Just like the first time, it was impossible for Kay to spend the concert with Jimmy in the tech room, unable to hear the music, see Kyle performing again. She'd missed that part of their relationship, too. The person he became when he was on stage, mesmerizing everyone around him.

"Don't you want to hear them sing?" she asked, tapping his foot to the distorted rhythm of the music.

"I actually do now," Jimmy answered, tweaking another dial. "When I took the job, I didn't really care for it. But now that I know them, I am curious."

"I have no idea about Jessie, but Kyle is amazing. I actually saw him at one of his concerts for the first time." Saw his face at least, because unbeknownst to her, she'd seen him before, even snapped at him.

It only amused him, set the basis for a relationship where he took all her weirdness and prissiness in stride and she repeatedly embarrassed herself until she could finally own up to who she was.

Someone who could be better. Someone who could be honest with herself. Someone who was in love with every single part of him.

"You guys sure have one hell of a story," Jimmy said with a smile.

"Honestly, I think we all do. I mean the way you and Jessie met and then came to where you are in such a short time..." The 'without being oblivious idiots' was heavily implied.

He pursed his lips as if he found the whole thing both hilarious and worrisome. "I guess I plunged right in once again. Let's hope this time works out better than the last."

Kay hoped so, too, though she had a very hard time imagining Jimmy looking at someone else the way he did at Jessie. And despite their slightly rocky start, Kay had to admit that she liked Jessie.

She was definitely smart and brave and talented. And she loved and cared for Kyle in a way that was truly platonic, not the bullshit Kay had going on with him. She looked after him, and Kay would be forever grateful for that. Yes, there was a seed of deep friendship there, and she wanted to explore it.

"I think I'm going to go out and listen after all."

Jimmy hesitated for a moment. "Okay, but please stay in the back. If someone recognizes you, it could get messy."

Kay wasn't sure if anyone could recognize her as long as Kyle didn't topple off the stage to get to her, but she guessed it was better if he didn't see her and become distracted. So she stepped out of the tech room and headed into the heart of the venue. The instruments were much clearer, and soon enough she could hear Kyle's voice.

As promised, she stuck to the edge of the room and finally found a safe corner at the back. Then, with her position secured, she could finally admire the show. God, she'd missed seeing Kyle on stage, even if she was much too far for her liking.

When they were back in Texas, she and Kelly had always sat or stood upfront at every concert courtesy of Joey who liked to shower his girlfriend with attention. It was an unbelievable perk for Kay who just enjoyed the show and avoided the embarrassment. She missed that, being the number one groupie, but since there was an Uncaged reunion on the horizon, as well as the prospect of going on tour, she was giddy rather than nostalgic.

Though, Jessie was amazing as well, Kay had to give her that. She played her guitar with as much ease as Kyle and the two of them had managed to find the perfect way in which to harmonize their voices. Tom and Angie brought the show together, him with his obvious flourish on the drums and her with flawless backing vocals.

They were all so talented and she longed to be part of that. She'd never been great at singing, but she wasn't hopeless either. Maybe with a little practice she could be good enough for backing vocals, too. Then she could be up there with everyone, part of the show. And what a show it was. No wonder everyone was bobbing up and down with excitement.

Would anyone really recognize her if she stepped closer? After all, she was nothing but a grainy image on the internet when everyone else was too enthralled by Kyle falling over go pay her much mind.

She pushed her shoulder off the wall and took a step forward, stepping deeper into the crowd. Just one step. Then another.

Someone suddenly caught her wrist. She jumped and glanced over her shoulder. Her stomach sank into the floor, under the feet of excited teenagers.

Donnie leered at her, the anger in his eyes akin to madness. Her shock twisted into disgust and annoyance. For one glorious moment, she'd forgotten he even existed.

"Let me go, Donnie," she said between her teeth. His hold only tightened. "Don't make me beat your ass in front of all these people."

"Oh, so brave now, aren't you?" he hissed, barely audible above the music and the cheering crowd.

"Now?" She yanked herself free. "When haven't I been brave, asshole?" She'd kicked him in the nuts once and she could do it again.

"When you were reasonable and sensible."

Her mother's voice sent shivers down her spine. She'd been so focused on Donnie, she hadn't realized that he wasn't alone, that he'd gone and done exactly what he'd done the first time she punched him in the face for not letting her go.

Call her parents and count on them to bring her back home, rein her in. Tie her to him once again.

"I'm sorry, Mom, but I'm not coming back with you."

"Yes, you are," her father said, his voice clipped. He sounded even, but she knew him well enough to know he was furious.

"Do you have any idea what we've been through?" Her mother asked, not even bothering to keep her voice down. "You lie to us, disappear from home when you know what happened to William."

Kay winced. It was so unfair to being William up. "It's not the same."

"Of course it's not," her mother shrieked. "William disappeared. You chose to run away, leave us alone!"

Her words hurt, but Kay recognized them for what they were. Gaslighting and emotional manipulation.

"I have my own life to live and you're not letting me do that. You keep me away from my friends, push Donnie on me even if even he doesn't want to be with me anymore--"

"That's not true," Donnie interjected, obviously enjoying the situation. "We're meant to be together."

"Oh, shut it, you liar. You just want revenge. You don't love me."

"Enough!" Cassandra's bright blue eyes flashed. "You are obviously not well, leaving your family for what?" Her gaze moved past Kay's shoulder and to the stage. "Him? He is engaged to another girl now. Didn't take him long to forget you, did it?"

Her words hurt on some level, and a part of Kay wanted to scream the truth in her face. That Kyle had never forgotten her, that he got into this huge lie he hated so that he could come look for her. But the other part of her remembered his arms, the feel of his body, and it obliterated all her insecurities.

She didn't need to explain herself to her mother and reveal a secret that could end up harming them. It was enough that she knew the truth.

So instead of getting angry, she raised her eyebrows. "Didn't Donnie mention that I have a new boyfriend?"

Her parents looked gobsmacked and she claimed a new relationship with Kyle right behind her. Honestly, she couldn't blame them. The idea of getting over Kyle was ridiculous in itself. But this would've been the best moment for Jimmy to randomly show up and grin in their faces. It would've probably broken their brains.

"Time for a special treat from our side," Jessie announced from the stage. "Let's see if you can guess the song! And the lucky winners can be picked out and invited on stage."

The crowd around them got overly excited and piled up closer to the stage. Kay, her parents and Donnie didn't move, staring each other down.

"You are coming home," her mother said between her teeth.

"I'm almost nineteen years old. You can no longer boss me around and have absolutely no legal means to force me to do anything. I'm an adult."

Her father huffed. "And adult? All your life you've depended on us or Donnie. Even now, as much as you protested, you've had Donnie looking after you all this time."

The idea made Kay laugh, but it was too sad that her parents had completely lost touch with her life, her reality. She felt oddly alone because of it. It also gave her the strength to break away.

"You should stop fighting it," Donnie said, his voice cheerful. "We all know how it's going to end. Might as well make it less embarrassing for yourself."

Kay wanted to punch him in the face. At that moment she hated herself for not doing it the moment he'd shown up at the end of prom with her parents. At the time, she'd been too euphoric, too tired, too confused, too worried about Kyle. Now she was none of that. She just didn't see the point anymore. He wasn't even worth a punch in the face.

"I'm not going." It was all she had to say.

"You're breaking our hearts," her mother said, unexpectedly not pulling the money card.

"And you're breaking hers, but you never really cared about that."

Kay jumped at the sound of the all too familiar voice. By some miracle, Kyle had joined the party, placing himself by her side, where he belonged. Her parents just stared. Donnie cowered and slunk away into the shadows, probably aware he was a second away from having his teeth kicked in.

"You!" her mother said as if she'd seen the devil.

"Yes, me," Kyle said, completely unimpressed. "We've had this conversation before, but apparently you insist on not realizing how amazing your daughter is."

"Mind your own business," her father said, most likely regretting that he wasn't armed. "Aren't you engaged?"

"I am. But that doesn't mean I can't see who Kay really is. And she's much better than what you're trying to make her. It's time to let her go."

Kay's parents looked about to explode and she could tell it was because their impulse to yell at Kyle was outweighed by their desire to keep a respectable image in public.

"If you don't come home now," her mother said, her voice low. "You are no longer our daughter."

The words hurt, but at the same time, they were liberating. "If you're ready to give up on me just because I won't obey your orders, then maybe it's not such a big loss after all." Her words were firm, but her hands shook. It helped a lot when Kyle slipped his hand in hers and squeezed in encouragement. It gave her the strength she needed to face this.

For a moment, no one said anything. Then her mother turned around and strode out. After a few seconds, her fathered followed.

A part of Kay's heart broke as her chidlhood was obviously over. She had her independence, but the cost had been so high. Tears filled her eyes even as she did her best to drive them back, tell herself that it was for the best and her family was toxic.

"Come on," Kyle whispered. "Let's get you back to the tech room."

She nodded, wiping her eyes with her sleeve. "Wait, what about you?"

"Jessie's got this."

"But the engagement--"

"Some things are more important."

Kay didn't protest, just let him lead her around the stage and back under it. The moment they were in the tiny room, he took her in his arms and held her against him and she could finally let her tears fall.

"Kay, are you alright?" Jimmy asked, coming to them.

"Yeah. Her family are just asshole," Kyle mumbled.

It was true and it drew a strangled laugh out of her. "Yeah, but at least I'm finally free."

Kyle hugged her closer to him and at that moment, she was certain she'd made the right choice.

🌗🌗🌗

I bet a lot of people are happy that Kay finally told her parents to shove it. It's sad but now she's on her own. Let's see how that goes.

Also, what now? Smooth sailing right?

Wrong!

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