Chapter 2


Kay laid her head on her desk and listened as Mr. Bowers got off on another rant about how Republicans were evil and Democrats were the smart ones. It wasn't a good idea to have government as the first class of the day. Mr. Bowers could put anyone to sleep.

As she tried to drown his mono-tone voice out of her head she looked over at Miguel. His desk was right next to hers. He was chewing on his pen, while reading an article in Maxim. Kay studied his looks under her lashes.

He had the dark good looks from his Spanish ancestors, dark hair, eyes and skin. Miguel also had the fullest lips of any guy she had ever seen. She thought about all the hours she had spent wondering what those lips felt like.

Miguel had a body too. Him and his brothers were born with good genes. All the Lopez-Fitzgerald men looked like they could bench press a Buick.


As if Miguel sensed her appraisal of him, he looked at her. Kay smiled. Miguel smiled back. Her heart leapt.

Miguel leaned over and grinned, "Don't go falling asleep, now."

Kay grinned back, "It's a struggle. Believe me."

Miguel chuckled and received a glare from Mr. Bowers. He straightened in his seat and put on a look of attention.

Kay doodled in her notebook, filling it with star, hearts, and moons.

****


Nicholas Foxworthy Crane sat back in his first class seat. He could hear a baby crying back in coach, but he put on his headphones and took a drink of the cheap scotch they had and it was all better. His mother was going to meet him at Boston's International and then they would drive on into Harmony.

Nick had mixed feelings about returning home. When you spent your adolescence in boarding schools across the world, you really didn't feel like the all American family.

It was the same with his sisters.

All of them had been shipped off like soldiers. It was as if Ivy and Julian wanted the idea of children, but didn't want to have any part of the rasing of them. It had taken a long time to come to terms with his parents behavior, and then to find out that Ethan was only a half brother? A love child between his mother and Police Chief Bennett? That had been a stunning blow, and ha also answered many questions Nick had about his mother and why Ethan had always been the favorite.

Nick didn't want to think about that now. He was going home. Part of him wondered if it was because the favorite Crane son, wasn't a Crane and now they needed the next in line to step up to the plate.

*****


Jessica slammed the door to her locker and hauled her very heavy book bag over her shoulder. She looked up as Simone and Kay approached her.

"What's up , shrimp?" Kay teased,

Jessica huffed, "If they give us any more damn homework, it's going to take a dump truck to get it home."

Kay laughed, "That's way you employ my method. Don't do it."

Jessica rolled her eyes, "Well some of us want to go to college."

"Speak for yourself."

"Do you have to work today, Jess?" Simone piped in.

Jessica nodded and blew a strand of hair out of her face. "Yeah, I gotta work 5 to midnight."

Simone grimaced, "That blows. Are you working too Kay?"

Kay shook her head no. "Nope. Christy took my shift at the Seascape tonight. It'll be a relief not to have those rich bitches in my face tonight."

"I don't know how you put up with them."

Kay shrugged, "Well, it's good money on the weekends, but during the week it's kinda slow. The only thing good about it is, if you suck their ass, then you get a good tip. It's really good when it's a big group of guys, like business men, then you just flirt and shake your ass and the money rolls in."

"Guys are so stupid," Simone said. All the girls laughed.

"Come, on Jess I'll give you a ride home." Kay and Jessica headed to the parking lot to Sam' beat up old truck that had gone to Kay. They piled in and roared off.


Jessica barely had time to do a little homework before she had to shower and get ready for work at their local Jack-In-The Box. Despite her mother's wishes Jessica had applied and got the job. She liked working and supporting herself. This way she had her own money and didn't have to beg for it, and she could save up for her own car instead of borrowing her mother's all the time. Even thought the Box was open 24 hours, Jessica just worked the late shift. She still had school to think about.