"Look AJ, I know I said that I would talk to you after the meeting and all but right now all I want to do is climb into bed," he replied.
"Kevin, I just need to say something to you," AJ stated.
"Well say it and make it quick," he said.
"Me and Christel talked. . ." AJ trailed off trying to find his tongue.
"Oh I know. . . she told me. AJ, if this has anything to do with whatever you and Christel talked about than I'm fine," Kevin said.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean if Christel and you are cool than we are too. . . I guess."
"Seriously?" Kevin nodded. "Wow that was easy," AJ breathed.
"Ok than good. I'm going to bed, goodnight," Kevin declared.
"Kevin wait! I have something else to say," AJ said running after him. He caught up with him at the elevator. They boarded together breathing a sigh of relief that the elevator was occupied by only two people, an elderly couple, who probably didn't recognize them.
"Kevin I wanted to say that if anyone was going to steal my girlfriend I'm glad it was you," AJ said.
"First, I didn't steal her she came quite willingly," Kevin retorted.
"Ok whatever. I'm just glad she found someone she loves. I know I was a jerk-"
". . . not to mention an asshole, a bastard, a fuck up and a prick," Kevin interjected.
"Ok I guess I deserved that and I get your point. But be that as it may I did and still care about Christel. I want to see her happy as much as you do," AJ retorted. The elevator came to a halt and the elderly couple stepped off shooting funny looks at Kevin and AJ. AJ and Kevin were now alone in the elevator. "I guess you think I'm supposed to forget the fact that you slept with my girlfriend less than a day after we broke up but-," AJ started as Kevin interrupted him again.
"Look AJ, I said say what you have to say and make it quick but you're taking a long ass time to get to your point. I'm tired, getting irritated, and your voice is becoming an annoyance," Kevin said frankly. AJ looked at him a little taken aback. Kevin must be tired, he thought.
"Ok then I'll get to the point. You love her and she loves you, don't mess it up. Make her happy," AJ replied. Kevin looked at him incredulously.
"How do you know she loves me?" Kevin asked still incredulous.
"I asked her. . . she told me," AJ said just that simply. Kevin didn't say anything for the rest of the trip which thankfully wasn't long. Kevin's mind was a jumble of thoughts as he stepped off the elevator and headed down the hall to his room. The thought that stuck out most was the first thing on his lips when he opened the door and found Christel coming out of the bathroom in her pajamas.
"Why can she tell AJ she loves me but can't say it to me?" he muttered to himself.
"Hey sweetie. Did you say something?" she replied.
"Uuummm. . ." Kevin stuttered. Christel went to where her bag sat on the floor and pulled out some lotion. She squeezed a small amount in her hands and began rubbing them together vigorously as she plopped down on the foot of the bed. Kevin came and sat down beside her.
"So how was your meeting?" she asked.
"It was long. . . and draining. All I wanted to do was come here and climb into bed," he said.
"Aaawww they wore my baby out," Christel cooed.
"Yeah and just when I tried to get here as fast as I could someone wouldn't let me," he retorted.
"Who?" Christel asked concentrating more on the lotion she was rubbing on her hands, legs and arms.
"AJ. He wanted to talk to me and wouldn't leave me alone till I at least participated in the conversation. He mentioned that you two talked," Kevin said.
"You two talked? Well that's good it's about time. But Kevin I told you that me and AJ talked, why are you bringing it up like it's news to you?" Christel replied.
"Yeah you told me but you never told me what y'all talked about."
"You never asked."
"Well I'm asking now. What did you and AJ talk about up there on the patio?"
"Why do I feel like this is the Spanish Inquisition?"
"Well? Come on tell me."
"Ok ok. . . we talked about the way we've been acting lately. We talked about my feelings about him and Chinita. He assured me that they hadn't slept together and that he does have feelings for her. We apologized for the way we've been treating each other and all," Christel replied as she began to rub the lotion in a bit more vigorously.
"Is that all? Funny, AJ didn't mention any of that," Kevin said.
"Kevin, just what are you getting at?" Christel asked wondering where exactly this was going.
"AJ told me that you told him that. . . you. . . love me and I was wondering why you couldn't say that to me," Kevin said seriously. Christel set her lotion bottle aside and turned to Kevin.
"Oh I see now. This is about this morning. Kevin look at me," she said taking his chin in her hands and turning his face til he was looking into her eyes. "I love you. I don't know how it happened. I don't know when it happened. Maybe I always did and never knew it. My point is somewhere between the time I met and befriended you and last night I fell in love with you, Kevin Scott Richardson." Kevin didn't know what to say. He just looked at her dumbfounded. The only thing he knew to do he did and quickly. Kevin pulled Christel into his embrace and kissed her breathless murmuring, "I love you, too." against her lips.
"I know you do. Now I remember someone saying something about going to bed."
"Yeah, that was me. . . I'm beat," Kevin said looking every bit as tired as he claimed to be.
"Come on let's go to bed." Kevin pulled off his clothes and slipped into bed beside Christel pulling her into his arms immediately. They snuggled close.
"Goodnight, sweetie," Kevin whispered.
"Goodnight, hon," she whispered back.
******
It was Friday of the next week, Chinita was in her room neatly packing her things when there was a knock on the door.
"Hold on," she called over her shoulder. As quick as she could, on crutches, she shoved the suitcase under the bed.
"Hey Chinita," Howie said.
"Oh hey Howie, I thought you were AJ for a minute there," she said breathing a sigh of relief.
"Why would AJ knock?" Howie asked.
"He went shopping so I expect him to come back weighed down with bags," she said.
"Oh I see," Howie replied.
"Well come in I want to talk to you," she said. Howie stepped into the room and went over to the arm chair, plopping down in it.
"So tonight's the night right?" he asked.
"Yeah," she said pulling the suitcase out from under the bed.
"Let me help you with that," he said jumping from his seat. Howie grabbed the suitcase and laid it on the bed as Chinita sat down wearily.
"So have you told AJ that you're leaving. . . . today?" asked Howie.
"Uuumm. . . no that's why I'm sneaking around to get my things packed. I'm trying to prolong what I'm going to have to say or do," she replied.
"Well since you're leaving today you can't prolong it but so long. I wish you would just tell him and make my part in this a whole lot easier. He's going to be so mad at me for knowing about this and not telling him. Then when he finds out that I'm helping you to the airport. . . I know he'll have a fit," Howie retorted.
"I don't understand why he's making such a big deal out of this. He's acting like I can't take care of myself." Howie kept silent. He knew that AJ was making a big fuss over Chinita's leaving because of the feelings he was having toward her but he couldn't tell Chinita that. Howie continued to help Chinita pack her things. Chinita kept hoping that AJ wouldn't come back while they were still there, she really wasn't in the mood for a scene, although a part of her wanted him to come back while they were still there.
"What time is your flight, again?" asked Howie after they had packed all of her things with no sign of AJ.
"Uuuummm. . . it's at 4:30," she replied.
"Ok and what if AJ gets here before we leave? How are you going to tell him?" Howie asked almost reading Chinita's mind.
"I don't know. If I can get out of here before AJ gets back I was planning to just leave him a note. Otherwise. . . I'd just tell him that I'm leaving. . . and going home."
"Oh ok."
"But to make sure I won't have to go down that road can we move my stuff into your room. . . now please."
"So you're going to sneak off," Howie said jokingly.
"Yeah basically. . . something like that. I just know that AJ is going to be difficult about this and I don't feel like dealing with that right now," she retorted.
"Ok. . . I'll get your bags," he replied.
"Thanks Howie. . . you're a great friend," she retorted as she hobbled out of the room behind Howie.
"Yeah I know people say stuff like that a lot," he said lifting her bags and carrying them out of the room.
"Well they say that because it's true. Howie you've been really great through all of this," she remarked as they proceeded down the hall towards his room.
"Thanks Chinita. . . don't mention it," Howie stated.
******
AJ was coming down the hall from his shopping trip. He was quite pleased with himself. He had gotten some good shopping in and he was able to visit some friends he knew that lived in the city without making too much of a fuss. He even managed to get something for Chinita.
"Hey J man, I'll catch up with ya later, alright," Marcus called after him.
"Ok man. You know me I'll keep you on your toes," he said jokingly.
AJ pulled his key from his pocket and pushed the door open.
"I guess it's a good thing I didn't do too much damage, Chinita, you didn't seem to quick to open the door," he said before getting a good look at the empty room. AJ looked around noticing the quiet empty room and dropped his bags on the bed.
"Chinita?" he called. "Hey I got you something," he said shaking the bag her gift was in. AJ went over to the bathroom door and knocked softly on it. There was no answer. AJ plopped down in a chair when something caught his eye. On the night stand laid an envelope with his name printed neatly across it. AJ, as if entranced, went over to the night stand and picked up the envelope. He knew instantly that it was from Chinita. He tore the envelope open, unfolded the paper which read;
AJ,
I said I was leaving and by the time you read this I'm probably on the plane for the long ride back home. I'm not sure what to say but it's obvious that some things we might not want to admit need to be discussed. That's all up to you though. I'm not breaking off a friendship with anyone, not even Christel. That reminds me I need to talk to her but who knows when that'll be. Anyway, with her bugging me (yeah I know she stopped) and suddenly hanging around you. . . not to mention my injured ankle and the way you kept hovering over me every chance you got, I just had to go. Eventually. . . I would really have had to go. I do work and vacation time ends in 2 days. I guess it kinda all worked out. Then again I had no reason to stay. . . Tell everyone else that I'm going home and not to worry. Oh and Howie took me to the airport, thank him for me again.
Take care of yourself,
Chinita
P.S. I'll call you when I get back to my house safely.
AJ must have stared at the letter for five full minutes before he balled it up and flung it across the room. He couldn't believe it. She left me, he thought. He saw the gift he brought her and threw it at the wall.
******
"Hey babe don't you want to go down the hall and get us some more ice?" Kevin asked from his spot on the bed.
"Uuummm. . . no not really. . . you're the one whose drinking anything that requires ice, my Coke is nice and cold. Besides I'm not the one who has to have ice in everything, that's you," Christel said looking up from her book.
"Aaawww come on, the ice machine isn't that far. Besides, I got the ice last time," he said.
"Kevin, how old are you? That is such a lame excuse. Anyway you're the one who wants the ice. Now get up off your cute ass and get it yourself," she said laughing.
"Come on you're closer to the door than I am," he whined.
"Ok now you're sounding like Nick and that's so not attractive. Now like I said before I'm not going to get you your ice. And for the record you're closer to the door than me," she countered. Kevin looked defeated. He got up and grabbed the ice bucket looking as pitiful as humanly possible. Walking over to where Christel sat reading her book on the sofa he plopped down.
"Now we're the same distance away from the door," he whispered in her ear dropping his tone.
"Stop that, Kevin I'm reading. If you want your ice you go get it yourself. I'm not getting up and walking all the way to the end of the hall for some ice that I don't need," she told him.
"Come on baby. . . get me some ice please," he said in her ear again. Christel tried to ignore him but Kevin wasn't having it. The more she tried to ignore him the harder he tried to gain her attention. Soon Christel was standing in the hall with the bucket in her hand.
"OK I'll get your damn ice, if for no other reason than to get you to leave me alone," she said from the hall.
"Yeah ok, like you don't like it when I bother you," Kevin called after her. Christel closed the door and headed down the hall to the ice machine. She couldn't believe it, she had told Kevin that she would not be getting his ice for him and her she stood out in the hall. . . with that damn ice bucket. Christel headed down the hall grumbling to herself about how she could let Kevin manipulate her like that. Passing AJ's door she heard something hit the wall, shatter and fall to the floor in pieces and couldn't help but be curious. Christel moved closer to the door, which was slightly ajar and listened quietly. Not hearing anything else she slowly pushed the door open and poked her head inside.
"AJ? Are you in here?" she asked looking around the room. Christel pushed the door open and stepped inside the room. As she stepped in the doorway she heard the crunch of glass beneath her feet.
"AJ?" she whispered.
"Yeah I'm in here," he said from where he sat, on the sofa, in the corner of the room smoking a cigarette.
"What happened in here?" she asked going to stand in front of him.
"Chinita left," he said simply.
"She left? When?" Christel asked surprised.
"Yeah she went back home today. . . while I was out shopping," AJ said taking a long drag on his cigarette.
"So you decided to throw whatever you threw at the wall?" she asked skeptically.
"Look I got angry. I went out and got her a gift and everything. . . and she still decides to leave me. So I threw her gift at the wall," he replied.
"Ok yeah I can see how that would make sense. What was the gift?" Christel said taking a seat next to him on the sofa.
"I got her this little ceramic smiley face," he replied. Christel looked at him.
"You've got to be kidding me," she said laughing a little to herself. AJ shot her a glance.
"She likes smiley faces. . . I know it's a strange gift but I saw it and thought she'd like it," he replied. Christel seeing the look on AJ's face stopped laughing.
"Ok well forget the gift, can I see the letter?" she asked.
"If you can find it. I threw it somewhere over there," he said. Christel got up and began looking around the floor for the letter.
"You were just in a throwing mood weren't you? Ok I found it," she replied plopping down on the bed to read.
"Well I can see how you would be upset by her departure. She just up and left without so much as a goodbye, oh besides her letter here," Christel said. "But AJ didn't she tell you she was leaving?"
"Yeah but I told her I didn't think she should because of her ankle," he replied.
"Sounds like a nice excuse but, I know why you didn't want her to leave. You're just too chicken to admit it to her or yourself," Christel replied. "Oh and put that thing out!! It smells awful." AJ took one last drag on his cigarette before putting it out in the ash tray sitting on the arm of the sofa.
"Ok I know, I know, I like her. I already told you that, you don't have to rub it in my face."
"Yeah and I told you to talk to her and you didn't. Now you're sitting here upset and chain smoking."
"Well I didn't see you making an effort to talk to her."
"Yeah well it's not bothering me that she went home so I think I can stand to wait to talk to her," she replied.
"Look Christel I know you're trying to help but I don't feel like analyzing this right now, something I know you're good at. I just want to sit here and smoke," he said in a defeated tone.
"Oh yeah well that's attractive. What will your little fans think if they knew that they're beloved AJ smokes like a chimney?"
"Are any of them here now?"
"Ok fine, fine, you're not in a mood to talk so I'll go. I'm supposed to be getting his highness some ice anyway," she said standing to leave. Christel crossed the room to the door and left. She headed down the hall to the ice machine and filled the bucket with ice. Going back to her room she couldn't help but think about AJ and Chinita's situation.
"Well here's your stinkin' ice," Christel said as she stepped in to the room.
"Thanks sweetie," Kevin said coming up to her and hugging her.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah whatever. You are sooo lucky I love you," she said.
"I know," he smiled back at her taking the bucket from her and resuming his seat on the bed. Christel plopped down on her chair and picked up her book. She couldn't keep her mind focused on her book.
"I just talked to AJ," she said quite bluntly.
"Ok. . .," Kevin said dropping a few cubes in his drink.
"Chinita left. . . today. She went back home," she replied.
"She did? How do you know?"
"Well when I was going down the hall I heard something smash against the wall in AJ's room and went to investigate-"
"You went to investigate? Are you crazy? What if it were an intruder?" Kevin interrupted.
"An intruder? Who would intrude? Y'all got this floor locked up tighter than Ft. Knox. I didn't see any danger so I went into his room. If there was danger, I'm sure I'd only have to hope some rabid teeny bopper wouldn't jump out of the closet and try to attack me. And I think I could have taken the teeny bopper if I had to."
"You couldn't take the one at the studio." Christel glared at him thinking, I'll have to have a word with Carlos later.
"Anyway. . . I went to investigate and AJ was sitting in the corner on the sofa smoking. I asked him what happened and he told me that Chinita left," she said.
"Ok well what shattered?" Kevin asked.
"He brought her this ceramic smiley face and when he read the letter she left him he threw it at the wall," she answered.
"A ceramic smiley face?" Kevin asked in disbelief.
"I know right. That's what I thought but he said he thought she'd like it. And she does like smiley faces," Christel replied.
"What else?" Kevin asked.
"Well I didn't get to know anything else because AJ was in a mood and basically kicked me out."
"Oh so now what?"
"I don't know I mean AJ was pretty upset. Things are going to be odd around here for awhile. I mean, I told him to talk to her which he never did and I know they both have feelings for each other. I may not have been talking to Chinita but, I've known that girl since Junior High, she wasn't fooling me. I know she's been talking to Howie too," Christel said more to herself than to Kevin.
"Well you told AJ to talk to Chinita were you planning on following your own advice?" Kevin asked.
"Yeah I was planning to. . . funny. . . AJ told me to talk to her, too. Anyway. . . it's not bothering me that I didn't talk to her before she left. I can always hit her up when I get back to the US," she declared. Kevin looked at her skeptically.
"You're not going to make the first move are you? You're so stubborn, you'll wait till she says something first won't you?"
"Aaahhh you know me well. I don't see why I should make the first move, anyway." Kevin just shook his head.