The next morning the phone ringing awakened Christel. "Hello? Who is this?" she said groggily into the receiver. She was half asleep but the voice sounded familiar to her.
"Hello, who is this," the voice replied.
"Well this is Christel. Do you want to talk to Kevin?" she replied rubbing the sleep from her eyes. The voice sound so familiar but she couldn't think who it could be.
"Christel?!?!" said the voice incredulously. "This is AJ. What the hell are you doing at Kevin's in his room this fucking early?"
At that Christel stopped, how could she have possibly forgotten? Kevin had two lines in his house one for his studio and office and the other for his room and the guestroom, which was unfurnished. Meaning she was obviously in Kevin's room.
"AJ it really isn't any of your business what I'm doing here," she replied coolly.
"What did you do sleep with him?" he all but yelled into the phone.
"No!!! I didn't sleep with him. What difference does it make to you? Aren't you busy with your little trick for the night?" she exclaimed.
"You slept with him because of me didn't you? Well I knew you could be a little-"he spat at her before being cut off.
"Look AJ we didn't . . . I mean . . . nothing happened. Hold on I'll get Kevin he's-" she said.
"Let me guess, he's in the shower, he's laying beside you, no I got it he's right on top of you or under you. Well Christel I hope you had a good time cause-"
"No AJ damn you!! He's downstairs hold on while I go get him!" she exclaimed then rushed out the room to get Kevin, who was blissfully sleeping on the air mattress. When she awoke him and told him the situation he ran upstairs. She stayed downstairs to fix herself a cup of tea to calm her nerves. When Kevin returned he looked pissed.
"What happened?" she asked.
"He still thinks we slept together. I told him several times that we didn't but, he doesn't believe me," he said.
"So what are we gonna do? AJ can be really stubborn when he wants to," she said. "I told AJ to meet us at the McDonald's near his house. I know he won't resist especially since I promised to pay," Kevin said with a grim smile.
"So that's it we meet him at McDonald's, explain to him that we didn't sleep together, then what?"
"I don't know."
"I guess we'll figure that out later. In the meantime, I'll fix breakfast. What do you want?"
"You don't have to cook," Kevin said.
"No you've been such a good host just call this my way of repaying you," she replied. Kevin could think of many ways she could "repay" him and breakfast had nothing to do with any of them, well not all of them.
"Ok since you asked. I'll have a stack of pancakes, scrambled eggs, some bacon, some sausage, French toast, and some fresh squeezed orange juice," he said with a huge grin.
"Wait, did I miss the day they made your house into a IHOP and me the sole waitress? Kevin I'm not gonna cook all that for you. You're gonna have to bring the order down some," she said heading into the kitchen.
"Alright Pooh, how about some scrambled eggs, bacon and orange juice. By the way, it doesn't have to be fresh squeezed," he replied.
"That sounds much better," she said. Christel was all over the kitchen cooking up their breakfast. She had thrown Kevin out when he knocked over the egg batter mumbling something about men being klutzes. Finally breakfast was ready and they sat together to eat. Kevin ate his breakfast in one breath, at least it seemed that way to Christel. He was done and on his way upstairs to get dressed while she was still eating.
"Thanks Pooh that was a great breakfast," he replied as he headed upstairs. Christel watched him go up the stairs shaking her head.
"You're welcome Spidey," she called after him.
It was at least an hour and a half later when Christel came back downstairs fully clothed and freshly cleaned.
"What time does he want us to meet him?" she asked as she hit the bottom step.
"He said two o'clock," Kevin answered from his spot on the couch.
"It's noon, what will we do until then? I mean we could sit and watch the rest of the movie but I don't feel like it," she said.
"You wanna go for a drive?" he asked.
"Yeah let's go," she replied.
"Alright let me get my keys and we can go," he said rising from his seat. Kevin got his keys and they headed out the door and into Kevin's truck. When they were both seated in the truck Kevin turned to Christel with a smile.
"I see getting into a truck in jeans is quite easier than a skirt," he replied jokingly. She smiled up at him and nodded. Then Kevin started the engine and they were off on their ride.
At about 1:30 they headed toward the McDonald's where AJ awaited them. Kevin parked the car then proceeded to open the door when Christel stopped him.
"Kevin I don't know if I can go in there," she said in a small voice.
"Don't worry, you'll be fine. Besides, I'll be right there with you," he said grabbing her hand and giving it a squeeze. Christel didn't know why she took so much comfort in that squeeze but she did. The thought that Kevin was going to be there with her made her feel quite better about the whole idea. He seemed to just make the worry and doubt that she was feeling melt away and she really couldn't figure out why. Christel looked down at their hands joined together and a nice feeling came over her. She almost felt like it should be that way all the time.
Christel loved Kevin very much. He was such a dear friend to her and he was always there when she needed him. Lately she just thought maybe she was seeing him more for his other qualities, other than his friendship that is. She loved the way he treated her, he was so much different from AJ. She always felt safe when Kevin was around and she felt she could tell him anything, all he had to do was smile and she'd spill her life story. She never noticed the affect he had on her until she and AJ started having problems. That was when she started to compare and contrast the two. She knew it was kind of unfair of her to do it but she couldn't help it. There were many differences between Kevin and AJ. She guessed the reason they were having so many problems in their relationship was because she began to notice these differences.
Christel looked from their joined hands to Kevin's face. He smiled slightly at her saying,
"Are you ready to go in there now?" She looked at his hands and hers joined together than looked back to his face. Those sparkling green eyes of his could pierce her to the spot; she was never able to look away.
"Yeah I'm ready, let's go," she said with a smile.
"Good then come on," he replied.
They climbed out of the car and walked toward the McDonald's. They got inside and looked around for AJ but Kevin spotted him first.
"There he is come on Christel," he said grabbing her hand and pulling her towards AJ. AJ was sitting in a booth blissfully eating until he saw them coming towards him. Kevin and Christel slid into the booth across from him.
"I thought it was my treat," Kevin said irritated.
"It is your treat," AJ said holding out his hand. Kevin reached into his back pocket, pulled out his wallet and handed AJ five dollars.
"Listen AJ, we came here to discuss this matter not have lunch with you," Kevin told him.
"I know that. Well, Christel what happened? You slept with him, didn't you?" AJ asked bluntly.
"No I didn't sleep with Kevin, AJ" she retorted.
"Why don't I believe you?" he said dryly stuffing French fries into his mouth.
"Well you should, I'm telling the truth. Besides it's not like you are completely innocent in this, AJ. Kevin and I saw you with that slut at the club last night!" She almost shouted.
"Vala is not a slut!" AJ said sternly.
"Ooohhh, you know her name well I'm impressed. Vala is it well that figures? I really don't believe you and your fuckin' nerve. I don't see why the hell I'm defending myself to you! You should be defending yourself to me! You're the one whose wrong here not me! You and I are through! You hear me? Through! So it shouldn't matter who the hell I fuck!" Christel shouted gaining an audience from most of the restaurant.
"Uuhh, Christel calm down," Kevin said poking her arm.
"No Kevin! I shouldn't have to defend myself to him. He was the one who fucked up, not me," she said to Kevin, and then to AJ, "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! You do understand English don't you?" she yelled standing. AJ sat coolly looking at her, which infuriated her more.
"Don't just sit there looking at me like that and don't you dare blame Kevin for any of this. He didn't do anything, he was just bein' a friend!" she yelled as she walked out the door. Kevin jumped from his seat to follow her. When he found her she was sitting outside on the curb.
"You left a captive audience," he said with grin.
"I know, but he was just being so damn difficult," she replied.
"He can get like that. Let's go before someone comes out looking for and encore," he said.
"Times like these I wish Chinita or Ohniece were here," she said holding her head between her hands.
"Why?" he asked.
"Ever since Chinita moved out of the house we haven't been able to talk the way we used to. Then she went back home to help her mother sell their house. Now Niecey lives with Nick and I'm all alone in that house. I really don't want to sell it, I love that place," she said sadly. Christel stood up and looked inside the McDonald's to where AJ still sat munching on his fries.
"Look at him he's just sitting in there eating his fries. Not even making a move to come out here."
"Maybe he realizes that you're right," Kevin said.
"I doubt it he's too stubborn for that," Christel said heading for Kevin's truck.
"Where are we going now?" he asked as he trailed behind her.
"Let's go home. My home, I have some things to do," she replied.