Unexpected Happenings, Chapter 3
 
 

Grace was arranging things in the shop when she heard the bells over the door ring out.

'' May I help..'', Grace began to say before she saw who it was.

'' Hi Grace, honey. You haven’t returned my calls in the last couple of days. I thought I’d stop by to see if you were ok.''

Grace couldn’t even look Eve in the eye. She pretended to be arranging items on a shelf. '' I’m fine, Eve.''

'' Are you? The last time I heard your voice was that frantic message on the answering machine. I’m sorry I couldn’t come over. I hope TC was of help to you.''

Grace nearly dropped the figurine in her hand. '' Yes, he was of help.''

'' I’m glad. Grace, we both know what a lying bitch Ivy is. She’ll do anything to destroy your marriage. But, you have to fight for it. ''

'' Eve, I’m not so sure I have a marriage worth fighting for.''

'' That’s SO not true. Sam came over to the house, and we had a nice long talk. He still loves you, Grace. He made a mistake with Ivy, but, he loves you. And, now that everything is all out in the open, the two of you can make up. ''

'' I don’t know if that’s possible anymore.''

'' Of course, it is. You know that Ivy is your common enemy. You know your love for Sam. You know how strong it is. You know that the two of you can handle anything.’

'' IS my love for Sam that strong, Eve? IS it? If it was, then it wouldn’t have happened.''

'' WHAT wouldn’t have happened, Grace?''

Grace had to catch herself from shouting, '' I WOULDN’T HAVE SLEPT WITH YOUR HUSBAND!''

'' Eve…I really have a lot of work to do. Will you excuse me?''

'' Sure, Grace. But, you know you can talk to me anytime.''

'' I know.''

Eve left a confused Grace in the shop.
 

TC Russell had looked over the report on his desk ten times. And he still couldn’t make heads or tails of it. He was still consumed with the thoughts and memories of the night that he broke his wedding vows. He looked down at his wedding ring, and wondered what kind of a man he had become. How could he have done this to Eve. To his marriage. To Grace. And, even to Sam, who even if he had made a mistake, was still the oldest friend in his life, and he felt he had betrayed Sam as much as he had betrayed Eve.

What scared TC the most was the feelings that were recalled when he remembered his time with Grace. He thought there should be something odd. Something off. Something that would make it seem as shameful and dirty as it was. But, it wasn’t. There was a sense of peace when he thought about Grace, and that worried him most of all.
 

'' Just look at them Simone. Don’t they make you positively ill?'', Kay Bennett said, looking across the outside cafeteria to where Charity and Miguel were kissing in line.

Simone didn’t look up. She had her nose in the latest issue of Essence Magazine. But, she wasn’t reading Essence. She was actually looking at Reese, who was reading some sort of science magazine.

'' Simone, are you listening to me?''

'' Kay. What would I see if I looked up. I’ve seen Charity and Miguel’s PDA’s since practically the moment Charity hit town.''

'' Yes, the day she ruined my life. Well, she better enjoy Miguel while she has the time. Because, one day, he’s going to wake up and realize just how much he loves me.''

'' Oh, when will that day be, Kay? When he goes off on his honeymoon with Charity?''

'' They will NEVER get married. NEVER.''

'' Kay, you said they would never stay together, but, that’s what happenening. Face it Kay, he loves Charity. Period. He doesn’t love you. He’ll never love you. You’re wasting your time on him.''

'' Oh, like you wasted your time on Chad?''

Simone looks up. '' Cheap shot, Bennett.''

'' Truth hurts, Russell. You gave up on Chad. You let your sister waltz right in and take your man.''

'' Chad didn’t have romantic feelings for me, Kay. And, if I schemed once or a million times, all I would become is YOU.''

Kay looked at Simone with hurt eyes. '' You never used to be cruel, Simone.''

'' Kay, I’m not trying to be cruel. I’m just sick of it. Did I like it that Chad wants Whitney over me? No. My heart aches STILL over it. She NEVER supported him. She treated him like crap, and he STILL wants HER! I don’t have a chance with him, and it’s sad to say, but, you’re the best example of why I should move on. You’re wasting your life, Kay. You say you love Miguel. I think I’ve seen love, Kay. Between my parents, and between yours, before the Ivy Crane mess. I don’t think you can really call it love unless TWO people are somewhat involved. Miguel loves you AS A FRIEND, Kay. Nothing more. Why do you set yourself up to be hurt, over and over again.''

'' Simone, if I don’t have Miguel, what else do I have in my life? I don’t have a home, or a family anymore. The only thing I have to love is Miguel. And, he will be mine. Now, no more talk, they’re coming. Hi Miguel, Charity. Miguel, want to sit here?'', she says, motioning at the seat next to her.

'' No thanks, Kay. I’ll be fine here, next to Charity.'' They sit down, and Miguel looks over at the table where Reese is. '' Anyone know why Reese isn’t sitting with us?''

Kay rolls her eyes and says, '' No. Maybe he’s studying.'' Simone doesn’t look up and just shrugs her shoulders. '' I’m going to go over and talk to him.'', Miguel says, leaving their table.

He gets over to Reese at his table.

'' Hey Reese. Don’t you want to join us for lunch?''

'' No thanks. I’m reading.''

'' Come on, Buddy. You haven’t been to lunch in a few days. We’ve missed you.''

'' Have you? I don’t think so.'', Reese says icily. He gathers his books and gets up from the table. Miguel has to hurry to keep up with him.

'' Reese, what’s wrong? I’ve never seen you like this?''

'' Seen me like what, Miguel? With my eyes wide open? With the rose-colored glasses off?''

Miguel goes to place his arm on Reese’s shoulder and Reese shoves it away.

'' Hey, what’s up? It’s me, Miguel?''

'' Yes…Miguel. My ‘ best ‘ friend.''

'' Yes, me, your best friend.''

'' What does that mean to you, Miguel? I wonder. Because, I thought it meant that we would be honest with one another.''

'' Reese, we ARE honest with one another.''

'' Oh, we ARE, are we? Tell me Miguel, when were you going to tell me that the girl that I’ve been in love with for the past 2 years, is ACTUALLY in love with YOU? When? When she kissed you for a FOURTH time?''

Miguel looked at Reese in shock.

'' Yes, Miguel. I saw the kiss between you and Kay. I heard her declaration of love to you. I heard her say that you’ve shared a couple of other kisses that she wanted you to remember. ''

'' Reese…''

'' Don’t. Don’t, Miguel. Don’t insult my intelligence by telling me that I didn’t understand what I saw. I admit it. I’ve been blind. Looking back, the signals were there, all along. The times where it should have been you and Kay winding up in situations, and I foolishly thought that she was doing things for me. I was a fool.''

'' No, you weren’t.''

'' Yes, I was. Maybe it wasn’t your place to tell me. But, when you saw that Kay was stringing me along because she wanted to be near YOU, you had a choice: get her to tell me, or tell me yourself, so that I could be spared future humiliation. You did neither. I don’t think that was being a good friend, Miguel. Did you once think that maybe I deserved to know that I was being played for a fool? Being used as a prop? Did you not think that I was worthy of ANYONE’s affection, so that the best I could do is being a decoy to get to you? Do you have THAT little respect for me?''

'' No, Reese! No!''

'' I don’t know about that. I think you liked it, Miguel. The secrets between you and Kay. If she’s kissed you before, she’s obviously getting signals from you that she has a chance.''

'' I’ve told her I love Charity.''

'' Yeah, I’m sure. So, she keeps on because she doesn’t understand English? You like being the center of Kay’s world. ''

'' No, I don’t.''

'' Yes, you do. I remember when Robby Weston was interested in Kay. I remember how you went out of your way, in subtle ways, to make sure that didn’t go off.''

'' He wasn’t right for Kay.''

'' Who were YOU to decide that? I guess because I’m Reese the geek. The Nerd, and you know that she doesn’t care about me anyway, that ‘ I’ was the PERFECT choice.''

'' No, that’s not it. You’re twisting everything up.''

'' No, Miguel. I see things clearly now. I hope that you’re man enough to at least inform Charity about your situation. She deserves to know the truth.''

'' There is no truth for me to tell Charity.''

'' If you honestly believe that, you’re in worse shape than I thought.'', Reese says, walking away from Miguel back into the school.
 
 

Simone was fidgeting in the uncomfortable chair in the Guidance Counselor’s Office. Mrs. Timmons was a good woman, but, she was oh so nosy.

'' Simone, do you know why I called you in here?''

'' No, Mrs. Timmons.''

'' Well, it’s been brought to my attention by your physics teacher, that your grade has been slipping.''

'' It’s only temporary. It hasn’t been long.''

'' Long enough for him to be concerned. And myself. Simone, while you carry a solid B to B+ average in the rest of your classes, you have been a straight A student in math and the sciences. It was why you were the only non- A student selected for the special Advanced Science Course at Harmony University. But, you can’t take that class if your grade in science slips. So, I talked it over with your parents.''

'' My parents?''

'' Yes. They agreed to my course of action. I’ve gotten you a tutor. You will work with him at least 4 times a week until your science grade is pulled back up to the ‘A’ level. He’s one of Harmony High’s best students, and he’s a wonderful tutor. You DO want to complete the Science Program, don’t you? It will look fantastic on your college applications.''

'' Yes, Mrs. Timmons. ''

There was a knock on the door. '' Well, since I know that you have a study hall now, I thought there was no time like the present to begin with your tutoring, and here he is. …..Come In!'', she yelled.

The door opened, and Simone turned around.

'' Reese?''