Kevin pulled Christel into the room next to Brian's, which she guessed was his. He went to the light switch and turned the lights on as Christel sat on the sofa. Kevin turned towards her.
"Why, that's all I want to know is why?" he asked. Christel was distracted by the fact that her best friend Chinita was there in Sweden with them but she couldn't figure out why.
"Huh? Kevin you're not being clear. Why what? Why did I come? Why did I attack AJ? What do you wanna know?" Christel said.
"All of that and more but first. . . Christel what the hell made you think you would break up BSB? What's going on between me, you and AJ has nothing to do with BSB. We've been through hell together trying to keep this group together and I don't think a fight between me and AJ is going to break us up," he said.
"I don't know what made me think that. I just kept hearing about you and AJ fighting during practice and how you two were barely talking with each other and I guess my imagination ran away with me," she replied.
"I told you not to worry about that. We fight all the time and we-"
"Yeah I know you scrap it up but, that's the thing Kevin. You and AJ didn't scrap it up. I came in the room and you two were going at it like you wanted to literally kill each other," she retorted.
"I know and I'm sorry you had to see that. I'm even more sorry that AJ hit you. Are you ok?" he asked concern written all over his face.
"Yeah I'm fine but, are you ok? I just couldn't help myself, when I saw the way he was hitting you something in me snapped," she replied looking into Kevin's eyes.
"Well ya know I am bigger than AJ I would have been fine," he replied.
"Yeah I know," she said. A long silence passed between the two as they sat looking at each other. Christel couldn't believe that she was here with him. She had dreamed of this moment for about two months and thought it wouldn't happen for another three maybe four months. Kevin thought she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She was also the one who had put him through the most pain.
"God Christel, I've been through so much over the past two months. I've been dying over here. I haven't slept, I barely ate, and I only thought about you. Do you understand how rough it's been here without being able to talk to you?" Kevin said grabbing her shoulders.
"I know and I don't know how you could possibly forgive me," she said.
"I don't know either," Kevin said turning away from her. Christel thought her ears were going bad or something. She knew it would take her and Kevin a little time to adjust when he did come back home but she never thought that he wouldn't want to talk to her anymore, at all.
"Wh-wh-wh-what d-d-d-do you mean?" she studdered.
"I mean I'll have to think about us, this relationship and how much it's worth it," he said standing from his seat on the sofa next to her. Christel watched her world crumble before her very eyes. She could not believe that Kevin was doing this, she just hoped that he would decide that they were worth it.
"So you're going to think about it. How long will that take?" Christel asked, her voice shaking slightly.
"I don't know," he replied. Christel felt devastated. "Did Brian get a room for you?"
"How did you know that-"
"-this was Brian's idea. I know my cousin very well, Christel. He's been trying to make me call you ever since I got the letter. This is just like him, I'm just surprised it took him two months to try something like this. But, did he get you a room?"
"No I don't think so. I guess he assumed you would just be happy that I was here with you and I'd be sleeping in your room. . . with you."
"Well you can have my room I'll go bunk with Brian. I need to think and I think I should do it alone," he said as he went to the door. Christel couldn't talk, she couldn't even move. She felt as if someone had hit her in the stomach knocking the wind right out of her. He doesn't even want to be in the same room with me, she thought.
"Have a goodnight. I'll come back to make sure you're ok," he said as he stepped into the hallway. Christel still hadn't moved from her spot on the sofa. She sat there and let what Kevin had just said to her wash over her and that's when the tears began to fall. She wearily climbed off the sofa and laid across the bed, washing Kevin's pillows with her tears.
******
Kevin stood outside the door to his room. He hadn't moved since he left. He thought he was doing the right thing. He really did need time to think about this. Finally he had convinced himself of this and was about to walk on next door to Brian's room when he heard a low sound coming from his own room. He stood motionless as he heard the low sounds of someone crying. He knew it was Christel, he could tell her crying anywhere. God, I'm really sorry but, I have to do this, he thought. Kevin turned away from the door and went into Brian's room.
"What are you doing in here?" Brian said as he watched his cousin stride into his room. "I thought you and Christel would have some catching up to do, if ya know what I mean."
"No. I told her I need time to think so I'm bunking with you tonight," Kevin replied slumping down in an armchair.
"You did what? Think about what Kevin? You've been miserable ever since you got here and got that letter because you couldn't talk to her. And now she's here, in your room at that and you're bunking with me. How much sense does that make?" Brian asked jumping from his seat on the floor in front of the TV.
"Look I don't need a lecture Brian," Kevin growled.
"I don't care. You're gonna get one. I don't understand you sometimes. So you just left her in there? She must be hurt, she came all this way to see you." Brian raged on.
"Look I said I don't need a lecture and I don't. So if you're gonna lecture me, DAD, than I'm not staying here," Kevin said as he jumped from his seat and strode to the door. Brian just stood and watched him go. He knew Kevin well enough to know that when he had his mind set on something he wouldn't, couldn't be moved.
"Stubborn ass," Brian muttered to himself as Kevin closed the door.
Kevin went out into the hall and tried to think who he could bunk with that wouldn't bother him. He knew Howie would give him pretty much the same response that Brian gave him and AJ wouldn't even let him in the door. Then he thought of Nick, whose room was on the other side of Brian's, he knew he wouldn't say anything if Kevin asked him not to.
Kevin went to Nick's room and knocked on the door.
"Yeah hold on a minute," Nick replied from within. Within a minute Nick came to the door.
"Hey can I bunk here?" Kevin asked.
"Uuuhhh why?" Nick replied stepping out of the way to let Kevin in.
"Well I told Christel I needed time to think and that I would be bunking with Brian but, he wants to lecture me. So Nick, my boy, you're the lucky one and please no lectures," Kevin replied still standing in the doorway.
"Ok fine by me," Nick said returning to his video game.
Brian decided to check on Christel. She had been locked up in Kevin's room for hours and it was almost dinner time.
"Christel are you ok in there?" Brian asked knocking on the door. She didn't answer. He knocked again. This time he thought he heard something.
"Christel, can I come in?" he asked.
"Yeah sure it's open," she replied. Brian opened the door and went inside. He found Christel curled into a ball on the bed. Brian went over to her and sat at the foot of the bed.
"I'm guessing Kevin told you what happened?" she asked quietly.
"Yeah and that's why he's bunking with Nick not me," Brian replied.
"Why isn't he bunking with you?"
"Because I would have given him hell," Brian said. Christel smiled slightly. Brian looked at her and noticed the redness of her eyes it was obvious that she had been crying.
"Brian. . . why is Chinita here?" she asked.
"Uuuhhh. . . I don't know. Hey Christel we're going out to get something to eat would you like to join us?" Brian said.
"No. I'm not really up to hanging out tonight. Just bring me something back please," she said.
"Ok do you want anything in particular?"
"No I don't care."
"Ok I'll bring you something back," he replied. Brian left her alone with her thoughts. Some of her thoughts rested on Kevin but, the bulk of her thoughts were on the reason Chinita was there in Sweden with the guys and why she didn't tell Christel she was going there. There were so many questions behind Chinita's being in Sweden that thinking about it made Christel's head hurt. Laying on the bed trying to figure that riddle out Christel soon fell asleep.
Nick, Howie, Brian, Kevin, AJ and Chinita all decided to go out and get something to eat. Kevin and AJ at first objected to go out with the other one there until Brian said, "Either you go out together or you don't eat. We aren't bringing back a doggy bag for either of you."
"Wait what about Christel?" Kevin asked, "Isn't she coming with us?"
"No, she didn't feel up to coming and I don't blame her," Brian said looking pointedly at Kevin. Kevin looked wordlessly at his cousin. He couldn't think of anything to say, Brian was right. Christel had come all this way to try and get him back and all he could do was spurn her. Kevin suddenly felt slightly ill.
They all went to a restaurant that the man at the front desk recommended. When they entered they were soon seated. Kevin couldn't help but notice how Chinita and AJ seemed like the best of friends. They sat together at dinner, acting as if they were the only ones there. Kevin could see why Christel wouldn't want to join them for dinner. Them and the fact that he was there, the guy she flew halfway across the world to get back in her life and had basically slapped her in the face would be sitting at the same table. Yeah I wouldn't want to be here either, he thought.
Christel didn't sleep long. She just couldn't, her mind was working overtime. She had so many questions that had yet been answered. How would she get Kevin back? Would there always be this tension between Kevin and AJ? What was Chinita doing in Sweden? and How long had she been there? She could only think of one thing to do she decided to call Ohniece.
Christel sat up in the bed and reached for her bag, she pulled out her cell phone. Quickly Christel dialed Ohniece's number. It felt like an eternity had passed before Ohniece answered the phone.
"Hello?" Ohniece said into the phone.
"Hi, Niecey?" Christel said.
"Christel? What are you doing calling me? I thought by now you and Kevin would be busy with each other," she retorted.
"That's what I thought but no that isn't the case. I'm calling you to get something figured out."
"Christel, what's going? Are you ok?"
"I guess I'm ok but listen to me. Ok here's the thing," she said taking a heavy breath. "Do you know anything about Chinita leaving town, well namely the country?"
"Uuuhhh. . . No why do you ask? " Ohniece said confusion evident in her tone.
"She's here," Christel said bluntly.
"Who's there? What do you mean she's there?" Ohniece asked.
"Chinita is here in Sweden and she was here before me. That would explain why I couldn't get in touch with her when I tried to call and tell her that I was going to Sweden. I just want to know what's going on. Why is she here?"
"Christel calm down for all you know there may be a logical explanation behind this. Have you talked to her yet?"
"No I haven't had a chance to."
"Well try talking to her before you jump to conclusions."
"But that's the thing I asked Brian and he changed the subject. I just feel like there's something going on that I don't know about, Niecey."
"Ok well tell me what exactly happened when you got there. I mean, there has to be more to this story," Ohniece said. Christel began to explain all that had happened when she got there. Which took most of her time. Ohniece really didn't know what to say to help Christel's situation.
"Christel, first talk to Chinita and find out why she's there. Then try to talk to Kevin, I just know he loves you. In fact do your best to get Kevin back even try getting one of the guys to talk to him," Ohniece said.
"Ok well I'll keep what you said in mind Niecey but right now I'm really tired and I need to get to bed. So I'll talk to you later and keep you posted. Bye bye," Christel said with a suppressed yawn.
"Ok you do that and just don't worry about it, Christel. Just try and talk to them," Ohniece said before they hung up. Christel hopped off the bed and went to get dressed for bed.
******
"Hey Kevin are you going back to your room tonight?" Brian asked as they walked the empty lobby of the hotel.
"Yeah, why?" Kevin said turning to look behind him at Brian.
"Because I brought Christel some food and if you're going to your room I thought you could take it to her," Brian replied.
"I thought you said you weren't bringing back any doggy bags."
"No what I said was, we're not bringing back a doggy bag for either you or AJ."
"Oh. Yeah I'll take it to her, Brian," Kevin said as he and Brian climbed onto the elevator. They were the only ones who decided to come back to the hotel. The others went out for a night on the town but Brian and Kevin weren't up to it. The others dropped them off at the hotel while they went out.
Together, Brian and Kevin stepped off the elevator and turned in the direction of their rooms.
"Night Kev," Brian said as he opened the door to his room and stepped inside.
"Night Bri," Kevin said as he stood outside his room. He didn't know how she would react to him coming into the room. He had effectively kicked her to the curb and made her cry. He really didn't think she would want to see him. Just when he was about to step away from the door and go to Nick's room it opened and there stood Christel.