Chapter 13

Kay was frantically throwing clothes all over her room while Simone and Charity watched, amused at their friend's sudden girlie behavior.

"You know Kay, there are unclothed children in the third world who could use some of that stuff you're throwing around," smirked Simone.

Kay stopped throwing clothes on her bed and whirled around to face Simone, looking panicked. "Oh no! You're right. Okay, I promise to donate it all tomorrow, is that good?"

Charity laughed at her and replied, "No, it's not good, those shoes are mine and the clothes are all Simone's. You can't donate stuff you don't own; Simone was just teasing you." Hanging out with the chicas at the gym had greatly improved Kay's figure. She was never going to be a waif like Charity because of her height and build, but since Simone was. voluptuous, most of her clothes fit.

Flustered, Kay looked at Simone, who fell off the edge of the bed laughing. "Kay, I'm sorry," she said as she righted herself. "You're just too cute running around like that. I will donate those clothes when you're done, if that makes you feel any better. I always donate my wardrobe at the end of the season."

Kay grinned sheepishly. "I am in a bit of a tizzy, huh?"

"Yes, a bit of a tizzy," Charity repeated in a British accent. "Will you be having biscuits and Earl Grey to calm yourself now?" She threw a pillow at Kay. "Seriously, though, I see why, that Miguel sure is a hottie. And I remember how great his arms felt wrapped around me at my birthday." Charity ducked as Kay lobbed the pillow back at her.

"You think he's so hot, YOU go out with him tonight," Kay retorted. "Would save me tons of stress."

"Oh no, you don't," Simone jumped in. "You and Miguel need to spend time together." Her tone turned serious. "Kay, this past month of chicas' nights and such has been wonderful, but you'll appreciate us lots more when we're not just a way for you to forget you have other friends."

"You guys, I love chicas' night because I spend time with you, not because I'm replacing Miguel or Nic.replacing people." Kay finished lamely.

Simone grinned. "Prove it, then, that you're not replacing Miguel or Nic.I mean PEOPLE with us by going out with Miguel and having a great time."

Kay grinned back and dodged another pillow, this time thrown by Simone. "Okay then, I will. Hand me that shirt with the flowing sleeves."

Charity through it at her and commented, "Kay, you naughty girl, it's see- through!"

Kay winked at them. "I know." -------------------------------

"Goodnight, Miguel, it was fun!" Kay smiled at her friend. She couldn't believe she thought tonight was going to be such a big deal. Once they'd gotten past the initial awkwardness, it had been just like old times. At certain points, she recognized the old crush about to flair up, but it wasn't overpowering and didn't guide all her actions like before.

"Yeah, it was," Miguel replied. But are you sure you don't want me to walk you home?" Miguel was worried about the walk she had with it being so late. The area around campus was pretty safe during the day, but at night, there were lots of muggings.

"I'm fine, you nut. I can protect myself," Kay said, almost self- depreciatingly. Miguel didn't smile back. "Kay, it's not about size, it's about being safe. Let me walk you back."

Kay was getting confused and more than a little perturbed at his sudden chauvinism. "Miguel, with you, it's all about size, all the time, remember? I'll be fine," she insisted. Catching sight of the concern clearly on his face, she decided to soften her tone a little. "See you tomorrow, okay?"

Miguel reluctantly agreed. There was something about what she'd just said that he wanted to argue with, but he couldn't figure out what it was at the moment. "G'nite Kay, see you tomorrow."

Kay began the long walk home, suddenly not as secure as she'd felt a minute ago about her safety. Don't be stupid,, she said to herself. You can always take care of yourself.

Nevertheless, she picked up the pace as a car slowly approached from behind her. "Hey there big girl," called a slightly slurred voice from the window. Kay walked even faster and ignored the man. "Want company tonight?" the man continued.

Disgusted by the gross invitation, Kay began to lightly jog, moving further away from the road as she went. She heard feet pounding behind her and quickened to a sprint. Despite her recent forays into the gym, she wasn't sure she could keep the pace up for long, but she'd try. The man in the car kept yelling things at her, his speech getting more slurred and more explicit as he continued. The steps behind her were getting closer. She reached for her phone in her bag and dialed number 1 on the speed-dial. Miguel picked up immediately.

"Miguel, I'm sorry, I should have accepted your offer, I'm running away from some guy now, I'm going to backtrack to your place because it's closer okay? Can you let me in?" Her words were released on a gasp, as she was becoming winded. The response made relief swirl through her.

"Kay, stop running, it's me behind you, you nut!" Miguel yelled into the phone.

Kay immediately stopped, and the man in the car took this as a signal that she was finally responding to his advances. She prayed that Miguel would catch up to her quickly. The drunk man began to get out of his car. Kay slowly backed away, filled with dread as she realized she didn't hear footsteps anymore. Where the hell is he?, she screamed in her head.

Suddenly, the drunk man staggered backwards as if jerked by a collar. He slammed against his own car, as a shape in front of him began pounding into him.

"Miguel, stop it!" Kay screamed. "I'm fine now, you'll get in trouble!"

Miguel could barely hear Kay over the anger pounding through him. But slowly, her words sank in Breathing heavily, he released his grip on the man and allowed him to slump to the ground. He whipped around.

"Kay, are you alright?" Miguel's anger, needing an outlet, transferred to Kay. "I told you that I should walk with you, why the hell are you so friggin' stubborn? I could have protected you from that!" He was screaming at her now.

Suddenly, his anger had faded, leaving him with only fear. Miguel panicked as he realized exactly how afraid for Kay he was. His Kay had almost been. he didn't want to finish his thought.

Kay, for her part, was still seething with rage, and welcomed Miguel as its target. "You ass. I could have handled the idiot in the car. I was afraid of the guy chasing me, who turned out to be you, you moron!"

Fear for her had him yelling back, "What do you mean you could have handled the guy in the car?! He wanted to."

"I know what he wanted! The same thing that they all want. They see some unattractive woman and think they're doing her a favor by calling out to her. It's nothing different from any other night," she finished.

Miguel's anger returned, and he welcomed it. Anything but this all encompassing fear. "Every other night? This happens all the time? What kind of freak thinks that's okay?"

"A FREAK?! Now you think I'm a freak? Just because I can take care of myself? Miguel, I don't want to talk about this anymore. I'm fine now, the whole neighborhood knows I'm fine now, you can go home now." Kay angrily wiped her face as she realized that tears were coursing down her cheeks.

Miguel saw them too and was instantly sorry. "Kay, please. I only meant that."

"You only meant that I'm a freak because I don't fawn all over you like all the other women do, that I'm not acting simperingly grateful that you came to my rescue, that I don't think I needed rescuing. You only meant exactly what you said." Kay began to walk away from Miguel, towards her apartment.

"Kay stop!" Miguel yelled. "Just stoop! That's not what I meant at all. I meant that it's freaky how you seem to think that that idiot's behavior is normal, how you think that it's normal for stuff like that to happen because of your size. It's not normal, it's not okay, and if me walking with you will prevent that, it's not a matter of you not being able to defend yourself, it's a matter of me being able to help you."

Kay turned slowly around. "You don't think I'm a freak because I could have fought off the guy if I'd had to?"

Miguel grinned at her. "I think it's great. Next time, would you mind stepping in? I think I bruised my fist and I could have used your help with the loser."

Kay smiled back. "Don't worry, Miguel. You and me, we'll beat up the next pervert together."

Miguel felt relieved to see her smile again. He suddenly felt responsible for making sure she never had a reason to cry again. "Hey Kay, I'm beat, and your place is still pretty far away. Why don't you take pity on me and crash at my place tonight?"

Kay was immediately nervous. "Miguel, I don't think that's a good idea. Look, I'll be fine."

"Oh no. We've had enough of you being fine on your own tonight. I must have given you the impression that you had a choice in the matter. You're crashing at my place tonight," Miguel insisted.

Kay grinned sheepishly and silently agreed. "I could have kicked his ass, you know," she said to him as they began walking back towards his place.

"I know," Miguel stopped and looked at her. It's kind of nice being able to look a woman in the eye, he noticed. "Kay, I."

Kay returned his steady gaze and smiled slowly. "Thank you, Miguel," she said, interrupting his sentence. She leaned in and gave him a hug, that he returned. Not one of his goofy bear hugs, but a brief squeeze that allowed the physical closeness they needed to mirror the emotional one they both felt. Miguel, not wanting their connection to end, let his hand continue to rest on her hip as they continued walking to his place in silence.

As he fumbled through his pockets for his keys at the door, Kay let her head fall softly to his shoulder. In her exhaustion, she forgot about the caution she normally took to minimize contact between them.

Miguel's reaction was swift and jarring to both of them. He instantly tightened his grip on her hip and pulled her closer, all thoughts of keys leaving his mind as he focused on the soft figure by his side.

Kay, instantly alert with his response, lifted her head and met his eyes with surprise.

Miguel's eyes widened as they stood face to face once more. "Your eyes are beautiful," he murmured without thinking.

Her slow smile, so similar to all the thousands of others she'd graced him with over the years seemed different somehow.

"Must be the lights," he whispered, again without thinking.

"Hmm?" Kay questioned.

Miguel cleared his throat and mumbled, breaking eye contact, "The lights. uhhh. they must be different here or something."

Kay grinned knowingly as her heart soared in recognition of the feelings she'd seen in his eyes. Even if he hadn't realized it, Kay could finally believe they had a chance. She wasn't sure that it was meant to be, but after so many years of waiting, she thought she deserved a chance.

"Yeah, your eyes look kinda funny too," she said, giggling.

Miguel found his keys finally, and let them in.