Chapter 8:
January 24, 2002
Today was fantastic. Miguel came over, and we hung out together all night. I know that it won't be long before he realizes that I'm the one he loves—not Charity.

Tonight was perfect. It was me and Miguel, together just as we are supposed to be.

There was only one problem—Reese was there.

And it's not even so much the fact that he was there that was the problem. Reese has hung out with us before since we started dating, and he had never posed a problem before.

But tonight he said some things that made me question if he really was over me, as he so claimed. He told me that I didn't belong with Miguel… implying that he thought that I belonged with him.

I don't belong with Reese! I've known that for years now. I love Miguel, not Reese.

Never Reese.

But Reese has always been the brainiac that knows everything… a part of me wonders if he's really wrong about this.

But more importantly, would it really be all that horrendous if he is right?

"Reese Michael Durkee!" Kay exclaimed once she realized what had happened. Reese had just dragged her out of the living room into the kitchen! "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 in surprise. "What do you mean by that?"

Reese sighed. "Nothing. I just thought that you looked unhappy, so I thought I'd try to cheer you up."

Kay knew that there was something that she wasn't telling him but she would have time to figure out what it was later. Besides, figuring out what he meant by cheering her up was certain to be more interesting. How on earth did he plan to accomplish that?

With a roll of her eyes, she asked, "How, Reese? By telling me about all this new proof that Tabitha is a witch and that her doll is alive?"

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

Why couldn't Reese understand that Tabitha was simply their kind neighbor and that Timmy was simply her doll? Trying to prove that these theories of his were true was nothing more than an exercise in futility.

"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.

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

Kay knew that Reese had loved her for years, but she had had no idea that his infatuation had been so powerful. If he was jealous of her relationship with Miguel, it was too bad for him. There was no way she was going to give up what she had waited for her whole life to pacify Reese!

"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?"

Reese paused, as if he was looking for the right words to say. Kay wished he would just realize that there were no 'right words' so he might as well give up the search. She belonged with Miguel, and there was nothing that he could say to change that.

"Kay, think about your 'relationship' ever since you first started dating. How many times have you been alone, just the two of you for more than five or ten minutes? How many times has Miguel whispered sweet nothings in your ear or given you a romantic gift?"

"Reese, we don't spend time alone because we thought that our friends supported our relationship, but that decision might have to be rethought. As for the soft words and the presents, we've only been going out for two weeks, Reese. Miguel and I haven't progressed to that point of our relationship. Give it time, Reese, and you'll see I'm right," Kay replied confidently.

"Fine, Kay, if you say so," Reese replied with a sigh.

Kay thought that Reese was finally finished talking, so she pivoted on her heel to return to the living room, where her boyfriend awaited. But Reese wasn't done.

"Kay, how many times has Miguel spent more time talking about Charity and Christopher than you and your relationship? How many times has Miguel gone out of his way to talk to Charity when you're hanging out together? How many times has he ignored you to stare at Charity? How many times, Kay? How many times??" Reese asked forcefully.

"Reese, it doesn't matter. Miguel is still getting over Charity, but soon he'll realize that he loves me and not her."

"Dammit, Kay! I always thought that you were the most fiery woman I had ever met, and I loved that about you. But ever since you and Miguel got together, you seem like almost a different person. You let him walk all over you, do whatever he wants because you're afraid to lose him!"

"What the hell do you know about it, Reese? This is my life you're talking about here—not some example in your psychology book!"

"Kay, I know exactly what I'm talking about. This is not only your life that we're talking about here, but my life as well. Remember our relationship? I know it wasn't the greatest part of your life, but it was the best part of mine. Every day, I let you do or say whatever you wanted, afraid that one day you'd realize that I wasn't the guy for you and afraid that you'd fall out of love with me.

"But I shouldn't have worried about you falling out of love with me, Kay. I should have worried that you would never fall in love with me!"

"How is this relevant, Reese? Miguel loves me—he just hasn't realized it yet," Kay insisted.

"Kay, open up those beautiful blue eyes of yours and look around! Miguel is still in love with Charity!! He always has been, ever since she came into his life."

"But she wasn't supposed to come into his life! Miguel was supposed to be mine! I've known him longer; I've loved him longer! Finally, Reese, Miguel is mine. And no one—not you, not Charity, no one—will take him away from me!"

"Dammit, Kay! He's only using you to try to make Charity jealous! He's using you just like you used me!"

Kay was shocked. How dare Reese accuse Miguel of such a thing. Miguel wasn't using her! He wouldn't do a thing like that—not to her!

Without a second thought, her hand came out slapping Reese hard across the jaw, leaving a bright red mark.

"You're still in love with me!" Kay accused. "After all of this talk about being over me and moving on with your life, you're still in love with me!" Kay gasped in realization after she realized what this was all about. "You're jealous of Miguel!"

"Kay, while I do still love you, I'm not jealous of Miguel. He may have you, but he doesn't have the Kay I had, the Kay that I love. The Kay I love died the day that you started dating Miguel."

Without another word, Reese turned and walked into the family room, saying his goodbyes to Miguel and Charity before walking out the door and, presumably, heading home.

Kay was steamed. How dare Reese get her all worked up and then walk out on her? She wasn't finished with him yet!

With a sigh, Kay walked into the family room and saw Miguel and Charity with their heads bent together, talking quietly. Reese's words flowed through her head, but she shoved them out, reminding herself that they were only talking because she hadn't been in the room. Jessica was babysitting, so Charity had been the only other person for him to talk to.

But a nagging doubt, that sounded a hell of a lot like Reese, kept asking her why Miguel always talked about Charity or asked about her before he asked about Kay. Miguel loved her, didn't he?