~*The Choices We Live By*~
Don't own 'em
Some people are worried that I've changed my mind about Antonio and Kay, but fear not! It'll happen sooner or later.
Oh and I forgot to mention ages for everyone else. Theresa's 22, Fox is 24, Ethan's 26, Sheridan's 28, Luis is 29 and Antonio is 30.
Chapter 3
"Thanks Antonio!" Paloma called as he dropped her off at the Bennett's house, she felt a little bad that he'd slept on the couch last night and that he'd given her a ride over to the Bennett's, "Well, I'll make it up to him." She decided. Ringing the doorbell proved useless again, as did knocking, so again she went right in, "Hello?"
"Paloma!" Charity smiled, "I was wondering when you would get here."
"Hey Loma!" Miguel smiled as he followed Charity downstairs.
"Miguel, it's Paloma, not any sort of shorting or nickname." She tried explaining to her brother.
"Have you had breakfast yet? Aunt Grace is making pancakes and bacon." Charity and Miguel began walking to the kitchen, Paloma followed.
"Well, I thought we could get something on the way there. . ." Paloma started.
"Oh, but I promised Aunt Grace. Well, she'll understand." They entered the kitchen.
Sam was drinking coffee and reading the paper, Grace was tending to John and David, and Kay was sitting alone with a bowl of oatmeal.
"Morning!" Charity smiled.
"Oh, Charity! I promised you a big breakfast!" Grace began cooking.
"Oh, no aunt Grace, I'll just have some oatmeal, it's fine." Charity sat down and Miguel followed.
"Oatmeal? What kind of breakfast is that for a growing girl?" Grace began making bacon.
"Well, a good enough breakfast for your daughter." Kay said.
"Oh, Kay, why are you already trying to pick a fight?" Grace said crossly.
"Grace I think Kay was just," Sam started.
Kay shook her head in disbelief, "Don't worry about it dad. And just forget it, MOTHER." Kay got up and went into the living room.
"I'll go check on her." Paloma got up.
"Oh, Paloma! Good morning!" Grace said, as if just realizing she was there, "Don't worry about Kay, she's just trying to get attention. She always does this."
"Well, I'll worry about her if I want to Mrs. Bennett, she's a good friend of mine." Paloma walked into the living room and found Kay looking through a photo album.
Kay looked up when she heard footsteps, "So, I guess you see why I am the way I am."
"Oh, Kay. I didn't realize that your mom was getting to be this bad. Does she always do stuff like that?" Paloma sat down next to her.
"Ignore me? Pick everyone else before me? Yell at me? Get mad at me? Yup, pretty much. I never really realized it until Charity came to town, but she's always been like this." Kay held up the photo album, she pointed at some pictures, "She's nowhere near me in any of these. There are tons of pictures of her and Jess, her and Noah and her and my dad. But not a single one of her and me. And look at the pictures around the house, Noah's 18th birthday, Charity's 16th and 18th birthday, Jessica's 16th, but mine? Nope."
"Oh, Kay. It's going to be all right. I know that right now it doesn't seem like it is, but things will work out. You'll see." Paloma said comfortingly.
"I mean, right now I'm trying to get my life back in order, I'm moving on from my little. . .obsession and I'm focusing on me. Is it too much to ask that she notice I've changed? I mean my father said to me when I came downstairs that I looked different, 'genuinely happy' were his exact words. And my mom? She's busy tending to her new son and husband to notice me." Kay sighed, "Do you think she ever loved me? I mean, I know she loves Jess, before Charity came and after Noah left, it was Jessica who was her pride and joy."
"Kay, I know that right now, things seem pretty bad, but things will look up. I mean, look at me! I was sent away from my family and all the people that I love when I was only 7 years old. Do you have any idea how many times I wondered if it was because they loved me the least? I mean your mom ignores you and yells at you, my mom sent me half way across the country and almost never calls."
"Lucky us Paloma, we're the black sheep." Kay smiled.
They both laughed, "I wouldn't go that far Kay."
Kay shrugged her shoulders, "So what are we then?"
"I don't know. But, that's ok. We don't need labels. Are you feeling better?" Paloma asked.
Kay nodded, "Yeah, thanks."
"No problem. Are you feeling well enough to go shopping today with me and Charity?" Paloma nudged Kay with her elbow.
"As long as Miguel isn't going to be around, I'm there." Kay smiled, "I gotta go get changed. I'll be ready in like 15 minutes, okay?"
~*At The Mall*~ They've been shopping for about 5 hours
Loaded down with shopping bags full of clothes, jewelry and shoes, the girls decide to stop for lunch.
"Let's stop for lunch!" Charity suggested.
"Sounds good to me!" Paloma agreed.
"Ditto." Said Kay, * Charity's not so bad once you take Miguel out of the equation *
The girls entered the food court and looked around, "What do we want?" Paloma asked.
"Pizza!" Charity and Kay said at the same time.
"Sounds good." Paloma agreed.
After getting their lunch, and sitting down, the girls began discussing Charity's upcoming wedding.
"So, when is the wedding?" Paloma asked.
"Well, I wanted to have a Christmas wedding originally, but that's when Sheridan and Luis got married. So I was thinking Valentine's Day and I could have all my bridesmaids in red." Charity took a sip of her coke, "But, you guys don't have to wear red, you could wear pink or something darker. It's up to you guys."
"What do you mean you guys?" Paloma asked.
"Oh, well, since you're back in town and you're Miguel twin sister, and we seem to be getting along so well, that maybe you'd like to be one of my bridesmaids?" Charity smiled hopefully.
"Yeah, come on Paloma!" Kay urged her, "I'm already maid-of-honor."
"Well, I'd love to. Are you sure though?"
"Yes, of course. You'll be walking down the aisle with," Charity thought about it, "Kay's with Antonio, Jessica's with Reese, Simone's with Luis, oh, you'll be with Hank."
I know that Hank wasn't one of Miguel's groomsmen or ushers or whatever they're called, but it'll come into play. I promise.
"Hank Bennett?" Paloma blushed.
Kay laughed, "Yes, Uncle Hank!"
"Shut-up Kay." Paloma smacked her.
"What?" Charity asked.
"Paloma used to have the BIGGEST crush on uncle Hank when she was younger." Kay laughed.
"That's cute!" Charity said sincerely.
"No, it's not. I mean the only reason I liked him was because he was my older brother's best friend, he was always around." Paloma said, her cheeks a lovely shad of crimson.
"I still say it's cute." Charity smiled.
"Ok, well I'll be cute later. Let's go, my feet are dying." Paloma said, getting up.
"Wait! We need to stop in Fleming's!" Charity said suddenly.
"Why?" Paloma said suspiciously.
"I wanted to look at the dresses they have there, for the wedding." Charity explained.
"Let's go then." Kay agreed and they made their way to the huge department store.
~*About a hour of looking at dresses later.*~
"Okay, I'm officially pooped. Let's get out of here." Paloma suggested.
"Ok." Charity agreed.
"Can we look at the jewelry before we go, though?" Kay asked.
"Okay, but then we go home."
They made their way downstairs to the jewelry counters and began "Oohing and aaahing" at the pieces that they couldn't afford.
Paloma walked over to a less crowded counter and spotted the most beautiful necklace, "Oh, my god, guys, come here and look at this!" Paloma motioned for Kay and Charity.
"What is it?" Charity walked over and saw the necklace, "That's so pretty! Ask the lady to look at it!"
"Kay get the lady," Paloma asked, Kay nodded, "Oh and matching earrings!"
"Can I help you?" A very snooty lady walked over.
"Yes, that necklace and matching earrings, can I see them?" Paloma pointed.
"Ah, a very fine choice," The lady opened the case and got the set out, "White gold chain, and a moon stone in the center for the necklace and the earrings are white gold as well with a moon stone on each."
Paloma's eyes bugged out, she thought the necklace was silver, and the purply gold stone that adorned it looked like an amethyst, "And the price of the set?" She was almost afraid to hear the answer.
"The necklace is $700 and the earrings are $1000, but if you get the set it's only $1400." The woman put away the set and the girls thanked her as they walked away.
"$1400, I wish I was a Crane." Paloma said laughing.
"Well, it is an awful lot of money, maybe you can find a cheaper set somewhere less, posh." Charity suggested.
"Yeah, come on Paloma, it wasn't that nice." Kay said.
"Yeah, it's just I, don't know, I want something that makes me feel pretty," Paloma said, and then laughed, "I guess that's pretty weird, huh?"
"It's not weird at all." Charity said sweetly.
~*Book Café*~
Antonio walked in and looked around, when Paloma had suggested he go out with Beth, he thought she was crazy. But, Paloma was right about a lot of things, so he figured he might as well see if Beth would even date him.
"Hi Antonio." Beth said gloomily.
"Hey, Beth, why so down?" He asked.
* Because the only man I'll ever love and ever want to be with ditched me for a dead woman! * Beth thought, "Oh, just having a bad day."
"I know what you mean, say Beth?" Antonio said in an offhanded way.
"Yes?"
"Would you like to have dinner with me tonight at the Seascape?" Antonio suggested.
* Well, he's not Luis. . .but he is a way to get closer to him! * Beth smiled, "Sounds like fun!"
"Ok, well then I'll pick you up tonight at around 8." Antonio smiled and left. "Paloma you better be right about this!" He said to himself.
~*Crane Mansion*~
Fox whistled a tune to himself as he made his way to the library, he figured that'd be the best place to find Pilar or at the very least his father. He opened the door and found Pilar straightening up.
She looked up when she heard the door open and saw Fox, "Fox, what are you doing in here?"
He smirked as Pilar looked at him suspiciously, "Nothing, I was looking for you actually. I was hoping you could do me a favor."
Pilar raised her eyebrow, "What kind of favor?"
"Well, your daughter dropped this bracelet and I was wondering if you'd give it back to her for me." Fox pulled the thin silver charm bracelet out of his pocket.
Pilar grabbed it, "You stay away from Theresa, Fox." She warned.
"I have no interest in Theresa so, calm down." Fox smirked and sat down on the couch.
"Good, after ruining Paloma's car, I don't want you ruining Theresa's life." Pilar looked at the bracelet, "This is not Theresa's."
"I know, it's the daughter I rear-ended that I'm interested in." Fox said laughing.
"Dios Mios! That language is foul! Paloma is the owner of this bracelet?!" Pilar demanded.
"Yes, but I didn't rear-end her, it was more head on collision." Fox emphasized 'head on collision'.
"Fox, you keep away from my daughter. If you will not heed my warnings, then think about this, Paloma has three brothers. My eldest son Antonio is very over protective of her and he would not take kindly on you. Think about that before you try to get her into your bed." Pilar left in a rush.
"But I don't just want her in my bed." Fox said as the door closed.
Previews for the next chapter. . .
The Seascape is the place to be tonight not tonight, but like that night in Harmony as just about everyone in town shows up.
I don't think that you all understand the joy I get when I open my e-mail and see all these reviews from fanfiction.net. It brings a smile to my face when I know that people enjoy my writing.
Oh, and if you are also reading my Days story "All My Life", I'll be posting a new chapter this week!
Some people are worried that I've changed my mind about Antonio and Kay, but fear not! It'll happen sooner or later.
Oh and I forgot to mention ages for everyone else. Theresa's 22, Fox is 24, Ethan's 26, Sheridan's 28, Luis is 29 and Antonio is 30.
Chapter 3
"Thanks Antonio!" Paloma called as he dropped her off at the Bennett's house, she felt a little bad that he'd slept on the couch last night and that he'd given her a ride over to the Bennett's, "Well, I'll make it up to him." She decided. Ringing the doorbell proved useless again, as did knocking, so again she went right in, "Hello?"
"Paloma!" Charity smiled, "I was wondering when you would get here."
"Hey Loma!" Miguel smiled as he followed Charity downstairs.
"Miguel, it's Paloma, not any sort of shorting or nickname." She tried explaining to her brother.
"Have you had breakfast yet? Aunt Grace is making pancakes and bacon." Charity and Miguel began walking to the kitchen, Paloma followed.
"Well, I thought we could get something on the way there. . ." Paloma started.
"Oh, but I promised Aunt Grace. Well, she'll understand." They entered the kitchen.
Sam was drinking coffee and reading the paper, Grace was tending to John and David, and Kay was sitting alone with a bowl of oatmeal.
"Morning!" Charity smiled.
"Oh, Charity! I promised you a big breakfast!" Grace began cooking.
"Oh, no aunt Grace, I'll just have some oatmeal, it's fine." Charity sat down and Miguel followed.
"Oatmeal? What kind of breakfast is that for a growing girl?" Grace began making bacon.
"Well, a good enough breakfast for your daughter." Kay said.
"Oh, Kay, why are you already trying to pick a fight?" Grace said crossly.
"Grace I think Kay was just," Sam started.
Kay shook her head in disbelief, "Don't worry about it dad. And just forget it, MOTHER." Kay got up and went into the living room.
"I'll go check on her." Paloma got up.
"Oh, Paloma! Good morning!" Grace said, as if just realizing she was there, "Don't worry about Kay, she's just trying to get attention. She always does this."
"Well, I'll worry about her if I want to Mrs. Bennett, she's a good friend of mine." Paloma walked into the living room and found Kay looking through a photo album.
Kay looked up when she heard footsteps, "So, I guess you see why I am the way I am."
"Oh, Kay. I didn't realize that your mom was getting to be this bad. Does she always do stuff like that?" Paloma sat down next to her.
"Ignore me? Pick everyone else before me? Yell at me? Get mad at me? Yup, pretty much. I never really realized it until Charity came to town, but she's always been like this." Kay held up the photo album, she pointed at some pictures, "She's nowhere near me in any of these. There are tons of pictures of her and Jess, her and Noah and her and my dad. But not a single one of her and me. And look at the pictures around the house, Noah's 18th birthday, Charity's 16th and 18th birthday, Jessica's 16th, but mine? Nope."
"Oh, Kay. It's going to be all right. I know that right now it doesn't seem like it is, but things will work out. You'll see." Paloma said comfortingly.
"I mean, right now I'm trying to get my life back in order, I'm moving on from my little. . .obsession and I'm focusing on me. Is it too much to ask that she notice I've changed? I mean my father said to me when I came downstairs that I looked different, 'genuinely happy' were his exact words. And my mom? She's busy tending to her new son and husband to notice me." Kay sighed, "Do you think she ever loved me? I mean, I know she loves Jess, before Charity came and after Noah left, it was Jessica who was her pride and joy."
"Kay, I know that right now, things seem pretty bad, but things will look up. I mean, look at me! I was sent away from my family and all the people that I love when I was only 7 years old. Do you have any idea how many times I wondered if it was because they loved me the least? I mean your mom ignores you and yells at you, my mom sent me half way across the country and almost never calls."
"Lucky us Paloma, we're the black sheep." Kay smiled.
They both laughed, "I wouldn't go that far Kay."
Kay shrugged her shoulders, "So what are we then?"
"I don't know. But, that's ok. We don't need labels. Are you feeling better?" Paloma asked.
Kay nodded, "Yeah, thanks."
"No problem. Are you feeling well enough to go shopping today with me and Charity?" Paloma nudged Kay with her elbow.
"As long as Miguel isn't going to be around, I'm there." Kay smiled, "I gotta go get changed. I'll be ready in like 15 minutes, okay?"
~*At The Mall*~ They've been shopping for about 5 hours
Loaded down with shopping bags full of clothes, jewelry and shoes, the girls decide to stop for lunch.
"Let's stop for lunch!" Charity suggested.
"Sounds good to me!" Paloma agreed.
"Ditto." Said Kay, * Charity's not so bad once you take Miguel out of the equation *
The girls entered the food court and looked around, "What do we want?" Paloma asked.
"Pizza!" Charity and Kay said at the same time.
"Sounds good." Paloma agreed.
After getting their lunch, and sitting down, the girls began discussing Charity's upcoming wedding.
"So, when is the wedding?" Paloma asked.
"Well, I wanted to have a Christmas wedding originally, but that's when Sheridan and Luis got married. So I was thinking Valentine's Day and I could have all my bridesmaids in red." Charity took a sip of her coke, "But, you guys don't have to wear red, you could wear pink or something darker. It's up to you guys."
"What do you mean you guys?" Paloma asked.
"Oh, well, since you're back in town and you're Miguel twin sister, and we seem to be getting along so well, that maybe you'd like to be one of my bridesmaids?" Charity smiled hopefully.
"Yeah, come on Paloma!" Kay urged her, "I'm already maid-of-honor."
"Well, I'd love to. Are you sure though?"
"Yes, of course. You'll be walking down the aisle with," Charity thought about it, "Kay's with Antonio, Jessica's with Reese, Simone's with Luis, oh, you'll be with Hank."
I know that Hank wasn't one of Miguel's groomsmen or ushers or whatever they're called, but it'll come into play. I promise.
"Hank Bennett?" Paloma blushed.
Kay laughed, "Yes, Uncle Hank!"
"Shut-up Kay." Paloma smacked her.
"What?" Charity asked.
"Paloma used to have the BIGGEST crush on uncle Hank when she was younger." Kay laughed.
"That's cute!" Charity said sincerely.
"No, it's not. I mean the only reason I liked him was because he was my older brother's best friend, he was always around." Paloma said, her cheeks a lovely shad of crimson.
"I still say it's cute." Charity smiled.
"Ok, well I'll be cute later. Let's go, my feet are dying." Paloma said, getting up.
"Wait! We need to stop in Fleming's!" Charity said suddenly.
"Why?" Paloma said suspiciously.
"I wanted to look at the dresses they have there, for the wedding." Charity explained.
"Let's go then." Kay agreed and they made their way to the huge department store.
~*About a hour of looking at dresses later.*~
"Okay, I'm officially pooped. Let's get out of here." Paloma suggested.
"Ok." Charity agreed.
"Can we look at the jewelry before we go, though?" Kay asked.
"Okay, but then we go home."
They made their way downstairs to the jewelry counters and began "Oohing and aaahing" at the pieces that they couldn't afford.
Paloma walked over to a less crowded counter and spotted the most beautiful necklace, "Oh, my god, guys, come here and look at this!" Paloma motioned for Kay and Charity.
"What is it?" Charity walked over and saw the necklace, "That's so pretty! Ask the lady to look at it!"
"Kay get the lady," Paloma asked, Kay nodded, "Oh and matching earrings!"
"Can I help you?" A very snooty lady walked over.
"Yes, that necklace and matching earrings, can I see them?" Paloma pointed.
"Ah, a very fine choice," The lady opened the case and got the set out, "White gold chain, and a moon stone in the center for the necklace and the earrings are white gold as well with a moon stone on each."
Paloma's eyes bugged out, she thought the necklace was silver, and the purply gold stone that adorned it looked like an amethyst, "And the price of the set?" She was almost afraid to hear the answer.
"The necklace is $700 and the earrings are $1000, but if you get the set it's only $1400." The woman put away the set and the girls thanked her as they walked away.
"$1400, I wish I was a Crane." Paloma said laughing.
"Well, it is an awful lot of money, maybe you can find a cheaper set somewhere less, posh." Charity suggested.
"Yeah, come on Paloma, it wasn't that nice." Kay said.
"Yeah, it's just I, don't know, I want something that makes me feel pretty," Paloma said, and then laughed, "I guess that's pretty weird, huh?"
"It's not weird at all." Charity said sweetly.
~*Book Café*~
Antonio walked in and looked around, when Paloma had suggested he go out with Beth, he thought she was crazy. But, Paloma was right about a lot of things, so he figured he might as well see if Beth would even date him.
"Hi Antonio." Beth said gloomily.
"Hey, Beth, why so down?" He asked.
* Because the only man I'll ever love and ever want to be with ditched me for a dead woman! * Beth thought, "Oh, just having a bad day."
"I know what you mean, say Beth?" Antonio said in an offhanded way.
"Yes?"
"Would you like to have dinner with me tonight at the Seascape?" Antonio suggested.
* Well, he's not Luis. . .but he is a way to get closer to him! * Beth smiled, "Sounds like fun!"
"Ok, well then I'll pick you up tonight at around 8." Antonio smiled and left. "Paloma you better be right about this!" He said to himself.
~*Crane Mansion*~
Fox whistled a tune to himself as he made his way to the library, he figured that'd be the best place to find Pilar or at the very least his father. He opened the door and found Pilar straightening up.
She looked up when she heard the door open and saw Fox, "Fox, what are you doing in here?"
He smirked as Pilar looked at him suspiciously, "Nothing, I was looking for you actually. I was hoping you could do me a favor."
Pilar raised her eyebrow, "What kind of favor?"
"Well, your daughter dropped this bracelet and I was wondering if you'd give it back to her for me." Fox pulled the thin silver charm bracelet out of his pocket.
Pilar grabbed it, "You stay away from Theresa, Fox." She warned.
"I have no interest in Theresa so, calm down." Fox smirked and sat down on the couch.
"Good, after ruining Paloma's car, I don't want you ruining Theresa's life." Pilar looked at the bracelet, "This is not Theresa's."
"I know, it's the daughter I rear-ended that I'm interested in." Fox said laughing.
"Dios Mios! That language is foul! Paloma is the owner of this bracelet?!" Pilar demanded.
"Yes, but I didn't rear-end her, it was more head on collision." Fox emphasized 'head on collision'.
"Fox, you keep away from my daughter. If you will not heed my warnings, then think about this, Paloma has three brothers. My eldest son Antonio is very over protective of her and he would not take kindly on you. Think about that before you try to get her into your bed." Pilar left in a rush.
"But I don't just want her in my bed." Fox said as the door closed.
Previews for the next chapter. . .
The Seascape is the place to be tonight not tonight, but like that night in Harmony as just about everyone in town shows up.
I don't think that you all understand the joy I get when I open my e-mail and see all these reviews from fanfiction.net. It brings a smile to my face when I know that people enjoy my writing.
Oh, and if you are also reading my Days story "All My Life", I'll be posting a new chapter this week!