CEM Book Five: DARK WATERS

Mirror, Mirror

Kate walked back to the table where everyone else was sitting with her head hung low. With a look of shock and surprise on her face, she rejoined Kirstin, Scott, and Mitch at the table. She had never seen Kevin angry about anything, and he was still very cross. It was a little bit crazy, a little weird, and a whole lot of out of place. Everyone was suddenly very uncomfortable sitting there with each other. They weren't often that awkward but in the moments after Kevin's small outburst everyone was afraid to speak up. And, what the hell was he talking about 'not being there for Avi when he wanted her to be?' That was very confusing. It just didn't make any damn sense. She had always been there for him, listened to him when he wanted to talk, took care of him when he was sick, hell she'd even held his hand on occasion. Since when did Avi ask her for anything? Oh! The light clicked on.

"Kevin, wait? What are you saying? What do you mean I wasn't there when Avi wanted me to be there? I don't get it. Are you saying what it sounds like you are saying? That doesn't make any sense. He never..."

"I'm not saying that!" the look of exasperation on Kevin's face was astounding. "He would have found a way to let you know that." He paused to watch Kate's face. "I know. He never says anything, but," he held up his hand and looked around the table. "You all should know him well enough to know that he wouldn't say much at all otherwise. But still, it makes no sense for everyone to suddenly take notice that he's not here, when typically if he can get away he will. Why are you all so worried all of a sudden about Avi and his whereabouts? His absence in times like these never bothered you before." Kevin's dark eyes drifted around the table holding first Scott's, then Mitch's, Kate's and finally Kirstin's eyes." His entire visage softened when he looked at her and he finally cracked a smile.

"Except you," he chuckled. "You always know and you've always managed to pull him in when he starts to wander too far. I guess we all do in our own little ways." Kevin let his shoulders slump and looked down at the table as they sat in stunned awkward silence for a short while.

"Look," he looked into Kate's eyes. "Avi is good. He's always needed to be connected to someone. Often that is all of us. One of us, usually me, always knows where he's at. He generally tells me."

"But you just said we weren't there for him?" Sad brown eyes looked at Kevin. Kate could not hide the hurt that escaped those eyes. There was no way that she could if she tried. Kevin's words had hurt her tremendously and they surprised her too. She had no idea that Avi liked her at all outside of the friendship that they shared.

"We weren't. Kate," his stare was intense again. "for a short while there he reached out to you, he didn't say much. He would just do little things, reach out and touch you for no reason, take your hand, open doors, compliment you, probably endlessly, and give you his time. You know that it's the most precious thing to him. Please don't cry. I know he did not tell you and I'm not sure why I'm telling you now. He was interested, but," he shrugged, "for whatever reason, his brain decided not to pursue that interest any further."

"He decided without even asking me." Kate pouted epically. Scott pushed his food around his plate, Kirstin had actually begun to tune out the words that rushed out of Kevin's mouth, a new song playing in her head, while Mitch and Kate consumed every one.

"He didn't need to. It was his choice. The most likely thing would be your connection to his sister and the way we are all connected."

"But..." there was no point in a rebuttal. It was Avi's choice. He made it, for whatever reason, he chose not to pursue a relationship with Kate.

"It would have been bad form. You know it." His eyes took on a hard-fast edge again. "Besides, he was, is, completely enamored with Rayne. Has been for a while now. And you guys always wonder what he was doing with his phone all the time." Kevin Laughed as the memories of stealing Avi's phone from him and running around the house until he let Avi catch him. Oh man, they had some good times and great talks. His smile spread to his eyes as he continued to walk down memory lane.