Chapter 19

Blue light crackled through the air and all three were thrown onto the ground.

Instantly, Kay understood what had happened. Miguel was completely confused, and Charity thought she understood, but she was wrong.

Kay jumped up, seeing that if she didn't take charge and explain things, this could erupt into a huge mess. "Wow, that was some lightening, huh?" She began weakly. "You know, they said we'd get thunder and such today."

"Kay, what are you talking about," Miguel said incredulously. "Charity just smacked the hell out of me, and with you pulling on me from the other direction, it made the impact that much worse." He rubbed his sore jaw. "It was painful, but it was no lightening."

Charity and Kay exchanged looks and silently agreed to let Miguel delude himself. "Right, you're right," Kay responded. "Charity," she said, whipping around, "Why the hell did you hit Miguel like that?"

Confused, Charity answered, "Because he was making you cry!"

Kay grinned sheepishly, "Um..., Charity, we were both crying." Now, the rest of Miguel's face turned red to catch up with the red hand print Charity had left. "We just broke up and we were a little emotional, but he wasn't hurting me intentionally."

Now it was Charity's turn to look sheepish. She turned to Miguel. "I am so sorry..."she reached out to touch his cheek where her hand print glowed.

"NO!" Kay and Miguel shouted together for two very different reasons. Instantly, Charity dropped her hand. "Right, hehe, umm, I'm just gonna go grab that sandwich from the all night deli that I was on my way to get and leave you two to it, then." She turned to Kay and thought hard at her, "Call me, we have to discuss!" Kay nodded almost imperceptibly in response.

Kay and Miguel turned to each other. "Okay, um, how about we forget the last part of that and focus on the part where we both want to remain friends forever and ever," Kay suggested.

Miguel grabbed her in one of his wonderful hugs and whispered in her ear, "I'd love to."

As they walked in opposite directions, a figure moved out of the shadows towards Kay. She continued walking at the same pace, although she felt his presence behind her. She slowly reached for her canister of mace in her side pocket.

"No need for that, Kay, it's only me, and I don't plan on touching you today, especially not after that scene I just witnessed."

"Nicholas," Kay breathed wearily, "Of course it's you, you always seem to be lurking around when important conversations are happening or about to be happening."

Nicholas blushed and was thankful that they'd stepped into the shadows of a building so that Kay couldn't see. "Well, I find it interesting to observe these things, it helps me understand the depth of your manipulative powers."

Kay was completely confused and too weary to protest. "Look, Nicholas, why don't you tell me what you think you saw and then give me half a chance to respond before you interrupt and make fun of me again so I can get to sleep as soon as possible."

"Fine," Nicholas was stunned into submission. "I saw the blue thing that you claim doesn't exist between you and Miguel, but that clearly does knock you, Miguel, and that woman out."

Kay smirked in the dark. "Oh, is that what you saw? While you were snooping on me, did you happen to overhear anything?"

"Umm, no, I wasn't close enough, but I think what I saw sums things up pretty well."

"Nicholas, after the way you've treated me, I don't owe you any explanations..." Kay quickly flashed back to Simone's comments about Nicholas's current welfare.

---------------------------------------------------------------------- Nicholas has been moping around like someone killed his pet dog recently... ---------------------------------------------------------------------

Kay instantly softened and explained what had happened to Nicholas. "That blue that you saw, had nothing to do with me, it was between my EX," she emphasized, "and 'that woman' as you called her, who happens to be my cousin."

Nicholas snorted. "Wait, so you're trying to tell me that you didn't feel the blue between you and Miguel, but Miguel and your cousin do and you got caught in the crossfire just now? So your cousin and your SUPREMELY recent EX are each other's true love? I'm supposed to believe that load of..."

Kay pulled him close, careful to touch only the front of his shirt, "You listen to me, Nicholas Crane, I don't care what load of anything you believe, it's the truth. You're the one who was spying on a private conversation, I've explained to you all I'm going to tonight."

She moved as if to pull away, but Nicholas grabbed her by the waist and pulled her closer. As his hands moved to caress her cheek, she instantly felt the blue connection between them as was thrown into his embrace.

You're going to kiss me aren't you, she thought.

"I most definitely am," he responded aloud.

As they kissed, the connection was complete and the blue made them one again. To Kay, it felt like coming home after a long time in a strange country.

Nicholas, why are we so mean to each other? she asked through their connection.

I... Kay, I'm so sorry, he began to respond the same manner.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered aloud against her lips as he ended the kiss.

She pulled back, confused. "Nicholas, I didn't...." she began.

"I know, Kay," he interrupted. "I know you didn't mean for that to happen. But I'm still not ready for this," he winced as tears flooded her eyes. "I'm going to go now," he finished lamely.

Kay's expression turned lethal. "You coward," she spat at him. "You big coward, don't you apologize to me. I was fine without you these past few months and I'll be fine without you now. Just stop following me and stop approaching me with snide comments. I don't want to see you again, you hear me?" she yelled. "I don't want to see you again!"

She fled to her dorm room, tears pouring. She had never looked forward to the next day's chica's night as she did at that moment.

Nicholas, regretting the entire exchange promised to her silently to obey her last request.