Friendship, Love, and Rivalry

Kasey and Chad walked along the shoreline as the sun began to set. Kasey was your normal smalltown girl, although she was in her early twenties. Her shoulder length honey-blond hair with it's chocolaty brown highlights was always pulled up in ponytails or braids. She was a very slender girl and her milky-white skin always contrasted with whatever she wore.1

Chad was Kasey's best friend and had been ever since they met in middle school. He was a rugged man of twenty-five and at six-foot-five he towered over Kasey. His five o'clock shadow that never seemed to leave his face perfectly complemented his shaggy dirt-brown locks. Chris' body was wonderfully built, although it was very rare that he put any actual effort into his morning exercise routine.2

"Hey Kasey?" Chad said.3

"Hmm?" Kasey hummed absentmindedly as she watched the sun dip below the horizon.4

"We've been friends for a really long time now and there's something I've been wanting to tell you." Chad stopped.5

"Yes Chad?" Kasey said. She stopped Chad in his tracks by planting herself in front of him. "What is it?"6

"We're really good friends. We know everything about each other and have no secrets. So I've wanted to tell you this for a long time." Chad stopped and took a few deep breaths. "I'm in love with you."7

Kasey stood completely still, staring at Chad.8

"Wha-wha-what?" Kasey stammered. "Are you serious?"9

"Very. Kasey I am seriously in love with you. You can't tell me you don't feel anything between us."10

"Chad, I do have feelings for you, but..." Kasey searched her mind for the right thing to say. "It's just weird. And I do love you Chad, I do. But in a family way."11

"Can't you at least give us a try?" Chad said.12

"Chad I told you, it's weird."13

"Kasey, I've watched you go through boyfriend after boyfriend wondering when it would finally be my turn, but it never was. They never treated you right, the way I would treat you. We are so perfect for each other! Why can't you see that?" Chad took Kasey's face between his hands and kissed her. His kiss was one of passion, of lust, of friendship, of love.14

Kasey stumbled back from Chad. She stared at her best friend, the man she shared everything with. There was no doubt that she loved Chad, but was she IN love with him?15

"I need to do some thinking." Kasey said quietly. She thought that Chad hadn't heard her, but he bowed his head in a gesture saying that he understood.16

Kasey sat up straight in her bed. It was completely dark in her room and as her eyes adjusted to the light she could make out her belongings. There was her computer on her desk by her door and her wardrobe next to it. Kasey flung her legs over the side of her bed, slipped on her shoes, and headed out into the night.17

She wandered the dimly lit streets of her neighborhood, past perfectly manicured lawns and overly neglected flower boxes, until she was finally standing in front of a light forest green house. Kasey walked up the path to the door and banged on it noisily. She continued to bang on the door with her small fist until it was opened. There stood Chad in nothing but his light blue plaid boxers looking utterly confused.18

Kasey stood in Chad's doorway, trying to gather up the nerve to tell him. "I'm in love with you Chad." she finally said. Kasey threw her arms around Chad's soft neck and pressed her lips to his. He kissed her back with all the passion and love he had. Chad closed the front door and carefully led Kasey up to his room.19

Kasey and Chad continued to date for the next five months when Chad presented Kasey with an engagement ring. Kasey accepted his proposal and rushed to her parents' home to tell them the wonderful news.20

When she arrived the front door was unlocked. She walked inside calling out her parents' names. The house was strangely silent and it sent shivers down Kasey's spine. Kasey finally found her parents in the back room, both lying face down on the pink shag carpet, dead.21

Kasey hastily called the cops and they arrived soon after.22

"It appears they've been dead for almost twenty-four hours." The detective told Kasey solemly. She stared up at the detective with huge tears in her eyes.23

"Who could've done this?" Kasey asked.24

"We're not sure yet." The detective said truthfully. "But we will inform you the second we find the murderer."25

"Thank you." Was all that Kasey could manage to get out. She left the house. Her mind was swirling with confusing, hurtful, and depressing thoughts. Kasey went back to Chad and told him the whole story.26

"Kasey, I am so sorry." Chad said. He pulled Kasey close to his chest and did his best to comfort her. "Do they know who did it?"27

"No." Kasey sniffed. "But I swear to God I will kill whoever killed my parents. I swear to God."28

Two weeks after her parents' deaths, Kasey got a call from the police department. They had finally found who had killed her parents.29

Kasey arrived at the police station not knowing what to expect. Would she know who had been the killer, or would he be some stranger that was just crazy? The officers led Kasey to a glass room and shut the door for privacy. The officers produced a picture of the killer and slid it across the sleek black table for Kasey to look at.30

"Oh my God." Kasey whispered and covered her mouth with her hand.31

"This is the man we believe killed your parents." One of the officers said. "We're still not sure where to find him but we're working very hard to know."32

"Thank you officers." Kasey said dully. She was escorted to her car and she drove to Chad's house in silence.33

"Kasey, I wasn't expecting you until later tonight." Chad said when he saw Kasey standing on his front porch. "Come in."34

Kasey walked through the house to the living room in silence.35

"When were you going to tell me?" Kasey asked. She rounded on Chad and he stood cooly in the living room doorway. "When?"36

"Never. I never planned to tell you." Chad said calmly. "You were never supposed to find out. That's why I invited you here tonight."37

"What do you mean?" Kasey asked. Chad was seriously confusing her. She wasn't believing anything he was saying to her. He'd been the one, the man that had killed her parents. The man she wanted revenge on. The man she loved and was meant to get married to.38

"You were never meant to see tomorrow." Chad said. He slowly pulled a nine millimeter out from the waistband of his jeans and pointed it cooly at Kasey.39

"Chad, why are you doing this?" Kasey said. She was terrified to move but she could still make words form and come out.40

"You have to die Kasey. Just like your parents." Chad placed his index finger lightly on the trigger. "Anything you want to say before it's too late?"41

"I loved you." Kasey whispered.42

"And I loved you." Chad returned. He saw Kasey's eyes widen and her mouth open slightly as if she wanted to say something more. Before she had a chance to make him change his mind, Chad pulled the trigger on the gun. Kasey lay dead on his cream colored couch that was now stained with her blood. Chad walked over to Kasey's limp form and fell to his knees.43

"I'm sorry Kasey. I had to do it. I can't explain but you'll know someday. I just hope you can forgive me. I love you."