A few weeks later. . .
Christel, not wanting to spend most of her time in the hotel or shopping with one of their bodyguards, found herself either at a photo shoot, interview, or in the studio with the guys. Unfortunately for her, she wasn't the only girl hanging around, not counting the fans who greeted them at the door to the studio. Chinita was also, at every photo shoot, interview, and in the studio with the guys. Chinita was spending what seemed like every waking moment with AJ and this irritated Christel to no end. She couldn't understand how her best friend would betray her like this. She also couldn't understand how she could be so blind. Her and AJ broke up because he cheated on her, who's to say he won't do the same to Chinita.
"Aren't you guys supposed to be at the studio today?" Christel asked one morning. They were both just waking up and she looked over at the clock with it's red numbers flashing 10:00am. Usually they were in the studio by nine.
"Yeah but we don't have to be there till this afternoon. So guess what, we have some time to spend together. What do you want to do?" Kevin said sitting up in bed.
"Ooohhh I don't know stay here," she said slipping further under the covers.
"We can't stay here all day," he replied.
"I know, just long enough for me to forget about her," she said from under the sheets. Kevin slowly peeled the sheets back.
"She? Who is she?" he asked.
"Chinita! I'm so sick of her always hangin' around AJ. I don't understand it and the more I try to understand it the more my head hurts. I mean why would she want to-"
"Christel. . . Christel can I ask you a questions? Why do you care?" he said interrupting her.
"I don't understand how she could act like he didn't cheat on me or like I didn't break up with him," she said. Kevin looked at her for a minute before laying a kiss on her nose and climbing out of bed.
"Wait, I thought we were going to spend the morning in bed."
"Yeah but my stomach doesn't want to spend the morning in bed and I've had a taste for that french toast they serve downstairs in the caf� since yesterday."
Sometime after noon Christel and Kevin dashed out of the back of the hotel to the awaiting van en route to the studio.
"Why did we have to go out the back way?" Christel asked once they were safely seated in the van.
"I guess the fans are making up for lost time. There weren't any out front when we first got here," he replied. The van pulled off without even being noticed by the crazed fans that were out in front of the hotel. Unfortunately, they weren't too successful when they pulled up in front of the studio.
"Ok now how do we get past this?" Christel asked slightly worried.
"Don't worry, big guy here will take care of you," Kevin said slapping his bodyguard on the shoulder who turned around and smiled politely at her. Christel's fears still weren't settled. What if they tore her apart? What if they booed her and called her a slut because she was now with Kevin and no longer with AJ, she thought. They're fans could be vicious and even though she had never really gone out in "the public" with AJ. She knew that they would somehow know that she used to be AJ's girlfriend.
While she was deep in thought, she didn't notice the bodyguard hop out the front door and begin to open the back door for her and Kevin.
"Wait I don't want to go out into that," Christel said grabbing Kevin's arm.
"Christel it's ok I trust Carlos with my life. We'll be fine, sweetie," Kevin said taking her hand in his.
Carlos held the crowd back while Kevin and Christel emerged from the van. At the sight of Kevin the crowd went wild. When Christel was out of the safety of the van she clutched desperately to Kevin's hand. Slowly they made their way through the crowd. Christel couldn't help but feel intimidated by the large crowd, Kevin just waved and even managed to sign a few autographs. Christel passed a group of girls who were regarding her strangely.
She overheard one of them say, "Hey she looks familiar." The other replied with, "She's AJ's girlfriend. I don't know what she's doing with Kevin." This terrified Christel more than anything. How could they have recognized me? So deep in thought was Christel that she didn't notice Kevin's hand slip from hers. Soon she stood alone amidst the crowd.
Someone grabbed her from behind she was so shocked by Kevin's absence she couldn't see who it was. Christel twisted and turned until she saw a young girl clutching the hood of her jacket. She tried to yank her hood out of the girl's grasp but she was so frenzied she didn't even notice that Christel was trying to get away like a mouse caught in a mouse trap. Christel was beginning to panic and she would never admit this later but she thought she was about to faint.
To Christel's relief someone was apparently pulling the girls claws from her hood and pulling her back in the direction of the studio. When she was able to get her head to stop spinning she saw Carlos in front of her and propelling her through the crowd toward the studio. All she could do was thank God.
"Christel, are you ok?" Kevin asked his tone laced with concern. "Christel, I was so worried about you. I was holding your hand and then you were gone."
"I-I-I-I'm ok. I've never been that close to the fans before," she said in a daze.
"Are you sure you're ok?" Kevin asked looking intently into her eyes.
"Kevin I'm ok, really," she said. Christel refused to admit how shaken she was, especially not to Kevin. He'd only worry more than he needed to.
"I'm just going to take a trip to the ladies room. You go ahead I'll catch up with you. Look if you're that worried have Carlos wait for me and escort me," Christel replied feeling exasperated by all the fuss Kevin was making.
"Alright I'm going in there. Carlos, show her where the bathroom is please and wait for then bring her to me, please." Kevin said before laying a kiss on Christel's cheek and heading down the hall.
"Sure thing, man," Carlos replied.
"Kevin you can't be serious! I was only kidding," she called after him.
"Well I was serious," he replied disappearing around a corner. She stood in shock with Carlos right behind her.
"Ok. . . Well come on Carlos I guess you'll be accompanying me to the bathroom even though I don't see the point. God, that man can be such a mother when it comes to things like this," she said as she followed Carlos to the bathroom.
"He's only looking out for you. You were almost clawed to death by that little girl out there," Carlos said.
"Please, that little girl couldn't have been more than what twelve, thirteen years old. I could have taken her," she said lying the whole time. She felt like a deer caught in headlights when that girl grabbed her hood, frozen.
"I'm sure you could have. . . after you forced yourself not to faint," Carlos commented. Christel fell silent. She knew that Carlos had been witness to the terror in her eyes.
"Hey look who finally showed up," Brian declared jokingly.
"Who me? I'm not late. But yeah I know I'm the last one to get here. But you surprise me Brian because that honor usually goes to you," Kevin shot back poking Brian in his arm. Christel walked in and saw that everyone was there. Except Chinita, Christel thought to herself. She felt a small victory at that notion.
"Yeah well I'm just wondering what, or should I say who, made you the last one to get here," Brian said. Just then Christel walked in followed by Carlos. "And here she is. Now, Christel what were you and my cousin doing that could possibly make you two take so long to get here?"
"Nothing that you don't do in your bathroom on those lonely nights, Brian," Christel joked having the pleasure of seeing Brian's face turn a bright red.
"Oooooooo," Nick cooed.
"Shut up Nick!"
"Make me!" Brian playfully lunged for Nick and they wrestled a little.
"Hey you guys come on we've got work to do," Kevin said all jokes aside.
"Well how do ya like that? He's the last one to get here and he's already being bossy," Brian mumbled as he broke the headlock he had on Nick.
"Actually we had a little problem getting past the fans. One of them tried to attack Christel," Kevin said.
"Kevin, I don't think they need to know about that little incident," Christel muttered.
"Are you ok?" AJ asked in a low voice.
"Yeah. . . I'm. . . fine. . .," she said suspiciously.
"I hope you both are ok," Howie replied.
"You guys we're fine. There really isn't anything you need to get all worked up about," Christel replied.
"So what were you guys doing?" Kevin asked.
"We were just about to go over some harmonies and melodies for a few songs with Max," Howie told Kevin.
"Max?" Christel muttered.
"Yeah Max. Max Martin," Nick said.
"I know what Max you're talking about. I didn't think it was Maximilian. I just kinda figured. . . oh never mind," she said.
The guys and Max all sat down and went to work. Christel sat and watched a little awe struck by the process. Soon they had a few songs worked out and were about to start recording.
Max let the guys take a break and they were all sitting around when Chinita walked in carrying several shopping bags.
"Oh great. Now here she comes back from her daily shopping spree," Christel whispered to Kevin.
"Stop it," Kevin warned but Christel ignored him. Christel couldn't help her reaction when she saw Chinita; she rolled her eyes. Chinita caught Christel's expression but ignored it.
"Hey everyone," she replied as she walked into the room. They all greeted her as she went over to AJ, who happened to be standing next to where Christel and Kevin were seated. Chinita began to talk to AJ about her shopping trip. Even though, Christel was sitting quite comfortably in Kevin's lap and he had sleepily laid his head on her shoulder, she tried to tune her ears to what Chinita was saying.
"What's all this?" AJ asked gesturing toward the bags.
"I brought a new hand bag," she replied.
"A new hand bag? Looks like you bought the hand bag store to me," he replied.
"Like you can talk Mr. Hatman. Anyway, I bought shoes to match the bag and an outift as well. I even got you this," she said producing a black and white cow print baseball cap.
"I already have that one or one like that," he mumbled.
"You would! I'm not buying a hat for you again."
"Someone sure is in a generous mood. I wonder how she got past the fans," Christel whispered to Kevin.
"Is there something you want to say to me Christel?" Chinita asked her suddenly apparently overhearing her.
"I was just wondering how you got past the fans. . . in one piece," Christel said.
"Oh that's simple I came in through the back door," she replied continuing her conversation with AJ.
"Oh and Chinita one more thing, where exactly is all this money coming from?" Christel asked bluntly.
"What difference does it make to you?" Chinita said just as bluntly.
"I was only asking a question," Christel said.
"A question that I don't feel the need to answer," Chinita said without even looking at her. Christel stared angrily at the back of Chinita's head. Kevin, hearing the exchange between the two girls, slowly lifted his head from Christel's shoulder. His gaze met AJ's and held for a brief moment, both expecting the worst.
It got deathly silent in the room suddenly. Christel staring at Chinita's back while Chinita was going through her several bags.
"I know you can't afford all this. Why can't you tell me where the money's comin' from?"
"Because you aren't my damn mother!" Chinita exclaimed.
"I am just curious. I mean this is just so unlike you. You seem to be rolling in it.
Look at you, you're shopping in Sweden like you live here, and look at that outfit. I know I've seen something like that in the casual wear section of Vogue. Not to mention the fact that you flew all the way to Sweden, just to come and visit. . ." Christel stopped and thought about her last comment. She shot a glance at AJ.
"Of course, why didn't I think of this before. I mean he did "invite" you, why wouldn't he pay for your. . . visit. And to top it all off you're staying in his room, it makes so much sense now."
Chinita turned to face Christel, "What the hell do you mean by that?"
"Oh it's simple. I just figured out where the money's coming from," Christel said wistfully.
"And where exactly might that be?" Chinita asked nonchalantly.
"From Mr. Money bags over there," Christel said pointing at AJ.
"Believe whatever you want. But I think you should worry about fucking Kev and not how much money I spend on a shopping trip," Chinita said turning back to her bags. She turned just in time to miss Christel lunging for her. Christel didn't make contact with her target. As soon as Kevin heard Chinita's comment he grabbed her from around her waist hauling her into the sound booth.
"I just wanted to know if she's fucking him for money!!" Christel shrieked as she was dragged off. When Kevin had her safely in the sound booth he closed the door behind him.
"Christel, what is wrong with you? I don't think I've ever seen you act so violent," Kevin said shaking her by her shoulders slightly. Christel didn't say anything she just looked at him stubbornly. "Oh so now you're not talking to me? What did I do, not let you kill your best friend?"
"Look I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm just tired of seeing her always hanging around him," She said in a small voice. "I mean he cheated on me, his girlfriend of one year, who's to say he won't cheat on her too."
Kevin just stared at her for a moment. A part of him was upset that she seemed to still care about AJ. Another part wanted to smack AJ and then have a few words with Chinita. But he knew he couldn't do that. This wasn't his fight, it was hers.
"Come here," he said, leading her to the piano bench. "Let's talk." Christel and Kevin straddled the piano bench, their knees touching.
"Ok talk to me, Christel. I know there's something more to this than you're letting on," Kevin said.
"I-I just feel so got damn betrayed!! I feel like she's betrayed me!! From the beginning she seemed more on his side than mine and she's my best friend," Christel said.
"Anything else?" Kevin asked. Christel thought for a minute.
"For some reason. . . I keep thinking what we did was wrong, Kevin. And my coming here was even worse," Christel said quietly.
"You're having regrets?!" Kevin almost shouted rising from his seat. "How can you possibly be having regrets? After all that we talked about!! After all we went through!! I don't believe you!!"
"How can I help it when everything's just a big mess?! I can't just stand here and watch while everything falls apart," she declared.
"You can't change the past, Christel. You can't undo what's already been done. And running away sure as hell isn't the answer," Kevin said staring down at her. Christel just looked mutely at Kevin. She didn't think she really meant what she said. It just came out. "I know damn well you can't fight these feelings we're having for each other anymore than I can."
"I didn't mean what I said," she mumbled. "It's just that-"
"Uuhh Kevin sorry to interupt but, we'd really like to get this rollin' again," said the studio manager through the intercom in the booth. Kevin turned toward the booth windows.
"Ok," he said.
"Hey Kev could you play that song you've been workin' on," this time Brian's voice boomed through the intercom speakers.
"I guess I should be leaving," Christel said turning to leave.
"No I want you to stay here with me. I want you to hear the song," Kevin said grabbing her arm before she got to the door.
"Ok, I'll stay," she said. Christel couldn't help but notice the pleading light in his eyes. She found a seat in a corner of the booth while Kevin got himself set up to play. She watched intently as he began to play the opening chords to a ballad. She couldn't help but be mesmerized by the concentration on his face and then he began to sing. Christel felt bewitched, she felt like he had put a spell on her. The song was just too beautiful and Kevin's deep sexy voice made it all the better.
Soon the world seemed to narrow down to just her and Kevin in that room with this beautiful song filling the air. Christel leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes to let the music wash over her. She was so lost in the music she didn't even notice it come to an end. Kevin stood from his seat at the piano and went over to were Christel sat still daydreaming.
"Christel?" he said. Slowly Christel opened her eyes.
"That was beautiful," she said.
"Thank you. I thought you'd like it. I wrote it for you," he said. Their gazes met and held for a moment as something sparked and sizzled between them.
"Wow Kev, that was great. I guess that's a wrap for today," said the studio manager through the intercom. "Tomorrow guys same time, alright. So you get another break." Before he turned the intercom off a cheer could be heard from the other guys. Christel and Kevin barely noticed they were too busy in their own world.
Kevin and Christel finally emerged from the sound booth and they were all ready to leave and head back to the hotel. She couldn't help but notice Chinita and AJ in a corner huddled together deep in conversation. As she walked past she could hear Chinita say, "And now that the cheese factor isn't off the scale anymore I think we can get back to our lives and not the lives of the �lovebirds'," she said in a mocking tone. Christel had to suppress the urge to respond which she found slightly hard to do. They got to the hall and was met by the head of security, Mike.
"Guys the van is waiting out back," he replied.
"We were hoping to go and greet the fans," Howie protested.
"Yeah," Nick chimed in.
"Ok you can go out there and greet the fans but you gotta be quick," he said.
"Wait I don't want Christel to go out into that. She already had a problem coming in," Kevin said.
"Ok well the van is already at the back so we need to make a decision and fast," Mike said.
"I have no problem greeting the fans. I just don't want Christel to go through that crowd again," Kevin said.
"I have an idea," Christel spoke up. They all turned to her. "I can go out the back and get in the van then it can come around the front way and pick you guys up."
"Well what about Chinita?" AJ asked.
"Ok here it is, the girls go out the back and get into the van. Then we'll bring the van around the front and pick you guys up," Mike said.
"Ok," the guys said simultaneously.
"See ya in the van," Kevin said to Christel. She nodded and kissed him on the chin before they parted. The guys headed for the front door while the girls went in the opposite direction down the hall escorted by Mike.
"Ok girls," he started, "When you get in the van sit all the way to the back or front, just out of the way for the boys to get in. We don't need them tripping over anyone to get into the van."
"Ok Mike," Christel said just as she climbed in the van. Chinita climbed in behind her and went straight to the back of the van while Christel sat in the very front. They road in silence to the front of the building and waited a moment as the guys made their way through the crowd to the van. Soon the security guards were opening the doors to the van and the guys were piling in quickly. Kevin hopped in first and sat beside Christel followed by Nick, Brian, Howie and last AJ who sat beside Chinita in the back. When they were all safely inside with the doors closed and locked they took off for the hotel.
They got to the hotel losing most of the fans that tried to follow the van and pulled into the back.
"Now what do we do?" Christel asked Kevin as they headed up to their room in the elevator.
"Well we still have an interview today but I think the interviewer is coming to us. So you can just hang out here. There's a pool on the top floor you can hang out there and wait for me to join you," Kevin said hugging her to his side.
"A pool huh? That sounds like fun but I'd have to wash my hair afterwards and that can be such a job," she replied.
"I can help you wash your hair," Kevin whispered in her ear. A tingle ran down Christel's spine.
"That sounds like even more fun. Do I have to go swimming to get that treatment?" she countered.
"Well no but I want you to go swimming so I can join you."
"Ok I'll go I kinda want to take a dip in the pool, anyway. Especially if you promise to help me wash my hair."
"That's not all I'll help you with," he mumbled. Christel shot him a seductive glance and stepped out of the elevator as the doors opened on their floor. Kevin chased her down the hall to their room. She frantically dug through her purse to find the key to the room before he reached her. Triumphantly she found the key opened the door and slammed it behind her right in Kevin's face. He stood at the door stunned for a moment.
"Christel open the door," Kevin said through the door.
"Nope I can't do that," she said playfully.
"Why not?"
"Because I don't wanna."
"When do you plan on letting me in?"
"I don't know. . . how about. . . now," she said swinging the door open, sending Kevin crashing to the floor. He looked up at her from the floor and they both burst into laughter. Until Kevin got a mischievous gleam in his eyes. At the sight of Kevin's eyes Christel jumped up and ran. He ran after her and tackled her on the bed.
"Ya know positions like this can get you into a whole lot of trouble," he said into her ear.
"Maybe I like this kind of trouble," she said seductively.
"Ya know what you were pretty nasty to Chinita today," he said.
"Ok now why did you have to go and bring her up? We were about to have fun and you bring her up," Christel said irritated.
"I think you should go talk to her and be civil about it."
"You're using this position to your advantage and I don't like that."
"Are you going to do it?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"Well actually no you don't. I am quite willing to stay right here like this. . . and not do anything," he said.
"Oh you suck, Kevin. This is not fair. Why should I have to apologize to her she started this whole thing by betraying me. Kevin it's kinda hard to think like this could you get up off of me?" she retorted.
"Are you going to do it?" he asked.
"Yeah yeah yeah I'll do it, ok," she declared. Kevin smiled at her and sat up.
"Good," he said. "Now I gotta go get ready for the interview in the meantime you go on to their room and do it."
"Hey you didn't say anything about me doing it now," she protested. Kevin looked at her, a look that she knew meant he wasn't taking no for an answer.
"Fine I'll do it but I want you to know that I'm doing this under protest," she said as she jumped from the bed and went out the door.
******
"AJ it's cold in here I don't know how you can stand it," Chinita said buried under a mountain of blankets from her spot on the bed.
"If you're so cold why do you have a tube top on? Put something warmer on," AJ replied riffling through his suitcase for something to wear.
"Me? You're the one in nothing but a towel! You should be freezing your little ass off," she retorted.
"Well my little ass just got out of the shower and will be dressed soon," he commented.
"Well can't you at least turn the A/C down, please," she said.
"Yeah sure I'll turn the air down for the princess, who can't climb out of the bed and do it herself, before she freezes to death," he said mockingly.
"Yeah well the frozen princess thanks you, now turn the air down," she said.
Christel had finally got to the room that AJ and Chinita shared. She stood at the door for a minute and started to knock but dropped her hand at her side. Instead she took the direct approach and opened the door and walked in. The sight that greeted her was more than shocking to her. Chinita was sitting in the bed looking flushed and tousled with nothing covering her but the blanket that she clutched to her while AJ sat beside her on the bed looking through a drawer with nothing on but a towel. They both looked up when they heard the door open.
"Oh!! Well. . . I-I-I knew it," Christel gasped turning tail and heading right back out the door. She almost ran down the hall to her room. She stormed inside slamming the door behind her. Kevin emerged from the bathroom in pretty much the same state that AJ was in, nothing but a towel.
"What happened? Did you talk to her?" he asked drying his hair with a towel.
"No I didn't get a chance to talk to her she was too busy. I'm going to the pool," she almost yelled grabbing her bag and slamming out of the room again. Kevin followed soon behind her.
"Christel?!?! Christel?!?! What happened? Will you tell me what's wrong?" he said coming down the hall. Christel was at the elevator and had just pushed the button when she saw Kevin coming down the hall in nothing but a towel.
"Kevin what are you doing out here like that?!?!" she asked.
"If you hadn't ran out of the room like that I wouldn't have to be out here like this," he said holding the towel secure around his waist.
"Kevin go back in the room and get dressed," she said.
"I will when you tell me what's wrong and where are you going?" he said.
"I'm going to the pool and nothing's wrong. Chinita is just a slut that's all," she replied.
"Oh is that all? What do you mean she's a slut? Christel come back to the room and talk to me," Kevin said. Christel turned on him.
"Ok Kevin you want me to come back to the room with you then I will and I'll tell you exactly what happened," she said as she brushed past Kevin and stalked down the hall back to the room. Christel stormed through the door and almost slammed it in Kevin's face in her enraged state.
"Ok are you going to tell me?"
"Well I went down there to apologize just like you asked and what do I find but Chinita naked in bed, looking quite tousled and AJ in nothing but a towel sitting beside her. So I just left seeing there was obviously nothing for me to apologize for," Christel said.
"Oh," he replied.
"Oh? Oh? Is that all you have to say Kevin? You're the one who made me go down there and make a complete fool of myself!! If you hadn't forced me to go down there I would have never seen what I saw," she said.
"Christel, you're being ridiculous. It's not my fault that-"
"I'm being ridiculous?!?!? I am not being ridiculous!! It wasn't my idea in the first place to go down there. I didn't see any reason for me to apologize I was perfectly justified in my actions today."
"Christel, you tried to kill your best friend I would hardly call that justice. You acted like a silly child today. You weren't being mature at all."
"Oh what the hell do you know? And don't you ever call me a silly child!!" she shrieked.
"Well don't you yell at me!!" Kevin shot back.
"I yell at whoever the hell I want. You don't control me just like AJ didn't control me, ok," Christel declared.
"I didn't say I controlled you," he said.
"No you didn't but I know that's what you were thinking. Why don't you just go get ready for your interview and leave me alone!!!" she yelled. Just then there was a knock on the door. Kevin answered it and Nick stood on the other side holding his cell phone.
"Uuuhhh sorry to interrupt but, I was talking to Niecey and she wanted to speak to Christel," Nick said timidly.
"It's for you," Kevin said striding to the bathroom slamming the door behind him. Nick handed Christel the phone and left.
"Hello? Oh hi Niecey," Christel said.
"Hey!! How are you doing? Are you ok?" she asked.
"Yeah I'm fine. I'm ok, all things considered," she said.
"Nick's kinda been telling me what's going on but he won't go into detail. You sound a little beat so I won't press you but if you want to talk I'm here."
"I know thank you Niecey. I really need someone to talk to. But right now I'm going to lay down and then I'm going for a swim," she sighed.
"Well ok I'll talk to you later than. Don't hesitate to call me ok?"
"Ok Niecey I will," she said and they both hung up. Kevin came out of the bathroom fully clothed and left the room without a word or a backward glance.