Chapter Three- Confessions

Over the next few days, Kacey and James continued thinking over Mitchell and Randie's actions. They had already come to the conclusion that it was for love. That Mitchell and Randie did it to be together. Kacey needed to talk to someone other then James about this, so on Thursday night, the 3rd Year 'Anniversary' of Mitchell's death, she made her way slowly to the cemetery where he was buried.

It was a pretty calm day, the sun was out with a few clouds blowing across the blue sky. Her feet made crunching noises on the dead, brown grass. Walking down to the 5th from the last headstone of the 11th row, she knelt down and read the engraving. Just like the years before, it still said:

Mitchell Nicholas Docs

1985-2005

Loving brother, caring friend, wonderful son...

You will be missed greatly, among all here...

Tears silently fell down her pale cheeks, splashing quietly onto the ground. She fiddled with the single red rose in her hands, thinking of where to begin.

"Well, here we are. Three years after you…yah know…well, I need your help. I don't know what to make of you and Randie doing this to yourselves. I mean, how could you just take your life away? Without thinking of how everyone else will feel? How I feel? You probably have no idea how miserable I've been these past three years. The only reason I'm still here and not with you, is because of James. He's been so kind to me, and I don't have it in me, to just leave him…like you left me. "

She sniffed and wiped a few stray tears from her eyes, before continuing.

"I think I'm in love with him, Mitch. I mean…is that wrong? We're really close, ever since you left. But I mean…we hated each other. Then you left and now we're basically inseparable. This is the first time that I have been by myself, other then going home for sleeping, in months. Possibly years. And I like it that way. I like knowing that James is going to be there for me…no matter what. And that he won't just up and leave me one day, yah know.

I'm pretty sure, he's pretty pissed off at you…I mean, you've cause me more pain with taking your life, then Mum and Dad's death. That wasn't there fault. They didn't choose to leave me…You did have a choice though, that's the thing. You could have fought for your right to be with Randie. I mean, your both out of school. In college. Her dad isn't going to be there forever. You could have tried. But you didn't did you? You could have been here with me! But you…you…you left me…all alone in this damn world! Alone, Mitch! Alone!"

More tears fell down her face, but not from sadness alone. From her hatred towards what her brother did. She couldn't take it anymore. It hurt so much. She didn't think she'd be able to go on. Her brother was her only family, and he was gone. The closet she had to family now was James. But she knew, despite what she had just said, and continued to think, that James wouldn't always be there. He would find a young woman that would catch his eye, and be off with her. Forgetting about his friendship with Kacey.

"Oh, Mitch! I really need your help! Your not here for me anymore…I need someone to be with…I need someone who I can talk to…I need someone to be my family, Mitch."

Her gazed was fixed intently upon the headstone, and she was so engrossed into what she was saying that she didn't hear the crunching of the grass as someone walked up behind her.

He knelt down beside her and wrapped one arm around her, pulling her closer to him. She jumped, and looked at him. Giving a sigh of relief she leant more into him. Kacey closed her eyes, as the warmth of James' body soothed her.

"I'll be your family." Kacey's eyes shot open. What had he said? He would be her family?! Meaning… he heard her?

"Wha?…What? What did you say?"

"I said, 'I'll be your family'" he repeated slowly, as if talking to a four year old. Kacey just continued to stare at him. Confusion flooding out of her eyes.

"You…you heard me?" She asked quietly.

"Yes, I did. I'm sorry that I listened in, but…I could see you starting to cry, and I didn't want you to be alone. But you kept telling Mitchell that you were alone…but you not, Kac. I'm here. I don't plan on leaving any time soon, either."

He gave her a small grin, "Your stuck with me, Kac."

She smiled back at him. James stood up and took her hand.

"Are you ready?" she gave a small nod, and bent down and placed the single red rose in front of the stone. Kacey gave a tiny smile, that only Mitch would have seen, before turning back to James. He offered her his hand, which she took, and they walked back out of the cemetery.

James stopped after getting out of the gates of the cemetery.

"Kac? Can..(cough) Can I tell you something?" James asked nervously. She gave me a small nod, still thinking about her 'conversation' with her brother. But what James said next, brought her back to the present in a heartbeat.

"I…I think I'm…uhh…in love with…with you…I'm sorry to have to tell you on such an emotional day, but I just needed to say it. I mean you told me that you, well actually, you told Mitchell, that you loved me…but I heard it. I just needed to tell you."

Silence.

Kacey stood there. Shocked. He loved her? James loved her!? She looked into his eyes, and seen love, un-sureness, and hope. She loved him, too. And she knew it. But could they really have something? They had only become friends in the past 3 years…Well, anything's possible…right?

She smiled.

"I love you too, James. I have for a long time. But I was too scared to say anything. I mean, three years ago, we couldn't stand each other. Now, three years later we confessing our love for each other. Isn't it a beat…ironic?"

"It is weird, yes. But if…if you love me, and I love you, well then…there's nothing worry about, right? I mean, there isn't much that will change between us. Maybe a little more intimate, but we have been each others only companions for 3 years, Kac. It's right. This is fate. It's supposed to happen.

Your brothers…(cough)…mishap. If that hadn't happened we wouldn't be here. So, it's not an entirely bad thing. I know that I will never replace Mitchell, and I'm not going to even try, but I can be here to help you and be with you…and love you. And I won't ever, ever leave you…I promise, Kac. I promise."

She smiled again. He always had a way with words. Every time she was worried, or scared, or depressed, he would make her laugh, or smile, and get her hopes back up. He always made her feel better. And with the words he had just spoken, she felt she was soaring higher then the clouds.

James leaned in to Kacey, and brushed his lips against hers softly. He didn't want to rush into anything, that either might regret. She kissed back. Apparently they weren't rushing, if they both went for it.

The kiss was short, sweet, and full of passion and love. He took her hand in his, and together they walked to her house. He knew they both had a lot to think of now…