"God Ohniece you just don't know what I've been going through!" Christel said into the phone.
"Than tell me, Christel," she replied.
"It's all her!" she blurted out.
"Huh? Ok. . . all who?"
"Chinita!"
"She's still there?!"
"Yes she's still here and getting real damn close to AJ," Christel fumed.
"What do you mean? Nick has only told me bits and pieces. He told me to ask you," Ohniece replied.
Christel began to tell Ohniece all that's been going on since she last talked to her.
"And then just the other day I found Chinita in bed without a stitch of clothing on and AJ wearing nothing but a towel," she finished.
"Are you serious?!" Ohniece gasped.
"Yes I'm serious. On top of that Kevin and I got into a big fight and haven't talked since," Christel said.
"So what are you going to do now?" she asked.
"Honestly Ohniece, I don't know," Christel said glumly. "I already had the thing with Chinita and AJ to worry about, now Kevin."
Just as those words left her mouth Kevin walked in. He barely glanced at Christel lounging on the bed before heading straight for the bathroom.
"Well. . . there's one thing I can do right now. Kevin just came in so I'll talk to you later. Ok?" Christel said.
"Uuuhh. . . ok. Bye bye Christel. Good luck and don't forget to keep me posted," she replied.
"Ok I will, bye bye Ohniece," she said.
Christel sat up on the bed and hung up the phone up. She sat and waited until Kevin emerged from the bathroom. Eventually he came out and glanced at Christel who sat expectantly in the middle of the bed.
He knew what that look meant; Christel wanted to talk. About what he didn't know but he could guess. It was about the fight they had the other day, either that or something that Chinita and AJ had done to piss her off. If it was in fact about the fight, he couldn't understand what they had to talk about. He certainly wasn't mad at her anymore, not that he could stay mad at her for too long anyway. But she damn sure was still mad at him or at least she acted like she was. She was the one who wasn't speaking to him and maybe he deserved it. It was after all a dirty trick he played on her, to make her go in there and talk to them and look at what the result was. Christel was even more pissed with AJ and Chinita and now she could add him to the list. Since they had the fight she didn't go out with him to photo shoots, recording sessions or anything else he may have left the hotel for. Instead she either stayed in the room or hung with Brian and Nick, something she could only do but so much. They were the same when it came to Brian and Nick; they loved them but could stomach so much of them at a time. So he was betting she wanted to talk about the fight, and he decided to play along. Kevin retrieved the remote, stretched across the foot of the bed, and began flipping through channels. He sat patiently waiting for Christel to utter the words he expected to hear,
"Kevin we need to talk," she said.
"What do we need to talk about?" he asked as he continued flipping channels.
"The argument we had the other day," she replied.
"Oh. . . yeah," he said paying more attention to the TV than to her.
"Kevin? Are you even listening to me?" she asked.
"Yeah. . . I'm listening," he muttered. Christel looked at him skeptically.
"No you're not."
"Yes I am," he said eyes never leaving the screen.
"Kevin you're not listening to me. Ok, if you're listening to me than what did I just say?" she asked.
"Uuuhh. . . ," he stuttered.
"See, you don't know," she said triumphantly. Christel yanked the remote from his hand and turned the TV off.
"Hey I was watching-"
"Watching that? Kevin it was in Swedish, now I know you have many many talents but I don't think speaking fluent Swedish is one of them," she replied. "Besides we need to talk."
"Ok, ok, ok what about?" he asked putting on his famous BOY-ish charm.
"As I said before, the fight we had the other day. And don't give me that face, you know I can't resist it."
"Really? I'll keep that in mind. . . future reference."
"Oh cute. Stop trying to get me off the subject. We need to talk about this."
"So talk."
"Huh?"
"You said, �we need to talk about this'. So go ahead talk.
"I. . . I. . . honestly don't know what to say."
"So how did you expect us to talk?" Christel just blinked at him.
"It's just that we weren't talking to each other at all for a few days and I thought you were still mad at me," she said.
"You know I can't stay mad at you for long. I'm not the one mad at you, I thought you were still mad at me," he replied.
"Well. . . I was but, I'm not anymore," she said.
"That's good then," he said grasping her by her ankles and slowly pulling her closer to him. "Because now we get to the best part of having an argument."
"And what's that?" she asked innocently.
"Well the make up, of course," he replied.
"Really? Maybe I want to talk some more before we move to that stage," she said teasingly.
"Aahh that's not good because if we don't get past that part first then that means I wouldn't be able to kiss you here. . . here. . . and my favorite, here," he said kissing her forehead, nose, and finally claiming her lips. Their lips caught and their tongues danced in a heated passionate duel. Kevin broke the kiss to trail butterfly kisses down her neck. Suddenly there was a loud knock on the door.
"Damn it," Kevin growled into the side of Christel's neck.
"You don't have to answer it," she whispered. Soon the knock came again this time louder than before.
"Whoever that is better be dying or something," Kevin said.
"If you just let them keep knocking they'll think we're not in here," Christel whispered.
"Kevin! I know you're in there. I saw you go in," Brian said from the other side of the door.
"Damn it," Christel and Kevin said simultaneously. Kevin got up and answered the door.
"What do you want, Brian?" he asked.
"Uuhh. . . did I interrupt something?" he asked looking from Kevin to Christel back to Kevin again.
"Yes," they both said.
"Well excuse me but, Kevin we have a photo shoot in like 15 minutes and we're about to leave now. So you two will have to hold off till later," Brian said.
"Ok thanks Brian," Kevin said sarcastically. "We'll be down soon."
"Hey, you take longer than five minutes and I'll know what you two are up to," Brian replied.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah get out," Kevin said.
"Alright I'm gone. Hurry up, ok," Brian said as he stepped into the hall. Kevin closed the door and turned to Christel.
"You wanna come with?" he asked.
"Hhmmmm. . . that depends. Are you going to be fully clothed?" she asked.
"Uuuhh. . . yeah I believe so," he replied.
"Aahhh. . . that kinda sucks. I guess I could go. . . I don't have anything or anyone else to do," she said looking pointedly at Kevin.
"Oh aren't you just too cute," he said.
"Oh I know," she smiled back at him.
"If you're coming shouldn't you get out of that bed?" he asked.
"Alright, alright I'm coming just let me freshen up a bit," she said.
"Ok but hurry up," Kevin replied. Christel jumped from the bed and hurried into the bathroom. After a minute or two she emerged from the bathroom.
"Ok I'm ready," she replied.
"Alright let's go," he said.
"You know what I don't understand? Why you guys have to take so many damn pictures. I mean, didn't y'all have a photo shoot earlier this week? And even then you took like fifty million shots, all in different poses, some with ALL of you in the shot, some were just individual and some with maybe one or two of you in the shot. I mean damn, what's going to be so different with this photo shoot? And the pictures y'all take you're always fully clothed even for the calendars! I wanna see some skin and I'm sure some of the other fans would agree!" she said as they headed out the door to the elevator. Kevin listened in amusement.
"You wanna see some skin from all of us?" he asked teasingly.
"Well. . . you mainly but the rest of y'all don't have beer bellies or anything like that. Why not show it off," she replied pushing the down button on the elevator.
"We can barely live down the "Quit Playin' Games" video and you want us to do more half naked pictures," he said close to laughter.
"And what's wrong with the "Quit Playin' Games" video? That was a fine video, I loved the concept," she said looking dead serious. By this time the elevator doors were opening and Kevin couldn't contain his laughter as he stepped on. He looked at her.
"You're serious," he replied. "Aaawww sweetie I think you're a little too horny. Maybe I shouldn't have started something I couldn't finish up there in the room."
"No I'm fine and I am serious, that was a good video," she replied not noticing Kevin move closer to her.
"What did you like most about it?" he asked moving closer.
"I don't know. I like when it started to rain because the rain mirrored the way that y'all felt about this girl playing games and stuff with your hearts," she replied trying her best to sound serious. She knew damn well that the only reason she liked that video was because it was raining and they were wet and clothes were clinging to certain parts of certain people's bodies.
"Christel, you're lying. I know why you like that video and it has nothing to do with any emotion we portrayed at all," he said moving in for the kill. Christel was so busy trying to sound sincere that she didn't even notice Kevin was standing so close to her. He had her backed into the corner of the elevator before she could utter a protest, as if she would protest. Kevin's mouth claimed hers in a fierce and heated kiss. Christel broke the kiss first.
"You know you shouldn't start something you can't finish and you can't finish this! Not here not now anyway. This isn't fair! God I want you! I want you so damn bad I can taste it! Why should Chinita have all the fun and fuck my ex-boyfriend right beneath my fucking nose," Christel said blinded by frustration and sexual tension.
"I know and I want you too. It's been too damn long. With the album and this thing with AJ and Chinita we haven't had time for each other. Whenever I get back to the hotel from the studio, photo shoot or whatever I'm too tired to do anything but fall into bed beside you," he muttered.
"While I'm so busy fuming over something Chinita and AJ did to even think about sex," she replied.
"And then I go and play that stupid trick on you; getting you all aroused and then sending you off to talk to AJ and Chinita. You know what I'm going to make it all up to you, sweetheart," he said brushing his fingertips across her cheek.
"Are you really?" she asked quietly.
"Yep! I'm gonna have you purring like a kitten before the week is out," he said against her ear.
"Hhhhmmmm, sounds like fun to me," she replied. The elevator doors opened on their floor and they stepped off and hurried to the back entrance they had all become accustomed to. The van sat waiting for them. Kevin jumped in first followed by Christel who had no choice but to sit next to Chinita.
"Oh great," she mumbled as she sat down.
"Hey it's not going to be a pleasant trip for me either," Chinita replied. Christel kept silent and just stared straight ahead.
"Kevin, that was seven minutes and thirty-three seconds you're lucky I didn't come up there after you two," Brian replied.
"Oh like we could get anything accomplished in those seven minutes," Kevin shot back.
"It usually takes me about that long," Nick blurted out. The van grew silent as everyone regarded Nick. "What?!" he said.
"Nothing Nick, I'm sure Niecey is a happy woman," Brian said patting his friend on the back.
"What do you mean by that? What does Niecey have to do with me getting dressed?" he asked. Everyone burst into laughter.
"Nothing Nick, nothing. Don't hurt yourself trying to figure it out," Howie said. Nick sat in silence and confusion. We certainly did get something started, though, Christel thought. The ride to the photo shoot location passed pretty much in silence but when they got there it was a whole different story.
Christel, being closest to the door, hopped out first. Chinita made an attempt but failed.
"I may need some help getting out of this van in this skirt," she replied.
"I guess so. When a skirt ends at the crack of your ass getting out of a van can't be the easiest thing in the world to do," Christel mumbled. The driver helped Chinita from the van, while she just glared at Christel the whole time. When AJ emerged from the van he and Chinita headed inside. Kevin climbed down from the van grabbed Christel by the hand and went inside followed by the others.
As Christel said before, the photo shoot was a long and tedious process that seemed to go on forever. They did the usual group shots then they did a few individual and they also did some with just two, three, sometimes just four of them in a shot. The photographer put on a little music and the guys really came to life. They were dancing and being their usual silly selves making the photographer go crazy for the candid shots.
Christel had stopped paying attention to their antics after awhile and began to daydream. As always her thoughts were of Kevin. She had never thought of him sexually, romantically, or otherwise until her and AJ started having problems. To her he was always Spidey and just a friend, now she was quite possibly in love with him. She hadn't told him exactly how she felt, yet. She was afraid of what his reaction would be. Even though he was the one who originally had feelings for her whether any of those feelings included love she didn't know.
Since that night they slept together they didn't even call each other by the nicknames they gave each other. Everything had become so serious between them. She hoped one day she and Kevin could be the close friends they always were and not just the couple they had become. She wanted her, Chinita and AJ to be friends again and not enemies. Ultimately, she hoped all turned out for the best but most of all she hoped Kevin loved her as much as she loved him. She also hoped that one day he would call her Pooh and she would call him Spidey again. She couldn't help but laugh a little behind her last thought causing Chinita to shoot her a weird look.
The guys were getting so silly they thought it a good idea to bring the girls into the shoot for some fun. While Christel continued to daydream she didn't notice Kevin coming in her direction with mischief in his eyes. She hadn't noticed him until he stood right over her.
"Christel? Christel? Christel?" he called.
"Oh huh? You scared me half to death I didn't even notice you standing there like that," she replied. "What is it?"
"Come here," he said taking her hand and pulling her from her chair.
"What?" she asked. Before Christel could say anything else Kevin had lifted her off of the ground and had her over his shoulder quick as a flash.
"KEVIN! Put me down!" she almost screeched.
"Me Tarzan! You Jane!" he said.
"Oh my gosh you nut put me down!"
Kevin ignored her and carried her to the others. With Christel still flung over his shoulder like a big bag of grain he did a few muscle man poses before setting her down. Christel shot him a murderous glance before returning to her seat. She couldn't help but notice Chinita had been pulled from where she had been lounging to join in with the guys. She watched as she tried to remain cool and aloof while those around her acted like complete idiots.
"Come on Chinita. Why don't you have a little fun," Brian asked.
"Because she's used to a different kind of fun," Christel said before Chinita could answer.
"And what do you mean by that?" she asked.
"Oh nothing," Christel said innocently. "It's just that with that outfit on you look like you're about to audition for HBO's next special of �Pimps Up, Hoes Down'."
"Who the hell do you think you are talking to me like that? I am not a ho," Chinita said.
"Hey I just call �em like I see �em," she replied.
"You don't even know what the hell you're talking about!"
"Oh I most certainly do know what the hell I'm talking about. Just like I know a ho when I see one and right now I am lookin' at one!"
"Oh please! You're the ho. I'm not the one who didn't waste time to jump into bed with Kevin right after I broke with my boyfriend and his friend."
"Yeah but you didn't waste any time at all jumping into bed with my ex-boyfriend did you?" The girls were so angry the guys were sure they were about to fight right there in the studio. They couldn't let that happen of course.
"Alright you guys cool it," Howie said stepping forward. "I know we don't need the whole world to know about this. This would be just what the press needs to get the tabloids going, so calm down. You guys can discuss this later." The girls retracted their weapons and returned to their corners while the guys finished up the photo shoot.
The guys were about to go and get something to eat but couldn't decide on what. Brian was elected to see what everyone wanted and what ever the majority wanted they would all eat that.
"Hey Christel," Brian said coming up to her.
"Yeah Bri, what do ya want?" she asked.
"We're about to get something to eat but we can't decide on what. So what do you want to eat?"
"What, am I the deciding vote or something?"
"No but depending on what everyone wants if the majority wins that's where we're goin'."
"Oh ok. I want some Italian food." Brian didn't respond he just looked at her. "Why are you looking at me like that? I'm serious."
"Ok Christel. Let me go see what Chinita wants," he said.
"Ok fine," Christel said rolling her eyes. Brian just headed off in Chinita's direction.
"Hey Chinita we're about to get something to eat but don't know what. So what do you want to eat?" he asked.
"Hhmmmm I don't know. I mean I'm not sure," she replied.
"That doesn't help. Just pick something," Brian replied.
"Ok uuuhhh burger and fries," she said with a shrug.
After asking Nick, Howie and the bodyguards Brian finally announced, "I guess we're eating burgers and fries today."
"Damn!" Nick exclaimed. "I wanted pizza."
"You'll get over it. I wanted Italian food," Christel said to Nick. They all boarded the van again and headed to the nearest fast food place, which to AJ's delight happened to be McDonald's. Damn this place is everywhere, Christel thought. Since this was kind of an unscheduled visit and it looked a little crowded inside, they thought the safest bet would be to go through the drive-thru. They ordered their food and headed back to the hotel.
The silliness continued on the ride back to the hotel. The guys were acting like a bunch of big kids throwing fries and carrying on while Christel and Chinita fumed in the back. When the van pulled up to the back of the hotel they were at the height of their silliness. Nick had stuck a few fries in his nose and all the guys were laughing hysterically. Christel thought while they laughed and joked around she would get out of that van as soon as possible. She couldn't stand another minute in Chinita's presence. She was out of the van and almost inside before anyone noticed her absence. AJ noticed, and intended to follow and confront her about her behavior at the photo shoot. Chinita too just wanted to seek the confines of her room and made a move to get out of the van. As she made her way out of the van Nick was coming out right behind her and was still joking around with Brian. Nick and Brian were in their usual silly mood and Brian accidentally hit his hand causing Nick to spill his drink all over the front of Chinita's skirt.
"What the hell?!" she yelled. "Nick why don't you watch what the hell you're doing. Damn it look at this mess and this was a new skirt!"
"Aaawww man, I'm sorry Chinita. I didn't mean to," Nick said apologetically.
"Where did AJ go?" she asked.
"I think he already went inside," Brian said coming out of the van. Chinita hurried inside.
******
AJ was almost right behind Christel when he caught up to her just before she got to the lobby he grabbed her by the arm.
"Wait a minute I want to talk to you," he said angrily.
"About what? I was hoping to go for a swim," she replied.
"About the way you acted towards Chinita today. You won't even listen to her when she tries to explain things to you. God you're so damn stubborn," he growled at her.
"Look I don't have to stand here and take this less of all from you," she said yanking her arm out of his grasp. AJ grabbed it again and held it even tighter.
"Chinita and I didn't sleep together," he said simply.
"I know you didn't. You just fucked together," she spat at him.
"Christel listen to me got damn it! I'm telling the fuckin' truth. Me and Chinita didn't sleep together and we didn't fuck either!"
"And why the hell should I believe you? I mean you are the same person who told me it was all about us, and no one could come between us. Like an idiot I believed you and look where it got me. I'm done believing you and right now I'm done talking to you. Now let me go!" she said.
"No I'm not letting you go until you hear me out," he said. "Chinita and I did not fuck, Christel!"
"I thought I said for you to let me go," she said struggling against his hold on her arm causing AJ to only hold tighter.
"AJ if you don't let me go I swear to God. . ." she trailed off.
"What are you going to do?" he asked.
"If you don't let me go right now you'll find out," she said into his face.
"If you tell me you believe that I didn't fuck Chinita than I'll let you go," he replied.
"AJ you're hurting me," she said between clenched teeth.
******
Chinita was frantic. The feeling of cold soda seeping through her clothes was not pleasing at all. She needed to find AJ so she could change because he had the key to the room. She was running through the halls that they always used to get in and out of the building undetected by fans when she caught a glimpse of AJ. She hurried in his direction. The only thing on her mind was getting that key and changing her clothes. She was so preoccupied by getting to AJ that she missed a step and landed on her ankle in a heap at AJ's feet.
"Shit!" she yelled followed by an anguished cry that left her mouth as she went down causing AJ and Christel to look in her direction.
AJ dropped Christel's arm and went to Chinita's side.
"Are you ok?" he asked his voice filling with concern.
"I don't know," she said trying to stand. AJ helped her to her feet and let her go to stand on her own but with a cry she went back down into a heap on the floor.
"I think you really hurt yourself," AJ said back at her side.
"My ankle. . . I think it's my ankle," she wailed. Christel rolled her eyes. Oh how convenient. She just happens to injure herself with me standing here talking to AJ, she thought. AJ was attending to Chinita when the others came around the corner still in their silly state until they noticed Chinita on the floor in obvious pain.
"They finally did it," Nick whispered. "They fought and I missed it. Well it looks like Christel won this one." Brian elbowed Nick to make him shut up.
"What happened here?" Kevin asked directing his question to Christel with a sigh of frustration.
"Well she obviously hasn't gotten accustomed to her work-wear and she tripped and fell," Christel replied. AJ turned to glare at Christel, who just rolled her eyes back at him.
"I think she's really hurt, she can't even stand," AJ said. "We need to take her to the hospital."
"Uuhh ok I guess we should get back in the van then," Howie said. AJ lifted Chinita into his arms and carried her back out to the van while the others followed. They all got into the van with Chinita sitting in the front seat and AJ right behind her.
"What's going on?" asked the van driver.
"We need to get to the hospital fast. She's hurt her ankle," AJ replied. The driver started the engine and they were off to the hospital.
******
"The doctor said she just sprained her ankle," AJ said returning to the waiting room where everyone was seated. "He said it should heal in a matter of months."
"Well that's good," Brian replied.
"When can she leave?" Nick asked.
"In a few minutes, they're giving her some crutches," AJ replied sitting heavily in a chair.
"How did this happen?" Howie asked.
"She told me that Nick spilled some soda on her and she was running to get the key for the room from me and she missed a step fell and landed on her ankle," AJ replied.
"I said I was sorry about spilling the soda on her," Nick said blushing.
"I know and it's ok," Chinita said coming into the waiting room on crutches. Everyone went over to her, everyone except Christel who remained in her seat.
"How are you?" AJ asked.
"I'm fine. Really you guys don't have to worry yourselves over me," she replied. "Can we go now? I never really liked hospitals."
"Sure we can go right now," Brian said then, "Let's go."
******
"I'm going for a swim," Christel replied when she and Kevin returned to their room.
"How can you go for a swim? You didn't even bring pajamas but you remembered to bring a bathing suit," he said.
"I bought one while I was mad at you and hangin' with Brian and Nick the other day," she retorted grabbing a shopping bag from the closet and heading into the bathroom.
"Mind if I join you," he called after her.
"No. I was actually hoping you would," she said as she donned her bathing suit.
"You were?" he asked. "Then why didn't you invite me?"
"I was waiting for you to ask," she said as she opened the bathroom door and stepped into the room.
"You're not going to swim in that are you?" he asked referring to her T-shirt.
"No! I have my suit on under this," she replied slipping into her flip-flops. Kevin just stood in the middle of the room staring at her.
"Well don't I get to see this bathing suit?" he asked.
"Nope not until we get to the pool," she replied. "Now go get dressed. You aren't wearing that are you?"
"Ok ok I'm going," he said grabbing his trunks from the chair. Christel grabbed the bag she brought for trips to the pool and started packing it with a few essentials. A thought struck her, sending her running to Brian's room. She knocked on his door.
"Hey Christel! What is it?" he asked answering the door.
"Hey Brian do you have a CD player I can use?" she asked.
"Uuummm. . . nope," he replied.
"Ok do you know who does?" she asked.
"I think Howie might," he said. "Do I even want to know what this is for?"
"Nope and even if you did I wouldn't tell you," she retorted before heading off to Howie's room.
When she got to Howie's room before she could knock the door opened and Howie stepped out of it almost stepping on Christel.
"Whoa Christel I almost stepped on you there," he said.
"No shit," she replied. Howie startled by her reply shot her a questioning glance. "Oh don't worry about it Howie, I'm fine."
"Oh. . . ok good. Well, see ya," he said and that's when Christel noticed Howie's manner of dress. He was dressed to party.
"Wait. Where are you going? Who are you going to meet?" she asked teasingly.
"No one special. I'm just going for a night out on the town," he said doing a little turn.
"Alone?" she asked Howie nodded. "Well before you go Michael do you have a CD player I can borrow?
"Uhh yeah I do but. . . it's AJ's," he said stopping her in her tracks.
"Uhh that's fine. I'll have it back to you by tomorrow so he'll never know," she said.
"Ok if you really want it," he said fishing his room key from his pants pocket. Howie opened the door and went inside to fetch the CD player for Christel.
"Have a nice night and be careful," she said heading back to her room.
"Yes mommy," he said in a mocking little kids' voice.
Christel opened the door laughing slightly at Howie to find Kevin sitting on the bed expectantly.
"Where did you go?" he asked. "I was beginning to think you went without me."
"Nope just went to get this," she said holding up the CD player.
"Ok. . . then you ready?"
"Yep, shall we?"
"Yes we shall. I wanna see this new bathing suit."
"Oh you will."
******
"Wow! This is a big pool," Christel said as she and Kevin entered the now empty pool area.
"Yep I told you it was big," he replied. "Now, I wanna see that bathing suit." Kevin had plopped himself down in a lounge chair and was staring at Christel expectantly.
"Well aren't we being forward?" she said setting her bag and CD player down. "You're acting like you're getting a strip tease or something."
"You mean I'm not?" he pouted.
"Ummm. . . no I hadn't planned on it," she replied.
"Could you model it for me then since, I'm not getting a strip tease or a little lap dance or anything," he replied.
"That I will do. Put some music on," she said ducking into the women's changing room. Christel pulled the oversized T-shirt up over her head and dropped it on a bench.
She waited until the music started. Soon she heard Janet Jackson's "Rope Burn" coming out of the CD player.
"Hey I said I wasn't doing no strip tease! Pick something else Kevin," she yelled from the changing room.
"Aaawww. . . ok," Kevin said gloomily. Christel waited until she heard Mariah Carey's "Honey". Slowly she emerged from the changing room wearing a black bathing suit. It was slightly low cut in the front and showed a little cleavage. The straps crossed in the back and it had a little skirt on it that swirled around her thighs.
Christel modeled the suit like she was on the runway and Kevin's eyes were devouring every inch of her hungrily. She walked around playfully dancing past him and posing every couple of minutes. Suddenly the music stopped and Christel whirled around to look at Kevin.
"What is that on your arm," he asked.
"Huh? My arm?" Christel said looking down at her arm. An ugly black and purple bruise that seemed to have little rivets and waves in it, like a design marred her arm. It was the arm that AJ had grabbed earlier that day.
"Come here," he said. Christel walked over to him without hesitation. She sat before him in the lounge chair. "What happened to your arm?"
"Uumm. . . it's nothing," she replied.
"You're lying. How did this happen?" he asked. Christel knew what was to come if she told him AJ did it. He would go into a mad rage and hunt AJ down. She knew that if she lied he would know so there was no point in her doing that.
"It was AJ. . . ," she said hesitantly.
"AJ did this to you? How?" he asked anger rising in his voice.
"Today after the photo shoot right before Chinita had her accident. He stopped me in the hall as I was going into the lobby to go upstairs. He grabbed my arm and wouldn't let me go until I believed that he and Chinita didn't sleep together. I didn't believe him and he held me tighter. He didn't let go until Chinita came in and had her little accident." Christel said not looking at Kevin. She didn't have to look at his face to know that it was shadowed in anger. Kevin jumped from his seat.
"Where are you going?" she called after him.
"To beat the shit out of that son of a bitch," Kevin said. Christel ran after him to stop him. This was exactly what she didn't want.
"No! You can't! He wasn't trying to hurt me! It was an accident and he was angry!" she said.
"Christel I've been mad before and at you sometimes and I would never hurt you like that," he said brushing past her.
"Kevin no, please! I thought we were going to have a swim together. Let's not let AJ ruin our evening. Please don't go after him it will only make everything worse. You two were almost on speaking terms back in the van earlier today. You were acting the way you used to. Don't mess that up by doing this. Besides it doesn't hurt all that bad, it's just a little sore," she pleaded. Kevin looked at her and looked at the bruise on her arm. He wanted more than almost anything to go after AJ and beat him until he was unrecognizable but, Christel was his heart and he could never deny his heart.
"Ok fine. . . for you," he said. Christel breathed a sigh of relief. She grabbed Kevin by the hand and went back to their lounge chair.
"Aren't we going to do any swimming?" he asked after some time.
"Yeah we are," she said rising from the chair. Kevin stood and pulled his shirt off. Christel was climbing into the side of the pool when he turned around. He regarded her and saw she had an odd look on her face.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"It's cold," she replied.
"Well maybe you need me in there to warm you up," he said before diving into the deep end of the pool. Christel was content lounging on the side of the pool but Kevin wouldn't have it. He came up beside her on the shallow end asking,
"Why are you just sitting here? Usually by now you're somewhere under water."
"I just feel like lounging," she replied.
"Lounging my ass," he said lifting her as she squealed and kicked then dropping her in the water. Christel came up sputtering,
"Ooohh I am so going to get you for that!" she screamed.
Christel dove under water and swam to Kevin. She grabbed Kevin's ankles and pulled him under water. Christel came up laughing.
"That's what you get," she replied.
"Come here!" he exclaimed.
"No!" she screamed.
"Come here or I'll have to come after you," he said.
"Then come on," she taunted. Kevin looked at her taking up the challenge. He began to stalk after her. Slowly at first then he dove under water and swam after her catching her about her waist. Christel squealed as he took her under.
A few minutes later they came up in each other's arms. Kevin couldn't resist the temptation to kiss her lips and he didn't resist. He leaned forward and teasingly brushed her lips with his. When Kevin tried to deepen the kiss Christel slipped from his embrace and swam away from him. She swam to the far end of the shallow end of the pool and began to climb out.
"Where are you going?" Kevin asked coming to the edge of the pool.
"Oh I wanted to here "Honey" again," she said.
"You little tease. You pulled away from my kiss to change the music on the CD player?" he asked.
"Uuhh. . . yes I did," she said.
"You live to tease me right?" he asked as she came to the edge of the pool.
"It's what I do best," she replied looking down at him. Kevin pulled himself out of the pool to stand in front of her.
"Now I know what we do best and teasing can be part of it, in fact, it's a lot of fun when it is," he said pulling her towards him. Christel leaned up as Kevin kissed her thoroughly. Christel tore her lips from his and ran to the deep end of the pool before jumping in.
"If you want me you'll have to catch me," she goaded. Kevin let out a frustrated sigh and jumped in after her. They swam and played for awhile but Kevin just couldn't get his hands on her and keep them on her long enough. Soon they were both too tired to do anymore chasing so they settled themselves on the lounge chair by the CD player just as "My All" began to play.
"This has been a long day," Kevin sighed as he wrapped his hands securely around Christel's waist.
"Yes it has and Chinita and AJ didn't make it any better," she replied.
"Why did you have to start with her today at the photo shoot?" Kevin asked.
"How do you know? You weren't even in the same room you were in the dressing room changing," she said.
"Well I couldn't help but hear Chinita yell about how you jumped into my bed and Howie told me he had to jump in the middle of the battlefield to beg for peace," Kevin replied.
"It wasn't me it was her. Did you see what she had on, today? I mean what is she trying to prove? The tube top and that skirt with those shoes; she looked just like the hoes AJ hangs around and I know that's not her style. Besides if she hadn't been wearing those shoes she wouldn't have had her "so-called accident"," Christel said.
"What do you mean "so-called accident"?" Kevin asked.
"I think she's faking this whole sprained ankle thing," Christel replied.
"Why would she be faking it? How can she be faking it? You were at the hospital with the rest of us. You heard what AJ said," Kevin said.
"Maybe she paid the doctor off. I think she got mad or jealous when she saw me and AJ talking so she had to have the attention focused on her."
"What?!?! Christel you're being ridiculous! I mean I don't think the doctor would willingly say she sprained her ankle. If she's doing it for AJ then he was with her the whole time so when would she have had a chance to pay the doctor off?"
"Ok fine I take that back. Maybe she wanted to fall to get the attention off of me and her little plan backfired and she actually hurt herself." Kevin looked at her like she had two extra heads growing out of her neck.
"Christel your imagination has gotten the better of you. I think it's because you haven't worked on any of your stories lately and all that creative juice is getting backed up in there," he said tapping her on her head.
"No I'm serious. She-"
"Yeah �bout as serious as you were when you said "Quit Playin' Games" was a wonderful video," he said interrupting her. Christel turned to look at him and got up from her seat in his lap to climb back into the pool.
"Now what are you doing?" he asked.
"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm letting off some of that creative juice that's clogging my brain," she said angrily.
"Christel you can't be serious about Chinita. I know this may seem unlike her but have ever known her to go that far and be that petty over a guy with you or anyone else for that matter? Christel why do you care so much about what she and AJ do? I thought you were over AJ and I thought you wanted to be with me. If you're going to keep worrying about AJ and whoever he's with than call me when you're ready to worry about us," he said standing and going into the men's changing room. Christel sat in the water in shock. She climbed out of the pool and went to stand outside the men's changing room. She peered inside wondering if she dared until she remembered that they were the only ones in there. Christel strode into the changing room and found Kevin in the shower.
She yanked the shower curtain open and stared at him angrily.
"What the hell are you doin'?" he asked completely shocked. "You can't be in here."
"The hell I can't. We're the only ones up here, remember?" she almost yelled.
"Well could you give me a minute," he said.
"No! You basically break up with me and you want me to give you a minute? We need to talk Kevin and this time I know exactly what to say," she said trying to keep her focus on his face.
"Alright go back out there and I'll be right out," he said grabbing his towel from the rack. Christel went back outside and sat on the lounge chair turning the music off. Kevin wrapped the towel around his waist and came out to meet her. Christel moved back in the chair so he could sit.
"Kevin what did you mean by what you just said?" she asked.
"I am sick and tired of this little fight between you and Chinita. Before I understood and you had a right to be angry but now it's just become childish. You need to make peace with this. AJ is going to be with whoever he chooses whether it be Chinita or someone else. While he's doing his thing you'll be doing your own thing, hopefully with me," Kevin said calmly. Christel couldn't say anything because as much as she didn't want to admit it, Kevin was right. Christel stood from her seat and headed for the ladies changing room.
"Now where are you going?" he asked exasperated.
"I'm going to go change I need to think. . . alone," she replied. Kevin just watched her go. He knew even if he did go after her she wouldn't talk to him.
******
Christel and Kevin left the pool area together and headed back to their room. Christel grabbed a baseball cap, knowing her hair looked like hell, and headed for the door.
"Where are you going?" Kevin asked.
"For a walk," she replied.
"It's dark outside, you want some company?" he asked.
"Uumm no I need to do some thinking by myself," she replied.
"Oh ok I'm here if you still wanna talk," he said a little disappointed.
"Ok," she said with a slight smile.
"Christel wait," Kevin called. "I don't like the idea of you walking around by yourself at night. Would you be willing to take Carlos with you?" he asked. Christel wanted to say that she was a grown woman and didn't need to be chaperoned but she realized that Kevin was only looking out for her safety so she agreed.
Her and Carlos looked quite the pair she was this little woman standing at 5'2 accompanied by this big dude standing at about 6'3. They walked together in silence. Christel so lost in thought she barely glanced at Carlos when he came to her room to escort her. She thought about everything that had happened since she caught AJ in the club with Vala. Then her own words came back to her, He shouldn't care what I do and I won't care what he does! Then she remembered her conversation with AJ in the McDonald's, You don't own me AJ. When I do sleep with someone else, it will be between that person and me. You will have nothing to do with it! It's over or didn't I say that already!
"Carlos I'm ready to go back," she said hurrying back in the direction of the hotel. She hurried through hotel and knocked on the door. The door opened.
"I believe I owe you an apology," she said.