 2
Paloma smiled as she walked into the newly restored Lopez-Fitzgerald home, Theresa had done a beautiful job and she'd even made it bigger.
"Wow, this place looks great! And I even have my own bedroom!" She exclaimed as she began exploring the house.
"Paloma, your room is over there." Antonio motioned to a closed door in the back of the house.
"All the way back here? Sheesh." She opened the door and found a naked room, "Where's all my stuff? My furniture and my clothes?"
"Well, your suitcases are here," Antonio opened the huge walk-in closet, "And as for your furniture, I have no idea."
"I do!"
Antonio and Paloma turned around to see a giddy Theresa.
"Well? Where is it Theresa?" Paloma demanded.
"I donated it." She smiled.
"What do you mean you 'donated it'?" Paloma was about to bonk her older sister over the head.
"I saw the state most of that junk was in so, I'm taking you out today to buy new furniture." Theresa beamed.
Paloma looked at Theresa like she'd grown another head, "Theresa, I don't have the money or time to go out and buy new furniture."
"Well I have both, all you have to do is look over these books and pick something to your liking, and I'll have it made for you." Theresa handed Paloma a stack of designer books.
Paloma groaned, "Okay Theresa. How about this, make the room an underwater, beachy kinda thing, ok? But, no dolls, no pink, no flowers and no lace, got it?"
"No problem." Theresa skipped off.
"Oh my lord. I think I need a drink." Paloma rubbed her temples.
"You're too young to be drinking, and you know that's just how Theresa is. She has money now, let her spend it." Antonio explained.
"Yeah well. It's still annoying." Paloma stopped for a minute and realized something, "Where is everyone?"
Antonio chuckled, "Mama's at work, Miguel is probably with Charity, Luis is at his house with Sheridan and Theresa is probably now off picking out sheets for your new bed."
"Ok, well that's good. I don't have to worry about spending time with the family." She turned to Antonio, "What are you up to today?"
"I have work and then later tonight I have a date." Antonio said sheepishly.
"A date and work? Antonio, you've been keeping things from me." Paloma stared him down.
"I'm the proud co-owner of a new night club with Chad Harris and I have a date with some friend of Theresa's." Antonio saw he lost expression, "Chad is Theresa's best friend Whitney's boyfriend and I have no idea who the friend is. Theresa said I had to get over Sheridan and move on with my life."
"Two things, how did you get the money to start up a club and what exactly happened with Sheridan? I mean I know the gist of it, but not the whole thing." Paloma plopped down on the floor.
Antonio sat down next to her, "Well I had some money saved up from some, we'll say odd jobs and it was enough to go into a partnership business. Chad is making money because he's a songwriter and Whitney's a singer. So he's rolling in it, I approached him with the idea of a club and I'm the co- owner and manager. The Sheridan story, what do you know?"
Paloma thought for a minute, "She was on St. Lisa's with you, had amnesia, you fell for her, she fell for you while still having memories of Luis. When you two got engaged she came back to Harmony with you and she saw Luis and got her memory back. Next thing I know, Luis is calling me and telling me he got married. So, what's the in-between?"
"Well, Sheridan and Luis were still in love and I wouldn't be the bad guy and make her marry me while in love with him, so I stepped down. I wound up being best man for his wedding too. I'm really happy for them too, I mean they're so in love." Antonio smiled thoughtfully.
"So it sounds like you're over Sheridan, that's good." Paloma glanced at her watch, "Whoops, I got to go. I promised Kay I'd stop by today."
"How is Kay?" Antonio had always liked Kay, she had more spunk then most of the people in Harmony and she'd had a tough life, living in her cousins shadow and wanting a guy who was too stupid to notice her.
"She'll be fine after I talk to her."
"Sure of your self, aren't we?" Antonio said playfully getting up.
"Always." Paloma got up and kissed Antonio on the cheek, "I'll see you later?"
"Do you want to have lunch at the Book Café?"
"Um, I have no clue where that is, but sure." Paloma grabbed her purse and left.
~*The Bennett's House*~
Paloma walked up to the front door and looked around, this place had really changed. "Well after being sucked into hell, I'd say it would have to." She rang the doorbell and waited a few minutes. She knocked on the door and still no one came, "I can hear people inside, what's going on?" She tried the knob and was surprised that it was unlocked. She walked inside, "Hello? Is anybody home?" She walked into the living room and found her brother on the couch with a blond. "Miguel?"
They stopped making goo-goo eyes and looked up, "Loma!" Miguel smiled.
"You're Paloma? Oh Miguel told me you were back." The blond smiled.
"You must be Charity. Miguel won't stop talking about you. It's nice to meet you." Paloma smiled awkwardly.
"Oh, I feel like I already know you!" Charity hugged her.
"Paloma what are you doing here?" Miguel asked when Charity let her go.
"I'm here to see Kay." Paloma answered.
"Oh, well I think she's in the kitchen." Charity smiled and pointed to an open door.
"Thank you. Um, Charity, it was nice meeting you." Paloma got up and walked towards the kitchen.
"Um, Paloma?" Charity called.
Paloma stopped, "Yes?"
"Well, since we are going to be sisters soon, would you like to hang out sometime?" Charity offered.
"That would be nice. Um, what are you doing tomorrow?"
"Nothing. How about we go shopping in Harmony Center?" Charity suggested.
"Sounds good."
"Ok. Oh, and see if Kay wants to come."
"Alright." Paloma walked into the kitchen. As she walked in, everyone looked up, "Um, hello." Paloma smiled weakly.
"Can I help you?" A red head woman asked.
"Mrs. Bennett?" Paloma looked at the woman.
"Yes, and you are?" Grace inquired.
"Paloma!" Kay walked into the kitchen from outside and hugged her.
"Paloma Lopez-Fitzgerald? It's been such a long time!" An older man smiled.
"Chief Bennett?" Paloma looked at him.
"In the flesh." Sam smiled, Paloma was sure to bring Kay out of her funk.
"Um, I don't mean to be rude, but who are all these people?" Paloma looked around and found a very full kitchen.
"Ok, well you know Jessica, and Simone" Kay pointed to her younger sister and their old friend, "My dad and my mother, and this is David, mom's husband."
"Kay!" Grace scolded her.
"What?" Paloma was a little lost.
"I'll explain it to you later, that's John, one of my half brothers. Mom's son. And that's Ethan, dad's son. But I think you know who he is." Kay finished explaining then turned back to Paloma. "You have no idea how glad I am to see you!"
"Me too."
"Paloma, would you like some breakfast?" Grace offered.
"Oh, no. Antonio and I had breakfast on the way back from the hospital." Paloma explained.
"Oh, we heard about that awful crash, are you sure you should be out of the hospital already?" Grace asked.
"Yes, Dr. Russell gave me a clean bill of health." Paloma looked at Kay, her eyes screamed "HELP!"
"Well, you can all talk to Paloma later. We have to go, bye!" Kay dragged Paloma outside, Simone and Jessica followed.
"Oh, Paloma, you have no idea how glad I am to see you!" Simone hugged her.
"Um, yeah. You too Simone. Hey Jess." Paloma waved at Jessica who was standing over to the side.
"Hey Paloma." Jessica smiled, "I'd like to catch up with you, but I have a date. So, I'll see you guys later." Jessica left.
"Oh, I promised my dad I'd be home by now. I'll see you guys later." Simone ran off.
"Oh-kay. So, we need to talk," Paloma looked around, "But not here. Is there somewhere around here that isn't crawling with people?"
"How about the docks?" Kay suggested.
"Sounds good." Paloma agreed.
~*The Docks- the coolest teen hangout around! Cause you know, everyone in my neighborhood hangs out at the docks*~
Paloma looked around and sat on a nearby crate, she motioned for Kay to sit next to her, "We need to talk."
"Ok, about what?" Kay looked at Paloma suspiciously.
"Miguel and your little, um, well, obsession." Paloma said awkwardly.
"Obsession? I LOVE him!" Kay said indignantly.
"Okay, well can you just explain to me what you love about him?" Paloma got more comfortable.
"Well, I love a lot of things about him."
"Like?" Paloma prompted.
"He's I don't know, he's just." Kay tried to explain, "He's been my best friend since we were kids. He used to stick up for me and he would help me with my homework. And he's funny and athletic, you know?"
Paloma took a deep breath, "Kay, you said 'used to'?"
"Ever since Charity came to town he's become obsessed! She turned him against me!" Kay snapped.
"Kay, listen to yourself! You don't love him. You love who he used to be, that boy next door. And all those things that you 'love' about him? There are millions of guys out there who are JUST like that, and even better. Charity didn't steal him away from you Kay. He was never yours." Paloma said gently.
"No, you haven't been here! You don't know what it's been like! She's ruined my life!" Kay cried.
"Kay, if Charity hadn't come to town, and you and Miguel had started dating, what do you think would have happened?"
"We would have been happy together. And it would be my wedding, not hers."
"Do you really think that? I mean are you sure that after awhile you'd realize that you didn't really love Miguel? I mean look at all his annoying traits." Paloma exclaimed.
"He's perfect, there's nothing wrong with him!" Kay argued.
"Really? You know I don't think that's true. Before Charity came to town, you always complained that Miguel was too clingy sometimes, and you hated the way he wore his hair. There were tons of things you would complain about. The reason you think you're in love with him and that Charity is your enemy is because you miss hanging out with him. You don't love him Kay, you miss that friend you had. The guy who you could always depend on. You don't need that though. You're the kind of girl who doesn't need someone."
"That's not true! I do need him! I love him!" Kay got up and started ranting, "I need Miguel, and he's always been there for me! I love everything about him! I love him. . .don't I?" She stopped and looked at Paloma who was sitting calmly. "If I don't love him, why would I do all those things to Charity?"
"You want attention, all the deals with evil, the zombie, the spells, even making yourself look like Charity, it was all because you wanted someone to figure out it was you and take care of you. You didn't want Miguel Kay, you wanted the idea of him." Paloma hopped off the box.
Kay stood still thinking, after about 15 minutes, Paloma interrupted her, "What are you thinking about?"
"Everything that I did. I mean God, I'm an idiot. I'm in love with a guy who couldn't care less about me, I tried to kill my cousin because I wanted my MOTHER to pay attention to me. God I even lost my virginity to him." Kay began crying.
Paloma hugged her, "Kay, it's going to be alright."
Kay pulled away, "NO, it's not. I need to, I need to be alone."
Paloma nodded, "I have to go meet Antonio at the Book Café." Paloma began walking.
"Um, Paloma?" Kay called.
She stopped and turned around, "Yes?"
"Book Café is that way," Kay pointed in the opposite direction.
"I knew that." Paloma lied, as she began walking in the right direction, she turned around, "Charity invited us to the mall tomorrow, and if you've sorted everything out by then, I'd really love for you to come. I'm sure Charity would too." Before Kay could answer, Paloma was gone.
Kay looked around and the pier was still deserted, she pulled out a necklace for underneath her shirt, taking a deep breath, she pulled it off, "I've wasted the last 3 years of my life on you Miguel. I've loved you, stood by you and even protected you, but no more." She looked and the necklace and laughed, "You gave this to me for my birthday when I turned 10. I've always hated jewelry like this, it doesn't suit me; but since you gave it to me I, like a lovesick fool, treasured it. Well, this necklace represents everything I went through to get you." Kay looked at it, it was a small circular charm with a bright, multi-color flower in the center, and the colors were too cheery for her taste. She took another deep breath and chucked it into the ocean. "Good bye Miguel. I'm not completely over you yet, but this is a good first step." Kay sat down on a crate again, "My next step is to become someone I actually like, someone I recognize. No more schemes, no more lies, no more tricks and most of all no more evil. God, I don't even like myself anymore." Kay curled her legs under herself, "Ugh, and all those horrible things that I did to Charity. How am I ever going to make it up to her?" Kay ran her hand through her hair, "Well, I'm going to be the best maid-of-honor ever and I need to start being a real friend." Kay hopped off the crate and began walking off the pier.
~*Book Café*~
Antonio sat waiting for Paloma impatiently; he checked his watch again, "Where is she?"
Just then she rushed in, "Sorry I was late! Kay and I were talking." She sat down.
"Well, we only have about ten minutes until I'm due back. We can't really have a conversation and eat." Antonio glanced at his watch again, "Actually, I have to go in about 5 minutes."
Paloma slammed her head on the table, "I'm sorry. Now I won't get to see you today!"
"We'll talk tomorrow." Antonio offered.
"No, I'm spending the day at the mall with Charity and hopefully Kay." Paloma explained.
"Ok, well then we can meet the day after for lunch?" Antonio suggested.
"It's a date. Well, not a date cuz that'd be gross, it's a meeting. Well not a meeting, an appointment or. . ." Antonio nodded at his crazy and got up.
"I gotta go, I'll talk to you later." He kissed her on the cheek and left.
Paloma got up and ordered a coffee to go, she sighed as she waited, "I need to find someone for Antonio. Someone I like and he'll love." She searched her mind, then spotted Beth pouring coffee to a customer, "Well she's been burned by the Lopez-Fitzgerald's but why not?" She grabbed her coffee and began working on a plan. She left the Book Café and began walking, not really sure where, "I'll just convince Antonio to ask her out. That should work!" She didn't see the shadow of someone approaching her and they obviously didn't see her as they slammed into her. Paloma fell to the ground with a thud, "Ow."
"Sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going are you ok?" A hand came in front of Paloma's face and she accepted the help.
"I'm fine." She looked up and saw a familiar pair of blue-green eyes staring back at her, "You!" Paloma exclaimed.
"In the flesh. You know you really need to stop hitting me." Fox mocked.
"If you recall, Nicholas, YOU keep hitting me." Paloma growled.
"It's Fox. Well how about I get you a coffee to make up for the one that I spilled?" He offered his arm.
"How about you bite me, Nicholas?" Paloma gritted her teeth, for some reason she felt weak around Fox and she didn't like it.
"Gladly, only name the place." He smiled sexily.
Paloma rolled her eyes, "Just, go." She walked away.
Fox looked at the receding figure and sighed, "Well, at least I tried." He began to walk away and then noticed the she'd dropped her bracelet, "I'll have to get Pilar to return this for me." He picked it up and walked away smiling.
~*Later That Night.*~
Antonio sighed as he walked back up the drive to the Lopez-Fitzgerald home, "That was possibly the worst date EVER. I'm going to kill Theresa when I see her." Unlocking the door, he heard giggles coming from the living room. He approached and saw Paloma on the couch, watching TV and laughing insanely.
Paloma heard a noise and looked in the doorway, "Antonio! You're home early," She looked at the clock above the TV, "It's only 10:30."
"Right, well, the date was awful. I'm never letting Theresa set me up again." Antonio sat down on the armchair.
"What happened?" Paloma stopped giggling and sat up, interested.
"She's the most boring person I've ever met, she wouldn't eat anything, and she can't dance. She's not exactly the kind of girl I like to date." Antonio sighed.
"I'm sorry you had such a bad date. You know, maybe you need someone you already know, not a blind date." Paloma said slickly.
"Like who?"
"Well I saw Beth today. She's looking good. You know you could always ask her out, maybe you two could have fun." Paloma suggested.
Antonio cringed, "Um, Maybe. I'm going to bed, you should soon too."
"I am in bed." Paloma motioned to the couch.
"Why aren't you in your room tonight?"
"Theresa's having it painted. It should be ready tomorrow, but for tonight, I get the couch." Paloma lay down; "Turn off the light before you leave." She shut off the TV and snuggled into her blanket.
"Paloma, why don't I take the couch and you can have my bed?" Antonio offered.
"No, that's ok. I don't mind the couch."
Antonio walked over to the couch, picked Paloma up, threw her over his shoulder and began walking, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING ANTONIO? PUT ME DOWN!" She began screaming at him and wrestling to get away.
"Calm down." He opened his bedroom door and threw her on the bed, "Night!" He closed the door with a snap.
"Antonio!" She got up and pulled open the door, as she walked into the living room she saw him already on the sofa, "Oh, sure, be big and fat so I can't lift you up!" She growled and walked back into his room.
Antonio chuckled, "NIGHT PALOMA!" He called.
"GO TO HELL ANTONIO!" She called back.
When Pilar got home late that night, she saw her oldest son on the couch and her youngest daughter in his room, and didn't even want to know.
Next chapter previews: It's a day at the mall! Antonio asks out Beth. Fox talks with Pilar.
Please tell me what you think; it really helps when I know what's going through the minds of my readers.
Thank you everyone who reviewed, it really helps me work faster if I know that people are reading this. If you're a little freaked that now I'm going to kill off Miguel, calm down. I was only joking. I have no plans of killing him off, even though I can't stand the guy. Grace might be another story. . .kidding! Sheesh. On to chapter 2.
Chapter 2
Paloma smiled as she walked into the newly restored Lopez-Fitzgerald home, Theresa had done a beautiful job and she'd even made it bigger.
"Wow, this place looks great! And I even have my own bedroom!" She exclaimed as she began exploring the house.
"Paloma, your room is over there." Antonio motioned to a closed door in the back of the house.
"All the way back here? Sheesh." She opened the door and found a naked room, "Where's all my stuff? My furniture and my clothes?"
"Well, your suitcases are here," Antonio opened the huge walk-in closet, "And as for your furniture, I have no idea."
"I do!"
Antonio and Paloma turned around to see a giddy Theresa.
"Well? Where is it Theresa?" Paloma demanded.
"I donated it." She smiled.
"What do you mean you 'donated it'?" Paloma was about to bonk her older sister over the head.
"I saw the state most of that junk was in so, I'm taking you out today to buy new furniture." Theresa beamed.
Paloma looked at Theresa like she'd grown another head, "Theresa, I don't have the money or time to go out and buy new furniture."
"Well I have both, all you have to do is look over these books and pick something to your liking, and I'll have it made for you." Theresa handed Paloma a stack of designer books.
Paloma groaned, "Okay Theresa. How about this, make the room an underwater, beachy kinda thing, ok? But, no dolls, no pink, no flowers and no lace, got it?"
"No problem." Theresa skipped off.
"Oh my lord. I think I need a drink." Paloma rubbed her temples.
"You're too young to be drinking, and you know that's just how Theresa is. She has money now, let her spend it." Antonio explained.
"Yeah well. It's still annoying." Paloma stopped for a minute and realized something, "Where is everyone?"
Antonio chuckled, "Mama's at work, Miguel is probably with Charity, Luis is at his house with Sheridan and Theresa is probably now off picking out sheets for your new bed."
"Ok, well that's good. I don't have to worry about spending time with the family." She turned to Antonio, "What are you up to today?"
"I have work and then later tonight I have a date." Antonio said sheepishly.
"A date and work? Antonio, you've been keeping things from me." Paloma stared him down.
"I'm the proud co-owner of a new night club with Chad Harris and I have a date with some friend of Theresa's." Antonio saw he lost expression, "Chad is Theresa's best friend Whitney's boyfriend and I have no idea who the friend is. Theresa said I had to get over Sheridan and move on with my life."
"Two things, how did you get the money to start up a club and what exactly happened with Sheridan? I mean I know the gist of it, but not the whole thing." Paloma plopped down on the floor.
Antonio sat down next to her, "Well I had some money saved up from some, we'll say odd jobs and it was enough to go into a partnership business. Chad is making money because he's a songwriter and Whitney's a singer. So he's rolling in it, I approached him with the idea of a club and I'm the co- owner and manager. The Sheridan story, what do you know?"
Paloma thought for a minute, "She was on St. Lisa's with you, had amnesia, you fell for her, she fell for you while still having memories of Luis. When you two got engaged she came back to Harmony with you and she saw Luis and got her memory back. Next thing I know, Luis is calling me and telling me he got married. So, what's the in-between?"
"Well, Sheridan and Luis were still in love and I wouldn't be the bad guy and make her marry me while in love with him, so I stepped down. I wound up being best man for his wedding too. I'm really happy for them too, I mean they're so in love." Antonio smiled thoughtfully.
"So it sounds like you're over Sheridan, that's good." Paloma glanced at her watch, "Whoops, I got to go. I promised Kay I'd stop by today."
"How is Kay?" Antonio had always liked Kay, she had more spunk then most of the people in Harmony and she'd had a tough life, living in her cousins shadow and wanting a guy who was too stupid to notice her.
"She'll be fine after I talk to her."
"Sure of your self, aren't we?" Antonio said playfully getting up.
"Always." Paloma got up and kissed Antonio on the cheek, "I'll see you later?"
"Do you want to have lunch at the Book Café?"
"Um, I have no clue where that is, but sure." Paloma grabbed her purse and left.
~*The Bennett's House*~
Paloma walked up to the front door and looked around, this place had really changed. "Well after being sucked into hell, I'd say it would have to." She rang the doorbell and waited a few minutes. She knocked on the door and still no one came, "I can hear people inside, what's going on?" She tried the knob and was surprised that it was unlocked. She walked inside, "Hello? Is anybody home?" She walked into the living room and found her brother on the couch with a blond. "Miguel?"
They stopped making goo-goo eyes and looked up, "Loma!" Miguel smiled.
"You're Paloma? Oh Miguel told me you were back." The blond smiled.
"You must be Charity. Miguel won't stop talking about you. It's nice to meet you." Paloma smiled awkwardly.
"Oh, I feel like I already know you!" Charity hugged her.
"Paloma what are you doing here?" Miguel asked when Charity let her go.
"I'm here to see Kay." Paloma answered.
"Oh, well I think she's in the kitchen." Charity smiled and pointed to an open door.
"Thank you. Um, Charity, it was nice meeting you." Paloma got up and walked towards the kitchen.
"Um, Paloma?" Charity called.
Paloma stopped, "Yes?"
"Well, since we are going to be sisters soon, would you like to hang out sometime?" Charity offered.
"That would be nice. Um, what are you doing tomorrow?"
"Nothing. How about we go shopping in Harmony Center?" Charity suggested.
"Sounds good."
"Ok. Oh, and see if Kay wants to come."
"Alright." Paloma walked into the kitchen. As she walked in, everyone looked up, "Um, hello." Paloma smiled weakly.
"Can I help you?" A red head woman asked.
"Mrs. Bennett?" Paloma looked at the woman.
"Yes, and you are?" Grace inquired.
"Paloma!" Kay walked into the kitchen from outside and hugged her.
"Paloma Lopez-Fitzgerald? It's been such a long time!" An older man smiled.
"Chief Bennett?" Paloma looked at him.
"In the flesh." Sam smiled, Paloma was sure to bring Kay out of her funk.
"Um, I don't mean to be rude, but who are all these people?" Paloma looked around and found a very full kitchen.
"Ok, well you know Jessica, and Simone" Kay pointed to her younger sister and their old friend, "My dad and my mother, and this is David, mom's husband."
"Kay!" Grace scolded her.
"What?" Paloma was a little lost.
"I'll explain it to you later, that's John, one of my half brothers. Mom's son. And that's Ethan, dad's son. But I think you know who he is." Kay finished explaining then turned back to Paloma. "You have no idea how glad I am to see you!"
"Me too."
"Paloma, would you like some breakfast?" Grace offered.
"Oh, no. Antonio and I had breakfast on the way back from the hospital." Paloma explained.
"Oh, we heard about that awful crash, are you sure you should be out of the hospital already?" Grace asked.
"Yes, Dr. Russell gave me a clean bill of health." Paloma looked at Kay, her eyes screamed "HELP!"
"Well, you can all talk to Paloma later. We have to go, bye!" Kay dragged Paloma outside, Simone and Jessica followed.
"Oh, Paloma, you have no idea how glad I am to see you!" Simone hugged her.
"Um, yeah. You too Simone. Hey Jess." Paloma waved at Jessica who was standing over to the side.
"Hey Paloma." Jessica smiled, "I'd like to catch up with you, but I have a date. So, I'll see you guys later." Jessica left.
"Oh, I promised my dad I'd be home by now. I'll see you guys later." Simone ran off.
"Oh-kay. So, we need to talk," Paloma looked around, "But not here. Is there somewhere around here that isn't crawling with people?"
"How about the docks?" Kay suggested.
"Sounds good." Paloma agreed.
~*The Docks- the coolest teen hangout around! Cause you know, everyone in my neighborhood hangs out at the docks*~
Paloma looked around and sat on a nearby crate, she motioned for Kay to sit next to her, "We need to talk."
"Ok, about what?" Kay looked at Paloma suspiciously.
"Miguel and your little, um, well, obsession." Paloma said awkwardly.
"Obsession? I LOVE him!" Kay said indignantly.
"Okay, well can you just explain to me what you love about him?" Paloma got more comfortable.
"Well, I love a lot of things about him."
"Like?" Paloma prompted.
"He's I don't know, he's just." Kay tried to explain, "He's been my best friend since we were kids. He used to stick up for me and he would help me with my homework. And he's funny and athletic, you know?"
Paloma took a deep breath, "Kay, you said 'used to'?"
"Ever since Charity came to town he's become obsessed! She turned him against me!" Kay snapped.
"Kay, listen to yourself! You don't love him. You love who he used to be, that boy next door. And all those things that you 'love' about him? There are millions of guys out there who are JUST like that, and even better. Charity didn't steal him away from you Kay. He was never yours." Paloma said gently.
"No, you haven't been here! You don't know what it's been like! She's ruined my life!" Kay cried.
"Kay, if Charity hadn't come to town, and you and Miguel had started dating, what do you think would have happened?"
"We would have been happy together. And it would be my wedding, not hers."
"Do you really think that? I mean are you sure that after awhile you'd realize that you didn't really love Miguel? I mean look at all his annoying traits." Paloma exclaimed.
"He's perfect, there's nothing wrong with him!" Kay argued.
"Really? You know I don't think that's true. Before Charity came to town, you always complained that Miguel was too clingy sometimes, and you hated the way he wore his hair. There were tons of things you would complain about. The reason you think you're in love with him and that Charity is your enemy is because you miss hanging out with him. You don't love him Kay, you miss that friend you had. The guy who you could always depend on. You don't need that though. You're the kind of girl who doesn't need someone."
"That's not true! I do need him! I love him!" Kay got up and started ranting, "I need Miguel, and he's always been there for me! I love everything about him! I love him. . .don't I?" She stopped and looked at Paloma who was sitting calmly. "If I don't love him, why would I do all those things to Charity?"
"You want attention, all the deals with evil, the zombie, the spells, even making yourself look like Charity, it was all because you wanted someone to figure out it was you and take care of you. You didn't want Miguel Kay, you wanted the idea of him." Paloma hopped off the box.
Kay stood still thinking, after about 15 minutes, Paloma interrupted her, "What are you thinking about?"
"Everything that I did. I mean God, I'm an idiot. I'm in love with a guy who couldn't care less about me, I tried to kill my cousin because I wanted my MOTHER to pay attention to me. God I even lost my virginity to him." Kay began crying.
Paloma hugged her, "Kay, it's going to be alright."
Kay pulled away, "NO, it's not. I need to, I need to be alone."
Paloma nodded, "I have to go meet Antonio at the Book Café." Paloma began walking.
"Um, Paloma?" Kay called.
She stopped and turned around, "Yes?"
"Book Café is that way," Kay pointed in the opposite direction.
"I knew that." Paloma lied, as she began walking in the right direction, she turned around, "Charity invited us to the mall tomorrow, and if you've sorted everything out by then, I'd really love for you to come. I'm sure Charity would too." Before Kay could answer, Paloma was gone.
Kay looked around and the pier was still deserted, she pulled out a necklace for underneath her shirt, taking a deep breath, she pulled it off, "I've wasted the last 3 years of my life on you Miguel. I've loved you, stood by you and even protected you, but no more." She looked and the necklace and laughed, "You gave this to me for my birthday when I turned 10. I've always hated jewelry like this, it doesn't suit me; but since you gave it to me I, like a lovesick fool, treasured it. Well, this necklace represents everything I went through to get you." Kay looked at it, it was a small circular charm with a bright, multi-color flower in the center, and the colors were too cheery for her taste. She took another deep breath and chucked it into the ocean. "Good bye Miguel. I'm not completely over you yet, but this is a good first step." Kay sat down on a crate again, "My next step is to become someone I actually like, someone I recognize. No more schemes, no more lies, no more tricks and most of all no more evil. God, I don't even like myself anymore." Kay curled her legs under herself, "Ugh, and all those horrible things that I did to Charity. How am I ever going to make it up to her?" Kay ran her hand through her hair, "Well, I'm going to be the best maid-of-honor ever and I need to start being a real friend." Kay hopped off the crate and began walking off the pier.
~*Book Café*~
Antonio sat waiting for Paloma impatiently; he checked his watch again, "Where is she?"
Just then she rushed in, "Sorry I was late! Kay and I were talking." She sat down.
"Well, we only have about ten minutes until I'm due back. We can't really have a conversation and eat." Antonio glanced at his watch again, "Actually, I have to go in about 5 minutes."
Paloma slammed her head on the table, "I'm sorry. Now I won't get to see you today!"
"We'll talk tomorrow." Antonio offered.
"No, I'm spending the day at the mall with Charity and hopefully Kay." Paloma explained.
"Ok, well then we can meet the day after for lunch?" Antonio suggested.
"It's a date. Well, not a date cuz that'd be gross, it's a meeting. Well not a meeting, an appointment or. . ." Antonio nodded at his crazy and got up.
"I gotta go, I'll talk to you later." He kissed her on the cheek and left.
Paloma got up and ordered a coffee to go, she sighed as she waited, "I need to find someone for Antonio. Someone I like and he'll love." She searched her mind, then spotted Beth pouring coffee to a customer, "Well she's been burned by the Lopez-Fitzgerald's but why not?" She grabbed her coffee and began working on a plan. She left the Book Café and began walking, not really sure where, "I'll just convince Antonio to ask her out. That should work!" She didn't see the shadow of someone approaching her and they obviously didn't see her as they slammed into her. Paloma fell to the ground with a thud, "Ow."
"Sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going are you ok?" A hand came in front of Paloma's face and she accepted the help.
"I'm fine." She looked up and saw a familiar pair of blue-green eyes staring back at her, "You!" Paloma exclaimed.
"In the flesh. You know you really need to stop hitting me." Fox mocked.
"If you recall, Nicholas, YOU keep hitting me." Paloma growled.
"It's Fox. Well how about I get you a coffee to make up for the one that I spilled?" He offered his arm.
"How about you bite me, Nicholas?" Paloma gritted her teeth, for some reason she felt weak around Fox and she didn't like it.
"Gladly, only name the place." He smiled sexily.
Paloma rolled her eyes, "Just, go." She walked away.
Fox looked at the receding figure and sighed, "Well, at least I tried." He began to walk away and then noticed the she'd dropped her bracelet, "I'll have to get Pilar to return this for me." He picked it up and walked away smiling.
~*Later That Night.*~
Antonio sighed as he walked back up the drive to the Lopez-Fitzgerald home, "That was possibly the worst date EVER. I'm going to kill Theresa when I see her." Unlocking the door, he heard giggles coming from the living room. He approached and saw Paloma on the couch, watching TV and laughing insanely.
Paloma heard a noise and looked in the doorway, "Antonio! You're home early," She looked at the clock above the TV, "It's only 10:30."
"Right, well, the date was awful. I'm never letting Theresa set me up again." Antonio sat down on the armchair.
"What happened?" Paloma stopped giggling and sat up, interested.
"She's the most boring person I've ever met, she wouldn't eat anything, and she can't dance. She's not exactly the kind of girl I like to date." Antonio sighed.
"I'm sorry you had such a bad date. You know, maybe you need someone you already know, not a blind date." Paloma said slickly.
"Like who?"
"Well I saw Beth today. She's looking good. You know you could always ask her out, maybe you two could have fun." Paloma suggested.
Antonio cringed, "Um, Maybe. I'm going to bed, you should soon too."
"I am in bed." Paloma motioned to the couch.
"Why aren't you in your room tonight?"
"Theresa's having it painted. It should be ready tomorrow, but for tonight, I get the couch." Paloma lay down; "Turn off the light before you leave." She shut off the TV and snuggled into her blanket.
"Paloma, why don't I take the couch and you can have my bed?" Antonio offered.
"No, that's ok. I don't mind the couch."
Antonio walked over to the couch, picked Paloma up, threw her over his shoulder and began walking, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING ANTONIO? PUT ME DOWN!" She began screaming at him and wrestling to get away.
"Calm down." He opened his bedroom door and threw her on the bed, "Night!" He closed the door with a snap.
"Antonio!" She got up and pulled open the door, as she walked into the living room she saw him already on the sofa, "Oh, sure, be big and fat so I can't lift you up!" She growled and walked back into his room.
Antonio chuckled, "NIGHT PALOMA!" He called.
"GO TO HELL ANTONIO!" She called back.
When Pilar got home late that night, she saw her oldest son on the couch and her youngest daughter in his room, and didn't even want to know.
Next chapter previews: It's a day at the mall! Antonio asks out Beth. Fox talks with Pilar.
Please tell me what you think; it really helps when I know what's going through the minds of my readers.