Chapter 7:
January 24, 2002
Kay has been dating Miguel for over two weeks now. I still can't believe that I told Miguel that I was okay with him asking Kay out. It's so hard for me to watch… but not for the reason you may expect. It's not even the reason that I expected!!

Just looking at them together makes me heart ache. Kay looks at Miguel adoringly and obeys his every whim. Meanwhile, Miguel spends all of his time watching Charity or thinking about Charity. And Kay is blissfully ignorant—for now.

But I know that while ignorance can be bliss, it's often only temporary. It was in my case, and I fear that the same will be true for Kay.

Sooner or later, Charity will realize that she and Miguel are meant to be together. They'll get back together, leaving Kay alone with her broken heart.

Today, I tried to make Kay realize what she's getting herself into, but she wouldn't listen to me. She claimed that I was just jealous that she had found happiness with Miguel, rather than with me.

I love Kay more than I had ever thought possible, and her determination is one of the things I love most about her.

But why can't she realize that someday soon her stubbornness will cause her downfall?

"So, Miguel, what do you want to do tonight?" Kay asked Miguel, her love for him shining in her eyes.

"Well," Miguel began, tearing his eyes off of his ex-girlfriend who was sitting a table away with Christopher, "why don't we hang out at your place?"

"That sounds great, sweetie," Kay replied blissfully, softly kissing his cheek. "When do you think you'll come over?"

By then, Miguel's gaze had returned to Charity and Christopher. "Wh—what?" he asked, startled.

Reese rolled his eyes, but obviously neither of his friends noticed. Miguel was too absorbed in his jealousy to notice anything. Reese was surprised that Kay hadn't had to grab his face and stare him down to get his attention!

And as for Kay, she was too absorbed in the fact that she was finally involved with Miguel to realize that things were less than ideal. With a sigh, Reese admitted to himself that he was partially to blame for that. He had been Kay's only other serious relationship… and theirs had been more of a relationship that, well, wasn't.

Kay hadn't wanted to date him, despite what she might have said. So he supposed that this "relationship" with Miguel, although the better parts only existed in her mind, was better than anything that they had ever shared.

As much as it pained Reese to admit it, he suspected it that it was the truth. Kay had never loved him the way that she loved Miguel, so it only made sense that the relationship between her and Miguel would be more fulfilling.

The bell rang, bringing Reese out of his reverie. As he and Miguel walked towards their 5th hour English class, Miguel pulled his thoughts away from Charity long enough to talk to his best friend.

"Hey, Reese, you coming over to the Bennetts' with me tonight?" he asked after he and Kay parted ways.

Reese raised an eyebrow as he looked at Miguel in shock. "Isn't it supposed to be kinda like a date?"

"Aw, come on, Reese!" Miguel exclaimed. "We're just gonna hang out. Kay won't mind!"

Reese heard himself agree, even though he knew that Kay wouldn't be that excited to see him. He was sure that Kay had been hoping for some time alone with her boyfriend, but for some reason he felt that he needed to be there.

Reese twisted his combination lock with a sigh. Kay was sure to be less than pleased when Miguel arrive with him in tow. He just hoped that Miguel would provide distraction enough to protect him from Kay's wrath.

~*~*~*~

Hours later, Reese was sitting uncomfortably on the Bennetts' couch watching Miguel ignore his girlfriend. Charity was at home that night, as Miguel had probably suspected she would be. So instead of hanging out with Kay, he was allowing Charity to monopolize his time.

So Kay was sitting in the other corner of the couch, watching the mindless comedy that was filling the television screen. Reese watched her out of the corner of his eye, and he knew that she was telling herself that Miguel loved her, not Charity. He knew that determined look on her face, and he was sure that she was trying to convince herself that she meant more to him that she really did.

Then Miguel leaned in closer to Charity to whisper something in her ear. Charity giggled, and Kay's face fell. Reese did the only thing that he could do—he grabbed Kay's arm and dragged her into the kitchen.

"Reese Michael Durkee!" Kay exclaimed once she got over the shock of being dragged out of her seat. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"I should be asking you the same thing," Reese replied with a scoff.

Kay's jaw dropped. "What do you mean by that?"

Reese sighed. This wasn't the time to get into that. Kay wouldn't listen to anything that he said right now anyhow—especially not if it insulted her beloved Miguel. "Nothing. I just thought that you looked unhappy, so I thought I'd try to cheer you up."

Kay rolled her eyes. "How, Reese? By telling me about all this new proof that Tabitha is a witch and that her doll is alive?"

"Tabitha is a witch, and Timmy's alive! I'll prove it one day!" Reese insisted, offended.

"Whatever, Reese. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to go talk to my boyfriend." With a flip of her hair, she turned and pushed open the door to the living room.

Reese couldn't watch her leave and go moon over him. She was turning into him—and he wasn't going to let her get hurt like he did.

With a sudden movement, Reese grabbed her arm and spun her around towards him. "I'm not finished yet."

"God, Reese! What is your problem? We established that I'm in love with Miguel and not you. Just accept it and move on with your life!"

"Kay, this isn't about me. This is about you. You don't belong with him."

Kay just looked at him, her hand on her hip. "And I suppose I belong with you?"

"No… I mean, yes… I mean—" Reese sighed and threw his arms up in the air. "I don't know what I mean. I just mean that you don't belong with him."

"And how would you know?"

How would he know? He knew because of who she was. Kay was a beautiful woman, with laughter that tinkled like bells on a hillside. Her blue orbs sparkled like the sea, and she had a contagious grin. She was a wonderful woman, and she deserved better than Miguel. She deserved better than a man who thought of nothing but his ex-girlfriend.

But he couldn't tell her that. What was he supposed to say?