Kay Bennett was at her wits end. She took another
sip of coffee as she watched Miguel fall all over himself trying to impress
Charity. They had been sitting in the coffee house for about an hour now
and Miguel had glanced up at her about twice. She remembered a time not
too long ago when she and Miguel would come to the coffee house and sip
hot cocoa and talk about school or their next softball game. Was it just
a few months ago that she had been the closes person to Miguel? Was it
just a few months ago that she was finally sure that she and Miguel were
ready to take their friendship to the next level? Of course that was all
before Charity came to town and ruined everything for her. In one brief
moment Miguel had been bewitched by Charity and all her dreams of a future
with Miguel had been shattered. She looked up from her train of thought
and noticed that Miguel and Charity were staring at her.
"Kay are you all right?" asked Charity truly concerned
about her cousin. Charity didn't know Kay very well, they were virtually
strangers, but Kay had been so nice to her, giving her her room, letting
her spend so much time with her best friend Miguel Lopez-Fitzgerald
and treating her more like a sister then a long lost cousin. Kay had done
all of this with a smile on her face, but Charity knew that it had to be
hard on her. She admired Kay for her ability to share so much of what was
hers to a stranger. She just wondered if she would ever be that strong.
"Yeah Kay," said Miguel giving his best friend a big
goofy grin. "You looked like you were miles away."
"Well I was just thinking at the school play," said Kay
smiling as she remembered all the times that Kay and Miguel played opposite
each other. "I can't wait to start rehearsals."
"Me neither," smiled Miguel.
"What play are you talking about?" asked Charity curiously.
"Its the annual end of the year pageant. They do it every
year. This year they are doing Sleeping Beauty, it should be fun," said
Miguel.
"Yeah," smiled Kay anticipating when she and Miguel would
finally be able to spend some time together sans Charity. "Every year Miguel
and I are picked for the lead roles. I guess everybody sees us as a team,
right Miguel."
"Yeah I guess," said Miguel shrugging. "You know what?"
asked Miguel brightening up you would be perfect for the part Charity."
Kay's heart dropped. How could Miguel just say that the
play was something that she and Miguel always did together. It was there
little tradition. How could he do this?
"Me in a play? No way," said Charity blushing. "I wouldn't
be any good."
"Are you kidding me? As beautiful and as sweet as you
are Sleeping Beauty was made for you." smiled Miguel touching her hand.
"Oh Miguel," said Charity trying really hard not to blush.
Miguel was another person in town that had gone out of his way to be nice
to her. Before the fire and she lost her memory Miguel said that they were
together. There were times when she found that hard to believe, times when
she found herself scared of him for no reason, but then there were other
times like now when he was smiling at her and looking at her like she was
the only person in the world that she found it so easy to believe that
it was true.
Kay noticed the looks that were floating between the
two and felt sick.
"But Miguel," said Kay trying to get control of the situation
before it got out of hand, "the play was something that we always did together."
"Yeah Kay, I know but I can't think of anything that
I'd like better then to play Prince Charming to Charity's Sleeping Beauty,"
smiled Miguel not taking his eyes of Charity.
Kay just looked at Miguel and tried not to cry. His words
broke her heart and stung her more then anything ever had. But she would
not cry. She would turn the situation around. She would get Miguel back.
She had to. She loved him.
"I think you've got your Grim Fairy tales mixed up,"
said Noah walking over to the trio. "Prince Charming is Cinderella's true
love."
"Noah," said Miguel jumping up and happily slapping Noah's
hand. "It's been a long time."
"To long," said Noah returning the affectionate gesture.
"So tell me," he said sitting next to Kay. "What are you three up too?"
"Well we were just talking about the annual play. I was
trying to convince Charity to go out for the lead" said Miguel.
"Yeah, but don't you and Mickey play the leads every
year," asked Noah smiling at his sister.
"Apparently Miguel would prefer a new leading lady this
year," said Kay quietly. Noah immediately picked up on his sister's distress.
"Wow look at the time," said Charity getting up and grabbing
her stuff I have to get home and study for my Biology test."
"Hey why don't I help you I took Bio last year," said
Miguel getting up to.
"Thanks Miguel I appreciate this," said Charity smiling.
"Hey, I'll come to," said Kay determined not to let Charity
and Miguel spend any more time alone then they had to. "I'm really good
at science."
"Yeah, but uh don't you want to stay here and talk to
Noah I mean you guys must have a lot of catching up to do." Said Miguel
trying to think of a way to get Kay to stay. Kay was his best friend, but
Charity was the women he loved. She was just starting to trust him for
the first time after her accident and he wanted some alone time with her
to try rekindle their love.
"I see him at home," said Kay getting up.
"Yeah, but I'm not good at studying in a group I really
think that I could help Charity better if its just one on one you stay
here ok?" said Miguel helping Charity on with her coat.
"Yeah Mickey," said Noah gently pulling Kay down. "I
miss you lets catch up."
"Thanks so much for the thought Kay. You're the best,"
said Charity.
"See at home," smiled Noah as Charity and Miguel walked
out. Kay watched the two go and felt that feeling that she hated. The overwhelming
pain inside of her that made her want to lash out and do those mean and
manipulative things. She hated that feeling, but at the same time she was
never strong enough to resist them.
"Well Miguel was subtle," laughed Noah remembering what
it was like to have a major crush. "He's really got it bad."
"Yeah," said Kay trying to keep it together. "He did
everything but demand me not to come."
"Oh well young love," teased Noah.
At that a tear escaped from Kay's left eye. It was one
thing for her parents, Simone and her bratty sister to tell her that Charity
and Miguel were made for each other but to have her Noah say it. It was
more then she could stand.
"Hey Mickey what's wrong?" asked Noah suddenly concerned.
"Nothing," said Kay wiping her eyes.
"Don't nothing me Kay Bennett I know you. I know that
you are upset. I felt it a little when I walked in, hell I've been feeling
it since I came back," said Noah pulling his sister into a tender embrace.
"It's nothing really it's just a little problem that
I'm working on," said Kay taking comfort from their hug.
"Well why don't you tell your big brother I might be
able to help" said Noah gently stroking her hair.
"You know this may come as a shock to you but you're
not all seeing and all knowing," said Kay breaking away from the hug.
"What?" asked Noah in mock horror. "Oh my God."
Kay laughed at her brother's glibness and gently hit
his arm.
"Seriously its my problem, and I'd like to deal with
it on my own. I mean I know that mom and dad have tried hard to have this
whole Eight is Enough thing happening, but sometimes you have to deal with
a problem separate from your family." "Or in spite of them," thought
Kay.
Noah knew all to well what Kay was saying. He quickly
surpressed the memories of his last few weeks at school and simply said
"I know Mickey, I know."
"Oh man," said Derrick Williams coming to the Bennett
siblings table. "They will just let anybody back in this town."
"Well," said Noah smiling at his high school buddy. "It
isn't as shocking as the people that they let live here." he said getting
up and slapping Derrick's hand. "Long time no see brother."
"It's good to see ya brother," smiled Derrick.
"Well I sense a buddy reunion coming on," said Kay getting
up and gathering her stuff. "I better get out of the way."
"Hey we'll talk later ok Kay," said Noah looking earnestly
at his sister.
"Yeah later," said Kay kissing him on the cheek before
she left.
"Man that Kay is growing up fast," said Derrick sitting
next to Noah.
"Yeah its still hard for me to think of her and Jess
as anything but little girls," smiled Noah.
"So how long you in town for bro?" asked Derrick making
himself comfortable on the coffee house's plush couch.
"Actually I'm back for good," smiled Noah.
"That's great," said Derrick sitting up. "But uh why?
I mean your parents were so proud of you when you got that scholarship
to Harvard."
"I know, but Harvard just wasn't for me," sighed Noah.
"And Harmony University is?" Asked Derrick amusingly.
"Hey you go there," smiled Noah.
"Yeah, but I didn't get a scholarship to Harvard you
did. My parents decided to teach me a lesson and make me take out loans
for my education so I chose cheap. What did your parents say when you told
them. They must have freaked," said Derrick remembering how happy the Bennetts
were at Noah's going away party.
"Well actually I haven't told them yet," said Noah nervously.
"What?!!" said Derrick not sure if he had heard him right.
"You dropped out of Harvard and you didn't tell your parents. You mean
they think you're going back? That's great man real brilliant."
"Hey it's not like I'm not going to tell them," said
Noah I just haven't gotten around to it I mean they have been so busy and
with an extra sister in the house I barely have a chance to see them. Besides
I have been so busy with Theresa that..."
"Oh," said Derrick smiling mischievously. "The lovely
Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald. She wouldn't happen to be a factor in your decision
to trade an Ivy League education in for Harmony U."
"What?" responded Noah a little amused. "Theresa's just
a friend."
"A gorgeous friend," added Derrick.
"Yeah a gorgeous friend," laughed Noah.
"Yeah I mean her and her friend Whitney are the best
looking girls in this entire backwater town," smiled Derrick.
"The lovely Whitney Russell. The object of your obsession,"
laughed Noah.
"Obsession is strong word brother. Adoration, idolization,
affection maybe, but never obsession," laughed Derrick.
Whitney was well on her way to the end of her story of
how that guy she met at the youth center was hands down the
rudest, most obnoxious person she had ever met when she noticed that Theresa
wasn't listening.
"Theresa are you listening to me?" asked Whitney concerned
that Theresa had gone back to obsessing at Ethan.
"Yeah," said Theresa unconvincingly. "What's his name
is a toad. I heard every word."
"Actually I didn't use the word toad, but it does fit,"
said Whitney remembering once again how rude Chad was during their meeting.
She looked up at Theresa again and noticed that she was crying.
"Oh Theresa," said Whitney going to her friend. "You
have got to try to get Ethan off of your mind."
"I've been trying Whitney," said Theresa still crying,
"but it isn't easy. I think about him all the time. What we had and what
I lost because of my lies."
"Theresa you can't change the past," said Whitney hugging
her friend. "You have to find a way to move on."
"I know," said Whitney pulling away from the hug. "I'm
sorry I know I've been a downer for the last couple of days."
"The last couple of days?" smiled Whitney. "Try the last
couple of months face it Theresa you haven't been happy since this whole
thing with Ethan started. I mean correct me if I'm wrong but I thought
love was suppose to make you happy not sad."
"Look I don't want to talk about Ethan lets go inside
and get some coffee," said Theresa taking her friends hand.
Noah and Derrick noticed Theresa and Whitney walk in and
beckoned them to come towards them
At the site of Derrick Whitney's heart skipped a little
beat. She had a crush on Derrick all through her freshman year of high
school of course, he was a year older and was too busy dating all the pretty
girls in school to notice a gangly freshman that played tennis in her every
spare moment. They walked over to the guys who were calling them over and
sat down.
"Well speak of the gorgeous devils," laughed Noah putting
his arm around Theresa, who sat next to him.
"Only if you say nice things," smiled Theresa.
"So what brings you lovely ladies here?" asked Derrick
not taking his eyes off of Whitney.
Whitney noticed his stare and blushed. "Coffee," she
said nervously hopping he didn't noticed how his attention affected her.
"You know me and Derrick were just talking about how
great it would be if the four of us did something together," said Noah.
"Really?" asked Whitney smiling at Derrick.
"I don't know," said Theresa nervously. This set up seemed
to much like a date to her. That's the last thing she wanted. Noah was
a good friend and she liked them, but a double date. She wasn't ready not
after Ethan. Still it wasn't as if Ethan was waiting to take her back,
He hated her now. Maybe it would do her so good get out and get her mind
off of things.
"You don't want to go?" asked Noah a little hurt. He
really liked spending time with Theresa and he was hoping that she felt
the same.
"Actually yeah I do want to go. It should be fun," smiled
Theresa looking at Whitney.
"How about The Lobster Shack?" asked Derrick.
"Sounds good to me," said Whitney.
"Me too," chimed in Theresa.
"Great," smiled Noah winking at Theresa "its a date or
should I say two dates."
Ethan walked into the Crane living room and poured himself
a drink. He was having a really bad day. He couldn't stop thinking about
Theresa. Everywhere he turned, everything he did reminded him of her.
"This must be what hell is like," said Ethan.
"Well that depends on who you talk to and what your definition
of hell is," said Julian smiling as his startled son turned to see him
lying on the couch.
"Father I didn't see you there," said Ethan getting himself
together and sitting on a chair next to his father.
"Obviously. Trouble in paradise?" asked Julian smugly.
"What?" asked Ethan tersely. He barely knew his father
growing up. In fact, he was just getting to know him well since he moved
to Harmony for good this summer. And what he was getting to know he didn't
like to much. Julian Crane was a game player and Ethan was in no mood for
his games.
"Well," said Julian sitting up" with you and Gwen I mean
I know she spent the night..."
"I don't want to talk about Gwen." Said Ethan hoping
to put a quick end to this conversation.
"Ok lets not talk about Gwen, lets talk about I don't
know Theresa," said Julian emphasizing every syllable in Theresa's name.
Ethan just looked at his father in shock did he know
about his love for Theresa? He had been very careful not to let on how
he felt about her in front of his parents because he knew that they wouldn't
approve. He didn't want Theresa to have to suffer through their ridicule
and displeasure before he was sure that what they had could withstand it.
"Yeah,"
he thought. "What we had, What a joke,"
Julian noticed his son's shocked look and smiled. "Its
ok Ethan I know about you and Theresa and I approve."
"You do?" asked Ethan surprised. He knew what the Crane
name meant to his father and his grandfather and he couldn't believe that
Julian would ever sanction a union between him and their housekeeper's
daughter.
"Yeah son I mean Theresa's a little plain for me, but
she's still a woman besides they say that its the quiet ones that you have
to watch out for. I bet she's an animal in bed," laughed Julian.
"Father!!" said Ethan he couldn't believe that his father
actually said those words.
"Look Ethan," said Julian putting his hand on his shoulder.
"Hot-blooded men like us need a variety of women. We need to sow are wild
oats if you will. Theresa is perfect for that she is Pilar's daughter so
she knows all about discretion I mean who better to bed then our most loyal
servants offspring."
Ethan looked at Julian with contempt. How dare he talk
about Theresa that way. He may have his problems with Theresa, but he would
not stand by and let his father insinuate that she was some common whore
just around for his taking. Before Ethan could respond he heard foot steps
behind him.
Frank Lomax tentatively stepped into the Crane living
room. he had no desire to ever see this place again. All it was was a reminder
of his failure to catch Theresa, but if he was going to leave town he had
to settle his account. He couldn't wait to blow this town and leave this
whole case behind him. "Still," he thought thinking of Whitney, "It
wasn't all bad."
"Frank," said Ethan a little surprised to see Frank.
"What are you doing her?"
"Well I'm leaving town as ordered and I want to settle
our accounts," said Frank trying not to let his anger show.
"Well," said Julian getting up. "This seems like a personal
matter. I'll be going. Remember what I said son," smiled Julian as he walked
out.
"Oh please have a seat," said Ethan offering Frank a
drink.
"No thanks," said Frank shaking his hands and sitting
down.
"Look Frank um I think I owe you an apology I mean I
think I could have handled this whole situation better," said Ethan.
"Yeah I agree," said Frank looking at Ethan.
"Well uh I want to make it up to you," said Ethan getting
up and pulling an envelope out of the top desk drawer. "This is for you."
"What is it?" asked Frank opening it up.
"Your new work package I am officially making you the
head of Security at Crane Industries," said Ethan.
"Why as a bribe for not turning in your girlfriend?"
asked Frank.
At the mention of the whole stalking business Ethan flinched
a little.
"This has nothing to do with Theresa," said Ethan hardening
his voice and his expression. "You're a good detective. You have a great
record Crane Industry would be lucky to have you."
"Thanks," said Frank a little overwhelmed and excited
about the opportunity. "I accept your offer Mr. Crane."
"Good," said Ethan offering Frank another Brandy which
he accepted and sitting next to him. "So when do you leave?"
"In a few days, I have some odds and ends to tie up and
then I'm gone," said Frank thinking of Whitney.
"Well Gwen and I are going to The Lobster Shack for dinner.
I know how fond the two of you are of each other why don't you join us
for a sort of good bye/good luck with your new job dinner ." Frank smiled
at Ethan's words. He was happy that Ethan had gotten back with Gwen and
dropped that manipulative witch Theresa. "I'd love to," he said shaking
Ethan's hand.
"Good," smiled Ethan happy to at least be settling some
of the wrongs in his life.
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