Music to Listen to while you Read:

* Can't Get it Out of My Head by John Paul White (available at projectplaylistDOTcom)

* Into Dust by Ashtar Command (available at projectplaylistDOTcom)

* Don't Say by Lola in the Fields (available at ImeemDOTcom)

* Still Lost by Tim McRae (available at ImeemDOTcom)

Moment of Truth

A restless Kyle broke away from his homework after he'd realized he read the same page of school notes 12 times. Yet again he found himself gravitating toward Jessi's room. Everything around him became blurry as he his urge to see her became a sharp hole in his being. The hallway was like a dark space and Jessi's room was the guiding light at the far corner. Kyle's eyes reached the space Jessi's half open door left for him. That open space forced Kyle to witness something he'd hoped he would never have to see. Kyle's face tensed, his jaw clenched, and he gripped the doorknob as if his life depended on it as he became infuriated. But his eyes could not drift from the scene. His anger translated into a burst of energy that blew the lights out in every orifice of the house.

***FLASHBACK***

Xander took Jessi home after school. It had become a treasured tradition for them. They talked about almost everything - exempting Kyle. Xander dared not push her but he knew there was more to her story with Kyle than she was ready to talk about. Jessi invited Xander up to her room this time around.

"Who's this?" Xander inquired as he held a picture frame.

"She...was my mother." Jessi looked down, turned away, and paced toward her bed.

After everything Jessi had said about her life, and now learning that her mother was dead, Xander hated that he couldn't protect her from all the tragedies she had suffered through in her life.

"Jessi." He put the frame back on her counter, and met her near her bed. They sat together. "I hope you know that I'm here for you, always." He cautiously lifted his hand and rested it on the side of her neck while his thumb caressed the jawline of her cheek. "You know that right?"

Jessi saw nothing but truth in his eyes. His frown proved his serious demeanor. He wanted her to know how he felt and she began to truly fathom how deep his feelings went.

"I believe you." Jessi smiled, then quickly became afraid and presented a broken grimace to the man who was falling in love with her. Her lips quivered. His other hand found its way to the other side of her neck. His focused eyes swam in hers with urgency. He wanted to see her happy again. He wanted to kiss her, but held back with all his might in fear that she wasn't yet ready.

"Jessi...I-" Then suddenly Jessi surprised herself when she crashed her lips onto his. Xander was stunned, but knew his heart was hers in that moment. He slowly, softly kissed her in response. Their lips danced together at a slow pace, but the dancing intensified. He wore her tears as they ran down her face one after the other, and found his hands gravitating down her shoulders, then up her back. Jessi finally let the last wall go and let herself be happy in that moment. Her pores swelled sporadically as her pulse carried tachycardia. Then a buzzing energy ripped the lights away, cloaking them in darkness. Their lips suddenly parted.

"What happened?" Xander muttered out of breath as his eyes wondered aimlessly in the darkness.

Jessi chucked to herself, "I guess there was a power outage."

"I could help you, try and fix it." He regretted his words. He didn't want the moment to end.

She huffed a smile and shook her head still lost in a slight trance. "It happens all the time. The lights should come back on soon."

Kyle walked outside for some fresh air and found himself standing in front of Amanda's house. Amanda appeared at her bedroom window, saw Kyle and met him outside. The two didn't take long to reach the inevitable conversation they knew they had to have.

"Hi." Amanda sounded peaceful.

"Hi." Kyle was glad to see her that way.

"Are you ok?" Amanda could tell Kyle was distressed - more than usual.

Kyle sighed with a broken grimace. "I should be asking you that question." He knew now just how badly he had treated her since they got back together.

"You don't have to say anything." Amanda offered. She knew he was sorry, and no longer harbored bitterness or resentment.

"I am so sorry. I'm sorry for everything. I let things spin out of control and I had the power to stop it, but I didn't." Kyle's voice broke as he spoke.

Amanda placed her hand over Kyle's lips. "We both knew this was over for a long time. I just think...we wanted to believe we were the people we used to be." Amanda let her grace take over as she realized she needed to share some of the responsibility.

Kyle sighed a grin, marvelled at her forgiving spirit. "No matter what I made you think, I truly do care about you Amanda. I always will - no matter what." Kyle hoped that sincere truth would offer Amanda some consolation.

"I feel the same way." She grinned.

They stood in the cold, staring at one another in silence.

Amanda sighed. "So, what now?"

Kyle raised his brows as he smiled hopefully and shrugged his shoulders. "Friends?"

"Really?" Amanda grinned a small toothy grin, but was hesitant about the idea.

"Amanda, I still want you in my life. I don't want to lose you." He confessed earnestly.

Amanda smiled hearing those words from Kyle. She was elated to know she still meant a lot to Kyle. "I don't want to lose you either." She sighed in concurrence. "We did have a great friendship."

Kyle smiled. "We did." He then stared at the girl he once loved, and leaned over to hug her goodbye, one last time. Amanda closed her eyes as Kyle pulled her into his chest, and they both took in the last moment in their chapter.

They broke their embrace and Kyle walked backwards a few steps before turning around.

"Oh, and Kyle?"

"Huh?" Kyle's head whipped around to her.

"Don't be afraid to follow you heart - wherever it leads you." Now that Amanda had let go of Kyle, she realized she truly did want him to be happy - even if it was to be without her.

"What do you mean?"

Amanda grinned. "You know what I mean, Kyle. If she's the one..." she nodded as she said her next words "...go after her." Kyle understood and looked back toward his house.

What if I'm too late...?

They remained in the dark, taken in by their kiss. Their hands still remained planted on the other's body.

"Jessi?" Xander huffed.

"Yes?" She was still breathless.

"Would I freak you out if I told you..." He breathed out his next words. "...I love you?"

Jessi's jaw dropped and her eyes wedged open wide as can be. But no words came out.

"Heh, I take it that by your silence, you're speechless." Xander chuckled unphased.

Finally, some words. "Xander...I'm-"

"I'll wait." Xander breathed out a smile. He knew her well. "I'll wait for as long as you want, Jessi." He meant every word.

She wanted to form words, but had nothing. She was a mute cripple in that moment.

"I um, I'd better get going." He smiled at her one last time. Holding onto their moment, he planted one last kiss on Jessi's forehead, and made his way out of the house.

As Kyle made his way across the lawn, he crossed paths with Xander.

"Hi...Kyle." Xander slipped the words out awkwardly with a forced grin.

But Kyle had no words or greetings prepared for the man. He simply kept on walking by, refusing to attempt a truce. Xander then stopped and turned toward Kyle.

"Kyle." Xander commanded.

Kyle halted but didn't turn around.

"You should know, that I told her I love her. And so long as she wants me around, I'm not going anywhere." Xander vowed with confidence. Then he disappeared into the night.

Kyle clenched his right hand into a fist as if ready to fight, but remained otherwise motionless. He soaked in this new bitter truth alone in the dark, then continued his way back into house towards Jessi's room - it wasn't over yet. As he made his way upstairs his determination and anxiety grew. His pace quickened as he reached the hallway, oblivious of the widespread darkness covering the house. He couldn't help but rush into Jessi's room using her heartbeat as a map. He finally burst through her door.

"Hi!" He barked bearing a longing anxiety with bloodshot eyes.

Jessi jumped, surprised she hadn't sensed Kyle sooner.

"Kyle?" The darkness made it difficult to focus on where he was as he stood still as a stone with a sure grip around Jessi's door knob.

Kyle wasted no time. He knew what he wanted - he was done being afraid. "I have to tell you something and-."

"I...I have something to tell you too." Jessi echoed quietly.

"Wait, just...let me go first." Kyle sighed and started over. "I need to tell you something but first you need to know that Amanda and I...it's over between us." Kyle realized how much he meant it when he said it out loud with urgency and confidence. "I th-"

"I think I'm falling in love with Xander." Jessi thought out loud to herself still slightly disoriented from her time with her boyfriend. "Wait what?" She had just registered what Kyle had said.

Kyle and Jessi suddenly saw eachother's faces as light crept its way back into the house. Jessi found Kyle's eyes and remained focused on them as she stood, and cautiously walked toward him. He remained still at her door, frozen in shock. The color drained from his face as devastation exploded from his chest. The blackout was over, but a whole new challenge had arisen.

******End of Season*******