Kay, Jessica, Charity and Miguel are sitting at their table when Reese and Simone walked in.

“ Look at Simone! She looks beautiful!”, Jessica exclaimed.

“ Um, when did Reese and Simone hook up?”, Kay asked.

“ They aren’t dating.”, Charity said.

” Charity, wake up. Look at Reese looking at her. He’s totally into her.”, Kay replied, not noticing the sad look in Jessica’s eyes when she said it.

Kay got up and ran over to Simone.

” Simone!” Kay and Simone gave one another the once over. “ HOW did you get that dress? I know how much it cost.”

“ Using parental guilt, girl!”, Simone laughed and gave Kay a high-five. Kay pulled Simone away. “ You serious about Reese?”

“ Crazy about him.”, Simone admitted sheepishly.

” Good.”

” Good? I thought Reese was good cover for you with Miguel.”

” You know, I don’t think I need cover for Miguel anymore. Simone, I think Miguel really cares about me.”

” Kay…”, Simone warned.

” Simone, don’t bring me down. I know what I feel. And, I know how much I believe Miguel belongs with me.”

Simone sighed. “ You know what, Kay? You’re right. I’m not going to bring you down. “ Simone stared at Kay for a few minutes.

Kay looked back at Simone. “ Simone, why are you staring at me?”

” Kay”, Simone began as a tear formed in her eyes. “ Do you know this is the first time we’ve acted like best friends since..”

Kay had tears in her eyes too. “ All the insanity happened. Simone, I’ve missed you.”

” I missed you to Kay.”

They pulled one another into a hug, and Reese came over and pulled out two handkerchiefs.

“ A gentleman always comes prepared.” Simone and Kay took the handkerchiefs and wiped their tears away.

” Reese, you don’t mind if we go fix our faces?”, Simone asked.

” Not at all. Meet you at the table.”

Simone and Kay to go the ladies’ room.

As they fixed their makeup, Simone  spoke first. “ I’m going on a long vacation with my mom and Whitney as soon as school is out.”

” Where?”

” Well, I don’t know. I think a cruise, and then we’re going to meet my grandparents, I think.”

” Simone aren’t your grandparents dead?”

” Actually Kay, your mom and my dad aren’t the only ones  keeping secrets. My mom told us about her past – not a happy story. Bottom line, her parents are alive, but she hasn’t spoken to them since before she married my father.”

” Whoah, and I thought I had issues with my mother.”

” Tell me about it. I asked her if we could meet them, and though she says she’s thinking about it, I think she’s going to agree to it. I need to get out of town. I can’t..”

” Handle what’s happened? You know Simone, I totally agree with you. In fact, Jessica doesn’t know it, but we got accepted as Camp Counselors for the Summer. Remember Mrs. Wakefield?”

” Our old P.E. teacher?”

” Yeah, well she’s involved in this Foundation, and they sponsor camps all over the United States. I wrote to her.”

“ She always loved you.”

” Yeah. Well, I told her about what a hard time with Mom and Dad, and she called me the other day. She said that Jessica and I could be counselors at one of the camps. I chose the one near Santa Barbara.”

” CALIFORNIA?!”

” Yeah. I thought three thousand miles was enough distance. I accepted for both of us. We leave the day after school lets out.”

” I think time away has to help, Kay.” Simone lowered her head. “ My father came to see me off tonight.”

” He did? You invited him?”

” No. It was my mother’s idea.”

” How did you feel?”

” When I first saw him, I was so angry. But, I…I think I was glad he came. I think. I don’t know. I was so confused.”

“ I know what you mean. Daddy showed up at Uncle Hank’s, and for a split second I just wanted to run into his arms. I kept my distance. When we were leaving for the prom, I looked across the street and saw my mother staring at us.”

Simone sighed. “ You know what? Tonight is OUR night. We’re going to have a LOT of fun, and put off our problems for another day.”

Kay nodded. “ Damn straight! Let’s get back to the party.”
 

Sam Bennett downed another shot of bourbon. He didn’t think his life could get any worse. His heart broke as he thought about the events of the day. First, Eve coming to see him, and telling him about Ivy’s lies, manipulation and deceit. He was all set to wash his hands of Ivy, when she blurted out that she was pregnant. He didn’t believe her, so he took her to another OB-GYN, and they waited, in the doctor’s office until the test had been run and return.

When the doctor confirmed Ivy’s pregnancy, Sam thought the floor would fall out from under him. He drove off, leaving Ivy there. He had come home, wanting to forget it all, and then picked up the phone. It was Hank, reminding him that it was Prom. He had forgotten all about it. He had arranged for the girls to be sent flowers, and appetizers. Sam didn’t know if he would be welcome, but he went to see the girls off. Jessica was happier to see him, but Kay had given him a slight smile. God, how he loved them.

He came home and dove into the bottle of booze. He was on his second bottle, when he heard a voice.

” Sam? Sam? Sam?”

Sam said nothing. Hank walked into the room.

” Big Brother, what’s happening?”

Sam responded by taking another drink. Hank took the bottle away from Sam and put it away.

” Sam, what’s wrong? Why are you drinking like this?”

” Leave me alone, Hank.”

” No. My solid brother, drinking like this? What happened? I thought you were beginning to handle the entire Grace thing. Is that it? A delayed reaction?”

” No. This isn’t about Grace.”

” Ok, then tell me what it IS about?”

” Ivy.”

” Ivy?”

” Yeah.”

” Oh.”

” Did ya know that your brother, Mister Police Chief, has been played for a royal fool?”

” Huh?”

” Ivy’s been playing all of us for fools.” Hank looked at Sam with confusion. “ Ivy’s been manipulating everything from the beginning, using any trick she could to break up my marriage to Grace.”

” Where did you hear this from?”

” From her accomplice that she blackmailed – Eve Russell.”

” Eve Russell?”

” Ivy blackmailed her into helping her destroy my marriage. And, I fell for it. “

Hank shook his head. “ Sam, it’s obvious that Ivy was after you, but..”

” She isn’t the woman I thought she was.”

” Who is?”

” She played us all for fools.”

” Ok, so Ivy broke your heart? That’s why you’re here, boozing it down?”

“ No. I was set to leave Ivy today. I was going to tell her to go to hell, and that I would never be in her life again.”

“ But, you didn’t, because….”

” She’s pregnant, Hank.”

” Pregnant? Are you sure? Maybe she was making it up..”

” I took her to the doctor and waited WITH HER for the news.”

“ Oh…so, no doubts, then.”

” Nope.”

“Well, Sam, this is something.”

“ Yeah, something.”

” Sam, I know Ivy probably pulled some rotten stuff, but fact is, Ivy didn’t force Grace to sleep with your best friend. They chose to do that. “

” I know.”

” And, nobody forced you to sleep with Ivy. You wanted her.”

” Don’t you think I know that, Hank?”

” I’m just saying,…I’m your brother. I’ll be there for you.”

” Hank, how am I gonna tell the kids?”

” Bro, don’t worry about that. Why don’t I get some food in you, so your hangover won’t be THAT bad tomorrow. “

“ Hank?”

” Yeah, Sam.”

” Thanks for not dogging me out.”

” You’re my brother. We’ll make it – as a family.”
 

Grace was sitting in her living room crying, and didn’t notice the door opening. She looked up to see TC there.

” TC?”

” Hey Grace.” TC lifted two plastic bags in his hands. “ I….I thought you could use something to eat. It’s  Thai.” TC put the food down on the table and went into the kitchen. He returned with two plates, silverware and glasses full of ice and a bottle of CranGrape juice. Grace had put the cartons on the table. They loaded their plates with food.

” How did you know?”

” Tonight was Prom. Eve called me over, and I got to see Simone off.”

” You’re lucky. I stood across the street and watched the girls from over there.” Grace began to cry. TC stroked her hand.

” Grace, it won’t always be this bad.”

” You sure about that?”

” I have to believe it. It’ll get better.” They ate the rest of their meal in silence. When it came time for dessert, Grace spoke up.

” TC, I really needed this.”

TC nodded. “ Me too. “