Chapter 5:
January 9, 2002
Miguel is going to drive me crazy! Ever since he and Charity agreed to take a break (which we all know will be temporary), he has been hanging around constantly.
At first, I had believed that it would be just like old times. Kay, Miguel, and Reese—the Three Musketeers, the Three Stooges. But it wasn't the same, not anymore. Not when Miguel spent all of his time grieving for his 'dying' relationship.
From the beginning, I knew that Miguel was late to the Book Café because of one woman. Kay. It was obvious that it had been a part of the plan that she had desperately needed Simone's help with.
When Charity had blown up at Miguel, I had been shocked. Who wouldn't have been? Charity went from 'Save me from the evil, Miguel!!' to 'Maybe Miguel isn't ready for a long term relationship.'
Ever since she had moved to Harmony, I thought that Kay had definitely gotten her spunk from the Bennett side of her family. After all, Charity seemed to be one of the most passive people on the globe. But after Charity's explosion, I'm no longer certain. Perhaps she inherited it from the Standish side of her after all.
But the change in Charity wasn't all bad. In fact, I thought that it was good. Charity needed to learn to stop letting people walk all over her, and if Kay's plan allowed that to happen, I guess that it's good that it worked.
So, Kay's plan didn't get her any closer to a date with Miguel, and I hoped that maybe she'd realize that he'd never stop loving Charity. And then maybe she'd realize that I was the one for her.
But today, Miguel asked me a question that changed everything…
"How can she do this?" Miguel asked. "How can she look at him, and flirt with him, and—and go out with him as if what we have doesn't mean anything?!?"
"Miguel, you agreed to take a break," Reese reminded him gently.
"No, Reese. She wanted to take a break. I was perfectly happy with everything the way it was." Miguel stopped to glance over at his friends. "We were in love, guys, and everything was perfect."
"Miguel," Kay began softly, as she gently laid a hand on his shoulder. "Isn't the whole point of 'taking a break' that you figure out if you're really meant to be together? I mean, yes, the two of you have been enormously happy together, but neither of you have never been in a serious relationship with anyone else. Neither of you have really stopped to think, 'what if we're not soul mates?' Miguel, now you have a chance to do that."
Reese refrained from rolling his eyes. How had he ever mistaken Kay's subtle 'Date me! Date me!' hints for friendly concern?
"Kay," Miguel began, in a tone that implied that he was about to state the obvious. "I know, deep in my heart where it really counts, that we are soul mates. I don't need to kiss, let alone date another girl to realize that."
"Miguel, I know that it can be hard to imagine that you and Charity aren't meant for each other, but what if you wake up one morning 20 years from now, realizing that you made a big mistake. That, in reality, you're true love is one of your coworkers, your waitress at your favorite restaurant, or your best friend? Do you really want to risk losing out on a lifetime of happiness simply because you can't take advantage of this golden opportunity?"
Reese almost laughed. Obviously, when Kay had mentioned falling in love with his best friend, she had been referring to herself. Could she have been any more obvious about her interest in their best friend?
"Kay," Miguel began, but Kay cut him off.
"Miguel, just think about it. Please!" she begged.
"Kay, I had no idea that my happiness meant so much to you. I'll think about it—for you."
Kay flashed him a grateful smile. "Your happiness means the world to me," Kay informed him with a grin.
Yeah, his happiness with you means the world to you, Reese amended in his head.
With a sigh, Reese reminded himself that it didn't matter how transparent Kay's words were, Miguel was probably the densest teenager in Harmony. Kay had been coming on to him for years, and he had yet to notice. Hell, Kay could probably strip for him, and he'd think that she was too hot.
Yeah, he had nothing to worry about. Given time, Kay would realize that he was the man that she really loved. She would realize that Reese was the man she was meant to be with—not Miguel.
~*~*~*~
"Reese, what would you think if I asked Kay out?" Miguel asked out of the blue as the two guys headed towards the Bennetts' home.
Reese froze. Did he hear him right? Miguel was thinking about asking out Kay?
"Reese, buddy, say something. If you have a problem with it, I won't do it. I mean, you guys just broke up, and I don't want to lose a friend by doing this."
Reese shook his head, trying to get his mind back into the conversation. "No, no. I'm sorry, Miguel. I was just caught off-guard. You want to ask out Kay?"
Reese couldn't believe it. Of all of the gorgeous women at Harmony High, Miguel had to choose the one that Reese had loved practically since birth. The woman who had been forced to break up with him after he had realized that she really loved Miguel.
"Yeah, why not? I mean, she's my best friend, so it's not like anything will actually happen with us. And it will fulfill her little request that I 'take advantage of this great opportunity.' Reese, I don't want to date anyone other than Charity. But if it's Kay, it's almost like we're just hanging out."
Reese knew that Kay wouldn't see it that way. She would think that her prayers were finally being answered. That Miguel was finally beginning to see that she was the woman for him.
But that wasn't it at all. Miguel was asking her out to pacify her requests, not because he loved her or wanted her. If Reese gave Miguel the go-ahead, Kay's heart was sure to be broken.
But if Reese told Miguel that he didn't think that he should ask out Kay, he would be forced to endure question upon question.
"Why not Kay? What's wrong with Kay?"
"If not Kay, then who? Who should I go out with?"
And, then of course, "Reese, do you not want me to go after her because you're still in love with her?"
But Reese could handle the questions. He'd been listening to Miguel bemoan the temporary loss of his beloved Charity for days now. Answering his questions couldn't be much worse than that.
But if Kay ever found out that Reese had discouraged Miguel from asking her out, he would lose her. It had been hard enough to deal with the fact that Kay didn't love him like that.
But living without her in his life seemed almost impossible. Practically a fate worse than death.
Reese had a choice to make. And judging from the look on Miguel's face, he had about ten seconds in which to make it.
Could his life get any worse?