Note: Climax point! (Wow, there's only like a few more chapters to go. Time flies.) How did you guys feel about that last part? Were you Harley/Ray fans pleased? (Yes, yes, it was a bit obvious, I'll admit, that the pairing would sway that way.) BUT! Jamie is back with a vengeance, and this fic is becoming more like a soap opera by the minute! The drama! The suspense! THE FISH! Review if it makes you happy!

Chapter Sixteen: Love and Lies

"Jamie?" Ray exclaimed in surprise, slightly embarrassed to have been seen kissing me.

And if he was embarrassed, imagine just how freaked out I was.

"Don't make eye contact," I whispered to Ray. "We don't need to talk to him."

"So, I see you two have kissed and made up," Jamie remarked, smiling. I recognized that smile. It was a mask that hid ugly feelings like hurt, betrayal, and jealousy. The last time I had seen that smile…was when I had broken up with Jamie in college. Now, staring into his intense gaze once again, I felt a tremor of fear crawl up and down my spine.

"I suppose you could say that," Ray replied cautiously, unsure of what that smile meant.

"Yes," I added. "We've overcome our differences, and we're together again. You know, together." I emphasized the word, hoping to imply that I had no interest in a relationship with Jamie.

"Well, I'll admit this has thrown me a little off-guard," Jamie chuckled. "I'm surprised, Ray. You didn't seem like the kind of man who'd…ah, never mind."

"The kind of man who'd do what?" Ray repeated, starting to get defensive. I clung to his arm and tried to pull him away.

"It doesn't matter. Let's leave."

"I'm what kind of man?" Ray challenged Jamie.

"Well, I didn't think you'd accept a woman who betrayed you once," Jamie explained. "It's a lesson I've only just recently learned." The word "recently" was directed at me, and my knees started to buckle in fright.

"The divorce means nothing," Ray protested. "She never signed the papers. I would hardly call her previous doubt a betrayal."

"What about…another man?" The word rolled off of Jamie's tongue casually, as if it were the most natural thing to say in the world.

"What?!" Ray shouted furiously.

"Please, Ray!" I begged, turning to him desperately. "Let's go. We don't need to hear what he has to say."

"Oh, I think he does need to know what I have to say, Harley," Jamie smirked. "You know about Harley's previous relationship with me, correct?"

"Yes…" Ray began slowly.

"I think it would interest you very much to know that Harley and I rekindled that relationship after your little separation," Jamie stated. "I admit, it was mostly my fault for entertaining the girl's fantasies, but when a door of opportunity knocks, it's best to open it—"

Ray's face turned pale as he turned searchingly from Jamie to me, his blue eyes pleading. That look, of utter shock and despair, awoke more shame in me than I could bear, and I turned away, covering my face in my hands. How could I face him?

"You're lying…aren't you?" Ray insisted. "I mean, Harley and I had our differences, but…but she'd never…"

"You poor man," Jamie said with false sympathy. "You mean Harley didn't tell you about the reasons behind the divorce?"

"What reasons?" Ray fumed.

"Why, namely, that she'd be able to marry me," Jamie spoke innocently, savoring the pain Ray and I were enduring. "I soon grew tired of her childish ways and decided it would be best if we broke up. So, I guess Harley just settled for you instead of me."

I snapped back to reality at what Jamie had just said.

What the fish…?

"That's not true!" I protested, clinging to him. "Ray, you have to listen to me! The divorce had nothing to do with Jamie, I swear!"

"…Get away from me," Ray hissed, knocking me away.

"But it's not true! I thought I wanted a divorce because I was so unhappy! But I just recently realized who was at fault for all this, who was really to blame. And it was—"

"Me, isn't it?" Ray snapped. "It's always my fault, isn't it, Harley? My fault you were married, my fault you were miserable, my fault that you were pregnant, my fault that you had no friends, my fault that you left me for Jamie?!"

"Ray!" I begged, tears streaming down my cheeks. "You don't understand! I really do love you!"

"How does it feel to be betrayed by the one you love the most?" Jamie asked Ray with a smile. "Isn't it a heart-wrenching agony? And now, to see her lie to your face—"

"Shut the fish up, Jamie!" I cried. "Ray, Ray, you have to listen to me, please!"

"What is there more to hear?" Ray replied icily. "I'm just a replacement for your precious Jamie. He broke up with you. Why shouldn't I?"

"Because I never loved Jamie! Oh, fish, don't you understand?!" I pleaded desperately. "Jamie proposed to me, but I swear I didn't accept his proposal! It was a one-sided love! It took me so long to realize it, but I love you, Ray. Can't we forget the past?"

"You can't even take responsibility for your actions?" Ray accused me. "Don't disgust me any more than you already have."

"But what can I do to make you understand?" I shouted. "I've made mistakes, and they were all my fault! Each and every one! But you can't possibly want it to end this way, can you?"

"…It's not a question of what I want," Ray murmured softly. "It's a question of what has to be done. I won't let you walk all over me anymore."

"Bravo, Ray!" Jamie applauded. "Don't let her tread all over you."

"Shut your mouth, Jamie," Ray growled, glaring at him. "Don't think you aren't to blame for this as well. If you ever pull anything like this again, I swear you'll regret it."

"Ooh, threatening me, are we?" Jamie smirked.

"Yeah," Ray stated firmly. "I am threatening you."

The fisherman cast me a glance, then closed his eyes and turned away, walking down the beach.

"But…I…Ray, please…!" My words became an unintelligible sea of sobs as my whole world collapsed around me. Everything was supposed to be perfect now. I was supposed to never be lonely again. My child was supposed to have a family. I wasn't supposed to be crying, watching the only man I've ever truly loved walk away from me.

"You!" I hissed, turning to Jamie. "You did this to me!"

"Did I?" he shrugged. "You never turned down my proposal, did you?"

"I--!"

"And quite honestly, I'm glad you think it's my fault," he smirked. "Harley, I thought you were over the fisherman by now. I thought you had grown up, and realized that I was the best bet you were going to get." A wave of jealousy crept into his voice as he continued. "It seems, however, that you are just an immature child, not worth my time. Harley, I'm sick of your fished-up emotions making my life a nightmare. It's not enough for you to turn me down once, but you have to do it again! And this time, it's for some fishing hobo?!"

"Oh, shut up!" I screamed. "Who cares about your stupid feelings? You've ruined me, Jamie! Ray won't come back. I—I'm going to be alone…for good."

"As you justly deserve." Jamie walked by and kicked me in the shin, sending me to the ground. "Consider yourself dumped."

I screamed in alarm at the pain. How evil can you get, kicking a pregnant woman?! As Jamie began to leave, suddenly I heard a voice say: "What the fish do you think you're doing?"

"Ray?" Jamie laughed, seeing the fisherman turn around at the sound of my cry. "Surely you can't be upset over a little punishment. After all, remember all she's done to you."

"It doesn't matter what she's done," Ray spoke angrily. "You just hurt the mother of my son!"

"Oh, what a scary little fisherman you are," Jamie taunted. "What are you going to do? Shove a fish down my throat?"

"I warned you," Ray reminded him, running closer with his fist raised. And to my surprise and astonishment, Ray—my fishing hobo husband—punched Jamie in the nose.

"Holy fish!" Jamie and I exclaimed in unison.

"Stay away from Harley," Ray threatened. "I told you not to mess with her."

"Aw, fish! I'm gonna sue you for this!" Jamie shouted, running off in fury. "You haven't heard the last of me, you fishing freak!"

"R-Ray," I stammered, trying to overcome the shock. "How did you--?"

"I learned from the best," he smiled weakly. "We should get that leg of yours checked."

"I thought you hated me…" I whispered.

"Part of me does," he admitted. "But I couldn't let Jamie hurt you like that. No one should kick a pregnant woman. It's just…evil."

"Jamie is evil incarnate," I agreed.

"Can you stand?" Ray asked me in concern.

"Kind of," I said weakly. "Urgh…How pathetic…"

"Come on," Ray said, placing his arm around me, "you can lean on me. We'll get to the Clinic as fast as we can."

"So, do you forgive me, then?" I asked hopefully.

"Let's take this one step at a time," Ray replied. "I…still have some thinking to do. But the priority right now is getting Alex to look at your leg."

"Okay," I said, somewhat dejected. But this is the first step, I reminded myself. Everybody has to take the first step.