I sat on the bleachers absolutely miserable pondering the events of the evening. I felt horrible in that expensive pink dress. It was like the whole world had gone crazy and it was all my fault. I'd lost Ray and he'd lied to me. I'd messed things up with Ronnie. Rev was hurt and that was partly because I hadn't said something sooner about what Ray was planning to do. Everything was so screwed up and I wondered how things could have been different. Trying not to cry I looked out on the dance floor as couples swayed to the soft music of "Have You Seen Her?" by the Chi Lites.

"Now you know you look way too pretty to be sitting here with that long face."

I looked up and there was Rev smiling at me.

"Hey Rev. What's up? How are you feeling?"

"I've been better but it's okay", he shrugged. "What about you?"

"I don't know", I shrugged.

"Well let's see...you're at a dance and I'm at a dance and we're supposed to be having a good time, right? You look beautiful in your new dress and I hope I'm pretty fly in this suit so what do you say? Would you do me the honor, Miss Davis? May I have this dance?"

I smiled and gave Rev my hand as he led me to the dance floor. We moved to the beat of the music, ignoring some of the stares from ignorant onlookers.

"Rev...there's something I have to tell you. I don't want you to be upset with me but I want you to hear the truth and I want you to hear it from me. It's about Ray and me and you how you got hurt tonight."

"I already know."

"You do?"

"Yeah. Gerry filed me in."

"And you're not mad?"

"Mad? Mad at you? Why would I be mad, Mary-Courtney? I'm proud of you. I know it wasn't easy for you to go to Boone and Gerry tonight and tell them the truth. It took a lot of guts and I really respect you for it."

"Yeah but what if I had told sooner? What if I hadn't been such a dumb ass and believed all Ray's lies? Then you never would have gotten hurt, Rev. None of this ever would have happened to you."

"What if, what if? Don't beat yourself up over it, Mary-Courtney. It's okay. You did the right thing. None of this is your fault. You're a great girl. Nobody has ever stood up for me like that. I really appreciate it. If Ray wants to be a jerk, then let him. You can't change people and make them into the people you want them to be. Sometimes you've got to cut a man loose. But you know what? It's his stupidity and his loss. Let him go. You're better off. And you have tons of people around here who really care about you."

"I know you guys care about me and I really care about you too but I'm afraid I've messed things up with the person that matters most, Rev."

"Oh? I'm not so sure, Mary-Courtney."

"What do you mean?"

Rev pulled away and there was Ronnie looking oh so dapper in a new suit. I couldn't believe that he was actually there right in front of me.

"Hey Rev."

"What's happening, Sunshine?"

"Nothing much, man. Do you mind if I cut in?"

Rev smiled and looked at both of us.

"As long as the lady is okay with it. Mary-Courtney?"

I nodded and Rev winked as he walked off leaving the two of us alone.

"I'm really sorry, Ronnie", I began. "I screwed up."

"It's okay."

"No it's not okay. I made a real ass of myself and I know it. And I hurt your feelings in the process. That isn't right."

"It's over with now. Ray was your lesson learned, I guess."

"I guess. Some lesson", I muttered.

"That's what life is about, good times and bad. Sometimes we make mistakes but oh well, we're only human, right? Isn't that part of growing up? As long as we learn from the mistakes then what is the harm, right?"

"The harm is that Ray is a horrible person and I can't believe I couldn't see his true colors. The harm is that Rev got hurt. The harm is I had something really special with a fantastic guy and I probably blew it because I was too afraid to realize and appreciate it."

"Do you believe in fate? Kismet? If what you had was so special and if this mystery guy is as fantastic as you say he is, then maybe it'll all work out. Maybe it's meant to be."

"I don't know. Maybe...I guess I need time and space now. I need to heal from Ray. I need to get myself together before I can be there for anyone else. This mystery man, as you put it, well he's a really great guy and I care very deeply for him. I think we could have something special and real. I just don't want to mess it up again."

"I think your mystery man cares for you a lot too. I think he's willing to be as patient as you need him to be."

I looked up at Ronnie and smiled. He was something else!

"Thanks Ronnie. Thank you a lot for being so great and always being there for me even when I'm a brat and I don't deserve it. Most of all thanks for not saying that you told me so all along. You knew exactly what was going on when I was prancing around with that stupid ring on my finger and...I just appreciate you being so cool about it now."

"I didn't come here to say I told you so", he smiled. "I just came here for a dance."

I buried my face deep in his shoulder as the Bee Gee's "How Do You Mend a Broken Heart?" began to play.

And how can you mend a broken heart? How can you stop the rain from falling down? How can you stop the sun from shining? What makes the world go round? How can you mend this broken man? How can a loser ever win? Please help me mend my broken heart and let me live again.

Truer words had never been spoken but none of that mattered anymore. All that mattered was that I was back in Ronnie's arms again, a place where I felt happiest and most protected.