A week went by. . .
Christel returned home from work and checked her answering machine for messages from everyone but Kevin or AJ. A little frustrated she collapsed on the sofa. Well what did I expect, she thought, I did tell them both not to call me. Christel sat there not moving for several moments when the doorbell rang. Christel got up and answered it.
"Package for Christel," said the delivery man.
"That's me," she said.
"Sign here please," he replied handing her the clipboard. Christel promptly signed for her package and handed him his clipboard back. The delivery man went back to his truck to retrieve her package. He came back to Christel's door carrying a box, which he handed to Christel.
"Thank you," she said.
"You're quite welcome, ma'am," he replied as he turned back toward his truck.
Christel put the box down on the coffee table and got some scissors to open it. She sliced the box open, pulled the tissue paper out and sat back on the sofa. Inside the box she found a Winnie the Pooh cookie jar exactly like the one AJ broke. After her initial shock wore off, she reached for the jar and opened the lid. Inside the jar she found a note, which read:
Dear Christel,
I miss you. . .a lot. I'm really sorry for what I did to you. I never meant to hurt or betray you. I still care for you, Christel, I guess I always will. I really mean this from the bottom of my heart.
Love,
AJ
After reading the letter Christel didn't know what to do. She couldn't believe AJ sometimes. She knew he was using this opportunity to his advantage and it made her madder. It was nice that he had replaced the cookie jar, he did break it after all. Christel really wanted to call AJ and tell him to kiss her ass but decided not to. She balled the paper up and tossed it into the box. So this is how it's gonna be for the next couple of months, she thought, AJ and Kevin fighting to win my heart.
******
"Hey Kevin wait up," Brian yelled as he came down the hall towards Kevin.
"Oh hey Brian," Kevin said blandly.
"Where are you going?" he said as they boarded the elevator.
"To do a little shopping you wanna come with?" Kevin replied.
"Sure, I'll come," Brian replied. This was the first time in weeks that Kevin had willingly left the hotel. Oh sure he would leave to go do public appearances, publicity shoots, recording in the studio and magazine interviews but that was about it.
As the elevator hit the lobby floor Brian looked over at Kevin. He looked so different. The usual light that was in his eyes was gone, faint dark circles were under each eye evidence that he hadn't been sleeping well, his mustache wasn't as neatly kept as it usually would be, and his eyebrows were always furrowed as if he were deep in thought.
"Hey uuhh Kev what are we shopping for?" Brian asked as they walked quickly through the lobby and out the door.
"Something for Christel," he replied. Oh God, Brian thought. He saw the "gift" that AJ had brought for her a week ago. He went and got her a Pooh cookie jar just like the one he broke before they left. Luckily, Kevin was so into his thoughts that he never found out. Brian could see where this was heading they would each send her a gift until she talked to one of them.
"Why are we getting something for her? It's not her birthday," Brian said trying to sound normal.
"I just want to show her how I feel about her. Look, Brian if you don't want to go you don't have to," Kevin said standing at the curb. Brian looked at Kevin for a minute and knew he didn't want to let him go out by himself. Kevin needed a friend right now and he was going to be it.
"No I'll come," he replied.
"Here's the car you asked for, Mr. Richardson," replied the bellboy as he got out of the rental car.
"Thanks," Kevin said as he climbed inside and motioned Brian to follow him.
They drove for awhile until Brian asked,
"What exactly kind of gift are you looking for for Christel?"
"I really don't know. I just want to get her something nice, something she'll like," Kevin replied keeping his eyes on the road.
"Well where are we going?" Brian questioned.
"The lady at the front desk told me about this shopping area that I should be able to find something at. She gave me directions too," Kevin said.
"Oh ok. Can I help you shop for something for her?"
"I hoped you would," Kevin said smiling at Brian briefly before turning back to the road.
******
Christel went to Kevin's house after work to take care of the house. As soon as she opened the door Quincy was at her feet in an instant.
"Hey Quincy feeling a little neglected? Maybe I should just take you with me to my house," she said as she scooped the cat into her arms. Christel carried the cat through the house with her to the kitchen.
"Let's get you something to eat shall we," she said setting the cat down onto the floor. She went into the cabinet and retrieved Quincy's cat food. Quincy watched her movements intently. When the cat was fed Christel wandered through the house. Eventually she found herself in Kevin's room. Christel stopped when she looked at the king sized bed. She remembered the passionate nights they spent together in that bed, she longed for those nights now. She peeked into the open closet. There were still a few things left in there even though he would be gone for about six months. Christel thumbed through the clothes that hung in his closet she stopped when she saw the Georgetown Hoyas sweat shirt that she gave him for his birthday. They had got into a huge argument about who was better Hoyas or his precious Wildcats and she decided to buy him the sweatshirt as a joke. He never wore it but the fact that hen still had it brought a tear to her eye. She grabbed the sweatshirt out of the closet and threw it over her shoulder.
Christel didn't feel like going home she knew exactly what awaited her there. She had been avoiding her friends for almost a week, which for her was a record. She didn't feel like dealing with them so she decided to just stay at Kevin's house for the weekend. Her friends were great people but they knew how to work a nerve with their input on everything. She was also avoiding the endless gifts that she would receive, almost daily, from both Kevin and AJ begging her to call or talk to them.
She laid the sweatshirt on the bed and left the room. She nearly tripped over Quincy when she landed on the first floor. She picked up the cat and carried him to the sofa with her to lounge. They got into a comfortable position and started watching television together.
"Ya know Quincy I think you're beginning to grow on me. I've always loved cats and I want one, too. But you'll always have a special place in my heart," she said as she stroked softly. They continued to sit there like that for awhile until Christel got tired and went up to bed.
She went into Kevin's room and undressed to change into the sweatshirt she laid on the bed before. She didn't really fall asleep for hours and when she did she fell into a fitful sleep, with Kevin haunting her dreams. It seemed so real she would have sworn that she did in fact feel Kevin's strong arms pull her into his embrace.
The next morning Christel awoke to the phone ringing.
"Hello," she replied in an irritated tone.
"Hey Christel. I've been looking all over for you. It's me Niecey," she replied.
"Oh hi Niecey. Well I came to Kevin's house because I didn't want to be found," she said.
"Why wouldn't you want to be found?"
"Because, I'm tired of you all calling me and filling up my answering machine with messages about what I should do with my life."
"Well Christel I have something important to tell you," she said seriously.
"What is it? Is Kevin ok? Did something happen to the guys?" she asked frantically.
"I heard from Nick yesterday, he said that Kevin wasn't doing too good," she said in a rush.
"What do ya mean he's not doing too good? Is he sick or something?" Christel asked worry in her voice.
"No, not exactly. He's not sick. He's upset. . . because you won't talk to him. He's not his usual self, Nick told me. He won't talk to anyone except Brian, when he forces him. He won't go out, he barely talks at interviews. barely eats and they don't think he's been getting much sleep," she continued.
"Are you sure about all this?" Christel asked devastated.
"Of course I'm sure. Nick wouldn't lie to me, Christel. You should call him Christel, he really needs to hear from you," she replied.
"I can't I said I wouldn't and I won't," Christel said close to tears.
"God!! Would you stop being so stubborn. You won't destroy the Backstreet Boys by talking to him, you will by not talking to him," Ohniece said getting truly angry with her friend.
"I don't see it that way and as long as I don't this is the way it has to be. It really is better this way. You won't change my mind Ohniece. Look I have to go," Christel said trying her best to push back the tears that threatened to fall.
"Sure you do," she mumbled then, " I'll let you go, bye Christel."
"Bye," Christel replied as they hung up. When she hung the phone up Christel threw herself to the bed and cried long and hard about what this was doing to Kevin and what this was doing to her.