Chapter 8:
{a/n: thank you for the wonderful reviews for the last chapter. im glad to c u liked it, even though it was sad. I decided to revise this chapter, because I had left out something I wanted to include in it.}
"I'm so happy for them!" Jessica squealed to her friends from outside of the church as they watched the limo that was carrying the newlyweds disappear into the distance.
Despite the bustle of activity and chitchat taking place outside, everyone could hear the loud sobs coming from inside the church. Coming from Kay of course. She was the lone sad face in the sea of smiles that day.
Jessica sighed as her sister's cries evidently got louder. She hated the fact that Kay loved Miguel - it only caused problems. But she had to give Kay her due; she had been strong through the ceremony, and even though she was letting out tears now, it was in private.
"Should we go?" Reese's words snapped her out of her reverie.
"But what about Kay?" Jessica asked, pointing to the door of the church.
"She's strong. She'll pull herself together."
"Yeah, but she didn't drive here," she countered. "How is she going to get to the reception?"
Reese had no reply. Kay was not one of his favorite people. Having once had a crush on her, and it turning out with her professing her love for his best friend - Miguel - and not him, his opinion of her had taken a definitive nosedive.
"I... I can stay," John spoke up, having heard the last part of Reese and Jessica's conversation. "I'll make sure she gets to the reception."
Reese breathed a sigh of relief, while Jessica's eyebrows raised up high. She saw the way John had been looking at Kay lately. How he would always stand up for her and be there for her. She could tell he wanted more than just a platonic relationship with her sister. But did Kay know that? And if she did, what was she going to do about it?
"Thanks, John," Reese whispered to him gratefully, as if John had spared him the most tortorous of tasks.
Jessica shot a glare at her boyfriend, but not before sending a look that spoke of I know you're in love with my sister to John.
John saw that look in Jessica's gaze, but he quickly averted his eyes and went inside the church. Everyone seems to know how I feel about Kay, he thought to himself. Everyone but Kay.
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The door creaked open and someone could be heard coming inside.
Wiping at her tears, Kay looked up from her seat on the pew into the eyes of John Hastings.
Her eyes were bloodshot and small. Her face gave away all of her emotions, nothing was hidden that day. Kay Bennett's shadow had died down and in its place came her real being.
She wasn't going to pretend. Act like everything was fine. Because in her heart, it wasn't. She had lost the one man she loved that day. And it wasn't even death - no this was much worse. He had finally become related to her, but only through the hands of her cousin.
John quickly opened up his arms, and Kay melted into his touch, crying a fresh set of tears on his supportive shoulder.
"I'm so sorry," he whispered into her ear, hugging her close.
She shook her head up and down, wiping at her tear-streaked face.
"Should we go?" he suggested.
Kay nodded. If she could handle seeing Miguel and Charity get married, then surely she could take them celebrating their wedding.
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John and Kay got to the reception hall in his car not too long later, five minutes before Miguel and Charity did.
"Hey," Kay nodded to Simone and Fox. Her tears had been dried, and after reapplying the miniscule amount of makeup she had had on, she looked normal just like before. Whatever that meant.
"Hi," Simone stood up, giving Kay a hug. It seemed to have a contagious effect because Kay could then feel Whitney, Theresa, Paloma and Jessica hugging her.
Kay beamed at them all, a small smile that barely narrowed her eyes into an almond shape of happiness. Just as she was sitting down, she saw the newlyweds make their way into the big hall where they would be celebrating the start of their new lives together.
Kay saw how Charity placed her arms around Miguel's neck as they shared their first dance as man and wife. She couldn't miss the smile perched on Miguel's face, nor how close he was holding Charity to him. With every passing second, one more needle seemed to poke into Kay's heart.
Kay sighed inwardly, causing her friends, who were sitting at the same table, to notice. "I'm going to go get some fresh air," she informed the others.
"No, Kay," Simone said, placing her hand on her best friend's arm. "Don't. You don't have to go through this alone. I'm here for you." She smiled sincerely.
Kay stared at her childhood friend. She had missed her so much. The old Simone, the one who she would have sleepover's with and hang out on a whim with. Not the one who had practically dumped Kay's friendship after Kay became infatuated with Miguel.
Kay couldn't help remember how she and Simone had made a pact that once they reached college, they would dorm together. But having been on the outs once they reached that plateau in their lives, it had never been consummated.
Kay's chin quivered slightly, but she didn't say anything. Instead she gave a reassuring smile back to Simone, silently letting her know that she was staying.
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The rest of the night seemed to drag on slowly, full of whistles and toasts to the happy couple. Champagne seemed to swim around in the glasses, causing giddy laughter from table to table. Kay watched it all with impatience. How she hoped this night would end so she never again had to endure the ultimate sadness of losing Miguel for good, but she still had to admit that no previous night had stressed such definition to her life.
Losing Miguel had brought her an uncanny form of wisdom. She was sadder but wiser. Getting over Miguel was going to be a long and tough journey, yet she knew some good would come out of it at the end. But it just seemed so far off....
Kay's thoughts were forgotten as she noticed Miguel standing before her.
"May I have this dance?" Miguel asked, extending his hand to her.
She couldn't say yes. How was she supposed to move on? Dancing with him at his wedding to her cousin wasn't going to help. But looking into his chocolate brown eyes, she saw his friendship and respect. And it was all for her. She took his hand, as they walked to the dance floor.
{a/n: i hope you liked this chapter too. i wanted to bring some background information in this chapter, like the part about reese, and the part about simone. next up: miguel and kay dance and converse.}
