***In this chapter, Kay and Miguel have not had baby Maria. And of course Miguel's still with Charity. The only difference in my fic is that Kay having slept with Miguel was the main thing that kept him and Charity apart for those months after their Christmas Eve Wedding! And, remember so far Simone has moved out of the Russell House, into the dorms and during the summer into the garage apartment! And Liz, in my fic is longer Eve's lil sister, but the big sister of Robert Chad's Dad who lives in LA. ***Chad's still in LA,
Whit's at home and still playing tennis! And now it's towards the end of summer vacation. . .
 
 

Chapter Four

It is now near the end of summer for Simone and the other Harmony residents as summer comes to an end. Simone can be found sitting at the top of her bed writing in her journal. She reflected on everything that’s happened during her summer break. The first thing, to come to mind was how she had a breakdown during an intense session of yoga.

She remembered the day like it was yesterday, the sounds all around her and the intense heat surrounding the room. She remembered the instructor saying, “Okay, now everyone take a deep breath.” “And just let go of everything that’s been bothering you within your soul.” “Breathe in and out!” She couldn’t remember whether or not it was the humidity in the room that got to her or not but before, she knew it she could be found sobbing uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face. For no reason at all she was having an emotional breakdown.

She wailed at how dramatically her life had changed in these last three years. She admitted right then and there in front of everyone that she hated being overshadowed and overlooked in her family. “I’m just the little sister, I’m always just the little sister and will always be!” she continually began chanting. Jessica and Kay who were sitting there immediately went over to her. Simone continued on with her confessions, she admitted that she couldn’t get over the betrayal, it wasn’t the fact of whether or not she really loved Chad that affected her. It was the fact that Whitney couldn’t tell her the truth about being with Chad that hurt her.

She explained her need for wanting everything back like it was before boring and dull but content. She admitted that she and Whitney weren’t that close now as young adults but as kids did everything together. She wanted that back those feelings, those memories and her sister. This all came out profusely in her wails and screams as she sat trembling in her own state of shock reliving her own personal past. All the stress, fears and emotions that she was holding in all came to a breaking point now.

Sitting indian style, face down to the floor she admitted just how hard it was to be the Russell family younger daughter, who’s just suppose to follow the lead of her older sibling. Get good grades and be ignored by everyone, it all hurt her deeply. First, being ignored by her parents and now by Whitney too like her feelings don’t count. It sickens her to have no voice in her family, to be just seen and not heard. That night the truth came out about Whitney and Chad and how her father consoled Whitney in his arms proved her point about not being recognized.

What Simone feared the most in her life besides not being taken seriously, is that one day the people she loved the most will never really see her for her. Not just as the little sister of Whitney or the younger daughter but as a real person. She also, feared that her family would always be so concerned with Whitney and her problems that they will one day abandon her, for lack of interest and that Whitney too will one day leave her behind. These fears made her feel so vulnerable and so she became continually jealous of Whitney because of it.

This is why she did things so impulsively sometimes for fear of being left behind and so this is why she fell into this deep infatuation with Chad at first sight. She fell first feeling that if she fell in love with someone before her sister. Then it would someway justify her, in her own life and in her own family maybe then she wouldn’t have to look to them for acceptance. She would finally be ahead of the game for once and have someone in her life that cared for her just as she was. This is what she really wanted and needed in her life.

After getting all of this off her chest during the session, she felt this heavy weight lifted from her conscious and was finally able to breathe normally again. She then lifted her head, a saw everyone staring at her. She barely remembered that there were people all around her. “Do you feel better, Simone?” Jessica asked her.
“Yeah, are you okay?” Kay asked sweetly to her.
“Yes, I do!” Simone said wiping away tears from her face.
“I’m sorry, if I worried you guys!” she said.
“No, don’t be.” the instructor said coming over towards her.
“Sometimes people have these kind of reactions in their sessions, it’s apart of the healing session, here here’s some water!” she said handing her a cup.
Simone took a deep breath and took a sip . . .

Right then, there’s a knock on the door. Soon, Simone’s out of her trance like state remembering where she was and what she was doing. That day of her yoga session still was very much edged into the corners of her mind.
“Hold on, a second!” she said putting away her journal. She quickly got up and answers the door, it was Kay. “Hey, Kay!” “What’s wrong?” she asked looking at her friend’s face.

“My mother’s what’s wrong!” Kay announced.
“Simone, I can’t stay in that house another day!” she said coming in the room. “Can I stay here tonight?” she asked.
“Sure, you can!” Simone told her. “Now, what’s going on?” she asked sitting down on the bed.
“What isn’t going on, Simone!” “My life is just turning into a mess!” “I still don’t have Miguel in my life and my mother still blames me for anything that goes wrong in the family.” “Cos’ of course everything’s always my fault!” Kay continues as she takes off her jacket.

“It really makes me sick seeing her doe all over Charity. “Oh, of course Charity you can have some more tomato soup cake, oh and John sure you can take my car keys!” Kay said imitating her mother’s voice.
“Come on, Kay calm down and breathe.” Simone said.
“Simone, how can I calm down when my mother’s always trying to ruin my life?”
“Look, maybe some iced tea will calm you down.” Simone said getting a glass.

“But Simone, you should have seen her tonight!” “Still, telling me that I need to leave Charity and Miguel alone because their soul mates and have true love on their side,” Kay said with her arms cross. “And blah, blah, blah!”
“I just can’t stay around that anymore and everyone knows that if Charity had never came to town, me and Miguel would be the one’s who are snuggled up on their couch right now!” Kay stated.
“Whatever, you say Kay!” Simone replied rolling your eyes.
“It’s the truth Simone, and oh, get this my Mother still blames me for ruining Miguel and Charity’s wedding!”

“Well, Kay when you sleep with the groom what do you expect?”
“I know, but what me and Miguel shared that night was more than that to me.” “And if he really truly cared for his precious Charity he would have told her right!” “So, I know that our night we shared got to him.” Kay said with a smile, gloating.
“But through all of this crap, I at least had him first and it won’t be the last time either,” she continued.
“Now come on, Kay!” Simone stated.
“No, I’m serious Simone I will have Miguel back in my bed again and for good!” “This fall, will prove everything, I’m going to have all my dreams come true,” she said.

“Whatever, Kay none of your tricks worked this summer so. . .” Simone said trying to get some sense into her.
“I mean it, I will get Miguel and forever this time I can feel it.” Kay responded.
“Kay, look go for a walk clear your head okay.” “And I’ll order us a pizza for tonight!” Simone stated seeing that Kay still wasn’t going to listen to her.
“Yeah, maybe some fresh air will clear my head and I’ll get a new idea of how to get Charity away from Miguel.” Kay replied.
“Alright, and I’ll call the pizza place.” Simone said pushing her out the door.

Kay then went on her way, and Simone reached for the phone book. Before, she did she glanced at herself in mirror and noticed how her appearance had changed. As she ordered a large pizza with the works she thought, that working at her new job really had helped this summer. Not only did it help her be more responsible with her money but now she didn’t have anyone telling her not to get the things she wanted.

Since she now had her own money she was able to get the things that she wanted, like new designer clothes, which enhanced her appearance from just a regular old teenage girl to that of a new refined young woman. She now began doing her make up better and changing her hairstyles to be carefree, yet manageable. When it came to how she dressed, Simone was always known for having her own special flair of style. But now she was able to heighten her style to a more mature look. Showing off, curves and other assets that was unique to her and her alone. Now, instead of being just Doctor Eve and Coach Russell’s daughter or just the cute, little sister of Whitney she was finally coming into her own.

Soon, Kay comes back from getting her air. “So, is the pizza here yet?” she asks coming in.
“Not yet, Simone said handing her a glass of iced tea.”
“Thanks,” Kay says.
“So, do you feel any better?” Simone asks taking a sip from her cup.
“Yeah, you were right I just needed to calm down it’s the only way I’ll be able to think straight.” “It’s just that when I think about my mother and how she blames me for everything but fawns over Charity or someone else, like I don’t even matter it just pisses me off.” “You know, just like how your parents do with Whitney!” Kay said taking a sip.
She glances, as Simone frowns. “Sorry, I know that that’s still a sensitive subject!”

“It’s okay, hey how about some music?” Simone suggests turning on the radio.
“So, tell me are your parents still mad at Whitney?” Kay asks getting settled.
“Oh, yeah especially since she keeps running up the phone bill with calls from Chad!” Simone said with a smile.
“Good, good shows her what’s right!” Kay replied.
Simone began to laugh suddenly out of the blue.
“What’s so funny?” Kay asked.
“Oh, nothing I was just remembering your face when Jessica dragged you that yoga session!” Simone replied.
“Oh, I’ll never forgive her for that either!” Kay said rolling her eyes at the thought.
“No, it was actually really funny.” “Because, all that I can remember you saying is “Jess, why am I here?” “Around all these yoga freaks!!!” “It was so classic!” Simone continued.

They both get quiet after that, staring off into their own worlds just listening to the music playing in the background. “Hey, Kay I just had an great idea!” “How about you come and live with me in the dorms this fall?”
“Huh?” Kay said.
“Come on, it’s the perfect way to get away from her Mom!” Simone said.
“Wait, but I thought that you were going to be here in the garage apartment?” Kay asks.
“No, not for the fall remember.” “ My parents’ deal, was mainly only for the summer.” “But anyway, what do you think of my idea?” Simone asks.
Kay thinks a bit, and then responds “You know what, Simone that would be perfect!” “Especially, since I heard that Miguel’s going to be staying at the dorms too.”
“Really?” “How come?” Simone asked.
“Simone, remember he still has that baseball scholarship he won last fall!” Kay explained. “And since it’s a four year scholarship of course his family’s not going to let him give it up to be with little, old Charity!”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right!” Simone said.
“But, wait a minute Simone what about your old roommate Sarah?” Kay asked.
“Oh, her she’ll be glad to get her own room again!”
“Oh, alright then.” Kay responds.

Just then, there was knock on the door. Their pizza had finally arrived.
After paying the two then digged in, each getting a slice of the hot confection. Kay, takes a bite and then wonders off into deep thought. She then, looks towards Simone’s direction and says, “Simone, what are we doing?”
Simone looks at her strangely. “Uh, eating pizza Kay!” “Duh!”
“No, silly I know that.” “But it’s a Saturday night and were just sitting around.” “I mean, soon it will be the end of summer and right now we’re just sitting around stuffing our faces with pizza!” she continued.
“We should be out there doing something wild and crazy!”

“Well, Kay I got extra cheese on the pizza isn’t that wild enough?” Simone replies.
“Come on, Simone you know what I mean!” Kay replied.
“Yeah, I do but hey this is just one boring night.” “This semester were going to have plenty of wild nights out, especially as roommates!” Simone told her with a smile.
“Yeah, I guess so.” “So, by the way how’s your dance class coming?”
“Oh, really good.” “My dance teacher tells me that my form is getting really good and that I should join the college’s dance company this fall.”
“Cool!” “Hey, do you remember when Reese accused Tabitha of. . .”
Their conversations lasted way through the night to the early hours of the morning. Just then, a John Mayer song came on the radio. “Hey, I love this song playing!” “Turn it up!” Simone said.
Kay laughed with delight, as Simone got up and began dancing all around the tiny apartment. “Man, you’re really feeling the music aren’t you!”
“Yup,” Simone said mouthing the words of the song, twirling all around.
“Hey, Simone it’s five o’clock let’s blast Whitney?” Kay said as she began turning up the music. . .

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Right then, the same music that Simone and Kay were listening to drifted into the windows of a car that rode pass the Russell house. The early morning sunshine arose through the sky overshadowing the whole sleepy town. As the van drove, through the city and it’s sights. The driver of the car, announced to his sleepy passengers “Hey, were here!” as he pulled up in the driveway of a newly build house.

He stepped out of the car, took a deep breath and said to himself
“Me, back in Harmony once again!” He looked around at the sights surrounding him and then towards the van. “Come on, everyone wake up!”
“Oh, his wife said looking around.” “Wake up, kids were here!”
In the backseats of the SUV, sat their children. First to wake up was their son and then daughter. Now, their father could be found unpacking the van.

“Jules, honey can you get the house keys and open the front door, please?”
“Sure, babe.” his wife replied getting out of the car.
“Oh, no!” “Weren’t actually here!” their daughter said looking around from her sleepy trance.
The son glanced around and after stretching, reached for his camera.
He was compelled to take pictures all of a sudden, while his sister got out of the car. And began helping her parents unpack the van, still in her own disbelief of being in the town.

Her brother, continued to snap pictures of the sights of Harmony that were now sprinkled with morning dew. “Son, would you stop messing around with that camera and come and help us over here!” his father said.
“Yeah, coming!” the son said as he helped his family settle into their new home. . .