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Previous Stories:
A Wyerd Beginning~
Drawing the Lines
Witchy Demons
Powers Quadrupled
Kevin's Musings
Resentment

Note: This is immediately after "Resentment" fiction, and finally reveals what's bothering Kevin.

Twin bursts of static light appeared on the beach in South Taphini, not too far from the Ship's exterior spire.

My posture was uncertain, but I prompted Kevin to start. "So...what did you want to talk to me about?"

Kevin took a deep breath, and sighed. His eyes were brilliant, unfathombale depths of ...something. I blinked and shook myself out of a reverie for a moment, and focused on Kevin's words. A glimmer of an emotion began to surface inside me unknowingly.

"Uh. Well. As you know we've been friends since you and I met....", was Kevin's fumbled beginning. His pose and manner radiated turmoil and embarrassment at an apparently delicate topic.

"Yes, we have. It's been great. But..this is not what you want to talk about, is it, Kevin?" My bluntess was evident, in my words and tone.

Kevin snapped his head up, embarrassment evident in his voice. "N-no... it isn't. How can I say this?"

A moment passed with silence. I stood there, gazing on Kevin's obvious conflict playing across his face, and pity taking ahold of me for the moment.

"Kevin. It's okay, if you don't want to talk about it now." I whispered softly.

"B-but.. I need to get it off my chest. I cannot hold it in any longer!", was Kevin's aggrieved tone. His voice rose an octave, and nearly broke. Tears were streaming down his face.

"Whoa!... What's wrong, Kevin?" I reached for Kevin's shoulder, to reassure him. My eyes radiated kindess and compassion. I hoped to get to the bottom of what was bothering Kevin.

He sniffled softly, wiping his nose with his sleeve. He took a ragged breath. "I can't keep it a secret from you. I... I like you."

His words struck me speechless for a moment. I just simply stared at Kevin in shock, for an slow second. "Uh... Kevin? What do you mean?" I knew exactly what he meant. I ...just had to ask, to be sure what he meant was what I was thinking. That Kevin was in love with me.

"OH! I knew it wouldn't work. Dammit. Why must I have all the luck?" He collapsed onto the ground, wiping his tears away.

My heart tore at this sight. I knelt on the sand. I looked Kevin into his...fathomless eyes, and suddenly I blinked. Whoa. I never noticed this before. I turned my head aside, and red began to tinge my cheeks.

My voice, tender, and softly, whispered, "Kevin.. I'm flattered, really. I .. do have a boyfriend... " At the back of my mind I kept wondering... Do I have one anymore? I never see Cole much anymore, since we made him a witch. It just seems like the romance is gone. That thought only served to depress me even further.

He sighed heavily, hopelessness rising in his eyes. "I know." He looked down, as if ashamed to look at me anymore.

I sighed, my heart going out to him. "Oh Kevin. I wish I knew what to say. "

He whipped his head around, his eyes aflame with anger. "Don't! I don't need your pity!"

I was surprised at his emotions. They ran deep, and wild. "Kevin, you know I didn't mean ..."

He slumped, his shoulders heavy with weariness. "Yes.. I know. I'm ..sorry. I shouldn't have told you."

I was quick to reply to reassure him. "No, Kevin. It's okay. I just didn't know you felt that way about me...God, this is hard to say..."

"Don't. I know you can't...return my feelings." Kevin spoke quietly, his eyes closed, seemingly in pain.

I realized at that moment...that just.. possibly I could...

"...Kevin?" He glanced up at me, with a dull expression.

He spoke reluctantly. ".....What?"

"I ... might." I whispered softly in the ocean's breeze.

"What..do you mean?", said Kevin, with slowly rising hope in his eyes, clearing the clouds away.

"I...I'm just.. I've just realized something lately. Something that's been at the back of my mind. ..It's Cole. ..I, I, I don't.. love him. Not anymore. It's like the fire has gone out in the relationship." I sighed heavily, hugging myself close.

"I'm sorry." Kevin spoke quietly, concealing the hope in his voice.

Sighing, I dug a trench idly, with my foot. "I think Cole already knows it's over. We just..haven't really hung out, other than witchy stuff."

When I finally uttered those words, things began to come into perspective for me. Here was this person who really understood who I was. Cole was great, yes, but ...

I started to recognize that I had liked Cole in part, since he was dangerous as well, as potentially a 'bad boy', where Kevin was basically good at heart.

Kevin stood there silently, letting me mull. I sighed.

I pulled Kevin up to his feet, and smiled. "We'll see what happens now, okay?"

Kevin nodded softly.

As I met his eyes, electricity seemed to play between us. His eyes, so murky, so full of life and need. I felt Kevin's mind contact my own, and I let him fully in.

*Undescribable emotions - love, like, soulmates* surged inbetween our connection.

My eyes widened at this. Joy filled my heart, to overflowing. I was aware that his soul was meeting mine.

I snapped out of the link abruptly. "Whoa!..." I clutched my head, to stop it from spinning. Kevin blinked rapidly, and caught my shoulders. "It's okay, Phoebe. I know that you feel the same...even if you're just realizing it now."

I smiled softly at Kevin's touch. He and I stood there for a few moments, just gazing into each other's eyes. We slowly moved our heads closer, to kiss softly.

As our lips touched, my body felt like it had hit a live current, and was jolted awake. Kevin suddenly grabbed me closer, tighter.

Sooner or later, I had to come up for air. I broke away from Kevin's kiss, very reluctantly.

He looked into my eyes. A mental thought was sent to me, a tender touch.

[ Phoebe? Are... You okay? ]

Choking up, at a loss for words, I merely nodded with a tear glistening at the corner of my eye. He smiled broadly, wiping the tear away from my eye. I chuckled softly.

"I love you, Phoebe. Always have." His voice took on a husky tone.

I nodded quietly, and whispered. "I know. I do.. love you, I'm certain of that."

End.

Additonal Note: I hope no one felt this fic was a bit 'rushed', and still enjoyed it. I have been hinting at their relationship or its potential for quite a while, actually. Ever since Phoebe broke out, apparently my Creative muse demanded that it should be done. *wink*