Only Time ~ chapter 21 (Simone/Whit/Kay/Noah/Nik/Julian)
 by rockstar
 

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Only Time chapter 21

"I can't believe you did this, Kay. I told you not to go near that Crane! And what do you do?" Noah continued to yell.

"Jeez, Noah, I don't see why this is any of your business?" Kay said, sitting at the kitchen table of the Bennett home with her arms crossed tightly across her chest.

"It's my business because you're my sister. Come on, Kay, have you forgotten what these people are capable of?"

"These people? Oh, God, Noah, don't be so dramatic! They're not hired assassins."

"I would come closer trusting an assassin before a Crane."

Kay stood up and walked straight up to her brother, "You canNOT tell me what to do. I am 18 years old -- a legal adult -- and can do whatever I like. No permission needed."

"Have Mom and Dad heard this little speech into adulthood? I bet that's how you got your curfew extended." Noah said, sarcastically. Kay sighed and shook her head at him with a new approach.

"What happened to you?" Kay asked, as Noah gave a questioning look, "I mean, you use to be so cool. Whenever I got in trouble when I was a kid, you always bailed me out and covered for me. Ever since you came back home and married Whitney, you've been like someone I don't even know. And I don't think I want to."

With that, she turned around and walked up to her room, on the way she over heard Charity in her room talking to Miguel over the phone 'What he's not here?' Kay thought to herself. 'I bet if Charity wanted to date Nikolas Crane, everyone would be asking when the wedding date was.' Kay slammed the door to her room closed and slumped down on her bed before picking up the phone and hitting speed dial. No answer. Answering machine.

"Simone, it's me. You're probably getting riled by Whitney. I just got mine from Noah. I'm really beginning to hate having an older sibling. Call me."

Kay hung up the phone and within seconds it rang. "That was fast, Simone."

"No, sorry, try again. And if you get it right, I'll give you a prize."

"Nik!" Kay said, excitedly sitting up in bed.

"Kay. Hey, what's up? You were expecting Simone?" Nikolas said, sitting on the couch of Julian's library, his cell phone in hand. With all honesty, he didn't trust if any of the phones in the house were bugged.

"Yeah, I just called her. I think she's probably getting interrogated by her sister."

"I'm sorry about last night, Kay." Nikolas sighed.

"Don't be. You didn't do anything. I was all Noah."

"Yeah, but still, I did antagonize him a bit."

"Not as bad as Chad did."

"Yeah. Those two really hate each other. What's the deal with that?"

'He doesn't know.' Kay realized suddenly. "Bad chemistry. So listen, if anyone needs to be apologizing about last night-"

"You don't need to, Kay."

"Well, I wasn't. Actually I was going to say my brother should, but you shouldn't hold your breath on that one." Kay laughed.

"Don't worry, I won't."

"Good. Besides, I don't where he gets off telling me what to do? I mean just because he's my older brother? You have an older sister who doesn't tell you what to do."

"Livvie's a bit more relaxed than Noah, no offense."

"None taken."

"So...what are you doing?"

"Nothing." Kay said, sweetly.

"Well, how would you like to do nothing with me?"

"Sure. When?"

"Well, now, if you'd like. How about the Book Cafe? An hour?"

"Sure." Kay said, smiling up a storm.

"Unless you think that's too public? Your parents or your brother might see us." Nikolas said.

"So what if they do? They can't tell me what to do."

"Okay. I'll see you in an hour then."

"Yeah. Bye." Kay said hanging up the phone only to pick it up again. Ring. Answering machine, again. "Jeez, how long Whitney go on? All right, Simone, I'm going out, but call me on my cell later. I'm going to have tons to tell you!"

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The answering machine beeped off and Simone looked back at Whitney who had actually seemed to have calmed down.

"I don't want you to go there again." Whitney said, knowing Simone knew just where 'there' was.

"That isn't fair, Whitney." Simone stood up, upset, "Chad is my brother! And just because you can't stand to look at him or think about him, doesn't mean I can't."

"He's a Crane, Simone. Julian Crane's son. Alistair Crane's grandson. You can't trust what could happen around him or at that club. I mean it, if I find out you were at that club again,
I'll tell Dad and I don't think you'll want to know what he would do." Truthfully, Whitney didn't even want to know.

"You're my sister, Whitney. And I love you and I have the deepest sympathy for what you've gone through, but you are very wrong. You are wrong." Simone turned around and walked out of the room leaving Whitney to let her tears fall.

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Nikolas closed his cell phone and stood up to walk out of the library only to get an unexpected visitor. "Dad."

"Oh, son, Nikolas, what are you doing in here?" Julian said, walking past him, heading straight for the liquor cart.

"Making a phone call." Nikolas watched as Julian guzzled down a glass of brandy, "Are you okay?"

"If you're a smart man you will not got out the front door through the living room." Julian said, pouring himself another glass.

"Mom still out there?" Nikolas said, sitting down on the couch again.

"Yes, Do you know of any ideas to get her out of this house?"

"Umm, no, but I think Livvie's working on some inner attack plot."

"Ah, good, if she comes up with anything solid, let me know." Julian walked over and down behind his desk, enjoying his drink.

"Dad, I want to ask you something?"

"What is it?" Julian said, looking up at the ceiling rocking in his swivel chair.

"It's about a girl." Nikolas said, while thinking, 'I can't believe I'm doing this.'

Julian immediately looked over at Nikolas, "Well, of course it's about a girl, you are my son, after all."

"Watch me count my blessings." Nikolas muttered, while Julian went on.

"So, tell me son, what about this girl? Is that why you really wanted to stay in Harmony and go to Castleton College?"

"Does that really bother you?"

Julian sighed and shook his head, "I learned way too late for me that doing what you feel is best for you is far more important than what your family feels is best for you. Whether the reasons are genuine or not. So no. You do whatever you like. Completely drop out of school if you want."

"No actually I think I'll stay in. Kay goes to Castleton."

"Ahh. Kay? Huh. Does Kay have a last name."

"Of course." Nikolas said, "It's Bennett." Julian practically dropped his glass. "She's Sam and Grace Bennett's daughter and before you start into me about how I shouldn't be 'flirting with the enemy' don't worry, I've already gotten that talk from the enemy's point of view."

"You've talked to Sam Bennett?"

"Not about this, but I'll tell you that later. No, I've had a few run-ins with Kay's older brother, Noah." Julian groaned. "Don't like him either?"

Julian stood up and walked over to the couch and sat down next to his son, "Don't let anyone stop you from going after what you want. If this Kay Bennett is truly important to you-"

"She is actually."

"Then don't let your family, her family, or anyone tell you shouldn't be with her."

Nikolas thought for a moment, then smiled, "Thanks, Dad." Nikolas stood up and headed toward the door, "Where are you off to?" Julian asked.

"To meet Kay."

"Have fun." Julian said as Nikolas walked back, closer to him.

"You know, I don't ever remember you being like this. So supportive of MY choices. I guess this whole thing of Chad and your past with Dr. Russell was a blessing coming out." Nikolas said, stepping out of the room.

"Oh, you have no idea what a blessing those two are, Nikolas."